As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on September 3, 2024.

File No. 001-     

 

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM 10

 

 

GENERAL FORM FOR REGISTRATION OF SECURITIES

PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(b) OR (g) OF

THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

 

CURBLINE PROPERTIES CORP.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

Maryland   93-4224532

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

320 Park Avenue   10022

New York, New York

(Address of principal executive offices)

  (Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code:

(216) 755-5500

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

 

Title of each class to
be so registered

 

Name of each exchange on which

each class is to be registered

Common Stock, $0.01 par value per share   New York Stock Exchange

Securities to be registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None

 

 

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

 

Large accelerated filer      Accelerated filer  
Non-accelerated filer      Smaller reporting company  
     Emerging growth company  

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☒

 

 

 


CURBLINE PROPERTIES CORP.

INFORMATION REQUIRED IN REGISTRATION STATEMENT

CROSS-REFERENCE SHEET BETWEEN INFORMATION STATEMENT AND ITEMS OF FORM 10

Certain information required to be included in this Form 10 is incorporated by reference to specifically-identified portions of the body of the information statement filed herewith as Exhibit 99.1. None of the information contained in the information statement shall be incorporated by reference herein or deemed to be a part hereof unless such information is specifically incorporated herein by reference.

Item 1. Business.

The information required by this item is contained under the sections of the information statement entitled “Summary,” “Risk Factors,” “Forward-Looking Statements,” “The Company’s Separation from SITE Centers,” “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” “Business,” “Certain Relationships and Related Transactions” and “Where You Can Find More Information.” Those sections are incorporated herein by reference.

Item 1A. Risk Factors.

The information required by this item is contained under the sections of the information statement entitled “Risk Factors” and “Forward-Looking Statements.” Those sections are incorporated herein by reference.

Item 2. Financial Information.

The information required by this item is contained under the sections of the information statement entitled “Summary—Summary Selected Financial Information,” “Unaudited Pro Forma Combined Financial Information” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.” Those sections are incorporated herein by reference.

Item 3. Properties.

The information required by this item is contained under the section of the information statement entitled “Business—The Company’s Properties.” That section is incorporated herein by reference.

Item 4. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management.

The information required by this item is contained under the section of the information statement entitled “Principal Stockholders.” That section is incorporated herein by reference.

Item 5. Directors and Executive Officers.

The information required by this item is contained under the section of the information statement entitled “Management.” That section is incorporated herein by reference.

Item 6. Executive Compensation.

The information required by this item is contained under the section of the information statement entitled “Executive and Director Compensation.” That section is incorporated herein by reference.

Item 7. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence.

The information required by this item is contained under the sections of the information statement entitled “Management,” “The Company’s Relationship and Agreements with SITE Centers” and “Certain Relationships and Related Transactions.” Those sections are incorporated herein by reference.


Item 8. Legal Proceedings.

The information required by this item is contained under the section of the information statement entitled “Business—Legal Proceedings.” That section is incorporated herein by reference.

Item 9. Market Price of and Dividends on the Registrant’s Common Equity and Related Stockholder Matters.

The information required by this item is contained under the sections of the information statement entitled “Summary,” “The Company’s Separation from SITE Centers,” “Distribution Policy” and “Description of Securities.” Those sections are incorporated herein by reference.

Item 10. Recent Sales of Unregistered Securities.

Not applicable.

Item 11. Description of Registrant’s Securities to be Registered.

The information required by this item is contained under the sections of the information statement entitled “The Company’s Separation from SITE Centers” and “Description of Securities.” Those sections are incorporated herein by reference.

Item 12. Indemnification of Directors and Officers.

The information required by this item is contained under the sections of the information statement entitled “Certain Relationships and Related Transactions—Indemnification and Limitation of Directors’ and Officers’ Liability” and “Description of Securities—Indemnification and Limitation of Directors’ and Officers’ Liability.” Those sections are incorporated herein by reference.

Item 13. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.

The information required by this item is contained under the section of the information statement entitled “Index to Financial Statements” and the financial statements referenced therein. That section is incorporated herein by reference.

Item 14. Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure.

Not applicable.

Item 15. Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(a) Financial Statements

The information required by this item is contained under the sections of the information statement entitled “Unaudited Pro Forma Combined Financial Information” and “Index to Financial Statements” and the financial statements referenced therein. Those sections are incorporated herein by reference.


(b) Exhibits

See below.

The following documents are filed as exhibits hereto:

 

Exhibit Number   

Exhibit Description

 2.1    Form of Separation and Distribution Agreement by and among SITE Centers Corp., Curbline Properties Corp., and Curbline Properties LP
 3.1    Form of Articles of Amendment and Restatement of Curbline Properties Corp.
 3.2    Form of Bylaws of Curbline Properties Corp.
10.1    Form of Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of Curbline Properties LP
10.2    Form of Shared Services Agreement by and among SITE Centers Corp., Curbline Properties Corp., and Curbline Properties LP
10.3    Form of Tax Matters Agreement by and between SITE Centers Corp., Curbline Properties Corp., and Curbline Properties LP
10.4    Form of Employee Matters Agreement by and among SITE Centers Corp., Curbline Properties Corp., and Curbline Properties LP
10.5†    Curbline Properties Corp. Elective Deferred Compensation Plan
10.6†    Curbline Properties Corp. 2024 Equity and Incentive Compensation Plan
10.7†    Form of Director and Officer Indemnification Agreement
10.8    Form of Waiver Agreement by and between Curbline Properties Corp. and Alexander Otto
10.9†    Assigned Employment Agreement, dated as of September 1, 2024, by and among SITE Centers Corp., Curbline Properties Corp., Curbline TRS LLC, and David R. Lukes
10.10†    Assigned Employment Agreement, dated as of September 1, 2024, by and among SITE Centers Corp., Curbline Properties Corp., Curbline TRS LLC, and Conor M. Fennerty
10.11†    Assigned Employment Agreement, dated as of September 1, 2024, by and among SITE Centers Corp., Curbline Properties Corp., Curbline TRS LLC, and John Cattonar
10.12†    Assigned Employment Agreement, dated as of September 1, 2024, by and among SITE Centers Corp., Curbline Properties Corp., Curbline TRS LLC, and Lesley H. Solomon
21.1    List of Subsidiaries of Curbline Properties Corp.
99.1    Information Statement of Curbline Properties Corp., preliminary and subject to completion, dated September 3, 2024
99.2    Form of Notice of Internet Availability of Information Statement Materials

 

Management contract or compensation arrangement.


SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

 

Curbline Properties Corp.
By:   /s/ David R. Lukes
  Name: David R. Lukes
  Title: President and Chief Executive Officer

Date: September 3, 2024

Exhibit 2.1

FORM OF SEPARATION AND DISTRIBUTION AGREEMENT

BY AND AMONG

SITE CENTERS CORP.,

CURBLINE PROPERTIES CORP.,

AND

CURBLINE PROPERTIES LP

DATED [___], 2024


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

         Page  
ARTICLE I Definitions      2  
ARTICLE II The Separation      11  

2.1

 

Transfer of Assets and Assumption of Liabilities

     11  

2.2

 

CURB Assets

     13  

2.3

 

CURB Liabilities; SITC Liabilities

     15  

2.4

 

Approvals and Notifications

     16  

2.5

 

Novation of Liabilities

     18  

2.6

 

Treatment of Guarantees

     19  

2.7

 

Termination of Agreements

     20  

2.8

 

Treatment of Commingled Contracts

     20  

2.9

 

Bank Accounts; Cash Balances; Cash Funding

     21  

2.10

 

Ancillary Agreements

     22  

2.11

 

Disclaimer of Representations and Warranties

     23  

2.12

 

Names and Marks

     23  

2.13

 

Financial Information Certifications

     23  

2.14

 

Straddle Period Landlord Expenses; CAM Charges Reconciliation

     24  
ARTICLE III The Distribution      25  

3.1

 

Sole and Absolute Discretion; Cooperation

     25  

3.2

 

Actions Prior to the Distribution

     25  

3.3

 

Conditions to the Distribution

     26  

3.4

 

The Distribution

     27  
ARTICLE IV Mutual Releases; Indemnification      29  

4.1

 

Release of Pre-Distribution Claims

     29  

4.2

 

Indemnification by CURB

     30  

4.3

 

Indemnification by SITC

     31  

4.4

 

Indemnification Obligations Net of Insurance Proceeds and Other Amounts

     32  

4.5

 

Procedures for Indemnification of Third-Party Claims

     33  

4.6

 

Additional Matters

     35  

4.7

 

Right of Contribution

     36  

4.8

 

Covenant Not to Sue

     36  

4.9

 

Remedies Cumulative

     36  

4.10

 

Survival of Indemnities

     37  

4.11

 

Management of Actions

     37  
ARTICLE V Certain Other Matters      38  

5.1

 

Insurance Matters

     38  

5.2

 

Late Payments

     40  

5.3

 

Inducement

     40  

5.4

 

Post-Effective Time Conduct

     41  

 

i


TABLE OF CONTENTS

(continued)

 

         Page  
ARTICLE VI Exchange of Information; Confidentiality      41  

6.1

 

Agreement for Exchange of Information

     41  

6.2

 

Ownership of Information

     42  

6.3

 

Compensation for Providing Information

     42  

6.4

 

Record Retention

     42  

6.5

 

Limitations of Liability

     42  

6.6

 

Other Agreements Providing for Exchange of Information

     42  

6.7

 

Production of Witnesses; Records; Cooperation

     42  

6.8

 

Privileged Matters

     43  

6.9

 

Confidentiality

     45  
ARTICLE VII Dispute Resolution      47  

7.1

 

Good-Faith Negotiation

     47  

7.2

 

Mediation

     47  

7.3

 

Arbitration

     48  

7.4

 

Litigation and Unilateral Commencement of Arbitration

     49  

7.5

 

Conduct During Dispute Resolution Process

     49  

7.6

 

Disputes Arising Under the Shared Services Agreement

     49  
ARTICLE VIII Further Assurances and Additional Covenants      49  

8.1

 

Further Assurances

     49  

8.2

 

Treatment of Commingled Properties

     50  

8.3

 

Redevelopment Projects

     51  

8.4

 

Insurance Subsidiary; Purchase Option

     51  

8.5

 

Lease Agreement

     52  
ARTICLE IX Termination      52  

9.1

 

Termination

     52  

9.2

 

Effect of Termination

     52  
ARTICLE X Miscellaneous      52  

10.1

 

Counterparts; Entire Agreement; Corporate Power

     52  

10.2

 

Governing Law

     53  

10.3

 

Assignability

     53  

10.4

 

Third-Party Beneficiaries

     53  

10.5

 

Notices

     53  

10.6

 

Severability

     54  

10.7

 

Force Majeure

     54  

10.8

 

No Set-Off

     54  

10.9

 

Publicity

     55  

10.10

 

Expenses

     55  

10.11

 

Headings

     55  

10.12

 

Survival of Covenants

     55  

10.13

 

No Waiver

     55  

10.14

 

Specific Performance

     55  

10.15

 

Amendments

     56  

10.16

 

Interpretation

     56  

10.17

 

Limitations of Liability

     56  

10.18

 

Performance

     57  

 

ii


TABLE OF CONTENTS

(continued)

 

SCHEDULES

  

1.1

   CURB Financing Arrangements

1.2

   CURB Properties

1.3

   Lease Agreement

1.4

   Transferred Entities

2.2(a)(xii)

  

CURB Assets

2.2(b)(vi)

  

SITC Assets

2.3(a)(vi)

  

CURB Liabilities

2.3(b)(i)

  

SITC Liabilities

2.7(b)(ii)

  

Continuing Contracts

2.7(c)

   Continuing Accounts Receivable and Accounts Payable

2.14(a)

   Procedures for Allocating Certain Landlord Expenses

2.14(b)

   Procedures for Allocating Assets and Liabilities Relating to Year-End CAM Reconciliation

4.3(c)

   SITC Statements

8.2

   Commingled Properties

8.3

   Redevelopment Projects

8.4

   Purchase Option Company

EXHIBITS

  

Exhibit A

  

Form of Articles of Amendment and Restatement of CURB

Exhibit B

  

Form of Amended and Restated Bylaws of CURB

 

iii


SEPARATION AND DISTRIBUTION AGREEMENT

THIS SEPARATION AND DISTRIBUTION AGREEMENT, dated [___], 2024 (this “Agreement”), is by and among SITE Centers Corp., an Ohio corporation (“SITC”), Curbline Properties Corp., a Maryland corporation and a direct, wholly owned subsidiary of SITC (“CURB”), and Curbline Properties LP, a Delaware limited partnership (“CURB OP”). Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined shall have the respective meanings assigned to them in Article I.

RECITALS

WHEREAS, the board of directors of SITC (the “SITC Board”) has determined that it is in the best interests of SITC and its shareholders to create a new publicly traded company that shall operate the CURB Business;

WHEREAS, in furtherance of the foregoing, the SITC Board has determined that it is appropriate and desirable to separate the CURB Business from the SITC Business (the “Separation”);

WHEREAS, to effect the Separation (a) SITC caused CURB OP to be formed as a Delaware limited partnership to serve as the operating partnership of CURB following the consummation of the transactions described in this Agreement, (b) SITC or other SITC Group members have contributed or will contribute their respective interests in the CURB Assets to CURB OP or another CURB Group member, (c) CURB OP or another CURB Group member has assumed or will assume the CURB Liabilities and (d) SITC or another SITC Group member has retained or assumed, or will retain or assume, the SITC Assets and SITC Liabilities;

WHEREAS, pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, SITC and CURB intend to effect the Separation by distributing all of the outstanding shares of CURB common stock, par value $0.01 (“CURB Shares”), owned by SITC to the holders of record of the outstanding shares of SITC common stock, par value $0.10 (“SITC Shares”), as of the Record Date (the “Record Holders”), with such distribution to be made on a pro rata basis, with each Record Holder entitled to receive two CURB Shares for every one SITC Share, excluding fractional CURB shares, which will be aggregated and sold by the Agent to fund pro rata cash payments to the beneficial owners of SITC Shares who would otherwise be entitled to receive fractional CURB Shares (the “Distribution”);

WHEREAS, SITC and CURB have prepared, and CURB has filed with the SEC, the Form 10, which includes the Information Statement and sets forth disclosure concerning CURB, the Separation and the Distribution; and

WHEREAS, each of SITC and CURB has determined that it is appropriate and desirable to set forth the principal corporate transactions required to effect the Separation and the Distribution and certain other agreements that will govern certain matters relating to the Separation and the Distribution and the relationship of SITC, CURB and the members of their respective Groups following the Distribution.


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

ARTICLE I

DEFINITIONS

For the purpose of this Agreement, the following terms shall have the following meanings:

Action” shall mean any demand, action, claim, dispute, suit, countersuit, arbitration, inquiry, subpoena, proceeding or investigation of any nature (whether criminal, civil, legislative, administrative, regulatory, prosecutorial or otherwise) by or before any federal, state, local, foreign or international Governmental Authority or any arbitration or mediation tribunal.

Affiliate” shall mean, when used with respect to a specified Person, a Person that, directly or indirectly, through one or more intermediaries, controls, is controlled by or is under common control with such specified Person. For the purpose of this definition, “control” (including with correlative meanings, “controlled by” and “under common control with”), when used with respect to any specified Person shall mean the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of such Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities or other interests, by contract, agreement, obligation, indenture, instrument, lease, promise, arrangement, release, warranty, commitment, undertaking or otherwise. It is expressly agreed that, prior to, at and after the Effective Time, for purposes of this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements, (a) no member of the CURB Group shall be deemed to be an Affiliate of any member of the SITC Group and (b) no member of the SITC Group shall be deemed to be an Affiliate of any member of the CURB Group.

Agent” shall mean ComputerShare Inc., a Delaware corporation, and its wholly owned subsidiary ComputerShare Trust Company, N.A., a federally chartered trust company, in the capacity as distribution agent, transfer agent and registrar for the CURB Shares in connection with the Distribution.

Agreement” shall have the meaning set forth in the Preamble.

Ancillary Agreement” shall mean all agreements (other than this Agreement) entered into by the Parties and/or members of their respective Groups (but as to which no Third Party is a party) in connection with the Separation, the Distribution or the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including the Shared Services Agreement, the Employee Matters Agreement, the Tax Matters Agreement, the Transfer Documents and any other agreement that by its express terms provides that it shall be an Ancillary Agreement for purposes of this Agreement.

Approvals or Notifications” shall mean any consents, waivers, approvals, permits or authorizations to be obtained from, notices, registrations or reports to be submitted to, or other filings to be made with, any Third Party, including any Governmental Authority.

 

2


Arbitration Request” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7.3(a).

Assets” shall mean, with respect to any Person, the assets, properties, claims and rights (including goodwill) of such Person, wherever located (including in the possession of vendors or other Third Parties or elsewhere), of every kind, character and description, whether real, personal or mixed, tangible, intangible or contingent, in each case whether or not recorded or reflected or required to be recorded or reflected on the books and records or financial statements of such Person, including rights and benefits pursuant to any Contract or Permit.

Bound Member” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.5(b).

Claimant Party” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5.1(b).

Code” shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

Commingled Contract” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.8.

Commingled Properties” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 8.2.

Continuing Contracts” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.7(b)(ii).

Contract” shall mean any contract, lease, license, permit, indenture, note, bond, mortgage, agreement, concession, franchise, instrument, undertaking, commitment, understanding or other arrangement, whether written or oral, that is binding on any Person or any part of its property under applicable Law.

CPR” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7.2.

CURB” shall have the meaning set forth in the Preamble.

CURB Accounts” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.9(a).

CURB Assets” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.2(a).

CURB Business” shall mean the business, operations and activities of the SITC Group relating primarily to the CURB Properties as conducted at any time prior to the Effective Time by either Party or any of their current or former Subsidiaries.

CURB Bylaws” shall mean the amended and restated bylaws of CURB, substantially in the form of Exhibit B.

CURB Charter” shall mean the articles of amendment and restatement of CURB, substantially in the form of Exhibit A.

 

3


CURB Contracts” shall mean the following Contracts to which either Party or any member of its Group is a party or by which it or any member of its Group or any of their respective Assets is bound, whether or not in writing; provided that CURB Contracts shall not include any Contracts that are contemplated to be retained by SITC or any member of the SITC Group from and after the Effective Time pursuant to any provision of this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement:

(a) any leases relating primarily to any CURB Property pursuant to which a Third Party leases all or any portion of such CURB Property;

(b) any joint venture, shareholder, equityholder, partnership or similar agreements with any Third Party relating primarily to any CURB Property;

(c) any customer, distribution, supply, marketing, vendor or other contract, agreement or license, in each case with a Third Party and in effect as of the Effective Time, pursuant to which such Third Party provides or receives products or services to or from either Party or any member of its Group, primarily in connection with the CURB Business, excluding any such Contracts for services that are addressed in any Ancillary Agreement;

(d) any guarantee, indemnity, representation, covenant, warranty or other Liability of either Party or any member of its Group relating primarily to any other CURB Contract, any CURB Liability or the CURB Business;

(e) any employment, change of control, retention, consulting, indemnification, termination, severance or other similar agreement with any employee or consultants of the CURB Group that is in effect as of the Effective Time;

(f) any Contract that is otherwise expressly contemplated pursuant to this Agreement or any of the Ancillary Agreements to be assigned to CURB or any member of the CURB Group;

(g) any interest rate, currency, commodity or other swap, collar, cap or other hedging or similar agreements or arrangements related primarily to the CURB Business or entered into by or on behalf of any member of the CURB Group;

(h) any contract, guarantee, note, mortgage, bond, debenture or other agreement providing for indebtedness, whether secured or unsecured, which relates primarily to the CURB Business, including the CURB Financing Arrangements; and

(i) any Contract for any pending or completed acquisition of any real property (or of equity interests in a Person that owns any real property) related primarily to the CURB Business or entered into by or on behalf of any member of the CURB Group.

CURB Financing Arrangements” shall mean the indebtedness under which CURB and/or other members of the CURB Group are borrowers thereunder as set forth on Schedule 1.1.

CURB Group” shall mean (a) prior to the Effective Time, CURB and each Person that will be a Subsidiary of CURB as of immediately after the Effective Time, including the Transferred Entities, even if, prior to the Effective Time, such Person is not a Subsidiary of CURB; and (b) on and after the Effective Time, CURB and each Person that is a Subsidiary of CURB.

 

4


CURB Indemnitees” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4.3.

CURB Intellectual Property” shall mean all Intellectual Property owned by, licensed by or to, or sublicensed by or to either Party or any member of its Group as of the Effective Time primarily used or held primarily for use in the CURB Business as of the Effective Time, but excluding any Software or Technology owned or licensed by either Party or any member of its Group.

CURB Liabilities” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.3(a).

CURB OP” shall have the meaning set forth in the Preamble.

CURB Permits” shall mean all Permits owned or licensed by either Party or any member of its Group primarily used or held primarily for use in the CURB Business as of the Effective Time.

CURB Properties” shall mean the real properties set forth on Schedule 1.2.

CURB Shares” shall have the meaning set forth in the Recitals.

Delayed CURB Asset” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.4(c).

Delayed CURB Liability” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.4(c).

Designated Party” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.5(b).

Disclosure Document” shall mean any registration statement (including the Form 10) filed with the SEC by or on behalf of any Party or any member of its Group, and also includes any information statement (including the Information Statement), prospectus, offering memorandum, offering circular, periodic report or similar disclosure document, whether or not filed with the SEC or any other Governmental Authority, in each case that describes the Separation, the Distribution or the CURB Group, or primarily relates to the transactions contemplated hereby.

Dispute” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7.1.

Distribution” shall have the meaning set forth in the Recitals.

Distribution Date” shall mean the date of the consummation of the Distribution, which shall be determined by the SITC Board in its sole and absolute discretion.

Effective Time” shall mean 12:01 a.m., Eastern time, on the Distribution Date.

Employee Matters Agreement” shall mean the employee matters agreement to be entered into by and among SITC, CURB and CURB OP in connection with the Separation, the Distribution or the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement, as it may be amended from time to time.

 

5


Environmental Law” shall mean any Law relating to pollution, protection or restoration of or prevention of harm to the environment or natural resources, including the use, handling, transportation, treatment, storage, disposal, Release or discharge of Hazardous Materials or the protection of or prevention of harm to human health and safety.

Exchange Act” shall mean the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, together with the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

Final Cash Balance” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.9(g).

Force Majeure” shall mean, with respect to a Party, an event beyond the reasonable control of such Party (or any Person acting on its behalf), which event (a) does not arise or result from the fault or negligence of such Party (or any Person acting on its behalf) and (b) by its nature would not reasonably have been foreseen by such Party (or such Person), or, if it would reasonably have been foreseen, was unavoidable, and includes acts of God, acts of civil or military authority, acts of terrorism, cyberattacks, embargoes, epidemics, pandemics (including COVID-19), disease outbreaks (or worsening) and public health crises (including any restrictions that relate to or arise out of any such disease outbreaks or public health crises), war, riots, insurrections, fires, explosions, earthquakes, floods, unusually severe weather conditions, labor problems or, in the case of computer systems, any significant and prolonged failure in electrical or air conditioning equipment. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the receipt by a Party of an unsolicited takeover offer or other acquisition proposal, even if unforeseen or unavoidable, and such Party’s response thereto, shall not be deemed an event of Force Majeure.

Form 10” shall mean the registration statement on Form 10 filed by CURB with the SEC to effect the registration of CURB Shares pursuant to the Exchange Act in connection with the Distribution, as such registration statement may be amended or supplemented from time to time prior to the Distribution.

Governmental Authority” shall mean any nation or government, any state, municipality or other political subdivision thereof, and any entity, body, agency, commission, department, board, bureau, court, tribunal or other instrumentality, whether federal, state, local, domestic, foreign or multinational, exercising executive, legislative, judicial, regulatory, administrative or other similar functions of, or pertaining to, government and any executive official thereof.

Group” shall mean either the CURB Group or the SITC Group, as the context requires.

Hazardous Materials” shall mean any chemical, material, substance, waste, pollutant, emission, discharge, release or contaminant that could result in Liability under, or that is prohibited, limited or regulated by or pursuant to, any Environmental Law, and any natural or artificial substance (whether solid, liquid or gas, noise, ion, vapor or electromagnetic) that could cause harm to human health or the environment, including petroleum, petroleum products and byproducts, asbestos and asbestos-containing materials, urea formaldehyde foam insulation, electronic, medical or infectious wastes, polychlorinated biphenyls, radon gas, radioactive substances, chlorofluorocarbons and all other ozone-depleting substances.

Indemnifying Party” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4.4(a).

 

6


Indemnitee” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4.4(a).

Indemnity Payment” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4.4(a).

Information” shall mean information, whether or not patentable or copyrightable, in written, oral, electronic or other tangible or intangible forms, stored in any medium, including studies, forecasts, budgets, reports, records, books, Contracts, instruments, surveys, discoveries, ideas, concepts, know-how, techniques, designs, specifications, drawings, blueprints, research and development files, diagrams, models, prototypes, samples, flow charts, data, computer data, disks, diskettes, tapes, computer programs or other software, marketing plans, customer and tenant names, vendor data, communications by or to attorneys (including attorney-client privileged communications), memos and other materials prepared by attorneys or under their direction (including attorney work product), and other technical, financial, employee or business information or data.

Information Statement” shall mean the information statement to be made available to the Record Holders in connection with the Distribution, as such information statement may be amended or supplemented from time to time prior to the Distribution.

Initial Notice” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7.1.

Insurance Proceeds” shall mean those monies:

 

  (a)

received by an insured from an insurance carrier; or

 

  (b)

paid by an insurance carrier on behalf of the insured;

in any such case net of any applicable premium adjustments (including reserves and retrospectively rated premium adjustments) and net of any costs or expenses incurred in the collection thereof.

Insured Party” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5.1(b).

Intellectual Property” shall mean all of the following whether arising under the Laws of the United States or of any foreign or multinational jurisdiction: (a) patents, patent applications (including patents issued thereon) and statutory invention registrations, including reissues, divisions, continuations, continuations in part, substitutions, renewals, extensions and reexaminations of any of the foregoing, and all rights in any of the foregoing provided by international treaties or conventions; (b) trademarks, service marks, trade names, service names, trade dress, logos and other source or business identifiers, including all goodwill associated with any of the foregoing, and any and all common law rights in and to any of the foregoing, registrations and applications for registration of any of the foregoing, all rights in and to any of the foregoing provided by international treaties or conventions, and all reissues, extensions and renewals of any of the foregoing; (c) Internet domain names, accounts or “handles” with Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter and similar social media platforms, registrations and related rights; (d) copyrightable works, copyrights, moral rights, mask work rights, database rights and design rights, in each case, other than Software, whether or not registered, and all registrations and applications for registration of any of the foregoing, and all rights in and to any of the foregoing provided by international treaties or conventions; (e) confidential and proprietary information, including trade secrets, invention disclosures, processes and know-how, in each case, other than Software; and (f) intellectual property rights arising from or in respect of any Technology.

 

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IRS” shall mean the U.S. Internal Revenue Service.

Law” shall mean any national, supranational, federal, state, provincial, local or similar law (including common law), statute, code, order, ordinance, rule, regulation, treaty, license, permit, authorization, approval, consent, decree, injunction, binding judicial or administrative interpretation or other requirement, in each case, enacted, promulgated, issued or entered by a Governmental Authority.

Lease Agreement” means the form of lease agreement attached to Schedule 1.3.

Liabilities” shall mean all liabilities, debts, guarantees, assurances, commitments, responsibilities, Losses, remediation, deficiencies, fines, settlements, sanctions, expenses, interest and obligations of any nature or kind, whether accrued or fixed, absolute or contingent, matured or unmatured, accrued or not accrued, asserted or unasserted, liquidated or unliquidated, foreseen or unforeseen, known or unknown, reserved or unreserved, or determined or determinable, including those arising under any Law, claim (including any Third-Party Claim), Action, or order, writ, judgment, injunction, decree, stipulation, determination or award entered by or with any Governmental Authority or arbitration tribunal, and those arising under any Contract, promise, release, warranty, commitment or undertaking, or any fines, damages or equitable relief that is imposed, in each case, including all costs and expenses relating thereto.

Losses” shall mean actual losses (including any diminution in value), costs, Taxes, damages, penalties and expenses (including costs or expenses incurred by a Person for repairing or replacing any lost or damaged property, lost business income, extra expense, legal and accounting fees, and expenses and costs of investigation and litigation), whether or not involving a Third-Party Claim.

Managing Party” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4.11(d).

Mediation Request” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7.2.

Mixed Actions” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4.11(c).

Non-Managing Party” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4.11(d).

Notice” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 10.5.

NYSE” shall mean the New York Stock Exchange.

Option Notice Deadline” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 8.4.

Option Purchase Price” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 8.4.

Option Trigger Date” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 8.4.

 

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Parties” shall mean the parties to this Agreement.

Permits” shall mean permits, approvals, authorizations, consents, licenses or certificates issued by any Governmental Authority.

Person” shall mean an individual, a general or limited partnership, a corporation, a trust, a joint venture, an unincorporated organization, a limited liability entity, any other entity and any Governmental Authority.

Privileged Information” shall mean any information, in written, oral, electronic or other tangible or intangible forms, including any communications by or to attorneys (including attorney-client privileged communications), memoranda and other materials prepared by attorneys or under their direction (including attorney work product), as to which a Party or any member of its Group would be entitled to assert or have asserted a privilege, including the attorney-client and attorney work product privileges.

Purchase Option” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 8.4.

Purchase Option Company” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 8.4.

Record Date” shall mean the close of business on the date to be determined by the SITC Board as the record date for the Record Holders entitled to receive CURB Shares pursuant to the Distribution.

Record Holders” shall have the meaning set forth in the Recitals.

Redevelopment Projects” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 8.3.

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

Release” shall mean any release, spill, emission, discharge, leaking, pumping, pouring, dumping, injection, deposit, disposal, dispersal, leaching or migration of Hazardous Materials into the environment (including ambient air, surface water, groundwater and surface or subsurface strata).

Representatives” shall mean, with respect to any Person, any of such Person’s directors, officers, employees, agents, consultants, advisors, accountants, attorneys or other representatives.

SEC” shall mean the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

Security Interest” shall mean any mortgage, security interest, pledge, lien, charge, claim, option, right to acquire, voting or other restriction, right-of-way, covenant, condition, easement, encroachment, restriction on transfer or other encumbrance of any nature whatsoever.

Separation” shall have the meaning set forth in the Recitals.

 

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Shared Services Agreement” shall mean the shared services agreement to be entered into by and among SITC, CURB and CURB OP in connection with the Separation, the Distribution or the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement, as it may be amended from time to time.

SITC” shall have the meaning set forth in the Preamble.

SITC Accounts” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.9(a).

SITC Assets” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.2(b).

SITC Board” shall have the meaning set forth in the Recitals.

SITC Business” shall mean all businesses, operations and activities (whether or not such businesses, operations or activities are or have been terminated, divested or discontinued) conducted at any time prior to the Effective Time by either Party or any member of its Group, other than the CURB Business.

SITC Group” shall mean SITC and each Person that is a Subsidiary of SITC (other than CURB and any other member of the CURB Group).

SITC Indemnitees” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4.2.

SITC Liabilities” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.3(b).

SITC Name and SITC Marks” shall mean the names, marks, trade dress, logos, monograms, domain names and other source or business identifiers of either Party or any member of its Group using or containing “SITE Centers Corp.,” “SITE” or “SITC,” either alone or in combination with other words or elements, and all names, marks, trade dress, logos, monograms, domain names and other source or business identifiers confusingly similar to or embodying any of the foregoing either alone or in combination with other words or elements, together with the goodwill associated with any of the foregoing.

SITC Shares” shall have the meaning set forth in the Recitals.

Software” shall mean any and all (a) computer programs, including any and all software implementation of algorithms, models and methodologies, whether in source code, object code, human readable form or other form; (b) databases and compilations, including any and all data and collections of data, whether machine readable or otherwise; (c) descriptions, flow charts and other work products used to design, plan, organize and develop any of the foregoing; (d) screens, user interfaces, report formats, firmware, development tools, templates, menus, buttons and icons; and (e) documentation, including user manuals and other training documentation, relating to any of the foregoing.

Subdivision” has the meaning set forth in Section 8.2.

 

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Subsidiary” shall mean, with respect to any Person, any other Person of which such Person (a) beneficially owns, either directly or indirectly, more than fifty percent (50%) of (i) the total combined voting power of all classes of voting securities, (ii) the total combined equity interests or (iii) the capital or profit interests, in the case of a partnership, or (b) otherwise has the power to elect, either directly or indirectly, a majority of the board of directors or similar governing body.

Tangible Information” shall mean information that is contained in written, electronic or other tangible forms.

Target Cash Amount” shall mean $600,000,000.

Tax Matters Agreement” means that certain Tax Matters Agreement by and among SITC, CURB and CURB OP dated as of the date hereof.

Tax or Taxes” shall have the meaning set forth in the Tax Matters Agreement.

Technology” shall mean all technology, hardware, computers, servers, workstations, routers, hubs, switches, data communication lines, network and telecommunications equipment, Internet-related information technology infrastructure and other information technology equipment, in each case, other than Software.

Third Party” shall mean any Person other than the Parties or any members of their respective Groups.

Third-Party Claim” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4.5(a).

Transfer Documents” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.1(b).

Transferred Entities” shall mean the entities set forth on Schedule 1.4.

Unreleased Liability” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.5(b).

ARTICLE II

THE SEPARATION

2.1 Transfer of Assets and Assumption of Liabilities.

(a) Prior to the Distribution:

(i) Transfer and Assignment of CURB Assets. SITC shall, and shall cause the applicable members of the SITC Group to, contribute, assign, transfer, convey and deliver to CURB OP or the other applicable members of the CURB Group, and CURB OP or the other applicable members of the CURB Group shall accept from SITC and the applicable members of the SITC Group, all of SITC’s and such SITC Group members’ respective direct or indirect right, title and interest in and to all of the CURB Assets (it being understood that if any CURB Asset shall be held by a Transferred Entity or a wholly owned Subsidiary of a Transferred Entity, such CURB Asset may be assigned, transferred, conveyed and delivered to CURB OP as a result of the transfer of all of the equity interests in such Transferred Entity from SITC or the applicable members of the SITC Group to the applicable member of the CURB Group), such that the CURB Group will own, to the extent it does not already own, all of the CURB Assets.

 

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(ii) Acceptance and Assumption of CURB Liabilities. CURB OP or the other applicable members of the CURB Group shall accept, assume and agree faithfully to perform, discharge and fulfill all of the CURB Liabilities in accordance with their respective terms (it being understood that if any CURB Liability shall be held by a Transferred Entity or a wholly owned Subsidiary of a Transferred Entity, such CURB Liability may be assumed by CURB OP as a result of the transfer of all of the equity interests in such Transferred Entity from SITC or the applicable members of the SITC Group to the applicable member of the CURB Group), such that the CURB Group will be responsible for all CURB Liabilities in accordance with their respective terms.

(b) Transfer Documents. In furtherance of the contribution, assignment, transfer, conveyance and delivery of the Assets and the assumption of the Liabilities in accordance with Section 2.1(a), on or after the Distribution Date, (i) each Party shall execute and deliver, and shall cause the applicable members of its Group to execute and deliver, such bills of sale, quitclaim deeds, stock powers, certificates of title, assignments of contracts and other instruments of transfer, conveyance and assignment as and to the extent necessary to evidence the transfer, conveyance and assignment of all of such Party’s and the applicable members of its Group’s right, title and interest in and to such Assets to the other Party and the applicable members of its Group in accordance with Section 2.1(a); and (ii) each Party shall execute and deliver, and shall cause the applicable members of its Group to execute and deliver, to the other Party such assumptions of contracts and other instruments of assumption as and to the extent necessary to evidence the valid and effective assumption of the Liabilities by such Party and the applicable members of its Group in accordance with Section 2.1(a). All of the foregoing documents contemplated by this Section 2.1(b) shall be referred to collectively herein as the “Transfer Documents.”

(c) Misallocations. In the event that at any time or from time to time (whether prior to, at or after the Effective Time), one Party (or any member of such Party’s respective Group) shall receive or otherwise possess any Asset that is or should have been allocated to the other Party (or any member of such Party’s Group) pursuant to this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement, such Party shall promptly transfer, or cause to be transferred, such Asset to the Party so entitled thereto (or to any member of such Party’s Group), and such Party (or member of such Party’s Group) shall accept such Asset. Prior to any such transfer, the Person receiving or possessing such Asset shall hold such Asset in trust for any such other Person. In the event that at any time or from time to time (whether prior to, at or after the Effective Time), one Party (or any member of such Party’s Group) shall receive or otherwise assume any Liability that is or should have been allocated to the other Party (or any member of such Party’s Group) pursuant to this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement, such Party shall promptly transfer, or cause to be transferred, such Liability to the Party responsible therefor (or to any member of such Party’s Group), and such Party (or member of such Party’s Group) shall accept, assume and agree to faithfully perform such Liability. For the avoidance of doubt, in the event that at any time or from time to time (whether prior to, at or after the Effective Time), one Party (or any member of such Party’s respective Group) shall make a payment in respect of any Liability that the Parties agree is allocated to the other Party pursuant to this Agreement or otherwise, such other Party shall reimburse the first Party for the amount so paid as promptly as is reasonably practicable.

 

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(d) Waiver of Bulk-Sale and Bulk-Transfer Laws. CURB and each member of the CURB Group hereby waives compliance by each and every member of the SITC Group with the requirements and provisions of any “bulk-sale” or “bulk-transfer” Laws of any jurisdiction that may be applicable with respect to the transfer or sale of any or all of the CURB Assets or CURB Properties to any member of the CURB Group. SITC and each member of the SITC Group hereby waives compliance by each and every member of the CURB Group with the requirements and provisions of any “bulk-sale” or “bulk-transfer” Laws of any jurisdiction that may be applicable with respect to the transfer or sale of any or all of the SITC Assets to any member of the SITC Group.

2.2 CURB Assets.

(a) CURB Assets. For purposes of this Agreement, “CURB Assets” shall mean:

(i) all issued and outstanding capital stock or other equity interests of the Transferred Entities that are owned by either Party or any members of its Group as of the Effective Time;

(ii) all interests in the CURB Properties of whatever nature, including easements, whether as owner, mortgagee or holder of a Security Interest in the CURB Properties, lessor (including, for the avoidance of doubt, all leases relating primarily to any CURB Property pursuant to which a Third Party leases all or any portion of such CURB Property, and all rights of the landlord thereunder), sublessor, lessee, sublessee or otherwise, and including all buildings or structures located thereon, and all associated parking areas, fixtures and all other improvements located thereon, and including all rights, benefits, privileges, tenements, hereditaments, covenants, conditions, restrictions, easements and other appurtenances on any CURB Property or otherwise appertaining to or benefitting any CURB Property and/or the improvements situated thereon, including all mineral rights, development rights, air and water rights, subsurface rights, vested rights entitling, or prospective rights which may entitle, the owner of any CURB Property to related easements, land use rights, air rights, viewshed rights, density credits, water, sewer, electrical and other utility service, credits and/or rebates, strips and gores and any land lying in the bed of any street, road, alley, open or proposed, adjoining any CURB Property, and all easements, rights of way and other appurtenances used or connected with the beneficial use or enjoyment of any CURB Property;

(iii) all (A) tangible equipment, machinery, supplies, furniture and other tangible personal property either (1) primarily used or held primarily for use in the CURB Business that is located in the ordinary course of business at a CURB Property or (2) exclusively used or held for use in the CURB Business and (B) except as set forth on Schedule 2.2(b)(vi), all motor vehicles primarily used or held primarily for use in the CURB Business or provided for the use of a CURB Group employee;

 

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(iv) all accounts receivable and prepaid assets primarily related to the CURB Business;

(v) all cash and cash equivalents and marketable securities contained in any CURB Accounts as of the close of business on the day prior to the Effective Time;

(vi) all Assets of either Party or any of the members of its Group as of the Effective Time that are expressly provided by this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement as Assets to be transferred to CURB or any other member of the CURB Group;

(vii) all CURB Contracts as of the Effective Time and all rights, interests or claims of either Party or any of the members of its Group thereunder as of the Effective Time;

(viii) all (A) CURB Intellectual Property as of the Effective Time and all rights, interests or claims of either Party or any of the members of its Group thereunder as of the Effective Time and (B) all goodwill of the CURB Business other than goodwill associated with any Intellectual Property of either Party or any of the members of its Group as of the Effective Time (other than the CURB Intellectual Property), including the SITC Name and SITC Marks;

(ix) all CURB Permits as of the Effective Time and all rights, interests or claims of either Party or any of the members of its Group thereunder as of the Effective Time;

(x) all rights to causes of Action that are primarily related to the CURB Business;

(xi) all rights, interests and claims of either Party or any of the members of its Group as of the Effective Time with respect to Information that is primarily related to the CURB Assets, the CURB Liabilities, the CURB Business or the Transferred Entities and, subject to the provisions of the applicable Ancillary Agreements, a non-exclusive right to all Information that is less than primarily related to the CURB Assets, the CURB Liabilities, the CURB Business or the Transferred Entities; and

(xii) to the extent not of a nature already covered by subclauses (i) – (iv) or (vii) – (x), any and all other Assets, of whatever sort, nature or description, primarily used or held primarily for use in the CURB Business.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, the CURB Assets shall not in any event include any Asset referred to in Section 2.2(b).

 

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(b) SITC Assets. For the purposes of this Agreement, “SITC Assets” shall mean all Assets of either Party or the members of its Group as of the Effective Time, other than the CURB Assets, it being understood that the SITC Assets shall include:

(i) all Assets that are expressly contemplated by this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement (or the Schedules hereto or thereto) as Assets to be retained by SITC or any other member of the SITC Group;

(ii) all Contracts of either Party or any of the members of its Group as of the Effective Time (other than the CURB Contracts);

(iii) all Intellectual Property of either Party or any of the members of its Group as of the Effective Time (other than the CURB Intellectual Property), including the SITC Name and SITC Marks and any Software or Technology owned by, licensed by or sublicensed by or to either Party or any member of its Group;

(iv) any computers, smart phones and similar communications equipment provided by either Group in connection with its employees’ performance of services;

(v) all Permits of either Party or any of the members of its Group as of the Effective Time (other than the CURB Permits); and

(vi) any and all Assets set forth on Schedule 2.2(b)(vi).

2.3 CURB Liabilities; SITC Liabilities.

(a) CURB Liabilities. For the purposes of this Agreement, “CURB Liabilities” shall mean the following Liabilities of either Party or any of the members of its Group:

(i) any and all Liabilities to the extent that such Liabilities relate to, arise out of or result from the operation or conduct of the CURB Business or ownership or use of any CURB Asset after the Effective Time;

(ii) any and all Liabilities relating to, arising out of or resulting from the CURB Contracts or the CURB Permits to the extent that such Liabilities relate to, arise out of or result from conduct or activity after the Effective Time and do not relate to any failure to perform, improper performance or other breach, default or violation of any member of the SITC Group or the CURB Group prior to the Effective Time;

(iii) any and all Liabilities relating to, arising out of or resulting from the CURB Financing Arrangements, except for any costs or expenses arising in connection with the closing of such CURB Financing Arrangements;

(iv) any and all Liabilities that are expressly provided by this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement (or the Schedules hereto or thereto) as Liabilities to be assumed by CURB or any other member of the CURB Group, and all agreements, obligations and Liabilities of any member of the CURB Group under this Agreement or any of the Ancillary Agreements;

 

15


(v) any and all Liabilities arising out of claims made by any Third Party (including SITC’s or CURB’s respective directors, officers, shareholders, employees and agents) against any member of the SITC Group or the CURB Group to the extent relating to, arising out of or resulting from the Liabilities referred to in clauses (i) through (iv) above; and

(vi) any and all Liabilities set forth on Schedule 2.3(a)(vi).

Notwithstanding the foregoing, the CURB Liabilities shall not in any event include any Liabilities referred to in Section 2.3(b).

(b) SITC Liabilities. For the purposes of this Agreement, “SITC Liabilities” shall mean:

(i) any and all Liabilities set forth on Schedule 2.3(b)(i);

(ii) any and all Liabilities relating to, arising out of or resulting from actions, inactions, events, omissions, conditions, facts or circumstances occurring or existing prior to the Effective Time (whether or not such Liabilities cease being contingent, mature, become known, are asserted or foreseen, or accrue, in each case before, at or after the Effective Time) of any member of the SITC Group and, prior to the Effective Time, any member of the CURB Group, in each case that are not CURB Liabilities;

(iii) any and all Liabilities that are expressly provided by this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement (or the Schedules hereto or thereto) as Liabilities to be assumed or retained by SITC or any other member of the SITC Group, and all agreements, obligations and Liabilities of any member of the SITC Group under this Agreement or any of the Ancillary Agreements;

(iv) any costs or expenses arising in connection with the closing of the CURB Financing Arrangements; and

(v) any and all Liabilities arising out of claims made by any Third Party (including SITC’s or CURB’s respective directors, officers, shareholders, employees and agents) against any member of the SITC Group or the CURB Group to the extent relating to, arising out of or resulting from the SITC Business or the SITC Assets or the other Liabilities referred to in clauses (i) through (iii) above.

2.4 Approvals and Notifications.

(a) Approvals and Notifications for CURB Assets. To the extent that the transfer or assignment of any CURB Asset, the assumption of any CURB Liability, the Separation or the Distribution requires any Approvals or Notifications, the Parties shall use their commercially reasonable efforts to obtain or make such Approvals or Notifications as soon as reasonably practicable; provided, however, that, except to the extent expressly provided in this Agreement or any of the Ancillary Agreements or as otherwise agreed between SITC and CURB, neither SITC nor CURB shall be obligated to contribute capital or pay any consideration in any form (including providing any letter of credit, guaranty or other financial accommodation) to any Person in order to obtain or make such Approvals or Notifications.

 

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(b) Delayed CURB Transfers. Without limiting or modifying the covenants and agreements set forth in Section 8.2, and to the extent that the valid, complete and perfected transfer or assignment to the CURB Group of any CURB Asset or assumption by the CURB Group of any CURB Liability would be a violation of applicable Law or require any Approval or Notification in connection with the Separation or the Distribution that has not been obtained or made by the Effective Time, then, unless the Parties mutually shall otherwise determine, the transfer or assignment to the CURB Group of such CURB Assets or the assumption by the CURB Group of such CURB Liabilities, as the case may be, shall be automatically deemed deferred and any such purported transfer, assignment or assumption shall be null and void until such time as all legal impediments are removed or such Approvals or Notifications have been obtained or made. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any such CURB Assets or CURB Liabilities shall continue to constitute CURB Assets and CURB Liabilities for all other purposes of this Agreement.

(c) Treatment of Delayed CURB Assets and Delayed CURB Liabilities. If any transfer or assignment of any CURB Asset or any assumption of any CURB Liability intended to be transferred, assigned or assumed hereunder, as the case may be, is not consummated on or prior to the Effective Time, whether as a result of the provisions of Section 2.4(b) or for any other reason (any such CURB Asset, a “Delayed CURB Asset” and any such CURB Liability, a “Delayed CURB Liability”), then, insofar as reasonably possible and subject to applicable Law, the member of the SITC Group retaining such Delayed CURB Asset or such Delayed CURB Liability, as the case may be, shall thereafter hold such Delayed CURB Asset or Delayed CURB Liability, as the case may be, for the use and benefit or burden, as applicable, of the member of the CURB Group entitled thereto (at the expense of the member of the CURB Group entitled thereto). In addition, the member of the SITC Group retaining such Delayed CURB Asset or such Delayed CURB Liability shall, insofar as reasonably possible and to the extent permitted by applicable Law, treat such Delayed CURB Asset or Delayed CURB Liability in the ordinary course of business in accordance with past practice and take such other actions as may be reasonably requested by the member of the CURB Group to whom such Delayed CURB Asset is to be transferred or assigned, or which will assume such Delayed CURB Liability, as the case may be, in order to place such member of the CURB Group in a substantially similar position as if such Delayed CURB Asset or Delayed CURB Liability had been transferred, assigned or assumed as contemplated hereby and so that all the benefits and burdens relating to such Delayed CURB Asset or Delayed CURB Liability, as the case may be, including use, risk of loss, potential for gain, and dominion, control and command over such Delayed CURB Asset or Delayed CURB Liability, as the case may be, and all costs and expenses related thereto, shall inure from and after the Effective Time to the CURB Group.

(d) Transfer of Delayed CURB Assets and Delayed CURB Liabilities. If and when the Approvals or Notifications, the absence of which caused the deferral of transfer or assignment of any Delayed CURB Asset or the deferral of assumption of any Delayed CURB Liability pursuant to Section 2.4(b), are obtained or made, and, if and when any other legal impediments for the transfer or assignment of any Delayed CURB Asset or the assumption of any Delayed CURB Liability have been removed, the transfer or assignment of the applicable Delayed CURB Asset or the assumption of the applicable Delayed CURB Liability, as the case may be, shall be effected in accordance with the terms of this Agreement and/or the applicable Ancillary Agreement.

 

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(e) Costs for Delayed CURB Assets and Delayed CURB Liabilities. Any member of the SITC Group retaining a Delayed CURB Asset or Delayed CURB Liability due to the deferral of the transfer or assignment of such Delayed CURB Asset or the deferral of the assumption of such Delayed CURB Liability, as the case may be, shall not be obligated, in connection with the foregoing, to expend any money unless the necessary funds are advanced (or otherwise made available) by CURB or the member of the CURB Group entitled to or burdened by the Delayed CURB Asset or Delayed CURB Liability, other than reasonable out-of-pocket expenses, attorneys’ fees and recording or similar fees, all of which shall be promptly reimbursed by CURB or the member of the CURB Group entitled to or burdened by such Delayed CURB Asset or Delayed CURB Liability; provided, however, that the SITC Group shall not allow the loss or diminution of value of any Delayed CURB Asset without first providing the CURB Group commercially reasonable notice of such potential loss or diminution in value and affording the CURB Group a commercially reasonable opportunity to take action to prevent such loss or diminution in value.

2.5 Novation of Liabilities.

(a) Each of SITC and CURB, at the request of the other, shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to obtain, or to cause to be obtained, as soon as reasonably practicable, any consent, substitution, approval or amendment required to novate or assign all CURB Liabilities or SITC Liabilities, as the case may be, and obtain in writing the unconditional release of each member of the other Group that is a party to any such arrangements, so that, in any such case, (i) the members of the CURB Group shall be solely responsible for such CURB Liabilities and (ii) the members of the SITC Group shall be solely responsible for such SITC Liabilities; provided, however, that, except as otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement or any of the Ancillary Agreements, neither SITC nor CURB shall be obligated to contribute any capital or pay any consideration in any form (including providing any letter of credit, guaranty or other financial accommodation) to any Third Party from whom any such consent, substitution, approval, amendment or release is requested.

(b) If SITC or CURB is unable to obtain, or to cause to be obtained, any such required consent, substitution, approval, amendment or release and the applicable member of the Group (the “Bound Member”) continues to be bound by such Liability (or any Contract, in each case, pursuant to which any such Liability arises) with respect to which such Bound Member would not be bound or responsible had such required consent, substitution, approval, amendment or release been obtained (each, an “Unreleased Liability”), the Party whose Group such Liability is allocated under this Agreement (the “Designated Party”) shall, to the extent not prohibited by Law, as indemnitor, guarantor, agent or subcontractor for such Bound Member, as the case may be, (i) pay, perform and discharge fully all of the obligations or other Liabilities of such Bound Member that constitute Unreleased Liabilities from and after the Effective Time and (ii) use its commercially reasonable efforts to effect such payment, performance or discharge prior to the time any demand for such payment, performance or discharge is permitted to be made by the obligee thereunder on any member of the Group of the Bound Member. If and when any such consent, substitution, approval, amendment or release shall be obtained or the Unreleased Liabilities shall otherwise become assignable or able to be novated, the Bound Member shall promptly assign, or cause to be assigned, and Designated Party or the applicable member of its Group shall assume, such Unreleased Liabilities without exchange of further consideration.

 

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2.6 Treatment of Guarantees. In furtherance of, and not in limitation of, the obligations set forth in Section 2.5:

(a) Each of SITC and CURB shall, at the request of the other Party and with the reasonable cooperation of such other Party and the applicable member(s) of such Party’s Group, use commercially reasonable efforts to (i) have any member(s) of the SITC Group removed as guarantor of, indemnitor of or obligor for any CURB Liability, including the removal of any Security Interest on or in any SITC Asset that may serve as collateral or security for any such CURB Liability; and (ii) have any member(s) of the CURB Group removed as guarantor of, indemnitor of or obligor for any SITC Liability, including the removal of any Security Interest on or in any CURB Asset that may serve as collateral or security for any such SITC Liability.

(b) To the extent required to obtain a release from a guarantee or indemnity of:

(i) any member of the SITC Group, CURB or one or more members of the CURB Group shall execute a guarantee or indemnity agreement in the form of the existing guarantee or indemnity or such other form as is agreed to by the relevant parties to such guarantee or indemnity agreement, which agreement shall include the removal of any Security Interest on or in any SITC Asset that may serve as collateral or security for any such CURB Liability, except to the extent that such existing guarantee or indemnity contains representations, covenants or other terms or provisions either (A) with which CURB would be reasonably unable to comply or (B) which CURB would not reasonably be able to avoid breaching; and

(ii) any member of the CURB Group, SITC or one or more members of the SITC Group shall execute a guarantee or indemnity agreement in the form of the existing guarantee or indemnity or such other form as is agreed to by the relevant parties to such guarantee or indemnity agreement, which agreement shall include the removal of any Security Interest on or in any CURB Asset that may serve as collateral or security for any such SITC Liability, except to the extent that such existing guarantee contains representations, covenants or other terms or provisions either (A) with which SITC would be reasonably unable to comply or (B) which SITC would not reasonably be able to avoid breaching.

(c) Until such time as SITC or CURB has obtained, or has caused to be obtained, any removal or release as set forth in clauses (a) and (b) of this Section 2.6, (i) the Party or the relevant member of its Group that has assumed the Liability related to such obligation or guarantee shall indemnify, defend and hold harmless the guarantor or obligor against or from any Liability arising from or relating thereto in accordance with the provisions of Article IV and shall, as agent or subcontractor for such guarantor, indemnitor or obligor, pay, perform and discharge fully all the obligations or other Liabilities of such guarantor, indemnitor or obligor thereunder; and (ii) each of SITC and CURB, on behalf of itself and the other members of its respective Group, agree not to renew or extend the term of, increase any

 

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obligations under, or transfer to a Third Party, any loan, guarantee, Contract or other obligation for which the other Party or a member of its Group is or may be liable unless all obligations of such other Party and the members of such other Party’s Group with respect thereto are thereupon terminated by documentation satisfactory in form and substance to such other Party. The indemnification procedures and limitations set forth in Article IV shall apply to the indemnification obligations set forth in this Section 2.6.

2.7 Termination of Agreements.

(a) Except as set forth in Section 2.7(b), in furtherance of the releases and other provisions of Section 4.1, CURB and each member of the CURB Group, on the one hand, and SITC and each member of the SITC Group, on the other hand, hereby terminate any and all agreements, arrangements, commitments or understandings, whether or not in writing, between or among CURB and/or any member of the CURB Group, on the one hand, and SITC and/or any member of the SITC Group, on the other hand, effective as of the Effective Time. No such terminated agreement, arrangement, commitment or understanding (including any provision thereof which purports to survive termination) shall be of any further force or effect after the Effective Time. Each Party shall, at the reasonable request of the other Party, take, or cause to be taken, such other actions as may be necessary to effect the foregoing.

(b) The provisions of Section 2.7(a) shall not apply to any of the following agreements, arrangements, commitments or understandings (or to any of the provisions thereof): (i) this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements (and each other agreement or instrument expressly contemplated by this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement to be entered into by any of the Parties or any of the members of their respective Groups or to be continued from and after the Effective Time); (ii) any agreements, arrangements, commitments or understandings listed or described on Schedule 2.7(b)(ii) (collectively, the “Continuing Contracts”), if any; (iii) any agreements, arrangements, commitments or understandings to which any Third Party is a party; (iv) any intercompany accounts payable or accounts receivable accrued as of the Effective Time that are reflected in the books and records of the Parties or otherwise documented in writing in accordance with past practices, which shall be settled in the manner contemplated by Section 2.7(c); (v) any agreements, arrangements, commitments or understandings to which any non-wholly owned Subsidiary of SITC or CURB, as the case may be, is a party (it being understood that directors’ qualifying shares or similar interests will be disregarded for purposes of determining whether a Subsidiary is wholly owned); and (vi) any Commingled Contracts.

(c) All of the intercompany accounts receivable and accounts payable between any member of the SITC Group, on the one hand, and any member of the CURB Group, on the other hand, outstanding as of the Effective Time (other than those set forth on Schedule 2.7(c)) shall be repaid and settled following the Effective Time in the ordinary course of business or, if otherwise mutually agreed by duly authorized representatives of SITC and CURB, cancelled.

2.8 Treatment of Commingled Contracts. Subject to applicable Law and without limiting the generality of the obligations set forth in Section 2.1, except (x) as provided for in the immediately following sentence or (y) to the extent that the benefits of any contract, agreement, arrangement, commitment or understanding described in this Section 2.8 are expressly conveyed

 

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to the applicable Party pursuant to this Agreement or an Ancillary Agreement, any Contract entered into by a member of the SITC Group with a Third Party that is not a CURB Contract, but pursuant to which the CURB Business, as of the Effective Time, has been provided certain revenues or other benefits in respect of the CURB Properties or the CURB Business (any such Contract, a “Commingled Contract”) shall not be assigned in relevant part to the applicable member(s) of the CURB Group. From and following the Effective Time, upon the request of CURB, SITC and the applicable members of the SITC Group shall use, with the reasonable cooperation of CURB and the applicable members of the CURB Group, commercially reasonable efforts to (i) cause, to the extent reasonably within the contractual or other ability or control of the applicable member(s) of the CURB Group, and subject to the reasonable cooperation of CURB and the applicable members of the CURB Group, the applicable Commingled Contract to be apportioned (including by obtaining the consent of such counterparty to enter into an amendment to the Contract, splitting or assigning in relevant part such Commingled Contract) between (A) the applicable member(s) of the SITC Group and (B) applicable member(s) of the CURB Group, pursuant to which the applicable member(s) of the CURB Group will assume all of the rights and obligations under such Commingled Contract that relate to the CURB Business, on the one hand, and the applicable member(s) of the SITC Group will assume all of the rights and obligations under such Commingled Contract that relate to the SITC Business, with terms and conditions related to the CURB Group materially similar to those terms and conditions related to the CURB Business prior to apportionment (except for changes reasonably necessary as a result of the transactions contemplated hereby); or (ii) assist the applicable member of the CURB Group in entering into a new Contract or Contracts with the applicable third party on substantially similar terms; provided that such assistance shall not include assistance by the SITC Group with the negotiation of commercial terms between the applicable member of the CURB Group and the applicable third party related to such new Contract or Contracts; provided, further, that nothing in this Section 2.8 shall require any member of the SITC Group to pay any non-de minimis consideration, agree to any adverse economic considerations, incur any other non-de minimis economic liability or make any non-de minimis concession with respect to any novation or assignment in connection with this Section 2.8.

2.9 Bank Accounts; Cash Balances; Cash Funding.

Except as otherwise provided in any Shared Services Agreement:

(a) Each Party agrees to take, or cause the members of its Group to take, at the Effective Time (or such earlier time as the Parties may agree), all actions necessary to amend all Contracts governing each bank and brokerage account owned by CURB or any other member of the CURB Group (collectively, the “CURB Accounts”) and all Contracts governing each bank or brokerage account owned by SITC or any other member of the SITC Group (collectively, the “SITC Accounts”) so that each such CURB Account and SITC Account, if currently linked (whether by automatic withdrawal, automatic deposit or any other authorization to transfer funds from or to, hereinafter) to any SITC Account or CURB Account, respectively, is de-linked from such SITC Account or CURB Account, respectively.

 

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(b) It is intended that, following consummation of the actions contemplated by Section 2.9(a), there will be in place a cash management process pursuant to which the CURB Accounts will be managed and funds collected will be transferred into one or more accounts maintained by CURB or a member of the CURB Group.

(c) It is intended that, following consummation of the actions contemplated by Section 2.9(a), there will continue to be in place a cash management process pursuant to which the SITC Accounts will be managed and funds collected will be transferred into one or more accounts maintained by SITC or a member of the SITC Group.

(d) With respect to any outstanding checks issued or payments initiated by SITC, CURB or any of the members of their respective Groups prior to the Effective Time, such outstanding checks and payments shall be honored following the Effective Time by the Person or Group owning the account on which the check is drawn or from which the payment was initiated, respectively.

(e) As between SITC and CURB (and the members of their respective Groups), all payments made and reimbursements received after the Effective Time by either Party (or member of its Group) that relate to a business, Asset or Liability of the other Party (or member of its Group), shall be held by such Party in trust for the use and benefit of the Party entitled thereto and, promptly following receipt by such Party of any such payment or reimbursement, such Party shall pay over, or shall cause the applicable member of its Group to pay over, to the other Party the amount of such payment or reimbursement without right of set-off.

(f) It is understood and agreed that it is intended that as of the Effective Time, CURB OP and the other members of the CURB Group shall have (following the adjustments (if any) contemplated by this Section 2.9) cash and cash equivalents in an aggregate amount that is equal to or greater than the Target Cash Amount.

(g) Within 30 days after the Distribution Date, SITC shall deliver to CURB a good faith calculation of the aggregate amount of cash and cash equivalents (net of any overdrafts) held by the CURB Group as of the Effective Time (the “Final Cash Balance”). SITC’s calculation of the Final Cash Balance shall be final, binding, conclusive and non-appealable on CURB and CURB OP for all purposes of this Agreement and, for the avoidance of doubt, shall not be subject to further adjustment as a result of payments required to be made by one Party to the other after the Effective Time under this Agreement or under any of the Ancillary Agreements.

(h) If the Final Cash Balance is less than the Target Cash Amount, then SITC shall pay or cause to be paid an amount in cash equal to such absolute value of the difference to CURB OP by wire transfer of immediately available funds to an account or accounts designated in writing by CURB to SITC within 30 days after the date of delivery of the Final Cash Balance by SITC.

2.10 Ancillary Agreements. Effective on or prior to the Effective Time, each of SITC and CURB will, or will cause the applicable members of their Groups to, execute and deliver all Ancillary Agreements to which it (or any member of its Group) is a party.

 

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2.11 Disclaimer of Representations and Warranties. EACH OF SITC (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND EACH MEMBER OF THE SITC GROUP) AND CURB (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND EACH MEMBER OF THE CURB GROUP) UNDERSTANDS AND AGREES THAT, EXCEPT AS EXPRESSLY SET FORTH HEREIN OR IN ANY ANCILLARY AGREEMENT, NO PARTY TO THIS AGREEMENT, ANY ANCILLARY AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER AGREEMENT OR DOCUMENT CONTEMPLATED BY THIS AGREEMENT, ANY ANCILLARY AGREEMENT OR OTHERWISE, IS REPRESENTING OR WARRANTING IN ANY WAY AS TO THE ASSETS, BUSINESSES OR LIABILITIES TRANSFERRED OR ASSUMED AS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY OR THEREBY, AS TO ANY CONSENTS OR APPROVALS REQUIRED IN CONNECTION THEREWITH, AS TO THE VALUE OR FREEDOM FROM ANY SECURITY INTERESTS OF, OR ANY OTHER MATTER CONCERNING, ANY ASSETS OF SUCH PARTY, OR AS TO THE ABSENCE OF ANY DEFENSES OR RIGHT OF SET-OFF OR FREEDOM FROM COUNTERCLAIM WITH RESPECT TO ANY CLAIM OR OTHER ASSET, INCLUDING ANY ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE, OF ANY PARTY, OR AS TO THE LEGAL SUFFICIENCY OF ANY ASSIGNMENT, DOCUMENT OR INSTRUMENT DELIVERED HEREUNDER TO CONVEY TITLE TO ANY ASSET OR THING OF VALUE UPON THE EXECUTION, DELIVERY AND FILING HEREOF OR THEREOF. EXCEPT AS MAY EXPRESSLY BE SET FORTH HEREIN OR IN ANY ANCILLARY AGREEMENT, ALL SUCH ASSETS ARE BEING TRANSFERRED ON AN “AS IS,” “WHERE IS” BASIS (AND, IN THE CASE OF ANY REAL PROPERTY, BY MEANS OF A QUITCLAIM OR SIMILAR FORM OF DEED OR CONVEYANCE) AND THE RESPECTIVE TRANSFEREES SHALL BEAR THE ECONOMIC AND LEGAL RISKS THAT (A) ANY CONVEYANCE WILL PROVE TO BE INSUFFICIENT TO VEST IN THE TRANSFEREE GOOD AND MARKETABLE TITLE, FREE AND CLEAR OF ANY SECURITY INTEREST, AND (B) ANY NECESSARY APPROVALS OR NOTIFICATIONS ARE NOT OBTAINED OR MADE OR THAT ANY REQUIREMENTS OF LAWS OR JUDGMENTS ARE NOT COMPLIED WITH.

2.12 Names and Marks. Subject to the terms and conditions contained herein, effective as of the Effective Time, SITC, on behalf of itself and the members of the SITC Group, hereby grants to the members of the CURB Group, a non-exclusive, worldwide, irrevocable, and royalty-free license to continue to use the SITC Name and SITC Marks in connection with the continued operation of the CURB Business in a manner consistent with the members of the CURB Group’s use of the SITC Name and SITC Marks in the CURB Business prior to the Effective Time solely to (i) continue to display the SITC Name and SITC Marks on the CURB Properties as displayed on such properties at the Effective Time until such time that such signage is removed in the ordinary course of business and (ii) use the SITC Name and SITC Marks on any item of inventory or office supplies, documents and forms, packaging and shipping materials until such time that such inventory, supplies or materials, as applicable, are exhausted.

2.13 Financial Information Certifications. SITC’s disclosure controls and procedures and internal control over financial reporting (as each is contemplated by the Exchange Act) are currently applicable to the CURB Group insofar as the members of the CURB Group are Subsidiaries of SITC. In order to enable the principal executive officer and principal financial officer of CURB to make the certifications required of them under Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, SITC, as soon as reasonably practicable following the Distribution Date and in any event prior to such time as CURB is required to file its first quarterly report on Form

 

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10-Q, shall provide CURB with one or more certifications with respect to such disclosure controls and procedures, its internal control over financial reporting and the effectiveness thereof. Such certification(s) shall be provided by SITC (and not by any officer or employee in their individual capacity). With respect to any periods following the Distribution Date, subject to the requirements of the Shared Services Agreement, the Parties shall cooperate and discuss in good faith any certifications or other supporting documentation required by CURB.

2.14 Straddle Period Landlord Expenses; CAM Charges Reconciliation. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary:

(a) In the event of any Liabilities for landlord expenses (i.e., those that are not by their nature of a type that it is customary to seek reimbursement of such expenses from tenants) arising out of or resulting from the operation or conduct of the CURB Properties for any straddle period (i.e., a billing period that begins before and ends after the Distribution Date), to the extent that the total costs on any invoice or other billing statement for an individual straddle period Liability does not exceed $5,000, the Parties agree to the procedures for allocating such Liabilities among the SITC Group, on the one hand, and CURB Group, on the other hand, as set forth on Schedule 2.14(a). To the extent that all or any portion of any Liability described in the immediately preceding sentence is allocated pursuant to Schedule 2.14(a) to one Group or any member thereof, the Party whose Group such Liability is allocated, to the extent not prohibited by applicable Law, shall be solely responsible for, and shall fully pay, perform and discharge, all such Liabilities.

(b) The Parties hereby acknowledge that certain expenses (including real estate taxes, insurance and common area maintenance charges) related to CURB Properties may be collected from tenants in advance based upon the applicable landlord’s estimates thereof and may subsequently be subject to adjustment, on an annualized basis, after the expiration of the calendar year in which such expenses are incurred based upon the reconciliation of the level of estimated expenses to the expenses actually incurred by the applicable landlord. In furtherance of the foregoing, the Parties agree that the procedures set forth on Schedule 2.14(b) shall determine the allocation among the SITC Group, on the one hand, and CURB Group, on the other hand, of any amounts due to or owed from tenants on account of such reconciliation for the calendar year in which the Distribution occurs. To the extent that all or any portion of any Liability for amounts owed to tenants on account of such reconciliation is allocated pursuant to Schedule 2.14(b) to one Group or any member thereof, the Party whose Group such Liability is allocated, to the extent not prohibited by applicable Law, shall be solely responsible for, and shall fully pay, perform and discharge, all such Liabilities.

 

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ARTICLE III

THE DISTRIBUTION

3.1 Sole and Absolute Discretion; Cooperation.

(a) SITC shall, in its sole and absolute discretion, determine the terms of the Distribution, including the form, structure and terms of any transaction(s) and/or offering(s) to effect the Distribution and the timing and conditions to the consummation of the Distribution. In addition, SITC may, at any time and from time to time until the consummation of the Distribution, modify or change the terms of the Distribution, including by accelerating or delaying the timing of the consummation of all or part of the Distribution. Nothing shall in any way limit SITC’s right to terminate this Agreement or the Distribution as set forth in Article IX or alter the consequences of any such termination from those specified in Article IX.

(b) CURB shall cooperate with SITC to accomplish the Distribution and shall, at SITC’s direction, promptly take any and all actions necessary or desirable to effect the Distribution, including in respect of the registration under the Exchange Act of CURB Shares on the Form 10; provided that SITC will reimburse CURB for any costs or expenses incurred by any member of the CURB Group in connection with such cooperation or actions. SITC shall select any investment bank or manager in connection with the Distribution, as well as any financial printer, solicitation and/or exchange agent and financial, legal, accounting and other advisors for SITC, the fees and expenses of which will be at SITC’s sole expense. CURB and SITC, as the case may be, will provide to the Agent any information required in order to complete the Distribution.

3.2 Actions Prior to the Distribution. Prior to the Effective Time and subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, the Parties shall take, or cause to be taken, the following actions in connection with the Distribution:

(a) Notice to NYSE. SITC shall, to the extent possible, give the NYSE not less than 10 days’ advance notice of the Record Date in compliance with Rule 10b-17 under the Exchange Act.

(b) CURB Charter and CURB Bylaws. On or prior to the Distribution Date, SITC and CURB shall take all necessary actions so that, as of or prior to the Effective Time, the CURB Charter and the CURB Bylaws shall become the charter and bylaws of CURB, respectively.

(c) CURB Directors and Officers. Immediately prior to the Distribution Date, SITC and CURB shall take all necessary actions so that as of the Effective Time: (i) the directors and executive officers of CURB shall be those set forth in the Information Statement made available to the Record Holders prior to the Distribution Date, unless otherwise agreed by the Parties; and (ii) CURB shall have such other officers as CURB shall appoint.

(d) NYSE Listing. CURB shall prepare and file, and shall use its reasonable best efforts to have approved, an application for the listing of the CURB Shares to be distributed in the Distribution on the NYSE, subject to official notice of distribution.

(e) Securities Law Matters. CURB shall file any amendments or supplements to the Form 10 as may be necessary or advisable in order to cause the Form 10 to become and remain effective as required by the SEC or federal, state or other applicable securities Laws.

 

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SITC and CURB shall cooperate in preparing, filing with the SEC and causing to become effective registration statements or amendments thereof which are required to reflect the establishment of, or amendments to, any employee benefit and other plans necessary or advisable in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements. SITC and CURB will prepare, and CURB will, to the extent required under applicable Law, file with the SEC any such documentation and any requisite no-action letters which SITC determines are necessary or desirable to effectuate the Distribution, and SITC and CURB shall each use its reasonable best efforts to obtain all necessary approvals from the SEC with respect thereto as soon as practicable. SITC and CURB shall take all such action as may be necessary or appropriate under the securities or blue sky laws of the states or other political subdivisions of the United States (and any comparable Laws under any foreign jurisdiction) in connection with the Distribution.

(f) Availability of Information Statement. SITC shall, as soon as is reasonably practicable after the Form 10 is declared effective under the Exchange Act and the SITC Board has approved the Distribution, cause the Information Statement (or notice of internet availability thereof) to be mailed to the Record Holders.

(g) The Distribution Agent. SITC shall enter into a distribution agent agreement with the Agent or otherwise provide instructions to the Agent regarding the Distribution.

3.3 Conditions to the Distribution.

(a) The consummation of the Distribution will be subject to the satisfaction, or waiver by SITC in its sole and absolute discretion, of the following conditions:

(i) The SEC shall have declared effective the Form 10; no order suspending the effectiveness of the Form 10 shall be in effect and no proceedings for such purposes shall have been instituted or threatened by the SEC;

(ii) The Information Statement (or notice of internet availability thereof) shall have been mailed to Record Holders;

(iii) The transfer of the CURB Assets (other than any Delayed CURB Asset) and CURB Liabilities (other than any Delayed CURB Liability) contemplated to be transferred from SITC to CURB on or prior to the Distribution shall have occurred as contemplated by Section 2.1, and the transfer of the SITC Assets and SITC Liabilities contemplated to be transferred from CURB to SITC on or prior to the Distribution Date shall have occurred as contemplated by Section 2.1;

(iv) The actions and filings necessary or appropriate under applicable U.S. federal, U.S. state or other securities Laws or blue sky Laws and the rules and regulations thereunder shall have been taken or made, and, where applicable, have become effective or been accepted by the applicable Governmental Authority;

(v) Each of the Ancillary Agreements shall have been duly executed and delivered by the applicable parties thereto;

 

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(vi) No order, injunction or decree issued by any Governmental Authority of competent jurisdiction or other legal restraint or prohibition preventing the consummation of the Separation, the Distribution or any of the transactions related thereto shall be in effect;

(vii) The CURB Shares to be distributed in the Distribution shall have been accepted for listing on the NYSE, subject to official notice of distribution;

(viii) An independent appraisal firm acceptable to SITC shall have delivered one or more opinions to the SITC Board confirming the solvency and financial viability of SITC and CURB after consummation of the Distribution, and such opinions shall be acceptable to SITC in form and substance in SITC’s sole discretion and such opinions shall not have been withdrawn or rescinded;

(ix) CURB shall have received an opinion of its counsel to the effect that it has been organized in conformity with the requirements for qualification and taxation as a REIT under the Code, and CURB’s proposed method of operation will enable it to meet the requirements for qualification and taxation as a REIT under the Code commencing with its initial taxable year ending December 31, 2024; and

(x) No other events or developments shall exist or shall have occurred that, in the judgment of the SITC Board, in its sole and absolute discretion, makes it inadvisable to effect the Separation, the Distribution or the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement.

(b) The foregoing conditions are for the sole benefit of SITC and shall not give rise to or create any duty on the part of SITC or the SITC Board to waive or not waive any such condition or in any way limit SITC’s right to terminate this Agreement as set forth in Article IX or alter the consequences of any such termination from those specified in Article IX. Any determination made by the SITC Board prior to the Distribution concerning the satisfaction or waiver of any or all of the conditions set forth in Section 3.3(a) shall be conclusive and binding on the Parties.

3.4 The Distribution.

(a) Subject to Section 3.3, on or prior to the Effective Time, CURB will deliver to the Agent, for the benefit of the Record Holders,
book-entry transfer authorizations for such number of the outstanding CURB Shares as is necessary to effect the Distribution, and shall cause the transfer agent for the SITC Shares, as the case may be, to instruct the Agent to (i) distribute at the Effective Time the appropriate whole number of CURB Shares to each such Record Holder or designated transferee or transferees of such Record Holder by way of direct registration in book-entry form and (ii) receive and hold for and on behalf of each Record Holder the amount of fractional CURB Shares to which such Record Holder would otherwise be entitled to receive in the Distribution. CURB will not issue paper share certificates in respect of the CURB Shares. The Distribution shall be effective at the Effective Time.

(b) Subject to Sections 3.3, 3.4(a) and 3.4(c), each Record Holder will be entitled to receive in the Distribution two CURB Shares for every one SITC Share held by such Record Holder on the Record Date, excluding fractional CURB Shares.

 

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(c) No fractional CURB Shares will be distributed or credited to book-entry accounts in connection with the Distribution, and any such fractional CURB Shares interests to which a Record Holder would otherwise be entitled shall not entitle such Record Holder to vote or to any other rights as a shareholder of CURB. In lieu of any such fractional CURB Shares, each Record Holder who, but for the provisions of this Section 3.4, would be entitled to receive a fractional share interest of a CURB Share pursuant to the Distribution, as applicable, shall be paid cash, without any interest thereon, as hereinafter provided. As soon as practicable after the Effective Time, SITC shall direct the Agent to determine the number of whole and fractional CURB Shares allocable to each Record Holder, to aggregate all such fractional CURB Shares into whole CURB Shares, and to sell the whole CURB Shares obtained thereby in the open market when, how, and through which broker-dealers as determined in its sole discretion without any influence by SITC or CURB, and to cause to be distributed to each such Record Holder, in lieu of any fractional CURB Share, such Record Holder’s ratable share of the total proceeds of such sale, after deducting any Taxes required to be withheld and applicable transfer Taxes, and after deducting the costs and expenses of such sale and distribution, including brokers’ fees and commissions. None of SITC, CURB or the Agent will be required to guarantee any minimum sale price for the fractional CURB Shares sold in accordance with this Section 3.4(c). Neither SITC nor CURB will be required to pay any interest on the proceeds from the sale of fractional CURB Shares. Neither the Agent nor the broker-dealers through which the aggregated fractional CURB Shares are sold shall be Affiliates of SITC or CURB. Solely for purposes of computing fractional CURB Share interests pursuant to this Section 3.4(c) and Section 3.4(d), the beneficial owner of SITC Shares held of record in the name of a nominee in any nominee account shall be treated as the Record Holder with respect to such SITC Shares.

(d) Any CURB Shares or cash in lieu of fractional CURB Shares with respect to CURB Shares that remain unclaimed by any Record Holder 180 days after the Distribution Date shall be delivered to CURB, and CURB shall hold such CURB Shares for the account of such Record Holder, and the Parties agree that all obligations to provide such CURB Shares and cash, if any, in lieu of fractional CURB Share interests shall be obligations of CURB, subject in each case to applicable escheat or other abandoned property Laws, and SITC shall have no Liability with respect thereto.

(e) Until the CURB Shares are duly transferred in accordance with this Section 3.4 and applicable Law, from and after the Effective Time, CURB will regard the Persons entitled to receive such CURB Shares as Record Holders in accordance with the terms of the Distribution without requiring any action on the part of such Persons. CURB agrees that, subject to any transfers of such CURB Shares, from and after the Effective Time (i) each such holder will be entitled to receive all dividends payable on, and exercise voting rights and all other rights and privileges with respect to, the CURB Shares then held by such Record Holder, and (ii) each such Record Holder will be entitled, without any action on the part of such Record Holder, to receive evidence of ownership of the CURB Shares then held by such Record Holder.

 

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ARTICLE IV

MUTUAL RELEASES; INDEMNIFICATION

4.1 Release of Pre-Distribution Claims.

(a) CURB Release of SITC. Except as provided in Sections 4.1(c) and 4.1(d), effective as of the Effective Time, CURB does hereby, for itself and each other member of the CURB Group, and their respective successors and assigns, and, to the extent permitted by Law, all Persons who at any time prior to the Effective Time have been shareholders, directors, officers, agents or employees of any member of the CURB Group (in each case, in their respective capacities as such), remise, release and forever discharge (i) SITC and the members of the SITC Group, and their respective successors and assigns; (ii) all Persons who at any time prior to the Effective Time have been shareholders, directors, officers, agents or employees of any member of the SITC Group (in each case, in their respective capacities as such), and their respective heirs, executors, administrators, successors and assigns; and (iii) all Persons who at any time prior to the Effective Time are or have been shareholders, directors, officers, agents or employees of a Transferred Entity and who are not, as of immediately following the Effective Time, directors, officers or employees of CURB or a member of the CURB Group, in each case from: (A) all CURB Liabilities, (B) except as provided in Section 10.10, all Liabilities arising from or in connection with the transactions and all other activities to implement the Separation and the Distribution and (C) all Liabilities arising from or in connection with actions, inactions, events, omissions, conditions, facts or circumstances occurring or existing prior to the Effective Time (whether or not such Liabilities cease being contingent, mature, become known, are asserted or foreseen, or accrue, in each case before, at or after the Effective Time), in each case to the extent relating to, arising out of or resulting from the CURB Business, the CURB Assets or the CURB Liabilities.

(b) SITC Release of CURB. Except as provided in Sections 4.1(c) and 4.1(d), effective as of the Effective Time, SITC does hereby, for itself and each other member of the SITC Group and their respective successors and assigns, and, to the extent permitted by Law, all Persons who at any time prior to the Effective Time have been shareholders, directors, officers, agents or employees of any member of the SITC Group (in each case, in their respective capacities as such), remise, release and forever discharge CURB and the members of the CURB Group and their respective successors and assigns, from (i) all SITC Liabilities, (ii) all Liabilities arising from or in connection with the transactions and all other activities to implement the Separation and the Distribution and (iii) all Liabilities arising from or in connection with actions, inactions, events, omissions, conditions, facts or circumstances occurring or existing prior to the Effective Time (whether or not such Liabilities cease being contingent, mature, become known, are asserted or foreseen, or accrue, in each case before, at or after the Effective Time), in each case to the extent relating to, arising out of or resulting from the SITC Business, the SITC Assets or the SITC Liabilities.

(c) Obligations Not Affected. Nothing contained in Section 4.1(a) or 4.1(b) shall impair any right of any Person to enforce this Agreement, any Ancillary Agreement or any agreements, arrangements, commitments or understandings that are specified in Section 2.7(b) or the applicable Schedules thereto as not to terminate as of the Effective Time, in each case in accordance with its terms. Nothing contained in Section 4.1(a) or 4.1(b) shall release any Person from:

(i) any Liability provided in or resulting from any agreement among any members of the SITC Group or the CURB Group that is specified in Section 2.7(b) or the applicable Schedules thereto as not terminating as of the Effective Time, or any other Liability specified in Section 2.7(b) as not terminating as of the Effective Time;

 

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(ii) any Liability, contingent or otherwise, assumed, transferred, assigned or allocated to the Group of which such Person is a member in accordance with, or any other Liability of any member of any Group under, this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement;

(iii) any Liability for the sale, lease, construction or receipt of goods, property or services purchased, obtained or used in the ordinary course of business by a member of one Group from a member of the other Group prior to the Effective Time;

(iv) any Liability that the Parties may have with respect to indemnification or contribution or other obligation pursuant to this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement or otherwise for claims brought against the Parties by any Third Party, which Liability shall be governed by the provisions of this Article IV and Article V and, if applicable, the appropriate provisions of the Ancillary Agreements; or

(v) any Liability the release of which would result in the release of any Person other than a Person released pursuant to this Section 4.1.

In addition, nothing contained in Section 4.1(a) shall release any member of the SITC Group from honoring its existing obligations to indemnify any director, officer or employee of CURB who was a director, officer or employee of any member of the SITC Group on or prior to the Effective Time, to the extent such director, officer or employee becomes a named defendant in any Action with respect to which such director, officer or employee was entitled to such indemnification pursuant to such existing obligations.

(d) No Claims. CURB shall not make, and shall not permit any member of the CURB Group to make, any claim or demand, or commence any Action asserting any claim or demand, including any claim of contribution or any indemnification, against SITC or any other member of the SITC Group, or any other Person released pursuant to Section 4.1(a), with respect to any Liabilities released pursuant to Section 4.1(b). SITC shall not make, and shall not permit any other member of the SITC Group to make, any claim or demand, or commence any Action asserting any claim or demand, including any claim of contribution or any indemnification against CURB or any other member of the CURB Group, or any other Person released pursuant to Section 4.1(b), with respect to any Liabilities released pursuant to Section 4.1(b).

(e) Execution of Further Releases. At any time at or after the Effective Time, at the request of either Party, the other Party shall cause each member of its respective Group to execute and deliver releases reflecting the provisions of this Section 4.1.

4.2 Indemnification by CURB. Except as otherwise specifically set forth in this Agreement or in any Ancillary Agreement, to the fullest extent permitted by Law, CURB shall, and shall cause each other member of the CURB Group to, indemnify, defend and hold harmless SITC and each other member of the SITC Group and each of their respective past, present and future directors, officers, employees and agents, in each case in their respective capacities as such, and each of the heirs, executors, successors and assigns of any of the foregoing (collectively, the “SITC Indemnitees”), from and against any and all Liabilities of the SITC Indemnitees relating to, arising out of or resulting from, directly or indirectly, any of the following items (without duplication):

(a) any CURB Liability, including any failure of CURB, any other member of the CURB Group or any other Person to pay, perform, fulfill, discharge and, to the extent applicable, comply with, in due course and in full, any such CURB Liabilities;

 

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(b) any breach by CURB or any other member of the CURB Group of this Agreement or any of the Ancillary Agreements, subject to any limitations of liability provisions and other provisions applicable to any such breach set forth therein; and

(c) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or omission or alleged omission to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, in each case to the extent relating to CURB or the members of the CURB Group or the CURB Business, in the Form 10, the Information Statement (as amended or supplemented if CURB shall have furnished any amendments or supplements thereto) or any other Disclosure Document.

4.3 Indemnification by SITC. Except as otherwise specifically set forth in this Agreement or in any Ancillary Agreement, to the fullest extent permitted by Law, SITC shall, and shall cause the each other member of the SITC Group to, indemnify, defend and hold harmless CURB, CURB OP and each other member of the CURB Group and each of their respective past, present and future directors, officers, employees or agents, in each case in their respective capacities as such, and each of the heirs, executors, successors and assigns of any of the foregoing (collectively, the “CURB Indemnitees”), from and against any and all Liabilities of the CURB Indemnitees relating to, arising out of or resulting from, directly or indirectly, any of the following items (without duplication):

(a) any SITC Liability, including any failure of SITC, any other member of the SITC Group or any other Person to pay, perform, fulfill, discharge and, to the extent applicable, comply with, in due course and in full, any such SITC Liabilities;

(b) any breach by SITC or any other member of the SITC Group of this Agreement or any of the Ancillary Agreements, subject to any limitations of liability provisions and other provisions applicable to any such breach set forth therein; and

(c) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or omission or alleged omission to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, in each case to the extent relating to SITC, the members of the SITC Group or the SITC Business, in the Form 10, the Information Statement (as amended or supplemented if CURB shall have furnished any amendments or supplements thereto) or any other Disclosure Document; it being expressly agreed that the statements set forth on Schedule 4.3(c) shall be the only statements made explicitly in SITC’s or any SITC Group member’s name in the Form 10, the Information Statement or any other Disclosure Document, and all other information contained in the Form 10, the Information Statement or any other Disclosure Document shall be deemed to be information supplied by CURB.

 

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4.4 Indemnification Obligations Net of Insurance Proceeds and Other Amounts.

(a) The Parties intend that any Liability subject to indemnification, contribution or reimbursement pursuant to this Article IV or Article V will be net of Insurance Proceeds or other amounts actually recovered (net of any out-of-pocket costs or expenses incurred in the collection thereof) from any Person by or on behalf of the Indemnitee in respect of any indemnifiable Liability. Accordingly, the amount which either Party (an “Indemnifying Party”) is required to pay to any Person entitled to indemnification or contribution hereunder (an “Indemnitee”) will be reduced by any Insurance Proceeds or other amounts actually recovered (net of any out-of-pocket costs or expenses incurred in the collection thereof) from any Person by or on behalf of the Indemnitee in respect of the related Liability. If an Indemnitee receives a payment (an “Indemnity Payment”) required by this Agreement from an Indemnifying Party in respect of any Liability and subsequently receives Insurance Proceeds or any other amounts in respect of the related Liability, then the Indemnitee will pay to the Indemnifying Party an amount equal to the excess of the Indemnity Payment received over the amount of the Indemnity Payment that would have been due if the Insurance Proceeds or such other amounts (net of any out-of-pocket costs or expenses incurred in the collection thereof) had been received, realized or recovered before the Indemnity Payment was made.

(b) The Parties agree that an insurer that would otherwise be obligated to pay any claim shall not be relieved of the responsibility with respect thereto or, solely by virtue of any provision contained in this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement, have any subrogation rights with respect thereto, it being understood that no insurer or any other Third Party shall be entitled to a “windfall” (i.e., a benefit they would not be entitled to receive in the absence of the indemnification provisions) by virtue of the indemnification and contribution provisions hereof. Each Party shall, and shall cause the members of its Group to, use commercially reasonable efforts (taking into account the probability of success on the merits and the cost of expending such efforts, including attorneys’ fees and expenses) to collect or recover any Insurance Proceeds that may be collectible or recoverable respecting the Liabilities for which indemnification or contribution may be available under this Article IV. Notwithstanding the foregoing, an Indemnifying Party may not delay making any indemnification payment required under the terms of this Agreement, or otherwise satisfying any indemnification obligation, pending the outcome of any Action to collect or recover Insurance Proceeds, and an Indemnitee need not attempt to collect any Insurance Proceeds prior to making a claim for indemnification or contribution or receiving any Indemnity Payment otherwise owed to it under this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement.

(c) Any indemnification payment under this Article IV shall be adjusted in accordance with Section 5.2 of the Tax Matters Agreement.

 

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4.5 Procedures for Indemnification of Third-Party Claims.

(a) Notice of Claims. If, at or following the date of this Agreement, an Indemnitee shall receive notice or otherwise learn of the assertion by a Person (including any Governmental Authority) who is not a member of the SITC Group or the CURB Group of any claim or of the commencement by any such Person of any Action (collectively, a “Third-Party Claim”) with respect to which an Indemnifying Party may be obligated to provide indemnification to such Indemnitee pursuant to Section 4.2 or 4.3, or any other Section of this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement, such Indemnitee shall give such Indemnifying Party written notice thereof as soon as practicable, but in any event within 30 days (or sooner if the nature of the Third-Party Claim so requires) after becoming aware of such Third-Party Claim. Any such notice shall describe the Third-Party Claim in reasonable detail (taking into account the information then available to the Indemnitee), and include copies of all notices and documents (including demand letters and motions, pleadings and court papers) received by the Indemnitee relating to the Third-Party Claim. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the failure of an Indemnitee to provide notice in accordance with this Section 4.5(a) shall not relieve an Indemnifying Party of its indemnification obligations under this Agreement, except to the extent to which the Indemnifying Party is actually prejudiced by the Indemnitee’s failure to provide notice in accordance with this Section 4.5(a).

(b) Control of Defense. An Indemnifying Party shall have the right, exercisable by written notice to the Indemnitee, which notice shall acknowledge in writing the indemnification obligation, within 30 days after the receipt of a notice from an Indemnitee in accordance with Section 4.5(a) (or sooner, if the nature of the Third-Party Claim so requires), to assume and conduct the defense of such Third-Party Claim in accordance with the limits set forth in this Agreement with counsel selected by the Indemnifying Party and reasonably acceptable to the Indemnitee; provided, however, that (i) Mixed Actions shall be managed in accordance with Section 4.11 and (ii) the Indemnifying Party shall not have the right to control the defense of any Third-Party Claim (A) to the extent such Third-Party Claim seeks criminal penalties or injunctive or other equitable relief (other than any such injunctive or other equitable relief that is solely incidental to the granting of money damages) or (B) if the Indemnitee has reasonably determined in good faith that the Indemnifying Party controlling such defense will affect the Indemnitee or its Group in a materially adverse manner. If an Indemnifying Party elects not to assume responsibility for defending any Third-Party Claim or fails to notify an Indemnitee of its election within 30 days after receipt of the notice from an Indemnitee as provided in Section 4.5(a), then the Indemnitee that is the subject of such Third-Party Claim shall be entitled to continue to conduct and control the defense of such Third-Party Claim. If the Indemnifying Party elects (and is permitted) to assume the defense of a Third-Party Claim in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, the Indemnitees shall, subject to the terms of this Agreement, cooperate with the Indemnifying Party with respect to the defense of such Third-Party Claim.

(c) Allocation of Defense Costs. If an Indemnifying Party has elected to assume the defense of a Third-Party Claim, then such Indemnifying Party shall be solely liable for all fees and expenses incurred by it in connection with the defense of such Third-Party Claim and shall not be entitled to seek any indemnification or reimbursement from the Indemnitee for any such fees or expenses incurred by the Indemnifying Party during the course of the defense of such Third-Party Claim by such Indemnifying Party, regardless of any subsequent decision by the Indemnifying Party to reject or otherwise abandon its assumption of such defense. If an Indemnifying Party elects not to assume responsibility for defending any Third-Party Claim or fails to notify an Indemnitee of its election within 30 days after receipt of a notice from an Indemnitee as provided in Section 4.5(a), and the Indemnitee conducts and controls the defense of such Third-Party Claim and the Indemnifying Party has an indemnification obligation with respect to such Third-Party Claim, then the Indemnifying Party shall be liable for all reasonable fees and expenses incurred by the Indemnitee in connection with the defense of such Third-Party Claim.

 

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(d) Right to Monitor and Participate. An Indemnitee that does not conduct and control the defense of any Third-Party Claim, or an Indemnifying Party that has failed to elect to defend any Third-Party Claim as contemplated hereby, nevertheless shall have the right to employ separate counsel (including local counsel as necessary) of its own choosing to monitor and participate in (but not control) the defense of any Third-Party Claim for which it is a potential Indemnitee or Indemnifying Party, but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of such Indemnitee or Indemnifying Party, as the case may be, and the provisions of Section 4.5(c) shall not apply to such fees and expenses. Notwithstanding the foregoing, but subject to Sections 6.7 and 6.8, such Party shall cooperate with the Party entitled to conduct and control the defense of such Third-Party Claim in such defense and make available to the controlling Party, at the non-controlling Party’s expense, all witnesses, information and materials in such Party’s possession or under such Party’s control relating thereto as are reasonably required by the controlling Party. In addition to the foregoing, if any Indemnitee shall in good faith determine that such Indemnitee and the Indemnifying Party have actual or potential differing defenses or conflicts of interest between them that make joint representation inappropriate, then the Indemnitee shall have the right to employ separate counsel (including local counsel as necessary) and to participate in (but not control) the defense, compromise or settlement thereof, and the Indemnifying Party shall bear the reasonable fees and expenses of such counsel for all Indemnitees.

(e) No Settlement. Neither Party may settle or compromise any Third-Party Claim for which either Party is seeking to be indemnified hereunder without the prior written consent of the other Party, which consent may not be unreasonably withheld, unless such settlement or compromise is solely for monetary damages, does not involve any finding or determination of wrongdoing or violation of Law by the other Party and provides for a full, unconditional and irrevocable release of the other Party from all Liability in connection with the Third-Party Claim. The Parties hereby agree that if a Party presents the other Party with a Notice containing a proposal to settle or compromise a Third-Party Claim for which either Party is seeking to be indemnified hereunder and the Party receiving such proposal does not respond in any manner to the Party presenting such proposal within 30 days (or within any such shorter time period that may be required by applicable Law or court order) of receipt of such proposal, then the Party receiving such proposal shall be deemed to have consented to the terms of such proposal.

(f) Tax Matters Agreement Governs. The above provisions of this Section 4.5 and the provisions of Section 4.6 do not apply to Taxes (Taxes and Tax matters being governed by the Tax Matters Agreement). In the case of any conflict between this Agreement and the Tax Matters Agreement in relation to any matters addressed by the Tax Matters Agreement, the Tax Matters Agreement shall prevail.

 

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4.6 Additional Matters.

(a) Timing of Payments. Indemnification or contribution payments in respect of any Liabilities for which an Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification or contribution under this Article IV shall be paid reasonably promptly (but in any event within 30 days of the final determination of the amount that the Indemnitee is entitled to as indemnification or contribution under this Article IV) by the Indemnifying Party to the Indemnitee as such Liabilities are incurred upon demand by the Indemnitee, including reasonably satisfactory documentation setting forth the basis for the amount of such indemnification or contribution payment, including documentation with respect to calculations made and consideration of any Insurance Proceeds that actually reduce the amount of such Liabilities. The indemnity and contribution provisions contained in this Article IV shall remain operative and in full force and effect, regardless of (i) any investigation made by or on behalf of any Indemnitee, and (ii) the knowledge by the Indemnitee of Liabilities for which it might be entitled to indemnification hereunder.

(b) Notice of Direct Claims. Any claim for indemnification or contribution under this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement that does not result from a Third-Party Claim shall be asserted by written notice given by the Indemnitee to the applicable Indemnifying Party as soon as practicable, but in any event within 30 days (or sooner if the nature of the claim so requires) after becoming aware of such claim; provided that the failure by an Indemnitee to so assert any such claim shall not prejudice the ability of the Indemnitee to do so at a later time except to the extent (if any) that the Indemnifying Party is prejudiced thereby. Such Indemnifying Party shall have a period of 30 days after the receipt of such notice within which to respond thereto. If such Indemnifying Party does not respond within such 30-day period, such specified claim shall be conclusively deemed a Liability of the Indemnifying Party under this Section 4.6(b) or, in the case of any written notice in which the amount of the claim (or any portion thereof) is estimated, on such later date when the amount of the claim (or such portion thereof) becomes finally determined. If such Indemnifying Party does not respond within such 30-day period or rejects such claim in whole or in part, such Indemnitee shall, subject to the provisions of Article VII, be free to pursue such remedies as may be available to such Party as contemplated by this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements, as applicable, without prejudice to its continuing rights to pursue indemnification or contribution hereunder.

(c) Pursuit of Claims Against Third Parties. If (i) a Party incurs any Liability arising out of this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement; (ii) an adequate legal or equitable remedy is not available for any reason against the other Party to satisfy the Liability incurred by the incurring Party; and (iii) a legal or equitable remedy may be available to the other Party against a Third Party for such Liability, then the other Party shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to cooperate with the incurring Party, at the incurring Party’s expense, to permit the incurring Party to obtain the benefits of such legal or equitable remedy against the Third Party.

(d) Subrogation. In the event of payment by or on behalf of any Indemnifying Party to any Indemnitee in connection with any Third-Party Claim, such Indemnifying Party shall be subrogated to and shall stand in the place of such Indemnitee as to any events or circumstances in respect of which such Indemnitee may have any right, defense or claim relating to such Third-Party Claim against any claimant or plaintiff asserting such Third-Party Claim or against any other Person. Such Indemnitee shall cooperate with such Indemnifying Party in a reasonable manner, and at the cost and expense of such Indemnifying Party, in prosecuting any subrogated right, defense or claim.

 

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(e) Substitution. In the event of an Action in which the Indemnifying Party is not a named defendant, if either the Indemnitee or Indemnifying Party shall so request, the Parties shall endeavor to substitute the Indemnifying Party for the named defendant. If such substitution or addition cannot be achieved for any reason or is not requested, the named defendant shall allow the Indemnifying Party to manage the Action as set forth in Section 4.5 and this Section 4.6, and the Indemnifying Party shall fully indemnify the named defendant against all costs of defending the Action (including court costs, sanctions imposed by a court, attorneys’ fees, experts fees and all other external expenses), the costs of any judgment or settlement and the cost of any interest or penalties relating to any judgment or settlement.

4.7 Right of Contribution.

(a) Contribution. If any right of indemnification contained in Section 4.2 or Section 4.3 is held unenforceable or is unavailable for any reason, or is insufficient to hold harmless an Indemnitee in respect of any Liability for which such Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification hereunder, then the Indemnifying Party shall contribute to the amounts paid or payable by the Indemnitees as a result of such Liability (or actions in respect thereof) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative fault of the Indemnifying Party and the members of its Group, on the one hand, and the Indemnitees entitled to contribution, on the other hand, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations.

(b) Allocation of Relative Fault. Solely for purposes of determining relative fault pursuant to this Section 4.7: (i) any fault associated with the business conducted with the Delayed CURB Assets or Delayed CURB Liabilities (except for the gross negligence or willful misconduct of a member of the SITC Group) shall be deemed to be the fault of CURB and the other members of the CURB Group, and no such fault shall be deemed to be the fault of SITC or any other member of the SITC Group; and (ii) any fault associated with the ownership, operation or activities of either the SITC Business or CURB Business prior to the Effective Time shall be deemed to be the fault of SITC and the other members of the SITC Group, and no such fault shall be deemed to be the fault of CURB or any other member of the CURB Group.

4.8 Covenant Not to Sue. Each Party hereby covenants and agrees that none of it, the members of such Party’s Group or any Person claiming through it shall bring suit or otherwise assert any claim against any Indemnitee, or assert a defense against any claim asserted by any Indemnitee, before any court, arbitrator, mediator or administrative agency anywhere in the world, alleging that: (a) the assumption of any CURB Liabilities by CURB or a member of the CURB Group on the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements is void or unenforceable for any reason; (b) the retention of any SITC Liabilities by SITC or a member of the SITC Group on the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements is void or unenforceable for any reason; or (c) the provisions of this Article IV are void or unenforceable for any reason.

4.9 Remedies Cumulative. The remedies provided in this Article IV shall be cumulative and, subject to the provisions of Article VIII, shall not preclude assertion by any Indemnitee of any other rights or the seeking of any and all other remedies against any Indemnifying Party.

 

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4.10 Survival of Indemnities. The rights and obligations of each of SITC and CURB and their respective Indemnitees under this Article IV shall survive (a) the sale or other transfer by either Party or any member of its Group of any assets or businesses or the assignment by it of any liabilities; or (b) any merger, consolidation, business combination, sale of all or substantially all of its Assets, restructuring, recapitalization, reorganization or similar transaction involving either Party or any of the members of its Group.

4.11 Management of Actions. This Section 4.11 shall govern the management and direction of pending and future Actions in which members of the SITC Group or the CURB Group are named as parties, but shall not alter the allocation of Liabilities set forth in Article II unless otherwise expressly set forth in this Section 4.11.

(a) From and after the Effective Time, the SITC Group shall direct the defense or prosecution of any Actions that constitute only SITC Liabilities or involve only SITC Assets.

(b) From and after the Effective Time, the CURB Group shall direct the defense or prosecution of any Actions that constitute only CURB Liabilities or involve only CURB Assets.

(c) From and after the Effective Time, any Actions that involve or constitute both a SITC Asset or SITC Liability, on the one hand, and a CURB Asset or a CURB Liability, on the other hand (such Actions, the “Mixed Actions”) shall be managed by the Party with the greater financial exposure with respect thereto (taking into account the provisions of this Article IV), as determined in good faith by the Parties; provided that if a Mixed Action involves the pursuit of criminal penalties or injunctive or other equitable relief (other than any such injunctive or other equitable relief that is solely incidental to the granting of money damages) against the other Party, any other member of the other Party’s Group or any of their respective stockholders or their Representatives, the other Party shall be entitled to control the defense of the applicable claims against the other Party, any other member of the other Party’s Group or any of their respective stockholders or Representatives. The Parties shall cooperate in good faith and take all reasonable actions to provide for any appropriate joinder or change in named parties to such Mixed Actions such that the appropriate Party or member of such Party’s Group is party thereto. The Parties shall reasonably cooperate and consult with each other and, to the extent permissible and necessary or advisable, maintain a joint defense in a manner that would preserve for both Parties and their respective Affiliates any attorney-client privilege, joint defense or other privilege with respect to any Mixed Action. The Party managing a Mixed Action shall, on a quarterly basis, or if a material development occurs as soon as reasonably practicable thereafter, inform the other Party of the status of and developments relating to such Mixed Action and provide copies of any material documents, notices or other materials related to such Mixed Action; provided that the failure to provide any such documents, notices or other materials shall not be a basis for liability of a Party managing such Mixed Action except and solely to the extent that the other Party shall have been actually prejudiced thereby. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, the Parties may jointly retain counsel (in which case the cost of counsel shall be

 

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shared equally by the Parties) or retain separate counsel (in which case each Party will bear the cost of its separate counsel) with respect to any Mixed Action; provided that the Parties shall share discovery and other joint litigation costs in proportion to their respective expected financial exposure or respective expected financial recovery, as applicable. In any Mixed Action, each of the SITC Group and the CURB Group may pursue separate defenses, claims, counterclaims or settlements to those claims relating to the SITC Business or the CURB Business, respectively; provided that each Party shall in good faith make commercially reasonable efforts to avoid adverse effects on the other Party.

(d) No Party managing a Mixed Action (the “Managing Party”) pursuant to Section 4.11(c) shall consent to entry of any judgment or enter into any settlement of any such Action without the prior written consent of the other Party (the “Non-Managing Party”), not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed; provided, however, that such Non-Managing Party shall be required to consent to such entry of judgment or to such settlement that the Managing Party may recommend if the judgment or settlement: (i) contains no finding or admission of any violation of Law or any violation of the rights of the Non-Managing Party and its applicable related Persons and otherwise contains no admission of any liability of the Non-Managing Party and such related Persons; (ii) involves only monetary relief which the Managing Party has agreed to pay; and (iii) includes a full and unconditional release of the Non-Managing Party and its applicable related Persons. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in no event shall a Non-Managing Party be required to consent to an entry of judgment or settlement if the effect thereof is to permit any injunction, declaratory judgment or other non-monetary relief to be entered, directly or indirectly, against any member of the Non-Managing Party’s Group (other than any such injunctive or other non-monetary relief that is immaterial and solely incidental to the granting of money damages).

(e) To the maximum extent permitted by applicable Law, the rights to recovery of each Party’s Subsidiaries in respect of any past, present or future Action are hereby delegated to such Party. It is the intent of the Parties that the foregoing delegation shall satisfy any Law requiring such delegation to be effected pursuant to a power of attorney or similar instrument. The Parties and the other members of their respective Group shall execute such further instruments or documents as may be necessary to effect such delegation.

ARTICLE V

CERTAIN OTHER MATTERS

5.1 Insurance Matters.

(a) Prior to the Effective Time, SITC and CURB shall use commercially reasonable efforts to either obtain separate insurance policies for CURB and the relevant members of the CURB Group or ensure that CURB and the relevant members of the CURB Group are named insureds under existing insurance policies covering CURB or any member of the CURB Group. Such insurance programs may include but are not limited to general liability, commercial auto liability, workers’ compensation, employer’s liability, pollution legal liability, professional services liability, property, employment practices liability, employee dishonesty/crime, directors’ and officers’ liability and fiduciary liability.

 

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(b) From and after the Effective Time, with respect to any losses, damages and Liability incurred by any member of the CURB Group or the SITC Group, as the case may be, prior to the Effective Time, that is a CURB Liability, in the case of a member of the CURB Group, or that is a SITC Liability, in the case of a member of the SITC Group, SITC or CURB, as the case may be, will provide the applicable member of the Group of the other Party with respect to insurance coverage afforded to such other Party prior to the Effective Time (the “Claimant Party”) with access to, and such Claimant Party may, upon 10 days’ prior Notice to the other Party (the “Insured Party”), make claims under, such Insured Party’s insurance policies in place prior to the Effective Time and such Insured Party’s historical policies of insurance, but solely to the extent that such policies provided coverage for members of the Group of the Claimant Party prior to the Effective Time; provided that such access to, and the right to make claims under, such insurance policies, shall be subject to the terms and conditions of such insurance policies, including any limits on coverage or scope, any deductibles and other fees and expenses, and shall be subject to the following additional conditions:

(i) The Claimant Party shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to report any claim to the Insured Party, as promptly as practicable, and in any event in sufficient time so that such claim may be made in accordance with Insured Party ’s claim reporting procedures in effect immediately prior to the Effective Time (or in accordance with any modifications to such procedures after the Effective Time communicated by the Insured Party’s Group to the Claimant Party’s Group in writing);

(ii) The Claimant Party and the members of its Group shall exclusively bear and be liable for (and neither the Insured Party nor any members of its Group shall have any obligation to repay or reimburse the Claimant Party or any member of its Group for), and shall indemnify, hold harmless and reimburse the Insured Party and the members of its Group for, any deductibles, self-insured retention, fees and expenses to the extent resulting from any access to, or any claims made by the Claimant Party or any other members of its Group or otherwise made in respect of losses of the CURB Business, in the event that the Claimant Party is CURB or any other member of the CURB Group, or the SITC Business, in the event that the Claimant Party is SITC or any other member of the SITC Group, under, any insurance provided pursuant to this Section 5.1(b), including any indemnity payments, settlements, judgments, legal fees and allocated claims expenses and claim handling fees, whether such claims are made by members of the Claimant Party’s Group, its employees or Third Party; and

(iii) The Claimant Party shall exclusively bear and be liable for (and neither the Insured Party nor any members of its Group shall have any obligation to repay or reimburse the Claimant Party or any member of its Group for) all uninsured, uncovered, unavailable or uncollectible amounts of all such claims made by the Claimant Party or any member of its Group under the policies as provided for in this Section 5.1(b).

(c) Neither the Claimant Party nor any member of its Group, in connection with making a claim under any insurance policy of the Insured Party or any member of its Group pursuant to this Section 5.1, shall take any action that would be reasonably likely to (i) have a material and adverse impact on the then-current relationship between the Insured Party or any

 

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member of its Group, on the one hand, and the applicable insurance company, on the other hand; (ii) result in the applicable insurance company terminating or materially reducing coverage, or materially increasing the amount of any premium owed by the Insured Party or any member of its Group under the applicable insurance policy; or (iii) otherwise compromise, jeopardize or interfere in any material respect with the rights of the Insured Party or any member of its Group under the applicable insurance policy; provided that neither the Claimant Party nor any member of its Group making a claim pursuant Section 5.1(b) shall be deemed to be an action that triggers the foregoing clauses (i), (ii) or (iii).

(d) All payments and reimbursements by the Claimant Party pursuant to this Section 5.1 will be made within 30 days after the Claimant Party’s receipt of an invoice therefor from the Insured Party. If the Insured Party incurs costs to enforce the Claimant Party’s obligations herein, the Claimant Party will indemnify and hold harmless the Insured Party for such enforcement costs, including reasonable attorneys’ fees pursuant to Section 4.6(b). Each Party shall retain the exclusive right to control its insurance policies and programs, including the right to exhaust, settle, release, commute, buyback or otherwise resolve disputes with respect to any of its insurance policies and programs and to amend, modify or waive any rights under any such insurance policies and programs, except that neither Party shall settle, release, commute or otherwise eliminate the coverage available under any such policies or programs that applies to any other Party’s Group’s Liabilities without the other Party’s written consent (not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed). Each Party shall cooperate with the other Party and share such information as is reasonably necessary in order to permit such Party to manage and conduct its insurance matters as it deems appropriate.

(e) Each of CURB and SITC does hereby, for itself and each other member of its Group, agree that no member of the other Party’s Group shall have any Liability whatsoever as a result of the insurance policies and practices of the other Party and the members of the other Party’s Group as in effect at any time, including as a result of the level or scope of any such insurance, the creditworthiness of any insurance carrier, the terms and conditions of any policy, the adequacy or timeliness of any notice to any insurance carrier with respect to any claim or potential claim or otherwise.

(f) The provisions of this Agreement are not intended to relieve any insurer of any Liability under any policy. Nothing in this Agreement shall be considered an attempted assignment of any policy of insurance or as a Contract of insurance.

5.2 Late Payments. Except as expressly provided to the contrary in this Agreement or in any Ancillary Agreement, any amount not paid when due pursuant to this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement (and any amounts billed or otherwise invoiced or demanded and properly payable that are not paid within 30 days of such bill, invoice or other demand) shall accrue interest at a rate per annum equal to the then-current prime rate of interest as published from time to time in The Wall Street Journal plus five percent (5%).

5.3 Inducement. Each of SITC and CURB acknowledges and agrees that the other Party’s willingness to cause, effect and consummate the Separation and the Distribution has been conditioned upon and induced by its covenants and agreements in this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements, including its assumption and/or retention of the CURB Liabilities or SITC Liabilities, as applicable, pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement and its covenants and agreements contained in Article IV.

 

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5.4 Post-Effective Time Conduct. The Parties acknowledge that, after the Effective Time, each Party shall be independent of the other Party, with responsibility for its own actions and inactions and its own Liabilities relating to, arising out of or resulting from the conduct of its business, operations and activities following the Effective Time, except as may otherwise be provided in any Ancillary Agreement, and each Party shall (except as otherwise provided in Article IV) use commercially reasonable efforts to prevent such Liabilities from being inappropriately borne by the other Party.

ARTICLE VI

EXCHANGE OF INFORMATION; CONFIDENTIALITY

6.1 Agreement for Exchange of Information.

(a) Subject to Section 6.9 and any other applicable confidentiality obligations, each of SITC and CURB, on behalf of itself and each member of its Group, agrees to use commercially reasonable efforts to provide or make available, or cause to be provided or made available, to the other Party and the members of such other Party’s Group, at any time before, on or after the Effective Time, as soon as reasonably practicable after written request therefor, any information (or a copy thereof) in the possession or under the control of such Party or its Group to the extent that (i) such information relates to the CURB Business, or any CURB Asset or CURB Liability, if CURB is the requesting Party, or to the SITC Business, or any SITC Asset or SITC Liability, if SITC is the requesting Party; (ii) such information is required by the requesting Party to comply with its obligations under this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement; or (iii) such information is required by the requesting Party to comply with any obligation imposed by any Governmental Authority; provided, however, that, in the event that the Party to whom the request has been made reasonably determines that any such provision of information could be commercially detrimental to the Party providing the information, violate any Law or agreement, or waive any privilege available under applicable Law, including any attorney-client privilege, then the Parties shall use commercially reasonable efforts to permit compliance with such obligations to the extent and in a manner that avoids any such harm or consequence; provided, further, nothing in this Section 6.1 shall expand the obligations of a Party under Section 6.4.

(b) Subject to any limitations imposed by applicable Law and to the extent it has not done so before the Effective Time, upon and at such intervals as requested by CURB, SITC shall transfer to CURB (or its designee member of the CURB Group) any employment records (including any Form I-9, Form W-2 or other IRS forms) with respect to employees or former employees of the CURB Group and other records reasonably required by CURB to enable CURB to properly carry out its obligations under this Agreement and the Employee Matters Agreement. Subject to any limitation imposed by applicable Law, including privacy protection Laws or regulations, each Party shall permit the other Party reasonable access to its employee records, to the extent reasonably necessary for such accessing Party to carry out its obligations hereunder.

 

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6.2 Ownership of Information. The provision of any information pursuant to Section 6.1 or Section 6.7 shall not affect the ownership of such information (which shall be determined solely in accordance with the terms of this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements), or constitute a grant of rights in or to any such information.

6.3 Compensation for Providing Information. The Party requesting information pursuant to a request for information in accordance with this Article VI agrees to reimburse the other Party for any reasonable Third Party out-of-pocket expenses (including fees and expenses of attorneys, accountants and other agents, but excluding reimbursement for general overhead, salaries and employee benefits) incurred, if any, in connection with complying with any request with respect to such information.

6.4 Record Retention. To facilitate the possible exchange of information pursuant to this Article VI and other provisions of this Agreement after the Effective Time, the Parties agree to use their commercially reasonable efforts, which shall be no less rigorous than those used for retention of such Party’s own information, to retain all information in their respective possession or control on the Effective Time in accordance with their respective then existing document retention policies, as such policies may be amended from time to time. Notwithstanding the foregoing in this Section 6.4, Section 8 of the Tax Matters Agreement will govern the retention of Tax-related records.

6.5 Limitations of Liability. Neither Party shall have any Liability to the other Party in the event that any information exchanged or provided pursuant to this Agreement is found to be inaccurate in the absence of gross negligence, bad faith, fraud or willful misconduct by the Party providing such information. Neither Party shall have any Liability to any other Party if any information is destroyed after commercially reasonable efforts by such Party to comply with the provisions of Section 6.4.

6.6 Other Agreements Providing for Exchange of Information.

(a) The rights and obligations granted under this Article VI are subject to any specific limitations, qualifications or additional provisions on the sharing, exchange, retention or confidential treatment of information set forth in any Ancillary Agreement.

(b) Any party that receives, pursuant to a request for information in accordance with this Article VI, Tangible Information that is not relevant to its request shall, at the request of the providing Party, (i) return it to the providing Party or, at the providing Party’s request, destroy such Tangible Information; and (ii) deliver to the providing Party written confirmation that such Tangible Information was returned or destroyed, as the case may be, which confirmation shall be signed by an authorized representative of the requesting Party.

6.7 Production of Witnesses; Records; Cooperation.

(a) Without limiting any of the rights or obligations of the Parties pursuant to Section 6.1 and Section 6.4, after the Effective Time, except in the case of an adversarial Action or Dispute between SITC and CURB, or any members of their respective Groups, each Party shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to make available to the other Party, upon written request, the former, current and future directors, officers, employees, other personnel and agents

 

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of the members of its respective Group as witnesses and any books, records or other documents within its control or which it otherwise has the ability to make available, to the extent that any such person (giving consideration to business demands of such directors, officers, employees, other personnel and agents) or books, records or other documents may reasonably be required in connection with any Action in which the requesting Party (or member of its Group) may from time to time be involved, regardless of whether such Action is a matter with respect to which indemnification may be sought hereunder, in each case, until the later of (i) the statute of limitations, if any, applicable to such Action and (ii) with respect to any Action commenced prior to the applicable statute of limitations, if any, final resolution of such Action. The requesting Party shall bear all reasonable out-of-pocket costs and expenses in connection therewith.

(b) Without limiting the foregoing, the Parties shall cooperate and consult to the extent reasonably necessary with respect to any Actions, other than an adversarial Action or Dispute between SITC and CURB or any members of their respective Groups.

(c) Without limiting any provision of this Section 6.7, each of the Parties agrees to cooperate, and to cause each member of its respective Group to cooperate, with each other in the defense of any infringement or similar claim with respect any Intellectual Property and shall not claim to acknowledge, or permit any member of its respective Group to claim to acknowledge, the validity or infringing use of any Intellectual Property of a Third Party in a manner that would hamper or undermine the defense of such infringement or similar claim.

(d) The obligation of the Parties to make available former, current and future directors, officers, employees and other personnel and agents pursuant to this Section 6.7 is intended to be interpreted in a manner so as to facilitate cooperation and shall include the obligation to use commercially reasonable efforts to make available employees and other officers without regard to whether such individual or the employer of such individual could assert a possible business conflict.

6.8 Privileged Matters.

(a) The Parties recognize that legal and other professional services that have been and will be provided prior to the Effective Time have been and will be rendered for the collective benefit of each of the members of the SITC Group and the CURB Group, and that each of the members of the SITC Group and the CURB Group should be deemed to be the client with respect to such services for the purposes of asserting all privileges which may be asserted under applicable Law in connection therewith. The parties recognize that legal and other professional services will be provided following the Effective Time, which services will be rendered solely for the benefit of the SITC Group or the CURB Group, as the case may be.

(b) The Parties agree as follows:

(i) SITC shall be entitled, in perpetuity, to control the assertion or waiver of all privileges and immunities in connection with any Privileged Information that relates solely to the SITC Business and not to the CURB Business, whether or not the Privileged Information is in the possession or under the control of any member of the

 

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SITC Group or any member of the CURB Group. SITC shall also be entitled, in perpetuity, to control the assertion or waiver of all privileges and immunities in connection with any Privileged Information that relates solely to any SITC Liabilities resulting from any Actions that are now pending or may be asserted in the future, whether or not the Privileged Information is in the possession or under the control of any member of the SITC Group or any member of the CURB Group;

(ii) CURB shall be entitled, in perpetuity, to control the assertion or waiver of all privileges and immunities in connection with any Privileged Information that relates solely to the CURB Business and not to the SITC Business, whether or not the Privileged Information is in the possession or under the control of any member of the CURB Group or any member of the SITC Group. CURB shall also be entitled, in perpetuity, to control the assertion or waiver of all privileges and immunities in connection with any Privileged Information that relates solely to any CURB Liabilities resulting from any Actions that are now pending or may be asserted in the future, whether or not the Privileged Information is in the possession or under the control of any member of the CURB Group or any member of the SITC Group; and

(iii) if the Parties do not agree as to whether certain information is Privileged Information, then such information shall be treated as Privileged Information, and the Party that believes that such information is Privileged Information shall be entitled to control the assertion or waiver of all privileges and immunities in connection with any such information unless the Parties otherwise agree. The Parties shall use the procedures set forth in Article VII to resolve any disputes as to whether any information relates solely to the SITC Business, solely to the CURB Business or to both the SITC Business and the CURB Business.

(c) Subject to the remaining provisions of this Section 6.8, the Parties agree that they shall have a shared privilege or immunity with respect to all privileges and immunities not allocated pursuant to Section 6.8(b) and all privileges and immunities relating to any Actions or other matters that involve both Parties (or one or more members of their respective Groups) and in respect of which both Parties have Liabilities under this Agreement, and that no such shared privilege or immunity may be waived by either Party without the consent of the other Party.

(d) If any Dispute arises between the Parties or any members of their respective Group regarding whether a privilege or immunity should be waived to protect or advance the interests of either Party and/or any member of their respective Group, each Party agrees that it shall (i) negotiate with the other Party in good faith; (ii) endeavor to minimize any prejudice to the rights of the other Party; and (iii) not unreasonably withhold consent to any request for waiver by the other Party. Further, each Party specifically agrees that it shall not withhold its consent to the waiver of a privilege or immunity for any purpose except in good faith to protect its own legitimate interests.

 

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(e) In the event of any adversarial Action or Dispute between SITC and CURB, or any members of their respective Groups, either Party may waive a privilege in which the other Party or member of such other Party’s Group has a shared privilege, without obtaining consent pursuant to Section 6.8(c); provided that such waiver of a shared privilege shall be effective only as to the use of information with respect to the Action between the Parties and/or the applicable members of their respective Groups, and shall not operate as a waiver of the shared privilege with respect to any Third Party.

(f) Upon receipt by either Party, or by any member of its respective Group, of any subpoena, discovery or other request that may reasonably be expected to result in the production or disclosure of Privileged Information subject to a shared privilege or immunity or as to which another Party has the sole right hereunder to assert a privilege or immunity, or if either Party obtains knowledge that any of its, or any member of its respective Group’s, current or former directors, officers, agents or employees have received any subpoena, discovery or other requests that may reasonably be expected to result in the production or disclosure of such Privileged Information, such Party shall promptly notify the other Party of the existence of the request (which Notice shall be delivered to such other Party no later than five business days following the receipt of any such subpoena, discovery or other request) and shall provide the other Party a reasonable opportunity to review the Privileged Information and to assert any rights it or they may have under this Section 6.8 or otherwise, to prevent the production or disclosure of such Privileged Information.

(g) Any furnishing of, or access or transfer of, any information pursuant to this Agreement is made in reliance on the agreement of SITC and CURB set forth in this Section 6.8 and in Section 6.9 to maintain the confidentiality of Privileged Information and to assert and maintain all applicable privileges and immunities. The Parties agree that their respective rights to any access to information, witnesses and other Persons, the furnishing of Notices and documents and other cooperative efforts between the Parties contemplated by this Agreement, and the transfer of Privileged Information between the Parties and members of their respective Groups pursuant to this Agreement, shall not be deemed a waiver of any privilege that has been or may be asserted under this Agreement or otherwise.

(h) In connection with any matter contemplated by Section 6.7 or this Section 6.8, the Parties agree to, and to cause the applicable members of their Group to, use commercially reasonable efforts to maintain their respective separate and joint privileges and immunities, including by executing joint defense and/or common interest agreements where necessary or useful for this purpose.

6.9 Confidentiality.

(a) Confidentiality. Subject to Section 6.9(c), from and after the Effective Time until the five-year anniversary of the Effective Time, each of SITC and CURB, on behalf of itself and each member of its respective Group, agrees to hold, and to cause its respective Representatives to hold, in strict confidence, with at least the same degree of care (but no less than a reasonable degree of care) as they exercise to preserve confidentiality for their own similar proprietary or confidential information, all confidential and proprietary information concerning the other Party or any member of the other Party’s Group or their respective businesses that is either in its possession (including confidential and proprietary information in its possession prior to the date hereof) or furnished by any such other Party or any member of such Party’s Group or their respective Representatives at any time pursuant to this Agreement,

 

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any Ancillary Agreement or otherwise, and shall not use any such confidential and proprietary information other than for such purposes as shall be expressly permitted hereunder or thereunder, except, in each case, to the extent that such confidential and proprietary information has been (i) in the public domain or generally available to the public, other than as a result of a disclosure by such Party or any member of such Party’s Group or any of their respective Representatives in violation of this Agreement; (ii) later lawfully acquired from other sources by such Party (or any member of such Party’s Group) which sources are not themselves bound by a confidentiality obligation or other contractual, legal or fiduciary obligation of confidentiality with respect to such confidential and proprietary information; or (iii) independently developed or generated without reference to or use of any proprietary or confidential information of the other Party or any member of such Party’s Group. If any confidential and proprietary information of one Party or any member of its Group is disclosed to the other Party or any member of such other Party’s Group in connection with providing services to such first Party or any member of such first Party’s Group under this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement, then such disclosed confidential and proprietary information shall be used only as required to perform such services.

(b) No Release; Return or Destruction. Each Party agrees not to release or disclose, or permit to be released or disclosed, any information addressed in Section 6.9(a) to any other Person, except its Representatives who need to know such information in their capacities as such (who shall be advised of their obligations hereunder with respect to such information), and except in compliance with Section 6.9(c). Without limiting the foregoing, when any such information is no longer needed for the purposes contemplated by this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement, each Party will promptly after request of the other Party either return to the other Party all such information in a tangible form (including all copies thereof and all notes, extracts or summaries based thereon) or notify the other Party in writing that it has destroyed such information (and such copies thereof and such notes, extracts or summaries based thereon).

(c) Protective Arrangements. In the event that a Party or any member of its Group either determines on the advice of its counsel that it is required to disclose any information pursuant to applicable Law or receives any request or demand under lawful process or from any Governmental Authority to disclose or provide information of the other Party (or any member of the other Party’s Group) that is subject to the confidentiality provisions hereof, such Party shall notify the other Party (to the extent legally permitted) as promptly as practicable under the circumstances prior to disclosing or providing such information and shall, to the extent reasonably practicable, cooperate, at the expense of the other Party, in seeking any appropriate protective order requested by the other Party. In the event that such other Party fails to receive such appropriate protective order in a timely manner and the Party receiving the request or demand reasonably determines that its failure to disclose or provide such information shall actually prejudice the Party receiving the request or demand, then the Party that received such request or demand may thereafter disclose or provide information to the extent required by such Law (as so advised by its counsel) or by lawful process or such Governmental Authority, and the disclosing Party shall promptly provide the other Party with a copy of the information so disclosed, in the same form and format so disclosed, together with a list of all Persons to whom such information was disclosed, in each case to the extent legally permitted.

 

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(d) Third-Party Information; Privacy or Data Protection Laws. Each Party acknowledges that it and members of its Group may presently have and, following the Effective Time, may gain access to or possession of confidential or proprietary information of, or personal information relating to, Third Parties (i) that was received under confidentiality or non-disclosure agreements entered into between such Third Parties, on the one hand, and the other Party or members of such Party’s Group, on the other hand, prior to the Effective Time; or (ii) that, as between the Parties, was originally collected by the other Party or members of such Party’s Group and that may be subject to and protected by privacy, data protection or other applicable Laws. Each Party agrees that it shall hold, protect and use, and shall cause the members of its Group and its and their respective Representatives to hold, protect and use, in strict confidence the confidential and proprietary information of, or personal information relating to, Third Parties in accordance with privacy, data protection or other applicable Laws and the terms of any agreements that were either entered into before the Effective Time or affirmative commitments or representations that were made before the Effective Time by, between or among the other Party or members of the other Party’s Group, on the one hand, and such Third Parties, on the other hand.

ARTICLE VII

DISPUTE RESOLUTION

7.1 Good-Faith Negotiation. Subject to Section 7.4, either Party seeking resolution of any dispute, controversy or claim (a “Dispute”) arising out of or relating to this Agreement or Ancillary Agreement (except as set forth in Section 7.6) (including regarding whether any Assets are CURB Assets, any Liabilities are CURB Liabilities or the validity, interpretation, breach or termination of this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement), shall provide Notice thereof to the other Party (the “Initial Notice”), and within 30 days of the delivery of the Initial Notice, the Parties shall attempt in good faith to negotiate a resolution of the Dispute. The negotiations shall be conducted by the highest ranking officer of each Party who is not also a director or officer of the other Group (and, in any event, holding, at a minimum, the title of vice president. It being acknowledged that if there are multiple such officers, any such officer may serve). All such negotiations shall be confidential and shall be treated as compromise and settlement negotiations for purposes of applicable rules of evidence. If the Parties are unable for any reason to resolve a Dispute within 30 days after the delivery of such Notice or if a Party reasonably concludes that the other Party is not willing to negotiate as contemplated by this Section 7.1, the Dispute shall be submitted to mediation in accordance with Section 7.2.

7.2 Mediation. Any Dispute not resolved pursuant to Section 7.1 shall, at the written request of a Party (a “Mediation Request”), be submitted to nonbinding mediation in accordance with the then current International Institute for Conflict Prevention and Resolution (“CPR”) Mediation Procedure, except as modified herein. The mediation shall be held in New York, New York. The Parties shall have 20 days from receipt by a Party of a Mediation Request to agree on a mediator. If no mediator has been agreed upon by the Parties within 20 days of receipt by a party of a Mediation Request, then a Party may request (on Notice to the other Party), that CPR appoint a mediator in accordance with the CPR Mediation Procedure. All mediation pursuant to this clause shall be confidential and shall be treated as compromise and settlement negotiations for purposes of applicable rules of evidence, and no oral or documentary representations made by the Parties during such mediation shall be admissible for any purpose in any subsequent proceedings. No Party shall disclose or permit the disclosure of any information about the

 

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evidence adduced or the documents produced by the other Party in the mediation proceedings or about the existence, contents or results of the mediation without the prior written consent of such other Party, except in the course of a judicial or regulatory proceeding or as may be required by Law or requested by a Governmental Authority or securities exchange. Before making any disclosure permitted by the preceding sentence, the Party intending to make such disclosure shall, to the extent reasonably practicable, give the other Party reasonable Notice of the intended disclosure and afford the other party a reasonable opportunity to protect its interests. If the Dispute has not been resolved within 60 days of the appointment of a mediator, or within 90 days after receipt by a Party of a Mediation Request (whichever occurs sooner), or within such longer period as the Parties may agree to in writing, then the Dispute shall be submitted to binding arbitration in accordance with Section 7.3.

7.3 Arbitration.

(a) In the event that a Dispute has not been resolved within 60 days of the appointment of a mediator in accordance with Section 7.2, or within 90 days after receipt by a Party of a Mediation Request (whichever occurs sooner), or within such longer period as the Parties may agree to in writing, then such Dispute shall, upon the written request of a Party (the “Arbitration Request”) be submitted to be finally resolved by binding arbitration pursuant to the CPR Arbitration Procedure. The arbitration shall be held in the same location as the mediation pursuant to Section 7.2. Unless otherwise agreed by the Parties in writing, any Dispute to be decided pursuant to this Section 7.3 will be decided (i) before a sole arbitrator if the amount in dispute, inclusive of all claims and counterclaims, totals less than $5 million; or (ii) by a panel of three arbitrators if the amount in dispute, inclusive of all claims and counterclaims, totals $5 million or more.

(b) The panel of three arbitrators will be chosen as follows: (i) within 15 days from the date of the receipt of the Arbitration Request, each Party will name an arbitrator; and (ii) the two Party-appointed arbitrators will thereafter, within thirty (30) days from the date on which the second of the two arbitrators was named, name a third, independent arbitrator who will act as chairperson of the arbitral tribunal. In the event that either Party fails to name an arbitrator within 15 days from the date of receipt of the Arbitration Request, then upon written application by either Party, that arbitrator shall be appointed pursuant to the CPR Arbitration Procedure. In the event that the two Party-appointed arbitrators fail to appoint the third, then the third, independent arbitrator will be appointed pursuant to the CPR Arbitration Procedure. If the arbitration will be before a sole independent arbitrator, then the sole independent arbitrator will be appointed by agreement of the Parties within 15 days of the date of receipt of the Arbitration Request. If the Parties cannot agree to a sole independent arbitrator, then upon written application by either party, the sole independent arbitrator will be appointed pursuant to the CPR Arbitration Procedure.

(c) The arbitrator(s) will have the right to award, on an interim basis, or include in the final award, any relief which it deems proper in the circumstances, including money damages (with interest on unpaid amounts from the due date), injunctive relief (including specific performance) and attorneys’ fees and costs; provided that the arbitrator(s) will not award any relief not specifically requested by the Parties and, in any event, will not award any indirect, punitive, exemplary, remote, speculative or similar damages in excess of compensatory damages

 

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of the other arising in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby (other than any such Liability with respect to a Third-Party Claim). Upon selection of the arbitrator(s) following any grant of interim relief by a special arbitrator or court pursuant to Section 7.4, the arbitrator(s) may affirm or disaffirm that relief, and the Parties will seek modification or rescission of the order entered by the court as necessary to accord with the decision of the arbitrator(s). The award of the arbitrator(s) shall be final and binding on the Parties, and may be enforced in any court of competent jurisdiction. The initiation of mediation or arbitration pursuant to this Article VII will toll the applicable statute of limitations for the duration of any such proceedings.

7.4 Litigation and Unilateral Commencement of Arbitration. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Article VII, (a) a Party may seek preliminary provisional or injunctive judicial relief with respect to a Dispute without first complying with the procedures set forth in Section 7.1, Section 7.2 and Section 7.3 if such action is reasonably necessary to avoid irreparable damage and (b) either Party may initiate arbitration before the expiration of the periods specified in Section 7.2 and Section 7.3 if (i) such Party has submitted a Mediation Request or Arbitration Request, as applicable, and the other party has failed, within the applicable periods set forth in Section 7.3, to agree upon a date for the first mediation session to take place within 30 days after the appointment of such mediator or such longer period as the Parties may agree to in writing or (ii) such Party has failed to comply with Section 7.3 in good faith with respect to commencement and engagement in arbitration. In such event, the other Party may commence and prosecute such arbitration unilaterally in accordance with the CPR Arbitration Procedure.

7.5 Conduct During Dispute Resolution Process. Unless otherwise agreed to in writing, the Parties shall, and shall cause their respective members of their Group to, continue to honor all commitments under this Agreement and each Ancillary Agreement to the extent required by such agreements during the course of dispute resolution pursuant to the provisions of this Article VII, unless such commitments are the specific subject of the Dispute at issue.

7.6 Disputes Arising Under the Shared Services Agreement. The provisions of Section 7.1 through Section 7.5 do not apply to Disputes arising out of or relating to the Shared Services Agreement (Disputes arising thereunder being controlled by the applicable provisions of the Shared Services Agreement).

ARTICLE VIII

FURTHER ASSURANCES AND ADDITIONAL COVENANTS

8.1 Further Assurances.

(a) In addition to the actions specifically provided for elsewhere in this Agreement, each of the Parties shall use its reasonable best efforts, prior to, on and after the Effective Time, to take, or cause to be taken, all actions, and to do, or cause to be done, all things, reasonably necessary, proper or advisable under applicable Laws, regulations and agreements to consummate and make effective the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements.

 

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(b) Without limiting the foregoing, prior to, on and after the Effective Time, each Party hereto shall cooperate with the other Party, and without any further consideration, but at the expense of the requesting Party, execute and deliver, or use its reasonable best efforts to cause to be executed and delivered, all instruments, including instruments of conveyance, assignment and transfer, and to make all filings with, and to obtain or make all Approvals or Notifications of, any Governmental Authority or any other Person under any permit, license, agreement, indenture or other instrument, and to take all such other actions as such Party may reasonably be requested to take by the other Party from time to time, consistent with the terms of this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements, in order to effectuate the provisions and purposes of this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements and the transfers of the CURB Assets and the SITC Assets and the assignment and assumption of the CURB Liabilities and the SITC Liabilities and the other transactions contemplated hereby and thereby. Without limiting the foregoing, each Party will, at the reasonable request, cost and expense of the other Party, take such other actions as may be reasonably necessary to vest in such other Party good and marketable title to the Assets allocated to such Party under this Agreement or any of the Ancillary Agreements, free and clear of any Security Interest, if and to the extent it is practicable to do so.

(c) On or prior to the Effective Time, SITC and CURB in their respective capacities as direct and indirect shareholders of the members of their Groups, shall each ratify any actions which are reasonably necessary or desirable to be taken by SITC, CURB or any of the members of their respective Groups, as the case may be, to effectuate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements.

(d) SITC and CURB, and each of the members of their respective Groups, waive (and agree not to assert against any of the others) any claim or demand that any of them may have against any of the others for any Liabilities or other claims relating to or arising out of: (i) the failure of CURB or any other member of the CURB Group, on the one hand, or of SITC or any other member of the SITC Group, on the other hand, to provide any notification or disclosure required under any state Environmental Law in connection with the Separation or the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including the transfer by any member of any Group to any member of the other Group of ownership or operational control of any Assets not previously owned or operated by such transferee; or (ii) any inadequate, incorrect or incomplete notification or disclosure under any such state Environmental Law by the applicable transferor. To the extent any Liability to any Governmental Authority or any Third Party arises out of any action or inaction described in clause (i) or (ii) above, the transferee of the applicable Asset hereby assumes and agrees to pay any such Liability.

8.2 Treatment of Commingled Properties. The Parties acknowledge that the CURB Properties set forth on Schedule 8.2 are subject to ground leases (the “Commingled Properties”) by and between the applicable member of the SITC Group and the applicable member of the CURB Group, pursuant to which the Commingled Properties may be subdivided into separate legal parcels of real property for all purposes and a separate parcel for the assessment of real property taxes in accordance with the applicable ground lease (a “Subdivision”). In accordance with the terms and conditions of the applicable ground lease(s), unless otherwise provided therein, CURB (or the applicable member of the CURB Group) shall be solely responsible for the cost of obtaining a Subdivision, any application or review fees, attorneys’ fees and the cost of

 

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recording such Subdivision; provided that CURB (or the applicable member of the CURB Group) will not be required to pay any additional consideration or fee to SITC (or any member of the SITC Group) in connection with a Subdivision. For the avoidance of doubt, in the event of any conflict between the covenants and obligations set forth in the immediately preceding sentence of this Section 8.2 and the applicable ground lease, the terms of the applicable ground lease shall control.

8.3 Redevelopment Projects. From and after the Effective Time, SITC shall cause the applicable members of the SITC Group to (a) take, at its own expense, all actions reasonably necessary to complete the renovation or redevelopment of the CURB Properties set forth on Schedule 8.3 (the “Redevelopment Projects”), in each case, substantially in accordance with the plans and specifications and other terms and conditions (including as to scope of work, standard of care, timing for completion and inspection rights) attached to Schedule 8.3, and (b) keep a designated representative of CURB reasonably informed with respect to the progress of such Redevelopment Projects as further set forth on Schedule 8.3. SITC (or the applicable member of the CURB Group) shall bear all costs and expenses in connection with all Redevelopment Projects, including the cost and expense of preparing the applicable property for redevelopment, application or review fees, attorneys’ fees and other costs and expenses incurred in connection with such Redevelopment Projects.

8.4 Insurance Subsidiary; Purchase Option. Subject to the limitations and conditions described herein, upon the two-year anniversary of the Effective Time (the “Option Trigger Date”), CURB shall have the right to purchase (the “Purchase Option”) all of the equity interests of the member of the SITC Group set forth on Schedule 8.4 (the “Purchase Option Company”) from SITC or the applicable member of the SITC Group for the price of one dollar plus an amount equal to any retained capital held by the Purchase Option Company at the time of consummation of such sale and purchase (the “Option Purchase Price”), by delivering notice to SITC of the exercise of such right within one year of the Option Trigger Date (the “Option Notice Deadline”). As promptly as practicable following the delivery of the notice contemplated by the preceding sentence, and subject to receipt of any required Approvals or Notifications from any Governmental Authorities, CURB shall make the payment of the Option Purchase Price in immediately available funds to such account or accounts as may be designated by SITC, and both Parties (or the applicable members of their respective Groups) shall execute documentation reasonably satisfactory to CURB and SITC to consummate the sale and purchase of the Purchase Option Company. In connection with the sale and purchase of the Purchase Option Company, the Parties will work together in good faith to obtain any Approval or Notifications from any Governmental Authority required in connection therewith at CURB’s cost and expense, including, all filing, legal or Third Party fees. Prior to the Option Notice Deadline, (a) neither SITC nor any other member of its Group may transfer any of its equity interests in the Purchase Option Company to any other Person (other than another member of the SITC Group), (b) dissolve, liquidate or windup the Purchase Option Company (or take similar actions having the same or a similar effect) or (c) merge or consolidate the Purchase Option Company with any other Person (or take similar actions having the same or similar effect), in each case, without the prior written consent of CURB. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Purchase Option shall terminate and thereafter be of no further force and effect, and CURB shall not have the right to exercise the Purchase Option to purchase all of the equity interests of the Purchase Option Company from SITC, upon or following the termination of the Shared Services Agreement pursuant to a Sanctioned Termination Event (as such term is defined in the Shared Services Agreement).

 

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8.5 Lease Agreement. On or prior to April 1, 2025, SITC and CURB shall, or shall cause the applicable member of its respective Group to, enter into the Lease Agreement, effective as of April 1, 2025, for the space described in the Lease Agreement upon the terms and conditions set forth in such Lease Agreement. The Parties will cooperate in good faith to make any changes reasonably required to the form of Lease Agreement such that the Lease Agreement is in execution form, including appropriately completing any exhibits, placeholders or blanks.

ARTICLE IX

TERMINATION

9.1 Termination. This Agreement may be terminated and the Distribution may be amended, modified or abandoned at any time prior to the Effective Time by SITC, in its sole and absolute discretion, without the approval or consent of any other Person, including CURB. After the Effective Time, this Agreement may not be terminated except by an agreement in writing signed by a duly authorized officer of each of the Parties.

9.2 Effect of Termination. In the event of any termination of this Agreement prior to the Effective Time, no Party (nor any of its directors, officers or employees) shall have any Liability or further obligation to the other Party by reason of this Agreement.

ARTICLE X

MISCELLANEOUS

10.1 Counterparts; Entire Agreement; Corporate Power.

(a) This Agreement and each Ancillary Agreement may be executed (including by facsimile, PDF or other electronic transmission) with counterpart signature pages or 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.

(b) This Agreement and Ancillary Agreements and the Exhibits and Schedules hereto and thereto contain the entire agreement between the Parties with respect to the subject matter hereof, and supersede all prior and contemporaneous agreements, understandings, inducements and conditions, express or implied, oral or written, of any nature whatsoever with respect to such subject matter.

(c) SITC represents on behalf of itself and each other member of the SITC Group, and CURB represents on behalf of itself and each other member of the CURB Group, as follows:

(i) each such Person has the requisite power and authority and has taken all action necessary in order to execute, deliver and perform this Agreement and each Ancillary Agreement to which it is a party and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby; and

 

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(ii) this Agreement and each Ancillary Agreement to which it is a party has been duly executed and delivered by it and constitutes a valid and binding agreement of it enforceable in accordance with the terms thereof.

10.2 Governing Law. The provisions of this Agreement and, unless expressly provided there, each Ancillary Agreement shall be construed and interpreted in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware, without regard to the principles of conflicts of laws thereof.

10.3 Assignability. Except as set forth in any Ancillary Agreement, this Agreement and each Ancillary Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the Parties and the parties thereto, respectively, and their respective successors and permitted assigns; provided, however, that neither Party nor any such party thereto may assign its rights or delegate its obligations under this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement without the express prior written consent of the other Party hereto or other parties thereto, as applicable. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no such consent shall be required for the assignment of a party’s rights and obligations under this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements (except as may be otherwise provided in any such Ancillary Agreement) in whole (i.e., the assignment of a party’s rights and obligations under this Agreement and all Ancillary Agreements all at the same time) in connection with a change of control of a Party so long as the resulting, surviving or transferee Person assumes all the obligations of the relevant party thereto by operation of Law or pursuant to an agreement in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the other Party.

10.4 Third-Party Beneficiaries. Except for the indemnification rights under this Agreement of any SITC Indemnitee or CURB Indemnitee in their respective capacities as such, (a) the provisions of this Agreement and each Ancillary Agreement are solely for the benefit of the Parties and are not intended to confer upon any Person except the Parties any rights or remedies hereunder and (b) there are no third-party beneficiaries of this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement and neither this Agreement nor any Ancillary Agreement shall provide any Third Party with any remedy, claim, Liability, reimbursement, claim of action or other right in excess of those existing without reference to this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement.

10.5 Notices. Any notice, report or other communication (each a “Notice”) required or permitted to be given under this Agreement and, to the extent applicable and unless otherwise provided therein, under each Ancillary Agreement shall be in writing and shall be given by being delivered (a) by hand, (b) by courier or overnight carrier or (c) by e-mail to the addresses set forth below:

To SITC:

SITE Centers Corp.

3300 Enterprise Parkway

Beachwood, Ohio 44122

Attention: General Counsel

e-mail: [***]

 

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

Jones Day

901 Lakeside Avenue

Cleveland, Ohio 44114

Attention: Peter Izanec

email: [***]

To CURB or CURB OP:

Curbline Properties Corp.

3300 Enterprise Parkway

Beachwood, Ohio 44122

Attention: General Counsel

e-mail: [***]

Any Party may at any time give Notice to the other Party of a change in its address for the purposes of this Section 10.5. For the avoidance of doubt, it is expressly understood that either Party may waive the requirement of any applicable Notice provision hereunder or under any Ancillary Agreement at any time and by any reasonable means.

10.6 Severability. The provisions of this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements 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.

10.7 Force Majeure. No Party shall be deemed in default of this Agreement or, unless otherwise expressly provided therein, any Ancillary Agreement for any delay or failure to fulfill any obligation (other than a payment obligation) hereunder or thereunder so long as and to the extent to which any delay or failure in the fulfillment of such obligation is prevented, frustrated, hindered or delayed as a consequence of circumstances of Force Majeure. In the event of any such excused delay, the time for performance of such obligations (other than a payment obligation) shall be extended for a period equal to the time lost by reason of the delay. A Party claiming the benefit of this provision shall, as soon as reasonably practicable after the occurrence of any such event, (a) provide Notice to the other Party of the nature and extent of any such Force Majeure condition; and (b) use commercially reasonable efforts to remove any such causes and resume performance under this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements, as applicable, as soon as reasonably practicable.

10.8 No Set-Off. Except as set forth in any Ancillary Agreement or as otherwise mutually agreed to in writing by the Parties, neither Party nor any member of such Party’s group shall have any right of set-off or other similar rights with respect to (a) any amounts received pursuant to this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement; or (b) any other amounts claimed to be owed to either such Party or any member of its Group arising out of this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement.

 

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10.9 Publicity. Prior to the Effective Time, each of SITC and CURB shall consult with each other prior to either Party issuing any press releases or otherwise making public statements with respect to the Separation, the Distribution or any of the other transactions contemplated hereby or under any Ancillary Agreement and prior to making any filings with any Governmental Authority with respect thereto.

10.10 Expenses. Except as otherwise expressly set forth in this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement or as otherwise agreed to in writing by the Parties, (a) all fees, costs and expenses, including all accounting, legal, financial advisory, NYSE or Third Party fees, incurred prior to the Effective Time in connection with the preparation, execution, delivery and implementation of this Agreement and any Ancillary Agreement, the Separation, the Form 10, the CURB Financing Arrangements and the Distribution and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby shall be borne by SITC; and (b) all fees, costs and expenses, including all accounting, legal, financial advisory, NYSE or Third Party fees, incurred after the Effective Time shall be borne by the Party or its applicable Subsidiary incurring such fees, costs or expenses.

10.11 Headings. The article, section and paragraph headings contained in this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements are for convenience only, and they neither form a part of this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement nor are they to be used in the construction or interpretation hereof or thereof.

10.12 Survival of Covenants. Except as expressly set forth in this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement, the covenants, representations and warranties contained in this Agreement and each Ancillary Agreement, and Liability for the breach of any obligations contained herein, shall survive the Separation and the Distribution and shall remain in full force and effect.

10.13 No Waiver. Neither the failure nor any delay on the part of a Party to exercise any right, remedy, power or privilege under this Agreement or any Ancillary 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.

10.14 Specific Performance. Subject to the provisions of Article VII, in the event of any actual or threatened default in, or breach of, any of the terms, conditions and provisions of this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement, the Party or Parties who are, or are to be, thereby aggrieved shall have the right to specific performance and injunctive or other equitable relief in respect of its or their rights under this Agreement or such Ancillary Agreement, in addition to any and all other rights and remedies at law or in equity, and all such rights and remedies shall be cumulative. The Parties agree that the remedies at law for any breach or threatened breach, including monetary damages, are inadequate compensation for any loss and that any defense in any action for specific performance that a remedy at law would be adequate is waived. Any requirements for the securing or posting of any bond with such remedy are waived by each of the Parties.

 

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10.15 Amendments. Neither this Agreement nor any Ancillary Agreement shall be amended, supplemented, terminated, modified, discharged or otherwise changed, in whole or in part, except by an instrument in writing signed by the parties hereto or thereto, or their respective successors or permitted assignees.

10.16 Interpretation. For the purposes of this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements, (a) whenever the context may require, any pronoun shall include the corresponding masculine, feminine or neuter forms, and the singular form of nouns, pronouns and verbs shall include the plural and vice versa; (b) the words “include,” “includes” and “including” shall be deemed to be followed by the words “without limitation;” (c) the word “or” is not exclusive; (d) the words “herein,” “hereof” and “herewith” and words of similar import shall, unless otherwise stated, be construed to refer to this Agreement (or the applicable Ancillary Agreement) as a whole (including all of the Schedules and Exhibits hereto and thereto); (e) references to any Person include the successors and permitted assigns of that Person; (f) “to the extent” means the degree to which a subject or other thing extends, and such phrase does not mean simply “if;” (g) unless the context otherwise requires, Articles, Sections, Schedules and Exhibits mean Articles of, Sections of and Schedules and Exhibits attached to this Agreement (or the applicable Ancillary Agreement); (h) references to “business day” shall mean any day other than a Saturday, a Sunday or a day on which banking institutions are generally authorized or required by law to close in the United States or Cleveland, Ohio; (i) references herein to this Agreement or any other agreement contemplated herein shall be deemed to refer to this Agreement or such other agreement as of the date on which it is executed and as it may be amended, modified or supplemented thereafter, unless otherwise specified; and (j) unless expressly stated to the contrary in this Agreement or in any Ancillary Agreement, all references to “the date hereof,” “the date of this Agreement,” “hereby” and “hereupon” and words of similar import shall be references to October 1, 2024. This Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements shall be construed without regard to any presumption or rule requiring construction or interpretation against the Party drafting an instrument or causing any instrument to be drafted. The Schedules and Exhibits referred to herein shall be construed with, and as an integral part of, this Agreement (or the applicable Ancillary Agreement) to the same extent as if they were set forth verbatim herein or therein. In the case of any conflict between this Agreement and (x) the Shared Services Agreement in relation to any matters addressed by the Shared Services Agreement, the Shared Services Agreement shall prevail unless the Shared Services Agreement explicitly states that this Agreement shall control; (y) the Employee Matters Agreement in relation to any matters addressed by the Employee Matters Agreement, the Employee Matters Agreement shall prevail unless the Employee Matters Agreement explicitly states that this Agreement shall control; and (z) the Tax Matters Agreement in relation to any matters addressed by the Tax Matters Agreement, the Tax Matters Agreement shall prevail unless the Tax Matters Agreement explicitly states that this Agreement shall control.

10.17 Limitations of Liability. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, but without limiting any recovery expressly provided by Section 7.2, neither CURB or any member of the CURB Group, on the one hand, nor SITC or any member of the SITC Group, on the other hand, shall be liable under this Agreement to the other for any punitive or exemplary damages in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby (other than any such Liability with respect to a Third-Party Claim).

 

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10.18 Performance. SITC will cause to be performed, and hereby guarantees the performance of, all actions, agreements and obligations set forth in this Agreement or in any Ancillary Agreement to be performed by any member of the SITC Group. CURB will cause to be performed, and hereby guarantees the performance of, all actions, agreements and obligations set forth in this Agreement or in any Ancillary Agreement to be performed by any member of the CURB Group. Each Party (including its permitted successors and assigns) further agrees that it will (a) give timely notice of the terms, conditions and continuing obligations contained in this Agreement and any applicable Ancillary Agreement to all of the other members of its Group and (b) cause all of the other members of its Group not to take any action or fail to take any such action inconsistent with such Party’s obligations under this Agreement, any Ancillary Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby.

[Remainder of page intentionally left blank]

 

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

 

SITE CENTERS CORP.
By:    
  Name:
  Title:
CURBLINE PROPERTIES CORP.
By:    
  Name:
  Title:
CURBLINE PROPERTIES LP
  By: Curbline Properties Corp., its General Partner
By:    
  Name:
  Title:

 

[Signature Page to Separation and Distribution Agreement]

Exhibit 3.1

CURBLINE PROPERTIES CORP.

FORM OF ARTICLES OF AMENDMENT AND RESTATEMENT

FIRST: Curbline Properties Corp., a Maryland corporation (the “Corporation”), desires to amend and restate its charter as currently in effect and as hereinafter amended.

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

ARTICLE I

INCORPORATOR

Aaron Kitlowski, whose address is 3300 Enterprise Parkway, Beachwood, Ohio 44122, being at least 18 years of age, formed a corporation under the general laws of the State of Maryland on October 25, 2023.

ARTICLE II

NAME

The name of the corporation (the “Corporation”) is:

Curbline Properties Corp.

ARTICLE III

PURPOSE

The purposes for which the Corporation is formed are to engage in any lawful act or activity (including, without limitation or obligation, engaging in business as a real estate investment trust under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”)) for which corporations may be organized under the general laws of the State of Maryland as now or hereafter in force. For purposes of the charter of the Corporation (the “Charter”), “REIT” means a real estate investment trust within the meaning of Section 856 of the Code.


ARTICLE IV

PRINCIPAL OFFICE IN STATE AND RESIDENT AGENT

The address of the principal office of the Corporation in the State of Maryland is 1924 York Road, Timonium, Maryland 21093. The name of the resident agent of the Corporation in the State of Maryland is The Corporation Trust Incorporated, whose address is 2405 York Road, Suite 201, Lutherville Timonium, Maryland 21093-2264. The resident agent is a Maryland corporation.

ARTICLE V

PROVISIONS FOR DEFINING, LIMITING

AND REGULATING CERTAIN POWERS OF THE

CORPORATION AND OF THE STOCKHOLDERS AND DIRECTORS

Section 5.1 Number and Classification of Directors. The business and affairs of the Corporation shall be managed under the direction of the Board of Directors. The number of directors of the Corporation initially shall be seven, which number may be increased or decreased only by the Board of Directors pursuant to the Bylaws of the Corporation (the “Bylaws”), but shall never be less than the minimum number required by the Maryland General Corporation Law (the “MGCL”). The directors of the Corporation shall be classified, with respect to the terms for which they severally hold office, into three classes, one class (“Class I”) to hold office initially for a term expiring at the annual meeting of stockholders in 2025, another class (“Class II”) to hold office initially for a term expiring at the annual meeting of stockholders in 2026 and another class (“Class III”) to hold office initially for a term expiring at the annual meeting of stockholders in 2027, with the members of each class to hold office until their successors are duly elected and qualify. At the annual meeting of stockholders held in 2025, the successors to the directors of the Corporation whose terms expire at such meeting shall be elected to hold office for a term expiring at the annual meeting of stockholders held in 2027 and until their successors are duly elected and qualify. At

 

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the annual meeting of stockholders held in 2026 and each annual meeting of stockholders held thereafter, the successors to the directors whose terms expire at each annual meeting shall be elected to hold office until the next annual meeting of stockholders and until their successors are duly elected and qualify. The names and classes of the current directors who shall serve until their successors are duly elected and qualify are:

Class I

Linda B. Abraham

David R. Lukes

Class II

Jane E. DeFlorio

Barry A. Sholem

Class III

Terrance R. Ahern

Victor B. MacFarlane

Alexander Otto

Any vacancy on the Board of Directors may be filled in the manner provided in the Charter and the Bylaws.

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

 

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Section 5.2 Extraordinary Actions. Notwithstanding any provision of law requiring any action to be taken or approved by the affirmative vote of stockholders entitled to cast a greater number of votes, any such action shall be effective and valid if declared advisable by the Board of Directors and taken or approved by the affirmative vote of stockholders entitled to cast a majority of all the votes entitled to be cast on the matter.

Section 5.3 Authorization by Board of Stock Issuance. The Board of Directors may authorize the issuance from time to time of shares of stock of the Corporation of any class or series, whether now or hereafter authorized, or securities or rights convertible into shares of its stock of any class or series, whether now or hereafter authorized, for such consideration as the Board of Directors may deem advisable (or without consideration in the case of a stock split or stock dividend or for the purpose of qualifying as a REIT under the Code), subject to such restrictions or limitations, if any, as may be set forth in the Charter or the Bylaws.

Section 5.4 Preemptive and Appraisal Rights. Except as may be provided by the Board of Directors in setting the terms of classified or reclassified shares of stock pursuant to Section 6.4 or as may otherwise be provided by a contract approved by the Board of Directors, no holder of shares of stock of the Corporation shall, as such holder, have any preemptive right to purchase or subscribe for any additional shares of stock of the Corporation or any other security of the Corporation which it may issue or sell. Holders of shares of stock shall not be entitled to exercise any rights of an objecting stockholder provided for under Title 3, Subtitle 2 of the MGCL or any successor statute unless the Board of Directors upon such terms and conditions as may be specified by the Board of Directors, determines that such rights apply, with respect to all or any shares of all or any classes or series of stock, to one or more transactions occurring after the date of such determination in connection with which holders of such shares of stock would otherwise be entitled to exercise such rights.

 

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Section 5.5 Indemnification and Advance of Expenses. The Corporation shall, to the maximum extent permitted by Maryland law in effect from time to time, indemnify, and pay or reimburse reasonable expenses in advance of final disposition of a proceeding to, (a) any individual who is a present or former director or officer of the Corporation and who is made or threatened to be made a party to, or witness in, the proceeding by reason of his or her service in that capacity; or (b) any individual who, while a director or officer of the Corporation and at the request of the Corporation, serves or has served as a director, officer, member, manager, partner or trustee of another corporation, real estate investment trust, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or any other enterprise (including any direct or indirect subsidiary of the Corporation) and who is made or threatened to be made a party to, or witness in, the proceeding by reason of his or her service in that capacity. In addition, the Corporation shall have the power, with the approval of the Board of Directors, to provide such indemnification and advance of expenses to a person who served a predecessor of the Corporation in any of the capacities described in clauses (a) or (b) above and to any employee or agent of the Corporation or a predecessor of the Corporation. The foregoing rights of indemnification shall not be exclusive of any other rights to which those seeking indemnification may be entitled. The Board of Directors may take such action as is necessary to carry out these indemnification provisions and is expressly empowered to adopt, approve and amend from time to time such bylaws, resolutions or contracts implementing such provisions or such further indemnification arrangements as may be permitted by law. No amendment of the Charter, or of any such bylaw, resolution or contract, or repeal of any of their provisions shall limit or eliminate the right to indemnification provided hereunder or thereunder with respect to acts or omissions occurring prior to such amendment or repeal.

 

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Section 5.6 Determinations by Board. The determination as to any of the following matters, made by or pursuant to the direction of the Board of Directors, shall be final and conclusive and shall be binding upon the Corporation and every holder of shares of its stock: (a) the amount of the net income of the Corporation for any period and the amount of assets at any time legally available for the payment of dividends, acquisition of its stock or the payment of other distributions on its stock; (b) the amount of paid-in surplus, net assets, other surplus, cash flow, funds from operations, adjusted funds from operations, operating funds from operations, net profit, net assets in excess of capital, undivided profits or excess of profits over losses on sales of assets; (c) the amount, purpose, time of creation, increase or decrease, alteration or cancellation of any reserves or charges and the propriety thereof (whether or not any obligation or liability for which such reserves or charges shall have been created shall have been set aside, paid or discharged); (d) any interpretation or resolution of any ambiguity with respect to any provision of the Charter (including any of the terms, preferences, conversion or other rights, voting powers or rights, restrictions, limitations as to dividends or other distributions, qualifications or terms or conditions of redemption of any shares of any class or series of stock of the Corporation) or of the Bylaws; (e) the number of shares of stock of any class or series of the Corporation; (f) the fair value, or any sale, bid or asked price to be applied in determining the fair value, of any asset owned or held by the Corporation or of any shares of stock of the Corporation; (g) any matter relating to the acquisition, holding and disposition of any assets by the Corporation; (h) any interpretation of the terms and conditions of one or more agreements with any person, corporation, association, company, trust, partnership (limited or general) or other entity; (i) the compensation of directors, officers, employees or agents of the Corporation; or (j) any other matter relating to the business and affairs of the Corporation or required or permitted by applicable law, the Charter or the Bylaws or otherwise to be determined by the Board of Directors.

 

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Section 5.7 REIT Qualification. If the Corporation elects to qualify for federal income tax treatment as a REIT, the Board of Directors shall use its reasonable best efforts to take such actions as are necessary or appropriate to preserve the status of the Corporation as a REIT; however, if the Board of Directors determines that it is no longer in the best interests of the Corporation to attempt to, or continue to, qualify as a REIT, the Board of Directors may revoke or otherwise terminate the Corporation’s REIT election pursuant to Section 856(g) of the Code. The Board of Directors, in its sole and absolute discretion after consultation with tax counsel, also may (a) determine that compliance with any restriction or limitation on stock ownership and transfers set forth in Article VII is no longer required for REIT qualification and (b) make any other determination or take any other action pursuant to Article VII.

Section 5.8 Removal of Directors. Subject to the rights of holders of shares of one or more classes or series of Preferred Stock (as defined below) to elect or remove one or more directors, any director, or the entire Board of Directors, may be removed from office at any time, by the affirmative vote of a majority of votes entitled to be cast generally in the election of directors; provided that, as long as the directors are divided into classes, such removal shall only be for cause.

Section 5.9 Corporate Opportunities. The Corporation shall have the power, by resolution of the Board of Directors, to renounce any interest or expectancy of the Corporation in, or in being offered an opportunity to participate in, business opportunities or classes or categories of business opportunities that are presented to the Corporation or developed by or presented to one or more directors or officers of the Corporation.

 

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Section 5.10 Subtitle 8. In accordance with Section 3-802(c) of the MGCL, the Corporation is prohibited from electing to be subject to the provisions of Section 3-803 of the MGCL, unless such election is approved by the affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast on the matter by stockholders entitled to vote generally in the election of directors.

ARTICLE VI

STOCK

Section 6.1 Authorized Shares of Stock. The Corporation has authority to issue 500,000,000 shares of stock, consisting of 400,000,000 shares of Common Stock, $0.01 par value per share (“Common Stock”), and 100,000,000 shares of Preferred Stock, $0.01 par value per share (“Preferred Stock”). The aggregate par value of all authorized shares of stock having par value is $5,000,000. If shares of one class of stock are classified or reclassified into shares of another class of stock pursuant to Section 6.2, 6.3 or 6.4 of this Article VI, the number of authorized shares of the former class shall be automatically decreased and the number of shares of the latter class shall be automatically increased, in each case by the number of shares so classified or reclassified, so that the aggregate number of shares of stock of all classes that the Corporation has authority to issue shall not be more than the total number of shares of stock set forth in the first sentence of this paragraph. The Board of Directors, with the approval of a majority of the entire Board and without any action by the stockholders of the Corporation, may amend the Charter from time to time to increase or decrease the aggregate number of shares of stock or the number of shares of stock of any class or series that the Corporation has authority to issue.

Section 6.2 Common Stock. Subject to the provisions of Article VII and except as may otherwise be specified in the Charter, each share of Common Stock shall entitle the holder thereof to one vote. The Board of Directors may reclassify any unissued shares of Common Stock from time to time into one or more classes or series of stock.

 

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Section 6.3 Preferred Stock. The Board of Directors may classify any unissued shares of Preferred Stock and reclassify any previously classified but unissued shares of Preferred Stock of any class or series from time to time into one or more classes or series of stock.

Section 6.4 Classified or Reclassified Shares of Stock. Prior to the issuance of classified or reclassified shares of any class or series of stock, the Board of Directors by resolution shall: (a) designate that class or series to distinguish it from all other classes and series of stock of the Corporation; (b) specify the number of shares of stock to be included in the class or series; (c) set or change, subject to the provisions of Article VII and subject to the express terms of any class or series of stock of the Corporation outstanding at the time, the preferences, conversion or other rights, voting powers, restrictions, limitations as to dividends or other distributions, qualifications and terms and conditions of redemption for each class or series; and (d) cause the Corporation to file articles supplementary with the State Department of Assessments and Taxation of Maryland (the “SDAT”). Any of the terms of any class or series of stock set or changed pursuant to clause (c) of this Section 6.4 may be made dependent upon facts or events ascertainable outside the Charter (including determinations by the Board of Directors or other facts or events within the control of the Corporation) and may vary among holders thereof, provided that the manner in which such facts, events or variations shall operate upon the terms of such class or series of stock is clearly and expressly set forth in the articles supplementary or other Charter document.

 

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Section 6.5 Action by Stockholders. Any action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting of stockholders may be taken without a meeting (a) if a unanimous consent setting forth the action is given in writing or by electronic transmission by each stockholder entitled to vote on the matter and filed with the minutes of proceedings of the stockholders; or (b) if the action is advised, and submitted to the stockholders for approval, by the Board of Directors and a consent in writing or by electronic transmission of stockholders entitled to cast not less than the minimum number of votes that would be necessary to authorize or take the action at a meeting of stockholders is delivered to the Corporation in accordance with the MGCL. The Corporation shall give notice of any action taken by less than unanimous consent to each stockholder not later than 10 days after the effective time of such action.

Section 6.6 Charter and Bylaws. The rights of all stockholders and the terms of all stock of the Corporation are subject to the provisions of the Charter and the Bylaws. The Board of Directors shall have the power to make, alter, amend or repeal the Bylaws.

Section 6.7 Distributions. Except as may otherwise be provided in the terms of any class or series of Preferred Stock, in determining whether a distribution (other than upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up) is permitted under Maryland law, amounts that would be needed, if the Corporation were to be dissolved at the time of the distribution, to satisfy the preferential rights upon dissolution of stockholders whose preferential rights upon dissolution are superior to those receiving the distribution, shall not be added to the Corporation’s total liabilities.

ARTICLE VII

RESTRICTION ON TRANSFER AND OWNERSHIP OF COMMON STOCK

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

Beneficial Ownership. The term “Beneficial Ownership” shall mean ownership of Common Stock by a Person who would be treated as an owner of such Common Stock either directly or constructively through the application of Section 544 of the Code, as modified by Section 856(h)(1)(B) of the Code. The terms “Beneficial Owner,” “Beneficially Owns” and “Beneficially Owned” shall have the correlative meanings.

 

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Beneficiary. The term “Beneficiary” shall mean, with respect to any Trust, one or more organizations described in Section 501(c)(3) of the Code (contributions to which must be eligible for deduction under each of Sections 170(b)(1)(A), 2055 and 2522 of the Code which are named by the Corporation as the beneficiary or beneficiaries of such Trust, in accordance with the provisions of Section 7.14(a) of this Article VII).

Constructive Ownership. The term “Constructive Ownership” shall mean ownership of Common Stock by a Person who would be treated as an owner of such Common Stock either directly or constructively through the application of Section 318 of the Code, as modified by Section 856(d)(5) of the Code. The terms “Constructive Owner,” “Constructively Owns” and “Constructively Owned” shall have correlative meanings.

Exempt Holder. The term “Exempt Holder” shall mean prior to an Exempt Holder Reduction Event, collectively, (a) Professor Werner Otto, his wife Maren Otto and/or all descendants of Professor Werner Otto (illegitimate descendants only if they have obtained the status of a legitimate descendant by legitimation or adoption by Professor Werner Otto or one of his legitimate descendants, or if they are children of a female legitimate descendant of Professor Werner Otto); (b) any trust or any family foundation that has exclusively been established in favor of one or several of the individuals named under clause (a) above; and (c) any partnership, firm, corporation, association, trust, unincorporated organization, joint venture, limited liability company or other legal entity, in which the individuals or entities named under clause (a) above hold (either directly or indirectly) more than 50% of the voting rights or more than 50% of the equity capital of such any such partnership, firm, corporation, association, trust, unincorporated organization, joint venture, limited liability company or other legal entity; provided that, from and after an Exempt Holder Reduction Event, no Person, individually or collectively with any other Persons, shall be, or shall be deemed an Exempt Holder for purposes of this Article VII and the term Exempt Holder shall cease to be of any further force or effect.

 

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Exempt Holder Limit. The term “Exempt Holder Limit” shall mean 17.5% of the outstanding Common Stock; provided that, from and after an Exempt Holder Reduction Event, the term Exempt Holder Limit shall cease to be of any further force or effect.

Exempt Holder Reduction Event. The term “Exempt Holder Reduction Event” means the date on which the Board of Directors determines that the Beneficial Ownership of the Exempt Holder is 7.5% or less of the outstanding Common Stock.

Market Price. The term “Market Price” shall mean the last reported sales price of the Common Stock reported on the New York Stock Exchange on the trading day immediately preceding the relevant date or, if the Common Stock is not then traded on the New York Stock Exchange, the last reported sales price of the Common Stock on the trading day immediately preceding the relevant date as reported on any exchange or quotation system over which the Common Stock may be traded, or if the Common Stock is not then traded over any exchange or quotation system, then the market price of the Common Stock on the relevant date as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors.

Non-Transfer Event. The term “Non-Transfer Event” shall mean an event other than a purported Transfer that would cause any Person to Beneficially Own or Constructively Own Common Stock in excess of the Ownership Limit (in the case of any Person other than the Exempt Holder) or the Exempt Holder Limit (in the case of the Exempt Holder), including, but not limited to, the acquisition, directly or indirectly, of any Person that Beneficially Owns or Constructively Owns Common Stock.

 

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Non-U.S. Person. The term “Non-U.S. Person” shall mean a Person other than a U.S. Person.

Ownership Limit. The term “Ownership Limit” shall mean (a) prior to an Exempt Holder Reduction Event, 8.0% of the outstanding Common Stock, as may be increased prior to an Exempt Holder Reduction Event, pursuant to Section 7.10 of this Article VII, and (b) from and after an Exempt Holder Reduction Event, 9.8% of the outstanding Common Stock.

Person. The term “Person” shall mean an individual, corporation, partnership, estate, trust (including a trust qualified under Section 401(a) or 501(c)(17) of the Code), a portion of a trust permanently set aside for or to be used exclusively for the purposes described in Section 642(c) of the Code, an association, a private foundation within the meaning of Section 509(a) of the Code, a joint stock company, other entity or a group, as that term is used for purposes of Section 13(d)(3) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended; provided, however, that a “Person” does not mean an underwriter that participates in a public offering of the Common Stock, for a period of 35 days following the purchase by such underwriter of the Common Stock.

Prohibited Owner. The term “Prohibited Owner” shall mean, with respect to any purported Transfer or Non-Transfer Event, any Person who, but for the provisions of Section 7.3 of this Article VII, would own record title to Common Stock.

Related Party Limit. The term “Related Party Limit” shall mean 9.8% of the outstanding Common Stock.

 

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Spin-off Date. The term “Spin-off Date” means the date on which Common Stock is distributed by SITE Centers Corp., an Ohio corporation (“SITC”), to holders of shares of SITC’s common stock, $0.10 par value per share.

Transfer. The term “Transfer” shall mean any sale, transfer, gift, assignment, devise or other disposition of Common Stock (including, without limitation, (a) the granting of any option or entering into any agreement for the sale, transfer or other disposition of Common Stock; or (b) the sale, transfer, assignment or other disposition of any securities or rights convertible into or exchangeable for Common Stock), whether voluntary or involuntary, whether of record or beneficially and whether by operation of law or otherwise.

Trust. The term “Trust” shall mean any separate trust created pursuant to Section 7.3 of this Article VII and administered in accordance with the terms of Section 7.14 of this Article VII, for the exclusive benefit of any Beneficiary.

Trustee. The term “Trustee” shall mean any person or entity unaffiliated with both the Corporation and any Prohibited Owner, such Trustee to be designated by the Corporation to act as trustee of any Trust, or any successor trustee thereof.

U.S. Person. The term “U.S. Person” shall mean (a) a citizen or resident of the United States, (b) a partnership created or organized in the United States or under the laws of the United States or any state therein (including the District of Columbia), (c) a corporation created or organized in the United States or under the laws of the United States or any state therein (including the District of Columbia), and (d) any estate or trust (other than a foreign estate or foreign trust, within the meaning of Section 7701(a)(31) of the Code).

 

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Section 7.2 Restrictions on Transfers.

Except as provided in Section 7.12 of this Article VII, from and after the Spin-off Date:

(a) (i) no Person (other than the Exempt Holder) shall Beneficially Own Common Stock in excess of the Ownership Limit and (ii) the Exempt Holder shall not Beneficially Own Common Stock in excess of the Exempt Holder Limit.

(b) Any Transfer that, if effective, would result in any Person (other than the Exempt Holder) Beneficially Owning Common Stock in excess of the Ownership Limit shall be void ab initio as to the Transfer of such Common Stock which would be otherwise Beneficially Owned by such Person in excess of the Ownership Limit, and the intended transferee shall acquire no rights in such Common Stock.

(c) Prior to an Exempt Holder Reduction Event, any Transfer that, if effective, would result in the Exempt Holder Beneficially Owning Common Stock in excess of the Exempt Holder Limit shall be void ab initio as to the Transfer of such Common Stock which would be otherwise Beneficially Owned by the Exempt Holder in excess of the Exempt Holder Limit, and the Exempt Holder shall acquire no rights in such Common Stock.

(d) Any Transfer that, if effective, would result in any Person Constructively Owning Common Stock in excess of the Related Party Limit shall be void ab initio as to the Transfer of such Common Stock which would be otherwise Constructively Owned by such Person in excess of such amount, and the intended transferee shall acquire no rights in such Common Stock.

(e) Any Transfer that, if effective, would result in the Common Stock being beneficially owned by less than 100 Persons (determined without reference to any rules of attribution) shall be void ab initio as to the Transfer of such Common Stock which would be otherwise beneficially owned by the transferee, and the intended transferee shall acquire no rights in such Common Stock.

 

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(f) Any Transfer that, if effective, would result in the Corporation being “closely held” within the meaning of Section 856(h) of the Code shall be void ab initio as to the Transfer of the shares of Common Stock which would cause the Corporation to be “closely held” within the meaning of Section 856(h) of the Code, and the intended transferee shall acquire no rights in such Common Stock.

(g) No Person shall acquire Beneficial Ownership of any Common Stock if, as a result of such acquisition of Beneficial Ownership, the fair market value of the Common Stock owned directly and indirectly by Non-U.S. Persons for purposes of Section 897(h)(4)(B) of the Code would comprise 49% or more of the fair market value of the issued and outstanding Common Stock.

Section 7.3 Transfers in Trust.

(a) If, notwithstanding the other provisions contained in this Article VII, there is a purported Transfer or Non-Transfer Event such that any Person would Beneficially Own Common Stock in excess of (i) the Ownership Limit (in the case of any Person other than the Exempt Holder) or (ii) the Exempt Holder Limit (in the case of the Exempt Holder), then, (1) except as otherwise provided in Section 7.12 of this Article VII, the purported transferee shall acquire no right or interest (or, in the case of a Non-Transfer Event, the person holding record title to the Common Stock Beneficially Owned by such Beneficial Owner, shall cease to own any right or interest) in such number of shares of Common Stock which would cause such Beneficial Owner to Beneficially Own Common Stock in excess of the Ownership Limit or the Exempt Holder Limit,

 

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as the case may be; and (2) such number of shares of Common Stock in excess of the Ownership Limit or the Exempt Holder Limit (rounded up to the nearest whole share) shall be designated Stock-in-Trust and, in accordance with Section 7.14 of this Article VII, transferred automatically and by operation of law to a Trust. Such transfer to a Trust and the designation of the shares of stock as Stock-in-Trust shall be effective as of the close of business on the business day prior to the date of the purported Transfer or Non-Transfer Event, as the case may be.

(b) If, notwithstanding the other provisions contained in this Article VII, there is a purported Transfer or Non-Transfer Event such that any Person would Constructively Own Common Stock in excess of the Related Party Limit, then, (i) except as otherwise provided in Section 7.12 of this Article VII, the purported transferee shall acquire no right or interest (or, in the case of a Non-Transfer Event, the person holding record title to the Common Stock Constructively Owned by such Constructive Owner, shall cease to own any right or interest) in such number of shares of Common Stock which would cause such Constructive Owner to Constructively Own Common Stock in excess of the Related Party Limit; and (ii) such number of shares of Common Stock in excess of the Related Party Limit (rounded up to the nearest whole share) shall be designated Stock-in-Trust and, in accordance with Section 7.14 of this Article VII, transferred automatically and by operation of law to a Trust. Such transfer to a Trust and the designation of the shares of stock as Stock-in-Trust shall be effective as of the close of business on the business day prior to the date of the purported Transfer or Non-Transfer Event, as the case may be.

 

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(c) If, notwithstanding the other provisions contained in this Article VII, there is a purported Transfer or Non-Transfer Event that, if effective, would cause the Corporation to become “closely held” within the meaning of Section 856(h) of the Code, then (i) the purported transferee shall not acquire any right or interest (or, in the case of a Non-Transfer Event, the person holding record title of the Common Stock with respect to which such Non-Transfer Event occurred, shall cease to own any right or interest) in such number of shares of Common Stock, the ownership of which by such purported transferee or record holder would cause the Corporation to be “closely held” within the meaning of Section 856(h) of the Code; and (ii) such number of shares of Common Stock (rounded up to the nearest whole share) shall be designated Stock-in-Trust and, in accordance with the provisions of Section 7.14 of this Article VII, transferred automatically and by operation of law to a Trust. Such transfer to a Trust and the designation of shares of stock as Stock-in-Trust shall be effective as of the close of business on the business day prior to the date of the Transfer or Non-Transfer Event, as the case may be.

Section 7.4 Remedies for Breach. If the Board of Directors or its designees shall at any time determine that a Transfer has taken place in violation of Section 7.2 of this Article VII or that a Person intends to acquire or has attempted to acquire beneficial ownership (determined without reference to any rules of attribution), Beneficial Ownership or Constructive Ownership of any Common Stock in violation of Section 7.2 of this Article VII, or that any such Transfer, intended or attempted acquisition or acquisition would jeopardize the status of the Corporation as a REIT under the Code, the Board of Directors or its designees shall take such actions as it deems advisable to refuse to give effect or to prevent such Transfer, including, but not limited to, refusing to give effect to such Transfer on the books of the Corporation or instituting proceedings to enjoin such Transfer.

Section 7.5 Notice of Restricted Transfer. Any Person who acquires or intends to acquire shares of stock in violation of Section 7.2 of this Article VII, or any Person who owned Common Stock that was transferred to a Trust pursuant to the provisions of Section 7.3 of this Article VII, shall immediately give written notice to the Corporation of such event and shall provide to the Corporation such other information as the Corporation may request in order to determine the effect, if any, of such Transfer, intended Transfer or Non-Transfer Event, as the case may be, on the Corporation’s status as a REIT.

 

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Section 7.6 Owners Required to Provide Information.

(a) Every Beneficial Owner of more than 5.0% (or such other percentage provided in the regulations promulgated pursuant to the Code) of the outstanding Common Stock shall, within 30 days after January 1 of each year, give written notice to the Corporation stating the name and address of such Beneficial Owner, the number of shares of stock Beneficially Owned and description of how such shares of stock are held. Each such Beneficial Owner shall provide to the Corporation such additional information as the Corporation may request in order to determine the effect, if any, of such Beneficial Ownership on the Corporation’s status as a REIT.

(b) Each Person who is a Beneficial Owner or Constructive Owner of Common Stock and each Person (including the stockholder of record) who is holding Common Stock for a Beneficial Owner or Constructive Owner shall provide to the Corporation such information that the Corporation may request, in good faith, in order to determine the Corporation’s status as a REIT.

(c) Each Person who is a Beneficial Owner or Constructive Owner of Common Stock and each Person (including the stockholder of record) who is holding Common Stock for a Beneficial Owner or Constructive Owner shall provide to the Corporation such information as the Corporation may require, in good faith, in order to determine the Corporation’s status as a REIT or a “domestically controlled qualified investment entity” (within the meaning of Section 897(h)(4)(B) of the Code) and to comply with the requirements of any taxing authority or to determine such compliance.

 

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Section 7.7 Remedies Not Limited. Nothing contained in this Article VII shall limit the authority of the Board of Directors to take such other action as it deems necessary or advisable to protect the Corporation and the interests of its stockholders by preservation of the Corporation’s status as a REIT.

Section 7.8 Ambiguity. In the case of an ambiguity in the application of any of the provisions of this Article VII, including any definition contained in Section 7.1, the Board of Directors shall have the power to determine the application of the provisions of this Article VII with respect to any situation based on the facts known to it.

Section 7.9 Effects of Exempt Holder Reduction Event. From and after an Exempt Holder Reduction Event, the Exempt Holder Limit shall be of no further force or effect, and any provisions in this Article VII exempting or otherwise making the Ownership Limit or Related Party Limit inapplicable to the Exempt Holder shall be disregarded for all purposes and any Person that was, individually or together with any other Person, the Exempt Holder, shall be subject to the Ownership Limit and Related Party Limit as if this Article VII had been amended and restated as necessary to remove all applicable references to the Exempt Holder and the Exempt Holder Limit.

Section 7.10 Modification of Ownership Limit. Subject to the limitations provided in Section 7.11 of this Article VII, prior to an Exempt Holder Reduction Event, the Board of Directors may from time to time increase the Ownership Limit.

 

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Section 7.11 Limitations on Modifications. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Article VII:

(a) The Ownership Limit may not be increased if, after giving effect to such increase, five Beneficial Owners of Common Stock (including the Exempt Holder) could Beneficially Own, in the aggregate, more than 49.9% in value of the outstanding Common Stock.

(b) Prior to the modification of the Ownership Limit pursuant to Section 7.10 of this Article VII, the Board of Directors may require such opinions of counsel, affidavits, undertakings or agreements as it may deem necessary or advisable in order to determine or ensure the Corporation’s status as a REIT.

(c) The Related Party Limit may not be increased to a percentage that is greater than 9.8%.

Section 7.12 Exceptions.

(a) The Board of Directors, with a ruling from the Internal Revenue Service or an opinion or other advice of counsel, may exempt a Person from the Ownership Limit or the Exempt Holder Limit, as the case may be, if such Person is not an individual for purposes of Section 542(a)(2) of the Code and the Board of Directors obtains such representations and undertakings from such Person as the Board of Directors determines are reasonably necessary to ascertain that no individual’s Beneficial Ownership of such Common Stock will violate the Ownership Limit or the Exempt Holder Limit, as the case may be, and agrees that any violation or attempted violation will result in such Common Stock in excess of the Ownership Limit or the Exempt Holder Limit, as applicable, being transferred to a Trust in accordance with Section 7.3 of this Article VII.

 

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(b) The Board of Directors, with a ruling from the Internal Revenue Service or an opinion or other advice of counsel, may exempt a Person from the limitation on such Person Constructively Owning Common Stock in excess of the Related Party Limit if such Person does not own and represents that it will not own, directly or constructively (by virtue of the application of Section 318 of the Code, as modified by Section 856(d)(5) of the Code), more than a 9.9% interest (as set forth in Section 856(d)(2)(B) of the Code) in a tenant of any real property owned or leased by the Corporation, and the Corporation obtains such representations and undertakings from such Person the Board of Directors determines are reasonably necessary to ascertain these facts and agrees that any violation or attempted violation will result in such Common Stock in excess of 9.8% being transferred to a Trust in accordance with Section 7.3 of this Article VII.

(c) The Board of Directors may exempt the Exempt Holder, and any Person who would Constructively Own Common Stock Constructively Owned by the Exempt Holder, from the limitation on the Exempt Holder (or such other Person who would Constructively Own Common Stock Constructively Owned by the Exempt Holder) Constructively Owning Common Stock in excess of the Related Party Limit in its sole discretion based on the facts and circumstances existing at the time of such proposed exemption and the information provided by the Exempt Holder, including, without limitation, information regarding a tenant of any real property owned or leased by the Corporation, of which tenant the Exempt Holder (or such other Person who would Constructively Own Common Stock Constructively Owned by the Exempt Holder) owns, directly or constructively (by virtue of the application of Section 318 of the Code, as modified by Section 856(d)(5) of the Code), more than a 9.9% interest (as set forth in Section 856(d)(2)(B) of the Code). As a condition to the granting of any such exemption, the Corporation may require that the Exempt Holder provide representations and undertakings as the Board of Directors determines are reasonably necessary to ascertain information regarding the ownership by the Exempt Holder (or such other Person who would Constructively Own Common Stock

 

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Constructively Owned by the Exempt Holder) of any interest in a tenant of any real property owned or leased by the Corporation and may impose conditions upon any such exemption as the Board of Directors deems necessary or advisable in order to determine or ensure the Corporation’s status as a REIT, including that any exemption may terminate upon any violation or attempted violation of any such representations, undertakings, conditions or other terms of any agreement between the Corporation and the Exempt Holder. If, upon any termination of an exemption granted under this Section 7.12(c) of this Article VII, the Exempt Holder (or such other Person who would Constructively Own Common Stock Constructively Owned by the Exempt Holder) would Constructively Own Common Stock in excess of the Related Party Limit, then the number of shares of Common Stock actually owned by the Exempt Holder (and such other Person who would Constructively Own Common Stock Constructively Owned by the Exempt Holder) in excess of the Related Party Limit will be transferred to a Trust in accordance with Section 7.3 of this Article VII such that the Exempt Holder (and such other Person who would Constructively Own Common Stock Constructively Owned by the Exempt Holder) will not Constructively Own Common Stock in excess of the Related Party Limit.

(d) The Board of Directors may exempt the Exempt Holder from the Exempt Holder Limit should it determine that the Beneficial Ownership of the Exempt Holder does not result in the Corporation being “closely held” within the meaning of Section 856(h) of the Code; provided, however, that notwithstanding the foregoing, this paragraph (d) shall not be interpreted as a waiver of, or exemption from, the restriction in Section 7.2(f).

 

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Section 7.13 Legend.

(a) Any certificate for Common Stock issued prior to an Exempt Holder Reduction Event shall bear substantially the following legend:

“The shares of Common Stock represented by this certificate are subject to restrictions on ownership and transfer for the purpose of the Corporation’s maintenance of its status as a Real Estate Investment Trust under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. Subject to certain provisions of the Corporation’s Charter, no Person may Beneficially Own Common Stock in excess of 8.0% of the outstanding Common Stock (other than the Exempt Holder), no Person may Constructively Own Common Stock in excess of 9.8% of the outstanding Common Stock and no Person may acquire Beneficial Ownership of any Common Stock after the Spin-off Date if, as a result of such acquisition, the fair market value of the shares of stock owned directly and indirectly by Non-U.S. Persons would comprise more than 49% of the fair market value of the issued and outstanding Common Stock. Any Person who attempts to Beneficially Own or Constructively Own Common Stock in excess of the above limitations must immediately notify the Corporation. All capitalized items in this legend have the meanings defined in the Corporation’s Charter, a copy of which, including the restrictions on ownership and transfer, will be sent without charge to each stockholder who so requests. If the restrictions on ownership and transfer are violated, certain of the shares of Common Stock represented hereby will be transferred automatically and by operation of law to a Trust and shall be designated Stock-in-Trust.”

 

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(b) Any certificate for Common Stock issued at or after an Exempt Holder Reduction Event shall bear substantially the following legend:

“The shares of Common Stock represented by this certificate are subject to restrictions on ownership and transfer for the purpose of the Corporation’s maintenance of its status as a Real Estate Investment Trust under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. Subject to certain provisions of the Corporation’s Charter, no Person may Beneficially Own Common Stock in excess of 9.8% of the outstanding Common Stock, no Person may Constructively Own Common Stock in excess of 9.8% of the outstanding Common Stock and no Person may acquire Beneficial Ownership of any Common Stock after the Spin-off Date if, as a result of such acquisition, the fair market value of the shares of stock owned directly and indirectly by Non-U.S. Persons would comprise more than 49% of the fair market value of the issued and outstanding Common Stock. Any Person who attempts to Beneficially Own or Constructively Own Common Stock in excess of the above limitations must immediately notify the Corporation. All capitalized items in this legend have the meanings defined in the Corporation’s Charter, a copy of which, including the restrictions on ownership and transfer, will be sent without charge to each stockholder who so requests. If the restrictions on ownership and transfer are violated, certain of the shares of Common Stock represented hereby will be transferred automatically and by operation of law to a Trust and shall be designated Stock-in-Trust.”

 

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Section 7.14 Stock-in-Trust.

(a) Any Common Stock transferred to a Trust and designated Stock-in-Trust pursuant to Section 7.3 of this Article VII (“Stock-in-Trust”) shall be held for the exclusive benefit of the Beneficiary. The Corporation shall name a beneficiary of each Trust within five days after discovery of the existence of such Stock-in-Trust. Any transfer to a Trust, and subsequent designation of Common Stock as Stock-in-Trust, pursuant to Section 7.3 of this Article VII shall be effective as of the close of business on the business day prior to the date of the Transfer or Non-Transfer Event that results in the transfer to the Trust. Stock-in-Trust shall remain issued and outstanding Common Stock and shall be entitled to the same rights and privileges on identical terms and conditions as are all other issued and outstanding Common Stock. When transferred to the Permitted Transferee in accordance with the provisions of Section 7.14(e) of this Article VII, such Stock-in-Trust shall cease to be designated as Stock-in-Trust.

(b) The Trustee, as record holder of Stock-in-Trust, shall be entitled to receive all dividends and distributions as may be authorized by the Board of Directors and declared by the Corporation on such Common Stock and shall hold such dividends or distributions in trust for the benefit of the Beneficiary. The Prohibited Owner with respect to Stock-in-Trust shall repay to the Trustee the amount of any dividends or distributions received by it that (i) are attributable to any Common Stock designated as Stock-in-Trust and (ii) the record date of which was on or after the date that such Common Stock became Stock-in-Trust. The Corporation shall take all measures that it determines reasonably necessary to recover the amount of any such dividend or distribution paid to a Prohibited Owner, including, if necessary, withholding any portion of future dividends or distributions payable on Common Stock Beneficially Owned or Constructively Owned by the Person who, but for the provisions of Section 7.3 of this Article VII, would Beneficially Own or Constructively Own the Stock-in-Trust; and, as soon as reasonably practicable following the Corporation’s receipt or withholding thereof, shall pay over to the Trustee for the benefit of the Beneficiary the dividends so received or withheld, as the case may be.

 

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(c) In the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of, or any distribution of the assets of, the Corporation, each holder of Stock-in-Trust shall be entitled to receive, ratably with each other holder of Common Stock, that portion of the assets of the Corporation which is available for distribution to the holders of Common Stock. The Trustee shall distribute to the Prohibited Owner the amounts received upon such liquidation, dissolution, or winding up, or distribution; provided, however, that the Prohibited Owner shall not be entitled to receive amounts pursuant to this Section 7.14(c) of this Article VII in excess of, in the case of a purported Transfer in which the Prohibited Owner gave value for Common Stock and which Transfer resulted in the transfer of the shares of stock to the Trust, the price per share of stock, if any, such Prohibited Owner paid for the Common Stock and, in the case of a Non-Transfer Event or Transfer in which the Prohibited Owner did not give value for such shares of stock (e.g., if the shares of stock were received through a gift or devise) and which Non-Transfer Event or Transfer, as the case may be, resulted in the transfer of shares of stock to the Trust, the price per share of stock equal to the Market Price on the date of such Non-Transfer Event or Transfer. Any remaining amount in such Trust shall be distributed to the Beneficiary.

(d) The Trustee shall be entitled to vote all Stock-in-Trust. Any vote by a Prohibited Owner as a holder of Common Stock prior to the discovery by the Corporation that the Common Stock is Stock-in-Trust shall, subject to applicable law, be rescinded and shall be void ab initio with respect to such Stock-in-Trust, and the Prohibited Owner shall be deemed to have given, as of the close of business on the business day prior to the date of the purported Transfer or Non-Transfer Event that results in the transfer to the Trust of the Common Stock pursuant to Section 7.3 of this Article VII, an irrevocable proxy to the Trustee to vote the Stock-in-Trust in the manner in which the Trustee, in its sole and absolute discretion, desires; provided, however, that if the Corporation has, as a matter of law, taken irreversible corporate action, then the Trustee shall not have authority to rescind and recast such vote.

 

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(e) The Trustee shall have the exclusive and absolute right to designate a Permitted Transferee (“Permitted Transferee”) of any and all Stock-in-Trust. As reasonably practicable as possible, in an orderly fashion so as not to materially adversely affect the Market Price of the Stock-in-Trust, the Trustee shall designate any Person as Permitted Transferee, provided, however, that (i) the Permitted Transferee so designated purchases for valuable consideration (whether in a public or private sale) the Stock-in-Trust and (ii) the Permitted Transferee so designated may acquire such Stock-in-Trust without such acquisition resulting in a transfer to a Trust and the redesignation of such Common Stock so acquired as Stock-in-Trust under Section 7.3 of this Article VII. Upon the designation by the Trustee of a Permitted Transferee in accordance with the provisions of this subparagraph, the Trustee shall (i) cause to be transferred to the Permitted Transferee that number of shares of Stock-in-Trust acquired by the Permitted Transferee, (ii) cause to be recorded on the books of the Corporation that the Permitted Transferee is the holder of record of such number of shares of Common Stock and (iii) distribute to the Beneficiary any and all amounts held with respect to the Stock-in-Trust after making the payment to the Prohibited Owner required pursuant to Section 7.14(f) of this Article VII.

 

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(f) Any Prohibited Owner shall be entitled (following discovery of the Stock-in-Trust and subsequent designation of the Permitted Transferee in accordance with Section 7.14(e) of this Article VII) to receive from the Trustee the lesser of (i) in the case of (A) a purported Transfer in which the Prohibited Owner gave value for Common Stock and which Transfer resulted in the transfer of the Common Stock to the Trust, the price per share of stock, if any, such Prohibited Owner paid for the Common Stock; or (B) a Non-Transfer Event or Transfer in which the Prohibited Owner did not give value for such Common Stock (e.g., if the shares of stock were received through a gift or devise) and which Non-Transfer Event or Transfer, as the case may be, resulted in the transfer of Common Stock to the Trust, the price per share of stock equal to the Market Price on the date of such Non-Transfer Event or Transfer; and (ii) the price per share of stock received by the Trustee of the Trust from the sale or other disposition of such Stock-in-Trust in accordance with Section 7.14(e) of this Article VII. Any amounts received by the Trustee in respect of such Stock-in-Trust and in excess of such amounts to be paid to the Prohibited Owner pursuant to this Section 7.14(f) of this Article VII shall be distributed to the Beneficiary in accordance with the provisions of Section 7.14(e) of this Article VII. Each Beneficiary and Prohibited Owner waive any and all claims that they may have against the Trustee and the Corporation arising out of the disposition of Stock-in-Trust, except for claims arising out of the gross negligence or willful misconduct of, or any failure to make payments in accordance with this Section 7.14 of this Article VII by, such Trustee or the Corporation.

(g) Stock-in-Trust shall be deemed to have been offered for sale to the Corporation, or its designee, at a price per share of stock equal to the lesser of (i) the price per share of stock in the transaction that created such Stock-in-Trust (or, in the case of devise, gift or Non-Transfer Event, the Market Price at the time of such devise, gift or Non-Transfer Event) and (ii) the Market Price on the date the Corporation, or its designee, accepts such offer. The Corporation shall have the right to accept such offer for a period of 90 after the later of (i) the date of the Non-Transfer Event or purported Transfer which resulted in such Stock-in-Trust and (ii) the date the Corporation determines in good faith that a Transfer or Non-Transfer Event resulting in Stock-in-Trust has occurred, if the Corporation does not receive a notice of such Transfer or Non-Transfer Event pursuant to Section 7.5 of this Article VII.

 

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ARTICLE VIII

AMENDMENTS

The Corporation reserves the right from time to time to make any amendment to the Charter, now or hereafter authorized by law, including any amendment altering the terms or contract rights, as expressly set forth in the Charter, of any shares of outstanding stock. All rights and powers conferred by the Charter on stockholders, directors and officers are granted subject to this reservation. Except for those amendments permitted to be made without stockholder approval under Maryland law or by specific provision in the Charter, any amendment to the Charter shall be valid only if declared advisable by the Board of Directors and approved by the affirmative vote of stockholders entitled to cast a majority of all the votes entitled to be cast on the matter.

ARTICLE IX

LIMITATION OF LIABILITY

To the maximum extent that Maryland law in effect from time to time permits limitation of the liability of directors and officers of a corporation, no present or former director or officer of the Corporation shall be liable to the Corporation or its stockholders for money damages. Neither the amendment nor repeal of this Article IX, nor the adoption or amendment of any other provision of the Charter or the Bylaws inconsistent with this Article IX, shall limit or eliminate the limitation of liability provided to directors and officers under the immediately preceding sentence with respect to any act or failure to act which occurred prior to such amendment or repeal or with respect to any cause of action, suit or claim that, but for this Article IX, would accrue or arise, prior to such amendment or repeal.

 

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THIRD: The amendment to and restatement of the charter as hereinabove set forth have been duly advised by the Board of Directors and approved by the stockholders of the Corporation as required by law.

FOURTH: The current address of the principal office of the Corporation is as set forth in Article IV of the foregoing amendment and restatement of the charter.

FIFTH: The name and address of the Corporation’s current resident agent are as set forth in Article IV of the foregoing amendment and restatement of the charter.

SIXTH: The number of directors of the Corporation and the names of those currently in office are as set forth in Article V of the foregoing amendment and restatement of the charter.

SEVENTH: The total number of shares of stock which the Corporation had authority to issue immediately prior to this amendment and restatement was 100, consisting of 100 shares of Common Stock, $0.01 par value per share. The aggregate par value of all shares of stock having par value was $1.00.

EIGHTH: The total number of shares of stock which the Corporation has authority to issue pursuant to the foregoing amendment and restatement of the charter is 500,000,000, consisting of 400,000,000 shares of Common Stock, $0.01 par value per share, and 100,000,000 shares of Preferred Stock, $0.01 par value per share. The aggregate par value of all authorized shares of stock having par value is $5,000,000.

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

[SIGNATURE PAGE FOLLOWS]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Corporation has caused these Articles of Amendment and Restatement to be signed in its name and on its behalf by its President and attested to by its Secretary on this _____ day of ____________, 20__.

 

ATTEST:     CURBLINE PROPERTIES CORP.   

 

    By:  

 

   (SEAL)
Secretary       President   

Exhibit 3.2

CURBLINE PROPERTIES CORP.

FORM OF BYLAWS

ARTICLE I

OFFICES

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

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

ARTICLE II

MEETINGS OF STOCKHOLDERS

Section 1. PLACE. All meetings of stockholders shall be held at the principal executive office of the Corporation or at such other place as shall be set in accordance with these Bylaws and stated in the notice of the meeting. The Board of Directors may determine that a meeting will not be held at any place, but instead may be held partially or solely by means of remote communication. In accordance with these Bylaws and subject to any guidelines and procedures adopted by the Board of Directors, stockholders and proxy holders may participate in any meeting of stockholders held by means of remote communication and may vote at such meeting as permitted by Maryland law. Participation in a meeting by these means constitutes presence in person at the meeting.

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

Section 3. SPECIAL MEETINGS.

(a) General. Each of the chairman of the Board of Directors, chief executive officer, president and Board of Directors may call a special meeting of stockholders. Except as provided in subsection (b)(4) of this Section 3, a special meeting of stockholders shall be held on the date and at the time and place set by the chairman of the Board of Directors, chief executive officer, president or Board of Directors, whoever has called the meeting. Subject to subsection (b) of this Section 3, a special meeting of stockholders shall also be called by the secretary of the Corporation to act on any matter that may properly be considered at a meeting of stockholders upon the written request of stockholders entitled to cast not less than a majority of all the votes entitled to be cast on such matter at such meeting (the “Special Meeting Percentage”).


(b) Stockholder-Requested Special Meetings. (1) Any stockholders of record seeking to have stockholders request a special meeting may, by written notice to the secretary of the Corporation, request (such a request, a “Record Date Request Notice”) that the Board of Directors fix a record date to determine the stockholders of record who are entitled to deliver a written request to call a special meeting (such record date, the “Request Record Date”). A valid Record Date Request Notice shall set forth the purpose of the meeting and the matters proposed to be acted on at it, and shall include all of the information that must be included in a written request to call a special meeting, as set forth in Section 3(b)(2). The Board of Directors may fix the Request Record Date within 10 days of the secretary’s receipt of a valid Record Date Request Notice. The Request Record Date shall not precede, and shall not be more than 10 days after, the date upon which the resolution fixing the Request Record Date is adopted by the Board of Directors. If a Request Record Date is not fixed by the Board of Directors within the period set forth above, the Request Record Date shall be the close of business on the date that is the tenth day after the first valid Record Date Request Notice is received by the secretary with respect to the proposed business to be submitted for stockholder approval at a special meeting.

(2) In order for any stockholder to request a special meeting to act on any matter that may properly be considered at a meeting of stockholders, one or more written requests for a special meeting (collectively, the “Special Meeting Request”) must be delivered in the form required by this Section 3(b) to the secretary of the Corporation by stockholders of record as of the Request Record Date entitled to cast not less than the Special Meeting Percentage who must continue to own not less than the Special Meeting Percentage at all times between the Request Record Date through the date of such stockholder requested special meeting. The Special Meeting Request shall (A) set forth the purpose of the meeting and the matters proposed to be acted on at it (which shall be limited to those lawful matters set forth in the Record Date Request Notice received by the secretary), (B) bear the date of signature of each such stockholder signing the Special Meeting Request, (C) contain such information and representations, to the extent applicable, required by Section 11 of this Article II as though such stockholder was intending to make a nomination or propose other business brought before an annual meeting of stockholders, (D) contain an agreement by the requesting stockholders to notify the Corporation promptly in the event of any disposition following the date of the Special Meeting Request of shares of stock of the Corporation owned by the requesting stockholders and an acknowledgement that any such disposition prior to the date of the stockholder requested special meeting shall be deemed to be a revocation of such Special Meeting Request with respect to such disposed shares and that such shares will no longer be included in determining whether the Special Meeting Percentage has been satisfied, (E) provide documentary evidence to the secretary of the Corporation that the requesting stockholders own in the aggregate not less than the Special Meeting Percentage as of the date of the Special Meeting Request; provided, however, that if the stockholders making the Special Meeting Request are not the beneficial owners of the shares representing at least the Special Meeting Percentage, then to be valid, the Special Meeting Request must also include documentary evidence (or, if not simultaneously provided with the request, such documentary evidence must be delivered to the secretary of the Corporation by certified mail return, receipt requested, within 10 Business Days after the date of the Special Meeting Request) that the beneficial owners on whose behalf the Special Meeting Request is made beneficially own at least the Special Meeting Percentage as of the date on which the Special Meeting Request is delivered to the secretary of the Corporation, and (F) be sent to the secretary by registered mail, return receipt requested. Any requesting stockholder may revoke such stockholder’s request for a special meeting at any time by written revocation delivered to the secretary. If, following such revocation (or deemed revocation pursuant to clause (D) of this Section 3(b)(1)), there are unrevoked requests from requesting

 

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stockholders holding in the aggregate less than the Special Meeting Percentage, the Board of Directors, in its discretion, may cancel the stockholder requested special meeting (a “Stockholder-Requested Meeting”). If none of the stockholders who submitted such Special Meeting Request appears or sends a qualified representative to present the business proposed to be conducted at such Stockholder-Requested Meeting, the Corporation need not present such business for a vote at such Stockholder-Requested Meeting, notwithstanding that proxies in respect of such matter may have been received by the Corporation.

(3) If any information submitted pursuant to this Section 3(b) by a stockholder shall be inaccurate in any material respect, such information shall be deemed not to have been provided in accordance with this Section 3(b). Any such stockholder shall notify the Corporation of any inaccuracy or change (within two Business Days of becoming aware of such inaccuracy or change) in any such information. Upon written request by the secretary or the Board of Directors, any such stockholder shall provide, within five Business Days of delivery of such request (or such other period as may be specified in such request), (A) written verification, reasonably satisfactory to the Board of Directors or any authorized officer of the Corporation, to demonstrate the accuracy of any information submitted by the stockholder pursuant to this Section 3(b), and (B) a written update of any information (including, if requested by the Corporation, written confirmation by such stockholder that it continues to seek to have stockholders request a special meeting) submitted by the stockholder pursuant to this Section 3(b) as of an earlier date. If a stockholder fails to provide such written verification or written update within such period, the information as to which written verification or a written update was requested shall be deemed not to have been provided in accordance with this Section 3(b).

(4) The secretary shall not be required to call any Stockholder-Requested Meeting pursuant to this Section 3(b): if (A) the Special Meeting Request does not comply with this Section 3(b); (B) the matters proposed to be acted on are not proper subjects for stockholder action under applicable law; (C) an identical or substantially similar item of business, as determined by the Board of Directors in its reasonable determination, which determination shall be conclusive and binding on the Corporation and its stockholders (a “Similar Item”) is included in the Corporation’s notice of meeting as an item of business to be brought before an annual or special stockholders meeting to be held within 120 days after the Special Meeting Request is received by the secretary of the Corporation; or (D) the Special Meeting Request was made in a manner that involved a violation of Regulation 14A under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”) or other applicable law. In addition, the secretary of the Corporation shall inform the requesting stockholders of the reasonably estimated cost of preparing and mailing or delivering the notice of the meeting (including the Corporation’s proxy materials), and the secretary shall not be required to call a Stockholder-Requested Meeting and such meeting shall not be held unless, in addition to the documents required by paragraph (2) of this Section 3(b), the secretary receives on behalf of the Corporation payment of such reasonably estimated cost prior to the preparation and mailing or delivery of such notice of the meeting.

(5) In the case of any Stockholder-Requested Meeting, following delivery of a Special Meeting Request, the Board of Directors shall by the later of (A) 10 Business Days after delivery of a Special Meeting Request and (B) five Business Days after delivery of any additional information requested by the Corporation pursuant to this Section 3(b) to determine the validity of the Special Meeting Request (the “Determination Date”), if appropriate, adopt a

 

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resolution fixing the record date for such Stockholder-Requested Meeting (the “Meeting Record Date”). In the case of any Stockholder-Requested Meeting, if the Board of Directors fails to fix a Meeting Record Date by the Determination Date, then the close of business on the 30th day after the Determination Date shall be the Meeting Record Date. Such Stockholder-Requested Meeting shall be held at such place, date and time as may be designated by the Board of Directors; provided, however, that the date of any Stockholder-Requested Meeting shall be not more than 90 days after the Meeting Record Date; and provided further that if the Board of Directors fails to designate by the Determination Date, a date and time for a Stockholder-Requested Meeting, then such meeting shall be held at 2:00 p.m., local time, on the 90th day after the Meeting Record Date or, if such 90th day is not a Business Day, on the first preceding Business Day. In fixing a date for a Stockholder-Requested Meeting, the Board of Directors may consider such factors as it deems relevant, including, without limitation, the nature of the matters to be considered, the facts and circumstances surrounding any request for the meeting and any plan of the Board of Directors to call an annual meeting or a special meeting. Each stockholder making the Special Meeting Request is required to update the notice delivered pursuant to Section 3(b)(2) not later than 10 Business Days after such Meeting Record Date to provide any material changes in the foregoing information as of such Meeting Record Date.

(6) Business transacted at any Stockholder-Requested Meeting shall be limited to the purpose(s) stated in the Special Meeting Request(s); provided, however, that nothing herein shall prohibit the Board from submitting matters to the stockholders at any Stockholder-Requested Meeting. No business shall be conducted at a Stockholder-Requested Meeting except in accordance with this Section 3(b)(6) or as required by applicable law.

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

Section 4. NOTICE. Not less than 10 nor more than 90 days before each meeting of stockholders, the secretary shall give to each stockholder entitled to vote at such meeting and to each stockholder not entitled to vote who is entitled to notice of the meeting notice in writing or by electronic transmission stating the time and place of the meeting and, in the case of a special meeting or as otherwise may be required by any statute, the purpose for which the meeting is called, by mail, by presenting it to such stockholder personally, by leaving it at the stockholder’s residence or usual place of business, by electronic transmission or by any other means permitted by Maryland law. If mailed, such notice shall be deemed to be given when deposited in the United States mail addressed to the stockholder at the stockholder’s address as it appears on the records of the Corporation, with postage thereon prepaid. If transmitted electronically, such notice shall be deemed to be given when transmitted to the stockholder by an electronic transmission to any address or number of the stockholder at which the stockholder receives electronic transmissions. The Corporation may give a single notice to all stockholders who share an address, which single notice shall be effective as to any stockholder at such address, unless such stockholder objects to receiving such single notice or revokes a prior consent to receiving such single notice. Failure to give notice of any meeting to one or more stockholders, or any irregularity in such notice, shall not affect the validity of any meeting fixed in accordance with this Article II or the validity of any proceedings at any such meeting.

 

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Subject to Section 11(a) of this Article II, any business of the Corporation may be transacted at an annual meeting of stockholders without being specifically designated in the notice, except such business as is required by any statute to be stated in such notice. No business shall be transacted at a special meeting of stockholders except as specifically designated in the notice. The Corporation may postpone or cancel a meeting of stockholders by making a public announcement (as defined in Section 11(c)(4) of this Article II) of such postponement or cancellation prior to the meeting. Notice of the date, time and place to which the meeting is postponed shall be given not less than 10 days prior to such date and otherwise in the manner set forth in this Section 4.

Section 5. ORGANIZATION AND CONDUCT. Every meeting of stockholders shall be conducted by the chairman of the meeting, who shall be one of the following individuals present at the meeting in the following order: the chief executive officer, the chairman of the Board of Directors, if there is one, the lead independent director, if there is one, the president, the vice presidents in their order of rank and, within each rank, in their order of seniority, the secretary, or, in the absence of such officers, a chairman chosen by the stockholders by the vote of a majority of the votes cast by stockholders present in person or by proxy. The secretary or, in the case of a vacancy in the office or absence of the secretary, an assistant secretary or an individual appointed by the Board of Directors or the chairman of the meeting shall act as secretary. In the event that the secretary presides at a meeting of stockholders, an assistant secretary, or, in the absence of all assistant secretaries, an individual appointed by the Board of Directors or the chairman of the meeting, shall record the minutes of the meeting. Even if present at the meeting, the person holding the office named herein may delegate to another person the power to act as chairman or secretary of the meeting. The order of business and all other matters of procedure at any meeting of stockholders shall be determined by the chairman of the meeting. The chairman of the meeting may prescribe such rules, regulations and procedures and take such action as, in the discretion of the chairman and without any action by the stockholders, are appropriate for the proper conduct of the meeting, including, without limitation, (a) restricting admission to the time set for the commencement of the meeting; (b) limiting attendance or participation at the meeting to stockholders of record of the Corporation, their duly authorized proxies and such other individuals as the chairman of the meeting may determine; (c) recognizing speakers at the meeting and determining when and for how long speakers and any individual speaker may address the meeting; (d) determining when and for how long the polls should be opened and when the polls should be closed and when announcement of the results should be made; (e) maintaining order and security at the meeting; (f) removing any stockholder or any other individual who refuses to comply with meeting procedures, rules or guidelines as set forth by the chairman of the meeting; (g) concluding a meeting or postponing, recessing or adjourning the meeting, whether or not a quorum is present, to a later date and time and at a place either (i) announced at the meeting or (ii) provided at a future time through means announced at the meeting (or in the case of a postponement a public announcement of the postponement); (h) complying with any state and local laws and regulations concerning safety and security; and (i) restricting the use of audio or video recording devices at the meeting. Unless otherwise determined by the chairman of the meeting, meetings of stockholders shall not be required to be held in accordance with any rules of parliamentary procedure.

 

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Section 6. QUORUM. At any meeting of stockholders, the presence in person or by proxy of stockholders entitled to cast a majority of all the votes entitled to be cast at such meeting on any matter shall constitute a quorum (and, for the avoidance of doubt, abstentions and broker non-votes shall be treated as present for purposes of determining the presence or absence of a quorum); but this Section 6 shall not affect any requirement under any statute or the charter of the Corporation (the “Charter”) for the vote necessary for the approval of any matter. The chairman of the meeting may postpone, adjourn or recess the meeting from time to time and for any reason, to a date not more than 120 days after the original record date without notice other than announcement at the meeting, whether or not there is a quorum. At any such postponed, adjourned or recessed meeting at which a quorum shall be present, any business may be transacted which might have been transacted at the meeting as originally noticed.

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

Section 7. VOTING. A nominee for director shall be elected as a director only if such nominee receives the affirmative vote of a majority of the total votes cast for and against such nominee at a meeting of stockholders duly called and at which a quorum is present. Notwithstanding the immediately preceding sentence, a nominee for director shall be elected by a plurality of votes cast at a meeting of stockholders duly called and at which a quorum is present for which (a) the secretary of the Corporation receives notice that a stockholder has nominated an individual for election as a director in compliance with (i) the requirements of advance notice of stockholder nominees for director set forth in these Bylaws or (ii) the requirements for a Special Meeting Request that includes nominees for election as a director set forth in Article II, Section 3 of these Bylaws and (b) such nomination has not been withdrawn by such stockholder on or before 5:00 p.m., Eastern Time, on the tenth day before the date of filing of the definitive proxy statement of the Corporation with the Securities and Exchange Commission, and, as a result of which, the number of nominees is greater than the number of directors to be elected at the meeting. For purposes of this Section 7, if plurality voting is applicable to the election of directors at any meeting, the nominees who receive the highest number of votes cast “for,” without regard to votes cast “against” or for which authority was withheld, shall be elected as directors up to the total number of directors to be elected at that meeting. Each share entitles the holder thereof to vote for as many individuals as there are directors to be elected and for whose election the holder is entitled to vote. A majority of the votes cast at a meeting of stockholders duly called and at which a quorum is present shall be sufficient to approve any other matter which may properly come before the meeting, unless more than a majority of the votes cast is required by statute, by the Charter or by these Bylaws. Unless otherwise provided by statute or by the Charter, each outstanding share of stock, regardless of class, entitles the holder thereof to cast one vote on each matter submitted to a vote at a meeting of stockholders.

Section 8. PROXIES. A holder of record of shares of stock of the Corporation may cast votes in person or by proxy that is (a) executed by the stockholder or by the stockholder’s duly authorized agent in any manner permitted by applicable law, (b) compliant with Maryland law and these Bylaws and (c) filed in accordance with the procedures established by the Corporation. Such proxy or evidence of authorization of such proxy shall be filed with the record of the proceedings of the meeting. No proxy shall be valid more than 11 months after its date unless otherwise provided in the proxy.

 

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Any stockholder directly or indirectly soliciting proxies from other stockholders must use a proxy card color other than white, which shall be reserved for the exclusive use by the Board of Directors.

Section 9. VOTING OF STOCK BY CERTAIN HOLDERS. Stock of the Corporation registered in the name of a corporation, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, trust or other entity, if entitled to be voted, may be voted by the president or a vice president, managing member, manager, general partner or trustee thereof, as the case may be, or a proxy appointed by any of the foregoing individuals, unless some other person who has been appointed to vote such stock pursuant to a bylaw or a resolution of the governing body of such corporation or other entity or agreement of the partners of a partnership presents a certified copy of such bylaw, resolution or agreement, in which case such person may vote such stock. Any trustee or fiduciary, in such capacity, may vote stock registered in such trustee’s or fiduciary’s name, either in person or by proxy.

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

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

Section 10. INSPECTORS. The Board of Directors or the chairman of the meeting may appoint, before or at the meeting, one or more inspectors for the meeting and any successor or alternate to the inspector. If no inspector or alternate is able to act at a meeting of the stockholders, the chairman of the meeting shall appoint one or more inspectors to act at the meeting. Unless otherwise required by applicable law, inspectors may be officers, employees or agents of the Corporation. The inspector shall have the duties prescribed by law and shall take charge of the polls and, when the vote is completed, shall make a certificate of the result of the vote taken and of such other facts as may be required by applicable law.

 

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Section 11. ADVANCE NOTICE OF STOCKHOLDER NOMINEES FOR DIRECTOR AND OTHER STOCKHOLDER PROPOSALS.

(a) Annual Meetings of Stockholders. (1) Nominations of individuals for election to the Board of Directors and proposals of other business to be considered at an annual meeting of stockholders by the stockholders may only be made (i) pursuant to the Corporation’s notice of meeting given by or at the direction of the Board of Directors, (ii) otherwise by or at the direction of the Board of Directors or (iii) by any stockholder of the Corporation who was a stockholder of record at the record date set by the Board of Directors for the purpose of determining stockholders entitled to vote at the annual meeting, at the time of giving of notice by the stockholder as provided for in this Section 11(a) and at the time of the annual meeting (and any postponement or adjournment thereof), who is entitled to vote at the meeting in the election of each individual so nominated or on any such other business and who has complied with either this Section 11(a) and the other applicable provisions of this Section 11 or with Section 12 of this Article II with respect to qualifying nominations of a Stockholder Nominee pursuant to a Notice of Proxy Access Nomination (each as defined below). The first sentence of this paragraph (a)(1), subject to compliance with the remainder of this Section 11(a) shall be the exclusive means for a stockholder to make nominations or other business proposals (other than nominations properly brought under Section 12 of this Article II or matters properly brought under Rule 14a-8 under the Exchange Act and included in the Corporation’s notice of meeting) before an annual meeting of stockholders.

(2) For any nomination or other business to be properly brought before an annual meeting by a stockholder pursuant to clause (iii) of paragraph (a)(1) of this Section 11, the stockholder must have given timely notice thereof in writing to the secretary of the Corporation and any such other business must otherwise be a proper matter for action by the stockholders. To be timely, a stockholder’s notice shall set forth all information and representations required under this Section 11 and shall be delivered to the secretary at the principal executive office of the Corporation not earlier than the 150th day and not later than 5:00 p.m., Eastern Time, on the 120th day prior to the first anniversary of the date the definitive proxy statement was first sent to stockholders in connection with the preceding year’s annual meeting; provided, however, that in the event that the date of the annual meeting is more than 30 days before or more than 60 days after such anniversary date, notice by the stockholder must be so delivered not earlier than the 150th day prior to the date of such annual meeting and not later than 5:00 p.m., Eastern Time, on the later of the 120th day prior to the date of such annual meeting or, if the first public announcement of the date of such annual meeting is less than 130 days prior to the date of such annual meeting, the 10th day following the day on which public announcement of the date of such meeting is first made by the Corporation. For the purpose of this Section 11, the date of the 2024 annual meeting of stockholders shall be deemed to have been May 8, 2024, and the date the definitive proxy statement was first sent to stockholders in connection therewith shall be deemed to have been April 2, 2024. In addition, to be timely, a stockholder’s notice shall further be updated and supplemented, if necessary, so that the information provided or required to be provided in such notice shall be true and correct as of the record date for the annual meeting and as of the date that is 10 Business Days prior to the annual meeting and any adjournment or postponement thereof, and such update and supplement shall be delivered to the secretary of the Corporation at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not later than five Business Days after the record date for the annual meeting in the case of the update and supplement required to be made as of the record date, and not later than eight Business Days prior to the date for the annual meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof in the case of the update and supplement required to be made as of 10 Business Days prior to the annual meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof. If a stockholder has given timely notice as required herein to make a nomination or bring a proposal of other business before any such annual meeting and intends to authorize a qualified

 

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representative to act for such stockholder as a proxy to present the nomination or proposal at such annual meeting, the stockholder shall give notice of such authorization in writing to the secretary of the Corporation not less than three Business Days before the date of the annual meeting, including the name and contact information for such person. The postponement or adjournment of an annual meeting (or the public announcement thereof) shall not commence a new time period (or extend any time period) for the giving of a stockholder’s notice as described above. The minimum timeliness requirements of this paragraph (a)(2) of this Section 11 shall apply despite any different timeline described in Rule 14a-19 or elsewhere in Regulation 14A under the Exchange Act, including with respect to any statements or information required to be provided to the Corporation pursuant to Rule 14a-19 by a nominating stockholder and not otherwise specified herein.

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

(i) as to each individual whom the stockholder proposes to nominate for election or reelection as a director (each, a “Proposed Nominee”), all information relating to the Proposed Nominee that is required to be disclosed in solicitations of proxies for election of directors in an election contest (even if an election contest is not involved), or is otherwise required, in each case pursuant to Regulation 14A or Regulation 14C (or any successor provisions) under the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder (including the Proposed Nominee’s written consent to being named in the Corporation’s proxy statement and accompanying proxy card as a nominee and to serving as a director for a full term if elected);

(ii) as to any other business that the stockholder proposes to bring before the meeting, (A) a concise summary description of such business, the stockholder’s reasons for proposing such business at the meeting and any material interest in such business of such stockholder or any Stockholder Associated Person (as defined below), individually or in the aggregate, including any anticipated benefit to the stockholder or the Stockholder Associated Person therefrom, (B) the text of the proposal (including the text of any resolutions proposed for consideration and in the event that such business includes a proposal to amend the Bylaws, the language of the proposed amendment), (C) a reasonably detailed description of all agreements, arrangements and understandings (x) between or among any of such stockholders or Stockholder Associated Persons or (y) between or among any such stockholder or any Stockholder Associated Person and any other record or beneficial holder(s) or persons(s) who have a right to acquire beneficial ownership at any time in the future of the shares of any class or series of the Corporation (including their names) in connection with the proposal of such business by such stockholder, and (D) any other information relating to such item of business that would be required to be disclosed in a proxy statement or other filing required to be made in connection with solicitations of proxies in support of the business proposed to be brought before the meeting pursuant to Regulation 14A (or any successor provision) of the Exchange Act; provided, however, that the disclosures required by this paragraph (ii) shall not include any disclosures with respect to any broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee who is a stockholder or Stockholder Associated Person solely as a result of being the stockholder directed to prepare and submit the notice required by these Bylaws on behalf of a beneficial owner;

(iii) as to the stockholder giving the notice, any Proposed Nominee and any Stockholder Associated Person,

 

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(A) (I) the class, series and number of all shares of stock or other securities of the Corporation or any affiliate thereof (collectively, the “Company Securities”), if any, which are, directly or indirectly, owned (beneficially or of record) by such stockholder, Proposed Nominee or Stockholder Associated Person, (II) the date on which each such Company Security was acquired and the investment intent of such acquisition, (III) any option, warrant, convertible security, stock appreciation right, instrument, or derivative or synthetic arrangement having the characteristics of a long position in any Company Securities, or any contract, derivative, swap or other transaction or series of transactions designed to produce economic benefits and risks that correspond substantially to the ownership of any Company Securities, including due to the fact that the value of such contract, derivative, swap or other transaction or series of transactions is determined by reference to the price, value or volatility of any Company Security, whether or not such instrument, contract or right shall be subject to settlement in the underlying Company Security, through the delivery of cash or other property, or otherwise, and without regard to whether the stockholder of record, the beneficial owner, if any, or any affiliates or associates or others acting in concert therewith, may have entered into transactions that hedge or mitigate the economic effect of such instrument, contract or right, or any other direct or indirect opportunity to profit or share in any profit derived from any increase or decrease in the value of any Company Securities (any of the foregoing, a “Derivative Instrument”), directly or indirectly, owned beneficially by such stockholder, Proposed Nominee or Stockholder Associated Person, (IV) a description of any proxy, contract, arrangement, understanding or relationship pursuant to which such stockholder, Proposed Nominee or Stockholder Associated Person has a right to vote any Company Security, (V) any rights to dividends on the Company Securities owned beneficially by such stockholder, Proposed Nominee or Stockholder Associated Person that are separated from the underlying Company Securities, (VI) any performance-related fees (other than an asset-based fee) to which such stockholder, Proposed Nominee or Stockholder Associated Person is entitled based on any increase or decrease in the value of Company Securities or Derivative Instruments, and (VII) any significant equity interests or any Derivative Instruments or short interests in any competitor (meaning any entity that provides products or services that compete with or are alternatives to the principal products or services provided by the Corporation or its affiliates), held by such stockholder, Proposed Nominee or Stockholder Associated Person (provided that solely for purposes of this clause (VII), references to the words “the Corporation” within the definitions of “Derivative Instrument” shall be replaced with the words “such competitor”),

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

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

 

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

(iv) as to the stockholder giving the notice, any Stockholder Associated Person with an interest or ownership referred to in clauses (ii) or (iii) of this paragraph (3) of this Section 11(a) and any Proposed Nominee,

(A) the name and address of such stockholder, as they appear on the Corporation’s stock ledger, and the current name and address, if different, of each such Stockholder Associated Person and any Proposed Nominee and

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

(v) the name and address of any person who contacted or was contacted by the stockholder giving the notice or any Stockholder Associated Person about the Proposed Nominee (in connection with such nomination or related election contest) or other business proposal;

(vi) to the extent known by the stockholder giving the notice, the name and address of any other person providing financial support or meaningful assistance in furtherance of the election or reelection of the nominee as a director or the proposal of other business;

(vii) if the stockholder is proposing one or more Proposed Nominees, a representation that such stockholder, Proposed Nominee or Stockholder Associated Person intends or is part of a group which intends to solicit the holders of shares representing at least 67% of the voting power of shares entitled to vote on the election of directors in support of Proposed Nominees in accordance with Rule 14a-19 promulgated under the Exchange Act; and

(viii) all other information regarding the stockholder giving the notice and each Stockholder Associated Person that would be required to be disclosed by the stockholder in connection with the solicitation of proxies for the election of directors in an election contest (even if an election contest is not involved), or would otherwise be required in connection with such a solicitation, in each case pursuant to Regulation 14A (or any successor provision) under the Exchange Act.

 

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(4) Such stockholder’s notice shall, with respect to any Proposed Nominee, be accompanied by a:

(i) written representation executed by the Proposed Nominee:

(A) that such Proposed Nominee (I) is not, and will not become, a party to any agreement, arrangement or understanding with any person or entity other than the Corporation in connection with service or action as a director that has not been disclosed to the Corporation, (II) consents to be named in a proxy statement as a nominee, (III) consents to serve as a director of the Corporation if elected, (IV) will notify the Corporation simultaneously with the notification to the stockholder of the Proposed Nominee’s actual or potential unwillingness or inability to serve as a director and (V) does not need any permission or consent from any third party to serve as a director of the Corporation, if elected, that has not been obtained, including any employer or any other board or governing body on which such Proposed Nominee serves;

(B) attaching copies of any and all requisite permissions or consents; and

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

(ii) unless such Proposed Nominee is submitted as a Stockholder Nominee by an Eligible Stockholder pursuant to a Proxy Access Nomination pursuant to Section 12 of this Article II, a written representation executed by the stockholder that such stockholder will:

(A) comply with Rule 14a-19 promulgated under the Exchange Act in connection with such stockholder’s solicitation of proxies in support of any Proposed Nominee;

(B) notify the Corporation as promptly as practicable of any determination by the stockholder to no longer solicit proxies for the election of any Proposed Nominee as a director at the annual meeting;

(C) furnish such other or additional information as the Corporation may request for the purpose of determining whether the requirements of this Section 11 have been complied with and of evaluating any nomination or other business described in the stockholder’s notice; and

 

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(D) appear in person or by proxy at the meeting to nominate any Proposed Nominees or to bring such business before the meeting, as applicable, and acknowledge that if the stockholder does not so appear in person or by proxy at the meeting to nominate such Proposed Nominees or bring such business before the meeting, as applicable, the Corporation need not bring such Proposed Nominee or such business for a vote at such meeting and any proxies or votes cast in favor of the election of any such Proposed Nominee or of any proposal related to such other business need not be counted or considered.

(5) Notwithstanding anything in this subsection (a) of this Section 11 to the contrary, in the event that the number of directors to be elected to the Board of Directors at the annual meeting is increased from the number of directors serving on the date stockholders are first permitted to submit nominations or other business for consideration at an annual meeting pursuant to Section 11(a)(2), and there is no public announcement of such action at least 130 days prior to the first anniversary of the date the definitive proxy statement was first sent to stockholders in connection with the preceding year’s annual meeting, a stockholder’s notice required by clause (iii) of paragraph (a)(1) of this Section 11 shall also be considered timely, but only with respect to nominees for any new positions created by such increase, if it shall be delivered to the secretary of the Corporation at the principal executive office of the Corporation not later than 5:00 p.m., Eastern Time, on the tenth day following the day on which such public announcement is first made by the Corporation.

(6) For purposes of this Section 11, “Stockholder Associated Person” of any stockholder shall mean (i) any person who is a member, with such stockholder, of any “group,” as that term is used for purposes of Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act or who is otherwise a participant (as defined in Instruction 3 to Item 4 of Schedule 14A under the Exchange Act) in the solicitation, (ii) any beneficial owner of shares of stock of the Corporation owned of record or beneficially by such stockholder (other than a stockholder that is a depositary) and (iii) any person that directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls, or is controlled by, or is under common control with, such stockholder or such Stockholder Associated Person.

(b) Special Meetings of Stockholders. Only such business shall be conducted at a special meeting of stockholders as shall have been brought before the meeting pursuant to the Corporation’s notice of meeting. No stockholder may make a proposal of other business to be considered at a special meeting or, except as contemplated by and in accordance with the next two sentences of this Section 11(b), nominate an individual for election to the Board of Directors at a special meeting. Nominations of individuals for election to the Board of Directors may be made at a special meeting of stockholders at which directors are to be elected only (1) by or at the direction of the Board of Directors or (2) provided that the special meeting has been called in accordance with Section 3(a) of this Article II for the purpose of electing directors, by any stockholder of the Corporation who is a stockholder of record at the record date set by the Board of Directors for the purpose of determining stockholders entitled to vote at the special meeting, at the time of giving of notice provided for in this Section 11 and at the time of the special meeting (and any postponement or adjournment thereof), who is entitled to vote at the meeting in the election of each individual so nominated and who has complied with the notice procedures set forth in this Section 11. In the event the Corporation calls a special meeting of stockholders for the purpose of electing one or more individuals to the Board of Directors, any stockholder may nominate an individual or individuals (as the case may be) for election as a director as specified in

 

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the Corporation’s notice of meeting, if the stockholder’s notice, containing the information and representations required by paragraphs (a)(3) and (4) of this Section 11, is delivered to the secretary at the principal executive office of the Corporation not earlier than the 120th day prior to such special meeting and not later than 5:00 p.m., Eastern Time, on the later of the 90th day prior to such special meeting or, if the first public announcement of the date of such special meeting is less than 100 days prior to the date of such special meeting, the 10th day following the day on which public announcement is first made of the date of the special meeting and of the nominees proposed by the Board of Directors to be elected at such meeting. In no event shall any adjournment or postponement of a special meeting, or the public announcement thereof, commence a new time period for the giving of a stockholder’s notice as described above. In addition, to be timely, a stockholder’s notice shall further be updated and supplemented, if necessary, so that the information provided or required to be provided in such notice shall be true and correct as of the record date for the special meeting and as of the date that is 10 Business Days prior to the special meeting and any adjournment or postponement thereof, and such update and supplement shall be delivered to the secretary of the Corporation at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not later than five Business Days after the record date for the special meeting in the case of the update and supplement required to be made as of the record date, and not later than eight Business Days prior to the date for the special meeting, any adjournment or postponement thereof in the case of the update and supplement required to be made as of 10 Business Days prior to the special meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof. If a stockholder has given timely notice as required herein to make a nomination before any such special meeting and intends to authorize a qualified representative to act for such stockholder as a proxy to present the nomination at such special meeting, the stockholder shall give notice of such authorization in writing to the secretary not less than three Business Days before the date of the special meeting, including the name and contact information for such person. The postponement or adjournment of a special meeting (or public announcement thereof) shall not commence a new time period (or extend any time period) for the giving of a stockholder’s notice as described above.

(c) General. (1) If any information or representation submitted pursuant to this Section 11 or Section 12 of Article II by any stockholder proposing a nominee for election as a director or any proposal for other business at a meeting of stockholders, including any information or representation from a Proposed Nominee, shall be inaccurate in any material respect, such information or representation shall be deemed not to have been provided in accordance with this Section 11 or Section 12 of Article II. Any such stockholder shall notify the Corporation of any inaccuracy or change (within two Business Days of becoming aware of such inaccuracy or change) in any such information or representation. Upon written request by the secretary or the Board of Directors, any such stockholder or Proposed Nominee shall provide, within five Business Days of delivery of such request (or such other period as may be specified in such request), (i) written verification, reasonably satisfactory to the Board of Directors or any authorized officer of the Corporation, to demonstrate the accuracy of any information submitted by the stockholder pursuant to this Section 11 or Section 12 of this Article II, (ii) a written update of any information (including, if requested by the Corporation, written confirmation by such stockholder that it continues to intend to bring such nomination or other business proposal before the meeting and, if applicable, satisfy the requirements of Rule 14a-19(a)(3)) submitted by the stockholder pursuant to this Section 11 or Section 12 of this Article II as of an earlier date and (iii) an updated representation by each Proposed Nominee that such individual will serve as a director of the Corporation if elected. If a stockholder or Proposed Nominee fails to provide such written verification, update or representation within such period, the information as to which such written verification, update or representation was requested shall be deemed not to have been provided in accordance with this Section 11 or Section 12 of this Article II.

 

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(2) Only such individuals who are nominated in accordance with this Section 11 or Section 12 of this Article II shall be eligible for election by stockholders as directors, and only such business shall be conducted at a meeting of stockholders as shall have been brought before the meeting in accordance with this Section 11. A stockholder proposing a Proposed Nominee shall have no right to (i) nominate a number of Proposed Nominees that exceed the number of directors to be elected at the meeting or (ii) substitute or replace any Proposed Nominee unless such substitute or replacement is nominated in accordance with this Section 11 or Section 12 of Article II (including the timely provision of all information and representations with respect to such substitute or replacement Proposed Nominee in accordance with the deadlines set forth in this Section 11 or Section 12 of Article II). If the Corporation provides notice to a stockholder that the number of Proposed Nominees proposed by such stockholder exceeds the number of directors to be elected at a meeting, the stockholder must provide written notice to the Corporation within five Business Days stating the names of the Proposed Nominees that have been withdrawn so that the number of Proposed Nominees proposed by such stockholder no longer exceeds the number of directors to be elected at a meeting. If any individual who is nominated in accordance with this Section 11 or Section 12 of Article II becomes unwilling or unable to serve on the Board of Directors, then the nomination with respect to such individual shall no longer be valid and no votes may validly be cast for such individual. The chairman of the meeting shall have the power to determine whether a nomination or any other business proposed to be brought before the meeting was made or proposed, as the case may be, in accordance with this Section 11 or Section 12 of Article II and, if any proposed nomination or other business is not in compliance herewith, to declare that such defective proposal or nomination shall be disregarded.

(3) Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 11, the Corporation shall disregard any proxy authority granted in favor of, or votes for, director nominees other than the Corporation’s nominees or Proposed Nominees submitted as Stockholder Nominees by an Eligible Stockholder pursuant to a Notice of Proxy Access Nomination pursuant to Section 12 of this Article II, if the stockholder or Stockholder Associated Person (each, a “Soliciting Stockholder”) soliciting proxies in support of such director nominees abandons the solicitation or does not (i) comply with Rule 14a-19 promulgated under the Exchange Act, including any failure by the Soliciting Stockholder to (A) provide the Corporation with any notices required thereunder in a timely manner or (B) comply with the requirements of Rule 14a-19(a)(2) and Rule 14a-19(a)(3) promulgated under the Exchange Act or (ii) timely provide sufficient evidence in the determination of the Board of Directors sufficient to satisfy the Corporation that such Soliciting Stockholder has met the requirements of Rule 14a-19(a)(3) promulgated under the Exchange Act in accordance with the following sentence. Upon request by the Corporation, such Soliciting Stockholder shall deliver to the Corporation, no later than five Business Days prior to the applicable meeting, sufficient evidence in the judgment of the Board of Directors that it has met the requirements of Rule 14a-19(a)(3) promulgated under the Exchange Act.

 

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(4) In addition to the other requirements set forth in these Bylaws, a stockholder who has delivered a notice of nomination pursuant to this Section 11, whether in connection with an annual meeting or special meeting at which directors are to be elected, and has represented that it intend to solicit proxies pursuant to Rule 14a-19 promulgated under the Exchange Act shall, not later than eight Business Days prior to date of the applicable meeting of stockholders, deliver to the Corporation reasonable evidence of compliance with Rule 14a-19. Unless otherwise required by law, if any stockholder fails to comply with any applicable requirements of Rule 14a-19 promulgated under the Exchange Act, then the Corporation shall disregard any proxies or votes solicited for such nominees.

(5) For purposes of these Bylaws: “public announcement” shall mean disclosure (i) in a press release reported by the Dow Jones News Service, Associated Press, Business Wire, PR Newswire or other widely circulated news or wire service or (ii) in a document publicly filed by the Corporation with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the Exchange Act; and “qualified representative” with respect to a stockholder shall mean a duly authorized officer, manager or partner of such stockholder or a person authorized by a writing executed by such stockholder (or a reliable reproduction or electronic transmission of such writing) delivered to the secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation which states that such person is authorized to act for such stockholder as proxy at the meeting of stockholders.

(6) Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 11, a stockholder shall also comply with all applicable requirements of state law and of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder (including Rule 14a-19, as applicable) with respect to the matters set forth in this Section 11 or Section 12 of Article II. For the avoidance of doubt, the obligation of a stockholder to update and/or supplement its notice as set forth in Section 11 or in any other Section of these Bylaws shall not be deemed to cure any defects in a notice existing as of the time required for giving such notice, extend any applicable deadlines under any provision of these Bylaws, or enable or be deemed to permit a stockholder who has previously submitted notice hereunder, or under any other provision of the Bylaws, to amend or update a proposal or to submit any new proposal after the time required for giving notice, including by changing or adding nominees, matters, business and/or resolutions proposed to be brought before a meeting of the stockholders. Except as otherwise provided by applicable law, the chairman of the meeting of stockholders shall have the power and duty to determine whether a nomination or any business proposed to be brought before the meeting was properly made in accordance with these Bylaws and if any proposed nomination or business is not in compliance, to declare that such defective nomination shall be disregarded or that such proposed business shall not be transacted, notwithstanding that proxies in respect of such matter may have been received by the Corporation. Nothing in this Section 11 shall be deemed to affect any right of a stockholder to request inclusion of a proposal in, or the right of the Corporation to omit a proposal from, any proxy statement filed by the Corporation with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Rule 14a-8 (or any successor provision) under the Exchange Act. Nothing in this Section 11 shall require disclosure of revocable proxies received by, or routine solicitation contacts made by or on behalf of, the stockholder or Stockholder Associated Person pursuant to a solicitation of proxies after the filing of a definitive proxy statement on Schedule 14A by such stockholder or Stockholder Associated Person.

(7) Notwithstanding anything in these Bylaws to the contrary, except as otherwise determined by the chairman of the meeting, if the stockholder giving notice as provided for in this Section 11 does not appear in person or by proxy at such annual or special meeting to present each nominee for election as a director or the proposed business, as applicable, such matter shall not be considered at the meeting.

 

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Section 12. PROXY ACCESS.

(a) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in these Bylaws, whenever the Board of Directors solicits proxies with respect to the election of directors at an annual meeting of stockholders, subject to the provisions of this Section 12, the Corporation shall include in its form of proxy, proxy statement and other applicable filings pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Exchange Act (the “Company Proxy Materials”), in addition to the names of any individuals nominated for election by or at the direction of the Board of Directors, the name, together with the Required Information (as defined below), of any individual nominated for election to the Board of Directors (each such individual being hereinafter referred to as a “Stockholder Nominee”) by a stockholder or group of no more than 20 stockholders that satisfies the requirements of this Section 12 (such individual or group, including as the context requires each member thereof, being hereinafter referred to as the “Eligible Stockholder”). For purposes of this Section 12, the “Required Information” is (A) the information provided to the secretary of the Corporation concerning the Stockholder Nominee and the Eligible Stockholder that is required to be disclosed in the Company Proxy Materials by the rules and regulations promulgated under the Exchange Act and (B) if the Eligible Stockholder so elects, a written statement in support of the Stockholder Nominee’s candidacy, not to exceed 500 words, delivered to the secretary at the time the Notice of Proxy Access Nomination (as defined below) required by this Section 12 is provided (the “Statement”). Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Section 12, the Corporation may omit from the Company Proxy Materials any information or Statement (or portion thereof) that the Board of Directors determines (A) is materially false or misleading, (B) omits to state any material fact necessary in order to make such information or Statement, in light of the circumstances under which it was provided or made, not misleading, (C) violates any applicable law, rule, regulation or listing standard or provision of the Charter or these Bylaws or (D) impugns the character, integrity or personal reputation of a person or makes charges concerning improper, illegal or immoral conduct or associations, in each case without factual foundation. For the avoidance of doubt, and any other provision of these Bylaws notwithstanding, nothing herein shall limit the Corporation’s right or ability to solicit against and include in Company Proxy Materials its own statements or other information relating to any Eligible Stockholder or Stockholder Nominee, including any information provided to the Corporation with respect to the foregoing.

(b) To be eligible to require the Corporation to include a Stockholder Nominee in the Company Proxy Materials pursuant to this Section 12, an Eligible Stockholder must have Owned (as defined below) at least three percent of the shares of the common stock, $0.01 par value per share (the “Common Stock”), of the Corporation outstanding from time to time (the “Required Shares”) continuously for at least three years (the “Minimum Holding Period”) as of the date the Notice of Proxy Access Nomination is received by the secretary in accordance with this Section 12 and 5:00 p.m., Eastern Time, on the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to vote at the annual meeting of stockholders, and must thereafter continuously Own the Required Shares through the date of such annual meeting (and any postponement or adjournment thereof). For purposes of this Section 12, an Eligible Stockholder shall be deemed to “Own” only those outstanding shares of Common Stock as to which the Eligible Stockholder possesses both (i) the full voting and investment rights pertaining to the shares and (ii) the full economic interest in

 

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(including the opportunity for profit from and risk of loss on) such shares; provided that the number of shares calculated in accordance with clauses (i) and (ii) shall not include any shares (A) sold by such Eligible Stockholder or any of its Affiliates in any transaction that has not been settled or closed, including short sales, (B) borrowed by such Eligible Stockholder or any of its Affiliates for any purpose or purchased by such Eligible Stockholder or any of its Affiliates pursuant to an agreement to resell, (C) that are subject to any option, warrant, forward contract, swap, contract of sale, other derivative or similar instrument, agreement, arrangement or understanding entered into by such Eligible Stockholder or any of its Affiliates, whether any such instrument, agreement, arrangement or understanding is to be settled with shares or with cash or other property based on the notional amount or value of shares of outstanding Common Stock, in any such case which instrument, agreement, arrangement or understanding has, or is intended to have, the purpose or effect of (1) reducing in any manner, to any extent or at any time in the future, such Eligible Stockholder’s or its Affiliate’s full right to vote or direct the voting of any such shares or (2) hedging, offsetting or altering (or attempting to hedge, offset or alter) to any degree any gain or loss arising from the full economic ownership of such shares by such Eligible Stockholder or its Affiliate or (D) for which the Eligible Stockholder or its Affiliate has transferred the right to vote the shares other than by means of a proxy, power of attorney or other instrument or arrangement that is unconditionally revocable at any time by the Eligible Stockholder or its Affiliate and that expressly directs the proxy holder to vote at the direction of the Eligible Stockholder or its Affiliate. In addition, an Eligible Stockholder shall be deemed to “Own” shares of Common Stock held in the name of a nominee or other intermediary so long as the Eligible Stockholder retains the full right to instruct how the shares are voted with respect to the election of directors and possesses the full economic interest in the shares of Common Stock. An Eligible Stockholder’s Ownership of shares of Common Stock shall be deemed to continue during any period in which the Eligible Stockholder has loaned such shares provided that the Eligible Stockholder has the power to recall such loaned shares on three Business Days’ notice and has in fact unconditionally recalled such loaned shares as of the time the Notice of Proxy Access Nomination is provided and through the date of the annual meeting of stockholders (and any postponement or adjournment thereof). For purposes of this Section 12, the terms “Owned,” “Owning” and other variations of the word “Own” shall have correlative meanings. Whether and how outstanding shares of Common Stock are “Owned” for these purposes shall be determined by the Board of Directors in its sole discretion. In addition, the term “Affiliate” or “Affiliates” shall have the meaning ascribed thereto under the Exchange Act.

(c) To be eligible to require the Corporation to include a Stockholder Nominee in the Company Proxy Materials pursuant to this Section 12, an Eligible Stockholder must provide to the secretary, in proper form and within the times specified below, (i) a written notice expressly electing to have such Stockholder Nominee included in the Company Proxy Materials pursuant to this Section 12 (a “Notice of Proxy Access Nomination”) and (ii) any updates or supplements to such Notice of Proxy Access Nomination. To be timely, the Notice of Proxy Access Nomination must be received by the secretary at the principal executive office of the Corporation not earlier than the 150th day and not later than 5:00 p.m., Eastern Time, on the 120th day prior to the first anniversary of the date the definitive proxy statement was first sent to stockholders in connection with the preceding year’s annual meeting; provided, however, that in the event that the date of the annual meeting of stockholders is more than 30 days before or after the first anniversary of the date of the preceding year’s annual meeting, the Notice of Proxy Access Nomination to be timely must be so received by the secretary not earlier than the 150th day prior to the date of such annual

 

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meeting and not later than 5:00 p.m., Eastern Time, on the later of the 120th day prior to the date of such annual meeting or the tenth day following the day on which public announcement of the date of such annual meeting is first made. For the purpose of this Section 12, the date of the 2024 annual meeting of stockholders shall be deemed to have been May 8, 2024 and the date the definitive proxy statement was first sent to stockholders in connection therewith shall be deemed to have been April 2, 2024. The public announcement of a postponement or an adjournment of an annual meeting shall not commence a new time for the giving of a Notice of Proxy Access Nomination as described above.

(d) To be in proper form for purposes of this Section 12, the Notice of Proxy Access Nomination shall include the following information:

(i) one or more written statements from the record holder of the Required Shares (and from each intermediary through which the Required Shares are or have been held during the Minimum Holding Period and, if applicable, each participant in the Depository Trust Company (“DTC”) or affiliate of a DTC participant through which the Required Shares are or have been held during the Minimum Holding Period if the intermediary is not a DTC participant or affiliate of a DTC participant) verifying that, as of a date within seven Business Days prior to the date the Notice of Proxy Access Nomination is received by the secretary, the Eligible Stockholder Owns, and has Owned continuously for at least the Minimum Holding Period, the Required Shares, and the Eligible Stockholder’s agreement to provide (A) within five Business Days after the record date for the annual meeting of stockholders, written statements from the record holder or intermediaries between the record holder and the Eligible Stockholder verifying the Eligible Stockholder’s continuous Ownership of the Required Shares through 5:00 p.m., Eastern Time, on the record date, together with a written statement by the Eligible Stockholder that such Eligible Stockholder will continue to Own the Required Shares through the date of such annual meeting (and any postponement or adjournment thereof), and (B) the updates and supplements to the Notice of Proxy Access Nomination at the times and in the forms required by this Section 12;

(ii) a copy of the Schedule 14N filed or to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission as required by Rule 14a-18 under the Exchange Act certifying that it owns and continuously has owned the Required Shares for at least the Minimum Holding Period;

(iii) information and certifications that are the same as would be required to be set forth in a stockholder’s notice of nomination pursuant to Section 11(a)(3) and (4) of Article II of these Bylaws (except for Section 11(a)(4)(ii)), including the written consent of the Stockholder Nominee to being named in the Company Proxy Materials as a nominee and to serving as a director if elected;

(iv) the written agreement of the Stockholder Nominee (A) if so requested, to meet in person with members of the Board of Directors and the Nominating and Sustainability Committee on reasonable notice by the Corporation of the time and place and (B) upon such Stockholder Nominee’s election as a director, to make such acknowledgments, enter into such agreements and provide such information as the Board of Directors requires of all directors at such time, including, without limitation, agreeing to be bound by the Corporation’s code of conduct, insider trading policy, corporate governance guidelines, confidentiality and other similar policies and procedures;

 

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(v) a representation that the Eligible Stockholder (A) acquired the Required Shares in the ordinary course of business and not with the intent to change or influence control of the Corporation, and that neither the Eligible Stockholder nor any Stockholder Nominee being nominated thereby presently has such intent, (B) has not nominated and will not nominate for election to the Board of Directors at the annual meeting of stockholders (or any postponement or adjournment thereof) any individual other than the Stockholder Nominee(s) included in the Company Proxy Materials pursuant to this Section 12, (C) has not engaged and will not engage in, and has not been and will not be a “participant,” within the meaning of Instruction 3 to Item 4 of Schedule 14A under the Exchange Act, in another person’s, “solicitation,” within the meaning of Rule 14a-1(l) under the Exchange Act, in support of the election of any individual as a director at the annual meeting (or any postponement or adjournment thereof) other than such Stockholder Nominee(s) or a nominee of the Board of Directors, (D) has complied, and will comply, with all applicable laws and regulations applicable to solicitations and the use, if any, of soliciting material in connection with the annual meeting (or any postponement or adjournment thereof), including, without limitation, Rule 14a-9 (or any successor provision) under the Exchange Act, (E) will not distribute to any stockholder any form of proxy for the annual meeting other than the form distributed by the Corporation and (F) has not provided and will not provide any facts, statements or information in its communications with the Corporation and the stockholders that were not or will not be true and complete in all material respects or which omitted or will omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make such facts, statements or information, in light of the circumstances under which they were or will be provided, not misleading;

(vi) a written undertaking that the Eligible Stockholder (A) assumes all liability arising out of any legal or regulatory violation arising out of any communication with the stockholders by the Eligible Stockholder, its Affiliates and associates or their respective agents or representatives, either before or after providing a Notice of Proxy Access Nomination pursuant to this Section 12, or out of the facts, statements or information that the Eligible Stockholder or its Stockholder Nominee(s) provided to the Corporation pursuant to this Section 12 or otherwise in connection with the inclusion of such Stockholder Nominee(s) in the Company Proxy Materials pursuant to this Section 12, and (B) indemnifies and holds harmless the Corporation and each of its directors, officers, agents and employees against any liability, loss, damage or expense in connection with any threatened or pending action, suit or proceeding, whether legal, administrative or investigative, against the Corporation or any of its directors, officers, agents or employees arising out of any nomination of a Stockholder Nominee or inclusion of such Stockholder Nominee in the Company Proxy Materials pursuant to this Section 12;

(vii) a written description of any compensatory, payment or other agreement, arrangement or understanding with any person or entity other than the Corporation under which the Stockholder Nominee is receiving or will receive compensation or payments directly related to service on the Board of Directors, together with a full and complete copy of any such agreement, arrangement or understanding if written; and

 

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(viii) in the case of a nomination by a group, the designation by all group members of one group member that is authorized to act on behalf of all group members with respect to matters relating to the nomination, including withdrawal of the nomination.

Each Stockholder Nominee and the Eligible Stockholder shall promptly furnish such other information (A) as may reasonably be required by the Corporation to determine the eligibility of such Stockholder Nominee to qualify as independent (as determined under the rules and listing standards of any national securities exchange on which any securities of the Corporation are listed), (B) that could be material to a reasonable stockholder’s understanding of the independence or lack of independence of such Stockholder Nominee or (C) as may reasonably be required by the Corporation to determine that the Eligible Stockholder meets the criteria for qualification as an Eligible Stockholder.

(e) To be eligible to require the Corporation to include a Stockholder Nominee in the Company Proxy Materials pursuant to this Section 12, (i) an Eligible Stockholder must further update and supplement the Notice of Proxy Access Nomination, if necessary, so that the information provided or required to be provided in such Notice of Proxy Access Nomination pursuant to this Section 12 shall be true and complete as of the record date for the annual meeting of stockholders and as of the date that is 10 Business Days prior to such annual meeting (or any postponement or adjournment thereof), and (ii) such update and supplement (or a written notice stating that there is no such update or supplement) shall be received by the secretary at the principal executive office of the Corporation not later than 5:00 p.m., Eastern Time, on the fifth Business Day after the record date for the meeting (in the case of the update and supplement required to be made as of the record date) and not later than 5:00 p.m., Eastern Time, on the eighth Business Day prior to the date of the meeting, if practicable, or, if not practicable, on the first practicable date prior to the meeting (or any postponement or adjournment thereof) (in the case of the update and supplement required to be made as of 10 Business Days prior to the meeting (or any postponement or adjournment thereof)).

(f) In the event that any fact, statement or information provided by the Eligible Stockholder or a Stockholder Nominee to the Corporation or the stockholders is not, when provided, or thereafter ceases to be, true, correct and complete in all material respects (including omitting a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading), and in addition to the requirements of Section 12(e), the Eligible Stockholder or Stockholder Nominee, as the case may be, shall promptly notify the secretary of the Corporation and provide the information that is required to make such information or communication true, correct, complete and not misleading, not later than two Business Days after becoming aware of the defect; it being understood that providing any such notification shall not be deemed to cure any such defect or limit the Corporation’s right to omit a Stockholder Nominee from its proxy materials pursuant to this Section 12.

(g) Whenever an Eligible Stockholder consists of a group of more than one stockholder, each provision in this Section 12 that requires the Eligible Stockholder to provide any written statement, representation, undertaking, agreement or other instrument or to comply with any other requirement or condition shall be deemed to require each stockholder that is a member of such group to provide such statements, representations, undertakings, agreements or other instruments and to meet such other requirements or conditions (which, if applicable, shall apply

 

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with respect to the portion of the Required Shares Owned by such stockholder). When an Eligible Stockholder is comprised of a group, a violation of any provision of these Bylaws by any member of the group shall be deemed a violation by the entire group. No person may be a member of more than one group of persons constituting an Eligible Stockholder with respect to any annual meeting of stockholders. In determining the aggregate number of stockholders in a group, two or more funds that are part of the same family of funds under common management and investment control (a “Qualifying Fund Family”) shall be treated as one stockholder. Not later than the deadline for delivery of the Notice of Proxy Access Nomination pursuant to this Section 12, a Qualifying Fund Family whose stock Ownership is counted for purposes of determining whether a stockholder or group of stockholders qualifies as an Eligible Stockholder shall provide to the secretary such documentation as is reasonably satisfactory to the Board of Directors, in its sole discretion, that demonstrates that the funds comprising the Qualifying Fund Family satisfy the definition thereof.

(h) The maximum number of Stockholder Nominees nominated by all Eligible Stockholders and entitled to be included in the Company Proxy Materials with respect to an annual meeting of stockholders shall be the greater of (i) 20% of the number of directors up for election as of the last day on which a Notice of Proxy Access Nomination may be timely delivered pursuant to and in accordance with this Section 12 (the “Final Proxy Access Nomination Date”) or, if such percentage is not a whole number, the closest whole number below such percentage or (ii) two; provided that the maximum number of Stockholder Nominees entitled to be included in the Company Proxy Materials with respect to a forthcoming annual meeting of stockholders shall be reduced by the number of individuals who were elected as directors at the immediately preceding or second preceding annual meeting of stockholders after inclusion in the Company Proxy Materials pursuant to this Section 12 and whom the Board of Directors nominates for re-election at such forthcoming annual meeting of stockholders. In the event that one or more vacancies for any reason occur on the Board of Directors after the Final Proxy Access Nomination Date but before the date of the annual meeting of stockholders and the Board of Directors elects to reduce the size of the Board of Directors in connection therewith, the maximum number of Stockholder Nominees eligible for inclusion in the Company Proxy Materials pursuant to this Section 12 shall be calculated based on the number of directors as so reduced. Any individual nominated by an Eligible Stockholder for inclusion in the Company Proxy Materials pursuant to this Section 12 whose nomination is subsequently withdrawn or whom the Board of Directors decides to nominate for election to the Board of Directors shall be counted as one of the Stockholder Nominees for purposes of determining the maximum number of Stockholder Nominees eligible for inclusion in the Company Proxy Materials pursuant to this Section 12. Any Eligible Stockholder submitting more than one Stockholder Nominee for inclusion in the Company Proxy Materials pursuant to this Section 12 shall rank such Stockholder Nominees based on the order that the Eligible Stockholder desires such Stockholder Nominees be selected for inclusion in the Company Proxy Materials in the event that the total number of Stockholder Nominees submitted by Eligible Stockholders pursuant to this Section 12 exceeds the maximum number of Stockholder Nominees eligible for inclusion in the Company Proxy Materials pursuant to this Section 12(h) and include such ranking in the Notice of Proxy Access Nomination hereunder. In the event the number of Stockholder Nominees submitted by Eligible Stockholders pursuant to this Section 12 exceeds the maximum number of nominees eligible for inclusion in the Company Proxy Materials pursuant to this Section 12(h), the highest-ranking Stockholder Nominee from each Eligible Stockholder pursuant to the preceding sentence shall be selected for inclusion in the Company Proxy Materials until the maximum number of Stockholder Nominees is reached, proceeding in order of the number

 

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of shares of Common Stock (largest to smallest) disclosed as Owned by each Eligible Stockholder in the Notice of Proxy Access Nomination submitted to the secretary. If the maximum number is not reached after the highest-ranking Stockholder Nominee from each Eligible Stockholder has been selected, this selection process shall continue as many times as necessary, following the same order each time, until the maximum number is reached. The Stockholder Nominees so selected in accordance with this Section 12(h) shall be the only Stockholder Nominees entitled to be included in the Company Proxy Materials and, following such selection, if the Stockholder Nominees so selected are not included in the Company Proxy Materials or are not submitted for election for any reason (other than the failure of the Corporation to comply with this Section 12), no other Stockholder Nominees shall be included in the Company Proxy Materials pursuant to this Section 12.

(i) The Corporation shall not be required to include, pursuant to this Section 12, a Stockholder Nominee in the Company Proxy Materials for any annual meeting of stockholders (i) for which meeting the secretary of the Corporation receives a notice (whether or not subsequently withdrawn) that the Eligible Stockholder or any other stockholder has nominated one or more individuals for election to the Board of Directors pursuant to the advance notice requirements for stockholder nominees for director set forth in Section 11 of Article II of these Bylaws, (ii) if the Eligible Stockholder who has nominated such Stockholder Nominee has engaged in or is currently engaged in, or has been or is a “participant,” within the meaning of Instruction 3 to Item 4 of Schedule 14A under the Exchange Act, in another person’s, “solicitation,” within the meaning of Rule 14a-1(l) under the Exchange Act, in support of the election of any individual as a director at the annual meeting other than its Stockholder Nominee(s) or a nominee of the Board of Directors, (iii) if such Stockholder Nominee would not qualify as independent (as determined under the rules and listing standards of any national securities exchange on which any securities of the Corporation are listed), (iv) if such Stockholder Nominee is or becomes a party to any agreement by which the Stockholder Nominee agrees or commits to vote a certain way on certain matters, (v) if the election of such Stockholder Nominee as a director would cause the Corporation to fail to comply with these Bylaws, the Charter, the rules and listing standards of any national securities exchange on which any securities of the Corporation are listed, or any applicable state or federal law, rule or regulation, (vi) if such Stockholder Nominee is or has been, within the past three years, a director, officer, employee or consultant of a competitor (meaning any entity that provides products or services that compete with or are alternatives to the principal products or services provided by the Corporation or its affiliates), (vii) if such Stockholder Nominee is a defendant in or named subject of a pending criminal proceeding (excluding traffic violations and other minor offenses) or has been convicted or has pleaded nolo contendere in such a criminal proceeding within the past 10 years, (viii) if such Stockholder Nominee is subject to any order of the type specified in Rule 506(d) of Regulation D promulgated under the Securities Act, as amended (the “Securities Act”), (ix) if the Eligible Stockholder who has nominated such Stockholder Nominee or such Stockholder Nominee provides any fact, statement or information to the Corporation or the stockholders required or requested pursuant to this Section 12 that is not true and complete in all material respects or that omits a material fact necessary to make such facts, statements or information, in light of the circumstances in which they were provided, not misleading, or that otherwise contravenes any of the agreements, representations or undertakings made by such Eligible Stockholder or Stockholder Nominee pursuant to this Section 12 or (x) if the Eligible Stockholder who has nominated such Stockholder Nominee or such Stockholder Nominee fails to comply with any of its obligations pursuant to this Section 12, in each instance as determined by the Board of Directors in its sole discretion.

 

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(j) The Board of Directors shall have the power and authority to interpret this Section 12 and to make any and all determinations necessary or advisable to apply this Section 12 to any persons, facts or circumstances, including the power to determine (i) whether one or more stockholders or beneficial owners qualifies as an Eligible Stockholder, (ii) whether a Notice of Proxy Access Nomination complies with this Section 12 and has otherwise met the requirements of this Section 12, (iii) whether a Stockholder Nominee satisfies the qualifications and requirements in this Section 12, and (iv) whether any and all requirements of this Section 12 have been satisfied. Any such interpretation or determination adopted in good faith by the Board of Directors shall be binding on all persons, including the Corporation and its stockholders (including any beneficial owners). Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth herein, the Board of Directors or the chairman of the meeting shall declare a nomination by an Eligible Stockholder to be invalid and such nomination shall be disregarded notwithstanding that proxies in respect of such vote may have been received by the Corporation, if the Eligible Stockholder, or a qualified representative thereof, does not appear at the annual meeting of stockholders to present the nomination of the Stockholder Nominee(s) included in the Company Proxy Materials pursuant to this Section 12.

(k) Any Stockholder Nominee who is included in the Company Proxy Materials for an annual meeting of stockholders but withdraws from or becomes ineligible or unavailable for election to the Board of Directors or is not elected and received the affirmative vote of less than 25% of the votes entitled to be cast in the election of directors at such annual meeting, will be ineligible for inclusion in the Company Proxy Materials as a Stockholder Nominee pursuant to this Section 12 for the next two annual meetings of stockholders. For the avoidance of doubt, this Section 12(k) shall not prevent any stockholder from nominating any individual to the Board of Directors pursuant to and in accordance with Section 11 of Article II of these Bylaws.

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

Section 14. RECORD DATE. The Board of Directors may set, in advance, a record date for the purpose of determining stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at any meeting of stockholders or determining stockholders entitled to receive payment of any dividend or the allotment of any other rights, or in order to make a determination of stockholders for any other proper purpose, including, without limitation, for the purpose of determining stockholders entitled to request a special meeting of stockholders. Such record date, in any case, shall not be prior to 5:00 p.m., Eastern Time, on the day the record date is fixed and shall not be more than 90 days and, in the case of a meeting of stockholders, not less than 10 days, before the date on which the meeting or particular action requiring such determining of stockholders of record is to be held or taken.

 

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When a record date for the determination of stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at any meeting of stockholders has been set as provided in this Section 14, such record date shall continue to apply to the meeting if postponed or adjourned, except if the meeting is postponed or adjourned to a date more than 120 days after the record date originally fixed for the meeting, in which case a new record date for such meeting shall be determined as set forth herein.

ARTICLE III

DIRECTORS

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

Section 2. NUMBER, TENURE AND RESIGNATION. A majority of the entire Board of Directors may establish, increase or decrease the number of directors, provided that the number thereof shall never be less than the minimum number required by the MGCL, nor more than 15, and further provided that the tenure of office of a director shall not be affected by any decrease in the number of directors. Any director of the Corporation may resign at any time by delivering a resignation to the Board of Directors, the chairman of the Board of Directors or the secretary. Any resignation shall take effect immediately upon its receipt or at such later time specified in the resignation. The acceptance of a resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective unless otherwise stated in the resignation. If for any reason any or all the directors cease to be directors, such event shall not terminate the Corporation or affect these Bylaws or the powers of the remaining directors hereunder.

Section 3. ANNUAL AND REGULAR MEETINGS. An annual meeting of the Board of Directors may be held at such time and place as shall be specified in a notice given as hereinafter provided for special meetings of the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors may provide, by resolution, the time and place of regular meetings of the Board of Directors without other notice than such resolution.

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

Section 5. NOTICE. Notice of any special meeting of the Board of Directors shall be delivered personally or by telephone, electronic mail, facsimile transmission, courier or United States mail to each director at such director’s business or residence address. Notice by personal delivery, telephone, electronic mail or facsimile transmission shall be given at least 24 hours prior to the meeting. Notice by United States mail shall be given at least three days prior to the meeting. Notice by courier shall be given at least two days prior to the meeting. Telephone notice shall be deemed to be given when the director or such director’s agent is personally given such notice in a telephone call to which the director or such director’s agent is a party. Electronic

 

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mail notice shall be deemed to be given upon transmission of the message to the electronic mail address given to the Corporation by the director. Facsimile transmission notice shall be deemed to be given upon completion of the transmission of the message to the number given to the Corporation by the director and receipt of a completed answer-back indicating receipt. Notice by United States mail shall be deemed to be given when deposited in the United States mail properly addressed, with postage thereon prepaid. Notice by courier shall be deemed to be given when deposited with or delivered to a courier properly addressed. Neither the business to be transacted at, nor the purpose of, any annual, regular or special meeting of the Board of Directors need be stated in the notice, unless specifically required by statute or these Bylaws.

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

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

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

Section 8. ORGANIZATION. At each meeting of the Board of Directors, the chairman of the Board of Directors or, in the absence of the chairman, the chief executive officer, shall act as chairman of the meeting. Even if present at the meeting, such director may designate another director to act as chairman of the meeting. In the absence of both the chairman of the Board of Directors and chief executive officer, the lead independent director, if one, or, in the absence of all such individuals, the president or, in the absence of the president, a director chosen by a majority of the directors present, shall act as chairman of the meeting. The secretary or, in the secretary’s absence, an assistant secretary of the Corporation, or, in the absence of the secretary and all assistant secretaries, an individual appointed by the chairman of the meeting, shall act as secretary of the meeting.

Section 9. MEETINGS BY REMOTE COMMUNICATION. Directors may participate in a meeting of the Board of Directors by means of a conference telephone or other communications equipment if all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other at the same time. Participation in a meeting by these means shall constitute presence in person at the meeting.

 

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

Section 11. COMPENSATION. Directors shall not receive any stated salary for their services as directors but, by resolution of the Board of Directors, may receive compensation per year and/or per meeting and/or per visit to real property or other facilities owned or leased by the Corporation and for any service or activity they performed or engaged in as directors. Directors may be reimbursed for expenses of attendance, if any, at each annual, regular or special meeting of the Board of Directors or of any committee thereof and for their expenses, if any, in connection with each property visit and any other service or activity they perform or engage in as directors; but nothing herein contained shall be construed to preclude any directors from serving the Corporation in any other capacity and receiving compensation therefor. Members of the executive committee or of any standing or special committee may, by resolution of the Board of Directors, be allowed such compensation for their services as the Board of Directors may determine, and additional compensation may be allowed to directors for special services rendered.

Section 12. RELIANCE. Each director and officer of the Corporation shall, in the performance of such director’s or officer’s duties with respect to the Corporation, be entitled to rely on any information, opinion, report or statement, including any financial statement or other financial data, prepared or presented by an officer or employee of the Corporation whom the director or officer reasonably believes to be reliable and competent in the matters presented, by a lawyer, certified public accountant or other person, as to a matter which the director or officer reasonably believes to be within the person’s professional or expert competence, or, with respect to a director, by a committee of the Board of Directors on which the director does not serve, as to a matter within its designated authority, if the director reasonably believes the committee to merit confidence.

Section 13. RATIFICATION. The Board of Directors or the stockholders may ratify any act, omission, failure to act or determination made not to act (an “Act”) by the Corporation or its officers to the extent that the Board of Directors or the stockholders could have originally authorized the Act and, if so ratified, such Act shall have the same force and effect as if originally duly authorized, and such ratification shall be binding upon the Corporation and its stockholders. Any Act questioned in any proceeding on the ground of lack of authority, defective or irregular execution, adverse interest of a director, officer or stockholder, non-disclosure, miscomputation, the application of improper principles or practices of accounting or otherwise, may be ratified, before or after judgment, by the Board of Directors or by the stockholders, and such ratification shall constitute a bar to any claim or execution of any judgment in respect of such questioned Act.

Section 14. CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD. The Board of Directors, in its discretion, may elect a chairman of the Board of Directors. The chairman of the Board of Directors, if one is elected, shall be chosen from among the members of the Board of Directors. The chairman of the Board of Directors, if one is elected, shall preside at all meetings of the Board of Directors and shall have such other powers and duties as may be prescribed by the Board of Directors.

 

27


ARTICLE IV

COMMITTEES

Section 1. EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE. The Board of Directors may create an executive committee of two or more directors, the members of which shall be elected by the Board of Directors to serve at the pleasure of the Board of Directors. If the Board of Directors does not designate a chairman of the executive committee, the executive committee shall elect a chairman from its own number. Except as otherwise provided herein and in the resolution creating the executive committee, and except as prohibited by law, such committee shall, during the intervals between the meetings of the Board of Directors, possess and may exercise all of the powers of the Board of Directors, other than that of filling vacancies on the Board of Directors or on any committee of the Board of Directors. The executive committee shall keep full records and accounts of its proceedings and transactions. All action by the executive committee shall be reported to the Board of Directors at its meeting next succeeding such action. Vacancies in the executive committee shall be filled by the Board of Directors, and the Board of Directors may appoint one or more directors as alternate members of the committee who may take the place of any absent member or members at any meeting.

Section 2. MEETINGS OF EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE. Subject to the provisions of these Bylaws, the executive committee may fix its own rules of procedure and meet as provided by such rules, by resolutions of the Board of Directors or as determined by members of the committee, and it shall also meet at the call of the president, the chairman of the executive committee or any two members of the committee. Unless otherwise provided by such rules or by such resolutions, the provisions of Section 5 of Article III relating to the notice required to be given of meetings of the Board of Directors shall also apply to meetings of the executive committee. A majority of the executive committee shall be necessary to constitute a quorum. The executive committee may act by unanimous consent of the members of the committee, without a meeting.

Section 3. OTHER COMMITTEES AND SUBCOMMITTEES. The Board of Directors may by resolution provide for such other standing or special committees and subcommittees consisting of one or more directors as it deems desirable, and discontinue the same at its pleasure. Each such committee or subcommittee shall have such powers and perform such duties, not inconsistent with law, as may be delegated to it by the Board of Directors. Action may be taken by any such committee or subcommittee without a meeting by a writing or writings signed by all of its members. Any such committee or subcommittee may prescribe its own rules for calling and holding meetings and its method of procedure, subject to any rules prescribed by the Board of Directors, and will keep a written record of all action taken by it. A majority of the members of any such committee or subcommittee shall be necessary to constitute a quorum. Vacancies in such committees and subcommittees shall be filled by the Board of Directors, and the directors may appoint one or more directors as alternate members of any such committee or subcommittee who may take the place of any absent member or members at any meeting.

 

28


ARTICLE V

OFFICERS

Section 1. GENERAL PROVISIONS. The Board of Directors shall elect a president, a secretary and a treasurer and may, in its discretion, elect a chief executive officer and/or such number of vice presidents as the Board of Directors may from time to time determine. The Board of Directors may from time to time elect such other officers with such powers and duties as it shall deem necessary or desirable. The officers need not be chosen from among the members of the Board of Directors. Any two of such offices, other than that of president and vice president, may be held by the same person.

Section 2. TERM OF OFFICE. The officers of the Corporation shall serve at the pleasure of the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors may remove any officer at any time, with or without cause. A vacancy in any office, however created, shall be filled by the Board of Directors.

Section 3. PRESIDENT; CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER. The president shall exercise supervision over the business of the Corporation and over its several officers, subject, however, to the control of the Board of Directors. In the absence of the chairman of the Board of Directors, or if a chairman of the Board of Directors shall not have been elected, the president shall preside at meetings of the Board of Directors. He or she shall have authority to sign all certificates for shares and all deeds, mortgages, bonds, agreements, notes, and other instruments requiring his or her signature; and shall have all the powers and duties prescribed by the MGCL and such others as the Board of Directors may from time to time assign to him or her. The chief executive officer, if one is elected, shall have all the powers granted by these Bylaws to the president and the president shall, subject to the powers of supervision and control conferred upon the chief executive officer, have such duties and powers as assigned to him or her by the Board of Directors or the chief executive officer.

Section 4. SECRETARY. The secretary shall keep minutes of all the proceedings of the stockholders and Board of Directors and shall make proper record of the same, which shall be attested by him or her; shall have authority to execute and deliver certificates as to any of such proceedings and any other records of the Corporation; shall have authority to sign all certificates for shares and all deeds, mortgages, bonds, agreements, notes and other instruments to be signed by the Corporation which require his or her signature; shall give notice of meetings of stockholders and directors; shall keep such books and records as may be required by law or by the Board of Directors; and, in general, shall perform all duties incident to the office of secretary and such other duties as may from time to time be assigned to him or her by the Board of Directors or the president.

Section 5. TREASURER. The treasurer shall have general supervision of all finances; he or she shall receive and have in charge all money, bills, notes, deeds, leases, mortgages and similar property belonging to the Corporation, and shall do with the same as may from time to time be required by the Board of Directors. He or she shall cause to be kept adequate and correct accounts of the business transactions of the Corporation, including accounts of its assets, liabilities, receipts, disbursements, gains, losses, stated capital and shares, together with such other accounts as may be required, and upon the expiration of his or her term of office shall turn over to his or her successor or to the Board of Directors all property, books, papers and money of the Corporation in his or her hands; and shall have such other powers and duties as may from time to time be assigned to him or her by the Board of Directors or the president.

 

29


Section 6. VICE PRESIDENTS. The vice presidents, if any are to be elected, shall have such powers and duties as may from time to time be assigned to them by the Board of Directors or the president. At the request of the president, or in the case of his or her absence or disability, the vice president designated by the president (or in the absence of such designation, the vice president designated by the Board of Directors) shall perform all the duties of the president and, when so acting, shall have all the powers of the president. The authority of vice presidents to sign in the name of the Corporation certificates for shares and deeds, mortgages, bonds, agreements, notes and other instruments shall be coordinate with like authority of the president.

Section 7. ASSISTANT AND SUBORDINATE OFFICERS. The Board of Directors may appoint such assistant and subordinate officers as it may deem desirable. Each such officer shall serve at the pleasure of the Board of Directors, and perform such duties as the Board of Directors or the president may prescribe. The Board of Directors may, from time to time, authorize any officer to appoint and remove subordinate officers and prescribe their authority and duties.

Section 8. DUTIES OF OFFICERS MAY BE DELEGATED. In the absence of any officer of the Corporation, or for any other reason the Board of Directors or such officer may deem sufficient, the Board of Directors or such officer may delegate, for the time being, the powers or duties, or any of them, of such officer to any other officer or to any director.

ARTICLE VI

CERTIFICATES FOR SHARES; UNCERTIFICATED SHARES

Section 1. CERTIFICATES. Except as may be otherwise provided by the Board of Directors or any officer of the Corporation, stockholders of the Corporation are not entitled to certificates representing the shares of stock held by them. In the event that the Corporation issues shares of stock represented by certificates, such certificates shall be in such form as prescribed by the Board of Directors or a duly authorized officer, shall contain the statements and information required by the MGCL and shall be signed by the officers of the Corporation in any manner permitted by the MGCL. If any officer or officers, who shall have signed, or whose facsimile signature shall have been used, printed or stamped on, any certificate or certificates for shares, shall cease to be such officer or officers, because of death, resignation or otherwise, before such certificate or certificates shall have been delivered by the Corporation, such certificate or certificates, if authenticated by the endorsement thereon of the signature of a transfer agent or registrar, shall nevertheless be conclusively deemed to have been adopted by the Corporation by the use and delivery thereof and shall be as effective in all respects as though signed by a duly elected, qualified and authorized officer or officers, and as though the person or persons who signed such certificate or certificates, or whose facsimile signature or signatures shall have been used thereon, had not ceased to be an officer or officers of the Corporation. In the event that the Corporation issues shares of stock without certificates, to the extent then required by the MGCL the Corporation shall provide to the record holders of such shares a written statement of the information required by the MGCL to be included on stock certificates. There shall be no difference in the rights and obligations of stockholders based on whether or not their shares are represented by certificates.

 

30


Section 2. TRANSFER AND REGISTRATION OF SHARES. The Board of Directors shall have authority to make such rules and regulations, not inconsistent with law, the Charter or these Bylaws, as it deems expedient concerning the issuance, transfer and registration of certificates for shares and the shares represented thereby and of uncertificated shares.

Section 3. LOST, DESTROYED OR STOLEN CERTIFICATES. A new share certificate or certificates may be issued in place of any certificate theretofore issued by the Corporation which is alleged to have been lost, destroyed or wrongfully taken upon (a) the execution and delivery to the Corporation by the person claiming the certificate to have been lost, destroyed or wrongfully taken of an affidavit of that fact, specifying whether or not, at the time of such alleged loss, destruction or taking, the certificate was endorsed, and (b) the furnishing to the Corporation of indemnity and other assurances satisfactory to the Corporation and to all transfer agents and registrars of the class of shares represented by the certificate against any and all losses, damages, costs, expenses or liabilities to which they or any of them may be subjected by reason of the issue and delivery of such new certificate or certificates or in respect of the original certificate.

Section 4. STOCK LEDGER. The Corporation shall maintain at its principal office or at the office of its counsel, accountants or transfer agent, an original or duplicate stock ledger containing the name and address of each stockholder and the number of shares of each class held by such stockholder. A person in whose name shares are of record on the books of the Corporation shall conclusively be deemed the unqualified owner and holder thereof for all purposes and to have capacity to exercise all rights of ownership. Neither the Corporation nor any transfer agent of the Corporation shall be bound to recognize any equitable interest in or claim to such shares on the part of any other person, whether disclosed upon a certificate or otherwise, nor shall they be obliged to see to the execution of any trust or obligation.

ARTICLE VII

FISCAL YEAR

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

ARTICLE VIII

SEAL

The Board of Directors may provide a suitable seal containing the name of the Corporation. If deemed advisable by the Board of Directors, duplicate seals may be provided and kept for the purposes of the Corporation. Whenever the Corporation is permitted or required to affix its seal to a document, it shall be sufficient to meet the requirements of any law, rule or regulation relating to a seal to place the word “(SEAL)” adjacent to the signature of the person authorized to execute the document on behalf of the Corporation.

 

31


ARTICLE IX

WAIVER OF NOTICE

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

ARTICLE X

EXCLUSIVE FORUM FOR CERTAIN LITIGATION

Section 1. GENERALLY. Unless the Corporation consents in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the Circuit Court for Baltimore City, Maryland, or, if that Court does not have jurisdiction, the United States District Court for the District of Maryland, Northern Division, shall be the sole and exclusive forum for (a) any Internal Corporate Claim, as such term is defined in the MGCL (other than any action asserting solely claims arising under federal securities laws), including, without limitation, (i) any derivative action or proceeding brought on behalf of the Corporation, other than any action asserting solely claims arising under federal securities laws, (ii) any claim, action or proceeding asserting a claim based on an alleged breach of any duty owed by any director or officer or other employee of the Corporation to the Corporation or to the stockholders of the Corporation or (iii) any claim, action or proceeding asserting a claim against the Corporation or any director or officer or other employee of the Corporation arising under or pursuant to any provision of the MGCL, the Charter or these Bylaws, or (b) any other claim, action or proceeding asserting a claim against the Corporation or any director or officer or other employee of the Corporation that is governed by the internal affairs doctrine. This Section 1 of Article X does not apply to any action or proceeding asserting solely claims arising under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, or asserting solely any other claim for which the federal courts have exclusive jurisdiction.

Section 2. SECURITIES ACT OF 1933. Unless the Corporation consents in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the federal district courts of the United States of America shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, be the sole and exclusive forum for the resolution of any complaint asserting solely a cause of action arising under the Securities Act.

 

32


ARTICLE XI

AMENDMENT OF BYLAWS

The Board of Directors is vested with the power to alter or repeal any provision of these Bylaws and to adopt new Bylaws. In addition, to the extent permitted by law, the stockholders may alter or repeal any provision of these Bylaws and adopt new Bylaw provisions if any such alteration, repeal or adoption is approved by the affirmative vote of a majority of the votes entitled to be cast on the matter.

 

33

Exhibit 10.1

FORM OF AMENDED AND RESTATED

AGREEMENT OF LIMITED PARTNERSHIP OF

CURBLINE PROPERTIES LP

Dated as of [____], 2024

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


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

         Page  

ARTICLE 1

  DEFINED TERMS      1  

ARTICLE 2

  ORGANIZATIONAL MATTERS      13  

Section 2.1

  Formation and Continuation      13  

Section 2.2

  Name      13  

Section 2.3

  Registered Office and Agent; Principal Office      13  

Section 2.4

  Power of Attorney      14  

Section 2.5

  Term      15  

Section 2.6

  Partnership Interests are Securities      15  

ARTICLE 3

  PURPOSE      15  

Section 3.1

  Purpose and Business      15  

Section 3.2

  Powers      16  

Section 3.3

  Partnership Only for Purposes Specified      16  

Section 3.4

  Representations and Warranties by the Partners      16  

ARTICLE 4

  CAPITAL CONTRIBUTIONS      18  

Section 4.1

  Capital Contributions of the Partners      18  

Section 4.2

  Issuance of Additional Partnership Interests and Additional Funding      18  

Section 4.3

  Other Contribution Provisions      21  

Section 4.4

  No Preemptive Rights      22  

Section 4.5

  No Interest on Capital      22  

ARTICLE 5

  DISTRIBUTIONS      22  

Section 5.1

  Distribution of Cash      22  

Section 5.2

  REIT Distribution Requirements      23  

Section 5.3

  No Right to Distributions in Kind      23  

Section 5.4

  Distributions Upon Liquidation      24  

Section 5.5

  Distributions to Reflect Issuance of Additional Partnership Units      24  

ARTICLE 6

  ALLOCATIONS      24  

Section 6.1

  Capital Account Allocations of Profit and Loss      24  

Section 6.2

  Capital Accounts      29  

Section 6.3

  Tax Allocations      30  

Section 6.4

  Substantial Economic Effect      30  

ARTICLE 7

  MANAGEMENT AND OPERATIONS OF BUSINESS      31  

Section 7.1

  Management      31  

Section 7.2

  Certificate of Limited Partnership      36  

Section 7.3

  Restrictions on General Partner Authority      36  

Section 7.4

  Reimbursement of the General Partner and the Company      36  

Section 7.5

  Outside Activities of the General Partner and the Company      37  

 

-i-


TABLE OF CONTENTS

(continued)

 

         Page  

Section 7.6

  Contracts with Affiliates      38  

Section 7.7

  Indemnification      38  

Section 7.8

  Liability of the General Partner and the Company      40  

Section 7.9

  Other Matters Concerning the General Partner and the Company      42  

Section 7.10

  Title to Partnership Assets      43  

Section 7.11

  Reliance by Third Parties      43  

ARTICLE 8

  RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS OF LIMITED PARTNERS      44  

Section 8.1

  Limitation of Liability      44  

Section 8.2

  Management of Business      44  

Section 8.3

  Outside Activities of Limited Partners      44  

Section 8.4

  Rights of Limited Partners Relating to the Partnership      44  

Section 8.5

  Redemption Right      45  

ARTICLE 9

  BOOKS, RECORDS, ACCOUNTING AND REPORTS      48  

Section 9.1

  Records and Accounting      48  

Section 9.2

  Taxable Year and Fiscal Year      48  

Section 9.3

  Reports      48  

ARTICLE 10

  TAX MATTERS      49  

Section 10.1

  Preparation of Tax Returns      49  

Section 10.2

  Tax Elections      49  

Section 10.3

  Partnership Representative      50  

Section 10.4

  Organizational Expenses      50  

ARTICLE 11

  TRANSFERS AND WITHDRAWALS      51  

Section 11.1

  Transfer      51  

Section 11.2

  Transfer of the Company’s and General Partner’s Partnership Interest and Limited Partner Interest; Extraordinary Transactions      51  

Section 11.3

  Limited Partners’ Rights to Transfer      52  

Section 11.4

  Substituted Limited Partners      54  

Section 11.5

  Assignees      54  

Section 11.6

  General Provisions      55  

ARTICLE 12

  ADMISSION OF PARTNERS      57  

Section 12.1

  Admission of Successor General Partner      57  

Section 12.2

  Admission of Additional Limited Partners      58  

Section 12.3

  Amendment of Agreement and Certificate of Limited Partnership      58  

ARTICLE 13

  DISSOLUTION, LIQUIDATION AND TERMINATION      58  

Section 13.1

  Dissolution      58  

 

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

(continued)

 

         Page  

Section 13.2

 

Winding Up

     59  

Section 13.3

 

Deficit Capital Account Restoration Obligation

     60  

Section 13.4

 

Compliance with Timing Requirements of Regulations

     60  

Section 13.5

 

Deemed Distribution and Recontribution

     61  

Section 13.6

 

Rights of Limited Partners

     61  

Section 13.7

 

Notice of Dissolution

     61  

Section 13.8

 

Cancellation of Certificate of Limited Partnership

     61  

Section 13.9

 

Reasonable Time for Winding-Up

     61  

Section 13.10

 

Waiver of Partition

     62  

Section 13.11

 

Liability of Liquidator

     62  

ARTICLE 14

 

AMENDMENT OF PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT; MEETINGS

     62  

Section 14.1

 

Procedures for Actions and Consents of Partners

     62  

Section 14.2

 

Amendments

     62  

Section 14.3

 

Meetings of the Partners

     64  

ARTICLE 15

 

GENERAL PROVISIONS

     65  

Section 15.1

 

Addresses and Notice

     65  

Section 15.2

 

Titles and Captions

     66  

Section 15.3

 

Other Interpretative Matters

     66  

Section 15.4

 

Further Action

     66  

Section 15.5

 

Binding Effect

     66  

Section 15.6

 

No Third-Party Rights Created Hereby

     66  

Section 15.7

 

Waiver

     67  

Section 15.8

 

Counterparts

     67  

Section 15.9

 

Applicable Law; Waiver of Jury Trial

     67  

Section 15.10

 

Invalidity of Provisions

     68  

Section 15.11

 

No Rights as Stockholders

     68  

Section 15.12

 

Entire Agreement

     68  

EXHIBITS

Exhibit A - Notice of Redemption

Exhibit B - LTIP Units

 

-iii-


AMENDED AND RESTATED AGREEMENT

OF LIMITED PARTNERSHIP OF

CURBLINE PROPERTIES LP

THIS AMENDED AND RESTATED AGREEMENT OF LIMITED PARTNERSHIP OF CURBLINE PROPERTIES LP, dated as of [_____], 2024, is entered into by and between Curbline Properties Corp., a Maryland corporation (the “Company” or the “General Partner”), and CBLP LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“CBLP”) as a Limited Partner together with any other Persons who become Partners in the Partnership as provided herein.

WHEREAS, the Partnership was formed as a limited partnership under the laws of the Delaware pursuant to a Certificate of Limited Partnership filed on November 13, 2023;

WHEREAS, an original agreement of limited partnership was entered into by the General Partner and CBLP as of December 4, 2023 (the “Original Partnership Agreement”);

WHEREAS, the Original Partnership Agreement, pursuant to Section 32 thereof, may not be amended except by unanimous written agreement of the General Partner and CBLP; and

WHEREAS, the Company desires, in its capacity as the General Partner, to amend and restate the Original Partnership Agreement as set forth herein, and CBLP, as the Partnership’s sole limited partner, has agreed to such amendment and restatement.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing, the Original Partnership Agreement is hereby amended and restated as follows:

ARTICLE 1

DEFINED TERMS

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

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

Additional Funds” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.2(b) hereof.

Additional Limited Partner” means a Person admitted to the Partnership as a Limited Partner pursuant to Section 4.2 and Section 12.2 hereof.

Adjusted Capital Account” means the Capital Account maintained for each Partner as of the end of each Partnership taxable year (i) increased by any amounts which such Partner is obligated to restore pursuant to any provision of this Agreement or is deemed to be obligated to restore pursuant to the penultimate sentences of Regulations Sections 1.704-2(g)(1) and 1.704-2(i)(5) and (ii) decreased by the items described in Regulations Sections 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d)(4), 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d)(5), and 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d)(6). The foregoing definition of Adjusted Capital Account is intended to comply with the provisions of Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d) and shall be interpreted consistently therewith.


Administrative Expenses” means (i) all administrative and operating costs and expenses incurred by the Partnership or any Subsidiary thereof, (ii) those administrative costs and expenses of the General Partner or the Company, including any salaries or other payments to directors, officers or employees of the General Partner, the Company, or any other Subsidiary of the Company and any accounting and legal expenses of the General Partner, the Company, or any other Subsidiary of the Company, which expenses, the Partners have agreed, are expenses of the Partnership and not the General Partner or the Company or any other Subsidiary of the Company, and (iii) to the extent not included in clauses (i) or (ii) above, REIT Expenses; provided, however, that Administrative Expenses shall not include any administrative costs and expenses incurred by the General Partner or the Company that are attributable to Properties or interests in a Subsidiary of the Company that are owned by the General Partner or the Company other than through its ownership interest in the Partnership.

Affiliate” means, with respect to any Person, any other Person directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by or under common control with such Person. For purposes of this definition, “control,” when used with respect to any Person, means the power to direct the management and policies of such Person, directly or indirectly, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise, and the terms “controlling” and “controlled” have meanings correlative to the foregoing. No officer, director or stockholder of the Company shall be considered an Affiliate of the Company solely as a result of serving in such capacity or being a stockholder of the Company.

Agreed Value” means the fair market value of a Partner’s non-cash Capital Contribution (net of assumed liabilities) as of the date of contribution as agreed to by such Partner and the General Partner.

Agreement” means this Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership, as it may be amended, supplemented and/or restated from time to time, including by way of adoption of a Certificate of Designations, including any exhibits attached hereto.

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

Book-Up Target” for an LTIP Unit means (i) initially, the Common Unit Economic Balance as determined on the date such LTIP Unit was granted and (ii) thereafter, the remaining amount, if any, required to be allocated to such LTIP Unit for the Economic Capital Account Balance of the holder of such LTIP Unit, to the extent attributable to such LTIP Unit, to be equal to the Common Unit Economic Balance.

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

Bylaws” means the Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company, as may be amended, supplemented and/or restated from time to time.

 

2


Capital Account” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.2 hereof.

Capital Contribution” means, with respect to each Partner, the total amount of cash, cash equivalents, and the Agreed Value of any Property or other asset contributed or deemed to be contributed, as the context requires, to the Partnership by such 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, with respect to Tendered Units, an amount in cash equal to the Value of the REIT Shares Amount as of the Valuation Date with respect to such Tendered Units; provided that the Cash Amount will be reduced by the amount of any distributions payable with respect to such REIT Shares Amount that have an ex-dividend date after the Valuation Date and a record date before the Specified Redemption Date.

CBLP” has the meaning set forth in the introductory paragraph.

Certificate of Designations” means an amendment to this Agreement that sets forth the designations, rights, powers, duties and preferences of Holders of any Partnership Interests issued pursuant to Section 4.2, which amendment is in the form of a certificate signed by the General Partner and appended to this Agreement. A Certificate of Designations is not the exclusive manner in which such an amendment may be effected. The General Partner may adopt a Certificate of Designations without the Consent of the Limited Partners to the extent permitted pursuant to Section 14.2 hereof.

Certificate of Limited Partnership” means the Certificate of Limited Partnership of the Partnership filed with the Delaware Secretary of State on November 13, 2023, as amended from time to time in accordance with the terms hereof and the Act.

Charter” means the Articles of Amendment and Restatement of the Company filed with the Maryland State Department of Assessments & Taxation, as amended or restated from time to time.

Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended and in effect from time to time or any successor statute thereto, as interpreted by the applicable regulations thereunder. Any reference herein to a specific section or sections of the Code shall be deemed to include a reference to any corresponding provision of any succeeding law.

Commission” means the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Common Unit” means a Partnership Unit other than an LTIP Unit or a Preferred Unit.

Common Unit Economic Balance” means (i) the Economic Capital Account Balance of the Company but only to the extent attributable to the Company’s ownership of Common Units and computed on a hypothetical basis after taking into account all allocations through the date on which any allocation is made under Section 6.1(i), divided by (ii) the number of the Company’s Common Units. If the Company’s Economic Capital Account Balance at the time of determination reflects a net reduction as a result of Section 6.1(l), for purposes of this definition the Company’s Economic Capital Account Balance shall be the Economic Capital Account Balance it would have been if Section 6.1(l) had not applied.

 

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Common Unitholder” means a Partner that holds Common Units.

Company” has the meaning set forth in the introductory paragraph.

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

Constituent Person” has the meaning set forth in Section 1.10(b) of Exhibit B hereof.

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

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

(ii) the Company distributes any rights, options or warrants to all holders of its REIT Shares to subscribe for or to purchase or to otherwise acquire REIT Shares (or other securities or rights convertible into, exchangeable for or exercisable for REIT Shares) (other than REIT Shares issuable pursuant to a Qualified DRIP/COPP or as compensation to employees or other service providers) at a price per share less than the Value of a REIT Share on the record date for such distribution (each a “Distributed Right”), then, as of the distribution date of such Distributed Rights or, if later, the time such Distributed Rights become exercisable, the Conversion Factor shall be adjusted by multiplying the Conversion Factor by a fraction (a) the numerator of which shall be the number of REIT Shares issued and outstanding on the record date (or, if later, the date such Distributed Rights become exercisable) plus the maximum number of REIT Shares purchasable under such Distributed Rights and (b) the denominator of which shall be the number of REIT Shares issued and outstanding on the record date plus a fraction (x) the numerator of which is the minimum aggregate purchase price under such Distributed Rights of the maximum number of REIT Shares purchasable under such Distributed Rights and (y) the denominator of which is the Value of a REIT Share as of the record date (or, if later, the date such Distributed Rights become exercisable); provided, however, that, if any such Distributed Rights expire or become no longer exercisable, then the Conversion Factor shall be adjusted, effective retroactive to the date of distribution of the Distributed Rights, to reflect a reduced maximum number of REIT Shares or any change in the minimum aggregate purchase price for the purposes of the above fraction; and

 

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

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

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

Covered Person” or “Covered Persons” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.8(a) hereof.

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

Delaware Courts” has the meaning set forth in Section 15.10(b) hereof.

Designated Individual” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.3(a) hereof.

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

Economic Capital Account Balance”, with respect to a Partner, means an amount equal to such Partner’s Capital Account balance, plus the amount of its share of any Partner Minimum Gain or Partnership Minimum Gain.

 

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ERISA” means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended.

Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, as such rules and regulations may be amended from time to time.

Extraordinary Transaction” means, with respect to the Company, the occurrence of one or more of the following events: (i) a merger (including a triangular merger), consolidation or other combination of the Company with or into another Person (other than in connection with a change in the Company’s state of incorporation or organizational form); (ii) the direct or indirect sale, lease, exchange or other transfer of all or substantially all of its assets in one transaction or a series of related transactions; (iii) any reclassification, recapitalization or change of its outstanding equity interests (other than a change in par value, or from par value to no par value, or as a result of a split, dividend or similar subdivision); or (iv) the adoption of any plan of liquidation or dissolution of the Company (whether or not in compliance with the provisions of this Agreement).

Flow-Through Entity” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.4(c) hereof.

Flow-Through Partner” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.4(c) hereof.

Funding Debt” mean the incurrence of any Debt for the purpose of providing funds to the Partnership by or on behalf of the Company or any wholly owned subsidiary of the Company.

General Partner” means the Company in its capacity as general partner of the Partnership, or any Person who becomes a successor general partner of the Partnership.

General Partner Interest” means a Partnership Interest held by the General Partner, in its capacity as general partner. A General Partner Interest may be (but is not required to be) expressed as a number of Partnership Units.

Holder” means each of any Partner or any Assignee owning a Partnership Unit.

Immediate Family” means with respect to any Person that is an individual, such Person’s spouse and such Person’s natural or adoptive parents, descendants, nephews, nieces, brother and sisters.

Imputed Underpayment Amount” means (i) any “imputed underpayment” within the meaning of Section 6225 of the Code (or any corresponding or similar provision of federal, state, local or non-U.S. tax law) paid (or payable) by the Partnership, including any interest, penalties or additions to tax with respect to any such imputed underpayment or adjustment and any costs or expenses with respect to any of the foregoing, (ii) any amount not described in clause (i) paid (or payable) by the Partnership as a result of the application of the provisions of Sections 6221-6241 of the Code (or any corresponding or similar provision of federal, state, local or non-U.S. tax law), including any interest, penalties or additions to tax with respect to such amounts and any costs or expenses with respect to any of the foregoing, and/or (iii) any amount paid (or payable) by any entity treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes in which the Partnership holds (or has held) a direct or indirect interest (other than through entities treated as corporations for U.S. federal income tax purposes) to the extent that the Partnership bears the economic burden of such amounts, whether by law or agreement, as a result of the application of the provisions of Sections 6221-6241 of the Code (or any corresponding or similar provision of federal, state, local or non-U.S. tax law), including any interest, penalties or additions to tax with respect to such amounts and any costs or expenses with respect to any of the foregoing.

 

 

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Incapacity” or “Incapacitated” means, (i) as to any Partner who is an individual, death, total physical disability or entry by a court of competent jurisdiction of an order adjudicating him or her incompetent to manage his or her Person or estate; (ii) as to any Partner that is a corporation, the filing of a certificate of dissolution, or its equivalent, or the revocation of its charter; (iii) as to any Partner that is a partnership or limited liability company, the dissolution and commencement of winding up of the partnership or the limited liability company; (iv) as to any Partner that is an estate, the distribution by the fiduciary of the estate’s entire interest in the Partnership; (v) as to any trustee of a trust which is a Partner, the termination of the trust (but not the substitution of a new trustee); or (vi) as to any Partner, the bankruptcy of such Partner. For purposes of this definition, bankruptcy of a Partner shall be deemed to have occurred when (a) the Partner commences a voluntary proceeding seeking liquidation, reorganization or other relief under any bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law now or hereafter in effect; (b) the Partner is adjudged as bankrupt or insolvent, or a final and nonappealable order for relief under any bankruptcy, insolvency or similar law now or hereafter in effect has been entered against the Partner; (c) the Partner executes and delivers a general assignment for the benefit of the Partner’s creditors; (d) the Partner files an answer or other pleading admitting or failing to contest the material allegations of a petition filed against the Partner in any proceeding of the nature described in clause (b) above; (e) the Partner seeks, consents to or acquiesces in the appointment of a trustee, receiver or liquidator for the Partner or for all or any substantial part of the Partner’s properties; (f) any proceeding seeking liquidation, reorganization or other relief of or against such Partner under any bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law now or hereafter in effect has not been dismissed within one hundred twenty (120) days after the commencement thereof; (g) the appointment without the Partner’s consent or acquiescence of a trustee, receiver or liquidator has not been vacated or stayed within ninety (90) days of such appointment; or (h) an appointment referred to in clause (g) above is not vacated within ninety (90) days after the expiration of any such stay.

Indemnitee” means (i) any Person made a party, or threatened to be made a party, to a proceeding by reason of his, her or its status as (a) the Company, (b) the General Partner, or (c) a director of the Company or the General Partner and (ii) such other Persons (including Affiliates, officers, employees and agents of the Company, the General Partner or the Partnership or any of their respective Subsidiaries or the Partnership Representative or Designated Individual of the Partnership) as the General Partner may designate from time to time (whether before or after the event giving rise to potential liability), in its sole and absolute discretion.

Limited Partner” means any Person named as a Limited Partner in the books and records of the Partnership or any Substituted Limited Partner or Additional Limited Partner, in such Person’s capacity as a Limited Partner of the Partnership.

Limited Partner Interest” means a Partnership Interest of a Limited Partner in the Partnership representing a fractional part of the Partnership Interests of all Partners and includes any and all benefits to which the Holder of such a Partnership Interest may be entitled, as provided in this Agreement, together with all obligations of such Person to comply with the terms and provisions of this Agreement. A Limited Partner Interest may be (but is not required to be) expressed as a number of Partnership Units.

 

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Liquidating Event” has the meaning set forth in Section 13.1(a) hereof.

Liquidating Gains” means any net gain realized in connection with the actual or hypothetical sale of all or substantially all of the assets of the Partnership (including upon the occurrence of any event of liquidation of the Partnership), including but not limited to net gain realized in connection with an adjustment to the book value of Partnership assets under Section 6.2 hereof.

Liquidating Losses” means any net loss realized in connection with the actual or hypothetical sale of all or substantially all of the assets of the Partnership (including upon the occurrence of any event of liquidation of the Partnership), including but not limited to net loss realized in connection with an adjustment to the book value of Partnership assets under Section 6.2 hereof.

Liquidator” has the meaning set forth in Section 13.2 hereof.

Loss” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.1(f) hereof.

LTIP Unit” means a Partnership Unit which is designated as an LTIP Unit having the rights, powers, privileges, restrictions, qualifications and limitations set forth in Exhibit B hereof and elsewhere in this Agreement.

LTIP Unit Adjustment Events” has the meaning set forth in Section 1.7 of Exhibit B hereto.

LTIP Unit Conversion Date” has the meaning set forth in Section 1.8 of Exhibit B hereto.

LTIP Unit Limited Partner” means any Person that holds LTIP Units and is named as an LTIP Unit Limited Partner in the books and records of the Partnership.

Majority in Interest of the Outside Limited Partners” means Limited Partners (excluding for this purpose (i) any Limited Partner Interests held by the Company, the General Partner or any Subsidiaries of the Company or the General Partner, (ii) any Person of which the Company or its Subsidiaries directly or indirectly owns or controls more than fifty percent (50%) of the voting interests, and (iii) any Person directly or indirectly owning or controlling more than fifty percent (50%) of the outstanding interests of the General Partner) holding in the aggregate more than fifty percent (50%) of the outstanding Partnership Units held by all Limited Partners who are not excluded for the purposes hereof.

National Securities Exchange” means an exchange registered with the Commission under Section 6(a) of the Exchange Act or any other exchange (domestic or foreign, and whether or not so registered) designated by the General Partner as a National Securities Exchange.

Net Realized Gain” means, for a particular period, any excess of (i) the items of gain reflected in the Capital Accounts at any time during such period over (ii) the items of loss reflected in the Capital Accounts at any time during such period, in each case as part of Profit or Loss or otherwise and determined without regard to any items included in the determination of Liquidating Gains or Liquidating Losses for any period.

 

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Net Realized Loss” means, for a particular period, any excess of (i) the items of loss reflected in the Capital Accounts at any time during such period over (ii) the items of gain reflected in the Capital Accounts at any time during such period, in each case as part of Profit or Loss or otherwise and determined without regard to any items included in the determination of Liquidating Gains or Liquidating Losses for any period.

New Securities” means (i) any rights, options, warrants or convertible or exchangeable securities having the right to subscribe for or purchase REIT Shares or other shares of capital stock of the Company or (ii) any Debt issued by the Company that provides any of the rights described in clause (i).

Nonrecourse Liability” has the meaning set forth in Regulations Section 1.752-1(a)(2).

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

Ownership Limit” means the restriction or restrictions on the ownership and transfer of stock of the Company imposed under the Charter.

Partner” means a General Partner or a Limited Partner, and “Partners” means the General Partner and the Limited Partners collectively.

Partner Minimum Gains” means “partner nonrecourse debt minimum gain” within the meaning of Regulations Section 1.704-2(i). A Partner’s share of Partner Minimum Gain shall be determined in accordance with Regulations Section 1.704-2(i)(5).

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

Partnership Interest” means an ownership interest in the Partnership 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. There may be one or more classes or series or Partnership Interests as provided in Section 4.2. A Partnership Interest may be expressed as a number of Partnership Units. Unless otherwise expressly provided for by the General Partner at the time of the original issuance of any Partnership Interests, all Partnership Interests (whether of a Limited Partner or a General Partner) shall be of the same class or series. The Partnership Interests represented by the Common Units and LTIP Units, respectively, are each a separate class of Partnership Interest for all purposes of this Agreement.

Partnership Ledger” means the ledger maintained by the General Partner showing all of the Partners, the Partnership Interests held by each such Partner and each such Partner’s Percentage Interest as of the date of this Agreement, and as updated from time to time by the General Partner.

 

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Partnership Minimum Gain” has the meaning set forth in Regulations Section 1.704-2(b)(2). 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 a distribution pursuant to Section 5.1 hereof, which record date shall generally be the same as the record date established by the General Partner for a distribution to its stockholders of some or all of its portion of such distribution.

Partnership Representative” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.3(a) hereof.

Partnership Unit” or “Unit” means a fractional, undivided share of the Partnership Interests of all Partners issued pursuant to Article 4 (and includes Common Units, LTIP Units, and any class or series of Preferred Units that is established). The number of Partnership Units outstanding and (in the case of Common Units and LTIP Units, the Percentage Interest in the Partnership represented by such Partnership Units are set forth in the Partnership Ledger). The Partnership Units shall be uncertificated securities unless the General Partner determines otherwise.

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

Percentage Interest” means, with respect to any Partner, the percentage represented by a fraction (expressed as a percentage), the numerator of which is the total number of Common Units and LTIP Units then owned by such Partner, and the denominator of which is the total number of Common Units and LTIP Units then owned by all of the Partners.

Person” means an individual, corporation, partnership (whether general or limited), limited liability company, trust, estate, unincorporated organization, association, custodian, nominee or any other individual or entity in its own or any representative capacity.

Preferred Unit” means a Limited Partner Interest (of any series), other than a Common Unit or LTIP Unit, represented by a fractional, undivided share of the Partnership Interests of all Partners issued hereunder and which is designated as a “Preferred Unit” (or as a particular class or series of Preferred Units) herein and which has the rights, preferences and other privileges designated herein (including by way of a Certificate of Designations). The allocation of Preferred Units among the Partners shall be set forth in the Partnership Ledger.

Profit” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.1(f) hereof.

Property” means any property, asset or other investment in which the Partnership holds a direct or indirect interest, including interests in real property and personal property, including fee interests, interests in ground leases, easements and rights of way, interests in limited liability companies, joint ventures or partnerships, interests in mortgages, and Debt instruments.

Qualified DRIP/COPP” means a dividend reinvestment plan or a cash option purchase plan of the Company that permits participants to acquire REIT Shares using the proceeds of dividends paid by the Company or cash of the participant, respectively.

 

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Qualified REIT Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary of the Company that is a “qualified REIT subsidiary” within the meaning of Section 856(i) of the Code.

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

Redemption Right” has the meaning set forth in Section 8.5(a) hereof.

Regulations” means the Federal Income Tax Regulations promulgated under the Code, as such regulations may be amended from time to time (including any corresponding provisions of succeeding regulations).

Regulatory Allocations” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.1(g) hereof.

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

REIT Expenses” means (i) costs and expenses relating to the formation and continuity of existence and operation of the Company and any Subsidiaries (other than the Partnership) thereof (which Subsidiaries shall, for purposes hereof, be included within the definition of the Company), including taxes, fees and assessments associated therewith, any and all costs, expenses or fees payable to any director, officer or employee of the Company, (ii) costs and expenses relating to any public offering and registration, or private offering, of securities by the Company and all statements, reports, fees and expenses incidental thereto, including underwriting discounts and selling 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 Company, (iv) costs and expenses associated with the preparation and filing of any periodic or other reports and communications by the Company under U.S. federal, state or local laws or regulations, including filings with the Commission, (v) costs and expenses associated with compliance by the Company with laws, rules and regulations promulgated by any regulatory body, including the Commission and any 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 Company, (vii) costs and expenses incurred by the Company relating to any issuing or redemption of Partnership Interests, and (viii) all other operating or administrative costs of the Company or any Subsidiary, including the General Partner, incurred in the ordinary course of its business on behalf of or in connection with the Partnership.

REIT Share” means a share of common stock of the Company, $0.01 par value per share.

REIT Shares Amount” means, with respect to Tendered Units as of a particular date, a number of REIT Shares equal to the product of (x) the number of Tendered Units multiplied by (y) the Conversion Factor in effect on such date with respect to such Tendered Units.

Safe Harbors” has the meaning set forth in Section 11.6(f) hereof.

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

 

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Specified Redemption Date” means the tenth (10th) Business Day after receipt by the General Partner of a Notice of Redemption; provided that if the Company combines its outstanding REIT Shares (by reverse stock split or otherwise), no Specified Redemption Date shall occur during the period after the record date of such combination of REIT Shares and prior to the effective date of such combination.

Stock Plan” means any stock incentive, stock option, stock ownership or employee benefits plan now or hereafter adopted by the Company or the Partnership or any Subsidiary of the Partnership.

Subsidiary” means, with respect to any Person, any corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture 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.

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

Surviving Partnership” has the meaning set forth in Section 11.2(b)(2) hereof.

Target Balance” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.1(i)(i) hereof.

Tendered Units” has the meaning set forth in Section 8.5(a) hereof.

Tendering Partner” has the meaning set forth in Section 8.5(a) hereof.

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

Transaction” has the meaning set forth in Section 1.10(a) of Exhibit B hereto.

Unvested LTIP Units” has the meaning set forth in Section 1.2 of Exhibit B hereto.

U.S. GAAP” means U.S. generally accepted accounting principles consistently applied.

Valuation Date” means the date of receipt by the Partnership of a Notice of Redemption or, if such date is not a Business Day, the first Business Day thereafter.

Value” means, with respect to a REIT Share on a particular date, the market price of a REIT Share on such date. The market price for each such trading day shall be: (i) if the REIT Shares are listed or admitted to trading on any National Securities Exchange, the closing price, regular way, on such day as reported by such National Securities Exchange, or if no such sale takes place on such day, the average of the closing bid and asked prices on such day; (ii) if the REIT Shares are not listed or admitted to trading on any National Securities Exchange, the last reported sale price on such day or, if no sale takes place on such day, the average of the closing bid and asked prices on such day, as reported by a reliable quotation source designated by the General

 

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Partner; (iii) if the REIT Shares are not listed or admitted to trading on any National Securities Exchange and no such last reported sale price or closing bid and asked prices are available, the average of the reported high bid and low asked prices on such day, as reported by a reliable quotation source designated by the General Partner, or if there shall be no bid and asked prices on such day, the average of the high bid and low asked prices, as so reported, on the most recent day (not more than ten (10) days prior to the date in question) for which prices have been so reported; or (iv) if none of the conditions set forth in clauses (i), (ii), or (iii) is met then, unless the holder of the REIT Shares or Common Units and the General Partner otherwise agree, with respect to a REIT Share per Common Unit offered for redemption, the amount that a Holder of one Common Unit would receive if each of the assets of the Partnership were sold for its fair market value on the Specified Redemption Date, the Partnership were to pay all of its outstanding liabilities, and the remaining proceeds were to be distributed to the Partners in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.

Vested LTIP Units” has the meaning set forth in Section 1.2 of Exhibit B hereto.

Vesting Agreement” has the meaning set forth in Section 1.2 of Exhibit B hereto.

ARTICLE 2

ORGANIZATIONAL MATTERS

Section 2.1 Formation and Continuation.

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

Section 2.2 Name.

The name of the Partnership shall be “Curbline Properties LP”. The Partnership’s business may be conducted under any other name or names deemed advisable by the General Partner, including the name of the General Partner or any Affiliate thereof. The words “Limited Partnership,” “LP,” “Ltd.” or similar words or letters shall be included in the Partnership’s name where necessary for the purposes of complying with the laws of any jurisdiction that so requires. The General Partner in its sole and absolute discretion may change the name of the Partnership at any time and from time to time and shall notify the Limited Partners of such change in the next regular communication to the Limited Partners; provided, however, that failure to notify the Limited Partners shall not invalidate such change or the authority granted hereunder.

Section 2.3 Registered Office and Agent; Principal Office.

The registered office of the Partnership in the State of Delaware is provided by The Corporation Trust Company, New Castle County, the Partnership’s registered agent for service of process. The principal business office of the Partnership shall be 320 Park Avenue, 27th Floor; New York City, New York 10022.

 

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The General Partner may from time to time designate in its sole and absolute discretion another registered agent or another location for the registered office or principal place of business, and shall provide the Limited Partners with notice of such change in the next regular communication to the Limited Partners; provided, however, that failure to so notify the Limited Partners shall not invalidate such change or the authority granted hereunder. The Partnership may maintain offices at such other place or places within or outside the State of Delaware as the General Partner deems advisable.

Section 2.4 Power of Attorney.

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

(i) execute, swear to, seal, acknowledge, deliver, file and record in the appropriate public offices (A) all certificates, documents and other instruments (including this Agreement and the Certificate of Limited Partnership and all amendments or restatements thereof) that the General Partner or any Liquidator deems appropriate or necessary to form, qualify or continue the existence or qualification of the Partnership as a limited partnership (or a partnership in which the Limited Partners have limited liability) in the State of Delaware and in all other jurisdictions in which the Partnership may or plans to conduct business or own property; (B) all instruments that the General Partner deems appropriate or necessary to reflect any amendment, change, modification or restatement of this Agreement duly adopted in accordance with its terms; (C) all conveyances and other instruments or documents that the General Partner or any Liquidator deems appropriate or necessary to reflect the dissolution and liquidation of the Partnership pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, including a certificate of cancellation; (D) all conveyances and other instruments or documents that the General Partner or any Liquidator deems appropriate or necessary to reflect the distribution or exchange of assets of the Partnership pursuant to the terms of this Agreement; (E) all instruments relating to the admission, withdrawal, removal or substitution of any Partner or other events described in, Article 11 or Article 12 hereof or the capital contribution of any Partner; and (F) all certificates, documents and other instruments relating to the determination of the rights, preferences and privileges of Partnership Interests; and

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

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

 

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(b) The foregoing power of attorney is hereby declared to be irrevocable and a special power coupled with an interest, in recognition of the fact that each of the Partners will be relying upon the power of the General Partner and any Liquidator to act as contemplated by this Agreement in any filing or other action by it on behalf of the Partnership, and it shall survive and not be affected by the subsequent Incapacity of any Limited Partner or Assignee or the transfer of all or any portion of such Limited Partner’s or Assignee’s Partnership Units and shall extend to such Limited Partner’s or Assignee’s heirs, successors, assigns and personal representatives. Each such Limited Partner or Assignee hereby agrees to be bound by any representation made by the General Partner or any Liquidator, acting in good faith pursuant to such power of attorney, and each such Limited Partner or Assignee hereby waives any and all defenses which may be available to contest, negate or disaffirm the action of the General Partner or any Liquidator, taken in good faith under such power of attorney. Each Limited Partner or Assignee shall execute and deliver to the General Partner or any Liquidator, within fifteen (15) days after receipt of the General Partner’s or such Liquidator’s request therefor, such further designation, powers of attorney and other instruments as the General Partner or any Liquidator, as the case may be, deems necessary to effectuate this Agreement and the purposes of the Partnership.

Section 2.5 Term.

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

Section 2.6 Partnership Interests are Securities.

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

ARTICLE 3

PURPOSE

Section 3.1 Purpose and Business.

The purpose and nature of the business to be conducted by the Partnership is (a) to conduct any business that may be lawfully conducted by a limited partnership organized pursuant to the Act, (b) to enter into any partnership, joint venture, limited liability company or other similar arrangement to engage in any of the foregoing or to own interests in any entity engaged, directly or indirectly, in any of the foregoing; and (c) to do anything necessary or incidental to the foregoing; provided, however, that such business and arrangements under the foregoing clauses (a), (b) and (c) shall be limited to and conducted in such a manner as to permit the Company at all times to be qualified as a REIT, unless the Company is not qualified or ceases to qualify as a REIT for any reason or reasons other than the conduct of the business of the Partnership.

 

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Section 3.2 Powers.

The Partnership is empowered to do any and all acts and things necessary, appropriate, proper, advisable, incidental to or convenient for the furtherance and accomplishment of the purposes and business described herein and for the protection and benefit of the Partnership, including 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 Debt whether or not secured by mortgage, deed of trust, pledge or other lien, acquire, own, manage, improve and develop real property, and lease, sell, transfer and dispose of real property; provided, however, that the Partnership shall not take, or omit to take, any action which, in the judgment of the General Partner, in its sole and absolute discretion, (a) could adversely affect the ability of the Company to achieve or maintain qualification as a REIT; (b) could subject the Company to any additional taxes under Sections 857 or 4981 of the Code; or (c) could violate any law or regulation of any governmental body or agency having jurisdiction over the Company, its securities or the Partnership or any of its Subsidiaries, unless any such action (or inaction) under the foregoing clauses (a), (b) or (c) shall have been Consented to by the Company in writing.

Section 3.3 Partnership Only for Purposes Specified.

This Agreement shall not be deemed to create a company, venture or partnership between or among the Partners with respect to any activities whatsoever other than the activities within the purposes of this Partnership as specified in Section 3.1. Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, no Partner shall have any authority to act for, bind, commit or assume any obligations or responsibility on behalf of the Partnership, its Properties or any other Partner. No Partner, in its capacity as a Partner under this Agreement, shall be responsible for any Debt or other liability or obligation of another Partner, and the Partnership shall not be responsible or liable for any Debt or other liability or obligation of any Partner, incurred either before or after the execution or delivery of this Agreement by such Partner, except as to those responsibilities, liabilities, Debt or obligations incurred pursuant to and as limited by the terms of this Agreement and the Act.

Section 3.4 Representations and Warranties by the Partners.

(a) Each Partner that is an individual (including each Additional Limited Partner or Substituted Limited Partner as a condition to becoming an Additional Limited Partner or a Substituted Limited Partner, respectively) represents and warrants to each other Partner that (i) such Partner has the legal capacity to enter into this Agreement and perform such Partner’s obligations hereunder; (ii) the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement to be performed by such Partner will not result in a breach or violation of, or a default under, any agreement by which such Partner or any of such Partner’s property is or are bound, or any statute, regulation, order or other law to which such Partner is subject; and (iii) this Agreement is binding upon, and enforceable against, such Partner in accordance with its terms, as such enforceability may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, fraudulent conveyance, moratorium or similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally, as from time to time in effect, or the application of equitable principles.

(b) Each Partner that is not an individual (including each Additional Limited Partner or Substituted Limited Partner as a condition to becoming an Additional Limited Partner or a Substituted Limited Partner, respectively) represents and warrants to each other Partner that (i) its execution and delivery of this Agreement and all transactions contemplated by this Agreement to be performed by it have been duly authorized by all necessary action, including that of its general partner(s), committee(s), trustee(s), beneficiaries, director(s), member(s) and/or

 

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stockholder(s), as the case may be, as required; (ii) the consummation of such transactions shall not result in a breach or violation of, or a default under, its certificate of limited partnership, partnership agreement, trust agreement, limited liability company operating agreement, charter or bylaws, as the case may be, any agreement by which such Partner or any of such Partner’s properties or any of its partners, beneficiaries, trustees, directors, members or stockholders, as the case may be, is or are bound, or any statute, regulation, order or other law to which such Partner or any of its partners, trustees, beneficiaries, directors, members or stockholders, as the case may be, is or are subject; and (iii) this Agreement is binding upon, and enforceable against, such Partner in accordance with its terms, as such enforceability may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, fraudulent conveyance, moratorium or similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally, as from time to time in effect, or the application of equitable principles.

(c) Except as set forth in a separate agreement entered into between the Partnership and a Limited Partner, each Partner (including each Additional Limited Partner or Substituted Limited Partner as a condition to becoming an Additional Limited Partner or Substituted Limited Partner) represents, warrants and agrees that (i) it is an “accredited investor” as defined in Rule 501 promulgated under the Securities Act, (ii) it has acquired and continues to hold its interest in the Partnership for its own account for investment purposes only and not for the purpose of, or with a view toward, the resale or distribution of all or any part thereof in violation of applicable laws, and not with a view toward selling or otherwise distributing such interest or any part thereof at any particular time or under any predetermined circumstances in violation of applicable laws, (iii) it is a sophisticated investor, able and accustomed to handling sophisticated financial matters for itself, particularly real estate investments, and that it has a sufficiently high net worth that it does not anticipate a need for the funds that it has invested in the Partnership in what it understands to be a highly speculative and illiquid investment, and (iv) without the Consent of the General Partner, it shall not take any action that would cause the Partnership at any time to have more than one hundred (100) partners, including as partners those persons (each such person, a “Flow-Through Partner”) indirectly owning an interest in the Partnership through an entity treated as a partnership, disregarded entity, S corporation or grantor trust for U.S. federal income tax purposes (each such entity, a “Flow-Through Entity”), but only if substantially all of the value of such person’s interest in the Flow-Through Entity is attributable to the Flow-Through Entity’s interest (direct or indirect) in the Partnership or a principal purpose of the use of the tiered arrangement was to permit the Partnership to satisfy the one hundred (100)-partner safe harbor provided under Regulations Section 1.7704-1(h).

(d) The representations and warranties contained in this Section 3.4 shall survive the execution and delivery of this Agreement by each Partner (and, in the case of an Additional Limited Partner or a Substituted Limited Partner, the admission of such Additional Limited Partner or Substituted Limited Partner as a Limited Partner in the Partnership) and the dissolution, liquidation, termination and winding up of the Partnership.

(e) Each Partner (including each Additional Limited Partner or Substituted Limited Partner as a condition to becoming an Additional Limited Partner or Substituted Limited Partner, respectively) hereby acknowledges that no representations as to potential profit, cash flows, funds from operations or yield, if any, in respect of the Partnership, or the Company have been made by any Partner or any employee or representative or Affiliate of any Partner, and that projections and any other information, including financial and descriptive information and documentation, that may have been in any manner submitted to such Partner shall not constitute any representation or warranty of any kind or nature, express or implied.

 

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(f) Notwithstanding the foregoing, the General Partner may, in its sole and absolute discretion, permit the modification of any of the representations and warranties contained in Section 3.4(a), Section 3.4(b) and Section 3.4(c) above as applicable to any Partner (including any Additional Limited Partner or Substituted Limited Partner or any transferee of either), provided that such representations and warranties, as modified, shall be set forth in either (i) a Certificate of Designation applicable to the Partnership Units held by such Partner or (ii) a separate writing addressed to the Partnership and the General Partner.

ARTICLE 4

CAPITAL CONTRIBUTIONS

Section 4.1 Capital Contributions of the Partners.

(a) The Partners have made or shall be deemed to have made capital contributions to the Partnership and/or have surrendered their existing interests in the Partnership in exchange for the Partnership Units of each such Partner, as set forth in the books and records of the Partnership (including the Partnership Ledger), which number of Partnership Units and Percentage Interests shall be adjusted from time to time by the General Partner to the extent necessary to accurately reflect sales, exchanges or other transfers of Partnership Units, the issuance of additional Partnership Units, the redemption of Partnership Units, additional capital contributions and similar events having an effect on a Partner’s Percentage Interest.

(b) The Company (i) directly holds the General Partner Interest and (ii) indirectly, through CBLP, holds the Limited Partner Interests, in each case as set forth in the Partnership Ledger.

(c) To the extent the Partnership acquires any property (or an indirect interest therein) by the merger of any other Person into the Partnership or with or into a Subsidiary of the Partnership in a triangular merger, Persons who receive Partnership Interests in exchange for their interests in the Person merging into the Partnership or with or into a Subsidiary of the Partnership shall become Partners and shall be deemed to have made capital contributions as provided in the applicable merger agreement (or if not so provided, as determined by the General Partner in its sole and absolute discretion) and as set forth in the books and records of the Partnership (including the Partnership Ledger), as amended to reflect such deemed Capital Contributions.

(d) Except as provided in Section 4.2, Section 4.3, Section 5.1 and Section 13.5, the Partners shall have no obligation to make any additional capital contributions or loans to the Partnership.

Section 4.2 Issuance of Additional Partnership Interests and Additional Funding.

Subject to the rights of any Holder of Partnership Interests set forth in a Certificate of Designations:

 

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(a) Issuance of Additional Partnership Interests. The General Partner, in its sole and absolute discretion, is hereby authorized without the approval of the Limited Partners or any other Person to cause the Partnership from time to time to issue to the Partners (including the General Partner, the Company and its Affiliates) or other Persons (including in connection with the contribution of tangible or intangible property, services or other consideration permitted by the Act to the Partnership or pursuant to Section 4.2(h)) additional Partnership Units (including LTIP Units) or other Partnership Interests in one or more classes, or one or more series of any of such classes, with such designations, preferences, and relative, participating, optional or other special rights, powers and duties all as shall be determined by the General Partner in its sole and absolute discretion subject to Delaware law, including (i) rights, powers and duties senior to one or more classes or series of Partnership Units and any other Partnership Interests outstanding or thereafter issued; (ii) the rights to an allocation of items of Partnership income, gain, loss, deduction, and credit to each such class or series of Partnership Interests; (iii) the rights to an allocation of certain Debt of the Partnership pursuant to Section 752 of the Code; (iv) the rights of each such class or series of Partnership Interests to share (on a pari passu, junior or preferred basis) in Partnership distributions; (v) the rights of each such class or series of Partnership Interests upon dissolution and liquidation of the Partnership; (vi) the right to vote, if any, of each such class or series of Partnership Interests; and (vii) the rights of any class or series of Partnership Interests issued in connection with any tax protection agreement or any other similar arrangement; provided that no such additional Partnership Units or other Partnership Interests shall be issued to the General Partner or the Company or any direct or indirect wholly owned Subsidiary of the Company, unless either (A)(1) the additional Partnership Interests are issued in connection with the grant, award or issuance of REIT Shares, other shares of capital stock or New Securities of the Company pursuant to Section 4.2(e) that have designations, preferences and other rights such that the economic interests attributable to such REIT Shares, other shares of capital stock or New Securities are substantially similar to the designations, preferences and other rights of the additional Partnership Interests issued to the General Partner or the Company or any direct or indirect wholly owned Subsidiary of the Company (as appropriate) in accordance with this Section 4.2(a), and (2) the Company shall, directly or indirectly, make a capital contribution to the Partnership in an amount equal to any net proceeds raised in connection with such issuance or (B) the additional Partnership Interests are issued to all Partners in proportion to their respective Percentage Interests or the additional Partnership Units are Common Units that are issued to all holders of Common Units in proportion to the number of Common Units held by each holder. The General Partner’s determination that the consideration is adequate shall be conclusive insofar as the adequacy of consideration related to whether the Partnership Interests are validly issued and paid.

(b) Additional Funds. The General Partner may, at any time and from time to time, determine that the Partnership requires additional funds (“Additional Funds”) for the acquisition or development of additional Properties, for the redemption of Partnership Units or for such other Partnership purposes as the General Partner may determine in its sole and absolute discretion. Additional Funds may be raised by the Partnership, at the election of the General Partner, in any manner provided in, and in accordance with, the terms of this Section 4.2 without the approval of any Limited Partner or any other Person.

(c) Loans by Third Parties. The General Partner, on behalf of the Partnership, may obtain any Additional Funds by causing the Partnership to incur Debt, or enter into other similar credit, guarantee, financing or refinancing arrangements for any purpose (including in connection with any further acquisition of Properties) upon such terms as the General Partner determines appropriate; provided that the Partnership shall not incur any Debt that is recourse to any Partner, except to the extent otherwise agreed to by the applicable Partner.

 

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(d) General Partner and Company Loans. The General Partner, on behalf of the Partnership, may obtain any Additional Funds by causing the Partnership to incur Debt to the General Partner and/or the Company, if (i) such Debt is, to the extent permitted by law, on substantially the same terms and conditions (including interest rate, repayment schedule, and conversion, redemption, repurchase and exchange rights, but not including collateral) as Funding Debt incurred by the General Partner or the Company, as applicable, the net proceeds of which are loaned to the Partnership to provide such Additional Funds or (ii) such Debt is on terms and conditions no less favorable to the Partnership than would be available to the Partnership from any third party; provided, however, that the Partnership shall not incur any such Debt if (A) a breach, violation or default of such Debt would be deemed to occur by virtue of the transfer by any Limited Partner of any Partnership Interest or (B) such Debt is recourse to any Partner (unless the Partner otherwise agrees). This Section 4.2(d) shall not limit the Company’s ability to contribute Funding Debt proceeds to the Partnership in exchange for Preferred Units rather than loaning such proceeds to the Partnership.

(e) Issuance of Securities by the Company. The Company shall not issue any additional REIT Shares, other shares of capital stock or New Securities (other than REIT Shares issued pursuant to Section 8.5 or such shares, stock or securities pursuant to a dividend or distribution (including any stock split) to all of its stockholders who hold a particular class of stock of the Company) unless (i) the General Partner shall cause the Partnership to issue to the Company, Partnership Interests or rights, options, warrants or convertible or exchangeable securities of the Partnership having designations, preferences and other rights, all such that the economic interests thereof are substantially similar to those of the REIT Shares, other shares of capital stock or New Securities issued by the Company, and (ii) the Company directly or indirectly contributes to the Partnership the proceeds, if any, received from the issuance of such additional REIT Shares, other shares of capital stock or New Securities, as the case may be, and from any exercise of the rights contained in such additional New Securities, as the case may be; provided that the Company may use a portion of the proceeds received from such issuance to acquire other assets (provided such other assets are contributed to the Partnership pursuant to the terms of this Agreement). Without limiting the foregoing, the Company is expressly authorized to issue REIT Shares, other shares of capital stock or New Securities for no tangible value or for less than fair market value, and the General Partner is expressly authorized to cause the Partnership to issue to the Company corresponding Partnership Interests, so long as (1) the General Partner concludes in good faith that such issuance of Partnership Interests is in the interests of the Partnership, and (2) the Company contributes all proceeds, if any, from such issuance and exercise to the Partnership.

(f) In the event that the actual proceeds received by the Company in connection with any issuance of additional REIT Shares, other shares of capital stock or New Securities are less than the gross proceeds of such issuance as a result of any underwriter’s discount or other expenses paid in connection with such issuance, then, except as provided in Section 6.1(l), the Company shall be deemed to have made, through the General Partner, a capital contribution to the Partnership in the amount equal to the sum of the net proceeds of such issuance plus the amount of such underwriter’s discount and other expenses paid by the Company (which discount and

 

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expense shall be treated as an expense for the benefit of the Partnership for purposes of Section 7.4) as determined in the discretion of the General Partner. In the case of the issuance of REIT Shares by the Company in any offering, whether registered under the Securities Act or exempt from such registration, underwritten, offered and sold directly to investors or through agents or other intermediaries, or otherwise distributed, for purposes of determining the number of additional Common Units issuable upon a capital contribution funded by the net proceeds thereof consistently with the immediately preceding sentence, any discount from the then current market price of REIT Shares shall be disregarded such that an equal number of Common Units can be issued to the Company as the number of REIT Shares sold by the Company in such offering. In the case of issuances of REIT Shares, other capital stock of the Company or New Securities pursuant to any Stock Plan at a discount from fair market value or for no value, the amount of such discount representing compensation to the employee, as determined by the General Partner, shall be treated as an expense for the benefit of the Partnership for purposes of Section 7.4 and, as a result, the Company shall be deemed to have made a capital contribution to the Partnership in an amount equal to the sum of any net proceeds of such issuance plus the amount of such expense.

(g) In the event that the Partnership issues Partnership Interests pursuant to this Section 4.2, the General Partner shall make such revisions to this Agreement (without any requirement of receiving approval of the Limited Partners) including, but not limited to, the revisions described in Section 6.1(m) and Section 8.5 hereof, as it deems necessary to reflect the issuance of such additional Partnership Interests and the special rights, powers, and duties associated therewith.

(h) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, the Partnership shall be authorized to issue LTIP Units. From time to time the General Partner may cause LTIP Units to be issued to Persons providing services to or for the benefit of the Partnership.

(i) Nothing in this Agreement shall be construed or applied to preclude or restrain the General Partner or the Company from adopting, modifying or terminating Stock Plans for the benefit of employees, directors or other business associates of the General Partner, the Company, the Partnership or any of their Affiliates. The Partners acknowledge and agree that, in the event that any such Stock Plan is adopted, modified or terminated by the General Partner or the Company, amendments to this Agreement may become necessary or advisable and that any such amendments requested by the General Partner or the Company shall not require any Consent or approval by the Limited Partners.

Section 4.3 Other Contribution Provisions.

In the event that any Partner is admitted to the Partnership or any existing Partner is issued additional Partnership Interests and any such Partner is given (or is treated as having received) a Capital Account credit at the time of such admission or issuance, as applicable, in exchange for services rendered to the Partnership, such transaction shall be treated by the Partnership and the affected Partner as if the Partnership had compensated such Partner in cash in an amount equal to the Capital Account credit such Partner received, and the Partner had contributed such cash to the capital of the Partnership. In addition, with the consent of the General Partner, in its sole and absolute discretion, one or more Limited Partners (or direct or indirect equity owners thereof) may enter into agreements with the Partnership, in the form of a guarantee or contribution agreement, which have the effect of providing a guarantee of certain obligations of the Partnership.

 

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Section 4.4 No Preemptive Rights.

Except to the extent expressly granted by the Partnership pursuant to another agreement, no Person including any Partner or Assignee, shall have any preemptive, preferential or other similar right with respect to (a) capital contributions or loans to the Partnership or (b) the issuance or sale of any Partnership Units or other Partnership Interests.

Section 4.5 No Interest on Capital.

No Partner shall be entitled to interest on its Capital Contributions or its Capital Account. Except as provided herein or by law, no Partner shall have any right to withdraw any part of its Capital Account or to demand or receive the return of its Capital Contributions.

ARTICLE 5

DISTRIBUTIONS

Section 5.1 Distribution of Cash.

(a) Subject to Article 13, the other provisions of this Article 5, the rights and preferences of any Preferred Units or additional class or series of Partnership Units established pursuant to Section 4.2 and Exhibit B and any relevant Vesting Agreement, the Partnership shall distribute cash at such times and in such amounts as are determined by the General Partner, in its sole and absolute discretion, to the Partners who are Partners on the Partnership Record Date in accordance with their respective Percentage Interests on the Partnership Record Date.

(b) 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 (which for purposes of this Section 5.1(b), shall include any predecessor entity and any person whose withholding obligations have been assumed by the Partnership) to comply with any withholding requirements established under the Code or any other U.S. federal, state or local law or foreign law. Any amount paid on behalf of or with respect to a Limited Partner (a “Withholding Payment”) shall constitute a loan by the Partnership to such Limited Partner, which loan shall be repaid by such Limited Partner within fifteen (15) days after notice from the General Partner that such payment must be made unless (i) the Partnership withholds such payment from a distribution which would otherwise be made to the Limited Partner, (ii) the General Partner determines, in its sole and absolute discretion, that such payment may be satisfied out of the available funds of the Partnership which would, but for such payment, be distributed to the Limited Partner or (iii) treatment as a loan would jeopardize the Company’s status as a REIT or otherwise be prohibited by law. Any amounts withheld pursuant to the foregoing clauses (i), (ii) or (iii) shall be treated as having been distributed to such Limited Partner (unless, in the case of amounts governed by clause (iii), the Limited Partner timely pays the amount to be withheld to the Partnership). Each Limited Partner hereby unconditionally and irrevocably grants to the Partnership a security interest in such Limited Partner’s Partnership Interest to secure such Limited Partner’s obligation to pay to the Partnership any amounts required to be paid pursuant to this

 

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Section 5.1(b). Any amounts payable by a Limited Partner hereunder shall bear interest at the lesser of (1) the base rate on corporate loans at large United States money center commercial banks, as published from time to time in The Wall Street Journal, plus four (4) percentage points, or (2) the maximum lawful rate of interest on such obligation, such interest to accrue from the date such amount is due (i.e., fifteen (15) days after demand) until such amount is paid in full. Each Limited Partner shall take such actions as the Partnership shall request in order to (i) perfect or enforce the security interest created hereunder and (ii) cause any loan arising hereunder to be treated as a real estate asset for purposes of Section 856(c)(4)(A) of the Code and to generate income described in Section 856(c)(3) of the Code. In addition to all other remedies that the Partnership may be entitled to pursue, in the event that a Limited Partner fails to pay any amount when due pursuant to this Section 5.1(b), the Partnership may thereafter, at any time prior to the Limited Partner’s payment in full of such amount (plus any accrued interest), elect to redeem Common Units held by such Limited Partner, in accordance with the procedures set forth in Section 8.5 with the Valuation Date being the date the Partnership elects to redeem such Common Units, in an amount sufficient to pay any or all of such amount. In the event that proceeds to the Partnership are reduced on account of taxes withheld at the source or the Partnership incurs a tax liability and such taxes (or a portion thereof) are imposed on or with respect to one or more, but not all, of the Partners in the Partnership or if the rate of tax varies depending on the attributes of specific Partners or to whom the corresponding income is allocated, the amount of the reduction in the Partnership’s net proceeds shall be borne by and apportioned among the relevant Partners and treated as if it were paid by the Partnership as a withholding obligation with respect to such Partners in accordance with such apportionment. For the avoidance of doubt, in accordance with the foregoing, any Imputed Underpayment Amount paid (or payable) by the Partnership shall be treated as if it were paid by the Partnership as a Withholding Payment with respect to the appropriate Partners. The General Partner shall reasonably determine the portion of an Imputed Underpayment Amount attributable to each Partner or former Partner.

(c) 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 dividend as the holder of record with respect to the Partnership Record Date for such distribution of a REIT Share for which all or part of such Partnership Unit has been or will be exchanged.

Section 5.2 REIT Distribution Requirements.

The General Partner shall use its reasonable efforts to cause the Partnership to make distributions pursuant to this Article 5 sufficient to enable the Company to (a) meet its distribution requirement for qualification as a REIT as set forth in Section 857 of the Code and (b) other than to the extent the Company elects to retain and pay income tax on its net capital gain, avoid or reduce any U.S. federal income or excise tax liability imposed by the Code.

Section 5.3 No Right to Distributions in Kind.

Except as expressly provided herein, no Holder shall be entitled to demand or receive property other than cash in connection with any distributions by the Partnership. The General Partner may determine, in its sole and absolute discretion, to make a distribution in-kind of Partnership assets to the Holders, and such assets shall be distributed in the manner to ensure that the fair market value is distributed and allocated in accordance with Article 5 and Article 6 hereof.

 

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Section 5.4 Distributions Upon Liquidation.

Notwithstanding the other provisions of this Article 5, net proceeds from a Terminating Capital Transaction, and any other cash received or reductions in reserves made after commencement of a Liquidating Event shall be distributed to Holders in accordance with Article 13.

Section 5.5 Distributions to Reflect Issuance of Additional Partnership Units.

In addition to any amendment permitted under Section 14.2, the General Partner is authorized to modify the distributions in this Article 5 and amend such provisions (including the defined terms used therein) in such manner as the General Partner, in its sole and absolute discretion, determines is necessary or appropriate to reflect the issuances of additional series or classes of Partnership Interests without the consent of any Partner or any other Person. Any such modification may be made pursuant to a Certificate of Designations or similar instrument establishing such new class or series.

ARTICLE 6

ALLOCATIONS

Section 6.1 Capital Account Allocations of Profit and Loss.

(a) Profit. After giving effect to the special allocations, if any, required under this Article 6 for the applicable period, and subject to the other provisions of this Section 6.1. allocations to be made with respect to any Preferred Units or additional class or series of Partnership Units established pursuant to Section 4.2, and Exhibit B and any relevant Vesting Agreement, Profits in each taxable year or other allocation period shall be allocated to the Partners’ Capital Accounts in the following order of priority:

(i) First to the General Partner until the cumulative Profits allocated to the General Partner under this Section 6.1(a)(i) equal the cumulative Losses allocated to the General Partner under Section 6.1(b)(ii); and

(ii) Thereafter, to the holders of Common Units and LTIP Units in accordance with their respective Percentage Interests.

(b) Losses. After giving effect to the special allocations, if any, required under this Article 6 for the applicable period, and subject to the allocations to be made with respect to any Preferred Units or additional class or series of Partnership Units established pursuant to Section 4.2 and Exhibit B and any relevant Vesting Agreement, and further subject to the other provisions of this Section 6.1, Loss in each taxable year or other period shall be allocated in the following order of priority:

(i) First, to the holders of Common Units and LTIP Units with positive balances in their Economic Capital Account Balances in accordance with their respective Percentage Interests until their Economic Capital Accounts Balances are reduced to zero; and

 

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(ii) Thereafter, to the General Partner.

For purposes of determining allocations of Losses pursuant to Section 6.1(b)(i), an LTIP Unit Limited Partner shall be treated as having a separate Economic Capital Account Balance, and for this purpose a separate Capital Account with an appropriate share of Partnership Minimum Gain and Partner Minimum Gain shall be maintained, for each tranche of LTIP Units with a different issuance date that it holds and the Economic Capital Account Balance of each holder of Common Units shall not include any Economic Capital Account Balance attributable to other series or classes of Partnership Units.

(c) Nonrecourse Deductions and 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” of such deduction 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 taxable year, then, subject to the exceptions set forth in Regulations Section 1.704-2(f)(2),(3), (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 taxable year, then 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).

(d) Qualified Income Offset. If a Partner receives in any taxable year 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 Minimum Gain, as determined in accordance with Regulations Sections 1.704-2(g) and 1.704-2(i), such Partner shall be specially allocated for such taxable year (and, if necessary, later taxable years) 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).

(e) Capital Account Deficits. Loss or items thereof shall not be allocated to a Limited Partner to the extent that such allocation would cause or increase a deficit in such Partner’s Adjusted Capital Account.

(f) Definition of Profit and Loss. “Profit” and Loss” and any items of income, gain, expense or loss referred to in this Agreement means the net income, net loss or items thereof for the applicable period as determined for maintaining Capital Accounts, and shall be determined in accordance with U.S. 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, loss and expense that are specially allocated pursuant to this Article 6 (other than Section 6.1(a) or Section 6.1(b)).

 

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(g) Curative Allocations. The allocations set forth in Section 6.1(c), Section 6.1(d) and Section 6.1(e) hereof (the “Regulatory Allocations”) are intended to comply with certain regulatory requirements, including the requirements of Regulations Sections 1.704-1(b) and 1.704-2. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 6.1 and Section 6.2 hereof, the Regulatory Allocations shall be taken into account in allocating other items of income, gain, loss and expense among the Holders so that to the extent possible without violating the requirements giving rise to the Regulatory Allocations, the net amount of such allocations of other items and the Regulatory Allocations to each Holder shall be equal to the net amount that would have been allocated to each such Holder if the Regulatory Allocations had not occurred.

(h) Forfeitures. Subject to Section 6.1(j) with respect to a forfeiture of certain LTIP Units, upon a forfeiture of any unvested Partnership Interest by any Partner, gross items of income, gain, loss or deduction shall be allocated to such Partner if and to the extent required by the Regulations, Section 704(b) of the Code, or otherwise required.

(i) LTIP Allocations.

(i) After giving effect to the special allocations set forth in Section 6.1(c) and Section 6.1(d) hereof, and the allocations of Profit under Section 6.1(a)(i) (including, for the avoidance of doubt, Liquidating Gains that are a component of Profit), and subject to the other provisions of this Section 6.1, but before allocations of Profit are made under Section 6.1(a)(ii), any remaining Liquidating Gains shall first be allocated among the Partners so as to cause, as nearly as possible, the Economic Capital Account Balance of each LTIP Unit Limited Partner, to the extent attributable to such Limited Partner’s ownership of an LTIP Unit, to be equal to the Common Unit Economic Balance (determined after taking into account any additional allocations of Liquidating Gains or Liquidating Losses to be made with respect to Common Units after the application of this Section 6.1(i)(i) for the same period for which the allocations in this Section 6.1(i)(i) are being made (with such Economic Capital Account Balance with respect to an LTIP Unit to be achieved through the immediately foregoing allocations referred to as the “Target Balance” for such unit)).

(ii) Notwithstanding Section 6.1(i)(i), no Liquidating Gains will be allocated with respect to such LTIP Unit under Section 6.1(i)(i) as of any date unless and to the extent that the Liquidating Gains as of such date, when aggregated with other Liquidating Gains realized since the issuance of such LTIP Unit exceed Liquidating Losses realized since the issuance of such LTIP Unit. For purposes of performing the calculations in the preceding sentence, the amount of Liquidating Gains shall be increased by the amount of any Net Realized Gain for the period since the issuance of such LTIP Unit and the amount of Liquidating Losses shall be increased by the amount of any Net Realized Loss for the period since the issuance of such LTIP Unit.

(iii) Any such allocations under this Section 6.1(i) shall first be made among the holders of LTIP Units in proportion to the aggregate amounts required to be allocated to each such holder under this Section 6.1(i).

 

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(iv) Liquidating Gain allocated to an LTIP Unit Limited Partner under this Section 6.1(i) will be attributed to specific LTIP Units of such LTIP Unit Limited Partner for purposes of determining (A) allocations under this Section 6.1(i), (B) the effect of the forfeiture or conversion of specific LTIP Units on such LTIP Unit Limited Partner’s Capital Account, and (C) the ability of such LTIP Unit Limited Partner to convert specific LTIP Units into Common Units. Liquidating Gain allocated to such LTIP Unit Limited Partner under this Section 6.1(i) for any period by reason of holding LTIP Units will generally be attributed to LTIP Units with a positive Book-Up Target in the following order: (w) first, to Vested LTIP Units held for more than two years, (x) second, to Vested LTIP Units held for two years or less, (y) third, to Unvested LTIP Units that have remaining vesting conditions that only require continued employment or service to the Company, the Partnership or an Affiliate of either for a certain period of time (with such Liquidating Gains being attributed in order of vesting from soonest vesting to latest vesting), and (z) fourth, to other Unvested LTIP Units (with such Liquidating Gains being attributed in order of issuance from earliest issued to latest issued). The amount so attributed to each such category relating to LTIP Units shall not exceed the aggregate Book-Up Target of the units in such category, and within each category, Liquidating Gain will be attributed to sets of LTIP Units in the order of smallest Book-Up Target to largest Book-Up Target.

(v) After giving effect to the special allocations set forth above, if, due to distributions with respect to Common Units in which the LTIP Units do not participate, forfeitures or otherwise, the aggregate Economic Capital Account Balance of any present or former LTIP Unit Limited Partner attributable to such LTIP Unit Limited Partner’s LTIP Units, exceeds the aggregate Target Balance of such LTIP Units, then Liquidating Losses shall be allocated to such LTIP Unit Limited Partner (and to the extent possible in a manner consistent with the principles of Section 6.1(i)(iii)), or Liquidating Gains shall be allocated to the other Partners, to reduce or eliminate the disparity; provided, however, that if Liquidating Losses or Liquidating Gains are insufficient to completely eliminate all such disparities, such losses or gains shall be allocated among Partners in a manner reasonably determined by the General Partner.

(vi) The parties agree that the intent of this Section 6.1(i) is (A) to the extent possible within the limitations imposed by Section 6.1(i)(ii) to make the Economic Capital Account Balance associated with each LTIP Unit economically equivalent to the Common Unit Economic Balance and (B) to allow conversion of an LTIP Unit (assuming prior vesting) into a Common Unit when sufficient Liquidating Gains have been allocated to such LTIP Unit pursuant to Section 6.1(i)(i) so that either its initial Book-Up Target has been reduced to zero or the parity described in the definition of Target Balance has been achieved with respect to such LTIP Unit. The General Partner shall be permitted to interpret this Section 6.1(i) or to amend this Agreement to the extent necessary and consistent with this intention.

(vii) In the event that Liquidating Gains or Liquidating Losses are allocated under this Section 6.1(i), Profits allocable under Section 6.1(a)(ii) and any Losses shall be recomputed without regard to the Liquidating Gains or Liquidating Losses so allocated.

 

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(j) LTIP Forfeitures.

(i) If an LTIP Unit Limited Partner forfeits any LTIP Units to which Liquidating Gain has previously been allocated under Section 6.1(i) (or previously re-allocated under this Section 6.1(j)), the portion of such LTIP Unit Limited Partner’s Capital Account attributable to such Liquidating Gain allocated (or reallocated) to such forfeited LTIP Units shall be re-allocated to that LTIP Unit Limited Partner’s remaining LTIP Units that were outstanding on the date of the initial allocation of such Liquidating Gain and would have been eligible to receive the allocation of such Liquidating Gain on such date (if any), using a methodology similar to that described in Section 6.1(i)(iii) above as reasonably determined by the General Partner, to the extent necessary to cause such LTIP Unit Limited Partner’s Economic Capital Account Balance attributable to each such remaining LTIP Unit to equal the Common Unit Economic Balance,

(ii) To the extent that the Capital Account of an LTIP Unit Limited Partner attributable to Liquidating Gains allocated to forfeited LTIP Units is not re- allocated to other units under Section 6.1(j)(i)-(ii) above, such LTIP Unit Limited Partner’s Capital Account will be reduced by the amount of any such Liquidating Gain not so re-allocated.

(k) Reimbursements Treated as Guaranteed Payments. Subject to Section 6.1(l), if and to the extent any payment or reimbursement to the General Partner or the Company made pursuant to Section 7.7 or otherwise is determined for U.S. federal income tax purposes not to constitute a payment of expenses of the Partnership, the amount so determined shall constitute a guaranteed payment with respect to capital within the meaning of Section 707(c) of the Code, shall be treated consistently therewith by the Partnership and all Partners and shall not be treated as a distribution for purposes of computing the Partners’ Capital Accounts.

(l) Adjustments to Preserve REIT Status and Avoid Gain. Notwithstanding any provision in this Agreement to the contrary, if the Partnership pays or reimburses (directly or indirectly, including by reason of giving the General Partner or the Company or any direct or indirect Subsidiary of the Company Capital Account credit in excess of actual Capital Contributions made by the General Partner or the Company or any direct or indirect Subsidiary of the Company) fees, expenses or other costs pursuant to Section 4.2, Section 7.4 and/or Section 7.7, or otherwise, and if failure to treat all or part of such payment or reimbursement as a distribution to the General Partner, the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company (as appropriate), or the receipt of Capital Account credit in excess of actual Capital Contributions, would cause the Company to recognize income that would cause the Company to fail to qualify as a REIT, then such payment or reimbursement (or portion thereof) shall be treated as a distribution to the General Partner, the Company or direct or indirect Subsidiary of the Company (as appropriate) for purposes of this Agreement, or the Capital Account credit in excess of actual Capital Contributions shall be reduced, in each case to the extent necessary to preserve the Company’s status as a REIT. The Capital Account of the General Partner, the Company or any direct or indirect Subsidiary of the Company (as appropriate) shall be reduced by such direct or indirect payment or reimbursement (or a portion thereof) in the same manner as an actual distribution to the General Partner, the Company, or any direct or indirect Subsidiary of the Company (as appropriate). To the extent treated as distributions, such fees, expenses or other costs shall not be taken into account as

 

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Partnership fees, expenses or costs for the purposes of this Agreement. In the event that amounts are recharacterized as distributions or Capital Accounts are reduced pursuant to this Section 6.1(b), allocations under Section 6.1(a), Section 6.1(b) and Section 6.1(i) for the current and subsequent periods shall be adjusted as reasonably determined by the General Partner so that to the extent possible the Partners have the same Capital Account balances they would have if this Section 6.1(l) had not applied. This Section 6.1(l) is intended to prevent direct or indirect reimbursements or payments under this Agreement from giving rise to a violation of the Company’s REIT requirements while at the same time preserving to the extent possible the parties’ intended economic arrangement and shall be interpreted and applied consistent with such intent.

(m) Modifications to Reflect New Series or Classes.

The General Partner is authorized to modify the allocations in this Section 6.1 and amend such provisions (including the defined terms used therein) in such manner as the General Partner determines is necessary or appropriate to reflect the issues of additional series or classes of Partnership Interests. Any such modification may be made pursuant to the Certificate of Designations or similar instrument establishing such new class or series.

(n) Agreement to Bear Disproportionate Losses.

At the request and with the consent of the applicable Limited Partner, the General Partner may modify these allocations to provide for disproportionate allocations of Loss (or items of loss or deduction) and chargebacks thereof to a Limited Partner that agrees to restore all or part of any deficit in its Capital Account in accordance with Section 13.5 (in all cases subject to Section 6.1(e)).

Section 6.2 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). Consistent with the provisions of Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(f), (a) immediately prior to the acquisition of an additional Partnership Interest by any new or existing Partner in connection with the contribution of money or other property (other than a de minimis amount) to the Partnership, (b) immediately prior to the distribution by the Partnership to a Partner of Partnership property (other than a de minimis amount) as consideration for a Partnership Interest, (c) upon the acquisition of a more than de minimis additional interest in the Partnership by any new or existing Partner as consideration for the provision of services to or for the benefit of the Partnership in a partner capacity or in anticipation of becoming a Partner, (d) upon the grant of any LTIP Unit, (e) immediately prior to the liquidation of the Partnership as defined in Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(g) and (f) at other times as reasonably determined by the General Partner, the book value of all Partnership assets shall be revalued upward or downward to reflect the 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) of each such Partnership asset unless the General Partner shall determine that such revaluation is not necessary to maintain the Partner’s intended economic arrangements and for the avoidance of doubt may be so revalued at such other times permitted by such Regulations. If the Capital Accounts of the Partners are adjusted pursuant to Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(f) to reflect revaluations of Property, (a) the Capital Accounts of the

 

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Partners shall be adjusted in accordance with Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(g) for allocations of depreciation, depletion, amortization and gain or loss, as computed for book purposes, with respect to such Property, (b) the Partners’ distributive shares of depreciation, depletion, amortization and gain or loss, as computed for tax purposes, with respect to such Property shall be determined so as to take account of the variation between the adjusted tax basis and book value of such Property in the same manner as under Section 704(c) of the Code, and (c) the amount of upward and/or downward adjustments to the book value of the Property shall be treated as income, gain, deduction and/or loss for purposes of applying the allocation provisions of this Article 6. If Section 704(c) of the Code applies to Property, the Capital Accounts of the Partners shall be adjusted in accordance with Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(g) for allocations of depreciation, depletion, amortization and gain and loss, as computed for book purposes, with respect to such Property.

Section 6.3 Tax Allocations.

All allocations of income, gain, loss and deduction (and all items contained therein) for U.S. federal income tax purposes shall be identical to all allocations of such items set forth in Section 6.1, except as otherwise required by Section 6.2 or Section 704(c) of the Code and Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(4). The General Partner shall have the authority to elect the methods to be used by the Partnership for allocating items of income, gain and expense as required by Section 704(c) of the Code and Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(4), including the use of different methods for different items and different Properties, except as otherwise agreed upon by the General Partner and one or more Limited Partners (or direct or indirect owners thereof), and such election shall be binding on all Partners.

Section 6.4 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 in the case of the allocation of losses attributable to nonrecourse Debt or any other allocations that cannot have substantial economic effect under the Code) within the meaning of Section 704(b) of the Code as interpreted by the Regulations promulgated pursuant thereto Article 6 and other relevant provisions of this Agreement shall be interpreted in a manner consistent with such intent. The provisions of this Agreement relating to the maintenance of Capital Accounts are intended to comply with Regulations Section 1.704-1(b), and shall be interpreted and applied in a manner consistent with such Regulations. In the event the General Partner shall determine that it is prudent to modify (a) the manner in which the Capital Accounts, or any debits, or credits thereto (including debits or credits relating to liabilities which are secured by contributed or distributed property or which are assumed by the Partnership, the General Partner, or the Limited Partners) are computed; or (b) the manner in which items are allocated among the Partners for U.S. federal income tax purposes in order to comply with such Regulations or to comply with Section 704(c) of the Code, the General Partner may make such modification without regard to Article 14 of this Agreement, provided that it is not likely to have a material effect on the amounts distributable to any Person pursuant to Article 13 of this Agreement upon the dissolution of the Partnership. The General Partner also shall (x) make any adjustments that are necessary or appropriate to maintain equality between the aggregate Capital Accounts of the Partners and the amount of Partnership capital reflected on the Partnership’s balance sheet, as computed for book purposes, in accordance with

 

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Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(q); and (y) make any appropriate modifications in the event unanticipated events might otherwise cause this Agreement not to comply with Regulations Section 1.704-1(b). In addition, the General Partner may adopt and employ such methods and procedures for (A) the maintenance of book and tax capital accounts; (B) the determination and allocation of adjustments under Sections 704(c), 734, and 743 of the Code; (C) the determination of Profit, Loss, taxable income and loss and items thereof under this Agreement and pursuant to the Code; (D) the adoption of reasonable conventions and methods for the valuation of assets and the determination of tax basis; (E) the allocation of asset value and tax basis; and (F) conventions for the determination of cost recovery, depreciation and amortization deductions, as it determines in its sole discretion are necessary or appropriate to execute the provisions of this Agreement, to comply with federal and state tax laws, and/or are in the best interest of the Partners.

ARTICLE 7

MANAGEMENT AND OPERATIONS OF BUSINESS

Section 7.1 Management.

(a) Except as otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement, all management powers over the business and affairs of the Partnership are and shall be exclusively vested in the General Partner, and no Limited Partner, in its capacity as such, shall have any right to participate in or exercise control or management power over the business and affairs of the Partnership. The General Partner may not be removed by the Limited Partners with or without cause, except with the consent of the General Partner, which consent may be withheld in its sole and absolute discretion. In addition to the powers now or hereafter granted to a general partner of a limited partnership under applicable law or which are granted to the General Partner under any other provision of this Agreement, the General Partner, subject to the other provisions hereof including Section 7.3 and Section 11.2, shall have full and exclusive power and authority to do all things deemed necessary or desirable by it to conduct the business of the Partnership, to exercise all powers set forth in Section 3.2 and to effectuate the purposes set forth in Section 3.1 (subject to the proviso in Section 3.2), including:

(i) the making of any expenditures, the lending or borrowing of money (including making prepayments on loans and borrowing money to permit the Partnership to make distributions to its Partners in such amounts as will allow the Company to (A) meet its distribution requirement for qualification as a REIT as set forth in Section 857 of the Code and (B) other than to the extent the Company elects to retain and pay income tax on its net capital gain, avoid or reduce any U.S. federal income or excise tax liability imposed by the Code);

(ii) the assumption or guarantee of, or other contracting for, Debt and other liabilities or obligations, the issuance of evidences of Debt (including the securing of same by deed, mortgage, deed of trust or other lien or encumbrance on the Partnership’s assets) and the incurring of any obligations it deems necessary for the conduct of the activities of the Partnership;

 

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(iii) the making of tax, regulatory and other filings, or rendering of periodic or other reports to governmental or other agencies having jurisdiction over the business or assets of the Partnership, the registration of any class of securities of the Partnership under the Exchange Act and the listing of any debt securities of the Partnership on any exchange;

(iv) subject to Section 11.2, the acquisition, disposition, mortgage, pledge, encumbrance, hypothecation or exchange of any or all of the assets of the Partnership (including the exercise or grant of any conversion, option, privilege, or subscription right or other right available in connection with any assets at any time held by the Partnership) or the merger, consolidation, reorganization or other combination of the Partnership with or into another entity on such terms as the General Partner deems proper (all of the foregoing subject to any prior approval only to the extent required by Section 7.3);

(v) the acquisition, disposition, mortgage, pledge, encumbrance or hypothecation of any or all of the assets of the Partnership, and the use of the assets of the Partnership (including cash on hand) for any purpose consistent with the terms of this Agreement and on any terms the General Partner deems proper, including the financing of the conduct of the operations of the Company, the Partnership or any Subsidiary of the Company and/or the Partnership, the lending of funds to other Persons (including the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company and/or the Partnership) and the repayment of obligations of the Partnership and its Subsidiaries and any other Person in which it has an equity investment, and the making of capital contributions and equity investments to its Subsidiaries;

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

(vii) the negotiation, execution, and performance of any contracts, including leases, ground leases, easements, management agreements, consulting agreements, rights of way and any other property-related agreements, conveyances or other instruments that the General Partner considers useful or necessary to the conduct of the Partnership’s operations or the implementation of the General Partner’s powers under this Agreement, including contracting with contractors, developers, consultants, accountants, legal counsel, other professional advisors and other agents and the payment of their expenses and compensation out of the Partnership’s assets;

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

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

 

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(x) the collection and receipt of revenues, rents and income of the Partnership;

(xi) the establishment of one or more divisions of the Partnership, the selection and dismissal of employees (if any) of the Partnership or any Subsidiary of the Partnership (including employees having titles such as “president,” “vice president,” “secretary” and “treasurer” ), and agents, outside attorneys, accountants, consultants and contractors of the Partnership, and the determination of their compensation and other terms of employment or hiring including waivers of conflicts of interest and the payment of their expenses and compensation out of the Partnership’s assets;

(xii) the maintenance of such insurance (including directors and officers insurance) for the benefit of the Partnership, the Partners (including the Company) and the directors and officers thereof as the General Partner deems necessary or appropriate;

(xiii) the formation of, or acquisition of an interest in, and the contribution of property to, any further limited or general partnerships, joint ventures, corporations or other relationships that it deems desirable (including the acquisition of interests in, and the contributions of property to, any Subsidiary and any other Person in which it has an equity investment from time to time); provided that, as long as the Company has determined to continue to qualify as a REIT, the Partnership may not engage in any such formation, acquisition or contribution that would cause the Company to fail to qualify as a REIT;

(xiv) the filing of applications, communicating and otherwise dealing 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’s business;

(xv) taking of any action necessary or appropriate to comply with all regulatory requirements applicable to the Partnership in respect of its business, including preparing or causing to be prepared all financial statements required under applicable regulations and contractual undertakings and all reports, filings and documents, if any, required under the Exchange Act, the Securities Act or by National Securities Exchange requirements;

(xvi) the control of any matters affecting the rights and obligations of the Partnership and any Subsidiary of the Partnership, including the settlement, compromise, submission to arbitration or any other form of dispute resolution, or abandonment of, any claim, cause of action, liability, Debt or damages, due or owing to or from the Partnership or any Subsidiary of the Partnership, the commencement or defense of suits, legal proceedings, administrative proceedings, arbitration or other forms of dispute resolution, and the representation of the Partnership or any Subsidiary of the Partnership in all suits or legal proceedings, administrative proceedings, arbitrations or other forms of dispute resolution, the incurring of legal expense, and the indemnification of any Person against liabilities and contingencies to the extent permitted by law;

 

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(xvii) the undertaking of any action in connection with the Partnership’s direct or indirect investment in any Subsidiary or any other Person (including the contribution or loan of funds by the Partnership to such Persons, incurring Debt on behalf of, or guarantying the obligations of, any such Persons);

(xviii) the determination of the fair market value of any Partnership property distributed in kind using such reasonable method of valuation as the General Partner may adopt;

(xix) the enforcement of any rights against any Partner pursuant to representations, warranties, covenants and indemnities relating to such Partner’s contribution of property or assets to the Partnership;

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

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

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

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

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

(xxv) the issuance of additional Partnership Units, as appropriate and in the General Partner’s sole and absolute discretion, in connection with capital contributions by Additional Limited Partners and additional capital contributions by Partners pursuant to Article 4 hereof;

(xxvi) the delegation to any General Partner employee the authority to conduct the business of the Partnership in accordance with the terms of this Agreement;

(xxvii) the distribution of cash to acquire Partnership Units held by a Limited Partner in connection with a Limited Partner’s exercise of its Redemption Right under Section 8.5 hereof;

 

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(xxviii) maintaining or causing to be maintained, the books and records of the Partnership to reflect accurately at all times the capital contributions and Percentage Interests of the Partners as the same are adjusted from time to time to the extent necessary to reflect redemptions, Capital Contributions, the issuance of Partnership Units, the admission of any Additional Limited Partner or Substituted Limited Partner or otherwise;

(xxix) any election to dissolve the Partnership pursuant to Section 13.1(a)(ii);

(xxx) the registration of any class of securities under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, and the listing of any Debt securities of the Partnership on any exchange;

(xxxi) the entering into of listing agreements with any National Securities Exchange and the listing of any securities of the Partnership on such exchange;

(xxxii) the delisting of some or all of the Partnership Units from, or the requesting that trading be suspended on, any National Securities Exchange;

(xxxiii) the taking of any and all acts and things necessary or prudent to ensure that the Partnership will not be classified as an association taxable as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes or a “publicly traded partnership” for purposes of Section 7704 of the Code, including but not limited to imposing restrictions on transfers, restrictions on the number of Partners and restrictions on redemptions; and

(xxxiv) 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 all actions consistent with allowing the Company at all times to qualify as a REIT unless the Company voluntarily terminates its REIT status) and to possess and enjoy all the rights and powers of a general partner as provided by the Act.

(b) Each of the Limited Partners agrees that the General Partner, in its sole and absolute discretion, is authorized to execute, deliver and perform the above-mentioned agreements and transactions on behalf of the Partnership without any further act, approval or vote of the Partners, notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement (except as provided in Section 7.3), the Act or any applicable law, rule or regulation, to the fullest extent permitted under the Act or other applicable law, rule or regulation. The execution, delivery or performance by the General Partner or the Partnership of any agreement authorized or permitted under this Agreement shall not constitute a breach by the General Partner of any duty that the General Partner may owe the Partnership or the Limited Partners or any other Persons under this Agreement or of any duty stated or implied by law or equity.

(c) The General Partner may cause the Partnership to establish and maintain working capital and other reserves in such amounts as the General Partner, in its sole and absolute discretion, deems appropriate and reasonable from time to time.

 

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(d) The General Partner may cause the Partnership to obtain and maintain (i) casualty, liability and other insurance on the Properties, (ii) liability insurance for the Indemnitees hereunder, and (iii) such other insurance as the General Partner, in its sole and absolute discretion, determines to be necessary.

(e) Except as provided in this Agreement with respect to the qualification of the Company as a REIT and as may be provided in a separate written agreement between the Partnership and a Limited Partner (or a direct or indirect owner thereof), in exercising its authority under this Agreement, the General Partner may, but shall be under no obligation to, take into account the tax consequences to any Partner (including the Company) of any action taken (or not taken) by it. Except as provided in this Agreement with respect to the qualification of the Company as a REIT and as may be provided in a separate written agreement between the Partnership and a Limited Partner, the General Partner and the Partnership shall not have liability to a Limited Partner under any circumstances as a result of an income tax liability incurred by such Limited Partner as a result of an action (or inaction) by the General Partner pursuant to its authority under this Agreement.

Section 7.2 Certificate of Limited Partnership.

To the extent that such action is determined by the General Partner to be reasonable and necessary or appropriate, the General Partner shall file amendments to and restatements of the Certificate of Limited Partnership and do all of the things to maintain the Partnership as a limited partnership (or a partnership in which the limited partners have limited liability) under the laws of the State of Delaware and each other jurisdiction, in which the Partnership may elect to do business or own property. Subject to the terms of Section 8.4(a)(iv) hereof, the General Partner shall not be required, before or after filing, to deliver or mail a copy of the Certificate of Limited Partnership or any amendment thereto to any Limited Partner. The General Partner shall use all reasonable efforts to cause to be filed such other certificates or documents as may be reasonable and necessary or appropriate for the formation, continuation, qualification and operation of a limited partnership (or a partnership in which the limited partners have limited liability) in the State of Delaware and any other jurisdiction, in which the Partnership may elect to do business or own property.

Section 7.3 Restrictions on General Partner Authority.

The General Partner may not take any action in contravention of an express prohibition or limitation of this Agreement without the written Consent of a Majority in Interest of the Outside Limited Partners or such other percentage of the Limited Partners as may be specifically provided for under a provision of this Agreement and may not perform any act that would subject a Limited Partner to liability as a general partner in any jurisdiction or any other liability except as provided herein or under the Act.

Section 7.4 Reimbursement of the General Partner and the Company.

(a) Except as provided in this Section 7.4 and elsewhere in this Agreement (including the provisions of Article 5 and Article 6 regarding distributions, payments, and allocations to which it may be entitled), the General Partner shall not be compensated for its services as the General Partner of the Partnership.

 

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(b) The Partnership shall be responsible for and shall pay all expenses relating to the Partnership’s, the General Partner’s and the Company’s organization, the ownership of their assets and their operations, including the Administrative Expenses. Except to the extent provided in this Agreement, the General Partner, the Company and their Affiliates 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 such expenses. The Partners acknowledge that all such expenses of the General Partner and/or the Company are deemed to be for the benefit of the Partnership. Such reimbursement shall be in addition to any reimbursement made as a result of indemnification pursuant to Section 7.7. In the event that certain expenses are incurred for the benefit of the Partnership and other entities (including the General Partner), such expenses will be allocated to the Partnership and such other entities in such a manner as the General Partner in its sole and absolute discretion deems fair and reasonable. To the extent permitted by law and subject to Section 6.1(k) and Section 6.1(l), all payments and reimbursements hereunder shall be characterized for U.S. federal income tax purposes as expenses of the Partnership incurred on its behalf, and not as expenses of the General Partner.

(c) If the Company shall elect to purchase from its stockholders REIT Shares (i) for the purpose of delivering such REIT Shares to satisfy an obligation under any dividend reinvestment program adopted by the Company, any employee stock purchase plan adopted by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, or any similar obligation or arrangement undertaken by the Company in the future or for the purpose of retiring such REIT Shares or (ii) for any other reason, the purchase price paid by the Company for such REIT Shares and any other expenses incurred by the Company in connection with such purchase shall be considered expenses of the Partnership and shall be advanced to the Company or reimbursed to the Company, subject to the conditions that: (A) if such REIT Shares subsequently are sold by the Company, the Company shall pay to the Partnership any proceeds received by the Company for such REIT Shares (which sales proceeds shall include the amount of dividends reinvested under any dividend reinvestment or similar program, provided that a transfer of REIT Shares for Partnership Units pursuant to Section 8.5 would not be considered a sale for such purposes), and (B) if such REIT Shares are not retransferred by the Company immediately after the purchase thereof, the Company shall cause the Partnership to redeem a number of Common Units held by the Company equal to the number of such REIT Shares divided by the Conversion Factor.

(d) As set forth in Section 4.2, but subject to Section 6.1, the Company shall be treated as having made a capital contribution in the amount of all expenses that the Company incurs relating to the Company’s offering of REIT Shares, other shares of capital stock of the Company or New Securities.

Section 7.5 Outside Activities of the General Partner and the Company.

(a) The General Partner, the Company and any Affiliates of the General Partner or the Company may acquire Limited Partner Interests and shall be entitled to exercise all rights of a Limited Partner relating to such Limited Partner Interests.

 

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(b) The Company may, in its sole and absolute discretion, from time to time hold or acquire assets in its own name or otherwise other than through the Partnership so long as the Company takes commercially reasonable measures to ensure that the economic benefits and burdens of such Property are otherwise vested in the Partnership, through assignment, mortgage loan or otherwise or, if it is not commercially reasonable to vest such economic interests in the Partnership, the General Partner shall make such amendments to this Agreement as the General Partner determines are necessary or desirable, including the definition of “Conversion Factor,” to reflect such activities and the direct ownership of assets by the Company. Nothing contained herein shall be deemed to prohibit the Company from executing guarantees of Debt of the Partnership.

Section 7.6 Contracts with Affiliates.

(a) The Partnership may lend or contribute funds or other assets to any Subsidiary 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.

(b) Except as provided in Section 7.5, the Partnership may transfer assets to joint ventures, other partnerships, limited liability companies, business trusts, statutory trusts, corporations or other business entities in which it is or thereby becomes a participant upon such terms and subject to such conditions consistent with this Agreement and applicable law as the General Partner, in its sole and absolute discretion, believes are advisable.

(c) 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 determined by the General Partner in good faith to be fair and reasonable.

(d) The General Partner, in its sole and absolute discretion and without the approval of the Limited Partners, may propose and adopt, on behalf of the Partnership, employee benefit plans, stock option plans, and similar plans (including plans that contemplate the issuance of LTIP Units) funded by the Partnership for the benefit of employees of the General Partner, the Partnership, any Subsidiary of the Partnership or any Affiliate of any of them in respect of services performed, directly or indirectly, for the benefit of the Partnership, the General Partner or any Subsidiary of the Partnership.

Section 7.7 Indemnification.

(a) To the fullest extent permitted by Delaware law, the Partnership shall indemnify each Indemnitee from and against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities, joint or several, expenses (including attorneys’ fees and other legal fees and expenses), judgments, fines, settlements and other amounts arising from any and all claims, demands, subpoenas, requests for information, formal or informal investigations, actions, suits or proceedings, civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, that relate to the operations of the Partnership or the Company or any of their Subsidiaries as set forth in this Agreement, in which such Indemnitee may be involved, or is threatened to be involved, as a party or otherwise, unless it is established that: (i) the act or omission of the Indemnitee was material to the matter giving rise to the proceeding and either was committed in bad faith, constituted fraud or was the result of active and deliberate dishonesty; (ii)

 

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the Indemnitee actually received an improper personal benefit in money, property or services; or (iii) in the case of any criminal proceeding, the Indemnitee had reasonable cause to believe that the act or omission was unlawful. Without limitation, the foregoing indemnity shall extend to any liability of any Indemnitee, pursuant to a loan guaranty (except a guaranty by a Limited Partner of nonrecourse Debt of the Partnership or as otherwise provided in any such loan guaranty) or otherwise for any Debt of the Partnership or any Subsidiary of the Partnership (including any Debt which the Partnership or any Subsidiary of the Partnership has assumed or taken subject to), and the General Partner is hereby authorized and empowered, on behalf of the Partnership, to enter into one or more indemnity agreements consistent with the provisions of this Section 7.7 in favor of any Indemnitee having or potentially having liability for any such Debt. The termination of any proceeding by judgment, order or settlement does not create a presumption that the Indemnitee did not meet the requisite standard of conduct set forth in this Section 7.7(a). The termination of any proceeding by conviction of an Indemnitee or upon a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent by an Indemnitee, or an entry of an order of probation against an Indemnitee prior to judgment does not create a presumption that such Indemnitee acted in a manner contrary to that specified in this Section 7.7(a). Any indemnification pursuant to this Section 7.7 or pursuant to any indemnity agreement permitted by this Section 7.7 shall be made only out of the assets of the Partnership and any insurance proceeds from the liability policy covering the General Partner and any Indemnitees, and neither the General Partner, the Company nor any Limited Partner shall have any obligation to contribute to the capital of the Partnership, or otherwise provide funds, to enable the Partnership to fund its obligations under this Section 7.7 or under such indemnity agreements.

(b) To the fullest extent permitted by law, expenses incurred by an Indemnitee who is a party to a proceeding or the recipient of a subpoena or request for information with respect to a proceeding to which such Indemnitee is not a party shall be paid or reimbursed by the Partnership in advance of the final disposition of the proceeding upon receipt by the Partnership of (i) a written affirmation by the Indemnitee of the Indemnitee’s good faith belief that the standard of conduct necessary for indemnification by the Partnership as authorized in this Section 7.7 has been met and (ii) a written undertaking by or on behalf of the Indemnitee to repay the amount if it shall ultimately be determined that the standard of conduct has not been met.

(c) The indemnification provided by this Section 7.7 shall be in addition to any other rights to which an Indemnitee or any other Person may be entitled under any agreement, pursuant to any vote of the Partners, as a matter of law or otherwise, and shall continue as to an Indemnitee who has ceased to serve in such capacity unless otherwise provided in a written agreement pursuant to which such Indemnitee is indemnified.

(d) The Partnership may, but shall not be obligated to, 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.

 

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(e) For purposes of this Section 7.7, the Partnership shall be deemed to have requested an Indemnitee to serve as fiduciary of an employee benefit plan whenever the performance by an Indemnitee of his, her or its duties to the Partnership also imposes duties on, or otherwise involves services by, an Indemnitee to the plan or participants or beneficiaries of the plan; excise taxes assessed on an Indemnitee with respect to an employee benefit plan pursuant to applicable law shall constitute fines within the meaning of this Section 7.7; and actions taken or omitted by the Indemnitee with respect to an employee benefit plan in the performance of its duties for a purpose reasonably believed by it to be in the interest of the participants and beneficiaries of the plan shall be deemed to be for a purpose which is not opposed to the best interests of the Partnership.

(f) In no event may an Indemnitee subject any of the Partners to personal liability by reason of the indemnification provisions set forth in this Agreement.

(g) An Indemnitee shall not be denied indemnification in whole or in part under this Section 7.7 because the Indemnitee had an interest in the transaction with respect to which the indemnification applies if the transaction was otherwise permitted by the terms of this Agreement.

(h) The provisions of this Section 7.7 are for the benefit of the Indemnitees, their employees, officers, directors, trustees, heirs, successors, assigns and administrators and shall not be deemed to create any rights for the benefit of any other Persons. Any amendment, modification or repeal of this Section 7.7 or any provision hereof shall be prospective only and shall not in any way affect the limitations on the Partnership’s liability to any Indemnitee under this Section 7.7, as in effect immediately prior to such amendment, modification, or repeal with respect to claims arising from or relating to matters occurring, in whole or in part, prior to such amendment, modification or repeal, regardless of when such claims may arise or be asserted.

(i) It is the intent of the parties that any amounts paid by the Partnership to the General Partner or the Company pursuant to this Section 7.7 shall be treated as “guaranteed payments” within the meaning of Section 707(c) of the Code and shall not be treated as distributions for purposes of computing the Partners’ Capital Accounts.

Section 7.8 Liability of the General Partner and the Company.

(a) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in this Agreement, to the maximum extent permitted by Delaware law, none of the General Partner, the Company, its Affiliates, any of their directors, officers, agents or employees nor any officers, agents or employees of the Partnership or its Affiliates (individually, a “Covered Person” and, together, the “Covered Persons”) shall be liable or accountable in monetary damages or otherwise to the Partnership, any Partners or any Assignees for losses sustained, liabilities incurred or benefits not derived as a result of errors in judgment or mistakes of fact or law or any act or omission unless such Covered Person acted in bad faith and the act or omission was material to the matter giving rise to the loss, liability or benefit not derived.

(b) The Limited Partners expressly acknowledge that the General Partner is acting for the benefit of the Partnership, the Limited Partners and the Company’s stockholders collectively, and that the General Partner is under no obligation to consider or give priority to the separate interests of the Limited Partners or the Company’s stockholders (including the tax consequences to the Limited Partners, Assignees or the Company’s stockholders) in deciding whether to cause the Partnership to take (or decline to take) any actions. Unless otherwise provided

 

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in a separate written agreement between the Partnership and a Limited Partner, if there is a conflict between the interests of the stockholders of the Company on one hand and the Limited Partners on the other hand, the General Partner shall endeavor in good faith to resolve the conflict in a manner not adverse to either the stockholders of the Company or the Limited Partners; provided, however, that for so long as the Company owns a controlling interest in the Partnership, any such conflict that cannot be resolved in a manner not adverse to either the stockholders of the Company or the Limited Partners shall be resolved in favor of the stockholders of the Company. Neither the General Partner nor the Company shall 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 7.1(a), the General Partner may exercise any of the powers granted to it by this Agreement and perform any of the duties imposed upon it hereunder either directly or by or through its agents. The General Partner shall not be liable or responsible for any misconduct or negligence on the part of any such agent appointed by the General Partner in good faith.

(d) Any amendment, modification or repeal of this Section 7.8 or any provision hereof shall be prospective only and shall not in any way affect the limitations on the liability of the General Partner or any other Covered Person under this Section 7.8 as in effect immediately prior to such amendment, modification or repeal with respect to claims arising from or relating to matters occurring, in whole or in part, prior to such amendment, modification or repeal, regardless of when such claims may arise or be asserted.

(e) To the extent that, at law or in equity, the General Partner or any other Covered Person, has duties (including fiduciary duties) and liabilities relating thereto to the Partnership or the Limited Partners, neither the General Partner nor any other Covered Person shall be liable to the Partnership or to any other Partner for its good faith reliance on the provisions of this Agreement. The provisions of this Agreement, to the extent that they restrict or eliminate the duties and liabilities of the General Partner or any other Covered Person under the Act or otherwise existing at law or in equity, are agreed by the Partners to replace such other duties and liabilities of the General Partner and the other Covered Persons. For the avoidance of doubt, none of the Covered Persons owe any duties, fiduciary or otherwise, to the Partnership, any Partners, any Assignee or any creditor of the Partnership except the General Partner’s duty to fulfill its obligations expressly set forth in this Agreement in good faith.

(f) Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, except for fraud, willful misconduct or gross negligence, or pursuant to any express indemnities given to the Partnership by any Partner pursuant to any other written instrument, no Partner shall have any personal liability whatsoever, to the Partnership or to the other Partner(s), for the Debts or liabilities or other obligations of the Partnership or the Partnership’s obligations hereunder, and the full recourse of the other Partner(s) shall be limited to the interest of that Partner in the Partnership. Without limitation of the foregoing, and except for fraud, willful misconduct or gross negligence, or pursuant to any such express indemnity, no property or assets of any Partner, other than its interest in the Partnership, shall be subject to levy, execution or other enforcement procedures for the satisfaction of any judgment (or other judicial process) in favor of any other Partner(s) and arising out of, or in connection with, this Agreement. This Agreement is executed by the officers of the General Partner solely as officers of the same and not in their own individual capacities.

 

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(g) Whenever in this Agreement the General Partner is permitted or required to make a decision (i) in its “sole and absolute discretion,” “sole discretion” or “discretion” or under a grant of similar authority or latitude, the General Partner shall be entitled to consider only such interests and factors as it desires, including its own interests, and shall have no duty or obligation to give any consideration to any interest or factors affecting the Partnership or the Partners or any of them, or (ii) in its “good faith” or under another expressed standard, the General Partner shall act under such express standard and shall not be subject to any other or different standards imposed by this Agreement or any other agreement contemplated herein or by relevant provisions of law or in equity or otherwise. If any question should arise with respect to the operation of the Partnership, which is not otherwise specifically provided for in this Agreement or the Act, or with respect to the interpretation of this Agreement, the General Partner is hereby authorized to make a final determination with respect to any such question and to interpret this Agreement in such a manner as it shall deem, in its sole discretion, to be fair and equitable, and its determination and interpretations so made shall be final and binding on all parties and shall not constitute a breach of this Agreement, of any agreement contemplated herein or therein, or of any duty existing at law, in equity or otherwise, including any fiduciary duty.

Section 7.9 Other Matters Concerning the General Partner and the Company.

(a) The General Partner and the Company may rely and shall be protected in acting or refraining from acting upon any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, consent, order, bond, debenture or other paper or document believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper party or parties.

(b) The General Partner and the Company may consult with legal counsel, accountants, appraisers, management consultants, investment bankers, architects, engineers, environmental consultants and other consultants and advisers selected by it, and any act taken or omitted to be taken in reliance upon the opinion of such Persons as to matters which the General Partner and the Company reasonably believe to be within such Person’s professional or expert competence shall be conclusively presumed to have been done or omitted in good faith and in accordance with such opinion.

(c) The General Partner shall have the right, in respect of any of its powers or obligations hereunder, to act through any of its duly authorized officers and duly appointed attorney or attorneys-in-fact. Each such attorney shall, to the extent provided by the General Partner in the power of attorney, have full power and authority to do and perform all and every act and duty which is permitted or required to be done by the General Partner hereunder.

(d) Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Agreement or the Act, any action of the General Partner or the Company on behalf of the Partnership or any decision of the General Partner or the Company 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 Company to continue to qualify as a REIT, or (ii) to avoid the Company from incurring any taxes under Section 857 or Section 4981 of the Code, is expressly authorized under this Agreement and is deemed approved by all of the Limited Partners.

 

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Section 7.10 Title to Partnership Assets.

Title to Partnership assets, whether real, personal or mixed and whether tangible or intangible, shall be deemed to be owned by the Partnership or any of its subsidiaries as an entity, and no Partner, individually or collectively, shall have any ownership interest in such Partnership or subsidiary’s 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. Subject to Section 7.5(b), 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 or such nominee or Affiliate 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 if failure to so vest such title would have a material adverse effect on the Partnership. All Partnership assets shall be recorded as the property of the Partnership in its books and records, irrespective of the name in which legal title to such Partnership assets is held.

Section 7.11 Reliance by Third Parties.

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, any Person dealing with the Partnership shall be entitled to assume that the General Partner has full power and authority, without the 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. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, each Limited Partner hereby waives any and all claims, 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 in good faith thereon or claiming thereunder that (a) at the time of the execution and delivery of such certificate, document or instrument, this Agreement was in full force and effect; (b) 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 (c) 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.

 

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ARTICLE 8

RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS OF LIMITED PARTNERS

Section 8.1 Limitation of Liability.

No Limited Partner, including the Company, acting in its capacity as such, shall have any liability under this Agreement (other than for breach thereof) except as expressly provided in this Agreement or under the Act.

Section 8.2 Management of Business.

No Limited Partner or Assignee (other than the General Partner, any of its Affiliates or any officer, director, employee, partner, agent or trustee of the General Partner, the Partnership or any of their Affiliates, in their capacity as such) shall take part in the operations, management or control (within the meaning of the Act) of the Partnership’s business, transact any business in the Partnership’s name or have the power to sign documents for or otherwise bind the Partnership. The transaction of any such business by the General Partner, any of its Affiliates or any officer, director, employee, partner, agent or trustee of the General Partner, the Partnership or any of their Affiliates, in their capacity as such, shall not affect, impair or eliminate the limitations on the liability of the Limited Partners or Assignees under this Agreement.

Section 8.3 Outside Activities of Limited Partners.

Subject to any other agreements with the Partnership, the General Partner or Subsidiaries thereof to the contrary, any Limited Partner (including, subject to Section 7.5(b) hereof, the Company) and any officer, director, employee, agent, trustee, Affiliate or stockholder of any Limited Partner shall be entitled to and may have business interests and engage in business activities in addition to those relating to the Partnership, including business interests and activities that are in direct competition with the Partnership or that are enhanced by the activities of the Partnership. Neither the Partnership nor any Partners shall have any rights by virtue of this Agreement in any business ventures of any Limited Partner or Assignee. Subject to such agreements, none of the Limited Partners (other than the Company) nor any other Person shall have any rights by virtue of this Agreement or the partnership relationship established hereby in any business ventures of any other Person (other than the Limited Partners benefiting from the business conducted by the General Partner) and such Person shall have no obligation pursuant to this Agreement to offer any interest in any such business ventures to the Partnership, any Limited Partner, the Company or any such other Person, even if such opportunity is of a character which, if presented to the Partnership, any Limited Partner, the Company or such other Person, could be taken by such Person.

Section 8.4 Rights of Limited Partners Relating to the Partnership.

(a) In addition to the other rights provided by this Agreement or by the Act, and except as limited by Section 8.4(c), each Limited Partner shall have the right, for a business purpose reasonably related to such Limited Partner’s interest as a limited partner in the Partnership, upon written demand with a statement of the purpose of such demand and at such Limited Partner’s own expense (including such copying and administrative charges as the General Partner may establish from time to time):

(i) to obtain a copy of the most recent annual and quarterly reports filed with the Commission by the Company pursuant to the Exchange Act;

 

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(ii) to obtain a copy of the Partnership’s federal, state and local income tax returns for each Partnership Year;

(iii) to obtain a current list of the name and last known business, residence or mailing address of each Partner; and

(iv) to obtain a copy of this Agreement and the Certificate of Limited Partnership and all amendments thereto, together with executed copies of all powers of attorney pursuant to which this Agreement and the Certificate of Limited Partnership and all amendments thereto have been executed.

(b) The Partnership shall notify each Limited Partner, upon request, of the then current Conversion Factor and the REIT Shares Amount per Common Unit.

(c) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section 8.4, the General Partner may keep confidential from the Limited Partners, for such period of time as the General Partner determines in its sole and absolute discretion 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 the best interests of the Partnership or could damage the Partnership or its business or (ii) the Partnership or the General Partner is required by law or by agreements with unaffiliated third parties to keep confidential.

Section 8.5 Redemption Right.

(a) Except as otherwise set forth in any separate agreement entered into between the Partnership and a Limited Partner and subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein or therein, on or after the date that is twelve (12) months from the date of issuance of a Common Unit to a Limited Partner, such Limited Partner (other than the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company) shall have the right (the “Redemption Right”) to require the Partnership to redeem on a Specified Redemption Date all or a portion of the Common Units held by such Limited Partner (such Common Units being hereafter referred to as “Tendered Units”) in exchange for the Cash Amount; unless the terms of this Agreement or a separate agreement entered into between the Partnership and the Holder of such Common Units expressly provide that such Common Units are not entitled to the Redemption Right. The Partnership may, in the General Partner’s sole and absolute discretion, redeem Tendered Units at the request of the Holder of such Common Units prior to the end of the applicable twelve (12) month period (or such other period as may be specified in any separate agreement entered into between the Partnership and a Limited Partner). Unless otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement or in a separate agreement entered into between the Partnership and the Holders of such Common Units, all Common Units shall be entitled to the Redemption Right. The Tendering Partner (as defined below) shall have no right, with respect to any Common Units so redeemed, to receive any distributions with a Partnership Record Date on or after the Specified Redemption Date. Any Redemption Right shall

 

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be exercised pursuant to a Notice of Redemption delivered to the General Partner by the Limited Partner who is exercising the right (the “Tendering Partner”). The Cash Amount shall be payable in accordance with instructions set forth in the Notice of Redemption to the Tendering Partner on the Specified Redemption Date. Any Common Units redeemed by the Partnership pursuant to this Section 8.5(a) shall be cancelled upon such redemption.

(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 8.5(a) above, if a Limited Partner has delivered to the General Partner a Notice of Redemption then the Company may, in its sole and absolute discretion (subject to Section 8.5(d)), elect to assume and satisfy the Partnership’s Redemption Right obligation and acquire some or all of the Tendered Units from the Tendering Partner in exchange for the REIT Shares Amount (as of the Specified Redemption Date) and, if the Company so elects, the Tendering Partner shall sell the Tendered Units to the Company in exchange for the REIT Shares Amount. In such event, the Tendering Partner shall have no right to cause the Partnership to redeem such Tendered Units. The Company shall give such Tendering Partner written notice of its election on or before the close of business on the fifth Business Day after its receipt of the Notice of Redemption. The Tendering Partner shall submit (i) such information, certification or affidavit as the Company may reasonably require in connection with the application of the Ownership Limit to any such acquisition and (ii) such written representations, investment letters, legal opinions or other instruments necessary, in the Company’s view, to effect compliance with the Securities Act. The REIT Shares Amount, if applicable, shall be delivered as duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable REIT Shares and, if applicable, free of any pledge, lien, encumbrance or restriction, other than those provided in the Charter or the Bylaws of the Company, the Securities Act, relevant state securities or blue sky laws and any applicable agreements with respect to such REIT Shares entered into by the Tendering Partner. Notwithstanding any delay in such delivery (but subject to Section 8.5(d)), the Tendering Partner shall be deemed the owner of such REIT Shares for all purposes, including rights to vote or consent, and receive dividends, as of the Specified Redemption Date. In addition, the REIT Shares for which the Common Units might be exchanged shall also bear all legends deemed necessary or appropriate by the Company. Neither any Tendering Partner whose Tendered Units are acquired by the Company pursuant to this Section 8.5(b), any Partner, any Assignee nor any other interested Person shall have any right to require or cause the Company to register, qualify or list any REIT Shares owned or held by such Person, whether or not such REIT Shares are issued pursuant to this Section 8.5(b), with the Commission, with any state securities commissioner, department or agency, under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act or with any stock exchange; unless subject to a separate written agreement pursuant to which the Company has granted registration or similar rights to any such Person.

(c) Each Tendering Partner covenants and agrees with the General Partner that all Tendered Units shall be delivered to the General Partner free and clear of all liens, claims and encumbrances whatsoever and should any such liens, claims and/or encumbrances exist or arise with respect to such Tendered Units, the General Partner shall be under no obligation to acquire the same. Each Tendering Partner further agrees that, in the event any state or local property transfer tax is payable as a result of the transfer of its Tendered Units to the General Partner (or its designee), such Tendering Partner shall assume and pay such transfer tax. Each Tendering Partner further agrees to pay to the Partnership the amount of any tax withholding due upon the redemption of Tendered Units and authorizes the Partnership to retain such portion of the Cash Amount as the Partnership reasonably determines is necessary to satisfy its tax withholding obligations. In the

 

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event the Company elects to acquire some or all of the Tendered Units from the Tendering Partner in exchange for the REIT Shares Amount, the Tendering Partner agrees to pay to the Company the amount of any tax withholding due upon the redemption of Tendered Units and, in the event the Tendering Partner has not paid or made arrangements satisfactory to the Company, in its sole discretion, to pay the amount of any such tax withholding prior to the Specified Redemption Date, the Company may elect to either cancel such exchange (in which case the Tendering Partner’s exercise of the Redemption Right will be null and void ab initio), satisfy such tax withholding obligation by retaining REIT Shares with a fair market value, as determined by the Company in its sole discretion, equal to the amount of such obligation or satisfy such tax withholding obligation using amounts paid by the Partnership, which amounts shall be treated as a loan by the Partnership to the Tendering Partner in the manner set forth in Section 5.1(b).

(d) Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 8.5(a), Section 8.5(b), Section 8.5(c) or any other provision of this Agreement, a Limited Partner (i) shall not be entitled to effect the Redemption Right for cash or an exchange for REIT Shares to the extent that (if the Company were to elect to acquire the Tendered Units for REIT Shares in accordance with Section 8.5(b)) the ownership or right to acquire REIT Shares pursuant to such exchange by such Partner on the Specified Redemption Date could cause such Partner or any other Person to violate the Ownership Limit and (ii) shall have no rights under this Agreement to acquire REIT Shares which would otherwise be prohibited under the Charter. To the extent any attempted redemption or exchange for REIT Shares would be in violation of this Section 8.5(d), it shall be null and void ab initio and such Limited Partner shall not acquire any rights or economic interest in the cash otherwise payable upon such redemption or the REIT Shares otherwise issuable upon such exchange.

(e) Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary (but subject to Section 8.5(d)), with respect to any redemption or exchange for REIT Shares pursuant to this Section 8.5: (i) without the consent of the General Partner, each Limited Partner may effect the Redemption Right only one time in each fiscal quarter; (ii) without the consent of the General Partner, each Limited Partner may not effect the Redemption Right for less than 100% of their Common Units (provided that such prohibition shall not be applicable to Common Units issued to such Limited Partner as a result of the conversion of LTIP Units in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement); (iii) without the consent of the General Partner, each Limited Partner may not effect the Redemption Right during the period after the Partnership Record Date with respect to a distribution and before the record date established by the Company for a distribution to its common stockholders of some or all of its portion of such distribution; (iv) the consummation of any redemption or exchange for REIT Shares shall be subject to the expiration or termination of the applicable waiting period, if any, under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended; and (v) each Tendering Partner shall continue to own all Common Units subject to any redemption or exchange for REIT Shares, and be treated as a Limited Partner with respect to such Common Units for all purposes of this Agreement, until such Common Units are either paid for by the Partnership pursuant to Section 8.5(a) hereof or transferred to the Company and paid for by the issuance of the REIT Shares, pursuant to Section 8.5(b) hereof on the Specified Redemption Date. Until a Specified Redemption Date, the Tendering Partner shall have no rights as a stockholder of the Company with respect to such Tendering Partner’s Common Units.

(f) All Common Units acquired by the Company pursuant to Section 8.5(b) hereof shall automatically, and without further action required, be converted into and deemed to be Limited Partner Interests and held by the Company in its capacity as a Limited Partner in the Partnership.

 

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(g) In the event that the Partnership issues additional Partnership Interests to any Additional Limited Partner pursuant to Section 4.2, the General Partner shall make such revisions to this Section 8.5 as it determines are necessary to reflect the issuance of such additional Partnership Interests.

ARTICLE 9

BOOKS, RECORDS, ACCOUNTING AND REPORTS

Section 9.1 Records and Accounting.

The General Partner shall keep or cause to be kept at the principal office of the Partnership those records and documents required to be maintained by the Act and other books and records deemed by the General Partner to be appropriate with respect to the Partnership’s business, including all books and records necessary to provide to the Limited Partners any information, lists and copies of documents required to be provided pursuant to Section 9.3 hereof. Any records maintained by or on behalf of the Partnership in the regular course of its business may be kept on any information storage device, provided that the records so maintained are convertible into clearly legible written form within a reasonable period of time. The books of the Partnership shall be maintained for financial and tax reporting purposes, on an accrual basis in accordance with U.S. GAAP or such other basis as the General Partner determines to be necessary or appropriate.

Section 9.2 Taxable Year and Fiscal Year.

The taxable year of the Partnership shall be the calendar year unless otherwise required by the Code. Unless the General Partner otherwise elects, the fiscal year of the Partnership shall be the same as its taxable year.

Section 9.3 Reports.

(a) No later than the date on which the Company provides its annual report to its stockholders, the General Partner shall provide or make available to each Limited Partner, as of the close of the Partnership Year, an annual report containing financial statements of the Partnership, or of the Company if such statements are prepared solely on a consolidated basis with the Company, for such Partnership Year, presented in accordance with U.S. GAAP, such statements to be audited by a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants selected by the General Partner.

(b) The General Partner shall cause to be mailed to each Limited Partner such other information as may be required by applicable law or regulation, or as the General Partner determines to be appropriate.

 

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(c) The General Partner shall have satisfied its obligations under Section 9.3(a) and 9.3(b) by (i) to the extent the General Partner, the Partnership or the Company is subject to periodic reporting requirements under the Exchange Act, filing the quarterly and annual reports required thereunder within the time periods provided for the filing of such reports, including any permitted extensions, or (ii) posting or making available the reports required by this Section 9.3 on the website maintained from time to time by the Partnership or the Company, provided that such reports are able to be printed or downloaded from such website.

ARTICLE 10

TAX MATTERS

Section 10.1 Preparation of Tax Returns.

The General Partner shall arrange for the preparation and timely filing of all returns of Partnership income, gains, deductions, losses and other items required of the Partnership for federal and state income tax purposes and shall use reasonable efforts to furnish, within ninety (90) days of the close of each Partnership Year, the tax information reasonably required by Limited Partners for U.S. federal and state income tax reporting purposes. Each Limited Partner shall promptly provide the General Partner with any information reasonably requested by the General Partner from time to time.

Section 10.2 Tax Elections.

(a) Except as otherwise provided herein, the General Partner shall, in its sole and absolute discretion, determine whether to make any available election pursuant to the Code, including, but not limited to, the election under Section 754 of the Code. The General Partner shall have the right to seek to revoke any such election it makes (including any election under Section 754 of the Code) upon the General Partner’s determination, in its sole and absolute discretion. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in making any such tax election, the General Partner, may, but shall be under no obligation (unless pursuant to a separate written agreement) to take into account the tax consequences to any Limited Partner resulting from any such election.

(b) To the extent provided for in the Code, the Regulations, or as otherwise required, the Partnership is hereby authorized to, and at the direction of the General Partner shall, elect a safe harbor under which the fair market value of any Partnership Interests issued in connection with the performance of services after the effective date of such Regulations (or other guidance) will be treated as equal to the liquidation value of such Partnership Interests (i.e., a value equal to the total amount that would be distributed with respect to such interests if the Partnership sold all of its assets for their fair market value immediately after the issuance of such Partnership Interests, satisfied its liabilities (excluding any non-recourse liabilities to the extent the balance of such liabilities exceed the fair market value of the assets that secure them) and distributed the net proceeds to the Partners under the terms of this Agreement). In the event that the Partnership makes a safe harbor election as described in the preceding sentence, each Partner hereby agrees to comply with all safe harbor requirements with respect to transfers of such Partnership Interests while the safe harbor election remains effective.

(c) A Partner’s “interest in partnership profits” for purposes of determining its share of the excess nonrecourse liabilities of the Partnership within the meaning of Regulations Section 1.752-3(a)(3) shall be such Partner’s Percentage Interest except as otherwise determined by the General Partner in its sole discretion, consistent with Section 752 and the Regulations thereunder.

 

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Section 10.3 Partnership Representative.

(a) The General Partner or its designee shall be the “partnership representative” of the Partnership (the “Partnership Representative”) for purposes of, and in accordance with, Section 6223 of the Code (and any similar or corresponding provision of state, local or non-U.S. tax law), and the General Partner, or the Partnership Representative at the direction of the General Partner, shall be permitted to appoint any “designated individual” (a “Designated Individual”) within the meaning of Regulations Section 301.6223-1 (or any similar or corresponding provision of state, local or non-U.S. tax law). If the Partnership is required to appoint a Designated Individual for any taxable year or other period, such Designated Individual shall be subject to this Agreement in the same manner as the Partnership Representative (and references to the Partnership Representative shall include any such Designated Individual unless the context otherwise requires or shall mean solely the Designated Individual as needed to comply with applicable law). The Partnership Representative may be removed, and a new Partnership Representative appointed, by the General Partner in accordance with the Code and the Regulations. The Partnership Representative shall not take any action in connection with a tax audit, or make any tax election, without approval of the General Partner. Any reasonable out-of-pocket cost incurred by the Partnership Representative, acting in its capacity as such, shall be deemed costs and expenses of the Partnership, and the Partnership shall reimburse the Partnership Representative for such amounts. Each Partner hereby agrees (i) to take such actions as may be required to effect the General Partner’s (or its designee’s) designation as the Partnership Representative and (ii) to, upon the request of the Partnership Representative, take such actions as may be required to effect any election or procedure under Sections 6221 through 6241 of the Code and the Regulations promulgated thereunder with respect thereto (or any similar or corresponding provision of state, local or non-U.S. tax law), including as necessary to provide any information or take such other actions as may be reasonably requested by the Partnership Representative in order to modify any Imputed Underpayment Amount pursuant to Section 6225(c) of the Code (or any similar or corresponding provision of state, local or non-U.S. tax law). A Partnership’s obligation to comply with this Section 10.3(a) shall survive the transfer, assignment or liquidation of such Partner’s interest in the Partnership.

(b) The Partnership Representative shall receive no compensation for their services. All third-party costs and expenses incurred by the Partnership Representative in performing its duties as such (including legal and accounting fees and expenses) shall be borne by the Partnership. Nothing herein shall be construed to restrict the Partnership from engaging an accounting or law firm to assist the Partnership Representative in discharging its duties hereunder, so long as the compensation paid by the Partnership for such services is reasonable.

Section 10.4 Organizational Expenses.

The Partnership shall elect to deduct expenses, if any, incurred by it in organizing the Partnership as provided in Section 709 of the Code.

 

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ARTICLE 11

TRANSFERS AND WITHDRAWALS

Section 11.1 Transfer.

(a) The term “transfer,” when used in this Agreement with respect to a Partnership Unit, shall be deemed to refer to a transaction by which the General Partner purports to assign all or any part of its General Partner Interest to another Person or by which a Limited Partner purports to assign all or any part of its Limited Partner Interest to another Person, and includes a sale, assignment, gift, pledge, encumbrance, hypothecation, mortgage, exchange, transfer or any other disposition or alienation, whether voluntary, involuntary or by operation of law or otherwise. The term “transfer” when used in this Article 11 does not include any redemption of Partnership Interests by the Partnership from a Limited Partner or any acquisition of Partnership Units from a Limited Partner by the Company pursuant to Section 8.5 except as otherwise provided herein. No part of the interest of a Limited Partner shall be subject to the claims of any creditor, any spouse for alimony or support, or to legal process, and may not be voluntarily or involuntarily alienated or encumbered except as may be specifically provided for in this Agreement or consented to in writing by the General Partner.

(b) No Partnership Interest may be transferred, in whole or in part, except in accordance with the terms and conditions set forth in this Article 11. Any transfer or purported transfer of a Partnership Interest not made in accordance with this Article 11 shall be null and void ab initio unless consented to in writing by the General Partner, in its sole and absolute discretion.

Section 11.2 Transfer of the Companys and General Partners Partnership Interest and Limited Partner Interest; Extraordinary Transactions.

(a) The General Partner may not transfer any of its General Partner Interest or withdraw as General Partner, and the Company may not, directly or through its wholly owned Subsidiaries, transfer any of its Limited Partner Interest or engage in an Extraordinary Transaction, except, in any such case, (i) if such Extraordinary Transaction, or such withdrawal or transfer, is pursuant to an Extraordinary Transaction that is permitted under Section 11.2(b), (ii) if the Majority in Interest of the Outside Limited Partners Consent to such withdrawal or transfer or Extraordinary Transaction, or (iii) if such transfer is to an entity that is wholly owned by the Company (directly or indirectly), including any taxable REIT subsidiary of the Company or Qualified REIT Subsidiary or any other entity disregarded as an entity separate from the Company for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

 

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(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, but subject to compliance with the terms and conditions of Section 1.10 of Exhibit B, the General Partner and the Company are permitted to engage (and cause the Partnership to participate) in the following transactions without the approval or vote of the Limited Partners:

(i) an Extraordinary Transaction in connection with which either (A) the Company is the surviving entity and the holders of REIT Shares are not entitled to receive any cash, securities, or other property in connection with such Extraordinary Transaction or (B) all Limited Partners (other than the Company) either will receive, or will have the right to elect to receive, for each Common Unit an amount of cash, securities and other property equal to the product of (x) the REIT Shares Amount multiplied by (y) the greatest amount of cash, securities and other property paid to a holder of one REIT Share in consideration of one such REIT Share pursuant to the terms of the Extraordinary Transaction during the period from and after the date on which the Extraordinary Transaction is consummated; provided that, if, in connection with the Extraordinary Transaction, a purchase, tender or exchange offer shall have been made to and accepted by the holders of more than fifty percent (50%) of the outstanding REIT Shares, each holder of Common Units shall receive, or shall have the right to elect to receive, the greatest amount of cash, securities, or other property which such holder of Common Units would have received had it exercised its Redemption Right (as set forth in Section 8.5) and received REIT Shares in exchange for its Common Units immediately prior to the expiration of such purchase, tender or exchange offer and had thereupon accepted such purchase, tender or exchange offer and then such Extraordinary Transaction shall have been consummated; or

(ii) an Extraordinary Transaction if: (A) immediately after such Extraordinary Transaction, substantially all of the assets directly or indirectly owned by the surviving entity, other than a direct or indirect interest in the Surviving Partnership (as defined below), are owned directly or indirectly by the Partnership or another limited partnership or limited liability company which is the survivor of a merger, consolidation or combination of assets with the Partnership (in each case, the “Surviving Partnership”); (B) the rights, preferences and privileges of the Common Unitholders in the Surviving Partnership are at least as favorable as those in effect immediately prior to the consummation of such transaction and as those applicable to any other limited partners or non-managing members of the Surviving Partnership (who have, in either case, the rights of a “common” equity holder); and (C) such rights of the Common Unitholders include the right to exchange their Common Unit equivalent interests in the Surviving Partnership for at least one of: (x) the consideration available to such Common Unitholders pursuant to Section 11.2(b)(i) or (y) if the ultimate controlling person of the Surviving Partnership has publicly traded common equity securities, such common equity securities, with an exchange ratio based on the determination of relative fair market value of such securities (as determined pursuant to Section 11.2(c)) and the REIT Shares.

(c) In connection with any transaction permitted by Section 11.2(b)(ii), the relative fair market values shall be reasonably determined by the General Partner as of the time of such transaction and, to the extent applicable, shall be no less favorable to the Limited Partners than the relative values reflected in the terms of such transaction.

Section 11.3 Limited Partners Rights to Transfer.

(a) General. Subject to the provisions of Sections 11.3(c), 11.3(d), 11.4 and 11.6, a Limited Partner (other than the Company) may transfer, without the consent of the General Partner, all or any portion of its Partnership Interest, or any of such Limited Partner’s economic rights as a Limited Partner.

 

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(b) Incapacitated Limited Partners. If a Limited Partner is subject to Incapacity, the executor, administrator, trustee, committee, guardian, conservator or receiver of such Limited Partner’s estate shall have all of the rights of a Limited Partner, but not more rights than those enjoyed by other Limited Partners, for the purpose of settling or managing the estate and such power as the Incapacitated Limited Partner possessed to transfer all or any part of his, her or its Partnership Interest. The Incapacity of a Limited Partner, in and of itself, shall not dissolve or terminate the Partnership.

(c) Permitted Transfers. Unless a transfer of a Partnership Interest meets each of the following conditions it may not be made without the consent of the General Partner:

(i) Such transfer is made (A) in the case of a Limited Partner who is an individual, to a member of his Immediate Family, any trust formed for the benefit of himself and/or members of his Immediate Family, or any partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, corporation or other business entity comprised only of himself and/or members of his Immediate Family and entities the ownership interests in which are owned by or for the benefit of himself and/or members of his Immediate Family; (B) in the case of a Limited Partner which is a trust, to the beneficiaries of such trust; (C) in the case of a Limited Partner which is a partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, corporation or other business entity to which Partnership Interests were transferred pursuant to clause (A) above, to its partners, owners or stockholders, as the case may be, who are members of the Immediate Family of or are actually the Person(s) who transferred Partnership Units to it pursuant to clause (A) above; and (D) pursuant to applicable laws of descent or distribution; provided that any such transferee (as described in clauses (A) through (D)) is a Qualified Transferee.

(ii) The transferee assumes by operation of law or express agreement all of the obligations of the transferor Limited Partner under this Agreement with respect to such transferred Partnership Interest and no such transfer (other than pursuant to a statutory merger or consolidation wherein all obligations and liabilities of the transferor Limited Partner are assumed by a successor corporation by operation of law) shall relieve the transferor Partner of its obligations under this Agreement without the approval of the General Partner, in its sole and absolute discretion. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any transferee of any transferred Partnership Interest shall be subject to any and all Ownership Limits, which may limit or restrict such transferee’s ability to exercise its Redemption Right. Any transferee, whether or not admitted as a Substituted Limited Partner, shall take subject to the obligations of the transferor hereunder. Unless admitted as a Substituted Limited Partner, no transferee, whether by voluntary transfer, by operation of law or otherwise, shall have any rights hereunder, other than the rights of an Assignee as provided in Section 11.5.

(iii) The number of Partnership Units transferred to any such transferee is not less than all of the remaining Partnership Units held by the transferor Limited Partner, unless such Partnership Units were acquired through a conversion of LTIP Units, in which case the transferor may transfer less than all of the remaining Partnership Units held by such transferor.

 

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(d) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section 11.3, no Limited Partner may effect a transfer of its Partnership Units, in whole or in part, if, upon the advice of legal counsel for the Partnership, such proposed transfer would require the registration of the Partnership Units under the Securities Act or would otherwise violate any applicable federal or state securities or blue sky law (including investment suitability standards). The General Partner may prohibit any transfer of Partnership Units by a Limited Partner unless it receives a written opinion of legal counsel (which opinion and counsel shall be reasonably satisfactory to the Partnership) to such Limited Partner to the effect that such transfer would not require filing of a registration statement under the Securities Act or would not otherwise violate any federal or state securities laws or regulations applicable to the Partnership or the Partnership Unit or, at the option of the Partnership, an opinion of legal counsel to the Partnership to the same effect.

Section 11.4 Substituted Limited Partners.

(a) No Limited Partner shall have the right to substitute a transferee as a Limited Partner in his, her or its place (including any transferees permitted by Section 11.3). The General Partner shall, however, have the right to consent to the admission of a transferee of the interest of a Limited Partner pursuant to this Section 11.4 as a Substituted Limited Partner, which consent may be given or withheld by the General Partner in its sole and absolute discretion. The General Partner’s failure or refusal to permit a transferee of any such interests to become a Substituted Limited Partner shall not give rise to any cause of action against the Partnership or any Partner.

(b) A transferee who has been admitted as a Substituted Limited Partner in accordance with this Article 11 shall have all the rights and powers and be subject to all the restrictions and liabilities of a Limited Partner under this Agreement. The admission of any transferee as a Substituted Limited Partner shall be conditioned upon the transferee executing and delivering to the Partnership an acceptance of all of the terms and conditions of this Agreement (and such other documents or instruments as may be required or advisable, in the sole and absolute discretion of the General Partner, to effect the admission, each in form and substance satisfactory to the General Partner).

(c) Upon the admission of a Substituted Limited Partner, the General Partner shall amend the books and records of the Partnership to reflect the name, address, number of Partnership Units and Percentage Interest of such Substituted Limited Partner and to eliminate or adjust, if necessary, the name, address and interest of the predecessor of such Substituted Limited Partner.

Section 11.5 Assignees.

(a) If the General Partner, in its sole and absolute discretion, does not consent to the admission of any permitted transferee as a Substituted Limited Partner, as described in Section 11.4, such transferee shall be considered an Assignee for purposes of this Agreement. An Assignee shall be entitled to all the rights of an assignee of a limited partnership interest under the Act, including the right to receive distributions from the Partnership and the share of Profit, Loss and any other items of income, gain, loss, deduction and credit of the Partnership attributable to the Partnership Units assigned to such transferee and the rights to transfer the Partnership Units in

 

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accordance with the provisions of this Article 11, but shall not be deemed to be a Holder of Partnership Units for any other purpose under this Agreement, and shall not be entitled to effect a Consent with respect to such Partnership Units on any matter presented to the Limited Partners for a vote (such right to Consent to the extent provided by this Agreement or under the Act remaining with the transferor Limited Partner). In the event any such transferee desires to make a further assignment of any such Partnership Units, such transferee shall be subject to all of the provisions of this Article 11 to the same extent and in the same manner as any Limited Partner desiring to make an assignment of Partnership Units.

Section 11.6 General Provisions.

(a) No Limited Partner may withdraw from the Partnership other than as a result of a permitted transfer of all of such Limited Partner’s Partnership Units in accordance with this Article 11 and the transferee of such Partnership Units being admitted to the Partnership as a Substituted Limited Partner or pursuant to a redemption of all of its Partnership Units under Section 8.5.

(b) Any Limited Partner who shall transfer all of its Partnership Units in a transfer permitted pursuant to this Article 11 where such transferee was admitted as a Substituted Limited Partner or pursuant to the exercise of its Redemption Right for all of its Partnership Units under Section 8.5 shall cease to be a Limited Partner; provided that after such transfer, exchange or redemption such Limited Partner owns no Partnership Interest.

(c) Transfers pursuant to this Article 11 may only be made on the first day of a fiscal quarter of the Partnership, unless the General Partner in its sole and absolute discretion otherwise agrees.

(d) If any Partnership Interest is transferred, assigned or redeemed during any quarterly segment of the Partnership’s Partnership Year in compliance with the provisions of this Article 11 or redeemed by the Partnership pursuant to Section 8.5 on any day other than the first day of a Partnership Year, then Profit, Loss, each item thereof and all other items attributable to such Partnership Interest for such Partnership Year shall be divided and allocated between the transferor Partner and the transferee Partner 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 or such other method (or combination of methods) selected by the General Partner. All distributions attributable to such Partnership Unit with respect to which the Partnership Record Date is before the date of such transfer, assignment, or redemption shall be made to the transferor Partner or the Tendering Partner, as the case may be, and in the case of a transfer or assignment other than a redemption, all distributions thereafter attributable to such Partnership Unit shall be made to the transferee Partner.

(e) In addition to any other restrictions on transfer herein contained, including the provisions of this Article 11, in no event may any transfer or assignment of a Partnership Interest by any Partner (including pursuant to a redemption or exchange for REIT Shares by the Partnership or the General Partner) be made (i) to any Person who lacks the legal right, power or capacity to own a Partnership Interest; (ii) in violation of applicable law; (iii) except with the consent of the General Partner, which may be given or withheld in its sole and absolute discretion,

 

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of any component portion of a Partnership Unit, such as the Capital Account, or rights to distributions, separate and apart from all other components of a Partnership Unit; (iv) if upon the advice of counsel to the Partnership such transfer could cause the Partnership to cease to be classified as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes (except as a result of the redemption or exchange for REIT Shares of all Units held by all Limited Partners); (v) if such transfer could, upon the advice of counsel to the Partnership, cause the Partnership to become, with respect to any employee benefit plan subject to Title I of ERISA, a “party-in-interest” (as defined in Section 3(14) of ERISA) or a “disqualified person” (as defined in Section 4975(e) of the Code); (vi) if such transfer could, upon the advice of counsel to the Partnership, cause any portion of the assets of the Partnership to constitute assets of any employee benefit plan pursuant to Department of Labor Regulations Section 2510.2-101; (vii) except with the consent of the General Partner, which may be given or withheld in its sole and absolute discretion, if such transfer requires the registration of such Partnership Interest pursuant to any applicable federal or state securities laws; (viii) except with the consent of the General Partner, which may be given or withheld in its sole and absolute discretion, if such transfer could cause the Partnership to fail to qualify for any of the Safe Harbors (as defined below) or cause the Partnership to derive income that is not “qualifying income” within the meaning of Section 7704(d) of the Code; (ix) except with the consent of the General Partner, which may be given or withheld in its sole and absolute discretion, if such transfer subjects the Partnership to be regulated under the Investment Company Act of 1940, the Investment Advisors Act of 1940 or ERISA, each as amended; (x) if such transfer is made to a lender to the Partnership or any Person who is related (within the meaning of Section 1.752-4(b) of the Regulations) to any lender to the Partnership whose loan constitutes a Nonrecourse Liability, except with the consent of the General Partner, which may be given or withheld in its sole and absolute discretion; and provided that, as a condition to granting such consent the lender may be required to enter into an arrangement with the borrower, the Partnership and the General Partner to redeem or exchange for the REIT Shares Amount any Partnership Units in which a security interest is held immediately prior to 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; (xi) if upon the advice of legal counsel for the Partnership such transfer could adversely affect the ability of the Company to continue to qualify as a REIT or, except with the consent of the General Partner, which may be given or withheld in its sole and absolute discretion, subject the Company to any additional taxes under Section 857 or Section 4981 of the Code; or (xii) if such transfer could subject the Partnership to a withholding obligation under Section 1446(f) and the Regulations promulgated thereunder.

(f) The General Partner shall monitor the transfers of interests in the Partnership (including any acquisition of Common Units by the Partnership or the General Partner) to determine (i) if such interests could be treated as being traded on an “established securities market” or a “secondary market (or the substantial equivalent thereof)” within the meaning of Section 7704 of the Code and the Regulations thereunder and (ii) whether such transfers of interests could result in the Partnership being unable to qualify for the “safe harbors” set forth in Regulations Section 1.7704-1 (or such other guidance subsequently published by the IRS setting forth safe harbors under which interests will not be treated as “readily tradable on a secondary market (or the substantial equivalent thereof)” within the meaning of Section 7704 of the Code) (the “Safe Harbors”). The General Partner shall have the authority (but shall not be required) to take any steps it determines are necessary or appropriate in its sole and absolute discretion (i) to prevent any trading of interests which could cause the Partnership to become a “publicly traded partnership,” within the meaning of Section 7704 of the Code, or any recognition by the Partnership of such transfers, (ii) to insure that one or more of the Safe Harbors is met, and/or (iii) to insure that the Partnership satisfies the “qualifying income” exemption of Section 7704(c) of the Code from treatment as a publicly traded partnership taxable as a corporation.

 

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(g) In the event a Limited Partner transfers (or proposes to transfer) all or any portion of its Limited Partner Interest (including, for this purpose, any transfer or redemption of a Tendered Unit pursuant to Section 8.5 hereof), all reasonable legal, accounting and other expenses incurred, or reasonably likely to be incurred, by the Partnership on account of the transfer (or proposed transfer) shall be paid by such Limited Partner, provided, however, that such obligation shall not apply to transfers (or proposed transfers) made in connection with Extraordinary Transactions or to the extent that the General Partner determines, in its sole discretion, that the Partnership shall bear such expenses with respect to a transfer. Following the effective date of any transfer, the transferor and the transferee or Assignee (other than a transferee or Assignee that is the Company or an Affiliate of the Company) shall be jointly and severally liable for all such expenses. At the election of the General Partner, such expenses may be paid by the Partnership and treated as a Withholding Payment under Section 5.1(b) for purposes of this Agreement with respect to both the transferor and transferee and/or Assignee, as applicable. If a Limited Partner undergoes a change to its structure, nature of organization, ownership or other attributes that does not constitute a transfer by such Limited Partner under this Agreement, but that nevertheless is treated as a transfer for purposes of any applicable law or otherwise imposes upon the Partnership any corresponding regulatory, tax, compliance or other burden or expense, the costs thereof shall be borne by such Limited Partner in the same manner as described in the foregoing provisions of this Section 11.6(g).

ARTICLE 12

ADMISSION OF PARTNERS

Section 12.1 Admission of Successor General Partner.

A successor to all of the General Partner’s General Partner Interest pursuant to Section 11.2 who is proposed to be admitted as a successor General Partner shall be admitted to the Partnership as the General Partner, effective immediately upon such transfer whereupon the transferor General Partner shall be relieved of its obligations under this Agreement and shall cease to be the general partner of the Partnership without any separate Consent of the Limited Partners. Any such successor General Partner shall carry on the business of the Partnership without dissolution. In each case, the admission shall be subject to the successor General Partner executing and delivering to the Partnership an acceptance of all of the terms and conditions of this Agreement and such other documents or instruments as may be required to effect the admission. Upon any such transfer, the transferee shall become the successor General Partner for all purposes herein, and shall be vested with the powers and rights of the transferor General Partner, and shall be liable for all obligations and responsible for all duties of the General Partner. In the case of such admission on any day other than the first day of a Partnership Year, all items attributable to the General Partner Interest for such Partnership Year shall be allocated between the transferring General Partner and such successor as provided in Article 11.

 

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Section 12.2 Admission of Additional Limited Partners.

(a) A Person (other than an existing Partner) who makes a capital contribution to the Partnership in accordance with this Agreement shall be admitted to the Partnership as an Additional Limited Partner only upon furnishing to the General Partner (i) evidence of acceptance in form satisfactory to the General Partner of all of the terms and conditions of this Agreement, including the power of attorney granted in Section 2.4 and (ii) such other documents or instruments as may be required in the discretion of the General Partner in order to effect such Person’s admission as an Additional Limited Partner.

(b) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 12.2, no Person shall be admitted as an Additional Limited Partner without the written consent of the General Partner, which consent may be given or withheld in the General Partner’s sole and absolute discretion. 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 written consent of the General Partner to such admission.

(c) If any Additional Limited Partner is admitted to the Partnership on any day other than the first day of a Partnership Year, then Profit, Loss, 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 any method(s) permitted by law and selected by the General Partner consistent with the provisions of Section 11.6(d). All distributions 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 thereafter shall be made to all of the Partners and Assignees including such Additional Limited Partner.

Section 12.3 Amendment of Agreement and Certificate of Limited Partnership.

For the admission to the Partnership of any Partner, the General Partner shall take all steps necessary and appropriate under the Act to amend the records of the Partnership and, if necessary, to prepare as soon as practical an amendment of this Agreement and amend the books and records of the Partnership and, if required by law, shall prepare and file an amendment to the Certificate of Limited Partnership and may for this purpose exercise the power of attorney granted pursuant to Section 2.4 hereof.

ARTICLE 13

DISSOLUTION, LIQUIDATION AND TERMINATION

Section 13.1 Dissolution.

(a) The Partnership shall not be dissolved by the admission of Substituted Limited Partners or Additional Limited Partners or by the admission of a successor General Partner in accordance with the terms of this Agreement. Upon the withdrawal of the General Partner, any successor General Partner shall continue the business of the Partnership. The Partnership shall dissolve, and its affairs shall be wound up, only upon the first to occur of any of the following (each, a “Liquidating Event”):

(i) an event of withdrawal of the General Partner, as defined in the Act (including an event of bankruptcy), unless, within ninety (90) days after such event of withdrawal a majority of the Percentage Interests held by the Limited Partners agree in writing to continue the business of the Partnership and to the appointment, effective as of the date of withdrawal, of a successor General Partner;

 

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(ii) an election to dissolve the Partnership made by the General Partner, in its sole and absolute discretion;

(iii) entry of a decree of judicial dissolution of the Partnership pursuant to the provisions of the Act; or

(iv) a Terminating Capital Transaction.

Section 13.2 Winding Up.

(a) Upon the occurrence of a Liquidating Event, the Partnership shall continue solely for the purposes of winding up its affairs in an orderly manner, liquidating its assets, and satisfying the claims of its creditors and Partners. No Partner shall take any action that is inconsistent with, or not necessary to or appropriate for, the winding up of the Partnership’s business and affairs. The General Partner, or, in the event there is no remaining General Partner, any Person elected by vote of the Limited Partners (the General Partner or such other Person being referred to herein as the “Liquidator”), shall be responsible for overseeing the winding up and dissolution of the Partnership and shall take full account of the Partnership’s liabilities and property and the Partnership property shall be liquidated as promptly as is consistent with obtaining the fair value thereof, and the proceeds therefrom (which may, to the extent determined by the General Partner, include shares of stock in the Company) shall be applied and distributed in the following order:

(i) First, to the payment and discharge of all of the Partnership’s Debts and liabilities;

(ii) The balance, if any, to all Partners with positive Capital Accounts in accordance with their respective positive Capital Account balances, determined after all adjustments made in accordance with Article 6 resulting from Partnership operations and from all sales and dispositions of all or any part of the Partnership’s assets.

The General Partner shall not receive any additional compensation for any services performed pursuant to this Article 13, other than reimbursement of its expenses as provided in Section 7.4. Any distributions pursuant to this Section 13.2 shall be made by the end of the Partnership’s taxable year in which the Liquidating Event occurs (or, if later, within ninety (90) days after the date of the Liquidating Event). 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.

 

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(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 13.2 which require liquidation of the assets of the Partnership, but subject to the order of priorities set forth therein, if prior to or upon dissolution of the Partnership the Liquidator determines that an immediate sale of part or all of the Partnership’s assets would be impractical or would cause undue loss to the Partners, the Liquidator may, in its sole and absolute discretion, defer for a reasonable time the liquidation of any assets except those necessary to satisfy liabilities of the Partnership (including to those Partners as creditors) and/or distribute to the Partners, in lieu of cash, as tenants in common and in accordance with the provisions of Section 13.4(a), undivided interests in such Partnership assets as the Liquidator deems not suitable for liquidation. Any such distributions in kind shall be made only if, in the good faith judgment of the Liquidator, such distributions in kind are in the best interest of the Partners, and shall be subject to such conditions relating to the disposition and management of such Properties as the Liquidator deems reasonable and equitable and to any agreements governing the operation of such Properties at such time. The Liquidator shall determine the fair market value of any property distributed in kind using such reasonable method of valuation as it may adopt.

Section 13.3 Deficit Capital Account Restoration Obligation.

If the General Partner has a deficit balance in its Capital Account at such time as the Partnership (or the General Partner’s interest therein, including its interest as a Limited Partner) is “liquidated” within the meaning of Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(g) (after giving effect to all contributions, distributions and allocations for the taxable years, including the year during which such liquidation occurs), the General Partner shall contribute to the capital of the Partnership the amount necessary to restore such deficit balance to zero in compliance with Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(b)(3). If any Limited Partner has a deficit balance in its Capital Account (after giving effect to all contributions, distributions and allocations for the taxable years, including the year during which such liquidation occurs), such Limited Partner shall have no obligation to make any contribution to the capital of the Partnership with respect to such deficit, and such deficit at any time shall not be considered a Debt owed to the Partnership or to any other Person for any purpose whatsoever, except to the extent otherwise expressly agreed to by such Partner and the Partnership.

Section 13.4 Compliance with Timing Requirements of Regulations.

(a) In the discretion of the Liquidator or the General Partner, a pro rata portion of the distributions that would otherwise be made to the General Partner and Limited Partners pursuant to this Article 13 may be:

(i) distributed to a trust established for the benefit of the General Partner and Limited Partners for the purposes of liquidating Partnership assets, collecting amounts owed to the Partnership, and paying any contingent or unforeseen liabilities or obligations of the Partnership or of the General Partner arising out of or in connection with the Partnership. The assets of any such trust shall be distributed to the General Partner and Limited Partners from time to time, in the reasonable discretion of the Liquidator or the General Partner, in the same proportions and the amount distributed to such trust by the Partnership would otherwise have been distributed to the General Partner and Limited Partners pursuant to this Agreement; or

 

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(ii) withheld or escrowed to provide a reasonable reserve for Partnership liabilities (contingent or otherwise) and to reflect the unrealized portion of any installment obligations owed to the Partnership, provided that such withheld or escrowed amounts shall be distributed to the General Partner and Limited Partners in the manner and order of priority set forth in Section 13.2 as soon as practicable.

Section 13.5 Deemed Distribution and Recontribution.

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Article 13, in the event the Partnership is liquidated within the meaning of Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(g) but no Liquidating Event has occurred, the Partnership’s property shall not be liquidated, the Partnership’s liabilities shall not be paid or discharged, and the Partnership’s affairs shall not be wound up. Instead, the Partnership shall be deemed to have contributed all of its assets and liabilities to a new partnership in exchange for an interest in the new partnership. Immediately thereafter, the Partnership shall be deemed to distribute interests in the new partnership to the General Partner and Limited Partners in proportion to their respective interests in the Partnership in liquidation of the Partnership, and the new partnership shall be deemed to continue the business of the Partnership.

Section 13.6 Rights of Limited Partners.

Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, each Limited Partner shall look solely to the assets of the Partnership for the return of its Capital Contributions and shall have no right or power to demand or receive property other than cash from the Partnership. Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, no Limited Partner shall have priority over any other Partner as to the return of its Capital Contributions, distributions or allocations.

Section 13.7 Notice of Dissolution.

In the event a Liquidating Event occurs or an event occurs that would, but for an election or objection by one or more Partners pursuant to Section 13.1, result in a dissolution of the Partnership, the General Partner shall, within thirty (30) days thereafter, provide written notice thereof to each of the Partners.

Section 13.8 Cancellation of Certificate of Limited Partnership.

Upon the completion of the liquidation of the Partnership’s assets, as provided in Section 13.2 hereof, the Partnership shall be terminated, a certificate of cancellation shall be filed, and all qualifications of the Partnership as a foreign limited partnership in jurisdictions other than the State of Delaware shall be canceled and such other actions as may be necessary to terminate the Partnership shall be taken.

Section 13.9 Reasonable Time for Winding-Up.

A reasonable time shall be allowed for the orderly winding-up of the business and affairs of the Partnership and the liquidation of its assets pursuant to Section 13.2, in order to minimize any losses otherwise attendant upon such winding-up, and the provisions of this Agreement shall remain in effect between the Partners during the period of liquidation.

 

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Section 13.10 Waiver of Partition.

Each Partner, on behalf of itself and its successors, hereby waives any right to partition of the Partnership property.

Section 13.11 Liability of Liquidator.

Any Liquidator shall be indemnified and held harmless by the Partnership in the same manner and to the same degree as an Indemnitee may be indemnified pursuant to Section 7.7 hereof.

ARTICLE 14

AMENDMENT OF PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT; MEETINGS

Section 14.1 Procedures for Actions and Consents of Partners.

(a) The actions requiring Consent of any Partner or Partners pursuant to this Agreement, including Section 7.3 and Section 11.2 hereof, or otherwise pursuant to applicable law, are subject to the procedures set forth in this Article 14.

Section 14.2 Amendments.

(a) Amendments to this Agreement requiring the Consent of Limited Partners may only be proposed by the General Partner. Following such proposal, the General Partner shall submit any proposed amendment to the Limited Partners and shall seek the Consent of the Limited Partners entitled to vote thereon on any such proposed amendment in accordance with Section 14.3 hereof. Except as set forth below in Section 14.2(b), Section 14.2(c) and Section 14.2(d) or as otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement, a proposed amendment shall be adopted and be effective as an amendment hereto if it is approved by the General Partner and it receives the Consent of Limited Partners holding a majority of the Common Units held by Limited Partners (including Limited Partner Interests held by the Company and its Affiliates).

(b) The General Partner shall have the exclusive power without the prior Consent of the Limited Partners to amend this Agreement as may be required to facilitate or implement any of the following purposes:

(i) to add to the obligations of the General Partner or surrender any right or power granted to the General Partner or any Affiliate of the General Partner for the benefit of the Limited Partners;

(ii) to reflect the issuance of additional Partnership Interests pursuant to Section 4.2 or the admission, substitution or withdrawal of Partners or the termination of the Partnership in accordance with this Agreement, and to amend the books and records of the Partnership (including the Partnership Ledger) in connection with such admission, substitution or withdrawal;

 

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(iii) to set forth or amend the designations, rights, powers, duties and preferences of the Holders of any additional Partnership Interests issued pursuant to this Agreement;

(iv) to reflect a change that is of an inconsequential nature or does not adversely affect the rights of the Limited Partners hereunder in any material respect, or to cure any ambiguity, correct or supplement any provision in this Agreement not inconsistent with law or with other provisions, or make other changes with respect to matters arising under this Agreement that will not be inconsistent with law or with the provisions or this Agreement;

(v) to satisfy any requirements, conditions or guidelines contained in any order, directive, opinion, ruling or regulation of a federal or state agency or contained in federal or state law;

(vi) to reflect such changes as are reasonably necessary for the Company to maintain its status as a REIT, including changes which may be necessitated due to a change in applicable law (or an authoritative interpretation thereof) or a ruling of the IRS;

(vii) to reflect the transfer of all or any part of a Partnership Interest among the General Partner, and any taxable REIT subsidiary of the Company or Qualified REIT Subsidiary or other entity that is disregarded as an entity separate from the General Partner for U.S. federal income tax purposes;

(viii) to modify, as set forth in Section 6.2, the manner in which Capital Accounts are computed;

(ix) to reflect any modification to this Agreement as is necessary or desirable (as determined by the General Partner in its sole and absolute discretion), including the definition of “Conversion Factor,” to reflect the direct ownership of assets by the Company; and

(x) to reflect any modification to any provisions of this Agreement that authorizes the General Partner to make amendments without the Consent of the Limited Partners or any other Person.

The General Partner will provide notice to the Limited Partners when any action under this Section 14.2(b) is taken in the next regular communication to the Limited Partners.

(c) Except as set forth in Section 14.2(b) above, without the Consent of a Majority in Interest of the Outside Limited Partners, no amendment shall be made to Section 4.2, the rights to receive distributions pursuant to Article 5 (except as permitted pursuant to Section 4.2 or Section 5.5), the allocations specified in Article 6 (except as permitted pursuant to Section 4.2), the Redemption Right as set forth in Section 8.5, Section 11.2 or this Section 14.2(c) (to reduce the items requiring the Consent described herein) in a manner that disproportionately affects such Limited Partners.

 

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(d) This Agreement shall not be amended, and no action may be taken by the General Partner, without the Consent of each Partner whose rights under this Agreement are adversely affected thereby if such amendment or action would (i) convert a Limited Partner Interest in the Partnership into a General Partner Interest (except as a result of the General Partner acquiring such Partnership Interest), (ii) modify the limited liability of a Limited Partner, or (iii) amend this Section 14.2(d) (to reduce the items requiring the Consent described herein). Any such amendment or action Consented to by a Partner shall be effective as to that Partner, notwithstanding the absence of such Consent by any other Partners.

(e) Notwithstanding anything in this Article 14 or elsewhere in this Agreement to the contrary, any amendment and restatement of the Partnership Ledger by the General Partner to reflect events or changes otherwise authorized or permitted by this Agreement, whether pursuant to Section 7.1(a)(xxvii) hereof or otherwise, shall not be deemed an amendment of this Agreement and may be done at any time and from time to time, as necessary by the General Partner without the Consent of the Limited Partners.

Section 14.3 Meetings of the Partners.

(a) Meetings of the Partners may only be called by the General Partner. The request shall state the nature of the business to be transacted. Notice of any such meeting shall be given to all Partners not less than seven (7) days nor more than sixty (60) days prior to the date of such meeting. Partners may vote in person or by proxy at such meeting. Whenever the vote or Consent of the Partners is permitted or required under this Agreement, such vote or Consent may be given at a meeting of the Partners or may be given in accordance with the procedure prescribed in Section 14.3(b). Except as otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement, the Consent of holders of a majority of the Common Units held by Limited Partners (including Common Units held by the Company and its Affiliates) shall control.

(b) Any action required or permitted to be taken at a meeting of the Partners may be taken without a meeting if a Consent in writing or by electronic transmission setting forth the action so taken or consented to is signed by holders of a majority of the Common Units held by the Limited Partners (or such other percentage as is expressly required by this Agreement). Such Consent may be in one instrument or in several instruments, and shall have the same force and effect as the affirmative vote of such Partners at a meeting of the Partners. Such Consent shall be filed with the General Partner. An action so taken shall be deemed to have been taken at a meeting held on the effective date so certified.

(c) For purposes of obtaining a Consent in writing or by electronic transmission to any matter, the General Partner may require a response within a reasonable specified time, but not less than fifteen (15) days, and failure to respond in such time period shall constitute a Consent that is consistent with the General Partner’s recommendation with respect to the proposal; provided, however, that an action shall become effective at such time as requisite Consents are received even if prior to such specified time.

 

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(d) Each Limited Partner may authorize any Person or Persons to act for him by proxy on all matters in which a Limited Partner is entitled to participate, including waiving notice of any meeting, or voting or participating at a meeting. Every proxy must be signed by the Limited Partner or his attorney-in-fact. A proxy may be granted in writing, by means of electronic transmission or as otherwise permitted by applicable law. No proxy shall be valid after the expiration of twelve (12) months from the date thereof unless otherwise provided in the proxy. Every proxy shall be revocable at the pleasure of the Limited Partner executing it, such revocation to be effective upon the Partnership’s receipt of written notice of such revocation from the Limited Partner executing such proxy, unless such proxy states that it is irrevocable and is coupled with an interest.

(e) The General Partner may set, in advance, a record date for the purpose of determining the Partners (i) entitled to Consent to any action, (ii) entitled to receive notice of or vote at any meeting of the Partners, or (iii) in order to make a determination of Partners for any other proper purpose. Such date, in any case, shall not be prior to the close of business on the day the record date is fixed and shall be not more than ninety (90) days and, in the case of a meeting of the Partners, not less than five (5) days, before the date on which the meeting is to be held or Consent is to be given. If no record date is fixed, the record date for the determination of Partners entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of the Partners shall be at the close of business on the day on which the notice of the meeting is sent, and the record date for any other determination of Partners shall be the effective date of such Partner action, distribution or other event. When a determination of the Partners entitled to vote at any meeting of the Partners has been made as provided in this section, such determination shall apply to any adjournment thereof.

(f) Each meeting of the Partners shall be conducted by the General Partner or such other Person as the General Partner may appoint pursuant to such rules for the conduct of the meeting as the General Partner or such other Person deems appropriate. Without limitation, meetings of the Partners may be conducted in the same manner as meetings of the Company’s stockholders and may be held at the same time, and as part of, meetings of the Company’s stockholders.

(g) On matters on which Limited Partners are entitled to vote, each Limited Partner shall have a vote equal to the number of Partnership Units held.

ARTICLE 15

GENERAL PROVISIONS

Section 15.1 Addresses and Notice.

Any notice, demand, request or report required or permitted to be given or made to a Partner or Assignee under this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed given or made when delivered in person or when sent by certified first class United States mail, return receipt requested, nationally recognized overnight delivery service, electronic mail or facsimile transmission (with receipt confirmed) to the Partner or Assignee at the address set forth in the Partnership Ledger or such other address of which the Partner shall notify the General Partner in writing. Notices to the General Partner and the Partnership shall be delivered at or mailed to its principal office address set forth in Section 2.3. The General Partner and the Partnership may specify a different address by notifying the Limited Partners in writing of such different address.

 

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Section 15.2 Titles and Captions.

All article or section titles or captions in this Agreement are for convenience only. They shall not be deemed part of this Agreement and in no way define, limit, extend or describe the scope or intent of any provisions hereof. Except as specifically provided otherwise, references to “Articles” and “Sections” are to Articles and Sections of this Agreement.

Section 15.3 Other Interpretative Matters.

For purposes of this Agreement, (a) whenever the context may require, any pronoun used in this Agreement shall include the corresponding masculine, feminine or neuter forms, and the singular form of nouns, pronouns and verbs shall include the plural and vice versa, (b) the words “include,” “includes” and “including” shall be deemed to be followed by the words “without limitation,” (c) the word “or” is not exclusive, (d) the words “herein,” “hereof” and “herewith” and words of similar import shall, unless otherwise stated, be construed to refer to this Agreement as a whole, (e) references to any Person include the successors and permitted assigns of that Person, (f) “to the extent” means the degree to which a subject or other thing extends, and such phrase does not mean simply “if,” and (g) references herein to this Agreement or any other agreement contemplated herein shall be deemed to refer to this Agreement or such other agreement as of the date on which it is executed and as it may be amended, modified or supplemented thereafter, unless otherwise specified.

Section 15.4 Further Action.

The parties shall execute and deliver all documents, provide all information and take or refrain from taking action as may be necessary or appropriate to achieve the purposes of this Agreement.

Section 15.5 Binding Effect.

Subject to the terms set forth herein, this Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their heirs, executors, administrators, successors, legal representatives and permitted assigns.

Section 15.6 No Third-Party Rights Created Hereby.

Other than as expressly set forth herein with respect to Indemnitees, the provisions of this Agreement are solely for the purpose of defining the interests of the Holders, inter se; and no other person, firm or entity (i.e., a party who is not a signatory hereto or a permitted successor to such signatory hereto) shall have any right, power, title or interest by way of subrogation or otherwise, in and to the rights, powers, title and provisions of this Agreement. 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 to the Partnership or to pursue any other right or remedy hereunder or at law or in equity. 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 any 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 any of the Partners.

 

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Section 15.7 Waiver.

(a) No failure by any party to insist upon the strict performance of any covenant, duty, agreement or condition of this Agreement or to exercise any right or remedy consequent upon a breach thereof shall constitute waiver of any such breach or any other covenant, duty, agreement or condition.

(b) The restrictions, conditions and other limitations on the rights and benefits of the Limited Partners contained in this Agreement, and the duties, covenants and other requirements of performance or notice by the Limited Partners, are for the benefit of the Partnership and, except for an obligation to pay money to the Partnership, may be waived or relinquished by the General Partner, in its sole and absolute discretion, on behalf of the Partnership in one or more instances from time to time and at any time; provided, however, that any such waiver or relinquishment may not be made if it would have the effect of (i) creating liability for any other Limited Partner, (ii) causing the Partnership to cease to qualify as a limited partnership, (iii) reducing the amount of cash otherwise distributable to the Limited Partners (other than any such reduction that affects all of the Limited Partners holding the same class or series of Partnership Units on a uniform or pro rata basis, if approved by a majority of the Limited Partners holding such class or series of Partnership Units), (iv) resulting in the classification of the Partnership as an association or publicly traded partnership taxable as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes, or (v) violating the Securities Act, the Exchange Act or any state “blue sky” or other securities laws; and provided, further, that any waiver relating to compliance with the Ownership Limit or other restrictions in the Charter shall be made and shall be effective only as provided in the Charter.

Section 15.8 Counterparts.

This Agreement may be executed in counterparts, all of which together shall constitute one agreement binding on all of the parties hereto, notwithstanding that all such parties are not signatories to the original or the same counterpart. Each party shall become bound by this Agreement immediately upon affixing its signature hereto.

Section 15.9 Applicable Law; Waiver of Jury Trial.

(a) (a) This Agreement, and any claim, action, suit, investigation or proceeding of any kind whatsoever, including a counterclaim, cross-claim or defense, regardless of the legal theory under which such liability or obligation may be sought to be imposed, whether sounding in contract or tort, or whether at law or in equity, or otherwise under any legal or equitable theory, that may be based upon, arising out of or related to this Agreement or the negotiation, execution or performance of this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the internal laws of the State of Delaware applicable to agreements executed and performed entirely within such State without regards to conflicts of law principles of the State of Delaware or any other jurisdiction that would cause the laws of any jurisdiction other than the State of Delaware to apply.

 

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(b) Each Partner hereby (i) submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Delaware Chancery Court, or if the Delaware Chancery Court is unavailable, any state or federal court sitting in the State of Delaware (collectively, the “Delaware Courts”), with respect to any dispute, action, suit or proceeding based upon, arising out of or related to this Agreement or any transaction contemplated hereby to the extent such courts would have subject matter jurisdiction with respect to such dispute, (ii) to the fullest extent permitted by law, irrevocably waives, and agrees not to assert by way of motion, defense, or otherwise, in any such dispute, action, suit or proceeding, any claim that it is not subject personally to the jurisdiction of any of the Delaware Courts, that its property is exempt or immune from attachment or execution, that the action is brought in an inconvenient forum, or that the venue of the action is improper, (iii) to the fullest extent permitted by law, agrees that notice or the service of process in any action, suit or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby shall be properly served or delivered if delivered to such Partner at such Partner’s last known address as set forth in the Partnership’s books and records, and (iv) to the fullest extent permitted by law, irrevocably waives any and all right to trial by jury in any legal proceeding based upon, arising out of or related to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby.

Section 15.10 Invalidity of Provisions.

If any provision of this Agreement shall to any extent be held void or unenforceable (as to duration, scope, activity, subject or otherwise) by a court of competent jurisdiction, such provision shall be deemed to be modified so as to constitute a provision conforming as nearly as possible to the original provision while still remaining valid and enforceable. In such event, the remainder of this Agreement (or the application of such provision to persons or circumstances other than those in respect of which it is deemed to be void or unenforceable) shall not be affected thereby. Each other provision of this Agreement, unless specifically conditioned upon the voided aspect of such provision, shall remain valid and enforceable to the fullest extent permitted by law; any other provisions of this Agreement that are specifically conditioned on the voided aspect of such invalid provision shall also be deemed to be modified so as to constitute a provision conforming as nearly as possible to the original provision while still remaining valid and enforceable to the fullest extent permitted by law.

Section 15.11 No Rights as Stockholders.

Nothing contained in this Agreement shall be construed as conferring upon the Holders of Partnership Units any rights whatsoever as stockholders of the Company, including any right to receive dividends or other distributions made to stockholders or to vote or consent or to receive notice as stockholders in respect of any meeting of stockholders for the election of directors of the Company or any other matter.

Section 15.12 Entire Agreement.

This Agreement and the exhibits attached hereto contain the entire understanding and agreement among the Partners with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes any other prior written or oral understandings or agreements among them with respect thereto. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, the Partners hereby acknowledge and agree that the General Partner, on its own behalf and/or on behalf of the Partnership, without the approval of any Limited Partner, may enter into side letters or similar written agreements with Limited Partners that are not Affiliates of the General Partner, executed contemporaneously with

 

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the admission of such Limited Partner to the Partnership, which have the effect of establishing rights under, or altering or supplementing, the terms hereof, as negotiated with such Limited Partner and which the General Partner in its sole and absolute discretion deems necessary, desirable or appropriate. The parties hereto agree that any terms, conditions or provisions contained in such side letters or similar written agreements with a Limited Partner shall govern with respect to such Limited Partner notwithstanding the provisions of this Agreement.

[Signature Page Follows]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership as of the date first written above.

 

GENERAL PARTNER:
CURBLINE PROPERTIES CORP.
By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:
LIMITED PARTNER:
CBLP LLC
By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:


FORM OF LIMITED PARTNER SIGNATURE PAGE

The undersigned, desiring to become one of the named Limited Partners of Curbline Properties LP, hereby becomes a party to the Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of Curbline Properties LP by and among Curbline Properties Corp. and such Limited Partners, dated as of ___________, 2024, as amended. The undersigned agrees that this signature page may be attached to any counterpart of said Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership.

 

Signature Line for Limited Partner:     [Name]
    By:  

 

     

Name:

Title:

Date:

Address of Limited Partner:

 

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Exhibit A

Notice of Redemption

The undersigned Limited Partner or Assignee hereby irrevocably (i) redeems [___] Common Units in of Curbline Properties LP in accordance with the terms of the Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of Curbline Properties LP (the “Agreement”) and the Redemption Right referred to therein; (ii) surrenders such Common Units and all right, title and interest therein; and (iii) directs that the Cash Amount or REIT Shares Amount (as determined by the General Partner) deliverable upon exercise of the Redemption Right be delivered to the address specified below, and if REIT Shares are to be delivered, such REIT Shares be registered or placed in the name(s) and at the address(es) specified below. The undersigned hereby, represents, warrants, and certifies that the undersigned (a) has marketable and unencumbered title to such Common Units, free and clear of the rights or interests of any other Person; (b) has the full right, power, and authority to redeem and surrender such Common Units as provided herein; and (c) has obtained the consent or approval of all Persons, if any, having the right to consent or approve such redemption and surrender.

All capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined shall have the same meaning ascribed to them respectively in the Agreement.

Dated:

 

Name of Limited Partner or Assignee:     

 

     Please Print
    

 

     (Signature of Limited Partner or Assignee)
    

 

     (Street Address)
    

 

     (City) (State) (Zip Code)
    

Medallion Guarantee:

If REIT Shares are to be issued, issue to:

Name:

Please insert social security or identifying number:

 

A-1


Exhibit B

LTIP Units

The following are certain additional terms of the LTIP Units:

 

1.1

Designation. A class of Partnership Units in the Partnership designated as the “LTIP Units” is hereby established. LTIP Units are intended to qualify as “profits interests” in the Partnership. The number of LTIP Units that may be issued shall not be limited.

 

1.2

Vesting. LTIP Units may, in the sole discretion of the General Partner, be issued subject to vesting, forfeiture and additional restrictions on transfer pursuant to the terms of an award, vesting or other similar agreement (a “Vesting Agreement”), between the Partnership or the General Partner (on behalf of the Partnership) and a holder of LTIP Units. The terms of any Vesting Agreement may be modified from time to time in accordance with the terms of such Vesting Agreement. LTIP Units that have vested and are no longer subject to forfeiture under the terms of a Vesting Agreement are referred to as “Vested LTIP Units”; all other LTIP Units are referred to as “Unvested LTIP Units.” Subject to the terms of any Vesting Agreement, a holder of LTIP Units shall be entitled to transfer his or her LTIP Units to the same extent, and subject to the same restrictions as holders of Common Units are entitled to transfer their Common Units pursuant to Article 11 of the Agreement.

 

1.3

Forfeiture or Transfer of Unvested LTIP Units. Unless otherwise specified in the relevant Vesting Agreement, upon the occurrence of any event specified in a Vesting Agreement as resulting in either the forfeiture of any LTIP Units, or the repurchase by the Partnership or the General Partner of LTIP Units at a specified purchase price, then, upon the occurrence of the circumstances resulting in such forfeiture or repurchase by the Partnership or the General Partner, the relevant LTIP Units shall immediately, and without any further action, be treated as cancelled and no longer outstanding for any purpose, or as transferred to the Partnership or General Partner, as applicable. Unless otherwise specified in the Vesting Agreement, no consideration or other payment shall be due with respect to any LTIP Units that have been forfeited, other than any distributions declared with a record date prior to the effective date of the forfeiture that the holder of such LTIP Units would have otherwise been entitled to receive pursuant to this Agreement and the relevant Vesting Agreement.

 

1.4

Legend. Any certificate evidencing an LTIP Unit shall bear an appropriate legend indicating that additional terms, conditions and restrictions on transfer, including any Vesting Agreement, apply to the LTIP Unit.

 

1.5

Distributions. The distributions to which holders of LTIP Units will be entitled with respect to their LTIP Units will be determined in accordance with the terms of the Agreement, including Article 5 and Article 13 thereof, and the Vesting Agreement to which such LTIP Units are subject.

 

B-1


1.6

Allocations. The allocations to which holders of LTIP Units will be entitled with respect to their LTIP Units will be determined in accordance with the terms of the Agreement, including Article 6 thereof, and the Vesting Agreement to which such LTIP Units are subject.

 

1.7

Adjustments. If an LTIP Unit Adjustment Event (as defined below) occurs, then the General Partner shall make a corresponding adjustment to the LTIP Units to maintain the same correspondence between Common Units and LTIP Units as existed prior to such LTIP Unit Adjustment Event. The following shall be “LTIP Unit Adjustment Events”: (A) the Partnership makes a distribution on all outstanding Common Units in Partnership Units, (B) the Partnership subdivides the outstanding Common Units into a greater number of units or combines the outstanding Common Units into a smaller number of units, or (C) the Partnership issues any Partnership Units in exchange for its outstanding Common Units by way of a reclassification or recapitalization of its Common Units. If more than one LTIP Unit Adjustment Event occurs, the adjustment to the LTIP Units need be made only once using a single formula that takes into account each and every LTIP Unit Adjustment Event as if all LTIP Unit Adjustment Events occurred simultaneously. If the Partnership takes an action affecting the Common Units other than actions specifically described above as LTIP Unit Adjustment Events and in the opinion of the General Partner such action would require an adjustment to the LTIP Units to maintain the correspondence between Common Unit and LTIP Units as existed prior to such action, the General Partner shall make such adjustment to the LTIP Units, to the extent permitted by law and by the terms of any plan pursuant to which the LTIP Units have been issued, in such manner and at such time as the General Partner, in its sole discretion, may determine to be appropriate under the circumstances to maintain such correspondence. If an adjustment is made to the LTIP Units as herein provided, the Partnership shall promptly file in the books and records of the Partnership an officer’s certificate setting forth such adjustment and a brief statement of the facts requiring such adjustment, which certificate shall be conclusive evidence of the correctness of such adjustment absent manifest error. Promptly after filing of such certificate, the Partnership shall mail a notice to each holder of LTIP Units setting forth the adjustment to his or her LTIP Units and the effective date of such adjustment.

 

1.8

Conversion of LTIP Units into Common Units; Redemption. LTIP Units shall automatically convert into an equal number of Common Units, giving effect to all adjustments (if any) made pursuant to Section 1.7, on the later to occur of (i) the date on which such LTIP Units become Vested LTIP Units and (ii) the date on which the Book-Up Target for such LTIP Units becomes zero (the “LTIP Unit Conversion Date”). Any such conversion shall occur automatically after the close of business on the applicable LTIP Unit Conversion Date without any action on the part of such holder of LTIP Units, as of which time such holder of LTIP Units shall be credited on the books and records of the Partnership with the issuance as of the opening of business on the next day of the number of Common Units issuable upon such conversion and, notwithstanding the holding period set forth in Section 8.5(a) of the Agreement (but subject to any limitations set forth in any applicable Vesting Agreement), such Common Units shall be immediately entitled to the Redemption Right as of such date.

 

B-2


1.9

Treatment of Capital Account. For purposes of making future allocations under Section 6.1(i) of this Agreement, the portion of the Economic Capital Account Balance of the applicable holder of LTIP Units that is treated as attributable to his or her LTIP Units shall be reduced, as of the date of conversion, by the product of the number of LTIP Units converted into Common Units and the Common Unit Economic Balance with respect to such converted LTIP Unit, provided that for the avoidance of doubt, the amount of such reduction shall instead be attributable to the Economic Capital Account Balance that is attributable to the Common Units into which such LTIP Units were converted.

 

1.10

Mandatory Conversion in Connection with a Transaction

 

  (a)

If the Partnership or the General Partner shall be a party to any transaction (including a merger, consolidation, unit exchange, self-tender offer for all or substantially all Common Units or other business combination or reorganization, or sale of all or substantially all of the Partnership’s assets, but excluding any transaction which constitutes an LTIP Unit Adjustment Event), in each case as a result of which Common Units shall be exchanged for or converted into the right, or the holders of Common Units shall otherwise be entitled, to receive cash, securities or other property or any combination thereof (each of the foregoing being referred to herein as a “Transaction”), then, immediately prior to the Transaction, any LTIP Units that will become eligible for conversion in connection with the Transaction in accordance with Section 1.8 shall automatically convert into an equal number of Common Units, giving effect to all adjustments (if any) made pursuant to Section 1.7, and taking into account any allocations that occur in connection with the Transaction or that would occur in connection with the Transaction if the assets of the Partnership were sold at the Transaction price or, if applicable, at a value determined by the General Partner in good faith using the value attributed to the Partnership Units in the context of the Transaction (in which case the LTIP Unit Conversion Date shall be the effective date of the Transaction and the conversion shall occur immediately prior to the effectiveness of the Transaction).

 

  (b)

In anticipation of such automatic LTIP Unit conversion and the consummation of the Transaction, the Partnership shall cause each holder of LTIP Units to be afforded the right to receive in connection with such Transaction in consideration for the Common Units into which his or her LTIP Units will be converted the same kind and amount of cash, securities and other property (or any combination thereof) receivable upon the consummation of such Transaction by a holder of the same number of Common Units, assuming such holder of Common Units is not a Person with which the Partnership consolidated or into which the Partnership merged or which merged into the Partnership or to which such sale or transfer was made, as the case may be (a “Constituent Person”), or an Affiliate of a Constituent Person. In the event that holders of Common Units have the opportunity to elect the form or type of consideration to be received upon consummation of the Transaction, prior to such Transaction the General Partner shall give prompt written notice to each holder of LTIP Units of such election, and shall afford such holders the right to elect, by written notice to the General Partner, the form or type of consideration to be received upon conversion of each LTIP Unit held by such holder into Common Units in connection with such Transaction. If a holder of LTIP Units fails to make such an election, such holder (and any of its transferees) shall receive upon conversion of each LTIP Unit held by him or her (or by any of his or her transferees) the same kind and amount of consideration that a holder of a Common Unit would receive if such holder of Common Units failed to make such an election.

 

B-3


  (c)

Subject to the rights of the Partnership and the General Partner under any Vesting Agreement and the terms of any plan under which LTIP Units are issued, the Partnership shall use commercially reasonable efforts to cause the terms of any Transaction to be consistent with the provisions of this Section 1.10 and to enter into an agreement with the successor or purchasing entity, as the case may be, for the benefit of any holders of LTIP Units whose LTIP Units will not be converted into Common Units in connection with the Transaction that will (i) contain provisions enabling the holders of LTIP Units that remain outstanding after such Transaction to convert their LTIP Units into securities as comparable as reasonably possible under the circumstances to the Common Units and (ii) preserve as far as reasonably possible under the circumstances the distribution, special allocation, conversion, and other rights set forth in the Agreement for the benefit of the holders of LTIP Units.

 

1.11

Redemption at the Option of the Partnership. LTIP Units will not be redeemable at the option of the Partnership; provided, however, that the foregoing shall not prohibit the Partnership from (a) repurchasing LTIP Units from the holder thereof if and to the extent such holder agrees to sell such LTIP Units or (b) converting LTIP Units pursuant to Section 1.8 above.

 

1.12

Voting Rights. Holders of LTIP Units shall have the right to vote on all matters submitted to a vote of the holders of Common Units; holders of LTIP Units and Common Units shall vote together as a single class, together with any other class or series of Partnership Units upon which like voting rights have been conferred. In any matter in which the LTIP Units are entitled to vote, including an action by written consent, each LTIP Unit shall be entitled to vote a Percentage Interest equal on a per unit basis to the Percentage Interest represented by each Common Unit.

 

1.13

Special Approval Rights. Except as provided in Section 1.12 above, holders of LTIP Units shall only (a) have those voting rights required from time to time by non-waivable provisions of applicable law, if any, and (b) have the additional voting rights that are expressly set forth in this Section 1.13. The General Partner and/or the Partnership shall not, without the affirmative vote of holders of more than fifty percent (50%) of the then outstanding LTIP Units affected thereby, given in person or by proxy, either in writing or at a meeting (voting separately as a class), take any action that would materially and adversely alter, change, modify or amend, whether by merger, consolidation or otherwise, the rights, powers or privileges of such LTIP Units, subject to the following exceptions: (i) no separate consent of the holders of LTIP Units will be required if and to the extent that any such alteration, change, modification or amendment would equally, ratably and proportionately alter, change, modify or amend the rights, powers or privileges of the Common Units (in which event the holders of LTIP Units shall only have such voting rights, if any, as expressly provided for in the Agreement, in accordance with Section 1.12 above); (ii) with respect to any merger, consolidation or other business combination or

 

B-4


  reorganization, so long as either (A) the LTIP Units are converted into Common Units immediately prior to the effectiveness of the transaction, (B) the holders of LTIP Units either will receive, or will have the right to elect to receive, for each LTIP Unit an amount of cash, securities, or other property equal to the greatest amount of cash, securities or other property paid to a holder of one Common Unit in consideration of one Common Unit pursuant to the terms of such transaction, (C) the LTIP Units remain outstanding with the terms thereof materially unchanged, or (D) if the Partnership is not the surviving entity in such transaction, the LTIP Units are exchanged for a security of the surviving entity with terms that are materially the same with respect to rights to allocations, distributions, redemption, conversion and voting as the LTIP Units and without any income, gain or loss expected to be recognized by the holder upon the exchange for U.S. federal income tax purposes (and with the terms of the Common Units or such other securities into which the LTIP Units (or the substitute security therefor) are convertible materially the same with respect to rights to allocations, distributions, redemption, conversion and voting), such merger, consolidation or other business combination or reorganization shall not be deemed to materially and adversely alter, change, modify or amend the rights, powers or privileges of the LTIP Units, provided further, that if some, but not all, of the LTIP Units are converted into Common Units immediately prior to the effectiveness of the transaction (and neither clause (C) or (D) above is applicable), then the consent required pursuant to this Section will be the consent of the holders of more than fifty percent (50%) of the LTIP Units to be outstanding following such conversion; (iii) any creation or issuance of Partnership Units (whether ranking junior to, on a parity with or senior to the LTIP Units in any respect, which either (A) does not require the consent of the holders of Common Units or (B) does require such consent and is authorized by a vote of the holders of Common Units and LTIP Units voting together as a single class pursuant to Section 1.12 above, together with any other class or series of units of limited partnership interest in the Partnership upon which like voting rights have been conferred), shall not be deemed to materially and adversely alter, change, modify or amend the rights, powers or privileges of the LTIP Units; and (iv) any waiver by the Partnership of restrictions or limitations applicable to any outstanding LTIP Units with respect to any holder or holders thereof shall not be deemed to materially and adversely alter, change, modify or amend the rights, powers or privileges of the LTIP Units with respect to other holders.

 

1.14

The foregoing voting provisions will not apply if, as of or prior to the time when the action with respect to which such vote would otherwise be required to be taken or be effective, all outstanding LTIP Units shall have been converted and/or redeemed, or provision is made for such redemption and/or conversion to occur as of or prior to such time.

 

B-5

Exhibit 10.2

FORM OF SHARED SERVICES AGREEMENT

by and among

SITE CENTERS CORP.,

CURBLINE PROPERTIES CORP.,

and

CURBLINE PROPERTIES LP

Dated [___], 2024

 


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

         Page  
1.  

DEFINITIONS

     1  
2.  

STANDARD

     6  
3.  

SERVICES

     6  
4.  

AUTHORITY OF CURB

     8  
5.  

SHARED CORPORATE OFFICES

     8  
6.  

COMPENSATION

     9  
7.  

EXPENSES

     10  
8.  

DISCLAIMER

     11  
9.  

NO PARTNERSHIP OR JOINT VENTURE

     11  
10.  

BANK ACCOUNTS; OTHER ASSETS

     11  
11.  

RECORDS

     11  
12.  

LIMITATIONS ON ACTIVITIES

     12  
13.  

OTHER SERVICES

     12  
14.  

ACTIVITIES OF SERVICE PROVIDER

     13  
15.  

CONFLICTS

     13  
16.  

NO RESTRICTIVE COVENANTS

     14  
17.  

CONFIDENTIALITY; DATA PROTECTION

     14  
18.  

SYSTEMS SECURITY

     15  
19.  

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY

     16  
20.  

JOINT REPRESENTATION MATTERS

     17  
21.  

TERM OF AGREEMENT

     17  
22.  

TERMINATION

     17  
23.  

EFFECT OF TERMINATION

     18  
24.  

ASSIGNMENT

     19  
25.  

PAYMENTS TO AND DUTIES OF SERVICE PROVIDER UPON TERMINATION

     19  
26.  

INDEMNIFICATION; LIMITATION OF LIABILITY

     19  
27.  

NOTICES

     20  
28.  

MODIFICATION

     20  
29.  

SEVERABILITY

     20  
30.  

GOVERNING LAW

     20  
31.  

DISPUTE RESOLUTION

     21  

 

i


TABLE OF CONTENTS

(continued)

 

32.  

ENTIRE AGREEMENT

     23  
33.  

NO WAIVER

     23  
34.  

CERTAIN INTERPRETATIVE MATTERS

     23  
35.  

HEADINGS

     24  
36.  

EXECUTION IN COUNTERPARTS

     24  
Exhibits   
Exhibit A: Form of Lease Agreement   
Exhibit B: Shared Corporate Offices   
Exhibit C: Allocation of Expenses   

 

 

ii


SHARED SERVICES AGREEMENT

THIS SHARED SERVICES AGREEMENT, dated [___], 2024 (this “Agreement”), is by and among SITE Centers Corp., an Ohio corporation (“SITC”), Curbline Properties Corp., a Maryland corporation (“CURB”), and Curbline Properties LP, a Delaware limited partnership (“CURB OP”). Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined shall have the respective meanings assigned to them in Section 1.

RECITALS:

WHEREAS, CURB OP is the operating partnership of CURB, which, as of the date hereof, operates through an UPREIT structure, in which substantially all of CURB’s properties and assets are held through its operating partnership;

WHEREAS, on the date immediately prior to the date hereof, CURB was a wholly owned subsidiary of SITC, and on the date hereof, SITC has completed a spin-off of CURB into an independent publicly traded REIT by way of a distribution of shares of CURB (the “Spin-off”);

WHEREAS, following the Spin-off, CURB OP employs, either directly or through one or more of its subsidiaries, (i) executive officers and other senior management personnel with extensive experience in all aspects of managing the business and operations of REITs similarly situated to SITC and (ii) transactions personnel with extensive experience with transactions involving or related to real estate assets, and is willing to provide management and leadership services and transactions services to SITC pursuant to the terms of this Agreement; and

WHEREAS, following the Spin-off, SITC has retained certain personnel, assets and other resources, including Systems and office space, necessary or useful for the operation of a REIT undertaking the current or anticipated future operations of CURB, and is willing to provide such personnel, assets and other resources to CURB OP, either directly or to its Affiliates, pursuant to the terms and conditions of this Agreement.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and of the mutual covenants and agreements contained herein, the parties hereto, intending to be legally bound, hereby agree as follows:

1. DEFINITIONS. As used in this Agreement, the following terms have the definitions set forth below.

Accessing Party” has the meaning set forth in Section 18(a).

Affiliate” means with respect to any Person, any other Person directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by or under common control with such Person. For purposes of this definition, the terms “controls,” “is controlled by,” or “is under common control with” shall mean the possession, direct or indirect, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of an entity, whether through ownership or voting rights, by Contract or otherwise. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement and for the avoidance of doubt, with respect to SITC and its Affiliates, “Affiliate” will not include CURB OP or its Affiliates, and with respect to CURB OP and its Affiliates, “Affiliate” will not include SITC and its Affiliates.


Agreement” has the meaning set forth in the preamble to this Agreement, and such term shall include any amendment hereto from time to time.

Ancillary Agreement” has the meaning as such term is defined in the Separation and Distribution Agreement.

Arbitration Request” has the meaning set forth in Section 31(c)(i).

Business Day” means any day other than a Saturday, a Sunday or a day on which banking institutions are generally authorized or required by law to close in New York City, New York.

Confidential Information” has the meaning set forth in Section 17(a).

Contract” means any contract, lease, license, permit, indenture, note, bond, mortgage, agreement, concession, franchise, instrument, undertaking, commitment, understanding or other arrangement, whether written or oral, that is binding on any Person or any part of its property under applicable Law.

Convenience Early Exit Amount” means an amount equal to $12 million.

CPR” has the meaning set forth in Section 31(b).

CURB” has the meaning set forth in the preamble to this Agreement.

CURB Board” means the Board of Directors of CURB.

CURB Change of Control” means any “person” (as used within the meaning of Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act, as enacted and in force on the date hereof), in a single transaction or in a related series of transactions, whether by way of purchase, acquisition, tender, exchange or other similar offer or recapitalization, reclassification, consolidation, merger, share exchange, scheme of arrangement or other business combination transaction, becoming the “beneficial owner” (as that term is defined in Rule 13d-3, as enacted and in force on the date hereof, under the Exchange Act) of securities of CURB representing a majority of the combined voting power of CURB’s securities then outstanding.

CURB Continuing Director” means a Director of CURB who either (a) was a Director of CURB on the date hereof or (b) is an individual whose election, or nomination for election, as a Director of CURB was approved by a vote of at least a majority of the Directors of CURB then in office who were CURB Continuing Directors.

CURB Gross Revenue” means all receipts of every kind and nature derived from the operation of the CURB Properties during a specified month on a cash basis, including receipts from (a) all fixed and minimum rent, percentage rent and license fees payable by tenants and other occupants of each CURB Property; (b) the sale of electricity, utilities and heating, ventilation and air conditioning to tenants and other occupants of each CURB Property; (c) all amounts charged to tenants and other occupants of each CURB Property for common area maintenance, real estate taxes, insurance and interest; (d) any other payments of any nature made by any tenants or other occupants including lease termination fees; (e) proceeds of rent interruption insurance; and (f) all

 

2


amounts contributed to any marketing and promotion fund or merchants association, if any. For purposes of this Agreement, “CURB Gross Revenue” shall exclude any proceeds received and collected from: (i) proceeds from the financing or sale of any portions of any CURB Property; (ii) the condemnation or taking of all or a portion of any CURB Property by eminent domain; (iii) insurance policies (except for rent interruption insurance proceeds); (iv) any extraordinary or non-recurring event, including proceeds from any litigation other than rent (and other reimbursable expenses) collections and other than interest collected thereon; (v) security deposits and other deposits (unless applied upon rent, damages or other expenses); (vi) trade discounts and rebates; (vii) payments by tenants for tenant improvements; (viii) refunds due to overpayment; (ix) amounts paid to reimburse CURB OP or its applicable subsidiary owner of the applicable CURB Property for the cost of capital improvements or remodeling and tenant charges, including overhead or interest factor payable by tenants in connection with such reimbursement; (x) abatement, reduction of refund of taxes; and (xi) amortization for tenant work (except that portion which is part of base rent).

CURB OP” has the meaning set forth in the preamble to this Agreement.

CURB Property” or “CURB Properties” means, as the context requires, any or all, respectively, of the Real Property owned by CURB OP, directly or indirectly through one or more of its Affiliates or through joint venture arrangements or other partnership or investment interests.

CURB Services” has the meaning set forth in Section 3(a).

Director” means a director of SITC or CURB, as context requires.

Disclosing Party” has the meaning set forth in Section 17(a).

Dispute” has the meaning set forth in Section 31(a).

Dispute Party” has the meaning set forth in Section 31(a).

Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended from time to time, or any successor statute thereto.

Governmental Authority” means any nation or government, any state, municipality or other political subdivision thereof, and any entity, body, agency, commission, department, board, bureau, court, tribunal or other instrumentality, whether federal, state, local, domestic, foreign or multinational, exercising executive, legislative, judicial, regulatory, administrative or other similar functions of, or pertaining to, government and any executive official thereof.

Granting Party” has the meaning set forth in Section 18(a).

Group” has the meaning set forth in Section 4(b).

Initial Notice” has the meaning set forth in Section 31(a).

Joint Representation Attorney” has the meaning set forth in Section 20.

 

3


Joint Representation Matter” has the meaning set forth in Section 20.

Law” means any national, supranational, federal, state, provincial, local or similar law (including common law), statute, code, order, ordinance, rule, regulation, treaty, license, permit, authorization, approval, consent, decree, injunction, binding judicial or administrative interpretation or other requirement, in each case, enacted, promulgated, issued or entered by a Governmental Authority.

Lease Agreement” means the form of lease agreement attached as Exhibit A.

Leased Shared Corporate Offices” means, collectively, the offices leased by SITC or its Affiliates more particularly described on Exhibit B.

Mediation Request” has the meaning set forth in Section 31(b).

Notice” has the meaning set forth in Section 27.

Owned Shared Corporate Offices” means, collectively, the offices owned by SITC or its Affiliates more particularly described on Exhibit B.

Person” means any individual, sole proprietorship, partnership, corporation, limited liability company, unincorporated association, trust or other entity.

Prime Rate” means the prime rate of interest as published from time to time in the Wall Street Journal.

Property” or “Properties” means CURB Property or CURB Properties or SITC Property or SITC Properties, as the context may indicate.

Real Property” means land, rights in land (including leasehold interests), and any buildings, structures, improvements, furnishings, fixtures and equipment located on or used in connection with land and rights or interests in land.

Receiving Party” has the meaning set forth in Section 17(a).

Recipient” means (a) in the case of CURB Services, SITC receiving Services hereunder, or (b) in the case of SITC Services, CURB OP receiving Services hereunder.

REIT” means “real estate investment trust” within the meaning of Section 856 of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code.

Sanctioned Termination Event” means the termination of this Agreement by (a) SITC pursuant to Section 22(d)(ii) upon a CURB Change of Control or a change in the composition of the CURB Board such that the CURB Continuing Directors cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority of the CURB Board, (b) SITC pursuant to Section 22(f) on account of CURB’s uncured material breach of this Agreement or (c) CURB OP pursuant to Section 22(e)(ii) upon a CURB Change of Control.

 

4


Security Regulations” has the meaning set forth in Section 18(a).

Separation and Distribution Agreement” means that certain Separation and Distribution Agreement by and among SITC, CURB and CURB OP dated as of the date hereof.

Service Provider” means (a) in the case of CURB Services, CURB OP providing Services hereunder or (b) in the case of SITC Services, SITC providing Services hereunder.

Services” means the CURB Services or the SITC Services, individually, or the CURB Services and the SITC Services, collectively, as the context may indicate.

Shared Corporate Offices” means, collectively, the Leased Shared Corporate Offices and the Owned Shared Corporate Offices.

SITC” has the meaning set forth in the preamble to this Agreement.

SITC Articles of Incorporation” means the articles of incorporation of SITC filed with the Ohio Secretary of State, as the same may be amended from time to time.

SITC Board” means the Board of Directors of SITC.

SITC Change of Control” means any “person” (as used within the meaning of Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act, as enacted and in force on the date hereof), in a single transaction or in a related series of transactions, whether by way of purchase, acquisition, tender, exchange or other similar offer or recapitalization, reclassification, consolidation, merger, share exchange, scheme of arrangement or other business combination transaction, becoming the “beneficial owner” (as that term is defined in Rule 13d-3, as enacted and in force on the date hereof, under the Exchange Act) of securities of SITC representing a majority of the combined voting power of SITC’s securities then outstanding.

SITC Code of Regulations” means SITC’s Amended and Restated Code of Regulations, dated October 11, 2018, as the same may be amended from time to time.

SITC Continuing Director” means a Director of SITC who either (a) was a Director of SITC on the date hereof or (b) is an individual whose election, or nomination for election, as a Director of SITC was approved by a vote of at least a majority of the Directors of SITC then in office who were SITC Continuing Directors.

SITC Disinterested Director” means a Director of SITC who (a) qualifies as “independent” as determined by the requirements of the New York Stock Exchange and the regulations of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and (b), at the time the relevant action is to be taken under this Agreement, is not also then a Director, officer or employee of CURB or any of its Affiliates.

SITC Property” or “SITC Properties” means, as the context requires, any, or all, respectively, of the Real Property owned by SITC, directly or indirectly through one or more of its Affiliates or through joint venture arrangements or other partnership or investment interests.

 

5


SITC Services” has the meaning set forth in Section 3(b).

SITC Services Fee” has the meaning set forth in Section 6(a).

Spin-off” has the meaning set forth in the recitals to this Agreement.

Systems” has the meaning set forth in Section 18(a).

Tax Matters Agreement” means that certain Tax Matters Agreement by and among SITC, CURB and CURB OP dated as of the date hereof.

Term” has the meaning set forth in Section 21.

Termination Amount” means an amount equal to the product of $2.5 million and the total number of whole and partial fiscal quarters remaining in the Term as of the Termination Date or effective date of the termination of the SITC Services, as applicable, with the amount attributable to any partial fiscal quarter being pro-rated based on the proportion of days remaining in such partial fiscal quarter.

Termination Date” means the date of termination of this Agreement.

2. STANDARD. Service Provider shall use, and shall cause each of its applicable Affiliates to use, its commercially reasonable efforts in the timely provision of the Services to be rendered by it hereunder to Recipient, exercising the same degree of care and diligence as it exercises in performing the same or similar services for itself, and shall reasonably cooperate with Recipient in connection with the provision of such Services.

3. SERVICES.

(a) CURB SERVICES. During the Term, subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, including Section 4 and, consistent with the provisions of the SITC Articles of Incorporation and the SITC Code of Regulations and the objectives and policies of SITC established from time to time by the SITC Board and subject to the supervision and direction of the SITC Board and SITC executives, CURB OP will provide, or cause to be provided, the following services to SITC (collectively, the “CURB Services”):

(i) leadership and management services that are of a nature customarily performed by leadership and management overseeing the business and operations of a REIT similarly situated to SITC, including supervising various business functions of SITC necessary for the day-to-day management operations of SITC and its Affiliates (excluding, for the avoidance of doubt, supervising functional areas that are supervised by, or the personnel within such functional areas otherwise report to, any of the chief financial officer, the chief accounting officer or general counsel of SITC); and

(ii) transactions services that are of a nature customarily performed by a dedicated transactions team within an organization similarly situated to SITC, including the provision of personnel at both the leadership and operational levels necessary to ensure effective and efficient preparation, negotiation, execution and implementation of real estate transactions, as well as overseeing post-transaction activities and alignment with SITC’s strategic objectives.

 

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Individuals designated by CURB OP to provide such services shall be under the supervision and direction of the SITC Board when providing such CURB Services.

(b) SITC SERVICES. During the Term, subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement and, subject to the supervision and direction of CURB OP’s executives and management personnel, SITC will provide, or cause to be provided, the services of its employees and the use or benefit of its assets and other resources (including access to its Systems) as may be necessary or useful to establish and operate various business functions at CURB in a manner as would be established and operated for a REIT similarly situated to CURB as if it had the internal resources to do so (collectively, the “SITC Services”). CURB OP will have the authority to supervise the employees of SITC and its Affiliates and direct and control the day-to-day activities of such employees while providing Services to CURB OP or its Affiliates hereunder.

(c) THIRD-PARTY SERVICE PROVIDERS. CURB OP acknowledges and agrees that certain of the SITC Services to be provided under this Agreement have been, and will continue to be provided, as applicable, by third-party service providers. To the extent so provided, SITC will use commercially reasonable efforts to (i) cause such third-party service providers to provide such SITC Services under this Agreement and/or (ii) enable CURB OP and its Affiliates to avail themselves of such SITC Services; provided, however, that if any such third-party service providers is unable or unwilling to provide any such SITC Services, the parties hereto agree to use their commercially reasonable efforts to determine the manner in which such SITC Services can best be provided.

(d) MODIFICATIONS. The parties hereto agree that SITC may make changes from time to time in the manner of performing the applicable SITC Service if SITC is making similar changes in performing similar services for itself, its Affiliates or other third parties, if any, provided that SITC furnishes to CURB OP substantially the same Notice (in content) as SITC provides to its Affiliates or third parties, if any, respecting such changes; provided, further, that SITC may make any of the following changes without obtaining the prior consent of, and without prior Notice to, CURB OP: (i) changes to the process of performing a particular SITC Service that do not adversely affect the benefits to CURB OP and its Affiliates in any material respect; (ii) emergency changes on a temporary and short-term basis; and (iii) changes to a particular SITC Service in order to comply with applicable Law.

(e) LIMITATIONS. Nothing in this Agreement shall require Service Provider to perform or cause to be performed any Services if the provision of such Services by Service Provider conflicts with or violates (i) applicable Law, (ii) any bona fide security-related requirements, policies or procedures or (iii) any Contract to which Service Provider or any of its Affiliates is a party or the rights of any third party with respect thereto; provided that Service Provider shall use commercially reasonable efforts to provide the Services in a manner that avoids any such conflict or violation.

 

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4. AUTHORITY OF CURB.

(a) Pursuant to the terms of this Agreement (including the limitations included in Section 3, this Section 4, Section 14 and Section 15), and subject to the continuing and exclusive authority of the SITC Board and SITC executives over the supervision of SITC, SITC, acting on the unanimous authority of the SITC Board, hereby delegates to CURB OP the authority to perform, or cause to be performed, including through its subsidiaries, the following in furtherance of the provision the CURB Services:

(i) make dispositions of the SITC Properties subject to the approval of, and within the authority as granted by, the SITC Board;

(ii) as necessary, furnish the SITC Board with advice and recommendations with respect to the making of dispositions consistent with the objectives and policies of SITC (including through participating in the formulation of SITC’s disposition strategy) and giving consideration to any borrowings undertaken by SITC secured by SITC Properties that have been, or are proposed to be, disposed;

(iii) from time to time, or at any time reasonably requested by the SITC Board, make reports to the SITC Board on the operations of SITC, including reports with respect to potential conflicts of interest involving Service Provider or any of its Affiliates, in the manner described in Section 15, and cooperate in good faith to eliminate or minimize any such conflicts; and

(iv) advise and assist SITC and the SITC Board in employee recruitment, performance evaluation and establishment of salary, bonus and other compensation scales for SITC employees.

(b) If a transaction requires approval by the SITC Board, any particular Directors of SITC specified by the SITC Board or any committee of the SITC Board specified by the SITC Board (each, a “Group”), as the case may be, CURB OP shall deliver to the SITC Board or Group all documents and other information reasonably required by them to evaluate the proposed transaction.

(c) The SITC Board may, at any time upon the giving of Notice to CURB OP, modify or revoke the authority set forth in this Section 4 and such modification or revocation shall be effective upon receipt by CURB OP.

5. SHARED CORPORATE OFFICES.

(a) SHARED CORPORATE OFFICES. SITC shall make available to CURB OP and its Affiliates any and all space (non-exclusively, in common with the other SITC occupants thereof) at the Shared Corporate Offices until the earlier of (i) the three-year anniversary of the date of this Agreement or (ii) the termination of this Agreement pursuant to a Sanctioned Termination Event, to use for all purposes related to the lawful conduct of CURB OP’s and its Affiliates’ business, which access shall be subject to the provisions set forth on Exhibit B, including access to all common space in the Shared Corporate Offices, including conference and meeting rooms, hallways, stairwells and bathrooms and other commonly shared spaces that are under SITC’s control at the Shared Corporate Offices; provided that, notwithstanding the shared nature of the Shared Corporate Offices, the parties hereto shall cooperate to establish private

 

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personal office spaces within the Shared Corporate Offices for the exclusive use of their respective executives and employees, with such offices to be segregated from the otherwise shared spaces as is customary in a business office setting. Unless this Agreement is terminated pursuant to a Sanctioned Termination Event, until the three-year anniversary of the date of this Agreement, without the prior written consent of CURB OP, SITC will not, and will cause its Affiliates not to, terminate, assign (other than to an Affiliate of SITC), transfer or amend any lease for Real Property for any Leased Shared Corporate Offices.

(b) COMPLIANCE WITH LEASES. With respect to the Leased Shared Corporate Offices, CURB OP agrees, at all times, to comply with and to cause its employees, representatives and agents to comply with all terms and conditions set forth in the lease for Real Property between SITC or its applicable Affiliate and its landlord for the applicable Leased Shared Corporate Office, as such lease may be amended from time to time, and the provisions described on Exhibit B; provided that SITC shall promptly provide CURB OP with a copy of such leases and any such amendments; provided, further, that if there is any conflict between any such leases and the provisions of Exhibit B, the applicable lease terms shall control.

(c) LEASE OPTION. SITC hereby grants CURB OP (or its Affiliate designee) the option, exercisable by CURB OP until the earlier of (i) the three-year anniversary of this Agreement or (ii) the termination of this Agreement pursuant to a Sanctioned Termination Event by delivering Notice to SITC, to enter into the Lease Agreement attached as Exhibit A for the space at the Owned Shared Corporate Offices described in the Lease Agreement upon the terms and conditions set forth in such Lease Agreement. Within five Business Days after CURB OP delivers the Notice exercising the option to SITE, each party to the Lease Agreement shall execute and deliver the Lease Agreement to the other party thereto. If CURB OP fails to timely give Notice to SITC as provided for in the immediately preceding sentence, CURB OP shall be deemed to have waived CURB OP’s option to enter into the Lease Agreement. The parties hereto will cooperate in good faith to make any changes reasonably required to the form of Lease Agreement attached as Exhibit A such that the Lease Agreement is in execution form, including appropriately completing any exhibits, placeholders or blanks.

(d) BINDING EFFECT. The obligations of Section 5(a) and Section 5(c) with respect to the Owned Shared Corporate Offices shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns. If SITC enters into a transaction regarding the sale, transfer, pledge, repledge, assignment, hypothecation or rehypothecation of the property in which the Owned Shared Corporate Offices are located, then prior to the closing of any such transaction, SITC and CURB OP shall cooperate in good faith to enter into a lease agreement for the Owned Shared Corporate Offices, containing the rights and obligations of the parties set forth in Section 5(a) and Section 5(c), to the satisfaction of CURB OP.

6. COMPENSATION.

(a) COMPENSATION TO SITC. As compensation for the provision of the SITC Services, CURB OP shall pay to SITC a fee in an aggregate amount of 2.0% of CURB Gross Revenue during the Term (the “SITC Services Fee”). The SITC Services Fee payable hereunder shall be paid in monthly installments each month in arrears no later than the tenth calendar day of each month based upon the CURB Gross Revenue for the prior month.

 

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(b) COMPENSATION TO CURB OP. In full consideration for the provision of the CURB Services provided by CURB OP under this Agreement, the parties hereto acknowledge that there shall be no separate fee paid in connection with the CURB Services provided hereunder. Notwithstanding the foregoing, SITC shall reimburse or pay for expenses incurred by or attributable to CURB OP and its Affiliates in accordance with the provisions of Section 7 below.

(c) PAYMENT OF FEES. To the extent any fees are not paid as and when such fees are required to be paid hereunder, such unpaid sum shall accrue interest at a rate equal to the Prime Rate plus 5% per annum calculated from the date such payment was due (without regard to any grace or cure periods contained herein) until the date on which the party with such payment obligation pays such unpaid sum.

(d) ADDITIONAL FEES. The Service Provider agrees to comply with all rules and accepts full liability for the payment of all contributions and taxes for all social security and benefits imposed by any governmental entity or agency, including for unemployment insurance and workers’ compensation, with respect to the persons the Service Provider has classified as employees or independent contractors of the Service Provider.

7. EXPENSES.

(a) Without limiting the obligations of SITC set forth in Section 7(c), SITC will pay or reimburse CURB OP and its Affiliates for reasonable out-of-pocket third-party expenses incurred by CURB OP or its Affiliates in connection with its performance of the CURB Services, which expenses shall be reimbursed no less than quarterly.

(b) Unless otherwise agreed, CURB OP has no obligation to pay or reimburse SITC for any expenses incurred by SITC or its Affiliates in connection with its performance of the SITC Services. To the extent that CURB or CURB OP directly contracts with a third party that is not an Affiliate of SITC to provide services in support of its business (e.g., auditors, property managers, information systems providers, etc.), CURB OP shall be directly responsible for and pay for the cost of such services, and SITC shall have no obligation to reimburse CURB or CURB OP for such costs or expenses.

(c) In addition, the parties hereto acknowledge and agree that certain categories of expenses are not reasonably capable of being identified with, or attributable to, a particular party’s performance or receipt of applicable Services hereunder in a reasonably practicable manner. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, unless otherwise agreed, such expenses, including, for the avoidance of doubt, the categories of expenses described on Exhibit C, shall be borne exclusively by SITC, and CURB OP and its Affiliates shall have no obligation to reimburse SITC for such expenses.

(d) To the extent any expenses are not paid or reimbursed as and when such expenses are required to be paid hereunder, such unpaid sum shall accrue interest at a rate equal to the Prime Rate plus five percent (5%) per annum calculated from the date such payment was due (without regard to any grace or cure periods contained herein) until the date on which Recipient pays such unpaid sum.

 

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8. DISCLAIMER. Except as expressly set forth in Section 2, CURB OP, on the one hand, and SITC, on the other hand, in each case in their capacity as Service Provider, makes no representations or warranties, express or implied, in respect of the Services to be provided by it hereunder. Neither CURB OP shall have any obligations to SITC or any of its Affiliates, nor shall SITC have any obligations to CURB OP or any of its Affiliates other than as set forth in this Agreement, the Separation and Distribution Agreement, the Tax Matters Agreement, any other Ancillary Agreement or any other contract in effect as of the date hereof between CURB OP or one of its Affiliates, on the one hand, and SITC or one of its Affiliates, on the other hand.

9. NO PARTNERSHIP OR JOINT VENTURE.

(a) The parties to this Agreement are not partners or joint venturers with each other and nothing herein shall be construed to make them partners or joint venturers or impose any liability as such on any of them.

(b) Service Provider is an independent contractor. Service Provider and its Affiliates providing the Services will be solely responsible for all aspects of the employment relationship with the employees Service Provider classifies as employees of Service Provider or its Affiliates including, but not limited to hiring and terminating employment, providing compensation and benefits and all withholding, employment or payroll taxes, unemployment insurance, workers’ compensation and other insurance and fringe benefits with respect to such employees. Accordingly, (i) SITC shall retain all liability and be solely responsible for all employment-related, compensation and employee benefits liabilities relating to the employees SITC classifies as employees of SITC or its Affiliates and (ii) CURB OP shall retain all liability and be solely responsible for all employment-related, compensation and employee benefits liabilities relating to the employees that CURB OP classifies as employees of CURB OP or its Affiliates.

10. BANK ACCOUNTS; OTHER ASSETS.

(a) Each of CURB OP and SITC shall maintain separate bank accounts and no funds shall be commingled with the funds of the other; provided that nothing contained herein shall prohibit the transfer of funds from CURB OP to SITC (and vice versa) for purposes of (i) executing the terms of this Agreement, the Separation and Distribution Agreement and any Ancillary Agreement or (ii) for reimbursement of agreed upon expenses.

(b) All procedures, methods, systems, strategies, tools, equipment, facilities, software, data and other resources used by a party hereto, any of its Affiliates or any third-party service provider in connection with the provision of Services hereunder shall remain the property of such party hereto, its Affiliates or any third-party service provider, as applicable.

11. RECORDS. Service Provider shall maintain appropriate records of all its activities hereunder and make such records available for inspection by representatives of Recipient upon reasonable Notice during ordinary business hours.

 

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12. LIMITATIONS ON ACTIVITIES.

(a) Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, in providing the CURB Services, CURB OP shall refrain from taking any action which, in its sole judgment made in good faith, would (i) not comply with policies or guidelines set forth by the SITC Board and SITC executives, (ii) (A) adversely affect the status of SITC as a REIT, unless the SITC Board has determined that REIT qualification is not in the best interests of SITC and its shareholders (which determination shall be made in a manner consistent with the terms and conditions of the Tax Matters Agreement), (B) conflict with the terms and conditions of the Tax Matters Agreement, or (C) adversely affect the status of CURB as a REIT, (iii) subject SITC to regulation under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, or (iv) otherwise not be permitted by the SITC Articles of Incorporation or SITC Code of Regulations, except, in all such cases of clauses (i), (ii)(A), (iii) and (iv) above, if such action shall be ordered by the SITC Board, in which case CURB OP shall provide Notice to the SITC Board promptly of CURB OP’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 SITC Board, and, in such event, CURB OP shall have no liability for acting in accordance with the specific instructions of the SITC Board so given.

(b) Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, in providing the SITC Services, SITC shall refrain from taking any action which, in its sole judgment made in good faith, would (i) adversely affect the status of SITC as a REIT, unless the SITC Board has determined that REIT qualification is not in the best interests of SITC and its shareholders (which determination shall be made in a manner consistent with the terms and conditions of the Tax Matters Agreement), or (ii) adversely affect the status of CURB as a REIT except, in the case of this clause (ii), if such action shall be ordered by CURB OP, in which case SITC shall provide Notice to the CURB Board promptly of SITC’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 CURB Board, and, in such event, SITC shall have no liability for acting in accordance with the specific instructions of the CURB Board so given.

(c) Except as contemplated by the Separation and Distribution Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement or any other contract in effect as of the date hereof between CURB OP or one its Affiliates, on the one hand, and SITC or one of its Affiliates, on the other hand, SITC shall not, and shall cause its Affiliates not to, (i) acquire or offer to acquire any Property from CURB OP or any of its Affiliates or (ii) sell or offer to sell any Property to CURB OP or any of its Affiliates, in each case, unless otherwise consented to by a majority of the SITC Disinterested Directors.

(d) Except as contemplated by the Separation and Distribution Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement or any other contract in effect as of the date hereof between CURB OP or one its Affiliates, on the one hand, and SITC or one of its Affiliates, on the other hand, CURB OP shall not, and shall cause its Affiliates not to, (i) acquire or offer to acquire any Property from SITC or any of its Affiliates or (ii) sell or offer to sell any Property to SITC or any of its Affiliates, in each case, unless otherwise consented to by a majority of the members of the CURB Board not otherwise interested in such transaction.

13. OTHER SERVICES.

(a) Should the SITC Board request that CURB OP or any of its Affiliates or any of their respective officers or employees render any material services to SITC other than those CURB Services set forth in Section 3(a), such services shall be separately compensated at such customary rates and in such customary amounts as are agreed upon by the CURB Board and the SITC Board, including a majority of the SITC Disinterested Directors thereon, and shall not be deemed to be CURB Services pursuant to the terms of this Agreement.

 

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(b) Should CURB OP request that SITC or any of its Affiliates or any of their respective officers or employees render any material services to CURB OP other than those SITC Services set forth in Section 3(b), SITC shall render such additional services if, at such time, SITC is performing the same or similar services for itself, and such services shall be separately compensated at such customary rates and in such customary amounts as are agreed upon by the CURB Board and the SITC Board, including a majority of the SITC Disinterested Directors thereof, and shall not be deemed to be SITC Services pursuant to this Agreement.

14. ACTIVITIES OF SERVICE PROVIDER. Recipient recognizes that it is not entitled to preferential treatment vis-à -vis Service Provider’s own business activities conducted on its own account and benefit. Nothing contained herein shall prevent Service Provider or any of its Affiliates, or any director, officer, member, partner, employee or shareholder of Service Provider or any of its Affiliates, (a) from rendering services identical or similar to those required by Service Provider hereunder to other Persons (including other REITs) and the management of other programs advised, sponsored or organized by Service Provider or its Affiliates or (b) from taking such actions as may be in the sole interest of Service Provider or any of its Affiliates with respect to (i) Service Provider’s or any of its Affiliates’ equity interests in Recipient (if any) or (ii) any guarantee or other credit support agreement, arrangement, commitment or understanding provided by Service Provider or any of its Affiliates to a third party for the benefit of Recipient or any of its Affiliates. Further, and for the avoidance of doubt, Service Provider and its Affiliates may themselves engage in the investment, acquisition, disposition, development, leasing, including such disposition and leasing activities that compete with Recipient, and financing of Real Property for their own account and benefit or for others and without any accountability or liability whatsoever to Recipient even though such services or business activities compete with or are enhanced by the business activity of Recipient; provided, however, that (x) Service Provider must devote sufficient resources to Recipient’s business to discharge its obligations to Recipient under this Agreement and (y) Service Provider and its Affiliates shall not use Confidential Information of Recipient to engage in activities that directly compete with, or that are directly adverse to the interests of, Recipient and its Affiliates.

15. CONFLICTS.

(a) If after the date hereof SITC shall propose to enter into any transaction (other than any transaction contemplated by this Agreement, the Separation and Distribution Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement or any other contract in effect as of the date hereof between CURB OP or one its Affiliates, on the one hand, and SITC or one of its Affiliates, on the other hand) in which CURB OP or any of its Affiliates has or will have a material interest, then such transaction shall be approved by a majority of the SITC Disinterested Directors not otherwise interested in such transaction. CURB OP shall report to the SITC Board the existence of, or change in, any condition or circumstance of which it has actual knowledge, which creates or would reasonably be expected to create a material conflict of interest between CURB OP’s obligations to SITC and its obligations to itself or any of its Affiliates, including any material business relationship with any SITC Director or with respect to any SITC Property.

 

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(b) If after the date hereof CURB OP shall propose to enter into any transaction (other than any transaction contemplated by this Agreement, the Separation and Distribution Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement or any other contract in effect as of the date hereof between CURB OP or one its Affiliates, on the one hand, and SITC or one of its Affiliates, on the other hand) in which SITC or any of its Affiliates has or will have a material interest, then such transaction shall be approved by a majority of the Directors of CURB not otherwise interested in such transaction. SITC shall report to CURB OP the existence of, or change in, any condition or circumstance of which it has actual knowledge, which creates or would reasonably be expected to create a material conflict of interest between SITC’s obligations to CURB OP and SITC’s obligations to itself or any of its Affiliates, including any material business relationship with any Director of CURB or with respect to any SITC Property.

(c) For purposes of this Section 15, the following shall be deemed not to create or give rise to a material conflict of interest: (i) CURB OP’s and its Affiliates’ interests in such other matters as may arise in the ordinary course of business in relation to the relationship between CURB OP and its Affiliates, on the one hand, and SITC and its Affiliates, on the other hand, as contemplated by this Agreement, including and without limiting the generality of the foregoing and for the avoidance of doubt, tenant leasing and development matters arising in the ordinary course of business or (ii) the fact that CURB OP and its Affiliates and SITC and its Affiliates may have the same lenders as one another.

16. NO RESTRICTIVE COVENANTS. Each party hereto agrees that this Agreement shall not include any non-solicit or other similar restrictive covenant with respect to the solicitation or hiring of employees or former employes of SITC and its Affiliates by CURB OP and its Affiliates. Accordingly, the parties hereto acknowledge and agree that in no event shall anything herein restrict or otherwise prohibit (or shall be interpreted or construed as restricting or otherwise prohibiting) CURB OP or any of its Affiliates from soliciting for employment, employing or attempting to employ any current or former employee or agent of SITC or any of its Affiliates, and none of CURB OP or any of its Affiliates shall be liable to SITC or its Affiliates by reason of any such activities or any such Person’s participation therein.

17. CONFIDENTIALITY; DATA PROTECTION.

(a) The following shall be considered “Confidential Information” under this Agreement: all proprietary or confidential information, provided or received in connection with the provision or receipt of the Services hereunder, concerning the business, business relationships (including prospective Properties, tenants and business partners) and financial affairs of any party hereto or its Affiliates (in each case, the party disclosing such information, the “Disclosing Party” and the party receiving such information, the “Receiving Party”), whether or not in writing, including trade secrets, know-how, research and development activities and information disclosed by third parties of a proprietary or confidential nature or under an obligation of confidence; provided, that Confidential Information does not include, and there shall be no obligation hereunder, with respect to information that (i) becomes available on a non-confidential basis to any Receiving Party or its Affiliates from a third-party source that is not known by such Receiving Party to be under any obligation of confidentiality with respect to such information or (ii) that is in the public domain or enters into the public domain through no fault of any Receiving Party. The foregoing shall not be in limitation of any restrictions set forth in the Separation and Distribution Agreement.

 

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(b) Each party hereto agrees to safeguard the other parties’ Confidential Information with the same degree of care used by such party to protect its own similar Confidential Information, but in no event less than a reasonable degree of care. Each Receiving Party further agrees that it shall not disclose the Disclosing Party’s Confidential Information; provided that (i) a Receiving Party may, to the extent reasonably necessary to provide the Services pursuant to this Agreement, disclose Confidential Information to any of its Affiliates, employees or other representatives or to third-party service providers that have agreed to maintain the confidentiality thereof; (ii) a Receiving Party may, to the extent reasonably necessary to receive the Services pursuant to this Agreement, disclose Confidential Information to any of its Affiliates, employees or other representatives or to third-party service providers that have agreed to maintain the confidentiality thereof; and (iii) as directed by the Disclosing Party. The agreements and obligations set forth in this Section 17(b) shall survive the expiration or termination of this Agreement until the second anniversary thereof.

(c) Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, Sections 17(a) and (b) shall not restrict the Receiving Party from disclosing the Disclosing Party’s Confidential Information to the extent reasonably necessary in connection with the enforcement of this Agreement or as required by applicable Law, rules, regulations or legal or regulatory process (including to the extent requested by any Governmental Authority in connection with any such Law, rules, regulations or legal or regulatory process), including any tax audit or litigation. In the event that Receiving Party or its Affiliates become legally required by deposition, interrogatory, request for documents, subpoena, civil investigative demand, regulatory request or similar judicial or administrative process to disclose any Confidential Information of the Disclosing Party, the Receiving Party shall, to the extent permitted by Law, provide the Disclosing Party with prompt prior Notice of such requirement so that the Disclosing Party may seek, at its expense, a protective order or other similar remedy to cause such Confidential Information not to be disclosed, and the Receiving Party shall reasonably cooperate with the Disclosing Party in connection with the Disclosing Party’s seeking of such protective order or similar remedy.

(d) Each party hereto shall process personal information owned by the other solely for the performance of its obligations under and in accordance with this Agreement, and in accordance with applicable data security and privacy laws.

18. SYSTEMS SECURITY.

(a) The parties hereto acknowledge that personnel of each party or such party’s Affiliates (the “Accessing Party”), as the case may be, will be given access to the other parties’ or its Affiliates’ (the “Granting Party”) information technology systems, information technology, platforms, networks, applications, software, software databases or computer hardware (“Systems”) in connection with the provision or receipt of the Services, in which there is no commercially practical method to partition or separate portions of the Systems or restrict the access of the personnel of the Accessing Party in connection with the Services. Accordingly, the Accessing Party shall comply with all of the Granting Party’s system security policies, procedures and requirements (collectively, “Security Regulations”), and shall not tamper with, compromise or circumvent any security or audit measures employed by the Granting Party or any of its Affiliates. Each Accessing Party shall ensure that its personnel accessing the Granting Party’s Systems are made aware of the restrictions set forth in this Agreement and the Security Regulations prior to connecting to the Granting Party’s Systems.

 

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(b) If the Granting Party in good faith determines that there is a material risk to the Granting Party due to the ability of the Accessing Party’s personnel to access the Granting Party’s Systems or data, the Granting Party may, but is under no obligation to, establish and implement commercially reasonable restrictions on the Accessing Party’s access to the Systems or data used in connection with the Services for the purposes of: (i) protecting the security of data on physical and electronic networks of the Granting Party; (ii) assuring compliance with contractual restrictions imposed by third parties; (iii) protecting the integrity of the Systems or data; or (iv) complying with applicable Law; provided that any such restrictions will be designed to minimize any disruption or limitation on the receipt and benefit of the Services by the Accessing Party; provided, further, that, prior to implementing any such restrictions, the Granting Party shall notify the Accessing Party of the reasons for seeking to limit such access including providing a description of the restrictions it intends to implement, and the parties hereto will cooperate in good faith to determine if such risks can be addressed without implementing such restrictions.

(c) If, at any time, an Accessing Party determines that any such personnel has (i) sought to circumvent, or has circumvented, the Security Regulations, (ii) has engaged in activities that may lead to destruction, alteration or loss of data, information or software of the Granting Party or any of its Affiliates, or (iii) has breached clause (y) of the last sentence of Section 14, the Accessing Party may immediately terminate any such person’s access to the Systems and immediately notify the Granting Party. Each Accessing Party shall cooperate with the relevant Granting Party in investigating any possible issues resulting from System’s access described in the preceding sentence.

19. INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY.

(a) Each party hereto shall retain all rights, title and interest in and to its intellectual property rights owned as of prior to the date hereof or outside the scope hereof, including any that may be used in connection with the Services. Recipient shall own all data generated by Service Provider specifically for Recipient as part of a Service. 

(b) With respect to the Services, each party hereto hereby grants to the other parties hereto a worldwide, non-exclusive, royalty-free, fully paid-up, non-sublicensable, non-transferable license for such Services to use such intellectual property owned or controlled by the other parties hereto as may be, and solely to the extent, required for such other parties hereto in their capacity as Service Provider or Recipient (as applicable) to provide or receive (as applicable) such Services under this Agreement. The foregoing license granted in this Section 19 shall expire upon the expiration of the Term or earlier termination of this Agreement. Subject to the terms and conditions hereof, the foregoing licenses are granted on an “as is, where is” basis, with all faults.

 

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20. JOINT REPRESENTATION MATTERS. Each party hereto recognizes that the provision of Services to, or receipt of Services from, the other under this Agreement will include the applicable Service Provider providing, or causing to be provided, legal counsel with respect to certain matters to the applicable Recipient (each such matter, a “Joint Representation Matter”), which Services shall be provided by internal counsel employed by the applicable Service Provider, who shall jointly represent both the Service Provider and Recipient as to each Joint Representation Matter (Service Provider’s internal counsel, when acting in such capacity, a “Joint Representation Attorney”); provided that the parties hereto may, from time to time, identify in writing internal counsel of the applicable party who shall be expressly excluded from the provision of such Services. With respect to the Joint Representation Matters, each party hereto (a) consents to such joint representation by the applicable Joint Representation Attorneys involved in such Joint Representation Matters, (b) waives any conflict of interest between the parties hereto arising from such joint representation, (c) agrees to the sharing of information and communications material to each such Joint Representation Matter with each other and the applicable Joint Representation Attorneys to the extent necessary for the provision of such legal services as contemplated hereunder by the applicable Joint Representation Attorney in the applicable Joint Representation Matter, and (d) agrees to maintain the confidentiality of such shared information and communications vis-à-vis all third parties. The intent of the parties hereto is to preserve, vis-à-vis all third parties, the attorney-client privilege and all other applicable legal privileges with respect to all Joint Representation Matters, and to permit the parties hereto to share information and engage in privileged communications with each other and/or Joint Representation Attorneys in any Joint Representation Matter without impacting or waiving in any way the applicability and enforceability of all such legal privileges as to third parties. Under no circumstances is it the intent of any party hereto, without express written consent, to waive any such privileges that any party hereto may assert against any third party.

21. TERM OF AGREEMENT. This Agreement shall be in effect as of the date hereof and continue in force until the third anniversary hereof (the “Term”) unless SITC or CURB OP elect to earlier terminate this Agreement in accordance with Section 22.

22. TERMINATION.

(a) SITC may terminate all CURB Services in their entirety at any time upon at least 30 days’ Notice to CURB OP.

(b) CURB OP may terminate all of the SITC Services in their entirety either (i) without cause upon at least 90 days’ Notice to SITC, or (ii) if SITC breaches any material provision of this Agreement and such material breach shall continue for a period of 20 Business Days after Notice thereof.

(c) CURB OP may, upon at least 30 days’ Notice to SITC, terminate all of the CURB Services in their entirety in the event of a change in the composition of the SITC Board at any time such that the SITC Continuing Directors cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority of the SITC Board.

(d) This Agreement may be terminated by SITC, upon a determination of a majority of the SITC Disinterested Directors: (i) upon at least 90 days’ Notice to CURB OP by SITC in the event of a SITC Change of Control and payment of the Termination Amount pursuant to Section 23(b), or (ii) upon at least 30 days’ Notice to CURB OP by SITC in the event of a CURB Change of Control or in the event of a change in the composition of the CURB Board at any time such that CURB Continuing Directors cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority of the CURB Board.

 

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(e) This Agreement may be terminated by CURB OP: (i) upon at least 30 days’ Notice to SITC in event of either a SITC Change of Control or a change in the composition of the SITC Board at any time such that the SITC Continuing Directors cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority of the SITC Board, or (ii) upon at least 90 days’ Notice to SITC in the event of a CURB Change of Control.

(f) This Agreement may be terminated by either SITC or CURB OP upon Notice 20 Business Days prior to the termination from the terminating party to the other party if the other party breaches any material provision of this Agreement and such material breach shall continue for a period of 20 Business Days after Notice thereof.

(g) This Agreement may also be terminated by SITC effective upon the second anniversary of the date hereof by providing Notice to CURB OP not later than 90 days prior to the second anniversary of the date hereof and payment to CURB OP of the Convenience Early Exit Amount.

23. EFFECT OF TERMINATION.

(a) In the event that CURB OP terminates all SITC Services in their entirety pursuant to Section 22(b)(ii) on account of SITC’s uncured material breach of this Agreement, SITC shall pay the Termination Amount to CURB OP on or prior to the effective date of the termination of the SITC Services.

(b) In the event that this Agreement is terminated by SITC pursuant to Section 22(d)(i) upon a SITC Change of Control, SITC shall pay the Termination Amount to CURB OP on the Termination Date.

(c) In the event that this Agreement is terminated by SITC pursuant to Section 22(g) effective on the second anniversary of the date hereof, SITC shall pay an amount equal to Convenience Early Exit Amount to CURB OP on the Termination Date.

(d) In the event that this Agreement is terminated by CURB OP (i) pursuant to Section 22(e)(i) upon a SITC Change of Control or a change in the composition of the SITC Board such that the SITC Continuing Directors cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority of the SITC Board or (ii) pursuant to Section 22(f), on account of SITC’s uncured material breach of this Agreement, in each case, SITC shall pay the Termination Amount to CURB OP on the Termination Date.

(e) Upon the expiration or earlier termination of this Agreement, unless instructed in writing by CURB OP prior to such time not to do so, SITC shall promptly transfer, or cause its applicable Affiliate to transfer, at no cost, and CURB OP or its applicable Affiliate shall accept, all computers and computer accessory equipment (e.g., monitors, docking stations, personal printers), smart phones and similar personal technology equipment or devices owned, leased or licensed at such time by SITC or one its Affiliates and provided for use in connection with the Services to any CURB employees during the Term or any former SITC employees who on such

 

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date are then CURB employees or are anticipated to become CURB employees. Each party hereto shall take all appropriate action, or cause to be done, and assist and cooperate with the other parties in doing, all things necessary or proper, and execute and deliver such documents as may be reasonably required to effect the transfers contemplated by the immediately preceding sentence.

(f) The provisions of Section 5, Section 16, Section 17 and Sections 20 through 36 (inclusive) shall survive any expiration or earlier termination of this Agreement.

24. ASSIGNMENT. None of the parties hereto may assign this Agreement or its rights hereunder or delegate its duties hereunder without the written consent of the other parties hereto; provided that any party hereto may assign this Agreement or any portion of its obligations or rights hereunder, including the right to receive any fees or other payments owed hereunder to any Affiliate of such party without the prior written consent of the others.

25. PAYMENTS TO AND DUTIES OF SERVICE PROVIDER UPON TERMINATION.

(a) After the Termination Date, Service Provider shall be entitled to receive from Recipient within 30 days after the Termination Date (i) all amounts then accrued and owing to Service Provider hereunder and (ii) reimbursement of expenses incurred by Service Provider in connection with facilitating the transition of the Services to Recipient or another third party (including any out-of-pocket expenses, including attorneys’ fees and disbursements).

(b) After the Termination Date, Service Provider shall promptly cooperate with Recipient in making an orderly transition of the Services.

26. INDEMNIFICATION; LIMITATION OF LIABILITY.

(a) CURB OP shall indemnify, defend and hold harmless SITC and its Affiliates, directors, officers, employees and agents, for and from all liability, claims, damages and losses, and related expenses, including reasonable attorneys’ fees, to the extent that such liability, claims, damages or losses and related expenses are incurred by reason of CURB OP’s gross negligence or willful misconduct as determined by a final, non-appealable determination of a court of competent jurisdiction in connection with its performance of any obligations or agreements of CURB OP hereunder; provided, however, that CURB OP shall not be held responsible for any action of the SITC Board or SITC executives in following or declining to follow any advice or recommendation given by CURB OP.

(b) SITC shall indemnify, defend and hold harmless CURB OP and its Affiliates, directors, officers, employees and agents, for and from all liability, claims, damages and losses, and related expenses, including reasonable attorneys’ fees, to the extent that such liability, claims, damages or losses and related expenses are incurred by reason of SITC’s gross negligence or willful misconduct as determined by a final, non-appealable determination of a court of competent jurisdiction in connection with its performance of any obligations or agreements of SITC hereunder; provided, however, that SITC shall not be held responsible for any action taken at the direction or request of CURB OP (or its executives and management exercising their supervisory authority over SITC employees in the provision of the SITC Services as contemplated hereunder).

 

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(c) Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, in no event will any party hereto have any obligation or liability to the other parties hereto or any of its Affiliates, directors, officers, employees or agents, for any indirect, special, incidental or consequential damages, including lost profits or savings, whether or not such damages are foreseeable, or in respect of any third-party claims (whether based in contract, tort or otherwise), relating to, in connection with or arising out of this Agreement, including the provision of Services hereunder.

27. NOTICES. Any notice, report or other communication (each a “Notice”) required or permitted to be given hereunder shall be in writing, and shall be given by being delivered (a) by hand, (b) by courier or overnight carrier or (c) by e-mail to the addresses set forth below:

To SITC:

SITE Centers Corp.

3300 Enterprise Parkway

Beachwood, Ohio 44122

Attention: General Counsel

e-mail: [***]

To CURB OP:

Curbline Properties Corp.

3300 Enterprise Parkway

Beachwood, Ohio 44122

Attention: General Counsel

e-mail: [***]

Any party may at any time give Notice in writing to the other parties of a change in its address for the purposes of this Section 27.

28. MODIFICATION. This Agreement shall not be amended, supplemented, terminated, modified, discharged or otherwise changed, in whole or in part, except by an instrument in writing signed by the parties hereto, or their respective successors or permitted assignees.

29. 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.

30. GOVERNING LAW. The provisions of this Agreement shall be construed and interpreted in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware, without regard to the principles of conflicts of laws thereof.

 

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31. DISPUTE RESOLUTION.

(a) GOOD-FAITH NEGOTIATION. Subject to Section 31(d), any party hereto seeking resolution of any dispute, controversy or claim (a “Dispute”) arising out of or relating to this Agreement, shall provide Notice thereof to the other party or parties hereto (each party, a “Dispute Party,” and such Notice the “Initial Notice”), and within 30 days of the delivery of the Initial Notice, the Dispute Parties shall attempt in good faith to negotiate a resolution of the Dispute. The negotiations shall be conducted by the highest ranking officer of each Dispute Party who is not also a director or officer of the other Dispute Party (and, in any event, holding, at a minimum, the title of vice president. It being acknowledged that if there are multiple such officers, any such officer may serve). All such negotiations shall be confidential and shall be treated as compromise and settlement negotiations for purposes of applicable rules of evidence. If the Dispute Parties are unable for any reason to resolve a Dispute within 30 days after the delivery of such Notice or if a Dispute Party reasonably concludes that the other Dispute Party is not willing to negotiate as contemplated by this Section 31(a), the Dispute shall be submitted to mediation in accordance with Section 31(b).

(b) MEDIATION. Any Dispute not resolved pursuant to Section 31(a) shall, at the written request of a Dispute Party (a “Mediation Request”), be submitted to nonbinding mediation in accordance with the then current International Institute for Conflict Prevention and Resolution (“CPR”) Mediation Procedure, except as modified herein. The mediation shall be held in New York, New York. The Dispute Parties shall have 20 days from receipt by a Dispute Party of a Mediation Request to agree on a mediator. If no mediator has been agreed upon by the Dispute Parties within 20 days of receipt by a Dispute Party of a Mediation Request, then a Dispute Party may request (on Notice to the other Dispute Party), that CPR appoint a mediator in accordance with the CPR Mediation Procedure. All mediation pursuant to this clause shall be confidential and shall be treated as compromise and settlement negotiations for purposes of applicable rules of evidence, and no oral or documentary representations made by the Dispute Parties during such mediation shall be admissible for any purpose in any subsequent proceedings. No Dispute Party shall disclose or permit the disclosure of any information about the evidence adduced or the documents produced by the other Dispute Party in the mediation proceedings or about the existence, contents or results of the mediation without the prior written consent of such other Dispute Party, except in the course of a judicial or regulatory proceeding or as may be required by Law or requested by a Governmental Authority or securities exchange. Before making any disclosure permitted by the preceding sentence, the Dispute Party intending to make such disclosure shall, to the extent reasonably practicable, give the other Dispute Party reasonable Notice of the intended disclosure and afford the other Dispute Party a reasonable opportunity to protect its interests. If the Dispute has not been resolved within 60 days of the appointment of a mediator, or within 90 days after receipt by a Dispute Party of a Mediation Request (whichever occurs sooner), or within such longer period as the Dispute Parties may agree to in writing, then the Dispute shall be submitted to binding arbitration in accordance with Section 31(c).

(c) ARBITRATION.

(i) In the event that a Dispute has not been resolved within 60 days of the appointment of a mediator in accordance with Section 31(b), or within 90 days after receipt by a Dispute Party of a Mediation Request (whichever occurs sooner), or within such longer period as the Dispute Parties may agree to in writing, then such Dispute shall, upon the written request of a Dispute Party (the “Arbitration Request”) be submitted to be finally resolved by binding arbitration pursuant to the CPR Arbitration Procedure. The arbitration shall be held in the same location as the mediation pursuant to Section 31(b). Unless

 

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otherwise agreed by the Dispute Parties in writing, any Dispute to be decided pursuant to this Section 31(c) will be decided (A) before a sole arbitrator if the amount in dispute, inclusive of all claims and counterclaims, totals less than $5 million; or (B) by a panel of three (3) arbitrators if the amount in dispute, inclusive of all claims and counterclaims, totals $5 million or more.

(ii) The panel of three arbitrators will be chosen as follows: (A) within 15 days from the date of the receipt of the Arbitration Request, each Dispute Party will name an arbitrator; and (B) the two Dispute Party-appointed arbitrators will thereafter, within 30 days from the date on which the second of the two arbitrators was named, name a third, independent arbitrator who will act as chairperson of the arbitral tribunal. In the event that either Dispute Party fails to name an arbitrator within 15 days from the date of receipt of the Arbitration Request, then upon written application by either Dispute Party, that arbitrator shall be appointed pursuant to the CPR Arbitration Procedure. In the event that the two Dispute Party-appointed arbitrators fail to appoint the third, then the third, independent arbitrator will be appointed pursuant to the CPR Arbitration Procedure. If the arbitration will be before a sole independent arbitrator, then the sole independent arbitrator will be appointed by agreement of the Dispute Parties within 15 days of the date of receipt of the Arbitration Request. If the Dispute Parties cannot agree to a sole independent arbitrator, then upon written application by either Dispute Party, the sole independent arbitrator will be appointed pursuant to the CPR Arbitration Procedure.

(iii) The arbitrator(s) will have the right to award, on an interim basis, or include in the final award, any relief which it deems proper in the circumstances, including money damages (with interest on unpaid amounts from the due date), injunctive relief (including specific performance) and attorneys’ fees and costs; provided that the arbitrator(s) will not award any relief not specifically requested by the Dispute Parties and, in any event, will not award any indirect, punitive, exemplary, remote, speculative or similar damages in excess of compensatory damages of the other Dispute Party arising in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby. Upon selection of the arbitrator(s) following any grant of interim relief by a special arbitrator or court pursuant to Section 31(d), the arbitrator(s) may affirm or disaffirm that relief, and the Dispute Parties will seek modification or rescission of the order entered by the court as necessary to accord with the decision of the arbitrator(s). The award of the arbitrator(s) shall be final and binding on the Dispute Parties, and may be enforced in any court of competent jurisdiction. The initiation of mediation or arbitration pursuant to this Section 31 will toll the applicable statute of limitations for the duration of any such proceedings.

 

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(d) LITIGATION AND UNILATERAL COMMENCEMENT OF ARBITRATION. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 31, (i) a Dispute Party may seek preliminary provisional or injunctive judicial relief with respect to a Dispute without first complying with the procedures set forth in Section 31(a), Section 31(b) and Section 31(c) if such action is reasonably necessary to avoid irreparable damage and (ii) either Dispute Party may initiate arbitration before the expiration of the periods specified in Section 31(b) and Section 31(c) if (A) such Dispute Party has submitted a Mediation Request or Arbitration Request, as applicable, and the other Dispute Party has failed, within the applicable periods set forth in Section 31(b), to agree upon a date for the first mediation session to take place within 30 days after the appointment of such mediator or such longer period as the Dispute Parties may agree to in writing or (B) such Dispute Party has failed to comply with Section 31(c) in good faith with respect to commencement and engagement in arbitration. In such event, the other Dispute Party may commence and prosecute such arbitration unilaterally in accordance with the CPR Arbitration Procedure.

(e) CONDUCT DURING DISPUTE RESOLUTION PROCESS. Unless otherwise agreed to in writing, the Dispute Parties shall continue to honor all commitments under this Agreement to the extent required during the course of dispute resolution pursuant to the provisions of this Section 31, unless such commitments are the specific subject of the Dispute at issue.

32. ENTIRE AGREEMENT. This Agreement contains the entire agreement and understanding among the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof, and supersedes all prior and contemporaneous agreements, 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 or usage of the trade inconsistent with any of the terms hereof.

33. NO WAIVER. Neither the failure nor any delay on the part of a party hereto 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.

34. CERTAIN INTERPRETATIVE MATTERS. For the purposes of this Agreement, (a) whenever the context may require, any pronoun shall include the corresponding masculine, feminine or neuter forms, and the singular form of nouns, pronouns and verbs shall include the plural and vice versa, (b) the words “include,” “includes” and “including” shall be deemed to be followed by the words “without limitation;” (c) the word “or” is not exclusive, (d) the words “herein,” “hereof,” “hereby,” “hereto” and “hereunder” refer to this Agreement as a whole, (e) references to any Person include the successors and permitted assigns of that Person, (f) “to the extent” means the degree to which a subject or other thing extends, and such phrase does not mean simply “if” and (g) unless the context otherwise requires, Sections and Exhibits mean Sections of and Exhibits attached to this Agreement. This Agreement shall be construed without regard to any presumption or rule requiring construction or interpretation against the party drafting an instrument or causing any instrument to be drafted. The Exhibits referred to herein shall be construed with, and as an integral part of, this Agreement to the same extent as if they were set forth verbatim herein.

 

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35. HEADINGS. The titles of Sections and Subsections 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.

36. EXECUTION IN COUNTERPARTS. This Agreement may be executed (including by facsimile, PDF or other electronic transmission) with counterpart signature pages or in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original as against any party hereto whose signature appears thereon, and all of which shall together constitute one and the same instrument.

[Remainder of page intentionally left blank]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have executed this Agreement as of the date first written above.

 

SITE CENTERS CORP.
By:    
  Name:
  Title:
CURBLINE PROPERTIES CORP.
By:    
  Name:
  Title:
CURBLINE PROPERTIES LP
  By: Curbline Properties Corp., its General Partner
By:    
  Name:
  Title:

 

[Signature Page to Shared Services Agreement]

Exhibit 10.3

FORM OF TAX MATTERS AGREEMENT

BETWEEN

SITE CENTERS CORP.,

CURBLINE PROPERTIES CORP.

AND

CURBLINE PROPERTIES LP

DATED AS OF [___], 2024


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

Section 1.

  Definition of Terms    2

Section 2.

  Allocation of Tax Liabilities    7

Section 2.1

  General Rule    7

Section 2.2

  General Allocation Principles    7

Section 2.3

  Allocation Conventions    8

Section 2.4

  Transfer Taxes    8

Section 3.

  Preparation and Filing of Tax Returns    8

Section 3.1

  SITC Separate Returns and Joint Returns    8

Section 3.2

  CURB Separate Returns    8

Section 3.3

  Tax Reporting Practices    8

Section 3.4

  CURB Carrybacks and Claims for Refund    9

Section 3.5

  Apportionment of Tax Attributes    10

Section 4.

  Tax Payments    10

Section 4.1

  Taxes Shown on Tax Returns    10

Section 4.2

  Adjustments Resulting in Underpayments    10

Section 4.3

  Indemnification Payments    10

Section 5.

  Tax Benefits    11

Section 5.1

  Tax Refunds    11

Section 5.2

  Other Tax Benefits    11

Section 6.

  REIT Qualification    12

Section 6.1

  SITC    12

Section 6.2

  CURB    12

Section 7.

  Assistance and Cooperation    13

Section 7.1

  Assistance and Cooperation    13

Section 7.2

  Tax Return Information    14

Section 7.3

  Reliance by SITC    14

Section 7.4

  Reliance by CURB    14

Section 8.

  Tax Records    14

Section 8.1

  Retention of Tax Records    14

Section 8.2

  Access to Tax Records    15

Section 8.3

  Preservation of Privilege    15

Section 9.

  Tax Contests    15

Section 9.1

  Notice    15

Section 9.2

  Control of Tax Contests    16

 

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Section 10.

  Survival of Obligations      18  

Section 11.

  Tax Treatment of Payments      18  

Section 11.1

  General Rule      18  

Section 11.2

  Interest      18  

Section 12.

  Indemnification Payment Escrow      18  

Section 12.1

  Indemnification Payments to CURB      18  

Section 12.2

  Indemnification Payments to SITC      20  

Section 13.

  Dispute Resolution      22  

Section 14.

  General Provisions      22  

Section 14.1

  Amendments and Waivers      22  

Section 14.2

  Entire Agreement      22  

Section 14.3

  Survival of Agreements      22  

Section 14.4

  Third Party Beneficiaries      22  

Section 14.5

  Notices      23  

Section 14.6

  Counterparts; Electronic Delivery      23  

Section 14.7

  Severability      23  

Section 14.8

  Assignability; Binding Effect      24  

Section 14.9

  Governing Law      24  

Section 14.10

  Construction      24  

Section 14.11

  Performance      24  

Section 14.12

  Title and Headings      24  

Section 14.13

  Other Agreements      25  

Section 14.14

  Payment Terms      25  

Section 14.15

  No Admission of Liability      25  

 

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TAX MATTERS AGREEMENT

This TAX MATTERS AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) is entered into as of [___], 2024, by and among SITE Centers Corp., an Ohio corporation (“SITC”), Curbline Properties Corp., a Maryland corporation and a direct, wholly owned subsidiary of SITC immediately prior to the Distribution (“CURB”) and Curbline Properties LP, a Delaware limited partnership and a direct and indirect wholly owned subsidiary of CURB at the time of the Distribution (“CURB OP” and, together with SITC and CURB, the “Parties” and each a “Party”).

RECITALS

WHEREAS, the board of directors of SITC (the “SITC Board”) has determined that it is in the best interests of SITC and its shareholders to create a new publicly traded company that shall operate the CURB Business;

WHEREAS, in furtherance of the foregoing, the SITC Board has determined that it is appropriate and desirable to separate the CURB Business from the SITC Business (the “Separation”);

WHEREAS, to effect the Separation (a) SITC or other SITC Group members have contributed or will contribute their respective interests in the CURB Assets to a CURB Group member, (b) CURB or another CURB Group member has assumed or will assume the CURB Liabilities, and (c) SITC or another SITC Group member has retained or assumed, or will retain or assume, the SITC Assets and SITC Liabilities;

WHEREAS, pursuant to the terms of the Separation and Distribution Agreement by and among SITC, CURB and CURB OP, dated on or about the date hereof (the “Separation Agreement”), SITC, CURB, and CURB OP intend to effect the Separation by distributing all of the outstanding shares of CURB common stock, par value $0.01 (“CURB Shares”), owned by SITC to the holders of record of the outstanding shares of SITC common stock, par value $0.10 (“SITC Shares”), as of the Record Date (the “Record Holders”), with such distribution to be made on a pro rata basis, with each Record Holder entitled to receive two (2) CURB Shares for every one SITC Share, excluding fractional CURB Shares, which will be aggregated and sold by the Agent to fund pro rata cash payments to the beneficial owners of SITC Shares who would otherwise be entitled to receive fractional CURB Shares (the “Distribution”);

WHEREAS, each of SITC and CURB has determined that it is appropriate and desirable to set forth the principal corporate transactions required to effect the Separation and the Distribution and certain other agreements that will govern certain matters relating to the Separation and the Distribution and the relationship of SITC, CURB and the members of their respective Groups following the Distribution;

WHEREAS, SITC and CURB desire to set forth their agreement on the rights and obligations of SITC and CURB and the members of the SITC Group and the CURB Group, respectively, with respect to (A) the administration and allocation of federal, state, local, and foreign Taxes incurred in Tax Periods beginning prior to the Distribution Date, (B) Taxes resulting from the Distribution and transactions effected in connection with the Distribution and (C) various other Tax matters.


NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and the covenants and agreements set forth below and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, and intending to be legally bound hereby, the Parties hereby agree as follows:

Section 1. Definition of Terms. For purposes of this Agreement (including the recitals hereof), the following terms have the following meanings:

Adjustment Request” means any formal or informal claim or request filed with any Tax Authority, or with any administrative agency or court, for the adjustment, refund, or credit of Taxes, including (i) any amended Tax Return claiming adjustment to the Taxes as reported on the Tax Return or, if applicable, as previously adjusted, (ii) any claim for equitable recoupment or other offset, and (iii) any claim for refund or credit of Taxes previously paid.

Affiliate” has the meaning set forth in the Separation Agreement.

Agent” has the meaning set forth in the Separation Agreement.

Agreement” means this Tax Matters Agreement.

Ancillary Agreements” has the meaning set forth in the Separation Agreement; provided, however, that for purposes of this Agreement, references to the Ancillary Agreements shall include the Shared Services Agreement but this Agreement shall not constitute an Ancillary Agreement.

Business Day” means a day other than a Saturday, a Sunday or a day on which banking institutions located in the State of New York are authorized or obligated by applicable Law or executive order to close.

Code” has the meaning set forth in the Separation Agreement.

Controlling Party” has the meaning set forth in Section 9.2(c) of this Agreement.

CURB” has the meaning provided in the preamble to this Agreement.

CURB Assets” has the meaning set forth in the Separation Agreement.

CURB Business” has the meaning set forth in the Separation Agreement.

CURB Carryback” means any net operating loss, net capital loss, excess Tax credit, or other similar Tax item of any member of the CURB Group which may or must be carried from one Tax Period to another prior Tax Period under the Code or other applicable Tax Law.

CURB Group” has the meaning set forth in the Separation Agreement.

CURB Indemnified Party” has the meaning set forth in Section 12 of this Agreement.

CURB Indemnity Payment” has the meaning set forth in Section 12 of this Agreement.

 

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CURB Liabilities” has the meaning set forth in the Separation Agreement.

CURB OP” has the meaning provided in the preamble to this Agreement.

CURB Separate Return” means any Tax Return of or including any member of the CURB Group (including any consolidated, combined or unitary return) that does not include any member of the SITC Group.

Dispute” has the meaning set forth in the Separation Agreement.

Distribution” has the meaning set forth in the recitals to this Agreement.

Distribution Date” has the meaning set forth in the Separation Agreement.

Effective Time” has the meaning set forth in the Separation Agreement.

Final Allocation” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.5(b) of this Agreement.

Governmental Authority” has the meaning set forth in the Separation Agreement.

Group” has the meaning set forth in the Separation Agreement.

Income Tax” means all U.S. federal, state, local and foreign income, franchise or similar Taxes imposed on (or measured by) net income or net profits.

Intended Tax Treatment” means the treatment of (i) CURB as a “qualified REIT subsidiary” as defined in Section 856(i)(2) of the Code until immediately prior to the Distribution, (ii) the formation of CURB as a new corporation immediately prior to the Distribution, and (iii) the Distribution as a taxable distribution under Section 301 of the Code.

IRS” has the meaning set forth in the Separation Agreement.

Joint Return” means any Tax Return that includes, by election or otherwise, one or more members of the SITC Group together with one or more members of the CURB Group.

Law” has the meaning set forth in the Separation Agreement.

Loss” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.2 of this Agreement.

Non-Controlling Party” has the meaning set forth in Section 9.2(c) of this Agreement.

Parties” and “Party” have the meaning set forth in the preamble to this Agreement.

Past Practices” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.3(a) of this Agreement.

Payment Date” means, with respect to a Tax Return, (A) the due date for any required installment of estimated Taxes, (B) the due date (determined without regard to extensions) for filing such Tax Return, or (C) the date such Tax Return is filed, as the case may be.

 

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Payor” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.3(a) of this Agreement.

Person” has the meaning set forth in the Separation Agreement.

Post-Distribution Period” means any Tax Period beginning after the Distribution Date and, in the case of any Straddle Period, the portion of such Tax Period beginning on the day after the Distribution Date.

Pre-Distribution Period” means any Tax Period ending on or before the Distribution Date and, in the case of any Straddle Period, the portion of such Straddle Period ending on and including the Distribution Date.

Prime Rate” means the “prime rate” as published in The Wall Street Journal, Eastern Edition.

Prior Group” means any group that filed or was required to file (or will file or be required to file) a Tax Return, for a Tax Period or portion thereof ending at the close of the Distribution Date, on an affiliated, consolidated, combined, unitary, fiscal unity or other group basis (including as permitted by Section 1501 of the Code) that includes at least one member of the CURB Group.

Privilege” means any privilege that may be asserted under applicable law, including, any privilege arising under or relating to the attorney-client relationship (including the attorney-client and work product privileges), the accountant-client privilege and any privilege relating to internal evaluation processes.

Proposed Allocation” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.5(b) of this Agreement.

Qualifying Income” means income described in Section 856(c)(2)(A) through (I) and 856(c)(3)(A) through (I) of the Code.

REIT” has the meaning set forth in the Separation Agreement.

REIT Guidance” means either a ruling from the IRS or an opinion of Tax counsel selected by the Party who has given the relevant REIT Savings Notice, which opinion shall be reasonably satisfactory to such Party.

REIT Savings Notice” means the Notice delivered by CURB or SITC, as the case may be, pursuant to Section 12 of this Agreement.

Required Party” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.3(a) of this Agreement.

Responsible Party” means, with respect to any Tax Return, the Party having responsibility for preparing and filing such Tax Return under this Agreement.

Retention Date” has the meaning set forth in Section 8.1 of this Agreement.

 

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Separation Agreement” has the meaning set forth in the recitals to this Agreement.

Shared Services Agreement” has the meaning set forth in the Separation Agreement.

SITC” has the meaning set forth in the preamble to this Agreement.

SITC Assets” has the meaning set forth in the Separation Agreement.

SITC Business” has the meaning set forth in the Separation Agreement.

SITC Group” has the meaning set forth in the Separation Agreement.

SITC Indemnified Party” has the meaning set forth in Section 12 of this Agreement.

SITC Indemnity Payment” has the meaning set forth in Section 12 of this Agreement.

SITC Liabilities” has the meaning set forth in the Separation Agreement.

SITC Separate Return” means any Tax Return of or including any member of the SITC Group (including any consolidated, combined or unitary return) that does not include any member of the CURB Group.

Specified REIT Requirements” means the requirements of Sections 856(c)(2) and (3) of the Code.

Straddle Period” means any Tax Period that begins before and ends after the Distribution Date.

Subsidiary” has the meaning set forth in the Separation Agreement.

Tax” or “Taxes” means any income, gross income, gross receipts, profits, capital stock, franchise, withholding, payroll, social security, workers compensation, unemployment, disability, property, ad valorem, value added, stamp, excise, severance, occupation, service, sales, use, license, lease, transfer, import, export, escheat, alternative minimum, universal service fund, estimated or other tax (including any fee, assessment, or other charge in the nature of or in lieu of any tax), imposed by any Governmental Authority or political subdivision thereof, and any interest, penalty, additions to tax or additional amounts in respect of the foregoing.

Tax Advisor” means a Tax counsel or accountant, in each case of recognized national standing.

Tax Attribute” means a net operating loss, net capital loss, unused investment credit, unused foreign Tax credit (including credits of a foreign company under Section 902 of the Code), excess charitable contribution, general business credit, research and development credit, earnings and profits, basis, or any other Tax Item that could reduce a Tax or create a Tax Benefit.

Tax Authority” means, with respect to any Tax, the Governmental Authority or political subdivision thereof that imposes such Tax, and the agency (if any) charged with the collection of such Tax for such entity or subdivision.

 

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Tax Benefit” means any refund, credit, or other item that causes reduction in otherwise required liability for Taxes.

Tax Contest” means an audit, review, examination, contest, litigation, investigation or any other administrative or judicial proceeding with the purpose or effect of redetermining Taxes (including any administrative or judicial review of any claim for refund).

Tax Item” means, with respect to any Income Tax, any item of income, gain, loss, deduction, or credit.

Tax Law” means the Law of any Governmental Authority or political subdivision thereof relating to any Tax.

Tax Opinion” means an opinion from a Tax Advisor regarding the qualification of SITC or CURB as a REIT (including but not limited to customary legal opinions concerning SITC’s or CURB’s qualification and taxation as a REIT issued in connection with the issuance by SITC or CURB of any security or in connection with any registration statement), or regarding the Tax treatment of all or any part of the Transactions.

Tax Period” means, with respect to any Tax, the period for which the Tax is reported as provided under the Code or other applicable Tax Law.

Tax Records” means any (i) Tax Returns, (ii) Tax Return workpapers, (iii) documentation relating to any Tax Contests, and (iv) any other books of account or records (whether or not in written, electronic or other tangible or intangible forms and whether or not stored on electronic or any other medium) maintained or required to be maintained under the Code or other applicable Tax Laws or under any record retention agreement with any Tax Authority, in each case filed or required to be filed with respect to or otherwise relating to Taxes.

Tax Return” means any report of Taxes due, any claim for refund of Taxes paid, any information return with respect to Taxes, or any other similar report, statement, declaration, or document filed or required to be filed under the Code or other Tax Law with respect to Taxes, including any attachments, exhibits, or other materials submitted with any of the foregoing, and including any amendments or supplements to any of the foregoing.

Transactions” means the Separation, Distribution and any other transactions contemplated by the Separation Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement.

Transfer Taxes” means all sales, use, transfer, real property transfer, intangible, recordation, registration, documentary, stamp or similar Taxes imposed in connection with the Transactions (excluding in each case, for the avoidance of doubt, any Income Taxes).

Treasury Regulations” means the regulations promulgated from time to time under the Code as in effect for the relevant Tax Period.

 

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Section 2. Allocation of Tax Liabilities.

Section 2.1 General Rule.

(a) SITC Liability. Except with respect to Taxes described in Section 2.1(b) of this Agreement, SITC shall be liable for, and shall indemnify and hold harmless the CURB Group from and against any liability for:

(i) Taxes that are allocated to SITC under this Section 2;

(ii) any Tax resulting from a breach of any of SITC’s representations or covenants in this Agreement, the Separation Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement; and

(iii) Taxes imposed on CURB or any member of the CURB Group pursuant to the provisions of Treasury Regulations § 1.1502-6 (or similar provisions of state, local, or foreign Tax Law) as a result of any such member being or having been a member of a Prior Group.

(b) CURB Liability. CURB shall be liable for, and shall indemnify and hold harmless the SITC Group from and against any liability for:

(i) Taxes that are allocated to CURB under this Section 2; and

(ii) any Tax resulting from a breach of any of CURB’s representations or covenants in this Agreement, the Separation Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement.

Section 2.2 General Allocation Principles. Except as otherwise provided in this Section 2, all Taxes shall be allocated as follows:

(a) Allocation of Taxes for Joint Returns. SITC shall be responsible for all Taxes reported, or required to be reported, on any Joint Return that any member of the SITC Group files or is required to file under the Code or other applicable Tax Law; provided, however, that to the extent any such Joint Return includes any Tax Item attributable to the operations or assets of any member of the CURB Group for any Post-Distribution Period, CURB shall be responsible for all Taxes attributable to such Tax Items, computed in a manner as jointly determined by SITC and CURB.

(b) Allocation of Taxes for Separate Returns.

(i) SITC shall be responsible for all Taxes reported, or required to be reported, on (x) a SITC Separate Return or (y) a CURB Separate Return with respect to a Pre-Distribution Period.

(ii) CURB shall be responsible for all Taxes reported, or required to be reported, on a CURB Separate Return with respect to a Post-Distribution Period.

 

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Section 2.3 Allocation Conventions.

(a) All Taxes allocated pursuant to Section 2.2 of this Agreement shall be apportioned between portions of a Tax Period based on a closing of the books and records on the close of the Distribution Date (in the event that the Distribution Date is not the last day of the Tax Period, as if the Distribution Date were the last day of the Tax Period), subject to adjustment for items accrued on the Distribution Date that are properly allocable to the Tax Period following the Distribution, as jointly determined by SITC and CURB; provided that any items not susceptible to such apportionment shall be apportioned on the basis of elapsed days during the relevant portion of the Tax Period.

(b) Any Tax Item of CURB, CURB OP or any member of the CURB Group arising from a transaction engaged in outside of the ordinary course of business on the Distribution Date after the Effective Time shall be properly allocable to CURB and any such transaction by or with respect to CURB, CURB OP or any member of the CURB Group occurring after the Effective Time shall be treated for all Tax purposes (to the extent permitted by applicable Tax Law) as occurring at the beginning of the day following the Distribution Date in accordance with the principles of Treasury Regulation § 1.1502-76(b) or any similar provisions of state, local or foreign Law.

Section 2.4 Transfer Taxes. Any Transfer Taxes shall be allocated solely to SITC.

Section 3. Preparation and Filing of Tax Returns.

Section 3.1 Section 3.1 SITC Separate Returns and Joint Returns.

(a) SITC shall prepare and file, or cause to be prepared and filed, all SITC Separate Returns and Joint Returns, and each member of the CURB Group to which any such Joint Return relates shall execute and file such consents, elections and other documents as SITC may determine, after consulting with CURB in good faith, are required or appropriate, or otherwise requested by SITC in connection with the filing of such Joint Return. CURB will elect and join, and will cause its respective Affiliates to elect and join, in filing any Joint Returns that SITC determines are required to be filed or that SITC elects to file, in each case pursuant to this Section 3.1(a).

(b) The Parties and their respective Affiliates shall elect to close the Tax Period of each CURB Group member on the Distribution Date, to the extent permitted by applicable Tax Law.

Section 3.2 CURB Separate Returns. CURB shall prepare and file (or cause to be prepared and filed) all CURB Separate Returns and the Tax Return for CURB OP for all taxable years that include or begin after the Distribution Date.

Section 3.3 Tax Reporting Practices.

(a) General Rule. Except as provided in Section 3.3(b) of this Agreement, SITC shall prepare any Straddle Period Joint Return in accordance with past practices, permissible accounting methods, elections or conventions (“Past Practices”) used by the members of the SITC Group and the members of the CURB Group prior to the Distribution Date with respect to such Tax Return, and to the extent any items, methods or positions are not covered by Past Practices, then SITC shall prepare such Tax Return in accordance with reasonable Tax accounting practices selected by SITC. With respect to any Tax Return that

 

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CURB has the obligation and right to prepare, or cause to be prepared, under this Section 3, including a CURB OP Tax Return that includes the Distribution Date, to the extent such Tax Return could affect SITC, such Tax Return shall be prepared in accordance with Past Practices used by the members of the SITC Group and the members of the CURB Group prior to the Distribution Date with respect to such Tax Return, and to the extent any items, methods or positions are not covered by Past Practices, such Tax Return shall be prepared in accordance with reasonable Tax accounting practices selected by CURB, subject to the consent of SITC (which consent may not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed).

(b) Consistency with Intended Tax Treatment. Notwithstanding anything contrary in this Agreement, the Separation Agreement, or any Ancillary Agreement, except as otherwise agreed by the Parties, the Parties shall prepare all Tax Returns consistent with the Intended Tax Treatment unless, and then only to the extent, an alternative position is required pursuant to a determination by a Tax Authority; provided, however, that neither Party shall be required to litigate before any court any challenge to the Intended Tax Treatment by a Tax Authority.

Section 3.4 CURB Carrybacks and Claims for Refund.

(a) CURB hereby agrees that, unless SITC consents in writing (which consent may not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed) or as required by Law, (i) no member of the CURB Group (nor its successors) shall file any Adjustment Request with respect to any Tax Return that could affect any Joint Return or any other Tax Return reflecting Taxes that are allocated to SITC under Section 2 and (ii) any available elections to waive the right to claim any CURB Carryback in any Joint Return or any other Tax Return reflecting Taxes that are allocated to SITC under Section 2 shall be made, and no affirmative election shall be made to claim any such CURB Carryback. In the event that CURB (or the appropriate member of the CURB Group) is prohibited by applicable Law from waiving or otherwise forgoing a CURB Carryback or SITC consents to a CURB Carryback (which consent may not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed), SITC shall cooperate with CURB, at CURB’s expense, in seeking from the appropriate Tax Authority such Tax Benefit as reasonably would result from such CURB Carryback, to the extent that such Tax Benefit is directly attributable to such CURB Carryback, and shall pay over to CURB the amount of such Tax Benefit within ten (10) days after such Tax Benefit is recognized by the SITC Group; provided, however, that CURB shall indemnify and hold the members of the SITC Group harmless from and against any and all collateral Tax consequences resulting from or caused by any such CURB Carryback, including, without limitation, the loss or postponement of any benefit from the use of Tax Attributes generated by a member of the SITC Group if (i) such Tax Attributes expire unused, but would have been utilized but for such CURB Carryback, or (ii) the use of such Tax Attributes is postponed to a later Tax Period than the Tax Period in which such Tax Attributes would have been used but for such CURB Carryback.

(b) SITC hereby agrees that, unless CURB consents in writing (which consent may not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed) or as required by Law, no member of the SITC Group shall file any Adjustment Request with respect to any CURB Separate Return.

 

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Section 3.5 Apportionment of Tax Attributes.

(a) Tax Attributes arising in a Pre-Distribution Period will be allocated to (and the benefits and burdens of such Tax Attributes will inure to) the members of the SITC Group and the members of the CURB Group in accordance with the Code, Treasury Regulations, and any other applicable Tax Law, and, in the absence of controlling legal authority or unless otherwise provided under this Agreement, Tax Attributes shall be allocated to the taxpayer that created such Tax Attributes.

(b) On or before the first anniversary of the Distribution Date, SITC shall deliver to CURB its determination in writing of the portion, if any, of any earnings and profits, Tax Attributes, overall foreign loss or other affiliated, consolidated, combined, unitary, fiscal unity or other group basis Tax Attribute which is allocated or apportioned to the members of the CURB Group under applicable Tax Law and this Agreement (“Proposed Allocation”). CURB shall have sixty (60) days to review the Proposed Allocation and provide SITC any comments with respect thereto. SITC shall accept any such comments that are reasonable, and such resulting determination will become final (“Final Allocation”). All members of the SITC Group and CURB Group shall prepare all Tax Returns in accordance the Final Allocation. In the event of an adjustment to the earnings and profits, any Tax Attributes or other affiliated, consolidated, combined, unitary, fiscal unity or other group basis attribute, SITC shall promptly notify CURB in writing of such adjustment. For the avoidance of doubt, SITC shall not be liable to any member of the CURB Group for any failure of any determination under this Section 3.5(b) to be accurate under applicable Tax Law; provided such determination was made in good faith.

(c) Except as otherwise provided herein, to the extent that the amount of any Tax Attribute is later reduced or increased by a Tax Authority or Tax Proceeding, such reduction or increase shall be allocated to the Party to which such Tax Attribute was allocated pursuant to Section 3.5(a) of this Agreement, as agreed by the Parties.

Section 4. Tax Payments.

Section 4.1 Taxes Shown on Tax Returns. SITC shall pay (or cause to be paid) to the proper Tax Authority the Tax shown as due on any Tax Return that a member of the SITC Group is responsible for preparing under Section 3 of this Agreement, and CURB shall pay (or cause to be paid) to the proper Tax Authority the Tax shown as due on any Tax Return that a member of the CURB Group is responsible for preparing under Section 3 of this Agreement. At least seven (7) Business Days prior to any Payment Date for any Straddle Period Joint Return, CURB shall pay to SITC the amount CURB is responsible for under the provisions of Section 2 as calculated pursuant to this Agreement.

Section 4.2 Adjustments Resulting in Underpayments. In the case of any adjustment pursuant to a final determination by a Tax Authority respect to any Tax, the Party to which such Tax is allocated pursuant to this Agreement shall pay to the applicable Tax Authority when due any additional Tax required to be paid as a result of such adjustment.

Section 4.3 Indemnification Payments.

(a) Except as provided in the last sentence of Section 4.1 of this Agreement, if any Party (the “Payor”) is required under applicable Tax Law to pay to a Tax Authority a Tax

 

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that another Party (the “Required Party”) is liable for under this Agreement, the Required Party shall reimburse the Payor within twenty (20) Business Days of delivery by the Payor to the Required Party of an invoice for the amount due, accompanied by evidence of payment and a statement detailing the Taxes paid and describing in reasonable detail the particulars relating thereto. The reimbursement shall include interest on the Tax payment computed at the Prime Rate based on the number of days from the date of the Payor’s payment to the Tax Authority to the date of reimbursement by the Required Party under this Section 4.3. The Required Party shall also pay to the Payor any reasonable costs and expenses related to the foregoing (including reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses) within five (5) days after the Payor’s written demand therefor.

(b) All indemnification payments under this Agreement shall be made by SITC directly to CURB and by CURB directly to SITC; provided, however, that if the Parties mutually agree for administrative convenience with respect to any such indemnification payment, any member of the SITC Group, on the one hand, may make such indemnification payment to any member of the CURB Group, on the other hand, and vice versa.

Section 5. Tax Benefits.

Section 5.1 Tax Refunds. SITC shall be entitled (subject to the limitations provided in Section 3.4 of this Agreement) to any refund (and any interest thereon received from the applicable Tax Authority) of Taxes for which SITC is liable hereunder, and CURB shall be entitled (subject to the limitations provided in Section 3.4 of this Agreement) to any refund (and any interest thereon received from the applicable Tax Authority) of Taxes for which CURB is liable hereunder. A Party receiving a refund to which another Party is entitled hereunder shall pay over such refund to such other Party within twenty (20) Business Days after such refund is received (together with interest computed at the Prime Rate based on the number of days from the date the refund was received to the date the refund was paid over).

Section 5.2 Other Tax Benefits.

(a) If (i) a member of the CURB Group actually realizes any Tax Benefit as a result of any liability, obligation, loss or payment (each, a “Loss”) for which a member of the SITC Group is required to indemnify any member of the CURB Group pursuant to this Agreement, the Separation Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement (in each case, without duplication of any amounts payable or taken into account under this Agreement, the Separation Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement), or (ii) if a member of the SITC Group actually realizes any Tax Benefit as a result of any Loss for which a member of the CURB Group is required to indemnify any member of the SITC Group pursuant to this Agreement, the Separation Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement (in each case, without duplication of any amounts payable or taken into account under this Agreement, the Separation Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement), and, in each case, such Tax Benefit would not have arisen but for such adjustment or Loss (determined on a “with and without” basis), CURB (in the case of the foregoing clause (i)) or SITC (in the case of the foregoing clause (ii)), as the case may be, shall make a payment to the other Party in an amount equal to the amount of such actually realized Tax Benefit in cash within ten (10) Business Days of actually realizing such Tax Benefit. To the extent that any Tax Benefit (or portion thereof) in respect of which any amounts were paid over pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this Section 5.2(a) is subsequently disallowed by the applicable Tax Authority, the Party that received such amounts shall promptly repay such amounts (together with any penalties, interest or other charges imposed by the relevant Tax Authority) to the other Party.

 

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(b) No later than ten (10) Business Days after a Tax Benefit described in Section 5.2(a) is actually realized by a member of the SITC Group or a member of the CURB Group, SITC or CURB, as the case may be, shall provide the other Party with a written calculation of the amount payable to such other Party pursuant to Section 5.2(a). In the event that SITC or CURB, as the case may be, disagrees with any such calculation described in this Section 5.2(b), such Party shall so notify the other Party in writing within twenty (20) Business Days of receiving such written calculation. The Parties shall endeavor in good faith to resolve such disagreement, and, failing that, the amount payable under this Section 5.2 shall be determined in accordance with Section 13 of this Agreement.

Section 6. REIT Qualification.

Section 6.1 SITC. SITC represents that commencing with its taxable year ended December 31, 1993, through its taxable year ending December 31, 2023, SITC was organized and operated in conformity with the requirements for qualification and taxation as a REIT under the Code. SITC covenants that it will (i) qualify as a REIT under the Code for its taxable year that includes the Distribution Date unless SITC obtains an opinion from a nationally recognized tax counsel or a private letter ruling from the IRS to the effect that SITC’s failure to maintain its REIT status will not cause CURB to fail to qualify as a REIT. SITC and each member of the SITC Group further covenants that SITC and each member of the SITC Group shall cooperate and take any and all actions reasonably requested by CURB necessary to enable CURB to obtain Tax Opinions including, but not limited to, providing (Y) information and representations to CURB and CURB’s tax counsel with respect to the composition of SITC’s income and assets, the composition of the holders of common stock of SITC, and SITC’s organization, operation and qualification as a REIT for its taxable year that includes the Distribution Date and for all prior taxable years and (Z) at such times as reasonably requested by CURB (in connection with offerings of CURB’s equity or debt securities or the filing of any registration statement by CURB or otherwise) an opinion from nationally recognized tax counsel on which CURB (and its tax counsel Jones Day) can rely, to the effect that SITC was organized and operated in conformity with the requirements for qualification and taxation as a REIT under the Code during the period commencing with its taxable year ended December 31, 1993, through the end of its taxable year that includes the Distribution Date.

Section 6.2 CURB. CURB covenants that it will (i) be organized and operate so that it will qualify as a REIT under the Code for its initial taxable year that includes the Distribution Date and (ii) elect to be taxable as a REIT commencing with its initial taxable year ending December 31, 2024. CURB and each member of the CURB Group further covenants that CURB and each member of the CURB Group shall cooperate and take any and all actions reasonably requested by SITC necessary to enable SITC to obtain Tax Opinions including, but not limited to, providing (Y) information and representations to SITC and SITC’s tax counsel with respect to the composition of CURB’s income and assets, the composition of the holders of common stock of CURB and CURB’s organization, operation and qualification as a REIT, in each case, for

 

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CURB’s taxable year that includes the Distribution Date and (Z) at such times as reasonably requested by SITC (in connection with offerings of SITC’s equity or debt securities or the filing of any registration statement by SITC or otherwise) an opinion from nationally recognized tax counsel on which SITC (and its tax counsel Jones Day) can rely, to the effect that CURB was organized and operated in conformity with the requirements for qualification and taxation as a REIT under the Code during its taxable year that included the Distribution Date.

Section 7. Assistance and Cooperation.

Section 7.1 Assistance and Cooperation.

(a) The Parties shall cooperate (and cause their respective Affiliates to cooperate) with each other and with each other’s agents, including accounting firms and legal counsel, in connection with Tax matters relating to the Parties and their Affiliates, including (i) preparation and filing of Tax Returns, (ii) determining the liability for and amount of any Taxes due (including estimated Taxes) or the right to and amount of any refund of Taxes, (iii) examinations of Tax Returns, and (iv) any administrative or judicial proceeding in respect of Taxes assessed or proposed to be assessed. Such cooperation shall include making all information and documents in their possession relating to any other Party and its Affiliates reasonably available to such other Party as provided in Section 8 of this Agreement. Each of the Parties shall also make available to any other Party, as reasonably requested and available, personnel (including officers, directors, employees and agents of the Parties or their respective Affiliates) responsible for preparing, maintaining, and interpreting information and documents relevant to Taxes, and personnel reasonably required as witnesses or for purposes of providing information or documents in connection with any administrative or judicial proceedings relating to Taxes.

(b) Prior to the end of its taxable year that includes the Distribution Date, SITC, and each member of the SITC Group, shall, upon request of CURB, provide CURB with quarterly information regarding SITC’s qualification as a REIT (including but not limited to quarterly information regarding the composition of SITC’s income and assets).

(c) Upon SITC’s reasonable determination that SITC may no longer qualify to be taxable as a REIT for any period ending on or before the end of its taxable year that includes the Distribution Date, SITC will give written notice of such determination to CURB within two (2) Business Days.

(d) Upon CURB’s reasonable determination that CURB may no longer qualify to be taxable as a REIT for any period ending on or before the end of its taxable year that includes the Distribution Date, CURB will give written notice of such determination to SITC within two (2) Business Days.

(e) Any information or documents provided under this Agreement shall be kept confidential by the Party receiving the information or documents, except as may otherwise be necessary in connection with the filing of Tax Returns or in connection with any administrative or judicial proceedings relating to Taxes. In addition, in the event that SITC determines that the provision of any information or documents to CURB or any of its Affiliates, or CURB determines that the provision of any information or documents to SITC or any SITC Affiliate, could be commercially detrimental, violate any Law or agreement or waive any Privilege, the Parties shall use commercially reasonable efforts to permit each other’s compliance with its obligations under this Section 7 in a manner that avoids any such harm or consequence.

 

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Section 7.2 Tax Return Information. Each of SITC and CURB, and each member of their respective Groups, acknowledges that time is of the essence in relation to any request for information, assistance or cooperation made pursuant to Section 7.1 of this Agreement or this Section 7.2. Each of SITC and CURB, and each member of their respective Groups, acknowledges that failure to conform to the reasonable deadlines set by the Party making such request could cause irreparable harm. Each Party shall provide to the other Party information and documents relating to its Group reasonably required by the other Party to prepare Tax Returns, including any pro forma returns required by the Responsible Party for purposes of preparing such Tax Returns. Any information or documents the Responsible Party requires to prepare such Tax Returns shall be provided in such form as the Responsible Party reasonably requests and at or prior to the time reasonably specified by the Responsible Party so as to enable the Responsible Party to file such Tax Returns on a timely basis.

Section 7.3 Reliance by SITC. If any member of the CURB Group supplies information to a member of the SITC Group in connection with a Tax liability and an officer of a member of the SITC Group signs a statement or other document under penalties of perjury in reliance upon the accuracy of such information, then upon the written request of such member of the SITC Group identifying the information being so relied upon, an applicable officer of CURB shall certify in writing that to his or her knowledge (based upon consultation with appropriate employees) the information so supplied is accurate and complete.

Section 7.4 Reliance by CURB. If any member of the SITC Group supplies information to a member of the CURB Group in connection with a Tax liability and an officer of a member of the CURB Group signs a statement or other document under penalties of perjury in reliance upon the accuracy of such information, then upon the written request of such member of the CURB Group identifying the information being so relied upon, an applicable officer of SITC shall certify in writing that to his or her knowledge (based upon consultation with appropriate employees) the information so supplied is accurate and complete.

Section 8. Tax Records.

Section 8.1 Retention of Tax Records. Each of SITC and CURB shall preserve and keep all Tax Records exclusively relating to the assets and activities of its Group for Pre-Distribution Periods, and SITC shall preserve and keep all other Tax Records relating to Taxes of the SITC and CURB Groups for Pre-Distribution Periods, for so long as the contents thereof may be or become material in the administration of any matter under the Code or other applicable Tax Law, but in any event until the later of (i) the expiration of any applicable statutes of limitations, or (ii) seven (7) years after the Distribution Date (such later date, the “Retention Date”). After the Retention Date, each of SITC and CURB may dispose of such Tax Records upon sixty (60) Business Days’ prior written notice to the other Party. If, prior to the Retention Date, (a) SITC or CURB reasonably determines that any Tax Records which it would otherwise be required to

 

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preserve and keep under this Section 8 are no longer material in the administration of any matter under the Code or other applicable Tax Law and the other Party agrees, then such first Party may dispose of such Tax Records upon sixty (60) Business Days’ prior notice to the other Party. Any notice of an intent to dispose given pursuant to this Section 8.1 shall include a list of the Tax Records to be disposed of describing in reasonable detail each file, book, or other record accumulation being disposed. The notified Parties shall have the opportunity, at their cost and expense, to copy or remove, within such sixty (60) Business Day period, all or any part of such Tax Records. If, at any time prior to the Retention Date, a Party or any of its Affiliates determines to decommission or otherwise discontinue any computer program or information technology system used to access or store any Tax Records, then such program or system may be decommissioned or discontinued upon ninety (90) Business Days’ prior notice to the other Party and the other Party shall have the opportunity, at its cost and expense, to copy, within such ninety (90) Business Day period, all or any part of the underlying data relating to the Tax Records accessed by or stored on such program or system.

Section 8.2 Access to Tax Records. The Parties and their respective Affiliates shall make available to each other for inspection and copying during normal business hours upon reasonable notice all Tax Records (and, for the avoidance of doubt, any pertinent underlying data accessed or stored on any computer program or information technology system) in their possession pertaining to (i) in the case of any Tax Return of the SITC Group, the portion of such return that relates to Taxes for which the CURB Group may be liable pursuant to this Agreement or (ii) in the case of any Tax Return of the CURB Group, the portion of such return that relates to Taxes for which the SITC Group may be liable pursuant to this Agreement, and shall permit the other Party and its Affiliates, authorized agents and representatives and any representative of a Tax Authority or other Tax auditor direct access, at the cost and expense of the requesting Party, during normal business hours upon reasonable notice to any computer program or information technology system used to access or store any Tax Records, in each case to the extent reasonably required by the other Party in connection with the preparation of Tax Returns or financial accounting statements, audits, litigation, or the resolution of items under this Agreement.

Section 8.3 Preservation of Privilege. The Parties and their respective Affiliates shall not provide access to, copies of, or otherwise disclose to any Person any documentation relating to Taxes existing prior to the Distribution Date to which Privilege may reasonably be asserted without the prior written consent of the other Party, such consent not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed.

Section 9. Tax Contests.

Section 9.1 Notice. Each Party shall provide prompt notice to the other Party of any written communication from a Tax Authority regarding any pending Tax audit, assessment or proceeding or other Tax Contest of which it becomes aware (i) related to Taxes for Tax Periods for which it is indemnified by the other Party hereunder or for which it may be required to indemnify the other Party hereunder or (ii) otherwise relating to the Intended Tax Treatment or the Transactions (including the resolution of any Tax Contest relating thereto). Such notice shall attach copies of the pertinent portion of any written communication from a Tax Authority and contain factual information (to the extent known) describing any asserted Tax liability in reasonable detail and shall be accompanied by copies of any notice and other documents

 

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received from any Tax Authority in respect of any such matters. If an indemnified Party has knowledge of an asserted Tax liability with respect to a matter for which it is to be indemnified hereunder and such Party fails to give the indemnifying Party prompt notice of such asserted Tax liability and the indemnifying Party is entitled under this Agreement to contest the asserted Tax liability, then (x) to the extent the indemnifying Party is precluded from contesting the asserted Tax liability in any forum as a result of the failure to give prompt notice, the indemnifying Party shall have no obligation to indemnify the indemnified Party for any Taxes arising out of such asserted Tax liability, and (y) to the extent the indemnifying Party is not precluded from contesting the asserted Tax liability in any forum, but such failure to give prompt notice results in a material monetary detriment to the indemnifying Party, then any amount which the indemnifying Party is otherwise required to pay the indemnified Party pursuant to this Agreement shall be reduced by the amount of such detriment.

Section 9.2 Control of Tax Contests.

(a) SITC Control. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, SITC shall have the right to control any Tax Contest with respect to any Tax matters relating to (i) a Joint Return, (ii) a SITC Separate Return and (iii) Transfer Taxes. Subject to Section 9.2(c) and Section 9.2(d) of this Agreement, SITC shall have absolute discretion with respect to any decisions to be made, or the nature of any action to be taken, with respect to any such Tax Contest.

(b) CURB Control. Except as otherwise provided in this Section 9.2, CURB shall have the right to control any Tax Contest with respect to any Tax matters relating to a CURB Separate Return and with respect to any Tax Contest with respect to CURB OP. Subject to Section 9.2(c) and Section 9.2(d) of this Agreement, CURB shall have reasonable discretion, after consultation with SITC, with respect to any decisions to be made, or the nature of any action to be taken, with respect to any such Tax Contest relating to a CURB Separate Return for a Pre-Distribution Period or Straddle Period, and absolute discretion with respect to any decisions to be made, or the nature of any action to be taken, with respect to any other such Tax Contest.

(c) Settlement Rights. The Controlling Party shall have the sole right to contest, litigate, compromise and settle any Tax Contest without obtaining the prior consent of the Non-Controlling Party; provided, that to the extent any such Tax Contest (i) could give rise to a claim for indemnity by the Controlling Party or its Affiliates against the Non-Controlling Party or its Affiliates under this Agreement, or (ii) is with respect to a CURB Separate Return for a Pre-Distribution Period or Straddle Period, then the Controlling Party shall not settle any such Tax Contest without the Non-Controlling Party’s prior written consent (which consent may not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed and must take into account the reasonable likelihood of success of such Tax Contest on its merits without regard to the ability of the Non-Controlling Party to pay). Subject to Section 9.2(e) of this Agreement, and unless waived by the Parties in writing, in connection with any potential adjustment in a Tax Contest as a result of which adjustment the Non-Controlling Party may reasonably be expected to become liable to make any indemnification payment to the Controlling Party under this Agreement: (I) the Controlling Party shall keep the Non-Controlling Party informed in a timely manner of all actions taken or proposed to be taken by the Controlling Party with respect to such potential

 

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adjustment in such Tax Contest; (II) the Controlling Party shall timely provide the Non-Controlling Party copies of any written materials relating to such potential adjustment in such Tax Contest received from any Tax Authority; (III) the Controlling Party shall timely provide the Non-Controlling Party with copies of any correspondence or filings submitted to any Tax Authority or judicial authority in connection with such potential adjustment in such Tax Contest; (IV) the Controlling Party shall consult with the Non-Controlling Party and offer the Non-Controlling Party a reasonable opportunity to comment before submitting any written materials prepared or furnished in connection with such potential adjustment in such Tax Contest; and (V) the Controlling Party shall defend such Tax Contest diligently and in good faith. The failure of the Controlling Party to take any action specified in the preceding sentence with respect to the Non-Controlling Party shall not relieve the Non-Controlling Party of any liability and/or obligation which it may have to the Controlling Party under this Agreement except to the extent that the Non-Controlling Party was actually harmed by such failure, and in no event shall such failure relieve the Non-Controlling Party from any other liability or obligation which it may have to the Controlling Party. In the case of any Tax Contest described in this Section 9, “Controlling Party” means the Party entitled to control the Tax Contest under such Section and “Non-Controlling Party” means (x) SITC if CURB is the Controlling Party and (y) CURB if SITC is the Controlling Party.

(d) Tax Contest Participation. Subject to Section 9.2(e) of this Agreement, and unless waived by the Parties in writing, the Controlling Party shall provide the Non-Controlling Party with written notice reasonably in advance of, and the Non-Controlling Party shall have the right to attend, any formally scheduled meetings with Tax Authorities or hearings or proceedings before any judicial authorities in connection with any potential adjustment in a Tax Contest pursuant to which the Non-Controlling Party may reasonably be expected to become liable to make any indemnification payment to the Controlling Party under this Agreement. The failure of the Controlling Party to provide any notice specified in this Section 9.2(d) to the Non-Controlling Party shall not relieve the Non-Controlling Party of any liability or obligation which it may have to the Controlling Party under this Agreement except to the extent that the Non-Controlling Party was actually harmed by such failure, and in no event shall such failure relieve the Non-Controlling Party from any other liability or obligation which it may have to the Controlling Party.

(e) Joint Returns. Notwithstanding anything in this Section 9 to the contrary, in the case of a Tax Contest related to a Joint Return, the rights of CURB and its Affiliates under Section 9.2(c) and Section 9.2(d) of this Agreement shall be limited in scope to the portion of such Tax Contest relating to Taxes for which CURB may reasonably expected to become liable to make any indemnification payment to SITC under this Agreement.

(f) Power of Attorney. Each member of the CURB Group shall execute and deliver to SITC (or such member of the SITC Group as SITC shall designate) any power of attorney or other similar document reasonably requested by SITC (or such designee) in connection with any Tax Contest (as to which SITC is the Controlling Party) described in this Section 9. Each member of the SITC Group shall execute and deliver to CURB (or such member of the CURB Group as CURB shall designate) any power of attorney or other similar document requested by CURB (or such designee) in connection with any Tax Contest (as to which CURB is the Controlling Party) described in this Section 9.

 

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Section 10. Survival of Obligations. The representations, warranties, covenants and agreements set forth in this Agreement shall be unconditional and absolute and shall remain in effect without limitation as to time.

Section 11. Tax Treatment of Payments.

Section 11.1 General Rule. Except as otherwise required by applicable Law or as otherwise agreed to by the Parties, any payment (other than interest thereon) made by SITC or any member of the SITC Group to CURB or any member of the CURB Group, or by CURB or any member of the CURB Group to SITC or any member of the SITC Group, pursuant to this Agreement, the Separation Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement that relates to Taxable periods (or portions thereof) ending on or before the Distribution Date shall be treated by the Parties for all Tax purposes as a capital contribution from SITC to CURB or a distribution by CURB to SITC, as the case may be, occurring immediately before the Distribution; provided, however, that any such payment that is made or received by a Person other than SITC or CURB, as the case may be, shall be treated as if made or received by the payor or the recipient as agent for SITC or CURB, in each case as appropriate. No Party shall take any position inconsistent with the treatment described in the preceding sentence, and in the event that a Tax Authority asserts that a Party’s treatment of a payment pursuant to this Agreement should be other than as set forth in the preceding sentence, such Party shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to contest such challenge.

Section 11.2 Interest. Anything herein or in the Separation Agreement to the contrary notwithstanding, to the extent one Party makes a payment of interest to the other Party under this Agreement with respect to the period from the date that the Party receiving the interest payment made a payment of Tax to a Tax Authority to the date that the Party making the interest payment reimbursed the Party receiving the interest payment for such Tax payment, the interest payment shall be treated as interest expense to the Party making such payment (deductible to the extent provided by Law) and as interest income by the Party receiving such payment (includible in income to the extent provided by Law). The amount of the payment shall not be adjusted to take into account any associated Tax Benefit to the Party making such payment or increase in Tax to the Party receiving such payment.

Section 12. Indemnification Payment Escrow.

Section 12.1 Indemnification Payments to CURB.

(a) With respect to any period in which CURB qualifies to be taxed as a REIT, notwithstanding any other provisions in this Agreement, the Separation Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement, any indemnification payments (a “CURB Indemnity Payment”) to be made to any member of the CURB Group pursuant to this Agreement, the Separation Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement (a “CURB Indemnified Party”) for any calendar year, upon receipt of a REIT Savings Notice from CURB at least fifteen (15) business days before the date on which such CURB Indemnity Payment is due, shall not exceed the sum of

(i) the amount that is determined (x) will not be gross income of CURB or (y) will be Qualifying Income of CURB, in each case for purposes of the Specified REIT Requirements and for any period in which CURB has made any election to be taxed as a REIT, with such determination to be set forth in REIT Guidance,

 

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plus

(ii) such additional amount that is estimated can be paid to CURB in such taxable year without causing CURB to fail to meet the requirements of Sections 856(c)(2) and (3) of the Code, determined (x) as if the payment of such amount did not constitute Qualifying Income and (y) by taking into account any other payments to CURB (and any other relevant member of the CURB Group) during such taxable year that do not constitute Qualifying Income, which determination shall be (xx) made by independent tax accountants to CURB, and (yy) submitted to and approved by CURB’s outside tax counsel.

(b) SITC shall place (or cause to be placed) the full amount of any CURB Indemnity Payments otherwise required to be made in a mutually agreed escrow account upon mutually acceptable terms, which shall provide that

(i) the amount in the escrow account shall be treated as the property of SITC or the applicable member of the SITC Group, unless it is released from such escrow account to any CURB Indemnified Party,

(ii) all income earned upon the amount in the escrow account shall be treated as the property of SITC or the applicable member of the SITC Group and reported, as and to the extent required by applicable Law, by the escrow agent to the IRS, or any other taxing authority, on IRS Form 1099 or 1042S (or other appropriate form) as income earned by SITC or the applicable member of the SITC Group whether or not said income has been distributed during such taxable year,

(iii) the amount in the escrow account shall be invested only as determined by SITC in its sole discretion in an interest bearing segregated account, and

(iv) any portion thereof shall not be released to any CURB Indemnified Party unless and until SITC receives any of the following: (x) a letter from CURB’s independent tax accountants indicating the amount that it is estimated can be paid at that time to the CURB Indemnified Parties without causing CURB to fail to meet the Specified REIT Requirements for the taxable year in which the payment would be made, which determination shall be made by such independent tax accountants or (y) an opinion of outside tax counsel selected by CURB, such opinion to be reasonably satisfactory to CURB, to the effect that, based upon a change in applicable Law after the date on which payment was first deferred hereunder, receipt of the additional amount of CURB Indemnification Payments otherwise required to be paid either would be excluded from gross income of CURB for purposes of the Specified REIT Requirements or would constitute Qualifying Income, in either of which events amounts shall be released from the escrow account to the applicable CURB Indemnified Parties in an amount equal to the lesser of the unpaid CURB Indemnification Payments due and owing (determined without regard to this Section 12.1 or the maximum amount stated in the letter referred to in clause (iv)(x) above.

 

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(c) Any amount held in escrow pursuant to Section 12.1(b) for ten (10) years shall be released from such escrow to be used as determined by SITC in its sole and absolute discretion.

(d) CURB shall bear all costs and expenses with respect to the escrow.

(e) SITC shall cooperate in good faith with CURB (including amending this Section 12.1 at the reasonable request of CURB) in order to (1) maximize the portion of the payments that may be made to the CURB Indemnified Parties hereunder without causing CURB to fail to meet the Specified REIT Requirements, (2) improve CURB’s chances of securing a favorable ruling described in this Section 12.1 or (3) assist CURB in obtaining a favorable opinion from its outside tax counsel or determination from its tax accountants as described in this Section 12.1. Such cooperation shall include, for example, agreeing to make payments hereunder to a taxable REIT subsidiary of CURB or an affiliate or designee of CURB. CURB shall reimburse SITC for all reasonable costs and expenses of such cooperation.

Section 12.2 Indemnification Payments to SITC.

(a) With respect to any period in which SITC qualifies to be taxed as a REIT, notwithstanding any other provisions in this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement, any indemnification payments (a “SITC Indemnity Payment”) to be made to any member of the SITC Group (“SITC Indemnified Party”) pursuant to this Agreement, the Separation Agreement, or any Ancillary Agreement for any calendar year, upon receipt of a REIT Savings Notice from SITC at least fifteen (15) business days before the date on which such SITC Indemnity Payment is due, shall not exceed the sum of

(i) the amount that is determined (x) will not be gross income of SITC or (y) will be Qualifying Income of SITC, in each case for purposes of the Specified REIT Requirements and for any period in which SITC has made any election to be taxed as a REIT, with such determination to be set forth in REIT Guidance,

plus

(ii) such additional amount that is estimated can be paid to SITC in such taxable year without causing SITC to fail to meet the requirements of Sections 856(c)(2) and (3) of the Code, determined (x) as if the payment of such amount did not constitute Qualifying Income and (y) by taking into account any other payments to SITC (and any other relevant member of the SITC Group) during such taxable year that do not constitute Qualifying Income, which determination shall be (xx) made by independent tax accountants to SITC, and (yy) submitted to and approved by SITC’s outside tax counsel.

(b) CURB shall place (or cause to be placed) the full amount of any SITC Indemnity Payments otherwise required to be made in a mutually agreed escrow account upon mutually acceptable terms, which shall provide that

 

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(i) the amount in the escrow account shall be treated as the property of CURB or the applicable member of the CURB Group, unless it is released from such escrow account to any SITC Indemnified Party,

(ii) all income earned upon the amount in the escrow account shall be treated as the property of CURB or the applicable member of the CURB Group and reported, as and to the extent required by applicable Law, by the escrow agent to the IRS, or any other taxing authority, on IRS Form 1099 or 1042S (or other appropriate form) as income earned by CURB or the applicable member of the CURB Group whether or not said income has been distributed during such taxable year,

(iii) the amount in the escrow account shall be invested only as determined by CURB in its sole discretion in an interest bearing segregated account, and

(iv) any portion thereof shall not be released to any SITC Indemnified Party unless and until CURB receives any of the following: (x) a letter from SITC’s independent tax accountants indicating the amount that it is estimated can be paid at that time to the SITC Indemnified Parties without causing SITC to fail to meet the Specified REIT Requirements for the taxable year in which the payment would be made, which determination shall be made by such independent tax accountants or (y) an opinion of outside tax counsel selected by SITC, such opinion to be reasonably satisfactory to SITC, to the effect that, based upon a change in applicable Law after the date on which payment was first deferred hereunder, receipt of the additional amount of SITC Indemnity Payments otherwise required to be paid either would be excluded from gross income of SITC for purposes of the Specified REIT Requirements or would constitute Qualifying Income, in either of which events amounts shall be released from the escrow account to the applicable SITC Indemnified Parties in an amount equal to the lesser of the unpaid SITC Indemnity Payments due and owing (determined without regard to this Section 12.2 or the maximum amount stated in the letter referred to in clause (iv)(x) above.

(c) Any amount held in escrow pursuant to Section 12.2(b) for ten (10) years shall be released from such escrow to be used as determined by CURB in its sole and absolute discretion.

(d) SITC shall bear all costs and expenses with respect to the escrow.

(e) CURB shall cooperate in good faith with SITC (including amending this Section 12.2 at the reasonable request of SITC) in order to (1) maximize the portion of the payments that may be made to the SITC Indemnified Parties hereunder without causing SITC to fail to meet the Specified REIT Requirements, (2) improve SITC’s chances of securing a favorable ruling described in this Section 12.2, or (3) assist SITC in obtaining a favorable opinion from its outside tax counsel or determination from its tax accountants as described in this Section 12.2. Such cooperation shall include, for example, agreeing to make payments hereunder to a taxable REIT subsidiary of SITC or an affiliate or designee of SITC. SITC shall reimburse CURB for all reasonable costs and expenses of such cooperation.

 

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Section 13. Dispute Resolution. Any and all Disputes arising hereunder shall be resolved through the procedures provided in Article VII of the Separation Agreement.

Section 14. General Provisions.

Section 14.1 Amendments and Waivers.

(a) Subject to Section 9.1 of the Separation Agreement, this Agreement may not be amended except by an agreement in writing signed by both Parties.

(b) Any term or provision of this Agreement may be waived, or the time for its performance may be extended, by the Party entitled to the benefit thereof and any such waiver shall be validly and sufficiently given for the purposes of this Agreement if it is in writing signed by an authorized representative of such Party. No delay or failure in exercising any right, power or remedy hereunder shall affect or operate as a waiver thereof; nor shall any single or partial exercise thereof or any abandonment or discontinuance of steps to enforce such a right, power or remedy preclude any further exercise thereof or of any other right, power or remedy. The rights and remedies hereunder are cumulative and not exclusive of any rights or remedies that either Party would otherwise have.

Section 14.2 Entire Agreement. This Agreement, the Ancillary Agreements, and the Exhibits and Schedules referenced herein and therein and attached hereto or thereto, constitute the entire agreement and understanding between the Parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersede all prior negotiations, agreements, commitments, writings, courses of dealing and understandings with respect to the subject matter hereof; for the avoidance of doubt, the preceding clause shall apply to all other agreements, whether or not written, in respect of any Tax between or among any member or members of the SITC Group, on the one hand, and any member or members of the CURB Group, on the other hand, which agreements shall be of no further effect between the parties thereto and any rights or obligations existing thereunder shall be fully and finally settled, calculated as of the date hereof. Except as expressly set forth in the Separation Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement: (i) all matters relating to Taxes and Tax Returns of the Parties and their respective Subsidiaries, to the extent such matters are the subject of this Agreement, shall be governed exclusively by this Agreement; and (ii) for the avoidance of doubt, in the event of any conflict between the Separation Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement, on the one hand, and this Agreement, on the other hand, with respect to such matters, the terms and conditions of this Agreement shall govern.

Section 14.3 Survival of Agreements. Except as otherwise expressly contemplated by this Agreement, all covenants and agreements of the Parties contained in this Agreement shall survive the Effective Time and remain in full force and effect in accordance with their applicable terms.

Section 14.4 Third Party Beneficiaries. Except as specifically provided herein, this Agreement is solely for the benefit of the Parties and should not be deemed to confer upon third parties any remedy, claim, liability, reimbursement, cause of action or other right in excess of those existing without reference to this Agreement.

 

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Section 14.5 Notices. All notices, requests, permissions, waivers and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given (a) five (5) Business Days following sending by registered or certified mail, postage prepaid, (b) when sent, if sent by e-mail, (c) when delivered, if delivered personally to the intended recipient, and (d) one (1) Business Day following sending by overnight delivery via a national courier service and, in each case, addressed to a Party at the following address for such Party.

 

  (a)

If to SITC:

SITE Centers Corp.

3300 Enterprise Parkway

Beachwood, OH 44122

Attention: General Counsel

e-mail: [***]

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

Jones Day

901 Lakeside Avenue

Cleveland, OH 44114

Attention: Peter Izanec

e-mail: [***]

 

  (b)

If to CURB:

Curbline Properties Corp.

3300 Enterprise Parkway

Beachwood, OH 44122

Attention: General Counsel

e-mail: [***]

Section 14.6 Counterparts; Electronic Delivery. This Agreement may be executed in multiple counterparts, each of which when executed shall be deemed to be an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same agreement. Execution and delivery of this Agreement or any other documents pursuant to this Agreement by electronic means shall be deemed to be, and shall have the same legal effect as, execution by an original signature and delivery in person.

Section 14.7 Severability. If any term or other provision of this Agreement or the Exhibits and Schedules attached hereto or thereto is determined by a nonappealable decision by a court, administrative agency or arbitrator to be invalid, illegal or incapable of being enforced by any rule of law or public policy, all other conditions and provisions of this Agreement shall nevertheless remain in full force and effect so long as the economic or legal substance of the Transactions is not affected in any manner materially adverse to either Party. Upon such determination that any term or other provision is invalid, illegal or incapable of being enforced, the court, administrative agency or arbitrator shall interpret this Agreement so as to affect the original intent of the Parties as closely as possible in an acceptable manner to the end that the Transactions are fulfilled to the fullest extent possible. If any sentence in this Agreement is so broad as to be unenforceable, the provision shall be interpreted to be only as broad as is enforceable.

 

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Section 14.8 Assignability; Binding Effect. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the Parties and their successors and permitted assigns; provided, however, that the rights and obligations of each Party under this Agreement shall not be assignable, in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, whether by operation of law or otherwise, by such Party without the prior written consent of the other Party (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed) and any attempt to assign any rights or obligations under this Agreement without such consent shall be null and void. Notwithstanding the foregoing, either Party may assign its rights and obligations under this Agreement to any of their respective Affiliates provided that no such assignment shall release such assigning Party from any liability or obligation under this Agreement.

Section 14.9 Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed and enforced in accordance with, the substantive laws of the State of New York, without regard to any conflicts of law provisions thereof that would result in the application of the laws of any other jurisdiction.

Section 14.10 Construction. This Agreement shall be construed as if jointly drafted by the Parties and no rule of construction or strict interpretation shall be applied against either Party. The Parties represent that this Agreement is entered into with full consideration of any and all rights which the Parties may have. The Parties have relied upon their own knowledge and judgment. The Parties have had access to independent legal advice, have conducted such investigations they thought appropriate, and have consulted with such other independent advisors as they deemed appropriate regarding this Agreement and their rights and asserted rights in connection therewith. The Parties are not relying upon any representations or statements made by the other Party, or such other Party’s employees, agents, representatives or attorneys, regarding this Agreement, except to the extent such representations are expressly set forth or incorporated in this Agreement. The Parties are not relying upon a legal duty, if one exists, on the part of the other Party (or such other Party’s employees, agents, representatives or attorneys) to disclose any information in connection with the execution of this Agreement or their preparation, it being expressly understood that neither Party shall ever assert any failure to disclose information on the part of the other Party as a ground for challenging this Agreement.

Section 14.11 Performance. Each Party shall cause to be performed, and hereby guarantees the performance of, all actions, agreements and obligations set forth herein to be performed by any Subsidiary or Affiliate of such Party.

Section 14.12 Title and Headings. Titles and headings to Sections and Articles are inserted for the convenience of reference only and are not intended to be a part of or to affect the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement.

 

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Section 14.13 Other Agreements. Except as expressly set forth herein, this Agreement is not intended to address, and should not be interpreted to address, the matters specifically and expressly covered by the Separation Agreement or the Ancillary Agreements.

Section 14.14 Payment Terms.

(a) Except as otherwise expressly provided to the contrary in this Agreement, any amount to be paid or reimbursed by a Party (where applicable, or a member of such Party’s Group) to the other Party (where applicable, or a member of such other Party’s Group) under this Agreement shall be paid or reimbursed hereunder within sixty (60) days after presentation of an invoice or a written demand therefor, in either case setting forth, or accompanied by, reasonable documentation or other reasonable explanation supporting such amount.

(b) Except as expressly provided to the contrary in this Agreement, any amount not paid when due pursuant to this Agreement (and any amount billed or otherwise invoiced or demanded and properly payable that is not paid within sixty (60) days of such bill, invoice or other demand) shall bear interest at a rate per annum equal to the Prime Rate, from time to time in effect, plus two percent (2%), calculated for the actual number of days elapsed, accrued from the date on which such payment was due up to the date of the actual receipt of payment.

(c) Without the consent of the Party receiving any payment under this Agreement specifying otherwise, all payments to be made by either SITC or CURB under this Agreement shall be made in U.S. dollars. Except as expressly provided herein, any amount which is not expressed in U.S. dollars shall be converted into U.S. dollars by using the exchange rate published on Bloomberg at 5:00 pm, Eastern time, on the day before the relevant date, or in The Wall Street Journal on such date if not so published on Bloomberg. Except as expressly provided herein, in the event that any Tax indemnity payment required to be made hereunder may be denominated in a currency other than U.S. dollars, the amount of such payment shall be converted into U.S. dollars on the date in which notice of the claim is given to the indemnifying Party.

Section 14.15 No Admission of Liability. The allocation of assets and liabilities herein is solely for the purpose of allocating such assets and liabilities between SITC and CURB and is not intended as an admission of liability or responsibility for any alleged liabilities vis-à-vis any third party, including with respect to the liabilities of any non-wholly owned subsidiary of SITC or CURB.

[Signature Page Follows]

 

- 25 -


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have caused this Agreement to be executed by their respective officers as of the date first set forth above.

 

SITE CENTERS CORP.

 

By:  
 

 

Name:

 

Title:

 

CURBLINE PROPERTIES CORP.

 

By:  
 

 

Name:

 

Title:

 

CURBLINE PROPERTIES LP

 

 

By: Curbline Properties Corp.,

its General Partner

 

By:  
 

 

Name:

  Title:

[Signature Page to Tax Matters Agreement]

 

- 26 -

Exhibit 10.4

 

 

 

FORM OF EMPLOYEE MATTERS AGREEMENT

BY AND AMONG

SITE CENTERS CORP.,

CURBLINE PROPERTIES CORP.,

AND

CURBLINE PROPERTIES LP

DATED AS OF [___], 2024

 

 

 


EMPLOYEE MATTERS AGREEMENT

This EMPLOYEE MATTERS AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”), dated as of [___], 2024, is by and among SITE Centers Corp., an Ohio corporation (“SITC”), Curbline Properties Corp., a Maryland corporation, and a directly, wholly owned subsidiary of SITC (“CURB”), and Curbline Properties LP, a Delaware limited partnership (“CURB OP”) (each, a “Party” and together, the “Parties”). Capitalized terms used herein shall have the respective meanings assigned to them in Article I.

WHEREAS, the Parties have entered into a Separation and Distribution Agreement, dated as of October 1, 2024 (the “Separation Agreement”) to effectuate the Distribution, and have entered or will enter into other Ancillary Agreements that will govern certain matters relating to the Distribution and the relationship of SITC, CURB and their respective Affiliates prior to and following the Distribution Date; and

WHEREAS, pursuant to the Separation Agreement, the Parties have agreed to enter into this Agreement for the purpose of allocating assets, Liabilities and responsibilities with respect to certain human resources, employee compensation and benefits matters among them to the extent not provided in, or that vary from, the Separation Agreement.

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

ARTICLE I

DEFINITIONS AND INTERPRETATION

1.1 Selected Definitions. The following terms shall have the following meanings:

401(k) Plan Governing Documents” has the meaning given to such term in Section 3.1(a) of this Agreement.

Adjusted CURB RSU” means a restricted stock unit award with respect to CURB Shares granted by CURB as described in Section 5.1(b)(ii) that vests solely based on the passage of time.

Adjusted SITC Compensation Award” means each Adjusted SITC Option, Adjusted SITC RSU, and Replacement SITC RSU.

Adjusted SITC Option” means an option to acquire SITC Shares relating to a SITC Option as described in Section 5.1(a).

Adjusted SITC RSU” means a time-based restricted stock unit award with respect to SITC Shares relating to SITC RSUs that vests solely based on the passage of time as described in Section 5.1(b)(i).

Affiliate” has the meaning given to such term in the Separation Agreement.


Agreement” has the meaning given to such term in the preamble to this Agreement.

Ancillary Agreement” has the meaning given to such term in the Separation Agreement.

Assumed NQDC Plan Liabilities” has the meaning given to such term in Section 6.1 of this Agreement.

Benefit Plan” means, with respect to an entity, any “employee benefit plan” (as defined in Section 3(3) of ERISA), and each plan, program, arrangement, agreement or commitment that is an employment, consulting, non-competition or deferred compensation agreement, or an executive compensation, incentive bonus or other bonus, employee pension, profit-sharing, savings, retirement, supplemental retirement, stock option, stock purchase, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock, operating partnership unit, other equity-based compensation, severance pay, salary continuation, life, health, hospitalization, sick leave, vacation pay, paid time-off, disability or accident insurance plan, program, arrangement, agreement or commitment, corporate-owned or key-man life insurance or other employee benefit plan, program, arrangement, agreement or commitment, sponsored or maintained by such entity (or to which such entity contributes or is required to contribute or with respect to which such entity has any Liability).

COBRA” means the continuation coverage requirements for “group health plans” under Code Section 4980B and Sections 601 through 608 of ERISA, and any similar state group health plan continuation Law, together with all regulations and proposed regulations promulgated thereunder.

Code” has the meaning given to such term in the Separation Agreement.

CURB” has the meaning given to such term in the preamble to this Agreement.

CURB 401(k) Plan” has the meaning given to such term in Section 3.1(a) of this Agreement.

CURB Benefit Plan” means any Benefit Plan sponsored or maintained by a member of the CURB Group after the Effective Time, but excluding any SITC Benefit Plan.

CURB Compensation Award” means each Adjusted CURB RSU and Replacement CURB RSU.

CURB Employment Agreement” has the meaning given to such term in Section 7.3 of this Agreement.

CURB ERISA Group” means CURB and the members of the CURB Group that are ERISA Affiliates of CURB.

CURB Group” has the meaning given to such term in the Separation Agreement.

 

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CURB Group Employee” means any person who, immediately following the Effective Time, is an Employee of any member of the CURB Group, including any such Employee who is on an approved leave at such time.

CURB NQDC Plan” has the meaning given to such term in Section 6.1 of this Agreement.

CURB OP” has the meaning given to such term in the preamble to this Agreement.

CURB Participant” means any CURB Group Employee who immediately prior to the Distribution holds SITC Compensation Awards, or a beneficiary, dependent or alternate payee of such person.

CURB Per-Share Value” means the average of the daily volume-weighted average price of a CURB Share solely on the NYSE on each of the Distribution Date and the nine trading days immediately following the Distribution Date (as traded on the “regular way” market) as reported by Bloomberg L.P. or any successor thereto.

CURB Shares” has the meaning given to such term in the Separation Agreement.

CURB Welfare Plans” has the meaning given to such term in Section 4.1 of this Agreement.

Distribution” has the meaning given to such term in the Separation Agreement.

Distribution Date” has the meaning given to such term in the Separation Agreement.

Effective Time” has the meaning given to such term in the Separation Agreement.

Employee” means any individual who is a full-time or part-time employee of the applicable entity.

Employment Agreement” means any individual employment, retention, consulting, change in control, split dollar life insurance, sale bonus, incentive bonus, severance or other individual compensatory agreement between any current or former employee and SITC or any of its Affiliates.

ERISA” means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended.

ERISA Affiliate” means, with respect to a specified Person, any trade or business (whether or not incorporated) (i) under common control within the meaning of Section 4001(b)(1) of ERISA with the specified Person or (ii) which together with the specified Person is treated as a single employer under Section 414(t) of the Code.

 

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Former Employee” means any former Employee of a member of the SITC Group or of the CURB Group, as of immediately prior to the Effective Time, whether having last been employed by a member of the SITC Group or a member of the CURB Group, including retired Employees.

Group” has the meaning given to such term in the Separation Agreement.

HIPAA” means the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, as amended.

Indemnities” has the meaning given to such term in the Separation Agreement.

Information” has the meaning given to such term in the Separation Agreement.

Law” has the meaning given to such term in the Separation Agreement.

Liabilities” has the meaning given to such term in the Separation Agreement.

NQDC Transfer Date” has the meaning given to such term in Section 6.1 of this Agreement.

NYSE” has the meaning given to such term in the Separation Agreement.

Option Exercise Price” means the pre-adjustment exercise price of the applicable SITC Option.

Parties” or “Party” has the meaning given to such term in the preamble to this Agreement.

Person” has the meaning given to such term in the Separation Agreement.

Post-Distribution SITC Share Price” means the average of the daily volume-weighted average price of a SITC Share solely on the NYSE on each of the Distribution Date and the nine trading days immediately following the Distribution Date (as traded on the “regular way” market) as reported by Bloomberg L.P. or any successor thereto.

Pre-Distribution SITC Share Price” means the closing sale price of a SITC Share solely on the NYSE on the trading day immediately preceding the Distribution Date (as traded on the “regular way” market) as reported by Bloomberg L.P. or any successor thereto.

Replacement CURB RSU” means a time-based restricted stock unit award with respect to CURB Shares that relates to the SITC PRSUs and that vests solely based on the passage of time as described in Section 5.1(c)(iii).

Replacement SITC RSU” means a time-based restricted stock unit award with respect to SITC Shares that relates to the SITC PRSUs and that vests solely based on the passage of time as described in Section 5.1(c)(ii).

Separation” has the meaning given to such term in the Separation Agreement.

 

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Separation Agreement” has the meaning given to such term in the recitals to this Agreement.

Shared Services Agreement” has the meaning given to such term in the Separation Agreement.

SITC” has the meaning given to such term in the preamble to this Agreement.

SITC 401(k) Plan” has the meaning given to such term in Section 3.1(a) of this Agreement.

SITC Annual Incentive Program” has the meaning given to such term in Section 7.1 of this Agreement.

SITC Benefit Plan” shall mean any Benefit Plan sponsored or maintained by SITC or any of its Affiliates.

SITC Board” has the meaning given to such term in the Separation Agreement.

SITC Commission Program” has the meaning given to such term in Section 7.2 of this Agreement.

SITC Compensation Award” means each SITC Option, SITC RSU or SITC PRSU.

SITC Compensation Committee” means the Compensation Committee of the SITC Board.

SITC Elective Cash Plan” has the meaning given to such term in Section 6.1 of this Agreement.

SITC Equity Plan” means either of the SITE Centers Corp. 2019 Equity and Incentive Compensation Plan or the SITE Centers Corp. 2012 Equity and Incentive Compensation Plan.

SITC ERISA Group” means SITC and the members of the SITC Group that are ERISA Affiliates of SITC.

SITC Group” has the meaning given to such term in the Separation Agreement.

SITC Group Employee” shall mean any person who, immediately following the Effective Time, is an Employee of any member of the SITC Group, including any such Employee who is on an approved leave at such time.

SITC Option” means an option to acquire SITC Shares granted under the SITC Equity Plan before the Distribution Date.

 

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SITC Participant” shall mean any SITC Group Employee or Former Employee, who immediately prior to the Distribution holds SITC Compensation Awards, or a beneficiary, dependent or alternate payee of such person.

SITC PRSU” means a performance-based restricted share unit award granted by SITC under the SITC Equity Plan before the Distribution Date.

SITC RSU” means a time-based restricted share unit award granted by SITC under the SITC Equity Plan before the Distribution Date.

SITC Shares” has the meaning given to such term in the Separation Agreement.

SITC Welfare Plans” has the meaning given to such term in Section 4.1 of this Agreement.

Subsequent Transferee” means any SITC Group Employee who transfers employment directly from the SITC Group to the CURB Group after the Effective Time but prior to the fifth anniversary of the Distribution Date.

Subsequent Transfer Date” means the date on which a Subsequent Transferee first commences employment with the CURB Group.

Subsidiary” has the meaning given to such term in the Separation Agreement.

Tax Matters Agreement” has the meaning given to such term in the Separation Agreement.

Third Party” has the meaning given to such term in the Separation Agreement.

Transfer Documents” has the meaning given to such term in the Separation Agreement.

U.S.” means the United States of America.

Welfare Plan Governing Documents” has the meaning given to such term in Section 4.1 of this Agreement.

Welfare Plan Transfer Date” has the meaning given to such term in Section 4.1 of this Agreement.

1.2 Interpretation. For the purposes of this Agreement: (a) whenever the context may require, any pronoun shall include the corresponding masculine, feminine or neuter forms, and the singular form of nouns, pronouns and verbs shall include the plural and vice versa, (b) the words “include,” “includes” and “including” shall be deemed to be followed by the words “without limitation,” (c) the word “or” is not exclusive, (d) the words “herein,” “hereof” and “herewith” and words of similar import shall, unless otherwise stated, be construed to refer to this Agreement as a whole (including any Schedules hereto), (e) references to any Person include the successors and permitted assigns of that Person, (f) “to the extent” means the degree to which

 

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a subject or other thing extends, and such phrase does not mean simply “if,” (g) unless the context otherwise requires, Articles, Sections, Schedules and Exhibits mean Articles of, Sections of and Schedules attached to this Agreement (or where context requires the Separation Agreement), (h) references to “business day” shall mean any day other than a Saturday, a Sunday or a day on which banking institutions are generally authorized or required by law to close in New York, New York, (i) references herein to this Agreement or any other agreement contemplated herein shall be deemed to refer to this Agreement or such other agreement as of the date on which it is executed and as it may be amended, modified or supplemented thereafter, unless otherwise specified, and (j) unless expressly stated to the contrary in this Agreement, all references to “the date hereof,” “the date of this Agreement,” “hereby” and “hereupon” and words of similar import shall be references to October 1, 2024. This Agreement shall be construed without regard to any presumption or rule requiring construction or interpretation against the Party drafting an instrument or causing any instrument to be drafted. In the case of any conflict between this Agreement and the Separation Agreement in relation to any matters addressed by this Agreement, this Agreement shall prevail unless this Agreement explicitly states that the Separation Agreement shall control.

ARTICLE II

GENERAL PRINCIPLES; EMPLOYMENT GENERALLY

2.1 SITC Group Employee Liabilities. Except as specifically provided in this Agreement or the Separation Agreement, the SITC Group will be solely responsible for (a) all employment, compensation and employee benefits Liabilities relating to, arising out of or resulting from the SITC Group’s employment and (if applicable) termination of the SITC Group Employees, Former Employees, and CURB Group Employees, (b) all Liabilities arising under each SITC Benefit Plan, and (c) any other Liabilities expressly assigned or allocated to a SITC Group member under this Agreement.

2.2 CURB Group Employee Liabilities. Except as specifically provided in this Agreement or the Separation Agreement, the CURB Group will be solely responsible for (a) all employment, compensation and employee benefits Liabilities relating to, arising out of or resulting from the CURB Group’s employment and (if applicable) termination of the CURB Group Employees and Subsequent Transferees after the Effective Time, (b) all Liabilities relating to, arising out of or resulting from any CURB Benefit Plan, and (c) any other Liabilities expressly assigned or allocated to a CURB Group member under this Agreement.

2.3 Continuation of Employment. Except as required by applicable Law, SITC and its Affiliates shall take all actions necessary to ensure that, as of immediately prior to the Effective Time, (a) all Employees intended by the Parties to be CURB Group Employees, including any such Employees who are on an approved leave of absence, are employed by a member of the CURB Group and (b) all Employees intended by the Parties to be SITC Group Employees are employed by a member of the SITC Group. Notwithstanding the foregoing or any other provision to the contrary, nothing in this Section 2.3, the Separation Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement shall prevent members of the CURB Group, in their sole discretion, from making offers of employment to any Employee of the SITC Group before or after the Effective Time. For purposes of clarity, an offer of employment with the CURB Group made by a CURB Group member or Employee to an Employee of the SITC Group will not violate any non-solicitation provisions in any Employment Agreement or other contract to which a CURB Group Employee is a party.

 

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2.4 Service Recognition. CURB OP shall give, or shall cause another member of the CURB Group to give, each CURB Group Employee credit for purposes of eligibility and vesting under any CURB Benefit Plan for such CURB Group Employee’s service with the SITC Group or the CURB Group prior to the Effective Time to the same extent such service was recognized by the corresponding SITC Benefit Plan immediately prior to the Effective Time; provided, however, that such service shall not be recognized to the extent that such recognition would result in the duplication of benefits or as otherwise provided by applicable Law.

2.5 No Separation From Service or Termination of Employment. None of the Separation, the Distribution or the assignment, transfer or continuation of employment of any Employee of SITC or any of its Affiliates at or prior to the Effective Time (including in accordance with Section 2.3 hereof) shall be deemed a separation from service or termination of employment entitling such Employee to be eligible to participate in, or to receive payment of, severance or other termination payments or benefits under any applicable Law, SITC Benefit Plan or CURB Benefit Plan.

2.6 Former Employees. No member of the CURB Group shall have any Liabilities with respect to Former Employees, if any, as of (or after) the Effective Time. SITC shall retain all Liabilities, if any, with respect to Former Employees. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if after the Effective Time a member of the CURB Group hires a Former Employee, then CURB and the applicable member of the CURB Group shall be responsible for any Liabilities that relate to, arise out of, or result from the CURB Group member’s employment of such Former Employee.

ARTICLE III

RETIREMENT PLANS

3.1 The 401(k) Plan.

(a) Transfer of Sponsorship to CURB; Participation by SITC. Prior to the Effective Time, the Parties will take all actions necessary to cause the plan sponsor of the SITE Centers Corp. 401(k) Plan & Trust (the “SITC 401(k) Plan”) to change from SITC to a member of the CURB ERISA Group (the transferred plan, the “CURB 401(k) Plan”), and to ensure that the members of the SITC ERISA Group, as applicable, are participating employers in the CURB 401(k) Plan. The terms of participation of the members of the SITC ERISA Group in the CURB 401(k) Plan as participating employers will be governed by the applicable plan document, agreements with applicable third party administrators, the Shared Services Agreement, and any other documents governing the administration and operation of the CURB 401(k) Plan (the “401(k) Plan Governing Documents”).

 

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(b) Obligations and Liabilities.

(i) Through the Effective Time. Except as otherwise provided in this Section 3.1 or the 401(k) Plan Governing Documents, (A) SITC and the SITC ERISA Group shall retain all Liabilities that relate to, arise out of or result from any employer contributions, including matching contributions (including any true-up contributions, if applicable), profit-sharing contributions, and employer non-elective contributions, accrued under the SITC 401(k) Plan or the CURB 401(k) Plan (as applicable) for all participants through the Effective Time, determined in accordance with the terms and provisions of the applicable plan, ERISA and the Code, and based on all service performed and compensation accrued through the Effective Time, and (B) SITC and the SITC ERISA Group will be solely and exclusively responsible for all other obligations and Liabilities arising prior to the Effective Time that relate to, arise out of or result from the SITC 401(k) Plan and CURB 401(k) Plan, as applicable.

(ii) Following the Effective Time. All Liabilities that relate to, arise out of or result from employer contributions, including matching contributions (including any true-up contributions, if applicable), profit-sharing contributions, and employer non-elective contributions, accrued under the CURB 401(k) Plan following the Effective Time, determined in accordance with the terms and provisions of the CURB 401(k) Plan, ERISA and the Code, and based on all service performed and compensation accrued from and after the Effective Time shall be the responsibility of the CURB ERISA Group member or the SITC ERISA Group member that employs the Employee receiving the contribution, as applicable, during the time period to which the contribution relates. All other obligations and Liabilities arising on and after the Effective Time, that relate to, arise out of or result from the CURB 401(k) Plan shall be the responsibility of CURB and the CURB ERISA Group, except that SITC and the SITC ERISA Group will be responsible for all other obligations and Liabilities arising on and after the Effective Time, that relate to, arise out of or result from the SITC ERISA Group’s participation in the CURB 401(k) Plan except as provided in any 401(k) Plan Governing Documents.

ARTICLE IV

HEALTH AND WELFARE PLANS

4.1 CURB Health and Welfare Plans. Members of the CURB ERISA Group will continue to participate in the group health plan and other welfare benefit plans sponsored by the SITC ERISA Group and listed on Schedule 4.1 (the “SITC Welfare Plans”) from the Distribution Date through the termination date of the Shared Services Agreement, or such earlier date as the Parties may reasonably agree (the earlier of such dates, the “Welfare Plan Transfer Date”). At CURB’s election, and to the extent the insurers of the SITC Welfare Plans consent, the Parties will take all actions necessary to cause the plan sponsor of the SITC Welfare Plans to change from SITC to a member of the CURB ERISA Group (the transferred plans, the “CURB Welfare Plans”) effective as of the Welfare Plan Transfer Date. The terms of the CURB ERISA Group’s participation in the SITC Welfare Plans as participating employers and the transfer of the sponsorship of such plans to a member of the CURB ERISA Group will be governed by the applicable plan documents, agreements with applicable third party administrators, the Shared Services Agreement, and any other documents governing the administration and operation of the SITC Welfare Plans and CURB Welfare Plans, as applicable, (the “Welfare Plan Governing Documents”). Except as otherwise provided in this Article IV or the Welfare Plan Governing Documents, SITC and the SITC ERISA Group will be solely and exclusively responsible for (a) all obligations and Liabilities arising prior to the Effective Time that relate to, arise out of or result from the SITC Welfare Plans, including for all welfare benefit claims incurred prior to the Distribution Date and (b) all obligations and liabilities arising on and after the Effective Time that relate to, arise out of or result from the SITC ERISA Group’s participation in the SITC Welfare Plans and CURB Welfare Plans, as applicable, including for all welfare benefit claims

 

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of an Employee or their dependents incurred while an Employee is employed by a SITC ERISA Group member. Except as otherwise provided in this Article IV or the Welfare Plan Governing Documents, CURB and the CURB ERISA Group will be solely and exclusively responsible for all obligations and Liabilities arising on and after the Effective Time, that relate to, arise out of or result from the CURB ERISA Group’s participation in the SITC Welfare Plans and the CURB Welfare Plans, as applicable, including for all welfare benefit claims of an Employee or their dependents incurred while an Employee is employed by a CURB ERISA Group member. For purposes of this Article IV, a claim or Liability is deemed to be incurred: (i) with respect to medical, dental, vision and/or prescription drug benefits, upon the rendering of health services giving rise to such claim or Liability; (ii) with respect to life insurance, accidental death and dismemberment and business travel accident insurance, upon the occurrence of the event giving rise to such claim or Liability; (iii) with respect to disability benefits, upon the date of an Employee’s disability, as determined by the disability benefit insurance carrier or claim administrator, giving rise to such claim or Liability; and (iv) with respect to a period of continuous hospitalization, upon the date of admission to the hospital.

4.2 Separation of Welfare Plans. Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 4.1, if the continued participation of members of the CURB ERISA Group in the SITC Welfare Plans or, following the Welfare Plan Transfer Date, participation by members of the SITC ERISA Group in the CURB Welfare Plans is no longer permitted under applicable law or by the insurers of the SITC Welfare Plans or CURB Welfare Plans, then such continued participation shall cease and CURB and SITC will reasonably cooperate to ensure the employees of the CURB ERISA Group and SITC ERISA Group have continuous coverage under group health and welfare benefit plans.

4.3 COBRA and HIPAA Compliance. The plan sponsor of the SITC Welfare Plans and the CURB Welfare Plans, as applicable, will be responsible for compliance with the requirements of COBRA and the certificate of creditable coverage requirements of HIPAA with respect to any Employees or any of their covered dependents who participate in the applicable plan at the time they incur a qualifying event or loss of coverage.

4.4 Workers Compensation. The ownership and administration of workers compensation insurance shall be governed by Section 5.1 of the Separation Agreement regarding insurance matters. For the avoidance of doubt, nothing in this Agreement shall be interpreted to allocate between the Parties the claims and Liabilities under any workers compensation insurance policies.

ARTICLE V

EQUITY PLANS AND AWARDS

5.1 Adjustment of Outstanding Awards. Each SITC Compensation Award that is outstanding as of the Distribution will be adjusted as described in this Section 5.1; provided, however, that, effective immediately prior to the Distribution, the SITC Compensation Committee may provide for different adjustments with respect to some or all of a holder’s SITC Compensation Awards. For greater certainty, any adjustments made by the SITC Compensation Committee will be deemed incorporated by reference herein as if fully set forth below and will be binding on the Parties hereto and their respective Subsidiaries.

 

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(a) Options. Each SITC Option generally will be adjusted in the manner described in this Section 5.1(a), effective as of the Distribution Date and immediately prior to the Distribution, so that immediately following the Distribution each SITC Option holder will hold an Adjusted SITC Option in lieu of the SITC Options previously held. The following procedure will generally be applied to each SITC Option with the same grant date and exercise price held by each SITC Option holder as of the Distribution Date:

(i) Each Adjusted SITC Option will have an exercise price equal to the product (rounded up to the nearest cent) of (A) the applicable Option Exercise Price multiplied by (B) a fraction, (1) the numerator of which is the Post-Distribution SITC Share Price and (2) the denominator of which is the Pre-Distribution SITC Share Price (such product, the “SITC Exercise Price”).

(ii) The number of SITC Shares subject to the Adjusted SITC Options will be equal to the product (which will be rounded down to the nearest whole share) of (X) the number of shares subject to the SITC Option held by such SITC Option holder immediately prior to the Distribution Date and (Y) a fraction, the numerator which is the Pre-Distribution SITC Share Price and the denominator of which is the Post-Distribution SITC Share Price.

(iii) Such Adjusted SITC Options will be subject to the same vesting requirements and dates and other terms and conditions as the SITC Options to which they relate.

(b) RSUs. With respect to SITC RSUs:

(i) Held by SITC Participants. SITC RSUs held by each SITC Participant will generally be adjusted, effective as of the Distribution Date and immediately prior to the Distribution, pursuant to the adjustments provisions of the SITC Equity Plan, and will be subject to substantially the same terms, vesting conditions and other restrictions, if any, that were applicable to such SITC RSUs immediately prior to the Distribution Date. The number of such Adjusted SITC RSUs for each such SITC Participant will be equal to the product (which will be rounded down to the nearest whole share) of (A) the number of SITC RSUs outstanding immediately prior to the Distribution Date and (B) a fraction, (1) the numerator of which is the Pre-Distribution SITC Share Price and (2) the denominator of which is the Post-Distribution SITC Share Price.

(ii) Held by CURB Participants. SITC RSUs held by each CURB Participant will, effective as of the Distribution Date and immediately prior to the Distribution, generally be adjusted by converting them into an award of Adjusted CURB RSUs. Pursuant to the adjustments provisions of the SITC Equity Plan, the award of Adjusted CURB RSUs will be subject to substantially the same terms, vesting conditions and other restrictions, if any, that were applicable to such SITC RSUs immediately prior to the Distribution Date. The number of such Adjusted CURB RSUs for each such CURB Participant will be equal the product (which will be rounded down to the nearest whole share) of (1) the number of SITC RSUs held by such CURB Participant immediately prior to the Distribution Date and (2) a fraction, (a) the numerator of which is the Pre-Distribution SITC Share Price and (b) the denominator of which is the CURB Per-Share Value.

 

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(c) PRSUs. With respect to SITC PRSUs:

(i) Determination of Earned Award. SITC PRSU awards outstanding immediately prior to the Distribution that are held by a SITC Participant or by a CURB Participant will be determined to have been earned as of the Distribution Date in an amount equal to the greater of (A) the number of SITC PRSUs that are earned based upon the achievement of the management objectives applicable to such SITC PRSUs measured as of the close of trading on the trading day immediately prior to the Distribution Date, and (B) 150% of the number of SITC PRSUs that would have been earned at target achievement for the performance period applicable to such SITC PRSUs. Such determination will be made by the SITC Compensation Committee in accordance with the applicable SITC Equity Plan. Any portion of a SITC PRSU award that is not earned as of the Distribution Date will be cancelled and forfeited. Such earned portion of the SITC PRSU awards will be adjusted for SITC Participants and CURB Participants as set forth in Sections 5.1(c)(ii) and (iii).

(ii) Earned Awards Held by SITC Participants. The earned portion of any SITC PRSU award held by each SITC Participant will generally be converted, effective as of the Distribution Date and immediately prior to the Distribution, pursuant to the adjustments provisions of the SITC Equity Plan, into a Replacement SITC RSU award, which will be subject to substantially the same terms as the related SITC PRSUs (including vesting based on continued employment with SITC) except that the Replacement SITC RSU award will not be subject to any additional performance objectives and related dividend equivalents credited with respect to such Replacement SITC RSUs after the Distribution Date will be paid in cash on a current basis. The number of such Replacement SITC RSUs for each such SITC Participant will be equal to the product (which will be rounded down to the nearest whole share) of (A) the number of SITC PRSUs earned by such SITC Participant as determined under Section 5.1(c)(i) and (B) a fraction, (1) the numerator of which is the Pre-Distribution SITC Share Price and (2) the denominator of which is the Post-Distribution SITC Share Price.

(iii) Earned Awards Held by CURB Participants. The earned portion of any SITC PRSU award held by each CURB Participant will generally be converted, effective as of the Distribution Date and immediately prior to the Distribution, pursuant to the adjustments provisions of the SITC Equity Plan, into a Replacement CURB RSU award, which will be subject to substantially the same terms as the related SITC PRSUs (including vesting based on continued employment with SITC), except that the Replacement CURB RSU award will not be subject to any additional performance objectives and related dividend equivalents credited with respect to such Replacement CURB RSUs after the Distribution Date will be paid in cash on a current basis. The number of such Replacement CURB RSUs for each such CURB Participant will be equal the product (which will be rounded down to the nearest whole share) of (A) the number of SITC PRSUs earned by such CURB Participant as determined under Section 5.1(c)(i) and (B) a fraction, (1) the numerator of which is the Pre-Distribution SITC Share Price and (2) the denominator of which is the CURB Per-Share Value.

(d) Subsequent Transferees. Nothing in this Agreement will require further adjustment or modification of the Adjusted SITC Options, Adjusted SITC RSUs or Replacement SITC RSUs held by SITC Participants who later become Subsequent Transferees in connection with such Subsequent Transferee’s Subsequent Transfer Date, provided that a Subsequent Transferee’s employment with the CURB Group will count as continued employment with the SITC Group for purposes of the service based vesting requirements of the Adjusted SITC RSUs and Replacement RSUs and for purposes of the exercise period for the Adjusted SITC Options.

 

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5.2 Change in Control. If an Adjusted SITC Compensation Award or CURB Compensation Award is subject to accelerated vesting in connection with a change in control, a change in control will be deemed to have occurred (i) with respect to an Adjusted SITC Compensation Award, only upon a change in control of SITC (as defined in the applicable equity incentive plan or award agreement) or (ii) with respect to a CURB Compensation Award, only upon a change in control of CURB (as defined in the applicable equity incentive plan or award agreement). For purposes of Code Section 409A, with respect to the CURB Compensation Awards, if a change in control of SITC occurs prior to a change in control of CURB, the CURB Compensation Awards will not vest by reason of such SITC change in control because the continuation of the CURB Compensation Awards following such SITC change in control will be considered a “replacement award” under the terms of the CURB Compensation Awards. This Section 5.2 will apply to the extent that it does not cause adverse tax consequences under Code Section 409A.

5.3 Establishment of CURB Equity Plan. Prior to the Distribution Date, CURB will, or will cause another member of the CURB Group to, establish equity compensation plans, so that upon the Distribution, CURB or another member of the CURB Group will have in effect an equity compensation plan that allows grants of equity compensation awards subject to substantially the same terms as those that apply to the corresponding SITC Compensation Awards. From and after the Distribution Date, each CURB Compensation Award will be subject to the terms of the applicable CURB equity compensation plan, the award agreement governing such CURB Compensation Award and any employment agreement to which the applicable holder is a party. From and after the Distribution Date, CURB will retain, pay, perform, fulfill and discharge all Liabilities relating to, arising out of or resulting from the CURB Compensation Awards. SITC will retain, pay, perform, fulfill and discharge all Liabilities relating to, arising out of or resulting from the Adjusted SITC Compensation Awards.

5.4 Section 409A. In all events, the adjustments provided for in this Section 5 will be made in a manner that, as determined by SITC, avoids adverse tax consequences to holders under Code Section 409A.

ARTICLE VI

NONQUALIFIED PLANS

6.1 Establishment of CURB NQDC Plan. Prior to the Effective Time, CURB OP will, or will cause another member of the CURB Group to, establish a nonqualified elective deferred compensation plan and a related rabbi trust (such plan and trust, the “CURB NQDC Plan”). The CURB NQDC Plan will have terms and features that are substantially similar to the SITE Centers Corp. Elective Deferred Compensation Plan (the “SITC Elective Cash Plan”), such that (for the avoidance of doubt), the SITC Elective Cash Plan is substantially replicated by the CURB NQDC Plan. CURB or a member of the CURB Group will be solely responsible for taking all necessary, reasonable, and appropriate actions to establish, maintain, and administer

 

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the CURB NQDC Plan so that it does not result in adverse tax consequences under Code Section 409A. Effective on a date designated by SITC which is prior to the Effective Time (the “NQDC Transfer Date”), the CURB NQDC Plan will assume all Liabilities relating to, arising out of or resulting from benefits earned or accrued (whether or not vested) by CURB Group Employees under the SITC Elective Cash Plan as of the NQDC Transfer Date (the “Assumed NQDC Plan Liabilities”). Within 30 days following the NQDC Transfer Date, SITC will cause the rabbi trust established for the SITE Elective Cash Plan to transfer a cash amount to the rabbi trust established for the CURB NQDC Plan equal to the product of (a) total amount held by the rabbi trust for the SITC Elective Cash Plan as of the NQDC Transfer Date, multiplied by (b) a fraction, the numerator of which is the amount of the Assumed NQDC Plan Liabilities, and the denominator of which is the total amount of the Liabilities for all benefits earned or accrued (whether or not vested) under the SITC Elective Cash Plan as of immediately prior to the NQDC Transfer Date. On or prior to the NQDC Transfer Date, on a date designated by SITC, the CURB Group Employees who are participants in the SITC Elective Cash Plan will cease to be participants in the SITC Elective Cash Plan and will become participants in the CURB NQDC Plan. From and after the NQDC Transfer Date, CURB and the CURB Group will be solely and exclusively responsible for all Liabilities with respect to, or in any way related to, the CURB NQDC Plan, whether accrued before, on or after the Effective Date.

6.2 SITC Nonqualified Plans. From and after the Effective Time, SITC and the SITC Group will be solely and exclusively responsible for all Liabilities relating to, arising out of or resulting from the nonqualified deferred compensation plans sponsored or maintained by a member of the SITC Group (including, but not limited to, the SITC Elective Cash Plan and the SITE Centers Corp. 2005 Directors’ Deferred Compensation Plan) to the extent such Liabilities are not specifically assumed by a CURB Group member or the CURB NQDC Plan pursuant to Section 6.1.

6.3 No Distributions on Separation. The Parties acknowledge that neither the Distribution nor any of the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement, the Separation Agreement or the other Ancillary Agreements will trigger a payment or distribution of compensation under the SITC Elective Cash Plan or any other nonqualified deferred compensation plans sponsored by SITC or members of the SITC Group or the CURB NQDC Plan for any Employee of the SITC Group or CURB Group or Former Employee and, consequently, that the payment or distribution of any compensation to which any Employee of the SITC Group or CURB Group or Former Employee is entitled under any such plan will occur upon such individual’s separation from service (within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code) from the SITC Group or the CURB Group, as applicable, or at such other time as specified in the applicable plan.

6.4 Section 409A. The Parties will cooperate in good faith so that the Distribution will not result in adverse tax consequences under Code Section 409A with respect to any Employee or Former Employee or their respective plan payees, in respect of his or her benefits under the applicable plan.

 

15


ARTICLE VII

ADDITIONAL COMPENSATION MATTERS; SEVERANCE

7.1 Annual Bonuses.

(a) 2024 Bonuses for CURB Group Employees. Eligible CURB Group Employees will continue to participate in SITC’s annual bonus plans and policies (the “SITC Annual Incentive Program”), subject to its terms and conditions, up to the date immediately prior to the Distribution Date. On the Distribution Date, such CURB Group Employees shall cease participating in the SITC Annual Incentive Program. For each such CURB Group Employee, SITC will, prior to the Distribution Date, calculate the bonus earned under the SITC Annual Incentive Program for the 2024 performance year based on the achievement of the applicable performance objectives measured as of a date prior to the Distribution Date and prorated based on the number of months in the performance year that occurred prior to the Distribution Date. SITC will remain responsible for and will pay any awards earned by the CURB Group Employees under the SITC Annual Incentive Program up to the Distribution Date on a date prior to the Distribution Date. CURB OP will be responsible for establishing an annual bonus program for the CURB Group Employees for the period beginning on the Distribution Date and ending on December 31, 2024.

(b) Bonuses for SITC Group Employees. Subject to Section 7.1(c), eligible Employees of the SITC Group will continue to participate in the SITC Annual Incentive Program through and after the Distribution Date in accordance with the terms and conditions of the SITC Annual Incentive Program. SITC will be responsible for and will pay any awards earned by eligible Employees of the SITC Group according to the terms of the SITC Annual Incentive Program.

(c) Bonuses for Subsequent Transferees. All Subsequent Transferees will continue to participate in the SITC Annual Incentive Program, subject to its terms and conditions, up to the applicable Subsequent Transfer Date. On such Subsequent Transfer Date, such Subsequent Transferee shall cease participating in the SITC Annual Incentive Program. For each Subsequent Transferee who was eligible to participate in the SITC Annual Incentive Program immediately prior to the Subsequent Transfer Date, the bonus earned under the SITC Annual Incentive Program for the performance year in which the Subsequent Transfer Date occurs will be equal to the bonus earned for the immediately preceding completed performance year, prorated based on the number of days of service with SITC in the performance year in which the Subsequent Transfer Date occurs. SITC will remain responsible for and will pay any awards earned by such Subsequent Transferees under the SITC Annual Incentive Program through the Subsequent Transfer Date prior to the Subsequent Transfer Date.

7.2 Commissions. SITC will remain solely responsible for all Liabilities relating to, arising out of or resulting from the SITE Centers Leasing Commission Program for regional Vice Presidents and leasing staff members (the “SITC Commission Program”) for Employee commissions on all leases signed prior to the Effective Time and, in the case of a Subsequent Transferee, leases signed by members of the SITC Group between the Effective Time and the Subsequent Transfer Date. SITC will continue to be responsible for and will pay such commissions to eligible Employees in accordance with the terms of the SITC Commission

 

16


Program, except that: (a) in the case of a CURB Group Employee, continued employment with the SITC Group on and after the Distribution Date will not be required and such commissions will be fully paid by SITC to such CURB Group Employee prior to the Distribution Date, and (b) in the case of a Subsequent Transferee, continued employment with the SITC Group on and after the Subsequent Transfer Date will not be required and such commissions will be fully paid by SITC to such Subsequent Transferee prior to such Subsequent Transferee’s Subsequent Transfer Date. CURB Group Employees will cease participating in the SITC Commission Program effective as of the Distribution Date, and Subsequent Transferees will cease participating in the SITC Commission Program effective as of their Subsequent Transfer Date. For purposes of clarity, SITC shall have no obligation to provide CURB Group Employees with commissions on any leases signed by the CURB Group after the Effective Time.

7.3 Employment Agreements. At and after the Effective Time, a member of the CURB Group will be solely responsible and liable for all Employment Agreements listed on Schedule 7.3 hereto (each, a “CURB Employment Agreement”), and the SITC Group will have no obligations or Liabilities with respect to any CURB Employment Agreement. The SITC Group will retain and be solely responsible for all obligations and Liabilities with respect to, or in any way related to, any Employment Agreement that is not a CURB Employment Agreement.

ARTICLE VIII

GENERAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE

8.1 Non-Termination of Employment; No Third-Party Beneficiaries. Except as expressly provided for in this Agreement or the Separation Agreement, no provision of this Agreement, the Separation Agreement, or any of the other Ancillary Agreements shall be construed to create any right, or accelerate entitlement, to any compensation or benefit whatsoever on the part of any SITC Group Employee, CURB Group Employee or any Former Employee, or future Employee of SITC or any of its Affiliates or of CURB or any of its Affiliates under any SITC Benefit Plan or CURB Benefit Plan or otherwise, nor shall any such provision be construed as an amendment to any employee benefit plan or other employee compensatory or benefit arrangement. Furthermore, nothing in this Agreement is intended to confer upon any Employee or Former Employee any right to continued employment, any recall or similar rights to an Employee on layoff or any type of approved leave, or to change the employment status of any Employee from “at will.”

8.2 Beneficiary Designation/Release of Information/Right to Reimbursement. To the extent permitted by applicable Law and except as otherwise provided for in this Agreement, all beneficiary designations, authorizations for the release of Information and rights to reimbursement made by or relating to CURB Group Employees under SITC Benefit Plans shall be transferred to and be in full force and effect under the corresponding CURB Benefit Plans until such beneficiary designations, authorizations or rights are replaced or revoked by, or no longer apply, to the relevant CURB Group Employee or a beneficiary, dependent or alternate payee of such person.

8.3 Not a Change in Control. The Parties acknowledge and agree that the transactions contemplated by the Separation Agreement, this Agreement or any other Ancillary Agreement do not constitute a “change in control” for purposes of any SITC Benefit Plan or CURB Benefit Plan.

 

17


8.4 Code Section 409A. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, if any of the provisions of this Agreement would result in imposition of taxes and/or penalties under Section 409A of the Code, SITC, CURB and CURB OP shall cooperate in good faith to modify the applicable provision so that such taxes and/or penalties do not apply in order to comply with the provisions of Section 409A of the Code.

ARTICLE IX

MISCELLANEOUS

9.1 No Third-Party Beneficiaries. Except as provided in Article IV of the Separation Agreement with respect to Indemnitees, this Agreement is for the sole benefit of the Parties and members of their respective Group and their permitted successors and assigns and nothing in this Agreement, express or implied, is intended to or shall confer upon any Employee, Former Employee, or any other Person any legal or equitable right, benefit or remedy of any nature whatsoever under or by reason of this Agreement.

9.2 Relationship of Parties. Nothing in this Agreement shall be deemed or construed by the Parties or any Third Party as creating the relationship of principal and agent, partnership or joint venture between the Parties, it being understood and agreed that no provision contained herein, and no act of the Parties, shall be deemed to create any relationship between the Parties other than the relationship set forth herein.

9.3 Termination. This Agreement may be terminated and the Distribution may be amended, modified or abandoned at any time prior to the Effective Time by SITC, in its sole and absolute discretion, without the approval or consent of any other Person, including CURB. After the Effective Time, this Agreement may not be terminated except by an agreement in writing signed by a duly authorized officer of each of the Parties. In the event of any termination of this Agreement prior to the Effective Time, no Party (nor any of its directors, officers or employees) shall have any Liability to any other Party by reason of this Agreement.

9.4 Governing Law. The provisions of this Agreement shall be construed and interpreted in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware, without regard to the principles of conflicts of laws thereof.

9.5 Assignability. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the Parties; provided, however, that no Party may assign its rights or delegate its obligations under this Agreement without the express prior written consent of the other Party. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no such consent shall be required for the assignment of a Party’s rights and obligations under this Agreement in whole (i.e., the assignment of a Party’s rights and obligations under this Agreement) in connection with a change of control of a Party so long as the resulting, surviving or transferee Person assumes all the obligations of the relevant Party by operation of Law or pursuant to an agreement in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Parties.

 

18


9.6 No 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.

9.7 Amendments. This Agreement shall not be amended, supplemented, terminated, modified, discharged or otherwise changed, in whole or in part, except by an instrument in writing signed by the Parties hereto, or their respective successors or permitted assignees.

9.8 Incorporation of Separation Agreement Provisions. The following provisions of Article X of the Separation Agreement are incorporated herein mutatis mutandis: Section 10.5 (Notices), 10.6 (Severability), Section 10.7 (Force Majeure), Section 10.8 (No Set-Off), Section 10.9 (Publicity), Section 10.11 (Headings), 10.12 (Survival of Covenants), and Section 10.14 (Specific Performance).

9.9 Entire Agreement. Except as otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement, this Agreement (including any Schedules hereto) and the applicable provisions of the Separation Agreement together contain the entire agreement between the Parties with respect to the subject matter hereof, and supersede all prior and contemporaneous agreements, understandings, inducements and conditions, express or implied, oral or written, of any nature whatsoever with respect to such subject matter.

9.10 Indemnification; Dispute Resolution. Article IV of the Separation Agreement governs the Parties’ indemnification rights and obligations and Article VII of the Separation Agreement governs the indemnification obligations and resolution of any dispute between the Parties.

9.11 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed (including by facsimile, PDF or other electronic transmission) with counterpart signature pages or 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.

[Remainder of this page intentionally left blank.]

 

19


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have caused this Employee Matters Agreement to be duly executed as of the day and year first above written.

 

SITE CENTERS CORP.
By:    
  Name:
  Title:
CURBLINE PROPERTIES CORP.
By:    
  Name:
  Title:
CURBLINE PROPERTIES LP
By:    
  Name:
  Title:

Exhibit 10.5

Curbline

Elective Deferred Compensation Plan

Amended & Restated effective September 1, 2024

IMPORTANT NOTE

This document has not been approved by the Department of Labor, Internal Revenue Service, or any other governmental entity. An adopting Employer must determine whether the Plan is subject to the Federal securities laws and the securities laws of the various states. An adopting Employer may not rely on this document to ensure any particular tax consequences or to ensure that the Plan is “unfunded and maintained primarily for the purpose of providing deferred compensation to a select group of management or highly compensated employees” under Title I of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, with respect to the Employer’s particular situation. FMR LLC, its affiliates and employees cannot provide you with legal advice in connection with the execution of this document. This document should be reviewed by the Employer’s attorney prior to execution.


Table of Contents

 

Preamble

     1  

Article 1 - General

     1-1  

1.1.

  Plan      1-1  

1.2.

  Effective Dates      1-1  

1.3.

  Amounts Not Subject to Code Section 409A      1-1  

Article 2 - Definitions

     2-1  

2.1.

  Account      2-1  

2.2.

  Administrator      2-1  

2.3.

  Adoption Agreement      2-1  

2.4.

  Beneficiary      2-1  

2.5.

  Board or Board of Directors      2-1  

2.6.

  Bonus      2-1  

2.7.

  Code      2-1  

2.8.

  Compensation      2-1  

2.9.

  Director      2-1  

2.10.

  Disability      2-2  

2.11.

  Eligible Employee      2-2  

2.12.

  Employer      2-2  

2.13.

  ERISA      2-2  

2.14.

  Identification Date      2-2  

2.15.

  Key Employee      2-2  

2.16.

  Participant      2-2  

2.17.

  Plan      2-2  

2.18.

  Plan Sponsor      2-2  

 

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2.19.

  Plan Year      2-2  

2.20.

  Related Employer      2-2  

2.21.

  Retirement      2-3  

2.22.

  Section 409A Change in Control      2-3  

2.23.

  Separation from Service      2-3  

2.24.

  Unforeseeable Emergency      2-4  

2.25.

  Valuation Date      2-4  

2.26.

  Vesting Change in Control      2-4  

2.27.

  Years of Service      2-4  

Article 3 - Participation

     3-1  

3.1.

  Participation      3-1  

3.2.

  Termination of Participation      3-1  

Article 4 - Participant Elections

     4-1  

4.1.

  Deferral Agreement      4-1  

4.2.

  Amount of Deferral      4-1  

4.3.

  Timing of Election to Defer      4-1  

4.4.

  Election of Payment Schedule and Form of Payment      4-2  

Article 5 - Employer Contributions

     5-1  

5.1.

  Matching Contributions      5-1  

5.2.

  Other Contributions      5-1  

Article 6 - Accounts and Credits

     6-1  

6.1.

  Establishment of Account      6-1  

6.2.

  Credits to Account      6-1  

Article 7 - Investment of Contributions

     7-1  

7.1.

  Investment Options      7-1  

7.2.

  Adjustment of Accounts      7-1  

 

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Article 8 - Right to Benefits

     8-1  

8.1.

  Vesting      8-1  

8.2.

  Death      8-1  

8.3.

  Disability      8-1  

8.4.

  Termination for Cause      8-2  

Article 9 - Distribution of Benefits

     9-1  

9.1.

  Amount of Benefits      9-1  

9.2.

  Method and Timing of Distributions      9-1  

9.3.

  Unforeseeable Emergency      9-1  

9.4.

  Payment Election Overrides      9-2  

9.5.

  Cashouts of Amounts Not Exceeding Stated Limit      9-2  

9.6.

  Required Delay in Payment to Key Employees      9-2  

9.7.

  Change in Control      9-3  

9.8.

  Permissible Delays in Payment      9-6  

9.9.

  Permitted Acceleration of Payment      9-7  

Article 10 - Amendment and Termination

     10-1  

10.1.

  Amendment by Plan Sponsor      10-1  

10.2.

  Plan Termination Following Change in Control or Corporate Dissolution      10-1  

10.3.

  Other Plan Terminations      10-1  

Article 11 - The Trust

     11-1  

11.1.

  Establishment of Trust      11-1  

11.2.

  Trust      11-1  

11.3.

  Investment of Trust Funds      11-1  

 

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Article 12 - Plan Administration

     12-1  

12.1.

  Powers and Responsibilities of the Administrator      12-1  

12.2.

  Claims and Review Procedures      12-2  

12.3.

  Plan Administrative Costs      12-3  

Article 13 - Miscellaneous

     13-1  

13.1.

  Unsecured General Creditor of the Employer      13-1  

13.2.

  Employer’s Liability      13-1  

13.3.

  Limitation of Rights      13-1  

13.4.

  Anti-Assignment      13-1  

13.5.

  Facility of Payment      13-2  

13.6.

  Notices      13-2  

13.7.

  Tax Withholding      13-2  

13.8.

  Indemnification      13-3  

13.9.

  Successors      13-4  

13.10.

  Disclaimer      13-4  

13.11.

  Governing Law      13-4  

 

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Preamble

The Plan is intended to be a “plan which is unfunded and is maintained by an employer primarily for the purpose of providing deferred compensation for a select group of management or highly compensated employees” within the meaning of Sections 201(2), 301(a)(3) and 401(a)(1) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, or an “excess benefit plan” within the meaning of Section 3(36) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, or a combination of both. The Plan is further intended to conform with the requirements of Internal Revenue Code Section 409A and the final regulations issued thereunder and shall be interpreted, implemented, and administered in a manner consistent therewith.

 

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Article 1 - General

 

1.1.

Plan

The Plan will be referred to by the name specified in the Adoption Agreement.

 

1.2.

Effective Dates

 

  (a)

Original Effective Date. The Original Effective Date is the date as of which the Plan was initially adopted.

 

  (b)

Amendment Effective Date. The Amendment Effective Date is the date specified in the Adoption Agreement as of which the Plan is amended and restated. Except as otherwise provided in the Adoption Agreement, all amounts deferred under the Plan prior to the Amendment Effective Date shall be governed by the terms of the Plan as in effect on the day before the Amendment Effective Date.

 

  (c)

Special Effective Date. A Special Effective Date may apply to any given provision if so specified in Appendix A of the Adoption Agreement. A Special Effective Date will control over the Original Effective Date or Amendment Effective Date, whichever is applicable, with respect to such provision of the Plan.

 

1.3.

Amounts Not Subject to Code Section 409A

Except as otherwise indicated by the Plan Sponsor in Section 1.01 of the Adoption Agreement, amounts deferred before January 1, 2005 that are earned and vested on December 31, 2004 will be separately accounted for and administered in accordance with the terms of the Plan as in effect on December 31, 2004.

 

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Article 2 - Definitions

Wherever used herein, the following terms have the meanings set forth below, unless a different meaning is clearly required by the context:

 

2.1.

Account

“Account” means an account and any subaccounts established for the purpose of recording amounts credited on behalf of a Participant and any earnings, expenses, gains, losses, or distributions included thereon. The Account shall be a bookkeeping entry only and shall be utilized solely as a device for the measurement and determination of the amounts to be paid to a Participant or to the Participant’s Beneficiary pursuant to the Plan.

 

2.2.

Administrator

“Administrator” means the person or persons designated by the Plan Sponsor in Section 1.05 of the Adoption Agreement to be responsible for the administration of the Plan. If no Administrator is designated in the Adoption Agreement, the Administrator is the Plan Sponsor.

 

2.3.

Adoption Agreement

“Adoption Agreement” means the agreement adopted by the Plan Sponsor that establishes the Plan.

 

2.4.

Beneficiary

“Beneficiary” means the persons, trusts, estates, or other entities entitled under Section 8.2 to receive benefits under the Plan upon the death of a Participant.

 

2.5.

Board or Board of Directors

“Board” or “Board of Directors” means the Board of Directors of the Plan Sponsor.

 

2.6.

Bonus

“Bonus” means an amount of incentive remuneration payable by the Employer to a Participant.

 

2.7.

Code

“Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

 

2.8.

Compensation

“Compensation” has the meaning specified in Section 3.01 of the Adoption Agreement.

 

2.9.

Director

“Director” means a non-employee member of the Board who has been designated by the Employer as eligible to participate in the Plan.

 

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2.10.

Disability

“Disability” means that a Participant is disabled as defined in Section 6.01(i) of the Adoption Agreement.

 

2.11.

Eligible Employee

“Eligible Employee” means an employee of the Employer who satisfies the requirements in Section 2.01 of the Adoption Agreement.

 

2.12.

Employer

“Employer” means the Plan Sponsor and any other Related Employer that is listed in Section 1.04 of the Adoption Agreement and which is authorized by the Plan Sponsor to participate in and, in fact, does adopt the Plan.

 

2.13.

ERISA

“ERISA” means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended.

 

2.14.

Identification Date

“Identification Date” means the date as of which Key Employees are determined which is specified in Section 1.06 of the Adoption Agreement.

 

2.15.

Key Employee

“Key Employee” means an employee who satisfies the conditions set forth in Section 9.6.

 

2.16.

Participant

“Participant” means an Eligible Employee or Director who commences participation in the Plan in accordance with Article 3.

 

2.17.

Plan

“Plan” means the unfunded plan of deferred compensation set forth herein, including the Adoption Agreement and any trust agreement, as adopted by the Plan Sponsor, and as amended from time to time.

 

2.18.

Plan Sponsor

“Plan Sponsor” means the entity identified in Section 1.03 of the Adoption Agreement or any successor by merger, consolidation or otherwise.

 

2.19.

Plan Year

“Plan Year” means the period identified in Section 1.02 of the Adoption Agreement.

 

2.20.

Related Employer

“Related Employer” means the Plan Sponsor and (a) any corporation that is a member of a controlled group of corporations as defined in Code Section 414(b) that includes the Plan Sponsor and (b) any trade or business that is under common control as defined in Code Section 414(c) that includes the Plan Sponsor.

 

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2.21.

Retirement

“Retirement” has the meaning specified in 6.01(f) of the Adoption Agreement.

 

2.22.

Section 409A Change in Control

“Section 409A Change in Control” has the meaning specified in Section 11.03 of the Adoption Agreement.

 

2.23.

Separation from Service

“Separation from Service” means the date that the Participant dies, retires, or otherwise has a termination of employment with respect to all entities comprising the Related Employer. A Separation from Service does not occur if the Participant is on military leave, sick leave or other bona fide leave of absence if the period of leave does not exceed six months or such longer period during which the Participant’s right to re-employment is provided by statute or contract. If the period of leave exceeds six months and the Participant’s right to re-employment is not provided either by statute or contract, a Separation from Service will be deemed to have occurred on the first day following the six-month period. If the period of leave is due to any medically determinable physical or mental impairment that can be expected to result in death or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than six months, where the impairment causes the Participant to be unable to perform the duties of his or her position of employment or any substantially similar position of employment, a 29 month period of absence may be substituted for the six month period.

Whether a termination of employment has occurred is based on whether the facts and circumstances indicate that the Related Employer and the Participant reasonably anticipated that no further services would be performed after a certain date or that the level of bona fide services the Participant would perform after such date (whether as an employee or as an independent contractor) would permanently decrease to no more than 20 percent of the average level of bona fide services performed (whether as an employee or an independent contractor) over the immediately preceding 36 month period (or the full period of services to the Related Employer if the employee has been providing services to the Related Employer for less than 36 months).

An independent contractor is considered to have experienced a Separation from Service with the Related Employer upon the expiration of the contract (or, in the case of more than one contract, all contracts) under which services are performed for the Related Employer if the expiration constitutes a good-faith and complete termination of the contractual relationship.

If a Participant provides services as both an employee and an independent contractor of the Related Employer, the Participant must separate from service both as an employee and as an independent contractor to be treated as having incurred a Separation from Service. If a Participant ceases providing services as an independent contractor and begins providing services as an employee, or ceases providing services as an employee and begins providing services as an independent contractor, the Participant will not be considered to have experienced a Separation from Service until the Participant has ceased providing services in both capacities.

 

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If a Participant provides services both as an employee and as a member of the Board of Directors of a corporate Related Employer (or an analogous position with respect to a noncorporate Related Employer), the services provided as a Director are not taken into account in determining whether the Participant has incurred a Separation from Service as an employee for purposes of a nonqualified deferred compensation plan in which the Participant participates as an employee that is not aggregated under Code Section 409A with any plan in which the Participant participates as a Director.

If a Participant provides services both as an employee and as a member of the Board of Directors of a corporate related Employer (or an analogous position with respect to a noncorporate Related Employer), the services provided as an employee are not taken into account in determining whether the Participant has experienced a Separation from Service as a Director for purposes of a nonqualified deferred compensation plan in which the Participant participates as a Director that is not aggregated under Code Section 409A with any plan in which the Participant participates as an employee.

All determinations of whether a Separation from Service has occurred will be made in a manner consistent with Code Section 409A and the final regulations thereunder.

 

2.24.

Unforeseeable Emergency

“Unforeseeable Emergency” means a severe financial hardship of the Participant resulting from an illness or accident of the Participant, the Participant’s spouse, the Participant’s Beneficiary, or the Participant’s dependent (as defined in Code Section 152, without regard to Code section 152(b)(1), (b)(2) and (d)(1)(B); loss of the Participant’s property due to casualty; or other similar extraordinary and unforeseeable circumstances arising as a result of events beyond the control of the Participant.

 

2.25.

Valuation Date

“Valuation Date” means each business day of the Plan Year that the New York Stock Exchange is open.

 

2.26.

Vesting Change in Control

“Vesting Change in Control” has the meaning specified in Section 11.03 of the Adoption Agreement.

 

2.27.

Years of Service

“Years of Service” means each one-year period for which the Participant receives service credit in accordance with the provisions of Section 7.01(d) of the Adoption Agreement.

 

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Article 3 - Participation

 

3.1.

Participation

The Participants in the Plan shall be those Eligible Employees and Directors of the Employer who satisfy the requirements of Section 2.01 of the Adoption Agreement.

 

3.2.

Termination of Participation

The Administrator may terminate a Participant’s participation in the Plan in a manner consistent with Code Section 409A. If the Employer terminates a Participant’s participation before the Participant experiences a Separation from Service, the Participant’s vested Accounts shall be paid in accordance with the provisions of Article 9.

 

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Article 4 - Participant Elections

 

4.1.

Deferral Agreement

If permitted by the Plan Sponsor in accordance with Section 4.01 of the Adoption Agreement, each Eligible Employee and Director may elect to defer his or her Compensation within the meaning of Section 3.01 of the Adoption Agreement by executing in writing or electronically, a deferral agreement in accordance with rules and procedures established by the Administrator and the provisions of this Article 4.

A new deferral agreement must be timely executed for each Plan Year during which the Eligible Employee or Director desires to defer Compensation. An Eligible Employee or Director who does not timely execute a deferral agreement shall be deemed to have elected zero deferrals of Compensation for such Plan Year.

A deferral agreement may be changed or revoked during the period specified by the Administrator. Except as provided in Section 9.3, a deferral agreement becomes irrevocable at the close of the specified period.

 

4.2.

Amount of Deferral

An Eligible Employee or Director may elect to defer Compensation in any amount permitted by Section 4.01(a) of the Adoption Agreement.

 

4.3.

Timing of Election to Defer

Each Eligible Employee or Director who desires to defer Compensation otherwise payable during a Plan Year must execute a deferral agreement within the period preceding the Plan Year specified by the Administrator. Each Eligible Employee who desires to defer Compensation that is a Bonus must execute a deferral agreement within the period preceding the Plan Year during which the Bonus is earned that is specified by the Administrator, except that if the Bonus can be treated as performance based compensation as described in Code Section 409A(a)(4)(B)(iii), the deferral agreement may be executed within the period specified by the Administrator, which period, in no event, shall end after the date which is six months prior to the end of the period during which the Bonus is earned, provided the Participant has performed services continuously from the later of the beginning of the performance period or the date the performance criteria are established through the date the Participant executed the deferral agreement and provided further that the compensation has not yet become ‘readily ascertainable’ within the meaning of Treas. Reg. § 1.409A-2(a)(8). In addition, if the Compensation qualifies as ‘fiscal year compensation’ within the meaning of Treas. Reg. § 1.409A-2(a)(6), the deferral agreement may be made not later than the end of the Employer’s taxable year immediately preceding the first taxable year of the Employer in which any services are performed for which such Compensation is payable.

 

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Except as otherwise provided below, an employee who is classified or designated as an Eligible Employee during a Plan Year or a Director who is designated as eligible to participate during a Plan Year may elect to defer Compensation otherwise payable during the remainder of such Plan Year in accordance with the rules of this Section 4.3 by executing a deferral agreement within the thirty (30) day period beginning on the date the employee is classified or designated as an Eligible Employee or the date the Director is designated as eligible, whichever is applicable, if permitted by Section 4.01(b)(ii) of the Adoption Agreement. If Compensation is based on a specified performance period that begins before the Eligible Employee or Director executes his or her deferral agreement, the election will be deemed to apply to the portion of such Compensation equal to the total amount of Compensation for the performance period multiplied by the ratio of the number of days remaining in the performance period after the election becomes irrevocable and effective over the total number of days in the performance period. The rules of this paragraph shall not apply unless the Eligible Employee or Director can be treated as initially eligible in accordance with Treas. Reg. § 1.409A-2(a)(7).

 

4.4.

Election of Payment Schedule and Form of Payment

All elections of a payment schedule and a form of payment will be made in accordance with rules and procedures established by the Administrator and the provisions of this Section 4.4.

 

  (a)

If the Plan Sponsor has elected to permit annual distribution elections in accordance with Section 6.01(h) of the Adoption Agreement the following rules apply. At the time an Eligible Employee or Director completes a deferral agreement, the Eligible Employee or Director must elect a distribution event (which includes a specified time) and a form of payment for the Compensation subject to the deferral agreement from among the options the Plan Sponsor has made available for this purpose and which are specified in 6.01(b) of the Adoption Agreement. Prior to the time required by Treas. Reg. § 1.409A-2, the Eligible Employee or Director shall elect a distribution event (which includes a specified time) and a form of payment for any Employer contributions that may be credited to the Participant’s Account during the Plan Year. If an Eligible Employee or Director fails to elect a distribution event, he or she shall be deemed to have elected Separation from Service as the distribution event. If he or she fails to elect a form of payment, he or she shall be deemed to have elected a lump sum form of payment.

 

  (b)

If the Plan Sponsor has elected not to permit annual distribution elections in accordance with Section 6.01(h) of the Adoption Agreement the following rules apply. At the time an Eligible Employee or Director first completes a deferral agreement but in no event later than the time required by Treas. Reg. § 1.409A-2, the Eligible Employee or Director must elect a distribution event (which includes a specified time) and a form of payment for amounts credited to his or her Account from among the options the Plan Sponsor has made available for this purpose and which are specified in Section 6.01(b) of the Adoption Agreement. If an Eligible Employee or Director fails to elect a distribution event, he or she shall be deemed to have elected Separation from Service in the distribution event. If the Participant fails to elect a form of payment, he or she shall be deemed to have elected a lump sum form of payment.

 

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Article 5 - Employer Contributions

 

5.1.

Matching Contributions

If elected by the Plan Sponsor in Section 5.01(a) of the Adoption Agreement, the Employer will credit the Participant’s Account with a matching contribution determined in accordance with the formula specified in Section 5.01(a) of the Adoption Agreement provided, however, that the Matching Contributions credited to the Account of a Participant pursuant to Section 5.01(a)(i)(D) shall be limited pursuant to (a) and (b) below to the extent the Matching Contributions result from such Participant’s action or inaction under a qualified plan with respect to elective deferrals and other employee pre-tax contributions subject to the contribution restrictions under Code section 401(a)(30) or 402(g) and employee after-tax contributions to a qualified plan:

(a) The sum of Matching Contributions made on behalf of a Participant pursuant to Section 5.01(a)(i)(D) for any calendar year and any other benefits the Participant accrues pursuant to another plan subject to Code section 409A shall not result in an increase in the amounts deferred under all plans subject to Code section 409A in which the Participant participates in excess of the limit with respect to elective deferrals under Code section 402(g)(1)(A), (B) and (C) in effect for the calendar year in which such action or inaction occurs; and

(b) The Matching Contributions made on behalf of a Participant pursuant to Section 5.01(a)(i)(D) shall never exceed 100% of the matching amounts that would be provided under the qualified employer plan identified in Section 5.01(a)(i)(D) absent any plan based restrictions that reflect limits on qualified plan contributions under the Code.

The matching contribution will be treated as allocated to the Participant’s Account at the time specified in Section 5.01(a)(iii) of the Adoption Agreement.

 

5.2.

Other Contributions

If elected by the Plan Sponsor in Section 5.01(b) of the Adoption Agreement, the Employer will credit the Participant’s Account with a contribution or contributions determined in accordance with the formula or method specified in Section 5.01(b) of the Adoption Agreement. These contributions will be treated as allocated to the Participant’s Account at the time specified in Section 5.01(b)(iii) of the Adoption Agreement.

 

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Article 6 - Accounts and Credits

 

6.1.

Establishment of Account

For accounting and computational purposes only, the Administrator will establish and maintain an Account on behalf of each Participant which will reflect the credits made pursuant to Section 6.2, distributions or withdrawals, along with the earnings, expenses, gains and losses allocated thereto, attributable to the hypothetical investments made with the amounts in the Account as provided in Article 7. The Administrator may establish and maintain such other records and accounts, as it decides in its discretion to be reasonably required or appropriate to discharge its duties under the Plan.

 

6.2.

Credits to Account

A Participant’s Account will be credited for each Plan Year with the amount of his or her elective deferrals under Section 4.1 at the time the amount subject to the deferral election would otherwise have been payable to the Participant and the amount of Employer contributions, if any, treated as allocated on his or her behalf under Article 5.

 

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Article 7 - Investment of Contributions

 

7.1.

Investment Options

The amount credited to each Account shall be treated as invested in the investment options designated for this purpose by the Administrator.

 

7.2.

Adjustment of Accounts

The amount credited to each Account shall be adjusted for hypothetical investment earnings, expenses, gains or losses in an amount equal to the earnings, expenses, gains or losses attributable to the investment options selected by the party designated in Section 9.01 of the Adoption Agreement from among the investment options provided in Section 7.1. If permitted by Section 9.01 of the Adoption Agreement, a Participant (or the Participant’s Beneficiary after the death of the Participant) may, in accordance with rules and procedures established by the Administrator, select the investments from among the options provided in Section 7.1 to be used for the purpose of calculating future hypothetical investment adjustments to the Account or to future credits to the Account under Section 6.2 effective as of the Valuation Date coincident with or next following notice to the Administrator. Each Account shall be adjusted as of each Valuation Date to reflect: (a) the hypothetical earnings, expenses, gains, and losses described above; (b) amounts credited pursuant to Section 6.2; and (c) distributions or withdrawals. In addition, each Account may be adjusted for its allocable share of the hypothetical costs and expenses associated with the maintenance of the hypothetical investments provided in Section 7.1.

 

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Article 8 - Right to Benefits

 

8.1.

Vesting

A Participant, at all times, has a 100% nonforfeitable interest in the amounts credited to his or her Account attributable to his or her elective deferrals made in accordance with Section 4.1.

A Participant’s right to the amounts credited to his or her Account attributable to Employer contributions made in accordance with Article 5 shall be determined in accordance with the relevant schedule and provisions in Section 7.01 of the Adoption Agreement. Upon a Separation from Service and after application of the provisions of Section 7.01 of the Adoption Agreement, the Participant shall forfeit the nonvested portion of his or her Account.

 

8.2.

Death

The Plan Sponsor may elect to accelerate vesting upon the death of the Participant in accordance with Section 7.01(c) of the Adoption Agreement and/or to accelerate distributions upon death in accordance with Section 6.01(b) or Section 6.01(d) of the Adoption Agreement. If the Plan Sponsor does not elect to accelerate distributions upon death in accordance with Section 6.01(b) or Section 6.01(d) of the Adoption Agreement, the vested amount credited to the Participant’s Account will be paid in accordance with the provisions of Article 9.

A Participant may designate a Beneficiary or Beneficiaries, or change any prior designation of Beneficiary or Beneficiaries in accordance with rules and procedures established by the Administrator. Whenever a Participant designates a new Beneficiary, all former Beneficiary designations by such Participant shall be revoked automatically. If a Participant and the Participant’s spouse divorce, any designations of the spouse as Beneficiary shall become null and void. The former spouse shall be treated as the Beneficiary under the Plan only if after the divorce is final, the Participant expressly re-designates the former spouse as the Participant’s Beneficiary.

A copy of the death notice or other sufficient documentation must be filed with and approved by the Administrator. If upon the death of the Participant there is, in the opinion of the Administrator, no designated Beneficiary for part or all of the Participant’s vested Account, such amount will be paid to his or her estate (such estate shall be deemed to be the Beneficiary for purposes of the Plan) in accordance with the provisions of Article 9.

 

8.3.

Disability

If the Plan Sponsor has elected to accelerate vesting upon the occurrence of a Disability in accordance with Section 7.01(c) of the Adoption Agreement and/or to permit distributions upon Disability in accordance with Section 6.01(b) or Section 6.01(d) of the Adoption Agreement, the determination of whether a Participant has incurred a Disability shall be based on the definition of Disability in Section 6.01(i) of the Adoption Agreement and in a manner consistent with the requirements of Code Section 409A.

 

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8.4.

Termination for Cause

Anything else contained herein to the contrary notwithstanding, a Participant who is terminated by an Employer for cause, as determined by the Employer, shall forfeit all Matching and Other Contributions credited to his Account, as adjusted for income, expense, gain, or loss, regardless of how many Years of Service the Participant has completed (or whether a 409A Change in Control has occurred or a Vesting Change in Control (each as defined in Section 11.03) has occurred). If the Employer discovers that cause existed for terminating the Participant after the Participant’s Separation from Service, but before his entire Account balance has been distributed, the undistributed Matching and Other Contributions credited to his Account, as adjusted for income, expense, gain, or loss, shall be forfeited.

 

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Article 9 - Distribution of Benefits

 

9.1.

Amount of Benefits

The vested amount credited to a Participant’s Account as determined under Articles 6, 7 and 8 shall determine and constitute the basis for the value of benefits payable to the Participant under the Plan.

 

9.2.

Method and Timing of Distributions

Except as otherwise provided in this Article 9, distributions under the Plan shall be made in accordance with the elections made or deemed made by the Participant under Article 4. Subject to the provisions of Section 9.6 requiring a six-month delay for certain distributions to Key Employees, distributions following a payment event shall commence at the time specified in Section 6.01(a) of the Adoption Agreement. If permitted by Section 6.01(g) of the Adoption Agreement, a Participant may elect, at least twelve months before a scheduled distribution event, to delay the payment date for a minimum period of sixty months from the originally scheduled date of payment, provided the election does not take effect for at least twelve months from the date on which the election is made. The distribution election change must be made in accordance with procedures and rules established by the Administrator. The Participant may, at the same time the date of payment is deferred, change the form of payment but such change in the form of payment may not effect an acceleration of payment in violation of Code Section 409A or the provisions of Treas. Reg. § 1.409A-2(b). For purposes of this Section 9.2, a series of installment payments is always treated as a single payment and not as a series of separate payments.

 

9.3.

Unforeseeable Emergency

A Participant may request a distribution due to an Unforeseeable Emergency if the Plan Sponsor has elected to permit Unforeseeable Emergency withdrawals under Section 8.01(a) of the Adoption Agreement. The request must be in writing and must be submitted to the Administrator along with evidence that the circumstances constitute an Unforeseeable Emergency. The Administrator has the discretion to require whatever evidence it deems necessary to determine whether a distribution is warranted, and may require the Participant to certify that the need cannot be met from other sources reasonably available to the Participant. Whether a Participant has incurred an Unforeseeable Emergency will be determined by the Administrator on the basis of the relevant facts and circumstances in its sole discretion, but, in no event, will an Unforeseeable Emergency be deemed to exist if the hardship can be relieved: (a) through reimbursement or compensation by insurance or otherwise, (b) by liquidation of the Participant’s assets to the extent such liquidation would not itself cause severe financial hardship, or (c) by cessation of deferrals under the Plan. A distribution due to an Unforeseeable Emergency must be limited to the amount reasonably necessary to satisfy the emergency need and may include any amounts necessary to pay any federal, state, foreign or local income taxes and penalties reasonably anticipated to result from the distribution. The distribution will be made in the form of a single lump sum cash payment. If permitted by Section 8.01(b) of the Adoption Agreement, a Participant’s deferral elections for the remainder of the Plan Year will be cancelled upon a withdrawal due to an Unforeseeable Emergency. If the payment of all or any portion of the Participant’s vested Account is being delayed in accordance with Section 9.6 at the time he or she experiences an Unforeseeable Emergency, the amount being delayed shall not be subject to the provisions of this Section 9.3 until the expiration of the six month period of delay required by section 9.6.

 

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9.4.

Payment Election Overrides

If the Plan Sponsor has elected one or more payment election overrides in accordance with Section 6.01(d) of the Adoption Agreement, the following provisions apply. Upon the occurrence of the first event selected by the Plan Sponsor, the remaining vested amount credited to the Participant’s Account shall be paid in the form designated to the Participant or his or her Beneficiary regardless of whether the Participant had made different elections of time and/or form of payment or whether the Participant was receiving installment payments at the time of the event.

 

9.5.

Cashouts of Amounts Not Exceeding Stated Limit

If the vested amount credited to the Participant’s Account does not exceed the limit established for this purpose by the Plan Sponsor in Section 6.01(e) of the Adoption Agreement at the time he or she incurs a Separation from Service for any reason, the Employer shall distribute such amount to the Participant at the time specified in Section 6.01(a) of the Adoption Agreement in a single lump sum cash payment following such Separation from Service regardless of whether the Participant had made different elections of time or form of payment as to the vested amount credited to his or her Account or whether the Participant was receiving installments at the time of such termination. A Participant’s Account, for purposes of this Section 9.5, shall include any amounts described in Section 1.3.

 

9.6.

Required Delay in Payment to Key Employees

Except as otherwise provided in this Section 9.6, a distribution made on account of Separation from Service (or Retirement, if applicable) to a Participant who is a Key Employee as of the date of his or her Separation from Service (or Retirement, if applicable) shall not be made before the date which is six months after the Separation from Service (or Retirement, if applicable).

 

  (a)

A Participant is treated as a Key Employee if: (i) he or she is employed by a Related Employer any of whose stock is publicly traded on an established securities market, and (ii) he or she satisfies the requirements of Code Section 416(i)(1)(A)(i), (ii) or (iii), determined without regard to Code Section 416(i)(5), at any time during the twelve month period ending on the Identification Date.

 

  (b)

A Participant who is a Key Employee on an Identification Date shall be treated as a Key Employee for purposes of the six month delay in distributions for the twelve month period beginning on the first day of a month no later than the fourth month following the Identification Date. The Identification Date and the effective date of the delay in distributions shall be determined in accordance with Section 1.06 of the Adoption Agreement.

 

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  (c)

The Plan Sponsor may elect to apply an alternative method to identify Participants who will be treated as Key Employees for purposes of the six month delay in distributions if the method satisfies each of the following requirements: (i) is reasonably designed to include all Key Employees, (ii) is an objectively determinable standard providing no direct or indirect election to any Participant regarding its application, and (iii) results in either all Key Employees or no more than 200 Key Employees being identified in the class as of any date. Use of an alternative method that satisfies the requirements of this Section 9.6(c) will not be treated as a change in the time and form of payment for purposes of Treas. Reg. § 1.409A-2(b).

 

  (d)

The six-month delay does not apply to payments described in Section 9.9(a), (b) or (d) or to payments that occur after the death of the Participant. If the payment of all or any portion of the Participant’s vested Account is being delayed in accordance with this Section 9.6 at the time he or she incurs a Disability which would otherwise require a distribution under the terms of the Plan, no amount shall be paid until the expiration of the six month period of delay required by this Section 9.6.

 

9.7.

Change in Control

If the Plan Sponsor has elected to permit distributions upon a Section 409A Change in Control, the following provisions shall apply. A distribution made upon a Section 409A Change in Control will be made at the time specified in Section 6.01(a) of the Adoption Agreement in the form elected by the Participant in accordance with the procedures described in Article 4. Alternatively, if the Plan Sponsor has elected in accordance with Section 11.02 of the Adoption Agreement to require distributions upon a Section 409A Change in Control, the Participant’s remaining vested Account shall be paid to the Participant or the Participant’s Beneficiary at the time specified in Section 6.01(a) of the Adoption Agreement as a single lump sum payment. A Section 409A Change in Control, for purposes of the Plan, will occur upon a change in the ownership of the Plan Sponsor, a change in the effective control of the Plan Sponsor or a change in the ownership of a substantial portion of the assets of the Plan Sponsor, but only if elected by the Plan Sponsor in Section 11.03 of the Adoption Agreement. The Plan Sponsor, for this purpose, includes any Relevant Corporation identified in Section 9.7(a). All distributions made in accordance with this Section 9.7 are subject to the provisions of Section 9.6.

If a Participant continues to make deferrals in accordance with Article 4 after he or she has received a distribution due to a Section 409A Change in Control, the residual amount payable to the Participant shall be paid at the time and in the form specified in the elections he or she makes in accordance with Article 4 or upon his or her death or Disability as provided in Article 8.

Whether a Section 409A Change in Control has occurred will be determined by the Administrator in accordance with the rules and definitions set forth in this Section 9.7. Whether a Vesting Change in Control has occurred will be determined by the Administrator. A distribution to the Participant will be treated as occurring upon a Change in Control if the Plan Sponsor terminates the Plan in accordance with Section 10.2 and distributes the Participant’s benefits in accordance with Section 10.2.

 

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  (a)

Relevant Corporations. To constitute a Section 409A Change in Control for purposes of the Plan, the event must relate to: (i) the corporation for whom the Participant is performing services at the time of the Section 409A Change in Control, (ii) the corporation that is liable for the payment of the Participant’s benefits under the Plan (or all corporations liable if more than one corporation is liable) but only if either the deferred compensation is attributable to the performance of services by the Participant for such corporation (or corporations) or there is a bona fide business purpose for such corporation (or corporations) to be liable for such payment and, in either case, no significant purpose of making such corporation (or corporations) liable for such payment is the avoidance of federal income tax, or (iii) a corporation that is a majority shareholder of a corporation identified in (i) or (ii), or any corporation in a chain of corporations in which each corporation is a majority shareholder of another corporation in the chain, ending in a corporation identified in (i) or (ii). A majority shareholder is defined as a shareholder owning more than fifty percent (50%) of the total fair market value and voting power of such corporation. An entity described in the foregoing clauses (i), (ii), or (iii) will be a “Relevant Corporation” for purposes of this Plan.

 

  (b)

Stock Ownership. Code Section 318(a) applies for purposes of determining stock ownership. Stock underlying a vested option is considered owned by the individual who owns the vested option (and the stock underlying an unvested option is not considered owned by the individual who holds the unvested option). If, however, a vested option is exercisable for stock that is not substantially vested (as defined by Treas. Reg. § 1.83-3(b) and (j)) the stock underlying the option is not treated as owned by the individual who holds the option.

 

  (c)

Change in the Ownership of a Corporation. A change in the ownership of a corporation occurs on the date that any one person or more than one person acting as a group, acquires ownership of stock of the corporation that, together with stock held by such person or group, constitutes more than fifty percent (50%) of the total fair market value or total voting power of the stock of such corporation. If any one person or more than one person acting as a group is considered to own more than fifty percent (50%) of the total fair market value or total voting power of the stock of a corporation, the acquisition of additional stock by the same person or persons is not considered to cause a change in the ownership of the corporation (or to cause a change in the effective control of the corporation as discussed below in Section 9.7(d)). An increase in the percentage of stock owned by any one person, or persons acting as a group, as a result of a transaction in which the corporation acquires its stock in exchange for property will be treated as an acquisition of stock. Section 9.7(c) applies only when there is a transfer of stock of a corporation (or issuance of stock of a corporation) and stock in such corporation remains outstanding after the transaction. For purposes of this Section 9.7(c), persons will not be considered to be acting as a group solely because they purchase or own stock of the same corporation at the same time or as a result of a public offering. Persons will, however, be considered to be acting as a group if they are owners of a corporation that enters into a merger, consolidation, purchase, or acquisition of stock, or similar business transaction with the corporation. If a person, including an entity, owns stock in both corporations that enter into a merger, consolidation, purchase or acquisition of stock, or similar transaction, such shareholder is considered to be acting as a group with other shareholders in a corporation only with respect to ownership in that corporation prior to the transaction giving rise to the change and not with respect to the ownership interest in the other corporation.

 

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  (d)

Change in the Effective Control of a Corporation. A change in the effective control of a corporation occurs on the date that either (i) any one person, or more than one person acting as a group, acquires (or has acquired during the twelve month period ending on the date of the most recent acquisition by such person or persons) ownership of stock of the corporation possessing thirty percent (30%) or more of the total voting power of the stock of such corporation, or (ii) a majority of members of the corporation’s Board of Directors is replaced during any twelve month period by Directors whose appointment or election is not endorsed by a majority of the members of the corporation’s Board of Directors prior to the date of the appointment or election, provided that for purposes of this paragraph (ii), the term corporation refers solely to the Relevant Corporation identified in Section 9.7(a) for which no other corporation is a majority shareholder for purposes of Section 9.7(a). In the absence of an event described in Section 9.7(d)(i) or (ii), a change in the effective control of a corporation will not have occurred. A change in effective control may also occur in any transaction in which either of the two corporations involved in the transaction has a change in the ownership of such corporation as described in Section 9.7(c) or a change in the ownership of a substantial portion of the assets of such corporation as described in Section 9.7(e). If any one person, or more than one person acting as a group, is considered to effectively control a corporation within the meaning of this Section 9.7(d), the acquisition of additional control of the corporation by the same person or persons is not considered to cause a change in the effective control of the corporation or to cause a change in the ownership of the corporation within the meaning of Section 9.7(c). For purposes of this Section 9.7(d), persons will or will not be considered to be acting as a group in accordance with rules similar to those set forth in Section 9.7(c) with the following exception. If a person, including an entity, owns stock in both corporations that enter into a merger, consolidation, purchase or acquisition of stock, or similar transaction, such shareholder is considered to be acting as a group with other shareholders in a corporation only with respect to the ownership in that corporation prior to the transaction giving rise to the change and not with respect to the ownership interest in the other corporation.

 

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  (e)

Change in the Ownership of a Substantial Portion of a Corporation’s Assets. A change in the ownership of a substantial portion of a corporation’s assets occurs on the date that any one person, or more than one person acting as a group (as determined in accordance with rules similar to those set forth in Section 9.7(d)), acquires (or has acquired during the twelve month period ending on the date of the most recent acquisition by such person or persons) assets from the corporation that have a total gross fair market value equal to or more than forty percent (40%) of the total gross fair market value of all of the assets of the corporation immediately prior to such acquisition or acquisitions. For this purpose, gross fair market value means the value of the assets of the corporation or the value of the assets being disposed of determined without regard to any liabilities associated with such assets. There is no Section 409A Change in Control event under this Section 9.7(e) when there is a transfer to an entity that is controlled by the shareholders of the transferring corporation immediately after the transfer. A transfer of assets by a corporation is not treated as a change in ownership of such assets if the assets are transferred to (i) a shareholder of the corporation (immediately before the asset transfer) in exchange for or with respect to its stock, (ii) an entity, fifty percent (50%) or more of the total value or voting power of which is owned, directly or indirectly, by the corporation, (iii) a person, or more than one person acting as a group, that owns, directly or indirectly, fifty percent (50%) or more of the total value or voting power of all the outstanding stock of the corporation, or (iv) an entity, at least fifty (50%) of the total value or voting power of which is owned, directly or indirectly, by a person described in Section 9.7(e)(iii). For purposes of the foregoing, and except as otherwise provided, a person’s status is determined immediately after the transfer of assets.

 

9.8.

Permissible Delays in Payment

Distributions may be delayed beyond the date payment would otherwise occur in accordance with the provisions of Articles 8 and 9 in any of the following circumstances (as long as the Employer treats all payments to similarly situated Participants on a reasonably consistent basis):

 

  (a)

The Employer may delay payment if it reasonably anticipates that its deduction with respect to such payment would be limited or eliminated by the application of Code Section 162(m). Payment must be made during the Participant’s first taxable year in which the Employer reasonably anticipates, or should reasonably anticipate, that if the payment is made during such year the deduction of such payment will not be barred by the application of Code Section 162(m) or during the period beginning with the Participant’s Separation from Service and ending on the later of the last day of the Employer’s taxable year in which the Participant separates from service or the 15th day of the third month following the Participant’s Separation from Service. If a scheduled payment to a Participant is delayed in accordance with this Section 9.8(a), all scheduled payments to the Participant that could be delayed in accordance with this Section 9.8(a) will also be delayed.

 

  (b)

The Employer may also delay payment if it reasonably anticipates that the making of the payment will violate federal securities laws or other applicable laws provided payment is made at the earliest date on which the Employer reasonably anticipates that the making of the payment will not cause such violation.

 

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  (c)

The Employer reserves the right to amend the Plan to provide for a delay in payment upon such other events and conditions as the Secretary of the Treasury may prescribe in generally applicable guidance published in the Internal Revenue Bulletin.

 

9.9.

Permitted Acceleration of Payment

The Employer may permit acceleration of the time or schedule of any payment or amount scheduled to be paid pursuant to a payment under the Plan provided such acceleration would be permitted by the provisions of Treas. Reg. § 1.409A-3(j)(4), including the following events:

 

  (a)

Domestic Relations Order. A payment may be accelerated if such payment is made to an alternate payee pursuant to and following the receipt and qualification of a domestic relations order as defined in Code Section 414(p).

 

  (b)

Compliance with Ethics Agreement and Legal Requirements. A payment may be accelerated as may be necessary to comply with ethics agreements with the Federal government or as may be reasonably necessary to avoid the violation of Federal, state, local or foreign ethics law or conflicts of laws, in accordance with the requirements of Code Section 409A.

 

  (c)

De Minimis Amounts. A payment may be accelerated if (i) the amount of the payment is not greater than the applicable dollar amount under Code Section 402(g)(1)(B), and (ii) at the time the payment is made the amount constitutes the Participant’s entire interest under the Plan and all other plans that are aggregated with the Plan under Treas. Reg. § 1.409A-1(c)(2).

 

  (d)

FICA Tax. A payment may be accelerated to the extent required to pay the Federal Insurance Contributions Act tax imposed under Code Sections 3101, 3121(a) and 3121(v)(2) of the Code with respect to compensation deferred under the Plan (the “FICA Amount”). Additionally, a payment may be accelerated to pay the income tax on wages imposed under Code Section 3401 of the Code on the FICA Amount and to pay the additional income tax at source on wages attributable to the pyramiding Code Section 3401 wages and taxes. The total payment under this subsection (d) may not exceed the aggregate of the FICA Amount and the income tax withholding related to the FICA Amount.

 

  (e)

Section 409A Additional Tax. A payment may be accelerated if the Plan fails to meet the requirements of Code Section 409A; provided that such payment may not exceed the amount required to be included in income as a result of the failure to comply with the requirements of Code Section 409A.

 

  (f)

Offset. A payment may be accelerated in the Employer’s discretion as satisfaction of a debt of the Participant to the Employer, where such debt is incurred in the ordinary course of the service relationship between the Participant and the Employer, the entire amount of the reduction in any of the Employer’s taxable years does not exceed $5,000, and the reduction is made at the same time and in the same amount as the debt otherwise would have been due and collected from the Participant.

 

  (g)

Other Events. A payment may be accelerated in the Administrator’s discretion in connection with such other events and conditions as permitted by Code Section 409A.

 

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Article 10 - Amendment and Termination

 

10.1.

Amendment by Plan Sponsor

The Plan Sponsor reserves the right to amend the Plan (for itself and each Employer) through action of its Board of Directors or other authorized person. No amendment can directly or indirectly deprive any current or former Participant or Beneficiary of all or any portion of his or her Account which had accrued and vested prior to the amendment.

 

10.2.

Plan Termination Following Change in Control or Corporate Dissolution

If so elected by the Plan Sponsor in 11.01 of the Adoption Agreement, the Plan Sponsor reserves the right to terminate the Plan and distribute all amounts credited to all Participant Accounts within the 30 days preceding or the twelve months following a Section 409A Change in Control as determined in accordance with the rules set forth in Section 9.7. For this purpose, the Plan will be treated as terminated only if all agreements, methods, programs and other arrangements sponsored by the Related Employer immediately after the Section 409A Change in Control which are treated as a single plan under Treas. Reg. § 1.409A-1(c)(2) are also terminated and liquidated with respect to each participant that experienced the Section 409A Change in Control so that all such participants under the Plan and all such agreements, methods, programs and other arrangements are required to receive all amounts deferred under the terminated arrangements within twelve months of the date the Plan Sponsor irrevocably takes all necessary action to terminate the arrangements. In addition, the Plan Sponsor reserves the right to terminate the Plan within twelve months of a corporate dissolution taxed under Code Section 331 or with the approval of a bankruptcy court pursuant to 11 U. S. C. Section 503(b)(1)(A) provided that amounts deferred under the Plan are included in the gross incomes of Participants in the latest of (a) the calendar year in which the termination and liquidation occurs, (b) the first calendar year in which the amount is no longer subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture, or (c) the first calendar year in which payment is administratively practicable.

 

10.3.

Other Plan Terminations

The Plan Sponsor retains the discretion to terminate the Plan if (a) all arrangements sponsored by the Plan Sponsor that would be aggregated with any terminated arrangement under Code Section 409A and Treas. Reg. § 1.409A-1(c)(2) are terminated, (b) no payments other than payments that would be payable under the terms of the arrangements if the termination had not occurred are made within twelve months of the termination of the arrangements, (c) all payments are made within twenty-four months of the date the Plan Sponsor takes all necessary action to irrevocably terminate and liquidate the arrangements, (d) the Plan Sponsor does not adopt a new arrangement that would be aggregated with any terminated arrangement under Code Section 409A and the regulations thereunder at any time within the three year period following the date of termination of the arrangement, and (e) the termination does not occur proximate to a downturn in the financial health of the Plan Sponsor. The Plan Sponsor also reserves the right to amend the Plan to provide that termination of the Plan will occur under such conditions and events as may be prescribed by the Secretary of the Treasury in generally applicable guidance published in the Internal Revenue Bulletin.

 

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Article 11 - The Trust

 

11.1.

Establishment of Trust

The Plan Sponsor may but is not required to establish a trust to hold amounts which the Plan Sponsor may contribute from time to time to correspond to some or all amounts credited to Participants under Section 6.2. In the event that the Plan Sponsor wishes to establish a trust to provide a source of funds for the payment of Plan benefits, any such trust shall be constructed to constitute an unfunded arrangement that does not affect the status of the Plan as an unfunded plan for purposes of Title I of ERISA and the Code. If the Plan Sponsor elects to establish a trust in accordance with Section 10.01 of the Adoption Agreement, the provisions of Sections 11.2 and 11.3 shall become operative.

 

11.2.

Trust

Any trust established by the Plan Sponsor shall be between the Plan Sponsor and a trustee pursuant to a separate written agreement under which assets are held, administered and managed, subject to the claims of the Plan Sponsor’s creditors in the event of the Plan Sponsor’s insolvency. The Plan Sponsor must notify the trustee in the event of a bankruptcy or insolvency.

 

11.3.

Investment of Trust Funds

Any amounts contributed to the trust by the Plan Sponsor shall be invested by the trustee in accordance with the provisions of the trust and the instructions of the Administrator. Trust investments need not reflect the hypothetical investments selected by Participants under Section 7.1 for the purpose of adjusting Accounts and the earnings or investment results of the trust need not affect the hypothetical investment adjustments to Participant Accounts under the Plan.

 

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Article 12 - Plan Administration

 

12.1.

Powers and Responsibilities of the Administrator

The Administrator has the full power and the full responsibility to administer the Plan in all of its details; subject, however, to the applicable requirements of ERISA. The Administrator’s powers and responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following:

 

  (a)

To make and enforce such rules and procedures as it deems necessary or proper for the efficient administration of the Plan;

 

  (b)

To interpret the Plan, its interpretation thereof to be final, except as provided in Section 12.2, on all persons claiming benefits under the Plan;

 

  (c)

To decide all questions concerning the Plan and the eligibility of any person to participate in the Plan;

 

  (d)

To administer the claims and review procedures specified in Section 12.2;

 

  (e)

To compute the amount of benefits which will be payable to any Participant, former Participant or Beneficiary in accordance with the provisions of the Plan;

 

  (f)

To determine the person or persons to whom such benefits will be paid;

 

  (g)

To authorize the payment of benefits;

 

  (h)

To make corrections and recover the overpayment of any benefits;

 

  (i)

To comply with the reporting and disclosure requirements of Part 1 of Subtitle B of Title I of ERISA;

 

  (j)

To appoint such agents, counsel, accountants, and consultants as may be required to assist in administering the Plan;

 

  (k)

By written instrument, to allocate and delegate its responsibilities, including the formation of an Administrative Committee to administer the Plan.

 

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12.2.

Claims and Review Procedures

 

  (a)

Claims Procedure. If any person believes he or she is being denied any rights or benefits under the Plan, such person may file a claim in writing with the Administrator. If any such claim is wholly or partially denied, the Administrator will notify such person of its decision in writing. Such notification will contain (i) specific reasons for the denial, (ii) specific reference to pertinent Plan provisions, (iii) a description of any additional material or information necessary for such person to perfect such claim and an explanation of why such material or information is necessary, and (iv) a description of the Plan’s review procedures and the time limits applicable to such procedures, including a statement of the person’s right to bring a civil action following an adverse decision on review. If the claim involves a Disability, the denial must also include the standards that governed the decision, including the basis for disagreeing with any health care professionals, vocational professionals or the Social Security Administration as well as an explanation of the scientific or clinical judgment underlying the denial. Such notification will be given within 90 days (45 days in the case of a claim regarding Disability) after the claim is received by the Administrator. The Administrator may extend the period for providing the notification by 90 days (30 days in the case of a claim regarding Disability, which may be extended an additional 30 days) if special circumstances require an extension of time for processing the claim and if written notice of such extension and circumstance is given to such person within the initial 90 day period (45 day period in the case of a claim regarding Disability). If such notification is not given within such period, the claim will be considered denied as of the last day of such period and such person may request a review of his or her claim.

 

  (b)

Review Procedure. Within 60 days (180 days in the case of a claim regarding Disability) after the date on which a person receives a written notification of denial of claim (or, if written notification is not provided, within 60 days (180 days in the case of a claim regarding Disability) of the date denial is considered to have occurred), such person (or his or her duly authorized representative) may (i) file a written request with the Administrator for a review of his or her denied claim and of pertinent documents and (ii) submit written issues and comments to the Administrator. The Administrator will notify such person of its decision in writing. Such notification will be written in a manner calculated to be understood by such person and will contain specific reasons for the decision as well as specific references to pertinent Plan provisions. The notification will explain that the person is entitled to receive, upon request and free of charge, reasonable access to and copies of all pertinent documents and has the right to bring a civil action following an adverse decision on review. The decision on review will be made within 60 days (45 days in the case of a claim regarding Disability). The Administrator may extend the period for making the decision on review by 60 days (45 days in the case of a claim regarding Disability) if special circumstances require an extension of time for processing the request such as an election by the Administrator to hold a hearing, and if written notice of such extension and circumstances is given to such person within the initial 60-day period (45 days in the case of a claim regarding Disability). If the decision on review is not made within such period, the claim will be considered denied.

 

TOC-12-2


If the claim is regarding Disability, and the determination of Disability has not been made by the Social Security Administration, the Railroad Retirement Board, or under the Plan Sponsor’s long-term disability plan, the person may, upon written request and free of charge, also receive the identification of medical or vocational experts whose advice was obtained in connection with the denial of a claim regarding Disability, even if the advice was not relied upon.

Before issuing any decision with respect to a claim involving Disability, the Administrator will provide to the person, free of charge, the following information as soon as possible and sufficiently in advance of the date on which the response is required to be provided to the person to allow the person a reasonable opportunity to respond prior to the due date of the response:

 

  (i)

Any new or additional evidence considered, relied upon, or generated by the Administrator or other person making the decision; and

 

  (ii)

A new or additional rationale if the decision will be based on that rationale.

 

  (c)

Exhaustion of Claims Procedures and Right to Bring Legal Claim. No action at law or equity shall be brought more than one year after the Administrator’s affirmation of a denial of a claim, or, if earlier, more than four years after the facts or events giving rise to the claimant’s allegation(s) or claim(s) first occurred.

 

12.3.

Plan Administrative Costs

All reasonable costs and expenses (including legal, accounting, and employee communication fees) incurred by the Administrator in administering the Plan shall be paid by the Plan to the extent not paid by the Employer.

 

TOC-12-3


Article 13 - Miscellaneous

 

13.1.

Unsecured General Creditor of the Employer

Participants and their Beneficiaries, heirs, successors, and assigns shall have no legal or equitable rights, interests or claims in any property or assets of the Employer. For purposes of the payment of benefits under the Plan, any and all of the Employer’s assets shall be, and shall remain, the general, unpledged, unrestricted assets of the Employer. Each Employer’s obligation under the Plan shall be merely that of an unfunded and unsecured promise to pay money in the future.

 

13.2.

Employer’s Liability

Each Employer’s liability for the payment of benefits under the Plan shall be defined only by the Plan and by the deferral agreements entered into between a Participant and the Employer. An Employer shall have no obligation or liability to a Participant under the Plan except as provided by the Plan and a deferral agreement or agreements. An Employer shall have no liability to Participants employed by other Employers.

 

13.3.

Limitation of Rights

Neither the establishment of the Plan, nor any amendment thereof, nor the creation of any fund or account, nor the payment of any benefits, will be construed as giving to the Participant or any other person any legal or equitable right against the Employer, the Plan or the Administrator, except as provided herein; and in no event will the terms of employment or service of the Participant be modified or in any way affected hereby.

 

13.4.

Anti-Assignment

Except as may be necessary to fulfill a domestic relations order within the meaning of Code Section 414(p), none of the benefits or rights of a Participant or any Beneficiary of a Participant shall be subject to the claim of any creditor. In particular, to the fullest extent permitted by law, all such benefits and rights shall be free from attachment, garnishment, or any other legal or equitable process available to any creditor of the Participant and his or her Beneficiary. Neither the Participant nor his or her Beneficiary shall have the right to alienate, anticipate, commute, pledge, encumber, or assign any of the payments which he or she may expect to receive, contingently or otherwise, under the Plan, except the right to designate a Beneficiary to receive death benefits provided hereunder. Notwithstanding the preceding, the benefit payable from a Participant’s Account may be reduced, at the discretion of the Administrator, to satisfy any debt or liability to the Employer to the extent permitted by Section 409A of the Code.

 

TOC-13-1


13.5.

Facility of Payment

If the Administrator determines, on the basis of medical reports or other evidence satisfactory to the Administrator, that the recipient of any benefit payments under the Plan is incapable of handling his or her affairs by reason of minority, illness, infirmity or other incapacity, the Administrator may direct the Employer to disburse such payments to a person or institution designated by a court which has jurisdiction over such recipient or a person or institution otherwise having the legal authority under State law for the care and control of such recipient. The receipt by such person or institution of any such payments therefore, and any such payment to the extent thereof, shall discharge the liability of the Employer, the Plan and the Administrator for the payment of benefits hereunder to such recipient.

 

13.6.

Notices

Any notice or other communication to the Employer or Administrator in connection with the Plan shall be deemed delivered in writing if addressed to the Plan Sponsor at the address specified in Section 1.03 of the Adoption Agreement and if either actually delivered at said address or, in the case or a letter, five business days shall have elapsed after the same shall have been deposited in the United States mails, first-class postage prepaid and registered or certified.

 

13.7.

Tax Withholding

If the Employer concludes that tax is owing with respect to any deferral or payment hereunder, the Employer shall withhold such amounts from any payments due the Participant or from amounts deferred, as permitted by law, or otherwise make appropriate arrangements with the Participant or his or her Beneficiary for satisfaction of such obligation. Tax, for purposes of this Section 13.7 means any federal, state, local or any other governmental income tax, employment or payroll tax, excise tax, or any other tax or assessment owing with respect to amounts deferred, any earnings thereon, and any payments made to Participants under the Plan.

 

TOC-13-2


13.8.

Indemnification

 

  (a)

Each Indemnitee (as defined in Section 13.8(e)) shall be indemnified and held harmless by the Employer for all actions taken by him or her and for all failures to take action (regardless of the date of any such action or failure to take action), to the fullest extent permitted by the law of the jurisdiction in which the Employer is incorporated, against all expense, liability, and loss (including, without limitation, attorneys’ fees, judgments, fines, taxes, penalties, and amounts paid or to be paid in settlement) reasonably incurred or suffered by the Indemnitee in connection with any Proceeding (as defined in subsection (e)). No indemnification pursuant to this Section shall be made, however, in any case where (1) the act or failure to act giving rise to the claim for indemnification is determined by a court to have constituted willful misconduct or recklessness or (2) there is a settlement to which the Employer does not consent.

 

  (b)

The right to indemnification provided in this Section shall include the right to have the expenses incurred by the Indemnitee in defending any Proceeding paid by the Employer in advance of the final disposition of the Proceeding, to the fullest extent permitted by the law of the jurisdiction in which the Employer is incorporated; provided that, if such law requires, the payment of such expenses incurred by the Indemnitee in advance of the final disposition of a Proceeding shall be made only on delivery to the Employer of an undertaking, by or on behalf of the Indemnitee, to repay all amounts so advanced without interest if it shall ultimately be determined that the Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified under this Section or otherwise.

 

  (c)

Indemnification pursuant to this Section shall continue as to an Indemnitee who has ceased to be such and shall inure to the benefit of his or her heirs, executors, and administrators. The Employer agrees that the undertakings made in this Section shall be binding on its successors or assigns and shall survive the termination, amendment, or restatement of the Plan.

 

  (d)

The foregoing right to indemnification shall be in addition to such other rights as the Indemnitee may enjoy as a matter of law or by reason of insurance coverage of any kind and is in addition to and not in lieu of any rights to indemnification to which the Indemnitee may be entitled pursuant to the by-laws of the Employer.

 

  (e)

For the purposes of this Section, the following definitions shall apply:

 

  (i)

“Indemnitee” shall mean each person serving as an Administrator (or any other person who is an employee, Director, or officer of the Employer) who was or is a party to, or is threatened to be made a party to, or is otherwise involved in, any Proceeding, by reason of the fact that he or she is or was performing administrative functions under the Plan.

 

  (ii)

“Proceeding” shall mean any threatened, pending, or completed action, suit, or proceeding (including, without limitation, an action, suit, or proceeding by or in the right of the Employer), whether civil, criminal, administrative, investigative, or through arbitration.

 

TOC-13-3


13.9.

Successors

The provisions of the Plan shall bind and inure to the benefit of the Plan Sponsor, the Employer and their successors and assigns and the Participant and the Participant’s designated Beneficiaries.

 

13.10.

Disclaimer

It is the Plan Sponsor’s intention that the Plan comply with the requirements of Code Section 409A. Neither the Plan Sponsor nor the Employer shall have any liability to any Participant should any provision of the Plan fail to satisfy the requirements of Code Section 409A.

 

13.11.

Governing Law

The Plan will be construed, administered, and enforced according to the laws of the State specified by the Plan Sponsor in Section 12.01 of the Adoption Agreement.

 

TOC-13-4


Curbline

Elective Deferred Compensation Plan

Adoption Agreement

 

 

Amended & Restated effective September 1, 2024


Table of Contents

 

1.01  

Preamble

     1  
1.02  

Plan

     1  
1.03  

Plan Sponsor

     1  
1.04  

Employer

     2  
1.05  

Administrator

     2  
1.06  

Key Employee Determination Dates

     2  
2.01  

Participation

     4  
3.01  

Compensation

     5  
3.02  

Bonuses

     6  
4.01  

Participant Contributions

     7  
5.01  

Employer Contributions

     9  
6.01  

Distributions

     13  
7.01  

Vesting

     19  
8.01  

Unforeseeable Emergency

     23  
9.01  

Investment Decisions

     24  
10.01  

Trust

     25  
11.01  

Termination Upon Change In Control

     26  
11.02  

Automatic Distribution Upon Change In Control

     26  
11.03  

Change In Control

     26  
12.01  

Governing State Law

     29  
Appendix A      31  


1.01

Preamble

By the execution of this Adoption Agreement the Plan Sponsor hereby [complete (a) or (b)]

 

     (a)      adopts a new plan as of [month, day, year]
  (b)      adopts this Plan as an amendment and restatement and spinoff of the existing SITE Centers Corp. Elective Deferred Compensation Plan (as amended and restated as of May 9, 2019) (the “SITE DC Plan”), effective as of September 1, 2024 which is the Amendment Effective Date. Effective as of the Amendment Effective Date, the liabilities from the SITE DC Plan relating to the benefits accrued for the individuals who are employed by the Plan Sponsor as of the Amendment Effective Date (the “Transferred Participants”) are spun off and are the sole liability and responsibility of this Plan. Effective as of the Amendment Effective Date, the Transferred Participants will cease to be participants in the SITE DC Plan and shall become participants in this Plan. Except as otherwise provided in Appendix A, all amounts owed under this Plan that were deferred under the Plan (or the SITE DC Plan) prior to the Amendment Effective Date shall be governed by the terms of the SITE Centers Corp. Elective Deferred Compensation Plan as in effect on the day before the Amendment Effective Date.
       Original Effective Date of the SITE Centers Corp. Elective Deferred Compensation Plan: October 15, 1994 and previously amended and restated May 9, 2019.
       Pre-409A Grandfathering: ☐ Yes     ☒ No
  By executing this Adoption Agreement, the Plan Sponsor (as defined below) has adopted the Plan (as defined below) consisting of the Basic Plan Document along with this Adoption Agreement (and any exhibits or schedules attached hereto). The Plan Sponsor, by completing this Adoption Agreement has made the specific choices regarding plan design as set forth in the Adoption Agreement together with the detailed additional provisions set out in the Basic Plan Document. All capitalized terms used in this Adoption Agreement have the same meaning given in the Basic Plan Document.

 

1.02

Plan

Plan Name: Curbline Elective Deferred Compensation Plan

Plan Year: Calendar Year

1.03 Plan Sponsor

Name: Curbline TRS LLC

Address: 3300 Enterprise Parkway, Beachwood, OH 44122


EIN #: 99-1129616

Fiscal Year: Calendar Year

Is stock of the Plan Sponsor, any Employer or any Related Employer publicly traded on an established securities market?    ☒ Yes ☐ No

 

1.04

Employer

The following entities have been authorized by the Plan Sponsor to participate in and have adopted the Plan [insert “Not Applicable” if none have been authorized]:

 

    

Entity

  

Publicly Traded on Est. Securities Market

         Yes    No
 

Not Applicable

 

     
         
         
         
         
         

 

1.05

Administrator

The Plan Sponsor has designated the following party or parties to be responsible for the administration of the Plan:

Name: Curbline TRS LLC or an individual or Committee designated by the Plan Sponsor

Address: 3300 Enterprise Parkway, Beachwood, OH 44122

Note: The Administrator is the person or persons designated by the Plan Sponsor to be responsible for the administration of the Plan. Neither Fidelity Employer Services Company nor any other Fidelity affiliate can be the Administrator.

 

1.06

Key Employee Determination Dates

The Employer has designated [month, day, year] as the Identification Date for purposes of determining Key Employees.

In the absence of a designation, the Identification Date is December 31.

 

2


The Employer has designated [month, day, year] as the effective date for purposes of applying the six month delay in distributions to Key Employees.

In the absence of a designation, the effective date is the first day of the fourth month following the Identification Date.

 

3


2.01

Participation

 

     (a)      Employees [complete (i), (ii) or (iii)]
       (i)      Eligible Employees are selected by the Employer.
  (ii)      Eligible Employees are those employees of the Employer who satisfy the following criteria:
       Executive Officers and members of the management team of Curbline TRS LLC who are selected to participate in the Plan by the Administrator.
       Moreover, the Administrator may from time to time establish criteria for eligibility, and employees meeting those criteria shall be eligible to participate.
        
  (iii)      Employees are not eligible to participate.
  (b)      ☒   Directors [complete (i), (ii) or (iii)]
       (i)      All Directors are eligible to participate.
  (ii)      Only Directors selected by the Employer are eligible to participate.
  (iii)      Directors are not eligible to participate.
 
 

 

4


3.01

Compensation

For purposes of determining Participant contributions under Article 4 and Employer contributions under Article 5, Compensation shall be defined in the following manner [complete (a) or (b) and select (c) and/or (d), if applicable]:

 

     (a)      Compensation is defined as:
       Base salary and amounts provided pursuant to the Curbline TRS LLC Annual Cash Incentive Program or other cash-based incentive payments as determined by the Administrator prior to the start of the Calendar Year and prior to the deadline for the deferral election to which such cash based incentives relate.
        
  (b)      Compensation as defined in [insert name of qualified plan] without regard to the limitation in Section 401(a)(17) of the Code for such Plan Year.
  (c)      Director Compensation is defined as:
        
  (d)      Compensation shall, for all Plan purposes, be limited to $ .
  (e)      Not Applicable.

 

5


3.02

Bonuses

Compensation, as defined in Section 3.01 of the Adoption Agreement, includes the following type of bonuses that will be the subject of a separate deferral election:

 

    

Type

  

[Will be treated as]
Performance Based Compensation

         Yes    No
  Annual Cash Incentive Program or Cash based incentive payments      
         
         
         
         
 

☐   Not Applicable.

     

 

6


4.01

Participant Contributions

If Participant contributions are permitted, complete (a) and (b). Otherwise complete (c).

 

  (a)

Amount of Deferrals

A Participant may elect within the period specified in Section 4.01(b) of the Adoption Agreement to defer the following amounts of remuneration. For each type of remuneration listed, complete “dollar amount” and/or “percentage amount”.

 

  (i)

Compensation other than Bonuses [do not complete if you complete (iii)]

 

Type of Remuneration

   Dollar Amount      % Amount      Increment  
   Min      Max      Min      Max  

Base Salary

     1      $ 5,000,000        %        %      $ 100  
           %        %        %  
           %        %        %  

Note: The increment is required to determine the permissible deferral amounts. For example, a minimum of 0% and maximum of 20% with a 5% increment would allow an individual to defer 0%, 5%, 10%, 15% or 20%.

 

  (ii)

Bonuses [do not complete if you complete (iii)]

 

Type of Bonus

   Dollar Amount      % Amount     Increment  
   Min      Max      Min     Max  

Cash based incentive payments

     1      $ 5,000,000        1     90     1% or $100  
                   %  
                   %  

 

  (iii)

Compensation [do not complete if you completed (i) and (ii)]

 

Dollar Amount

 

% Amount

 

Increment

Min

 

Max

 

Min

 

Max

    %   %   %

 

7


  (iv)

Director Compensation

 

Type of Compensation    Dollar Amount      % Amount       Increment   
    Min        Max        Min        Max   

Annual Retainer

           %        %        %  

Meeting Fees Other:

           %        %        %  

Other:

           %        %        %  

 

  (b)

Election Period

 

  (i)

Performance Based Compensation

A special election period

 

 

Does

 

 

Does Not

apply to each eligible type of performance based compensation referenced in Section 3.02 of the Adoption Agreement.

The special election period, if applicable, will be determined by the Employer.

 

  (ii)

Newly Eligible Participants

An employee who is classified or designated as an Eligible Employee during a Plan Year

 

 

May

 

 

May Not

elect to defer Compensation earned during the remainder of the Plan Year by completing a deferral agreement within the 30 day period beginning on the date he or she is eligible to participate in the Plan.

The special election period, if applicable, will be determined by the Employer.

 

  (c)

No Participant Contributions

 

 

Participant contributions are not permitted under the Plan.

 

8


5.01

Employer Contributions

If Employer contributions are permitted, complete (a) and/or (b). Otherwise complete (c).

 

  (a)

Matching Contributions

 

  (i)

Amount

For each Plan Year, the Employer shall make a matching contribution on behalf of each Participant who defers Compensation for the Plan Year and satisfies the requirements of Section 5.01(a)(ii) of the Adoption Agreement equal to [complete the ones that are applicable]:

 

  (A)

☐  [insert percentage]% of the Compensation the Participant has elected to defer for the Plan Year

 

  (B)

☐  An amount determined by the Employer in its sole discretion

 

  (C)

☐  Matching contributions for each Participant shall be limited to $ and/or [insert percentage]% of Compensation

 

  (D)

☒  Other:

For each Participant who has made contributions pursuant to Section 4.01 hereof (“Participant Contributions”), the Employer shall make a Matching Contribution in an amount equal to (1) minus (2) below:

 

  1.

The matching contributions (as defined in 26 CFR section 1.401(m)-1(a)(2) (“QP Match”)) that the Participant would have received under the Curbline 401(k) Plan and Trust (the “QP”) on the sum of (i) the Participant Contributions and (ii) the maximum elective contributions (as defined in 26 CFR Section 1.401(i)-(6)) permitted under Code section 402(g) or, if lesser, permitted under the terms of the QP that the Participant could have made for the Plan Year under the QP (the “Deemed QP Contributions”), determined as though –

 

   

No limits otherwise imposed by the tax law applied to such QP Match; and

 

   

The Participant’s deferral contributions had been made to the QP.

 

  2.

The QP Match that would have been made to such Participant’s account under the QP if the Participant had made the Deemed QP Contributions to the QP for the Plan Year.

 

9


Provided, however, that the Matching Contributions made on behalf of any Participant pursuant to this Section 5.01(a)(1)(D) shall be limited as provided in Section 5.1 hereof.

 

  (E)

☐  Not Applicable [Proceed to Section 5.01(b)]

 

  (ii)

Eligibility for matching contribution

A Participant who defers Compensation for the Plan Year shall receive an allocation of matching contributions determined in accordance with Section 5.01(a)(i) provided he or she satisfies the following requirements [complete the ones that are applicable]:

 

  (A)

☒  Describe requirements:

 

 

Employed on November 30 of the applicable Plan Year

   

 

  (B)

☐  Is selected by the Employer in its sole discretion to receive an allocation of matching contributions

 

  (C)

☐  No requirements

 

  (iii)

Time of Allocation

Matching contributions, if made, shall be treated as allocated [select one]:

 

  (A)

☐  As of the last day of the Plan Year

 

  (B)

☒  At such times as the Employer shall determine in its sole discretion

 

(C)

     

At the time the Compensation on account of which the matching contribution is being made would otherwise have been paid to the Participant

 

  (D)

☐  Other:

 

   
   

 

10


  (b)

Other Contributions

 

  (i)

Amount

The Employer shall make a contribution on behalf of each Participant who satisfies the requirements of Section 5.01(b)(ii) equal to [complete the ones that are applicable]:

 

           (A)      An amount equal to [insert percentage]% of the Participant’s Compensation
    (B)      An amount determined by the Employer in its sole discretion
    (C)      Contributions for each Participant shall be limited to $
    (D)      Other:
          
          
    (E)      Not Applicable [Proceed to Section 6.01]

 

  (ii)

Eligibility for Other Contribution

A Participant shall receive an allocation of other Employer contributions determined in accordance with Section 5.01(b)(i) for the Plan Year if he or she satisfies the following requirements [complete the one that is applicable]:

 

           (A)      Describe requirements:
          
            
    (B)      Is selected by the Employer in its sole discretion to receive an allocation of other Employer contributions
    (C)      No requirements

 

  (iii)

Time of Allocation

 

11


           Employer contributions, if made, shall be treated as allocated [select one]:
    (A)      As of the last day of the Plan Year
    (B)      At such times or times as the Employer shall determine in its sole discretion
    (C)      Other:
          
          

 

  (c)

No Employer Contributions

 

             Employer contributions are not permitted under the Plan.

 

12


6.01

Distributions

The timing and form of payment of distributions made from the Participant’s vested Account shall be made in accordance with the elections made in this Section 6.01 of the Adoption Agreement except when Section 9.6 of the Plan requires a six month delay for certain distributions to Key Employees of publicly traded companies.

 

     (a)    Timing of Distributions
     (i)    All distributions shall commence in accordance with the following [choose one]:
        (A)      As soon as administratively feasible following the distribution event but in no event later than the time prescribed by Treas. Reg. Sec. 1.409A-3(d).
        (B)      Monthly on specified day 15th or next following business day
        (C)      Annually on specified month and day [insert month and day]
        (D)      Calendar quarter on specified month and day [insert month and day] [insert numerical quarter 1, 2, 3, or 4]
     (ii)    The timing of distributions as determined in Section 6.01(a)(i) shall be modified by the adoption of:
        (A)      Event Delay – Distribution events other than those based on Specified Date or Specified Age will be treated as not having occurred for [insert number of months] months
        (B)      Hold Until Next Year – Distribution events other than those based on Specified Date or Specified Age will be treated as not having occurred for twelve months from the date of the event if payment pursuant to Section 6.01(a)(i) will thereby occur in the next calendar year or on the first payment date in the next calendar year in all other cases
        (C)      Immediate Processing – The timing method selected by the Plan Sponsor under Section 6.01(a)(i) shall be overridden for the following distribution events [insert events]:
            

 

            

 

        (D)      Not applicable

 

13


  (b)

Distribution Events

 

  (i)

Participant Contributions under Section 4.01(a)

Participants may elect the following payment events and the associated form or forms of payment. Unless otherwise specified, if multiple events for each year are selected, the earliest to occur will trigger payment. For installments, insert the range of available periods (e.g., 5-15) or insert the periods available (e.g., 5, 7, 9).

 

          Lump Sum    Installments
            (A)      Specified Date           years
  (B)      Specified Age (including if after Separation from Service)      

1-10 years

  (C)      Separation from Service           years
  (D)      Earlier of Separation from Service plus 6 months or Age      

1-10 years

  (E)      Separation from Service plus 6 months      

1-10 years

  (F)      Retirement           years
  (G)      Retirement plus 6 months           years
  (H)      Retirement plus 12 months           years
  (I)      Disability           years
  (J)      Death           years
  (K)      Section 409A Change in Control           years

If a Participant elects a Specified Date or a Specified Age as a payment event, the Specified Date or the date on which the Specified Age will occur can be no earlier than January 1 of the third calendar year following the calendar year to which the Compensation being deferred relates. For example, if a Participant is deferring Compensation that will relate to services performed in 2025, that Participant cannot elect a Specified Date or a Specified Age that will occur prior to January 1, 2028.

 

14


Installments may be paid [select each that applies]

 

 

Monthly

 

 

Quarterly

 

 

Semi-Annually

 

 

Annually

 

  (ii)

Employer Contributions under Section 5.01(a) and (b)

 

 

Are congruent and payable in the same time and form as elected by the Participant for Participant Contributions as defined in Section 6.01(b)(i)

 

 

Are payable per separate distribution elections applicable to Employer Contributions only as outlined below

Participants may elect the following payment events and the associated form or forms of payment. If multiple events for each year are selected, the earliest to occur will trigger payment. For installments, insert the range of available periods (e.g., 5-15) or insert the periods available (e.g., 5, 7, 9).

 

          Lump Sum    Installments
            (A)      Specified Date           years
  (B)      Specified Date           years
  (C)      Specified Age           years
  (D)      Separation from Service           years
  (E)      Separation from Service plus 6 months           years
  (F)      Separation from Service plus    months [not to exceed    months]           years
  (G)      Retirement           years
  (H)      Retirement plus 6 months           years

 

15


              (I)      Retirement plus 12 months           years
    (J)      Disability           years
    (K)      Death           years

The minimum deferral period for Specified Date or Specified Age event shall be years.

Installments may be paid [select each that applies]

 

 

Monthly

 

 

Quarterly

 

 

Semi-Annually

 

 

Annually

 

  (c)

Specified Date and Specified Age elections may not extend beyond age 70.

 

  (d)

Payment Election Override

Payment of the remaining vested balance of the Participant’s Account will automatically occur at the time specified in Section 6.01(a) of the Adoption Agreement in the form indicated upon the earliest to occur of the following events [check each event that applies and for each event include only a single form of payment]:

 

          Events      Form of Payment
       Lump Sum    Installments
    Separation from Service          
    Separation from Service before Retirement          
    Death          
    Disability          
    Not Applicable          

 

16


  (e)   Involuntary Cashouts
       If the Participant’s vested Account at the time of his or her Separation from Service does not exceed $50,000, distribution of the vested Account shall automatically be made in the form of a single lump sum in accordance with Section 9.5 of the Plan.
       There are no involuntary cashouts.
  (f)   Retirement
       Retirement shall be defined as a Separation from Service that occurs on or after the Participant [insert description of requirements]:
        
        
       No special definition of Retirement applies.
  (g)   Distribution Election Change
    A Participant
       Shall
       Shall Not
    be permitted to modify a scheduled distribution date and/or payment option in accordance with Section 9.2 of the Plan, however a Participant may not make such an election change if it would result in a distribution commencing after the date the Participant attains age 70.
    A Participant shall generally be permitted to elect such modification an unlimited number of times.
    Administratively, allowable distribution events will be modified to reflect all options necessary to fulfill the distribution change election provision.
   

 

17


     (h)   Frequency of Elections
    The Plan Sponsor
       Has
       Has Not
    elected to permit annual elections of a time and form of payment for amounts deferred under the Plan. If a single election of a time and/or form of payment is required, the Participant will make such election at the time he or she first completes a deferral agreement which, in all cases, will be no later than the time required by Reg. Sec. 1.409A-2.
  (i)   Disability
    For Purposes of Section 2.11 of the Plan, Disability shall be defined as
       Total disability as determined by the Social Security Administration or the Railroad Retirement Board.
       As determined by the Employer’s long term disability insurance policy.
       As follows [insert description of requirements]:
       Disability means a determination by the Administrator that the Participant is either (a) unable to engage in any substantial gainful activity by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment which can be expected to result in death or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than 12 months, or (b) is, by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment which can be expected to result in death or last for a continuous period of not less than twelve months, receiving income replacement benefits for a period of not less than three months under an accident and health plan covering employees of the Employer. A Participant will be considered to have incurred a Disability if he is determined to be totally disabled by the Social Security Administration or the Railroad Retirement Board.
        
       Not applicable.

 

18


7.01

Vesting

 

     (a)   Matching Contributions
    The Participant’s vested interest in the amount credited to his or her Account attributable to matching contributions shall be based on the following schedule:
      

Years of Service

  

Vesting %

    
          0     0%    [insert “100” if there is immediate vesting]
     1     0%   
     2    100%   
     3      
     4      
     5      
     6      %   
     7      %   
     8      %   
     9      %   
          Other:
        
        
       Class year vesting applies:
        
       Not applicable.

 

19


     (b)   Other Employer Contributions
    The Participant’s vested interest in the amount credited to his or her Account attributable to Employer contributions other than matching contributions shall be based on the following schedule:
      

Years of Service

  

Vesting %

    
          0       [insert “100” if there is immediate vesting]
     1         
     2         
     3         
     4      %   
     5      %   
     6      %   
     7      %   
     8      %   
     9      %   
          Other:
      

As determined by the Plan Sponsor at the time of the contribution

        
       Class year vesting applies:
        
       Not applicable.
 

 

20


  (c)

Acceleration of Vesting

The Participant’s vested interest in his or her Account will automatically be 100% upon the occurrence of the following events [select the ones that are applicable]:

 

           (i)       Death.
    (ii)       Disability.
    (iii)       Vesting Change in Control.
    (iv)       Eligibility for Retirement.
    (v)       Other:
              
              
    (vi)       Not applicable.

 

  (d)

Years of Service

 

           (i)    A Participant’s Years of Service shall include all service performed for the Employer and
          Shall
          Shall Not
       include service performed for the Related Employer.

 

21


       (ii)    Years of Service shall also include service performed for the following entities:
      

SITE Centers Corp.

        
        
        
        
    (iii)    Years of Service shall be determined in accordance with [select one]:
           (A)     The elapsed time method in Treas. Reg. Sec. 1.410(a)-7
        (B)     The general method in DOL Reg. Sec. 2530.200b-1 through b-4
        (C)     Participant’s Years of Service credited under:
           

[insert name of plan]

           

 

        (D)    

Other:

           

 

           

 

           

 

           

 

      (iv)     Not applicable.

 

22


8.01

Unforeseeable Emergency

 

  (a)

A withdrawal due to an Unforeseeable Emergency as defined in Section 2.24:

 

 

Will

 

 

Will Not [if Unforeseeable Emergency withdrawals are not permitted, proceed to Section 9.01]

be allowed.

 

  (b)

Upon a withdrawal due to an Unforeseeable Emergency, a Participant’s deferral election for the remainder of the Plan Year:

 

 

Will

 

 

Will Not

be cancelled. If cancellation occurs, the Participant may resume participation in accordance with Article 4 of the Plan.

 

23


9.01

Investment Decisions

Investment decisions regarding the hypothetical amounts credited to a Participant’s Account shall be made by [select one]:

 

  (a)

☒   The Participant or his or her Beneficiary

 

  (b)

☐   The Employer

 

24


10.01

Trust

The Employer [select one]:

 

 

Does

 

 

Does Not

intend to establish a trust as provided in Article 11 of the Plan.

 

25


11.01

Termination Upon Change In Control

The Plan Sponsor

 

 

Reserves

 

 

Does Not Reserves

the right to terminate the Plan and distribute all vested amounts credited to Participant Accounts upon a Section 409A Change in Control as described in Section 9.7.

 

11.02

Automatic Distribution Upon Change In Control

Distribution of the remaining vested balance of each Participant’s Account

 

 

Shall

 

 

Shall Not

automatically be paid as a lump sum payment upon the occurrence of a Section 409A Change in Control as provided in Section 9.7.

 

11.03

Change In Control

 

  a)

A “Vesting Change in Control” for purposes of accelerated vesting under Section 7.01(c) will be deemed to have occurred upon the occurrence (after the effective date of the spinoff of Curbline Properties Corp. from SITE Centers Corp.) of any of the following events:

 

  (i)

the consummation of a reorganization, merger or consolidation, or a sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of Curbline Properties Corp., or the acquisition of assets of another corporation or other transaction (“Business Combination”), but excluding any Business Combination pursuant to which (A) the individuals and entities who were the beneficial owners of the then-outstanding voting securities of the Curbline Properties Corp. entitled to vote generally in the election of directors immediately prior to such Business Combination beneficially own, directly or indirectly, more than 60% of, respectively, the then-outstanding shares of common stock and the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, as the case may be, of the entity resulting from such Business Combination (including, without limitation, an entity that as a result of such transaction owns the Curbline Properties Corp. or all or substantially all of the Curbline Properties Corp.’s assets either directly or through one or more subsidiaries), (B) no individual, entity or group (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or 14(d)(2) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) (excluding Curbline Properties Corp., any employee benefit plan (or

 

26


  related trust) of Curbline Properties Corp. or a Subsidiary, or such entity resulting from such Business Combination) beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, 30% or more of the combined voting power of the then-outstanding securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors of the entity resulting from such Business Combination and (C) at least a majority of the members of the board of directors of the entity resulting from such Business Combination were members of the Board of Directors of Curbline Properties Corp. at the time of the execution of the initial agreement, or of the action of the Board of Directors of Curbline Properties Corp, providing for such Business Combination;

 

  (ii)

any person or other entity (other than Curbline Properties Corp. or a Subsidiary or any Curbline Properties Corp. or Subsidiary employee benefit plan (including any trustee of any such plan acting in its capacity as trustee)) purchases any shares of Common Stock (or securities convertible into shares of Common Stock) pursuant to a tender or exchange offer without the prior consent of the Board of Directors of Curbline Properties Corp., or becomes the beneficial owner of securities of Curbline Properties Corp. representing 30% or more of the voting power of Curbline Properties Corp.’s outstanding securities without the prior consent of the Board of Directors of Curbline Properties Corp.; or

 

  (iii)

during any two-year period commencing on or after the effective time of Curbline Properties Corp.’s spinoff from SITE Centers Corp., individuals who at the beginning of such period constitute the entire Board of Directors of Curbline Properties Corp. cease to constitute a majority of the Board of Directors of Curbline Properties Corp.; provided, that any person becoming a director of Curbline Properties Corp. during such two-year period whose election, or nomination for election by Curbline Properties Corp.’s stockholders, was approved by a vote of at least two-thirds of the directors who at the beginning of such period constituted the entire Board of Directors of Curbline Properties Corp. or who became a director of Curbline Properties Corp. during such two-year period as described in this proviso (either by a specific vote or by approval of Curbline Properties Corp.’s proxy statement in which such person is named as a nominee of Curbline Properties Corp. for director), but excluding for this purpose any person whose initial assumption of office as a director of Curbline Properties Corp. occurs as a result of either an actual or threatened election contest with respect to the election or removal of directors of Curbline Properties Corp. or other actual or threatened solicitation of proxies or consents by or on behalf of an individual, corporation, partnership, group, associate or other entity or person other than the Board of Directors of Curbline Properties Corp., shall be considered as though such person was a member of the Board of Directors of Curbline Properties Corp. at the beginning of such period; or

 

  (iv)

approval by the stockholders of Curbline Properties Corp. of a complete liquidation or dissolution of Curbline Properties Corp. except pursuant to a Business Combination that complies with clauses (A), (B), and (C) of Section 11.03(a)(i) above.

For purposes of this Section 11.03(a), “Subsidiary” means a corporation, company or other entity (A) more than 50% of whose outstanding shares or securities (representing the right to vote for the election of directors or other managing authority) are, or (B) which does not have outstanding shares or securities (as may be the case in a partnership, joint venture, limited liability company, unincorporated association or other similar entity), but more than 50% of whose ownership or control interest representing the right generally to make decisions for such other entity is, now or hereafter, owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by Curbline Properties Corp.

 

27


For purposes of this Section 11.03(a), “Common Stock” means the common stock par value $0.01 per share of Curbline Properties Corp., or any security into which such common stock may be changed by reason of any extraordinary cash dividend, stock dividend, stock split, combination of shares, recapitalization or other change in the capital structure of Curbline Properties Corp., any merger, consolidation, spin-off, split- off, spin-out, split-up, reorganization, partial or complete liquidation or other distribution of assets, issuance of rights or warrants to purchase securities, or any other corporate transaction or event having an effect similar to any of the foregoing.

 

  b)

A “Section 409A Change in Control” for Plan purposes includes the following [select each definition that applies]:

 

  (a)

☒   A change in the ownership of the Employer as described in Section 9.7(c) of the Plan.

 

  (b)

☒   A change in the effective control of the Employer as described in Section 9.7(d) of the Plan.

 

  (c)

☒   A change in the ownership of a substantial portion of the assets of the Employer as described in Section 9.7(e) of the Plan.

 

  (d)

☐   Not Applicable.

 

28


12.01

Governing State Law

The laws of Ohio shall apply in the administration of the Plan to the extent not preempted by ERISA.

 

29


Execution Page

The Plan Sponsor has caused this Adoption Agreement to be executed this 1st day of September, 2024.

 

Plan Sponsor:   

Curbline TRS LLC

By:    /s/ Lesley H. Solomon
Title:    EVP, General Counsel & Secretary

 

30


Appendix A

Special Effective Dates

Not Applicable

 

31

Exhibit 10.6

CURBLINE PROPERTIES CORP.

2024 EQUITY AND INCENTIVE COMPENSATION PLAN

1. Purpose. The purpose of this Plan is to permit award grants to non-employee Directors, officers and other employees of the Company and its Subsidiaries, and certain consultants to the Company and its Subsidiaries, and to provide to such persons incentives and rewards for service and/or performance. In addition, this Plan permits the issuance of awards in substitution for awards relating to common shares of SITC prior to the spin-off of the Company by SITC (the “Spinoff”), in accordance with the terms of an Employee Matters Agreement into which SITC and the Company intend to enter in connection with the Spinoff (the “Employee Matters Agreement”).

2. Definitions. As used in this Plan:

(a) “Adjusted Award” means an award that is issued under this Plan substantially in accordance with the terms of the Employee Matters Agreement in adjustment of a restricted share unit award or performance share unit award that was granted under the SITC Plan. Notwithstanding anything in this Plan to the contrary, the Adjusted Awards will reflect substantially the original terms of the awards being so adjusted, and they need not comply with other specific terms of this Plan.

(b) “Appreciation Right” means a right granted pursuant to Section 5 of this Plan.

(c) “Base Price” means the price to be used as the basis for determining the Spread upon the exercise of an Appreciation Right.

(d) “Board” means the Board of Directors of the Company.

(e) “Cash Incentive Award” means a cash award granted pursuant to Section 8 of this Plan.

(f) “Change in Control” has the meaning set forth in Section 13 of this Plan.

(g) “Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and the regulations thereunder, as such law and regulations may be amended from time to time.

(h) “Committee” means the Compensation Committee of the Board (or its successor(s)), or any other committee of the Board designated by the Board to administer this Plan pursuant to Section 11 of this Plan; provided, however, that prior to the initial formation of the Compensation Committee of the Board, references in this Plan to the Committee will be deemed to be references to the Board.

(i) “Common Stock” means the common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Company or any security into which such common stock may be changed by reason of any transaction or event of the type referred to in Section 12 of this Plan.


(j) “Company” means Curbline Properties Corp., a Maryland corporation, and its successors.

(k) “Date of Grant” means the date provided for by the Committee on which a grant of Option Rights, Appreciation Rights, Performance Shares, Performance Units, Operating Partnership Units, Cash Incentive Awards, or other awards contemplated by Section 10 of this Plan, or a grant or sale of Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units, or other awards contemplated by Section 10 of this Plan, will become effective (which date will not be earlier than the date on which the Committee takes action with respect thereto).

(l) “Director” means a member of the Board.

(m) “Distribution Date” means the effective date of the distribution, in connection with the Spinoff of shares of Common Stock to the holders of common shares of SITC.

(n) “Effective Date” means the date upon which SITC has approved and authorized this Plan, as the sole stockholder of the Company.

(o) “Evidence of Award” means an agreement, certificate, resolution or other type or form of writing or other evidence approved by the Committee that sets forth the terms and conditions of the awards granted under this Plan. An Evidence of Award may be in an electronic medium, may be limited to notation on the books and records of the Company and, unless otherwise determined by the Committee, need not be signed by a representative of the Company or a Participant. With respect to Adjusted Awards, the term also includes any adjustment document, memorandum or summary of terms that may be specified by the Committee, together with any evidence of award under any SITC Plan that may be referred to therein.

(p) “Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder, as such law, rules and regulations may be amended from time to time.

(q) “Incentive Stock Option” means an Option Right that is intended to qualify as an “incentive stock option” under Section 422 of the Code or any successor provision.

(r) “Management Objectives” means the measurable performance objective or objectives established pursuant to this Plan for Participants who have received grants of Performance Shares, Performance Units or Cash Incentive Awards or, when so determined by the Committee, Option Rights, Appreciation Rights, Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units, Operating Partnership Units, dividend equivalents or distributions or other awards pursuant to this Plan. If the Committee determines that a change in the business, operations, corporate structure or capital structure of the Company, or the manner in which it conducts its business, or other events or circumstances render the Management Objectives unsuitable, the Committee may in its discretion modify such Management Objectives or the goals or actual levels of achievement regarding the Management Objectives, in whole or in part, as the Committee deems appropriate and equitable.

 

2


(s) “Market Value per Share” means, as of any particular date, the closing price of a share of Common Stock as reported for that date on the New York Stock Exchange or, if the shares of Common Stock are not then listed on the New York Stock Exchange, on any other national securities exchange on which the shares of Common Stock are listed, or if there are no sales on such date, on the next preceding trading day during which a sale occurred. If there is no regular public trading market for the shares of Common Stock, then the Market Value per Share shall be the fair market value as determined in good faith by the Committee. The Committee is authorized to adopt another fair market value pricing method provided such method is stated in the applicable Evidence of Award and is in compliance with the fair market value pricing rules set forth in Section 409A of the Code.

(t) “Operating Partnership Unit” means an award (representing a fractional, undivided ownership interest in Curbline Properties LP (together with any successor entity, the “Operating Partnership”), a Delaware limited partnership, an entity through which the Company conducts its business and that has elected to be treated as a partnership for federal income tax purposes, of one or more classes established pursuant to the Operating Partnership’s agreement of limited partnership, as amended or amended and restated from time to time (the “Partnership Agreement”), and having the rights, powers, privileges, restrictions, qualifications and limitations as provided for under the Partnership Agreement) granted pursuant to Section 9 of this Plan.

(u) “Optionee” means the optionee named in an Evidence of Award evidencing an outstanding Option Right.

(v) “Option Price” means the purchase price payable on exercise of an Option Right.

(w) “Option Right” means the right to purchase shares of Common Stock upon exercise of an award granted pursuant to Section 4 of this Plan.

(x) “Participant” means a person who is selected by the Committee to receive benefits under this Plan and who is at the time (i) an officer or other employee of the Company or any Subsidiary, including a person who has agreed to commence serving in such capacity within 90 days of the Date of Grant, (ii) a person, including a consultant, who provides services to the Company or any Subsidiary that are equivalent to those typically provided by an employee (provided that such person satisfies the Form S-8 definition of an “employee”), or (iii) a non-employee Director.

(y) “Performance Period” means, in respect of a Cash Incentive Award, Performance Share, Performance Unit or Operating Partnership Unit, a period of time established pursuant to Section 8 of this Plan within which the Management Objectives relating to such Cash Incentive Award, Performance Share, Performance Unit or Operating Partnership Unit are to be achieved.

(z) “Performance Share” means a bookkeeping entry that records the equivalent of one share of Common Stock awarded pursuant to Section 8 of this Plan.

(aa) “Performance Unit” means a bookkeeping entry awarded pursuant to Section 8 of this Plan that records a unit equivalent to $1.00 or such other value as is determined by the Committee.

 

3


(bb) “Person” means any individual, entity, or group (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act).

(cc) “Plan” means this Curbline Properties Corp. 2024 Equity and Incentive Compensation Plan, as may be amended or amended and restated from time to time.

(dd) “Restricted Stock” means shares of Common Stock granted or sold pursuant to Section 6 of this Plan as to which neither the substantial risk of forfeiture nor the prohibition on transfers has expired.

(ee) “Restricted Stock Units” means an award made pursuant to Section 7 of this Plan of the right to receive shares of Common Stock, cash or a combination thereof at the end of the applicable Restriction Period.

(ff) “Restriction Period” means the period of time during which Restricted Stock Units are subject to restrictions, as provided in Section 7 of this Plan, or during which Operating Partnership Units are subject to restrictions, as provided in Section 9 of this Plan.

(gg) “SITC” means SITE Centers Corp., an Ohio corporation.

(hh) “SITC Plan” means the SITE Centers Corp. 2019 Equity and Incentive Compensation Plan (or any similar or predecessor plan sponsored by SITC or any of its Subsidiaries, as applicable) under which any awards remain outstanding as of the date immediately prior to the Distribution Date.

(ii) “Spread” means the excess of the Market Value per Share on the date when an Appreciation Right is exercised over the Base Price provided for with respect to the Appreciation Right.

(jj) “Stockholder” means an individual or entity that owns one or more shares of Common Stock.

(kk) “Subsidiary” means a corporation, company or other entity (i) more than 50% of whose outstanding shares or securities (representing the right to vote for the election of directors or other managing authority) are, or (ii) which does not have outstanding shares or securities (as may be the case in a partnership, joint venture, limited liability company, unincorporated association or other similar entity), but more than 50% of whose ownership or control interest representing the right generally to make decisions for such other entity is, now or hereafter, owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by the Company; provided, however, that for purposes of determining whether any person may be a Participant for purposes of any grant of Incentive Stock Options, “Subsidiary” means any corporation in which the Company at the time owns or controls, directly or indirectly, more than 50% of the total combined Voting Power represented by all classes of stock issued by such corporation.

(ll) “Voting Power” means, at any time, the combined voting power of the then-outstanding securities entitled to vote generally in the election of Directors in the case of the Company or members of the board of directors or similar body in the case of another entity.

 

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3. Shares Available Under this Plan.

(a) Maximum Shares Available Under this Plan.

 

  (i)

Subject to adjustment as provided in Section 12 of this Plan and the share counting rules set forth in Section 3(b) of this Plan, the number of shares of Common Stock available under this Plan for awards of (A) Option Rights or Appreciation Rights, (B) Restricted Stock, (C) Restricted Stock Units, (D) Performance Shares or Performance Units, (E) Operating Partnership Units, (F) awards contemplated by Section 10 of this Plan, or (G) dividend equivalents will not exceed in the aggregate (x) 9,000,000 shares of Common Stock, plus (y) the shares of Common Stock that are subject to awards granted under this Plan that are added back to the aggregate number of shares of Common Stock available under this Section 3(a)(i) pursuant to the share counting rules of this Plan. Of the shares of Common Stock provided for in the first sentence of this Section 3(a)(i), a number of shares sufficient in amount to satisfy the Company’s obligations with respect to Adjusted Awards under the Employee Matters Agreement shall be made available for Adjusted Awards under this Plan.

 

  (ii)

Subject to the share counting rules set forth in Section 3(b) of this Plan, the aggregate number of shares of Common Stock available under Section 3(a)(i) of this Plan will be reduced by one share of Common Stock for every one share of Common Stock subject to an award granted under this Plan. For purposes of clarification, awards that use Common Stock as a reference but that are paid or settled in whole or in part in cash shall not affect the number of shares of Common Stock available under this Plan pursuant to this Section 3 to the extent paid or settled in cash.

(b) Share Counting Rules.

 

  (i)

Except as provided in Section 23 of this Plan, if any award granted under this Plan (in whole or in part) is cancelled or forfeited, expires, is settled for cash, or is unearned, the shares of Common Stock subject to such award will, to the extent of such cancellation, forfeiture, expiration, cash settlement, or unearned amount, again be available under Section 3(a)(i) above.

 

  (ii)

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Plan: (A) shares of Common Stock withheld by the Company, tendered or otherwise used in payment of the Option Price of an Option Right will not be added (or added back, as applicable) to the aggregate number of shares of Common Stock available under Section 3(a)(i) of this Plan; (B) shares of Common Stock withheld by the Company, tendered or otherwise used to satisfy a tax withholding obligation

 

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will not be added (or added back, as applicable) to the aggregate number of shares of Common Stock available under Section 3(a)(i) of this Plan; (C) shares of Common Stock subject to a stock-settled Appreciation Right that are not actually issued in connection with the settlement of such Appreciation Right on the exercise thereof will not be added back to the aggregate number of shares of Common Stock available under Section 3(a)(i) of this Plan; and (D) shares of Common Stock reacquired by the Company on the open market or otherwise using cash proceeds from the exercise of Option Rights will not be added (or added back, as applicable) to the aggregate number of shares of Common Stock available under Section 3(a)(i) of this Plan.

 

  (iii)

If, under this Plan, a Participant has elected to give up the right to receive compensation in exchange for shares of Common Stock based on fair market value, such shares of Common Stock will not count against the aggregate limit under Section 3(a)(i) of this Plan.

(c) Limit on Incentive Stock Options. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Plan, and subject to adjustment as provided in Section 12 of this Plan, the aggregate number of shares of Common Stock actually issued or transferred by the Company upon the exercise of Incentive Stock Options will not exceed 9,000,000 shares of Common Stock.

(d) Non-Employee Director Compensation Limit. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Plan, in no event will any non-employee Director in any one calendar year be granted compensation for such service having an aggregate maximum value (measured at the Date of Grant as applicable, and calculating the value of any awards based on the grant date fair value for financial reporting purposes) in excess of $800,000.

4. Option Rights. The Committee may, from time to time and upon such terms and conditions as it may determine, authorize the granting to Participants of Option Rights. Each such grant may utilize any or all of the authorizations, and will be subject to all of the requirements, contained in the following provisions:

(a) Each grant will specify the number of shares of Common Stock to which it pertains subject to the limitations set forth in Section 3 of this Plan.

(b) Each grant will specify an Option Price per share of Common Stock, which Option Price (except with respect to awards under Section 23 of this Plan) may not be less than the Market Value per Share on the Date of Grant.

(c) Each grant will specify whether the Option Price will be payable (i) in cash, by check acceptable to the Company or by wire transfer of immediately available funds, (ii) by the actual or constructive transfer to the Company of shares of Common Stock owned by the Optionee having a value at the time of exercise equal to the total Option Price, (iii) subject to any conditions or limitations established by the Committee, by the withholding of shares of Common Stock otherwise issuable upon exercise of an Option Right pursuant to a “net exercise” arrangement, (iv) by a combination of such methods of payment, or (v) by such other methods as may be approved by the Committee.

 

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(d) To the extent permitted by law, any grant may provide for deferred payment of the Option Price from the proceeds of sale through a bank or broker on a date satisfactory to the Company of some or all of the shares of Common Stock to which such exercise relates.

(e) Each grant will specify the period or periods of continuous service by the Optionee with the Company or any Subsidiary, if any, that is necessary before any Option Rights or installments thereof will vest. Option Rights may provide for continued vesting or the earlier vesting of such Option Rights, including in the event of the retirement, death, disability or termination of employment or service of a Participant or in the event of a Change in Control.

(f) Any grant of Option Rights may specify Management Objectives regarding the vesting of such rights.

(g) Option Rights granted under this Plan may be (i) options, including Incentive Stock Options, that are intended to qualify under particular provisions of the Code, (ii) options that are not intended to so qualify, or (iii) combinations of the foregoing. Incentive Stock Options may only be granted to Participants who meet the definition of “employees” under Section 3401(c) of the Code.

(h) No Option Right will be exercisable more than 10 years from the Date of Grant. The Committee may provide in any Evidence of Award for the automatic exercise of an Option Right upon such terms and conditions as established by the Committee.

(i) Option Rights granted under this Plan may not provide for any dividends or dividend equivalents thereon.

(j) Each grant of Option Rights will be evidenced by an Evidence of Award. Each Evidence of Award will be subject to this Plan and will contain such terms and provisions, consistent with this Plan, as the Committee may approve.

5. Appreciation Rights.

(a) The Committee may, from time to time and upon such terms and conditions as it may determine, authorize the granting to any Participant of Appreciation Rights. An Appreciation Right will be the right of the Participant to receive from the Company an amount determined by the Committee, which will be expressed as a percentage of the Spread (not exceeding 100%) at the time of exercise.

(b) Each grant of Appreciation Rights may utilize any or all of the authorizations, and will be subject to all of the requirements, contained in the following provisions:

 

  (i)

Each grant may specify that the amount payable on exercise of an Appreciation Right will be paid by the Company in cash, shares of Common Stock or any combination thereof.

 

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  (ii)

Each grant will specify the period or periods of continuous service by the Participant with the Company or any Subsidiary, if any, that is necessary before the Appreciation Rights or installments thereof will vest. Appreciation Rights may provide for continued vesting or the earlier vesting of such Appreciation Rights, including in the event of the retirement, death, disability or termination of employment or service of a Participant or in the event of a Change in Control.

 

  (iii)

Any grant of Appreciation Rights may specify Management Objectives regarding the vesting of such Appreciation Rights.

 

  (iv)

Appreciation Rights granted under this Plan may not provide for any dividends or dividend equivalents thereon.

 

  (v)

Each grant of Appreciation Rights will be evidenced by an Evidence of Award. Each Evidence of Award will be subject to this Plan and will contain such terms and provisions, consistent with this Plan, as the Committee may approve.

(c) Also, regarding Appreciation Rights:

 

  (i)

Each grant will specify in respect of each Appreciation Right a Base Price, which (except with respect to awards under Section 23 of this Plan) may not be less than the Market Value per Share on the Date of Grant; and

 

  (ii)

No Appreciation Right granted under this Plan may be exercised more than 10 years from the Date of Grant. The Committee may provide in any Evidence of Award for the automatic exercise of an Appreciation Right upon such terms and conditions as established by the Committee.

6. Restricted Stock. The Committee may, from time to time and upon such terms and conditions as it may determine, authorize the grant or sale of Restricted Stock to Participants. Each such grant or sale may utilize any or all of the authorizations, and will be subject to all of the requirements, contained in the following provisions:

(a) Each such grant or sale will constitute an immediate transfer of the ownership of the shares of Common Stock to the Participant in consideration of the performance of services, entitling such Participant to voting, dividend and other ownership rights (subject in particular to Section 6(g) of this Plan), but subject to the substantial risk of forfeiture and restrictions on transfer hereinafter described.

(b) Each such grant or sale may be made without additional consideration or in consideration of a payment by such Participant that is less than the Market Value per Share on the Date of Grant.

 

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(c) Each such grant or sale will provide that the Restricted Stock covered by such grant or sale will be subject to a “substantial risk of forfeiture” within the meaning of Section 83 of the Code for a period to be determined by the Committee on the Date of Grant or until achievement of Management Objectives referred to in Section 6(e) of this Plan.

(d) Each such grant or sale will provide that during or after the period for which such substantial risk of forfeiture is to continue, the transferability of the Restricted Stock will be prohibited or restricted in the manner and to the extent prescribed by the Committee on the Date of Grant (which restrictions may include rights of repurchase or first refusal of the Company or provisions subjecting the Restricted Stock to a continuing substantial risk of forfeiture while held by any transferee).

(e) Any grant of Restricted Stock may specify Management Objectives regarding the vesting of such Restricted Stock.

(f) Restricted Stock may provide for continued vesting or the earlier vesting of such Restricted Stock, including in the event of the retirement, death, disability or termination of employment or service of a Participant or in the event of a Change in Control.

(g) Any such grant or sale of Restricted Stock may require that any and all dividends or other distributions paid thereon during the period of such restrictions be automatically deferred and/or reinvested in additional Restricted Stock, which may be subject to the same restrictions as the underlying award. For the avoidance of doubt, any such dividends or other distributions on Restricted Stock may be deferred until, and paid contingent upon, the vesting of such Restricted Stock.

(h) Each grant or sale of Restricted Stock will be evidenced by an Evidence of Award. Each Evidence of Award will be subject to this Plan and will contain such terms and provisions, consistent with this Plan, as the Committee may approve. Unless otherwise directed by the Committee, all Restricted Stock will be held at the Company’s transfer agent in book entry form with appropriate restrictions relating to the transfer of such Restricted Stock.

7. Restricted Stock Units. The Committee may, from time to time and upon such terms and conditions as it may determine, authorize the granting or sale of Restricted Stock Units to Participants. Each such grant or sale may utilize any or all of the authorizations, and will be subject to all of the requirements, contained in the following provisions:

(a) Each such grant or sale will constitute the agreement by the Company to deliver shares of Common Stock or cash, or a combination thereof, to the Participant in the future in consideration of the performance of services, but subject to the fulfillment of such conditions (which may include achievement regarding Management Objectives) during the Restriction Period as the Committee may specify.

(b) Each such grant or sale may be made without additional consideration or in consideration of a payment by such Participant that is less than the Market Value per Share on the Date of Grant.

 

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(c) Restricted Stock Units may provide for continued vesting or the earlier lapse or other modification of the Restriction Period, including in the event of the retirement, death, disability or termination of employment or service of a Participant or in the event of a Change in Control.

(d) During the Restriction Period, the Participant will have no right to transfer any rights under his or her award and will have no rights of ownership in the shares of Common Stock deliverable upon payment of the Restricted Stock Units and will have no right to vote them, but the Committee may, at or after the Date of Grant, authorize the payment of dividend equivalents on such Restricted Stock Units on either a current or deferred and contingent basis, either in cash or in additional shares of Common Stock.

(e) Each grant or sale of Restricted Stock Units will specify the time and manner of payment of the Restricted Stock Units that have been earned. Each grant or sale will specify that the amount payable with respect thereto will be paid by the Company in shares of Common Stock or cash, or a combination thereof.

(f) Each grant or sale of Restricted Stock Units will be evidenced by an Evidence of Award. Each Evidence of Award will be subject to this Plan and will contain such terms and provisions, consistent with this Plan, as the Committee may approve.

8. Cash Incentive Awards, Performance Shares and Performance Units. The Committee may, from time to time and upon such terms and conditions as it may determine, authorize the granting of Cash Incentive Awards, Performance Shares and Performance Units. Each such grant may utilize any or all of the authorizations, and will be subject to all of the requirements, contained in the following provisions:

(a) Each grant will specify the number or amount of Performance Shares or Performance Units, or amount payable with respect to a Cash Incentive Award, to which it pertains, which number or amount may be subject to adjustment to reflect changes in compensation or other factors.

(b) The Performance Period with respect to each Cash Incentive Award or grant of Performance Shares or Performance Units will be such period of time as will be determined by the Committee, and the Evidence of Award will specify the time and terms of delivery, which may be subject to continued vesting or earlier lapse or other modification, including in the event of the retirement, death, disability or termination of employment or service of a Participant or in the event of a Change in Control.

(c) Each grant of a Cash Incentive Award, Performance Shares or Performance Units will specify Management Objectives regarding the earning of the award.

(d) Each grant will specify the time and manner of payment of a Cash Incentive Award, Performance Shares or Performance Units that have been earned.

(e) The Committee may, on the Date of Grant of Performance Shares or Performance Units, provide for the payment of dividend equivalents to the holder thereof either in cash or in additional shares of Common Stock, which dividend equivalents may be subject to deferral and payment on a contingent basis based on the Participant’s earning and vesting of the Performance Shares or Performance Units, as applicable, with respect to which such dividend equivalents are paid.

 

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(f) Each grant of a Cash Incentive Award, Performance Shares or Performance Units will be evidenced by an Evidence of Award. Each Evidence of Award will be subject to this Plan and will contain such terms and provisions, consistent with this Plan, as the Committee may approve.

9. Operating Partnership Units. The Committee may, from time to time and upon such terms and conditions as it may determine, authorize the granting or sale of Operating Partnership Units to Participants. Each such grant or sale may utilize any or all of the authorizations, and will be subject to all of the requirements, contained in the following provisions:

(a) Awards of Operating Partnership Units shall be valued by reference to, or otherwise determined by reference to or based on, Common Stock. Operating Partnership Units awarded under the Plan may be (i) convertible, exchangeable or redeemable for other ownership interests in the Operating Partnership (including fractional, undivided ownership interest in the Operating Partnership of one or more other classes or series established pursuant to the Partnership Agreement) or Common Stock, or (ii) valued by reference to the book value, fair value or performance of the Operating Partnership. Awards of Operating Partnership Units are intended to qualify as “profits interests” within the meaning of IRS Revenue Procedure 93-27, as clarified by IRS Revenue Procedure 2001-43, with respect to a Participant in the Plan who is rendering services to or for the benefit of the Operating Partnership, including its subsidiaries.

(b) For purposes of calculating the number of shares of Common Stock underlying an award of Operating Partnership Units for purposes of share counting under the Plan (including for purposes of Section 3 of the Plan), the Committee shall establish in good faith the maximum number of shares of Common Stock to which a Participant receiving such award of Operating Partnership Units may be entitled upon fulfillment of all applicable conditions set forth for the award in the relevant award documentation or otherwise, including vesting conditions, partnership capital account allocations, value accretion factors, conversion ratios, exchange ratios and other similar criteria. If and when any such conditions are no longer capable of being met, in whole or in part, the number of shares of Common Stock considered to be underlying such awards of Operating Partnership Units shall be reduced accordingly by the Committee, and the number of shares of Common Stock available for awards under this Plan shall be increased by one share for each such share so reduced. Awards of Operating Partnership Units may be granted either alone or in addition to other awards granted under the Plan. The Committee shall determine: the eligible Participants to whom, and the time or times at which, awards of Operating Partnership Units shall be made; the number of Operating Partnership Units to be so awarded; the price, if any, to be paid by the Participant for the acquisition of such Operating Partnership Units; and the restrictions and conditions applicable to such awards of Operating Partnership Units, including as further described below. The Committee may allow awards of Operating Partnership Units to be held through a limited partnership, or similar “look-through” entity, and the Committee may require such limited partnership or similar entity to impose restrictions on its partners or other beneficial owners that are not inconsistent with the provisions of this Section 9. The provisions of the grant of Operating Partnership Units need not be the same with respect to each Participant.

 

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(c) Unless otherwise determined by the Committee, each such grant or sale of Operating Partnership Units to a Participant will be made in consideration of the performance of services by the Participant, but subject to the fulfillment of such conditions (which may include achievement regarding Management Objectives) during the Restriction Period as the Committee may specify.

(d) Each grant of Operating Partnership Units may specify Management Objectives regarding the earning of the award. As applicable, the Performance Period and/or the Restriction Period with respect to a grant of Operating Partnership Units will be such period of time as will be determined by the Committee, and the Evidence of Award will specify the time and terms of such grant.

(e) Operating Partnership Units may provide for continued vesting or the earlier lapse or other modification of the Performance Period and/or the Restriction Period, as applicable, including in the event of the retirement, death, disability or termination of employment or service of a Participant or in the event of a Change in Control.

(f) During the Performance Period and/or the Restriction Period, as applicable, for Operating Partnership Units, the Participant will have no right to transfer any rights under his or her award and will have no rights of ownership in the shares of Common Stock deliverable in connection with the Operating Partnership Units and will have no right to vote them, but the Committee may, at or after the Date of Grant, authorize the payment of dividend equivalents or distributions on such Operating Partnership Units on either a current or deferred and contingent basis, including in cash and/or in additional shares of Common Stock and/or Operating Partnership Units, including regarding dividends or other distributions from the Operating Partnership.

(g) Each grant or sale of Operating Partnership Units will specify the time and manner, and other terms and conditions, of payment of the Operating Partnership Units that have been earned.

(h) Each grant or sale of Operating Partnership Units will be evidenced by an Evidence of Award. Each Evidence of Award will be subject to this Plan and will contain such terms and provisions, consistent with this Plan, as the Committee may approve.

10. Other Awards.

(a) Subject to applicable law and the applicable limits set forth in Section 3 of this Plan, the Committee may authorize the grant to any Participant of shares of Common Stock or such other awards that may be denominated or payable in, valued in whole or in part by reference to, or otherwise based on, or related to, shares of Common Stock or factors that may influence the value of such shares, including, without limitation, convertible or exchangeable debt securities, other rights convertible or exchangeable into shares of Common Stock, purchase rights for shares of Common Stock, awards with value and payment contingent upon performance of the Company or specified Subsidiaries, affiliates or other business units thereof or any other factors designated by the Committee, and awards valued by reference to the book value of the shares of Common Stock or the value of securities of, or the performance of specified Subsidiaries or affiliates or other business units of the Company. The Committee will determine the terms and conditions of such awards. Shares of Common Stock delivered pursuant to an award in the nature of a purchase right granted under this Section 10 will be purchased for such consideration, paid for at such time, by such methods, and in such forms, including, without limitation, shares of Common Stock, other awards, notes or other property, as the Committee determines.

 

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(b) Cash awards, as an element of or supplement to any other award granted under this Plan, may also be granted pursuant to this Section 10.

(c) The Committee may authorize the grant of shares of Common Stock as a bonus, or may authorize the grant of other awards in lieu of obligations of the Company or a Subsidiary to pay cash or deliver other property under this Plan or under other plans or compensatory arrangements, subject to such terms as will be determined by the Committee in a manner that complies with Section 409A of the Code.

(d) The Committee may, at or after the Date of Grant, authorize the payment of dividends or dividend equivalents on awards granted under this Section 10 on either a current or deferred and contingent basis, either in cash or in additional shares of Common Stock.

(e) Each grant of an award under this Section 10 will be evidenced by an Evidence of Award. Each such Evidence of Award will be subject to this Plan and will contain such terms and provisions, consistent with this Plan, as the Committee may approve, and will specify the time and terms of delivery of the applicable award.

(f) Awards under this Section 10 may provide for the earning or vesting of, or earlier termination of restrictions applicable to, such award, including in the event of the retirement, death, disability or termination of employment or service of a Participant or in the event of a Change in Control.

11. Administration of this Plan.

(a) This Plan will be administered by the Committee; provided, however, that notwithstanding anything in this Plan to the contrary, the Board may grant awards under this Plan to non-employee Directors and administer this Plan with respect to such awards. The Committee may from time to time delegate all or any part of its authority under this Plan to a subcommittee thereof. To the extent of any such delegation, references in this Plan to the Committee will be deemed to be references to such subcommittee.

(b) The interpretation and construction by the Committee of any provision of this Plan or of any Evidence of Award (or related documents) and any determination by the Committee pursuant to any provision of this Plan or of any such agreement, notification or document will be final and conclusive. No member of the Committee shall be liable for any such action or determination made in good faith. In addition, the Committee is authorized to take any action it determines in its sole discretion to be appropriate subject only to the express limitations contained in this Plan, and no authorization in any Plan section or other provision of this Plan is intended or may be deemed to constitute a limitation on the authority of the Committee.

 

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(c) To the extent permitted by law, the Committee may delegate to one or more of its members, to one or more officers of the Company, or to one or more agents or advisors, such administrative duties or powers as it may deem advisable, and the Committee, the subcommittee, or any person to whom duties or powers have been delegated as aforesaid, may employ one or more persons to render advice with respect to any responsibility the Committee, the subcommittee or such person may have under this Plan. To the extent permitted by law, and in compliance with any applicable legal requirements, the Committee may, by resolution, authorize one or more officers of the Company to authorize the granting or sale of awards under this Plan on the same basis as the Committee; provided, however, that (i) the Committee will not delegate such authority to any such officer for awards granted to such officer or any employee who is an officer (for purposes of Section 16 of the Exchange Act), Director, or more than 10% “beneficial owner” (as such term is defined in Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act) of any class of the Company’s equity securities that is registered pursuant to Section 12 of the Exchange Act, as determined in accordance with Section 16 of the Exchange Act and (ii) the officer(s) will report periodically to the Committee regarding the nature and scope of the awards granted pursuant to the authority delegated.

12. Adjustments. The Committee shall make or provide for such adjustments in the number of and kind of shares of Common Stock covered by outstanding Option Rights, Appreciation Rights, Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units, Performance Shares and Performance Units and Operating Partnership Units granted hereunder, and, if applicable, in the number of and kind of shares of Common Stock covered by other awards granted pursuant to Section 10 of this Plan, in the Option Price and Base Price provided in outstanding Option Rights and Appreciation Rights, respectively, in Cash Incentive Awards, and in other award terms, as the Committee, in its sole discretion, exercised in good faith, determines is equitably required to prevent dilution or enlargement of the rights of Participants that otherwise would result from (a) any extraordinary cash dividend, stock dividend, stock split, combination of shares, recapitalization or other change in the capital structure of the Company, (b) any merger, consolidation, spin-off, split-off, spin-out, split-up, reorganization, partial or complete liquidation or other distribution of assets, issuance of rights or warrants to purchase securities, or (c) any other corporate transaction or event having an effect similar to any of the foregoing. Moreover, in the event of any such transaction or event or in the event of a Change in Control, the Committee may provide in substitution for any or all outstanding awards under this Plan such alternative consideration (including cash), if any, as it, in good faith, may determine to be equitable in the circumstances and shall require in connection therewith the surrender of all awards so replaced in a manner that complies with Section 409A of the Code. In addition, for each Option Right or Appreciation Right with an Option Price or Base Price, respectively, greater than the consideration offered in connection with any such transaction or event or Change in Control, the Committee may in its discretion elect to cancel such Option Right or Appreciation Right without any payment to the Person holding such Option Right or Appreciation Right. The Committee shall also make or provide for such adjustments in the number of shares of Common Stock specified in Section 3 of this Plan as the Committee in its sole discretion, exercised in good faith, determines is appropriate to reflect any transaction or event described in this Section 12; provided, however, that any such adjustment to the number specified in Section 3(c) of this Plan will be made only if and to the extent that such adjustment would not cause any Option Right intended to qualify as an Incentive Stock Option to fail to so qualify.

13. Change in Control. For purposes of this Plan, except as may be otherwise prescribed by the Committee in an Evidence of Award made under this Plan, a “Change in Control” will be deemed to have occurred upon the occurrence (after the Effective Date) of any of the following events:

 

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(a) the consummation of a reorganization, merger or consolidation, or a sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company, or the acquisition of assets of another corporation or other transaction (“Business Combination”), but excluding any Business Combination pursuant to which (i) the individuals and entities who were the beneficial owners of the then-outstanding voting securities of the Company entitled to vote generally in the election of directors immediately prior to such Business Combination beneficially own, directly or indirectly, more than 60% of, respectively, the then-outstanding shares of common stock and the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, as the case may be, of the entity resulting from such Business Combination (including, without limitation, an entity that as a result of such transaction owns the Company or all or substantially all of the Company’s assets either directly or through one or more subsidiaries), (ii) no individual, entity or group (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act) (excluding the Company, any employee benefit plan (or related trust) of the Company or a Subsidiary, or such entity resulting from such Business Combination) beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, 30% or more of the combined voting power of the then-outstanding securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors of the entity resulting from such Business Combination and (iii) at least a majority of the members of the board of directors of the entity resulting from such Business Combination were members of the Board at the time of the execution of the initial agreement, or of the action of the Board, providing for such Business Combination;

(b) any person or other entity (other than the Company or a Subsidiary or any Company or Subsidiary employee benefit plan (including any trustee of any such plan acting in its capacity as trustee)) purchases any shares of Common Stock (or securities convertible into shares of Common Stock) pursuant to a tender or exchange offer without the prior consent of the Board, or becomes the beneficial owner of securities of the Company representing 30% or more of the voting power of the Company’s outstanding securities without the prior consent of the Board;

(c) during any two-year period commencing on or after the Effective Date, individuals who at the beginning of such period constitute the entire Board cease to constitute a majority of the Board; provided, that any person becoming a director of the Company during such two-year period whose election, or nomination for election by the Company’s stockholders, was approved by a vote of at least two-thirds of the directors who at the beginning of such period constituted the entire Board or who became a director of the Company during such two-year period as described in this proviso (either by a specific vote or by approval of the Company’s proxy statement in which such person is named as a nominee of the Company for director), but excluding for this purpose any person whose initial assumption of office as a director of the Company occurs as a result of either an actual or threatened election contest with respect to the election or removal of directors of the Company or other actual or threatened solicitation of proxies or consents by or on behalf of an individual, corporation, partnership, group, associate or other entity or person other than the Board, shall be, for purposes of this Section 13(c), considered as though such person was a member of the Board at the beginning of such period; or

 

15


(d) approval by the stockholders of the Company of a complete liquidation or dissolution of the Company except pursuant to a Business Combination that complies with clauses (i), (ii) and (iii) of subsection (a) above.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, with respect to any award under the Plan that is characterized as “non-qualified deferred compensation” within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code, an event shall not be considered to be a Change in Control under the Plan for purposes of any payment in respect of such award unless such event would also constitute a “change in ownership,” a “change in effective control” or a “change in the ownership of a substantial portion of the assets of” the Company under Section 409A of the Code.

14. Detrimental Activity and Recapture Provisions.

(a) Awards granted under this Plan are subject to the terms and conditions of the Company’s (and/or the Operating Partnership’s) clawback provisions, policy or policies (if any) as may be in effect from time to time, including specifically to implement Section 10D of the Exchange Act, and any applicable rules or regulations promulgated thereunder (including applicable rules and regulations of any national securities exchange on which the Common Stock at any point may be traded) (the “Compensation Recovery Policy”), and applicable sections of any Evidence of Award to which this Plan is applicable or any related documents shall be interpreted consistently with (or deemed superseded by and/or subject to, as applicable) the terms and conditions of the Compensation Recovery Policy. Further, by accepting any award under the Plan, each Participant agrees (or has agreed) to fully cooperate with and assist the Company in connection with any of such Participant’s obligations to the Company pursuant to the Compensation Recovery Policy, and agrees (or has agreed) that the Company may enforce its rights under the Compensation Recovery Policy through any and all reasonable means permitted under applicable law as it deems necessary or desirable under the Compensation Recovery Policy, in each case from and after the effective dates thereof. Such cooperation and assistance shall include, but is not limited to, executing, completing and submitting any documentation necessary to facilitate the recovery or recoupment by the Company from such Participant of any such amounts, including from such Participants’ accounts or from any other compensation, to the extent permissible under Section 409A of the Code.

(b) Otherwise, any Evidence of Award (or any part thereof) may provide for the cancellation or forfeiture of an award or the forfeiture and repayment to the Company of any gain or earnings related to an award (or other provisions intended to have similar effects), including upon such terms and conditions as may be determined by the Board or the Committee in accordance with the Compensation Recovery Policy or any applicable laws, rules, regulations or requirements that impose mandatory clawback or recoupment requirements under the circumstances set forth in such laws, rules, regulations or requirements in effect from time to time (including as may operate to create additional rights for the Company with respect to such awards and the recovery of amounts or benefits relating thereto).

15. Non-U.S. Participants. In order to facilitate the making of any grant or combination of grants under this Plan, the Committee may provide for such special terms for awards to Participants who are foreign nationals or who are employed by the Company or any Subsidiary outside of the United States of America or who provide services to the Company or

 

16


any Subsidiary under an agreement with a foreign nation or agency, as the Committee may consider necessary or appropriate to accommodate differences in local law, tax policy or custom. Moreover, the Committee may approve such supplements to or amendments, restatements or alternative versions of this Plan (including sub-plans) (to be considered part of this Plan) as it may consider necessary or appropriate for such purposes, without thereby affecting the terms of this Plan as in effect for any other purpose, and the secretary or other appropriate officer of the Company may certify any such document as having been approved and adopted in the same manner as this Plan. No such special terms, supplements, amendments or restatements, however, will include any provisions that are inconsistent with the terms of this Plan as then in effect unless this Plan could have been amended to eliminate such inconsistency without further approval by the Stockholders.

16. Transferability.

(a) Except as otherwise determined by the Committee, and subject to compliance with Section 18(b) of this Plan and Section 409A of the Code, no Option Right, Appreciation Right, Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Unit, Performance Share, Performance Unit, Operating Partnership Unit, Cash Incentive Award, award contemplated by Section 10 of this Plan or dividend equivalents or distributions paid with respect to awards made under this Plan will be transferable by the Participant except by will or the laws of descent and distribution. In no event will any such award granted under this Plan be transferred for value. Where transfer is permitted, references to “Participant” shall be construed, as the Committee deems appropriate, to include any permitted transferee to whom such award is transferred. Except as otherwise determined by the Committee, Option Rights and Appreciation Rights will be exercisable during the Participant’s lifetime only by him or her or, in the event of the Participant’s legal incapacity to do so, by his or her guardian or legal representative acting on behalf of the Participant in a fiduciary capacity under state law or court supervision.

(b) The Committee may specify on the Date of Grant that part or all of the shares of Common Stock that are (i) to be issued or transferred by the Company upon the exercise of Option Rights or Appreciation Rights, upon the termination of the Restriction Period applicable to Restricted Stock Units or upon payment under any grant of Performance Shares, Performance Units or Operating Partnership Units or (ii) no longer subject to the substantial risk of forfeiture and restrictions on transfer referred to in Section 6 of this Plan, will be subject to further restrictions on transfer, including minimum holding periods.

17. Withholding Taxes. To the extent that the Company is required to withhold federal, state, local or foreign taxes or other amounts in connection with any payment made or benefit realized by a Participant or other Person under this Plan, and the amounts available to the Company for such withholding are insufficient, it will be a condition to the receipt of such payment or the realization of such benefit that the Participant or such other Person make arrangements satisfactory to the Company for payment of the balance of such taxes or other amounts required to be withheld, which arrangements (in the discretion of the Committee) may include relinquishment of a portion of such benefit. If a Participant’s benefit is to be received in the form of shares of Common Stock, and such Participant fails to make arrangements for the payment of taxes or other amounts, then, unless otherwise determined by the Committee, the Company will withhold shares of Common Stock having a value equal to the amount required to be withheld. Notwithstanding

 

17


the foregoing, when a Participant is required to pay the Company an amount required to be withheld under applicable income, employment, tax or other laws, the Company may require the Participant to satisfy the obligation, in whole or in part, by having withheld, from the shares of Common Stock delivered or required to be delivered to the Participant, shares of Common Stock having a value equal to the amount required to be withheld or by delivering to the Company other shares of Common Stock held by such Participant. The shares of Common Stock used for tax or other withholding will be valued at an amount equal to the fair market value of such shares of Common Stock on the date the benefit is to be included in Participant’s income. In no event will the fair market value of the shares of Common Stock to be withheld and delivered pursuant to this Section 17 exceed the minimum amount required to be withheld, unless (a) an additional amount can be withheld and not result in adverse accounting consequences and (b) such additional withholding amount is authorized by the Committee. Participants will also make such arrangements as the Company may require for the payment of any withholding tax or other obligation that may arise in connection with the disposition of shares of Common Stock acquired upon the exercise of Option Rights.

18. Compliance with Section 409A of the Code.

(a) To the extent applicable, it is intended that this Plan and any grants made hereunder comply with the provisions of Section 409A of the Code, so that the income inclusion provisions of Section 409A(a)(1) of the Code do not apply to the Participants. This Plan and any grants made hereunder will be administered in a manner consistent with this intent. Any reference in this Plan to Section 409A of the Code will also include any regulations or any other formal guidance promulgated with respect to such section by the U.S. Department of the Treasury or the Internal Revenue Service.

(b) Neither a Participant nor any of a Participant’s creditors or beneficiaries will have the right to subject any deferred compensation (within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code) payable under this Plan and grants hereunder to any anticipation, alienation, sale, transfer, assignment, pledge, encumbrance, attachment or garnishment. Except as permitted under Section 409A of the Code, any deferred compensation (within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code) payable to a Participant or for a Participant’s benefit under this Plan and grants hereunder may not be reduced by, or offset against, any amount owed by a Participant to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.

(c) If, at the time of a Participant’s separation from service (within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code), (i) the Participant will be a specified employee (within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code and using the identification methodology selected by the Company from time to time) and (ii) the Company makes a good faith determination that an amount payable hereunder constitutes deferred compensation (within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code) the payment of which is required to be delayed pursuant to the six-month delay rule set forth in Section 409A of the Code in order to avoid taxes or penalties under Section 409A of the Code, then the Company will not pay such amount on the otherwise scheduled payment date but will instead pay it, without interest, on the tenth business day of the seventh month after such separation from service.

 

18


(d) Solely with respect to any award that constitutes nonqualified deferred compensation subject to Section 409A of the Code and that is payable on account of a Change in Control (including any installments or stream of payments that are accelerated on account of a Change in Control), a Change in Control shall occur only if such event also constitutes a “change in the ownership,” “change in effective control,” and/or a “change in the ownership of a substantial portion of assets” of the Company as those terms are defined under Treasury Regulation §1.409A-3(i)(5), but only to the extent necessary to establish a time and form of payment that complies with Section 409A of the Code, without altering the definition of Change in Control for any purpose in respect of such award.

(e) Notwithstanding any provision of this Plan and grants hereunder to the contrary, in light of the uncertainty with respect to the proper application of Section 409A of the Code, the Company reserves the right to make amendments to this Plan and grants hereunder as the Company deems necessary or desirable to avoid the imposition of taxes or penalties under Section 409A of the Code. In any case, a Participant will be solely responsible and liable for the satisfaction of all taxes and penalties that may be imposed on a Participant or for a Participant’s account in connection with this Plan and grants hereunder (including any taxes and penalties under Section 409A of the Code), and neither the Company nor any of its affiliates will have any obligation to indemnify or otherwise hold a Participant harmless from any or all of such taxes or penalties.

19. Amendments.

(a) The Board may at any time and from time to time amend this Plan in whole or in part; provided, however, that if an amendment to this Plan, for purposes of applicable stock exchange rules and except as permitted under Section 12 of this Plan, (i) would materially increase the benefits accruing to Participants under this Plan, (ii) would materially increase the number of securities which may be issued under this Plan, (iii) would materially modify the requirements for participation in this Plan, or (iv) must otherwise be approved by the Stockholders in order to comply with applicable law or the rules of the New York Stock Exchange or, if the shares of Common Stock are not traded on the New York Stock Exchange, the principal national securities exchange upon which the shares of Common Stock are traded or quoted, all as determined by the Board, then, such amendment will be subject to Stockholder approval and will not be effective unless and until such approval has been obtained.

(b) Except in connection with a corporate transaction or event described in Section 12 of this Plan or in connection with a Change in Control, the terms of outstanding awards may not be amended to reduce the Option Price of outstanding Option Rights or the Base Price of outstanding Appreciation Rights, or cancel outstanding “underwater” Option Rights or Appreciation Rights (including following a Participant’s voluntary surrender of “underwater” Option Rights or Appreciation Rights) in exchange for cash, other awards or Option Rights or Appreciation Rights with an Option Price or Base Price, as applicable, that is less than the Option Price of the original Option Rights or Base Price of the original Appreciation Rights, as applicable, without Stockholder approval. This Section 19(b) is intended to prohibit the repricing of “underwater” Option Rights and Appreciation Rights and will not be construed to prohibit the adjustments provided for in Section 12 of this Plan. Notwithstanding any provision of this Plan to the contrary, this Section 19(b) may not be amended without approval by the Stockholders.

 

19


(c) If permitted by Section 409A of the Code, but subject to Section 19(d) of this Plan, including in the case of termination of employment or service, or in the case of unforeseeable emergency or other circumstances or in the event of a Change in Control, to the extent a Participant holds an Option Right or Appreciation Right not immediately exercisable in full, or any Restricted Stock as to which the substantial risk of forfeiture or the prohibition or restriction on transfer has not lapsed, or any Restricted Stock Units or Operating Partnership Units as to which the Restriction Period has not been completed, or any Cash Incentive Awards, Performance Shares, Performance Units or Operating Partnership Units which have not been fully earned, or any dividend equivalents or distributions or other awards made pursuant to Section 10 of this Plan subject to any vesting schedule or transfer restriction, or who holds shares of Common Stock subject to any transfer restriction imposed pursuant to Section 16(b) of this Plan, the Committee may, in its sole discretion, provide for continued vesting or accelerate the time at which such Option Right, Appreciation Right or other award may vest or be exercised or the time at which such substantial risk of forfeiture or prohibition or restriction on transfer will lapse or the time when such Restriction Period will end or the time at which such Cash Incentive Awards, Performance Shares, Performance Units or Operating Partnership Units will be deemed to have been earned or the time when such transfer restriction will terminate or may waive any other limitation or requirement under any such award.

(d) Subject to Section 19(b) of this Plan, the Committee may amend the terms of any award theretofore granted under this Plan prospectively or retroactively. Except for adjustments made pursuant to Section 12 of this Plan, no such amendment will materially impair the rights of any Participant without his or her consent. The Board may, in its discretion, terminate this Plan at any time. Termination of this Plan will not affect the rights of Participants or their successors under any awards outstanding hereunder and not exercised in full on the date of termination.

20. Governing Law. This Plan and all grants and awards and actions taken hereunder will be governed by and construed in accordance with the internal substantive laws of the State of Maryland.

21. Effective Date/Termination. This Plan will be effective as of the Effective Date. No grant will be made under this Plan on or after the tenth anniversary of the Effective Date, but all grants made prior to such date will continue in effect thereafter subject to the terms thereof and of this Plan.

22. Miscellaneous Provisions.

(a) The Company will not be required to issue any fractional shares of Common Stock pursuant to this Plan. The Committee may provide for the elimination of fractions or for the settlement of fractions in cash.

(b) This Plan will not confer upon any Participant any right with respect to continuance of employment or other service with the Company or any Subsidiary, nor will it interfere in any way with any right the Company or any Subsidiary would otherwise have to terminate such Participant’s employment or other service at any time.

 

20


(c) Except with respect to Section 22(e) of this Plan, to the extent that any provision of this Plan would prevent any Option Right that was intended to qualify as an Incentive Stock Option from qualifying as such, that provision will be null and void with respect to such Option Right. Such provision, however, will remain in effect for other Option Rights and there will be no further effect on any provision of this Plan.

(d) No award under this Plan may be exercised by the holder thereof if such exercise, and the receipt of cash or stock thereunder, would be, in the opinion of counsel selected by the Company, contrary to law or the regulations of any duly constituted authority having jurisdiction over this Plan.

(e) Absence on leave approved by a duly constituted officer of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries will not be considered interruption or termination of service of any employee for any purposes of this Plan or awards granted hereunder.

(f) No Participant will have any rights as a Stockholder with respect to any shares of Common Stock subject to awards granted to him or her under this Plan prior to the date as of which he or she is actually recorded as the holder of such shares of Common Stock upon the stock records of the Company.

(g) The Committee may condition the grant of any award or combination of awards authorized under this Plan on the surrender or deferral by the Participant of his or her right to receive a cash bonus or other compensation otherwise payable by the Company or a Subsidiary to the Participant.

(h) Except with respect to Option Rights and Appreciation Rights, the Committee may permit Participants to elect to defer the issuance of shares of Common Stock under this Plan pursuant to such rules, procedures or programs as it may establish for purposes of this Plan and which are intended to comply with the requirements of Section 409A of the Code. The Committee also may provide that deferred issuances and settlements include the crediting of dividend equivalents or interest on the deferral amounts.

(i) If any provision of this Plan is or becomes invalid or unenforceable in any jurisdiction, or would disqualify this Plan or any award under any law deemed applicable by the Committee, such provision will be construed or deemed amended or limited in scope to conform to applicable laws or, in the discretion of the Committee, it will be stricken and the remainder of this Plan will remain in full force and effect. Notwithstanding anything in this Plan or an Evidence of Award to the contrary, nothing in this Plan or in an Evidence of Award prevents a Participant from providing, without prior notice to the Company, information to governmental authorities regarding possible legal violations or otherwise testifying or participating in any investigation or proceeding by any governmental authorities regarding possible legal violations, and for purpose of clarity a Participant is not prohibited from providing information voluntarily to the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Section 21F of the Exchange Act.

 

21


23. Stock-Based Awards in Substitution for Awards Granted by Another Company. Notwithstanding anything in this Plan to the contrary:

(a) Awards may be granted under this Plan in substitution for or in conversion of, or in connection with an assumption of, stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock, restricted stock units, operating partnership units or other stock or stock-based awards held by awardees of an entity engaging in a corporate acquisition or merger transaction with the Company or any Subsidiary. Any conversion, substitution or assumption will be effective as of the close of the merger or acquisition, and, to the extent applicable, will be conducted in a manner that complies with Section 409A of the Code. The awards so granted may reflect the original terms of the awards being assumed or substituted or converted for and need not comply with other specific terms of this Plan, and may account for shares of Common Stock substituted for the securities covered by the original awards and the number of shares subject to the original awards, as well as any exercise or purchase prices applicable to the original awards, adjusted to account for differences in stock prices in connection with the transaction.

(b) In the event that a company acquired by the Company or any Subsidiary or with which the Company or any Subsidiary merges has shares available under a pre-existing plan previously approved by stockholders and not adopted in contemplation of such acquisition or merger, the shares available for grant pursuant to the terms of such plan (as adjusted, to the extent appropriate, to reflect such acquisition or merger) may be used for awards made after such acquisition or merger under this Plan; provided, however, that awards using such available shares may not be made after the date awards or grants could have been made under the terms of the pre-existing plan absent the acquisition or merger, and may only be made to individuals who were not employees or directors of the Company or any Subsidiary prior to such acquisition or merger.

(c) Any shares of Common Stock that are issued or transferred by, or that are subject to any awards that are granted by, or become obligations of, the Company under Sections 23(a) or 23(b) of this Plan will not reduce the shares of Common Stock available for issuance or transfer under this Plan or otherwise count against the limits contained in Section 3 of this Plan. In addition, no shares of Common Stock subject to an award that is granted by, or becomes an obligation of, the Company under Sections 23(a) or 23(b) of this Plan, will be added to the aggregate limit contained in Section 3(a)(i) of this Plan.

 

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Exhibit 10.7

FORM OF DIRECTOR AND OFFICER INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT

This Director and Officer Indemnification Agreement, dated as of ________ ___, 20__, (this “Agreement”), is made by and between Curbline Properties Corp., a Maryland corporation (the “Company”), and [NAME] (“Indemnitee”).

RECITALS:

A. In recognition of the need for corporations to be able to induce capable and responsible persons to accept positions in corporate management, Maryland law authorizes (and in some instances requires) corporations to indemnify their directors and officers, and further authorizes corporations to purchase and maintain insurance for the benefit of their directors and officers.

B. Indemnification by a corporation serves the policies of (1) allowing corporate officials to resist unjustified lawsuits, secure in the knowledge that, if vindicated, the corporation will bear the expense of litigation, (2) encouraging capable women and men to serve as corporate directors and officers, secure in the knowledge that the corporation will absorb the costs of defending their honesty and integrity and (3) authorizing corporations to purchase and maintain insurance for the benefit of their directors and officers.

C. Maryland law also authorizes a corporation to pay in advance of the final disposition of an action, suit or proceeding the expenses incurred by a director or officer in the defense thereof.

D. Legislative and regulatory initiatives have also exposed directors and officers of public companies to a significantly greater risk of criminal proceedings, with attendant defense costs and potential criminal fines and penalties.

E. Under Maryland law, a director’s and officer’s right to be reimbursed for the costs of defense of criminal actions does not depend upon the merits of the claims asserted against the director or officer and indemnification of the director or officer against criminal fines is permitted if the director or officer satisfies the applicable standard of conduct.

F. Indemnitee is a director and/or officer of the Company and Indemnitee’s willingness to serve in such capacity is predicated, in substantial part, upon the Company’s willingness to indemnify Indemnitee in accordance with the principles reflected above, to the fullest extent permitted by the laws of the state of Maryland, and upon the other undertakings set forth in this Agreement.

G. The Constituent Documents provide that the Company shall indemnify certain individuals who may be party to threatened, pending or completed claims by reason of their status as a director and/or officer of the Company and for the prepayment, advancement or reimbursement by the Company of certain expenses incurred in connection with such claims.

H. Therefore, in recognition of the need to provide Indemnitee with contractual protection against personal liability, in order to procure Indemnitee’s service as a director and/or officer of the Company and to enhance Indemnitee’s ability to serve the Company in an effective manner, and in order to provide such protection pursuant to express contract rights (intended to be enforceable irrespective of, among other things, any amendment to any provisions relating to indemnification included in the Constituent Documents, any change in the composition of the Board, any change-in-control or business combination transaction relating to the Company, or any change in the director’s or officer’s status as a director or officer), the Company wishes to provide for the indemnification of and the advancement of Expenses to Indemnitee as set forth in this Agreement and for the continued coverage of Indemnitee under the Company’s directors’ and officers’ liability insurance policies.

I. In light of the considerations referred to in the preceding recitals, it is the Company’s intention and desire that the provisions of this Agreement be construed liberally, subject to their express terms, to maximize the protections to be provided to Indemnitee hereunder.

 

1


AGREEMENT:

NOW, THEREFORE, the parties hereby agree as follows:

 

  1.

Certain Definitions. In addition to terms defined elsewhere herein, including Section 25, the following terms have the following meanings when used in this Agreement:

 

  (a)

Board” means the Board of Directors of the Company.

 

  (b)

Change in Control” means the occurrence of any of the following:

(i) the Board or stockholders of the Company approve a consolidation or merger in which the Company is not the surviving corporation, the sale of substantially all of the assets of the Company or the liquidation or dissolution of the Company;

(ii) any person or other entity (other than the Company or a Subsidiary or any Company employee benefit plan (including any trustee of any such plan acting in its capacity as trustee)) purchases any shares of the Company (or securities convertible into shares of the Company) pursuant to a tender or exchange offer without the prior consent of the Board, or otherwise becomes the beneficial owner of securities of the Company representing 30% or more of the voting power of the Company’s outstanding securities without the prior consent of the Board; and

(iii) during any two-year period, Incumbent Directors cease for any reason to constitute a majority of the Board.

 

  (c)

Claim” means (i) any threatened, asserted, pending or completed claim, demand, action, suit or proceeding of any kind, whether civil, criminal, administrative, arbitrative, investigative or other, and whether made pursuant to federal, state or other law; and (ii) any threatened, pending or completed inquiry or investigation, whether made, instituted or conducted by or at the behest of the Company or any other person, including any federal, state or other court or governmental entity or agency and any committee or other representative of any corporate constituency, that Indemnitee determines might lead to the institution of any such claim, demand, action, suit or proceeding.

 

  (d)

Constituent Documents” means the Company’s charter and Bylaws.

 

  (e)

Controlled Affiliate” means any corporation, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, trust or other entity or enterprise, whether or not for profit, that is directly or indirectly controlled by the Company. For purposes of this definition, “control” means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management or policies of an entity or enterprise, whether through the ownership of voting securities, through other voting rights, by contract or otherwise; provided that direct or indirect beneficial ownership of capital stock or other interests in an entity or enterprise entitling the holder to cast 20% or more of the total number of votes generally entitled to be cast in the election of directors (or persons performing comparable functions) of such entity or enterprise will be deemed to constitute “control” for purposes of this definition.

 

  (f)

Disinterested Director” means a director of the Company who is not and was not a party to the Claim in respect of which indemnification is sought by Indemnitee.

 

  (g)

ERISA Losses” means any taxes, penalties or other liabilities under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, or Section 4975 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

 

  (h)

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

 

2


  (i)

Expenses” means attorneys’ and experts’ fees and expenses and all other costs and expenses paid or payable in connection with investigating, defending, being a witness in, responding to or participating in (including on appeal), or preparing to investigate, defend, be a witness in, respond to or participate in (including on appeal), any Claim, any federal, state, local or foreign income tax(es) paid or payable by the Indemnitee as a result of the actual or deemed receipt of any payments under this Agreement, and any amounts paid in settlement prior to a final, nonappealable judgment or conviction.

 

  (j)

Incumbent Directors” means the individuals who, as of the date of this Agreement, are directors of the Company and any individual becoming a director of the Company subsequent to the date hereof whose election, nomination for election by the Company’s stockholders, or appointment was approved by a vote of at least two-thirds of the then Incumbent Directors; provided, however, that an individual will not be an Incumbent Director if such individual’s election or appointment to the Board occurs as a result of an actual or threatened election contest (as described in Rule 14a-12(c) of the Exchange Act) with respect to the election or removal of directors or other actual or threatened solicitation of proxies or consents by or on behalf of a person other than the Board, including by reason of any agreement intended to avoid or settle any actual or threatened election contest or proxy contest.

 

  (k)

Indemnifiable Claim” means any Claim based upon, arising out of or resulting from (i) any actual, alleged or suspected act or failure to act by Indemnitee in his or her capacity as a director, officer, employee or agent of the Company or as a director, officer, employee, member, manager, trustee or agent of any other corporation, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, trust or other entity or enterprise, whether or not for profit (including any employee benefit plan or related trust), as to which Indemnitee is or was serving at the request of the Company as a director, officer, employee, member, manager, trustee or agent, (ii) any actual, alleged or suspected act or failure to act by Indemnitee in respect of any business, transaction, communication, filing, disclosure or other activity of the Company or any other entity or enterprise referred to in clause (i) of this sentence, or (iii) Indemnitee’s status as a current or former director, officer, employee or agent of the Company or as a current or former director, officer, employee, member, manager, trustee or agent of the Company or any other entity or enterprise referred to in clause (i) of this sentence or any actual, alleged or suspected act or failure to act by Indemnitee in connection with any obligation or restriction imposed upon Indemnitee by reason of such status. In addition to any service at the actual request of the Company, for purposes of this Agreement, Indemnitee will be deemed to be serving or to have served at the request of the Company as a director, officer, employee, member, manager, trustee or agent of another entity or enterprise if Indemnitee is or was serving as a director, officer, employee, member, manager, trustee or agent of such entity or enterprise and (i) such entity or enterprise is or at the time of such service was a Controlled Affiliate, (ii) such entity or enterprise is or at the time of such service was an employee benefit plan (or related trust) sponsored or maintained by the Company or a Controlled Affiliate, or (iii) the Company or a Controlled Affiliate directly or indirectly caused or authorized Indemnitee to be nominated, elected, appointed, designated, employed, engaged or selected to serve in such capacity. As used in the definition of “Indemnifiable Claim”, “act” includes, as the context requires, an act, an omission, a failure to act, or a determination made not to act, or to act, omit to act, fail to act, or make a determination not to act.

 

  (l)

Indemnifiable Losses” means any and all Losses relating to, arising out of or resulting from any Indemnifiable Claim.

 

  (m)

Independent Counsel” means a law firm, or a member of a law firm, that is experienced in matters of corporation law and neither presently is, nor in the past five years has been, retained to represent: (i) the Company (or any Subsidiary) or Indemnitee in any matter material to either such party (other than with respect to matters concerning Indemnitee under this Agreement, or of other indemnitees under similar indemnification agreements), or (ii) any other named (or, as to a threatened matter, reasonably likely to be named) party to the Indemnifiable Claim giving rise to a claim for indemnification hereunder. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the term “Independent Counsel” will not include any person who, under the applicable standards of professional conduct then prevailing, would have a conflict of interest in representing either the Company or Indemnitee in an action to determine Indemnitee’s rights under this Agreement.

 

3


  (n)

Losses” means any and all Expenses, damages, losses, liabilities, judgments, fines, penalties (whether civil, criminal or other), ERISA Losses and amounts paid in settlement, including all interest, assessments and other charges paid or payable in connection with or in respect of any of the foregoing.

 

  (o)

MGCL” means the Maryland General Corporation Law.

 

  (p)

Notification Date” means the date of receipt by the Company of written notice from Indemnitee advising the Company of the final disposition of the applicable Indemnifiable Claim or portion thereof to which such Indemnifiable Losses are related, out of which such Indemnifiable Losses arose or from which such Indemnifiable Losses resulted.

 

  (q)

Other Indemnity Provisions” means, collectively, (i) the Constituent Documents, (ii) the substantive laws of Maryland, (iii) any other contract to which both Indemnitee and the Company (or a Subsidiary) are a party, and (iv) any vote of the stockholders entitled to vote generally in the election of directors or resolution of the directors.

 

  (r)

Standard of Conduct Determination” means a determination of whether Indemnitee has satisfied any applicable standard of conduct under Maryland law that is a legally required condition precedent to indemnification of Indemnitee under this Agreement against Indemnifiable Losses relating to, arising out of or resulting from an Indemnifiable Claim.

 

  (s)

Subsidiary” means an entity in which the Company directly or indirectly beneficially owns 50% or more of the total combined voting power of securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors.

 

  (t)

Undertaking” means a sworn affirmation and undertaking and request for advancement of Expenses substantially in the form of Exhibit A attached hereto, with the blanks therein appropriately completed and the proper selection made for the bracketed alternatives therein.

 

  2.

Indemnification Obligation. Subject to Section 8, the Company will indemnify, defend and hold harmless Indemnitee, to the fullest extent permitted or required by the laws of the State of Maryland in effect on the date hereof or as such laws may from time to time hereafter be amended to increase the scope of such permitted or required indemnification, against any and all Indemnifiable Claims and Indemnifiable Losses; provided, however, that (a) except for claims as provided in Sections 4 and 22, Indemnitee will not be entitled to indemnification pursuant to this Agreement in connection with any Claim initiated by Indemnitee against the Company or any director or officer of the Company unless the Company has joined in or consented to the initiation of such Claim, (b) Indemnitee will not be entitled to indemnification pursuant to this Agreement for (i) an accounting of profits made from the purchase and sale (or sale and purchase) by Indemnitee of securities of the Company within the meaning of Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act or similar provisions of state statutory law or common law, (ii) any reimbursement of the Company by the Indemnitee of any bonus or other incentive-based or equity-based compensation or of any profits realized by the Indemnitee from the sale of securities of the Company, as required in each case under the Exchange Act (including any such reimbursements that arise from an accounting restatement of the Company pursuant to Section 304 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (the “Sarbanes-Oxley Act”), or the payment to the Company of profits arising from the purchase and sale by Indemnitee of securities in violation of Section 306 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act), or (iii) any reimbursement of the Company by Indemnitee of any compensation pursuant to any compensation recoupment or clawback policy adopted by the Board or the compensation committee of the Board, including but not limited to any such policy adopted to comply with stock exchange listing requirements implementing Section 10D of the Exchange Act, and (c) no repeal or amendment of any law of the State of Maryland shall in any way diminish or adversely affect the rights of Indemnitee pursuant to this Agreement in respect of any occurrence or matter arising prior to any such repeal or amendment.

 

4


  3.

Advancement of Expenses Incurred with Respect to Indemnifiable Claims. Indemnitee will have the right to advancement by the Company prior to the final disposition of any Indemnifiable Claim of any and all Expenses relating to, arising out of or resulting from any Indemnifiable Claim paid or incurred by Indemnitee or which Indemnitee determines are reasonably likely to be paid or incurred by Indemnitee. Indemnitee’s right to such advancement is not subject to the satisfaction of any standard of conduct and is not conditioned upon any prior determination that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification under this Agreement with respect to the Indemnifiable Claim or the absence of any prior determination to the contrary. Without limiting the generality or effect of the foregoing, within five business days after any request by Indemnitee, the Company shall, in accordance with such request (but without duplication), (a) pay such Expenses on behalf of Indemnitee, (b) advance to Indemnitee funds in an amount sufficient to pay such Expenses, or (c) reimburse Indemnitee for such Expenses; provided that Indemnitee shall repay, without interest any amounts actually advanced to Indemnitee that, at the final disposition of the Indemnifiable Claim to which the advance related, were in excess of amounts paid or payable by Indemnitee in respect of Expenses relating to, arising out of or resulting from such Indemnifiable Claim. In connection with any such payment, advancement or reimbursement, the Indemnitee shall execute and deliver to the Company an Undertaking, which need not be secured and will be accepted by the Company without reference to Indemnitee’s ability to repay the Expenses. In no event will Indemnitee’s right to the payment, advancement or reimbursement of Expenses pursuant to this Section 3 be conditioned upon any undertaking that is less favorable to Indemnitee than, or that is in addition to, the Undertaking set forth in Exhibit A.

 

  4.

Indemnification for Additional Expenses. The Company will indemnify and hold harmless Indemnitee against and, if requested by Indemnitee, will reimburse Indemnitee for, or advance to Indemnitee, within five business days of such request, any and all Expenses paid or incurred by Indemnitee or which Indemnitee determines are reasonably likely to be paid or incurred by Indemnitee in connection with any Claim made, instituted or conducted by Indemnitee in each case to the fullest extent permitted or required by the laws of the State of Maryland in effect on the date hereof or as such laws may from time to time hereafter be amended to increase the scope of such permitted or required indemnification, reimbursement or advancement of such Expenses for (a) indemnification or payment, advancement or reimbursement of Expenses by the Company under any provision of this Agreement, or under any other agreement or provision of the Constituent Documents now or hereafter in effect relating to Indemnifiable Claims, and/or (b) recovery under any directors’ and officers’ liability insurance policies maintained by the Company, regardless in each case of whether Indemnitee ultimately is determined to be entitled to such indemnification, reimbursement, advance or insurance recovery, as the case may be; provided, however, that Indemnitee will return, without interest, any such advance of Expenses (or portion thereof) which remains unspent at the final disposition of the Claim (including, if applicable, final payment thereof) to which the advance related.

 

  5.

Contribution. To the fullest extent permissible under applicable law in effect on the date hereof or as such law may from time to time hereafter be amended to increase the scope of such permitted or required indemnification, if the indemnification provided for in this Agreement is unavailable to Indemnitee for any reason whatsoever, the Company, in lieu of indemnifying Indemnitee, shall contribute to the payment of any and all Indemnifiable Claims or Indemnifiable Losses, in such proportion as is fair and reasonable in light of all of the circumstances in order to reflect (a) the relative benefits received by the Company and Indemnitee as a result of the event(s) and/or transaction(s) giving cause to such Indemnifiable Claim or Indemnifiable Loss and/or (b) the relative fault of the Company (and its other directors, officers, employees and agents) and Indemnitee in connection with such event(s) and/or transaction(s); provided that such contribution shall not be required where it is determined, pursuant to a final disposition of such Indemnifiable Claim or Indemnifiable Loss in accordance with Section 8, that Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification by the Company with respect to such Indemnifiable Claim or Indemnifiable Loss.

 

  6.

Partial Indemnity. If Indemnitee is entitled under any provision of this Agreement to indemnification by the Company for a portion of any Indemnifiable Loss, but not for the total amount thereof, the Company will nevertheless indemnify Indemnitee for the portion thereof to which Indemnitee is entitled.

 

5


  7.

Procedure for Notification. To obtain indemnification under this Agreement in respect of an Indemnifiable Claim or Indemnifiable Loss, Indemnitee will submit to the Company a written request, including a brief description (based upon information then available to Indemnitee) of such Indemnifiable Claim or Indemnifiable Loss. If, at the time of the receipt of such request, the Company has directors’ and officers’ liability insurance in effect under which coverage for such Indemnifiable Claim or Indemnifiable Loss is potentially available, the Company will give prompt written notice of such Indemnifiable Claim or Indemnifiable Loss to the applicable insurers in accordance with the procedures set forth in the applicable policies. The Company will provide to Indemnitee a copy of such notice delivered to the applicable insurers, and copies of all subsequent correspondence between the Company and such insurers regarding the Indemnifiable Claim or Indemnifiable Loss, in each case substantially concurrently with the delivery or receipt thereof by the Company. The failure by Indemnitee to timely notify the Company of any Indemnifiable Claim or Indemnifiable Loss will not relieve the Company from any liability hereunder unless, and only to the extent that, the Company did not otherwise learn of such Indemnifiable Claim or Indemnifiable Loss and such failure is the primary cause of forfeiture by the Company of substantial defenses, rights or insurance coverage.

 

  8.

Determination of Right to Indemnification.

 

  (a)

Circumstances in Which No Standard of Conduct Determination is Required. To the extent that an Indemnifiable Claim or any portion thereof, including the defense of any Indemnifiable Claim or any portion thereof or defense of any issue or matter therein, will have been resolved successfully on the merits or otherwise in favor of Indemnitee, including through a dismissal without prejudice, Indemnitee will be indemnified against all Indemnifiable Losses relating to, arising out of or resulting from such Indemnifiable Claim in accordance with Section 2 and no Standard of Conduct Determination will be required. In the event that a matter as to which there has been a dismissal without prejudice is later revived in the same or similar form, that matter will be treated as a new Claim for all purposes of this Agreement.

 

  (b)

Standard of Conduct Determination. To the extent that an Indemnifiable Claim or any portion thereof, including the defense of any Indemnifiable Claim or any portion thereof or defense of any issue or matter therein, will not have been resolved successfully on the merits or otherwise in favor of Indemnitee, including through a dismissal without prejudice, and the provisions of Section 8(a) are thereby inapplicable, any Standard of Conduct Determination will be made as follows: (i) by the Board by a majority vote of a quorum consisting of Disinterested Directors, or, if such quorum cannot be obtained, then by a majority vote of a duly-authorized committee of the Board consisting solely of one or more Disinterested Directors designated by the Disinterested Directors to make the determination, (ii) if a majority of Disinterested Directors so direct, by Independent Counsel, in a written opinion addressed to the Board, a copy of which shall be delivered to Indemnitee or (iii) if there are no such Disinterested Directors, by Independent Counsel, selected by the Indemnitee, subject to the reasonable approval of the Board, in a written opinion addressed to the Board, a copy of which shall be delivered to Indemnitee; provided, however, that in the event that there has been a Change in Control after the date of this Agreement, all Standard of Conduct Determinations thereafter shall be made by Independent Counsel. Indemnitee and the Company will cooperate with the person or persons making such Standard of Conduct Determination, including providing to such person or persons, upon reasonable advance request, any documentation or information which is not privileged or otherwise protected from disclosure and which is reasonably available to Indemnitee and reasonably necessary to such determination. The Company shall indemnify and hold harmless Indemnitee against and, if requested by Indemnitee, shall reimburse Indemnitee for, or advance to Indemnitee, within five business days of such request, any and all costs and expenses (including attorneys’ and experts’ fees and expenses) incurred by Indemnitee in so cooperating with the person or persons making such Standard of Conduct Determination.

 

6


  (c)

Timing of Standard of Conduct Determination. The Company will use its reasonable efforts to cause any Standard of Conduct Determination required under Section 8(b) to be made as promptly as practicable. If (i) the person or persons empowered or selected under Section 8(b) to make the Standard of Conduct Determination will not have made a determination within 30 days after the later of (A) the Notification Date and (B) the selection of an Independent Counsel, if such determination is to be made by Independent Counsel and (ii) Indemnitee will have fulfilled his/her obligations set forth in the penultimate sentence of Section 8(b), then Indemnitee will be deemed to have satisfied the applicable standard of conduct; provided that such 30-day period may be extended for a reasonable time, not to exceed an additional 30 days, if the person or persons making such Standard of Conduct Determination in good faith requires such additional time for the obtaining or evaluation or documentation and/or information relating thereto.

 

  (d)

Timing of Payment. If (i) Indemnitee will be entitled to indemnification hereunder against any Indemnifiable Losses pursuant to Section 8(a), (ii) no determination of whether Indemnitee has satisfied any applicable standard of conduct under Maryland law is a legally required condition precedent to indemnification of Indemnitee hereunder against any Indemnifiable Losses, or (iii) Indemnitee has been determined or deemed pursuant to Section 8(b) to have satisfied any applicable standard of conduct under Maryland law which is a legally required condition precedent to indemnification of Indemnitee hereunder against any Indemnifiable Losses, then the Company will pay to Indemnitee, within five business days after the later of (x) the Notification Date and (y) the earliest date on which the applicable criterion specified in clause (i), (ii) or (iii) of this Section 8(d) will have been satisfied, an amount equal to the amount of such Indemnifiable Losses.

 

  9.

Presumption of Entitlement.

 

  (a)

In making a determination of whether Indemnitee has been successful on the merits or otherwise in defense of any Indemnifiable Claim or any portion thereof or in defense of any issue or matter therein, the Company acknowledges that a resolution, disposition or outcome short of dismissal or final judgment, including outcomes that permit Indemnitee to avoid expense, delay, embarrassment, injury to reputation, distraction, disruption or uncertainty, may constitute such success. In the event that any Indemnifiable Claim or any portion thereof or issue or matter therein is resolved or disposed of in any manner other than by adverse judgment against Indemnitee (including any resolution or disposition thereof by means of settlement with or without payment of money or other consideration), it shall be presumed that Indemnitee has been successful on the merits or otherwise in defense of such Indemnifiable Claim or portion thereof or issue or matter therein. The Company may overcome such presumption only by its adducing clear and convincing evidence to the contrary.

 

  (b)

In making any Standard of Conduct Determination, the person or persons making such determination shall presume that Indemnitee has satisfied the applicable standard of conduct, and the Company may overcome such presumption only by its adducing clear and convincing evidence to the contrary. Any Standard of Conduct Determination that Indemnitee has satisfied the applicable standard of conduct shall be final and binding in all respects, including with respect to any litigation or other action or proceeding initiated by Indemnitee to enforce his or her rights hereunder. Any Standard of Conduct Determination that is adverse to Indemnitee may be challenged by the Indemnitee in the state or federal courts in Maryland. No determination by the Company (including by its directors or any Independent Counsel) that Indemnitee has not satisfied any applicable standard of conduct shall be a defense to any Claim by Indemnitee for indemnification or reimbursement or advance payment of Expenses by the Company hereunder or create a presumption that Indemnitee has not met any applicable standard of conduct.

 

7


  (c)

Without limiting the generality or effect of Section 9(b), (i) to the extent that any Indemnifiable Claim relates to any entity or enterprise (other than the Company) referred to in clause (i) of the first sentence of the definition of “Indemnifiable Claim,” Indemnitee shall be deemed to have satisfied the applicable standard of conduct if Indemnitee acted in good faith and in a manner Indemnitee reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the interests of such entity or enterprise (or the owners or beneficiaries thereof, including in the case of any employee benefit plan the participants and beneficiaries thereof) unless it is established that (A) the act or omission of Indemnitee was material to the matter giving rise to the Claim and (1) was committed in bad faith or (2) was the result of active and deliberate dishonesty, (B) Indemnitee actually received an improper personal benefit in money, property or services, or (C) in the case of any criminal action or proceeding, Indemnitee had reasonable cause to believe that his or her conduct was unlawful, and (ii) in all cases, any belief of Indemnitee that is based on the records or books of account of the Company, including financial statements, or on information supplied to Indemnitee by the directors, officers or employees of the Company that the Indemnitee reasonably believes to be reliable and competent on the matters presented, or on the advice of legal counsel for the Company, the Board, or any committee of the Board on which the Indemnitee does not serve, as to a matter within its designated authority if the Indemnitee reasonably believes the committee to merit confidence, or on information or records given or reports made to the Company, the Board, or any committee of the Board by an independent certified public accountant or by an appraiser or other expert, as to a matter which the Indemnitee reasonably believes to be within the person’s professional or expert competence, selected by or on behalf of the Company, the Board, or any committee of the Board shall be deemed to be reasonable.

 

  10.

No Adverse Presumption. For purposes of this Agreement, the termination of any Claim by judgment, order, settlement (whether with or without court approval) or conviction, or upon a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent, will not create a presumption that Indemnitee did not meet any applicable standard of conduct or that indemnification hereunder is otherwise not permitted.

 

  11.

Non-Exclusivity. The rights of Indemnitee hereunder will be in addition to any other rights Indemnitee may have under any Other Indemnity Provisions; provided, however, that (a) to the extent that Indemnitee otherwise would have any greater right to indemnification under any Other Indemnity Provision, Indemnitee will be deemed to have such greater right hereunder and (b) to the extent that any change is made to any Other Indemnity Provision which permits any greater right to indemnification than that provided under this Agreement as of the date hereof, Indemnitee will be deemed to have such greater right hereunder. The Company will not adopt any amendment to any of the Constituent Documents the effect of which would be to deny, diminish or encumber Indemnitee’s right to indemnification under this Agreement or any Other Indemnity Provision.

 

  12.

Liability Insurance and Funding. For the duration of Indemnitee’s service as a director and/or officer of the Company, and thereafter for so long as Indemnitee will be subject to any pending or possible Indemnifiable Claim, the Company will use commercially reasonable efforts (taking into account the scope and amount of coverage available relative to the cost thereof) to cause to be maintained in effect policies of directors’ and officers’ liability insurance providing coverage for directors and/or officers of the Company that is at least substantially comparable in scope and amount to that provided by the Company’s current policies of directors’ and officers’ liability insurance. The Company will provide Indemnitee with a copy of all directors’ and officers’ liability insurance applications, binders, policies, declarations, endorsements and other related materials, and shall provide Indemnitee with a reasonable opportunity to review and comment on the same. Without limiting the generality or effect of the two immediately preceding sentences, the Company will not discontinue or significantly reduce the scope or amount of coverage from one policy period to the next (i) without the prior approval thereof by a majority vote of the Incumbent Directors, even if less than a quorum, or (ii) if at the time that any such discontinuation or significant reduction in the scope or amount of coverage is proposed there are no Incumbent Directors, without the prior written consent of Indemnitee (which consent will not be unreasonably withheld or delayed). In all policies of directors’ and officers’ liability insurance obtained by the Company, Indemnitee will be named as an insured in such a manner as to provide Indemnitee the same rights and benefits, subject to the same limitations, as are accorded to the Company’s directors and officers most favorably insured by such policy. To the extent requested by Indemnitee, the Board shall consider such request, and if approved by the Board or a duly authorized

 

8


  committee or subcommittee thereof, the Company may at any time and from time to time provide security to Indemnitee for the Company’s obligations under this Agreement through a bank line of credit, funded trust or other collateral. Any such security, once provided to Indemnitee, may not be revoked or released without the prior written consent of the Indemnitee, which consent will not be unreasonably withheld; provided that any such bank line of credit, funded trust or other collateral arrangement may be terminated by the Company (i) if it is subsequently determined that Indemnitee was not entitled to indemnification or advancement of Expenses under this Agreement or (ii) there has been a final disposition of all Indemnifiable Claims and all Indemnifiable Losses under this Agreement.

 

  13.

Subrogation. In the event of payment under this Agreement, the Company will be subrogated to the extent of such payment to all of the related rights of recovery of Indemnitee against other persons or entities (other than Indemnitee’s successors), including any entity or enterprise referred to in clause (i) of the definition of “Indemnifiable Claim.” Indemnitee will execute all papers reasonably required to evidence such rights (all of Indemnitee’s reasonable Expenses, including attorneys’ fees and charges, related to such subrogation to be reimbursed by or, at the option of Indemnitee, advanced by the Company).

 

  14.

No Duplication of Payments. The Company will not be liable under this Agreement to make any payment to Indemnitee in respect of any Indemnifiable Losses to the extent Indemnitee has otherwise actually received and is entitled to retain payment (net of Expenses incurred in connection therewith and any repayment by Indemnitee made with respect thereto) under any insurance policy, the Constituent Documents, this Agreement, Other Indemnity Provisions or otherwise (including from any entity or enterprise referred to in clause (i) of the definition of “Indemnifiable Claim”) in respect of such Indemnifiable Losses otherwise indemnifiable hereunder.

 

  15.

Defense of Claims. The Company will be entitled to participate in the defense of any Indemnifiable Claim or to assume the defense thereof, with counsel reasonably satisfactory to Indemnitee; provided that if Indemnitee believes, after consultation with counsel selected by Indemnitee, that (i) the use of counsel chosen by the Company to represent Indemnitee would present such counsel with an actual or potential conflict, (ii) the named parties in any such Indemnifiable Claim (including any impleaded parties) include both the Company and Indemnitee and Indemnitee will conclude that there may be one or more legal defenses available to Indemnitee that are different from or in addition to those available to the Company, or (iii) any such representation by such counsel would be precluded under the applicable standards of professional conduct then prevailing, then Indemnitee will be entitled to retain separate counsel (but not more than one law firm plus, if applicable, local counsel in respect of any particular Indemnifiable Claim) at the Company’s expense. The Company will not be liable to Indemnitee under this Agreement for any amounts paid in settlement of any threatened or pending Indemnifiable Claim effected without the Company’s prior written consent. The Company will not, without the prior written consent of Indemnitee, effect any settlement of any threatened or pending Indemnifiable Claim to which Indemnitee is, or could have been, a party unless such settlement (a) solely involves the payment of money, (b) does not include an admission of fault of Indemnitee, (c) does not materially adversely affect the Indemnitee’s defense in any other pending suit or proceeding involving the Company or any of its current or former directors and officers, and (d) includes a complete and unconditional release of Indemnitee from all liability on any claims that are the subject matter of such Indemnifiable Claim. Neither the Company nor Indemnitee will unreasonably withhold its consent to any proposed settlement; provided that Indemnitee may withhold consent to any settlement that does not provide a complete and unconditional release of Indemnitee and provided further that the failure by the Company or the Indemnitee to respond to a proposed settlement for a period of more than ten consecutive business days will constitute unreasonably withholding consent. To the fullest extent permitted by Maryland law, the Company’s assumption of the defense of a Claim pursuant to this Section 15 will constitute an irrevocable acknowledgement by the Company that any Expenses incurred by or for the account of Indemnitee incurred in connection therewith are indemnifiable by the Company under this Agreement.

 

9


  16.

Successors and Binding Agreement.

 

  (a)

The Company will require any successor (whether direct or indirect, by purchase, merger, consolidation, reorganization or otherwise) to all or substantially all of the business or assets of the Company expressly to assume and agree to perform this Agreement in the same manner and to the same extent the Company would be required to perform if no such succession had taken place. This Agreement will be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the Company and any successor to the Company, including any person acquiring directly or indirectly all or substantially all of the business or assets of the Company whether by purchase, merger, consolidation, reorganization or otherwise (and such successor will thereafter be deemed the “Company” for purposes of this Agreement), but will not otherwise be assignable or delegatable by the Company.

 

  (b)

This Agreement will inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by Indemnitee’s personal or legal representatives, executors, administrators, heirs, distributees, legatees and other successors.

 

  (c)

This Agreement is personal in nature and neither of the parties hereto will, without the consent of the other, assign or delegate this Agreement or any rights or obligations hereunder except as expressly provided in Section 16(a) and Section 16(b). Without limiting the generality or effect of the foregoing, Indemnitee’s right to receive payments hereunder will not be assignable, whether by pledge, creation of a security interest or otherwise, other than by a transfer by Indemnitee’s will or by the laws of descent and distribution, and, in the event of any attempted assignment or transfer contrary to this Section 16(c), the Company will have no liability to pay any amount so attempted to be assigned or transferred.

 

  17.

Notices. For all purposes of this Agreement, all communications, including notices, consents, requests or approvals, required or permitted to be given hereunder will be in writing and will be deemed to have been duly given when hand delivered or dispatched by electronic mail transmission (with receipt thereof confirmed orally or electronically), or five business days after having been mailed by United States registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid or one business day after having been sent for next day delivery by a nationally recognized overnight courier service, addressed to the Company (to the attention of the Secretary of the Company) and to Indemnitee at the applicable address shown on the signature page hereto, or to such other address as any party may have furnished to the other in writing and in accordance herewith, except that notices of changes of address will be effective only upon receipt.

 

  18.

Governing Law and Jurisdiction. The validity, interpretation, construction and performance of this Agreement will be governed by and construed in accordance with the substantive laws of the State of Maryland, without giving effect to the principles of conflict of laws of such State. The Company and Indemnitee each hereby irrevocably consent to the jurisdiction and agree to the venue of the state and federal courts in Maryland for all purposes in connection with any action or proceeding which arises out of or relates to this Agreement and agree that any action instituted under this Agreement will be brought only in the state or federal courts in Maryland.

 

  19.

Validity. If any provision of this Agreement or the application of any provision hereof to any person or circumstance is held invalid, unenforceable or otherwise illegal, the remainder of this Agreement and the application of such provision to any other person or circumstance will not be affected, and the provision so held to be invalid, unenforceable or otherwise illegal will be reformed to the extent, and only to the extent, necessary to make it enforceable, valid or legal. In the event that any court or other adjudicative body will decline to reform any provision of this Agreement held to be invalid, unenforceable or otherwise illegal as contemplated by the immediately preceding sentence, the parties thereto will take all such action as may be necessary or appropriate to replace the provision so held to be invalid, unenforceable or otherwise illegal with one or more alternative provisions that effectuate the purpose and intent of the original provisions of this Agreement as fully as possible without being invalid, unenforceable or otherwise illegal.

 

  20.

Prior Agreements. This Agreement will supersede any and all prior indemnification agreements between the Company and Indemnitee.

 

10


  21.

Miscellaneous. Except to the extent that a change in Maryland law permits broader indemnification or advancement of expenses than is provided under this Agreement, no provision of this Agreement may be waived, modified or discharged unless such waiver, modification or discharge is agreed to in writing signed by Indemnitee and the Company. No waiver by either party hereto at any time of any breach by the other party hereto or compliance with any condition or provision of this Agreement to be performed by such other party will be deemed a waiver of similar or dissimilar provisions or conditions at the same or at any prior or subsequent time. No agreements or representations, oral or otherwise, expressed or implied with respect to the subject matter hereof have been made by either party that are not set forth expressly in this Agreement. In the event the Company enters into an indemnification agreement with another director or officer of the Company containing a term or terms materially more favorable to the indemnitee than the terms contained herein (as reasonably determined by the Indemnitee), the Indemnitee shall be afforded the benefit of such more favorable term or terms and such more favorable term or terms shall be deemed incorporated by reference herein as if set forth in full herein. Within a reasonable period of time following the execution by the Company of each indemnity agreement with any such other director or officer, (a) the Company shall send a copy of the indemnity agreement to the Indemnitee, and (b) if requested by the Indemnitee, the Company shall prepare, execute and deliver to the Indemnitee an amendment to this Agreement containing such more favorable term or terms.

 

  22.

Legal Fees and Expenses.

 

  (a)

It is the intent of the Company that Indemnitee not be required to incur legal fees and or other Expenses associated with the interpretation, enforcement or defense of Indemnitee’s rights under this Agreement by litigation or otherwise because the cost and expense thereof would substantially detract from the benefits intended to be extended to Indemnitee hereunder. Accordingly, without limiting the generality or effect of any other provision hereof, if it should appear to Indemnitee that the Company has failed to comply with any of its obligations under this Agreement (including its obligations under Section 3) or in the event that the Company or any other person takes or threatens to take any action to declare this Agreement void or unenforceable, or institutes any litigation or other action or proceeding designed to deny, or to recover from, Indemnitee the benefits provided or intended to be provided to Indemnitee hereunder, the Company irrevocably authorizes Indemnitee from time to time to retain counsel of Indemnitee’s choice, at the expense of the Company as hereafter provided, to advise and represent Indemnitee in connection with any such interpretation, enforcement or defense, including the initiation or defense of any litigation or other legal action, whether by or against the Company or any director, officer, stockholder or other person affiliated with the Company, in any jurisdiction. Notwithstanding any existing or prior attorney-client relationship between the Company and such counsel, the Company irrevocably consents to Indemnitee’s entering into an attorney-client relationship with such counsel, and in that connection the Company and Indemnitee agree that a confidential relationship will exist between Indemnitee and such counsel. Without respect to whether Indemnitee prevails, in whole or in part, in connection with any of the foregoing, the Company will pay and be solely financially responsible for any and all attorneys’ and related fees and expenses incurred by Indemnitee in connection with any of the foregoing to the fullest extent permitted or required by the laws of the State of Maryland in effect on the date hereof or as such laws may from time to time hereafter be amended to increase the scope of such permitted or required payment of such fees and expenses.

 

  (b)

Any amount due to Indemnitee under this Agreement that is not paid by the Company by the date on which it is due will accrue interest at the maximum legal rate under Maryland law from the date on which such amount is due to the date on which such amount is paid to Indemnitee.

 

  23.

Spousal Indemnification. The Company will indemnify the Indemnitee’s spouse to whom the Indemnitee is legally married at any time the Indemnitee is covered under the indemnification provided in this Agreement (even if the Indemnitee did not remain married to him or her during the entire period of coverage) against any claim for the same period where such legal marriage and coverage of the

 

11


  Indemnitee’s indemnification overlap, to the same extent and subject to the same standards, limitations, obligations and conditions under which the Indemnitee is provided indemnification herein, if the Indemnitee’s spouse (or former spouse) becomes involved in a claim solely by reason of his or her status as the Indemnitee’s spouse, including, without limitation, any claim that seeks damages recoverable from marital community property, jointly-owned property or property purported to have been transferred from the Indemnitee to his/her spouse (or former spouse). Subject to the limitations described in this Section 23, the Indemnitee’s spouse or former spouse also may be entitled to advancements to the same extent that the Indemnitee is entitled to advancements herein. The Company may maintain insurance to cover its obligation hereunder with respect to the Indemnitee’s spouse (or former spouse) or set aside assets in a trust or escrow funds for that purpose.

 

  24.

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

 

  25.

Certain Interpretive Matters. Unless the context of this Agreement otherwise requires, (a) “it” or “its” or words of any gender include each other gender, (b) words using the singular or plural number also include the plural or singular number, respectively, (c) the terms “hereof,” “herein,” “hereby” and derivative or similar words refer to this entire Agreement, (d) the terms “Article,” “Section,” “Annex” or “Exhibit” refer to the specified Article, Section, Annex or Exhibit of or to this Agreement, (e) the terms “include,” “includes” and “including” will be deemed to be followed by the words “without limitation” (whether or not so expressed), (f) the word “or” is disjunctive but not exclusive, and (g) descriptive headings of the Sections and subsections of this Agreement are inserted for convenience only and will not control or affect the meaning or construction of any of the provisions of this Agreement. Whenever this Agreement refers to a number of days, such number will refer to calendar days unless business days are specified and whenever action must be taken (including the giving of notice or the delivery of documents) under this Agreement during a certain period of time or by a particular date that ends or occurs on a non-business day, then such period or date will be extended until the immediately following business day. As used herein, “business day” means any day other than Saturday, Sunday or a United States federal holiday.

 

  26.

Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in multiple counterparts, each of which will be deemed to be an original but all of which together will constitute one and the same agreement.

[Signatures Appear On Following Page]

 

12


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Indemnitee has executed, and the Company has caused its duly authorized representative to execute, this Agreement as of the date first above written.

 

CURBLINE PROPERTIES CORP.
[Address]
By:    
  Name:
  Title:

[NAME OF INDEMNITEE]

[Address]

 

[Name of Indemnitee]

[Signature Page to Indemnification Agreement ([NAME OF INDEMNITEE])]


EXHIBIT A

AFFIRMATION AND UNDERTAKING

This Affirmation and Undertaking is submitted pursuant to the Director and Officer Indemnification Agreement, dated _______ __, 20__ (the “Indemnification Agreement”), between Curbline Properties Corp., a Maryland corporation (the “Company”), and the undersigned. Capitalized terms used and not otherwise defined herein have the meanings ascribed to such terms in the Indemnification Agreement.

The undersigned hereby requests [payment], [advancement], [reimbursement] by the Company of Expenses which the undersigned [has incurred] [reasonably expects to incur] in connection with ______________________ (the “Indemnifiable Claim”).

The undersigned is subject to the Indemnifiable Claim by reason of the undersigned’s status as [a director] [and] [an officer] of the Company or by reason of alleged actions or omissions by in such capacity. The undersigned affirms in good faith that at all times, insofar as the undersigned was involved as [a director] [and] [an officer] of the Company, in any of the facts or events giving rise to the Expenses, the undersigned (a) did not act with bad faith or active or deliberate dishonesty, (b) did not receive any improper personal benefit in money, property or services, and (c) in the case of any criminal proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe that any act or omission by the undersigned was unlawful.

The undersigned hereby undertakes to (a) repay the [payment], [advancement], [reimbursement] of Expenses made by the Company to or on behalf of the undersigned in response to the foregoing request to the extent it is ultimately determined that the undersigned is not entitled to indemnification by the Company under the Indemnification Agreement with respect to the Indemnifiable Claim and (b) return any [payment] or [advancement] of Expenses made by the Company to or on behalf of the undersigned in response to the foregoing request to the extent it is not ultimately used with respect to the Indemnifiable Claim.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Affirmation and Undertaking as of this _____ day of ______________, ____.

 

 

Exhibit 10.8

FORM OF WAIVER AGREEMENT

THIS WAIVER AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) is made and entered into as of [___], 2024 by and between Mr. Alexander Otto (the “Distributee”) and Curbline Properties Corp. (the “Company”).

RECITALS

A. WHEREAS, on October 30, 2023, SITE Centers Corp. (“SITC”) announced that its board of directors (the “SITC Board”) unanimously approved a plan to spin off (the “Spin-off”) a portfolio of convenience assets (the “Spin-off Assets”) into a separate publicly traded REIT;

B. WHEREAS, in furtherance of the Spin-off, SITC or other SITC subsidiaries (other than the Company and its subsidiaries) have contributed all of their interests in the Spin-off Assets to the Company or a subsidiary of the Company;

C. WHEREAS, to effect the Spin-off, SITC will distribute all of the outstanding shares of Common Stock (as defined below) owned by SITC to holders of record of the outstanding shares of SITC common shares, par value $0.10, as of the record date (as determined by the SITC Board) for such distribution (the “Distribution”);

D. WHEREAS, on May 11, 2009, the board of directors of SITC (then known as DDR Corp.) waived the application of the “related party limit” contained in SITC’s Second Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation with respect to the Distributee, and pursuant to such waiver, the Distributee identified only Crate & Barrel as an “owned tenant” as such term is defined in the waiver agreement entered into between the Distributee and SITC;

E. WHEREAS, the number of shares of Common Stock to be distributed to Distributee pursuant to the Distribution and owned by the Distributee as of the date hereof may, and pursuant to this Agreement will be permitted to, exceed the Related Party Limit (as defined below);

F. WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board”) has agreed to waive application of the Related Party Limit on the terms and conditions set forth below; and

G. WHEREAS, the purpose of this Agreement is to set forth the parties’ agreements and respective obligations regarding the waiver of the Related Party Limit.

Unless otherwise provided, all capitalized terms shall have the meaning ascribed to them in Section l.

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

1. Definitions. For purposes of this Agreement:

(a) “Articles” means the Articles of Amendment and Restatement of the Company, attached hereto as Exhibit A.


(b) “Business Days” means any day on which national banks are open for business in the City of New York.

(c) “Code” means the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

(d) “Common Stock” has the meaning set forth in the Articles.

(e) “Constructive Ownership” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.1 of the Articles.

(f) “Exempt Holder” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.1 of the Articles

(g) “Exempt Holder Reduction Event” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.1 of the Articles.

(h) “Person” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.1 of the Articles.

(i) “Owned Tenant” means a tenant that is an “Owned Tenant” pursuant to Sections 2(b) or 2(c) of this Agreement.

(j) “Related Party Limit” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.1 of the Articles.

2. Distributee Representations and Agreements.

(a) As of the date hereof, the Distributee represents that none of (i) the Distributee, (ii) any Person who is listed in the definition of Exempt Holder in the Articles (each a “Member”), or (iii) any Person who Constructively Owns Common Stock in excess of the Related Party Limit as a result of Constructively Owning Common Stock Constructively Owned by the Distributee or a Member (Persons described in clauses (i), (ii), and (iii) being collectively referred to herein as the “Owners”), Constructively Owns 10% or more of any interest described in Section 856(d)(2)(B) of the Code (any such interest described in Section 856(d)(2)(B) being referred to herein as a “Relevant Equity Interest”) of any Person that is (A) a tenant of the Company, a tenant of any real estate investment trust in which the Company directly or indirectly owns a Relevant Equity Interest of at least 10% (a “Sub REIT”), or a tenant of any entity the income of which is included in the determination of the Company’s or any Sub REIT’s REIT taxable income (the Company and each of the other entities described in this Section 2(a)(A), a “Relevant Property Owner”) and (B) listed on Schedule 1 hereto (the “Original Tenant Schedule”). Each tenant listed in the Original Tenant Schedule or any updates of the Original Tenant Schedule (collectively and individually, such updated schedules and the Original Tenant Schedules are referred to herein as a “Tenant Schedule”) shall be referred to herein as a (“Disclosed Tenant”).

(b) At the end of each calendar quarter of the Company, the Company shall provide the Distributee an updated Tenant Schedule. The Distributee, within twenty Business Days of receipt of an updated Tenant Schedule, shall inform the Company of any tenant on such updated Tenant Schedule in which any Owner Constructively Owns a Relevant Equity Interest of at least

 

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10%. If the Distributee informs the Company of any such tenant, such tenant shall be considered an Owned Tenant if such tenant appeared on such updated Tenant Schedule for the first time (i.e., the tenant was not listed on the Original Tenant Schedule, a previous updated Tenant Schedule or on a notice of new tenants under the procedure set forth in Section 2(c)).

(c) The Company may notify the Distributee from time to time of material (individually or in the aggregate) prospective leases with tenants not previously identified as Disclosed Tenants (including tenants of properties the Company is considering acquiring, directly or indirectly). The Distributee, within five Business Days of receipt of such notice, shall inform the Company of any such tenant in which any Owner Constructively Owns a Relevant Equity Interest of at least 10% (an “Identified Tenant”). If any Relevant Property Owner executes a lease with such Identified Tenant, such tenant shall be considered an Owned Tenant. If the Distributee does not inform the Company that such tenant is an Identified Tenant within five Business Days of receiving notice and if the Relevant Property Owner executes a lease with such tenant, the Company shall notify the Distributee of such lease and such tenant will thereafter be considered a Disclosed Tenant but not an Owned Tenant. If the Relevant Property Owner enters into, or acquires a property subject to, a lease with a tenant not previously identified as a Disclosed Tenant, the Company does not notify the Distributee in accordance with this Section 2(c), and any Owner Constructively Owns a Relevant Equity Interest of at least 10% in such tenant, such tenant shall be considered an Owned Tenant.

(d) The Distributee agrees not to take any action to acquire, and to cause Owners under his control not to take any action to knowingly acquire, Constructive Ownership of 10% or more of the Relevant Equity Interest of Disclosed Tenants. The Distributee will make reasonable efforts to share the Tenant Schedules with Owners not under his control and to advise them not to acquire Constructive Ownership of Relevant Equity Interests in Disclosed Tenants and to advise the Distributee of any such acquisitions. If the Distributee determines that any Owner has acquired Constructive Ownership of 10% or more of the Relevant Equity Interests of a Disclosed Tenant, the Distributee shall inform the Company as soon as reasonably possible, but in no event more than five Business Days after such discovery.

(e) The Distributee agrees that if an Owner is a Constructive Owner of 10% or more of the Relevant Equity Interests of a Disclosed Tenant that is not an Owned Tenant, the waivers granted pursuant to Section 3 shall be terminated unless otherwise determined by the Board of Directors of the Company in its sole discretion. Any such termination shall be effective as of the date immediately prior to the date the Owner became a Constructive Owner of 10% or more of the Relevant Equity Interests of a Disclosed Tenant with all resulting consequences under the Articles.

(f) The Distributee and the Company hereby agree to use their best efforts to mutually implement updated procedures mutually agreed upon to make the procedures for ensuring satisfaction, by the Company and any real estate investment trust described in Section 2(a)(A), of Sections 856(c)(2) and 856(c)(3) of the Code more effective.

 

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3. Company Agreements.

The Board has granted waivers from the Related Party Limit to the Owners in excess of the Related Party Limit pursuant to its authority provided in Section 7.12(b) of the Articles. A copy of the Board resolution granting such waiver is attached as Exhibit B hereto.

4. Miscellaneous.

(a) Survival. The representations, warranties, and agreements of the Company and the Distributee contained in this Agreement shall survive delivery of this Agreement and shall remain in full force and effect, regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of them or any person controlling them.

(b) Entire Agreement. This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement among the parties to this Agreement and supersedes all other prior agreements and understandings, both written and oral, between the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof.

(c) Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York, regardless of the laws that might otherwise govern under applicable principles of conflicts of law thereof.

(d) Assignment and Successors. This Agreement and all of the provisions hereof shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and permitted assigns, provided that except as otherwise specifically provided herein, neither this Agreement nor any of the rights, interests or obligations of the parties hereto may be assigned by any party hereto without prior written consent of the other party hereto. The Distributee may assign his rights and obligations under this Agreement to any Exempt Holder to whom he has transferred actual ownership of his Common Stock; provided, however that Distributee shall not be relieved of his obligations under the first two sentences of Section 2(d) under this Agreement by any such assignment.

(e) Termination. This Agreement shall terminate on the earlier of (i) the date upon which the waiver granted pursuant to Section 3 terminates pursuant to Section 2 or (ii) an Exempt Holder Reduction Event.

(f) No Third Party Rights. Nothing in this Agreement, express or implied, is intended to or shall confer upon any Person (other than the parties hereto) any right, benefit or remedy of any nature whatsoever under or by reason of this Agreement.

(g) Cooperation. The Company agrees to cooperate fully with the Distributee and to execute and deliver such further documents, certificates, agreements and instruments and to take such other actions as may be reasonably requested by the Distributee to carry out the intent and purpose of this Agreement.

(h) Severability. If any provision of this Agreement is held invalid or unenforceable by any court of competent jurisdiction, the other provisions of this Agreement will remain in full force and effect. Any provision of this Agreement held invalid or unenforceable only in part or degree will remain in full force and effect to the extent not held invalid or unenforceable.

 

- 4 -


(i) Notices. All notices, requests, demands, and other communications hereunder shall be in writing (which shall include communications by facsimile) and shall be delivered (a) in person or by courier or overnight service, or (b) by facsimile transmission, as follows:

If to the Company:

Curbline Properties Corp.

3300 Enterprise Parkway

Beachwood, Ohio 44122-1190

Attention: Chief Executive Officer

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

Curbline Properties Corp.

3300 Enterprise Parkway

Beachwood, Ohio 44122-1190

Attention: General Counsel

Telephone: (216) 755-5500

E-mail: [***]

and

Jones Day

110 North Wacker Drive

Suite 4800

Chicago, IL 60606

Attention: James I. Kinnebrew

Telephone: [***]

E-mail: [***]

If to the Distributee:

KG CURA Vermögensverwaltung G.m.b.H. & Co.

Saseler Damm 39 a

D-22179 Hamburg

Germany

Attention: Frederic Arndts

Telephone: [***]

E-mail: [***]

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

Alston & Bird LLP

950 F Street, NW

Washington, DC 20004

Attention: Julie A. Mediamolle

Telephone: [***]

E-mail: [***]

 

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or to such other address as the parties hereto may designate in writing to the other in accordance with this Section 4(i). Any Party may change the address to which notices are to be sent by giving written notice of such change of address to the other parties in the manner above provided for giving notice. If delivered personally or by courier, the date on which the notice, request, instruction or document is delivered shall be the date on which such delivery is made and if delivered by facsimile transmission or mail as aforesaid, the date on which such notice, request, instruction or document is received shall be the date of delivery.

(j) Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in several counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original and all of which shall constitute one and the same instrument, and shall become effective when counterparts have been signed by each of the parties and delivered to the other parties; it being understood that all parties need not sign the same counterpart.

(k) Headings. The headings contained in this Agreement are for the convenience of reference only, shall not be deemed to be a part of this Agreement and shall not be referred to in connection with the construction or interpretation of this Agreement.

[Signatures on following page]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the date first written above.

 

CURBLINE PROPERTIES CORP.
By:  

 

Name: David R. Lukes
Title: President and Chief Executive Officer


MR. ALEXANDER OTTO

 

Exhibit 10.9

ASSIGNED EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

This Assigned Employment Agreement (this “Agreement”), dated as of September 1, 2024 (the “Effective Date”), is by and among SITE Centers Corp., an Ohio corporation (“SITE Centers”), Curbline Properties Corp., a Maryland corporation (“Curbline”), Curbline TRS LLC (“Curbline TRS”), and David R. Lukes (“Executive”).

SITE Centers and Executive are currently parties to an Employment Agreement, dated as of July 18, 2024 (the “2024 Agreement”), which generally (1) extends the term of the Employment Agreement, dated as of September 11, 2020 (the “2020 Agreement”), between the Executive and SITE Centers until the earlier of the date on which SITE Centers’ proposed spin-off of Curbline Properties Corp. (the “Spin-Off”) is consummated (the “Spin-Off Date”) and March 11, 2025, and (2) provides the terms on which Curbline or a subsidiary thereof will employ Executive on and following the Spin-Off Date. The Board of Directors of SITE Centers (the “SITE Board”), on behalf of SITE Centers, plus the Board of Directors of Curbline (the “Curbline Board”), on behalf of Curbline and Curbline TRS, and Executive, desire to enter into this Agreement to memorialize the extension of the term of the 2020 Agreement as described herein and transfer Executive’s employment from SITE Centers to Curbline TRS as of the Effective Date, and to amend and restate (and assign to Curbline and Curbline TRS) the 2024 Agreement to reflect the terms pursuant to which Executive will serve Curbline on and after the Spin-Off Date (certain capitalized terms used in this Agreement have the meanings ascribed to them in Section 22 of this Agreement).

SITE Centers, Curbline, Curbline TRS and Executive agree, effective as of the Effective Date, as follows:

1. Employment, Term.

1.1 Extension of Term of 2020 Agreement. Consistent with the terms of the 2024 Agreement, the term of the 2020 Agreement hereby continues to be extended, as of and after the Effective Date, until the earlier of (a) the Spin-Off Date and (b) March 11, 2025 (the earlier of such dates, the “2020 Agreement Contract Period End Date”). Until the 2020 Agreement Contract Period End Date, the 2020 Agreement will continue in operation on a stand-alone basis in accordance with its terms (provided, however, that the 2020 Agreement will be interpreted as necessary to give effect to such term extension and the terms of Section 1.2 of this Agreement).

1.2 Transfer of Employment to Curbline TRS; Pre-Spin SITE Service Period. As of the Effective Date, SITE Centers hereby transfers Executive’s employment to Curbline TRS, a wholly-owned indirect subsidiary of Curbline, the 2024 Agreement is superseded and replaced by the terms of this Agreement, and the 2020 Agreement continues as described in Section 1.1 of this Agreement. From the Effective Date until the 2020 Agreement Contract Period End Date, Curbline TRS hereby engages and employs Executive on behalf of SITE Centers under the terms of the 2020 Agreement to continue to render services in the administration and operation of SITE Centers’ affairs as its President and Chief Executive Officer (the “SITE CEO”) and performing such duties and having such responsibilities and authority as are customarily incident to the principal executive officers of companies similar in size to, and in a similar business as, SITE Centers, together with such other duties as, from time to time, may be specified by the SITE Board, in a manner consistent with Executive’s status as President and CEO of SITE Centers. The period of time from the Effective Date until the Spin-Off Date is sometimes referred to herein as the “Pre-Spin SITE Service Period.” During the Pre-Spin SITE Service Period while Executive


is employed by Curbline TRS, Executive shall report to the SITE Board regarding such service to SITE Centers. Executive and SITE Centers hereby agree and acknowledge that the transfer of Executive’s employment from SITE Centers to Curbline TRS as described herein shall not trigger severance compensation or benefits for Executive under any of the 2020 Agreement, the 2024 Agreement or this Agreement.

1.3 Curbline Service. Provided that the Spin-Off Date occurs prior to March 11, 2025, the 2020 Agreement will be superseded entirely by the terms of this Agreement on the Spin-Off Date, and from and after the Spin-Off Date, Curbline TRS will engage and employ Executive pursuant to the terms of this Agreement to render services in the administration and operation of Curbline’s affairs as Curbline’s President and Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”) and performing such duties and having such responsibilities and authority as are customarily incident to the principal executive officers of companies similar in size to, and in a similar business as, Curbline, together with such other duties as, from time to time, may be specified by the Curbline Board, in a manner consistent with Executive’s status as Curbline’s President and CEO, for a term extending from the Spin-Off Date through the third anniversary of the Spin-Off Date. The period of time from the Spin-Off Date through such third anniversary of the Spin-Off Date is sometimes referred to herein as the “Contract Period.” After the Spin-Off Date, while Executive is employed by Curbline TRS, Executive shall report to the Curbline Board regarding such service to Curbline.

1.4 Continued SITE Centers Service. During the Contract Period while Executive is employed by Curbline TRS, Executive may continue to render services to SITE Centers as the SITE CEO, at the pleasure of the SITE Board and the Curbline Board, subject to the terms of this Agreement and the Shared Services Agreement to be entered into on the Spin-Off Date among SITE Centers, Curbline and Curbline Properties LP. Executive acknowledges that any termination of Executive’s service to SITE Centers during the Contract Period or thereafter shall not trigger severance compensation or benefits for Executive under any of the 2020 Agreement, the 2024 Agreement or this Agreement. SITE Centers and Curbline, together, are sometimes referred to herein as the “Companies”.

2. Full-Time Services. Throughout the Contract Period while Executive is employed by Curbline TRS, Executive will devote substantially all of Executive’s business time and efforts to the service of Curbline, except for (a) usual vacation periods and reasonable periods of illness, (b) reasonable periods of time devoted to Executive’s personal financial affairs, (c) services as a director or trustee of other corporations or organizations, either for profit or not for profit, that are not in competition with Curbline, and (d) reasonable service to SITE Centers as permitted by the Curbline Board; provided, however, that in no event shall Executive devote less than 90% of Executive’s business time and efforts to the service of Curbline (other than in service to SITE Centers as permitted by the Curbline Board).

3. Compensation. For all services to be rendered by Executive to Curbline under this Agreement during the Contract Period while Executive is employed by Curbline TRS, including services as Curbline’s President and CEO and any other services specified by the Curbline Board, Curbline or Curbline TRS will pay and provide to Executive the compensation and benefits as specified in this Section 3.

3.1 Cash Base Salary. From and after the Spin-Off Date and through the end of the Contract Period while Executive is employed by Curbline TRS, Curbline TRS will pay Executive base salary in cash, in equal monthly or more frequent installments, at the rate of not less than Fifty Thousand Dollars ($50,000) per year, subject to such increases as the Committee or the Curbline Board may approve (the “Cash Base Salary”). Any such increased Cash Base Salary shall constitute “Cash Base Salary” for purposes of this Agreement.

 

2


3.2 Annual Bonus.

(a) Curbline Annual Bonus. From and after the Spin-Off Date, for each calendar year during the Contract Period while Executive is employed by Curbline TRS (other than 2024), subject to achievement of applicable performance criteria, Curbline TRS shall make an annual incentive payment to Executive, in cash, for such calendar year (an “Annual Bonus”) between January 1 and March 15 of the immediately subsequent calendar year, determined and calculated in accordance with the award opportunities set forth on Exhibit A attached hereto (and rounded to the nearest dollar). Curbline TRS’ payment of an Annual Bonus to Executive (other than for 2024) shall be determined based on the factors and criteria that have been or may be reasonably established from time to time for the calculation of the Annual Bonus by the Committee after consultation with Executive. For each such calendar year in the Contract Period while Executive is employed by Curbline TRS (other than 2024), the Curbline Board or the Committee will establish, in consultation with Executive, and thereafter provide Executive with written notice of, the performance metrics and their relative weighting to be used in, and any specific threshold, target and maximum performance targets applicable to, the determination of the Annual Bonus for Executive for such calendar year not later than March 15 of such year. There is no guaranteed Annual Bonus under this Agreement, and for each applicable year, Executive’s Annual Bonus could be as low as zero or as high as the maximum amount set forth on Exhibit A attached hereto. Each such Annual Bonus shall be on the terms and subject to such conditions as are specified for the particular Curbline plans or programs pursuant to which such Annual Bonus is granted.

(b) 2024 Bonus. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, if the Spin-Off Date occurs during 2024, Executive will receive an annual incentive award for 2024 (“2024 Bonus”) pursuant to the terms of the Employee Matters Agreement to be entered into between SITE Centers and Curbline in connection with the Spin-Off (which terms will involve Executive receiving a truncated payment from SITE Centers for the 2024 Bonus earned for the portion of 2024 occurring prior to the Spin-Off Date (based on actual performance) (the “SITE 2024 Bonus”), and Curbline establishing a truncated 2024 Bonus award opportunity for Executive for the remaining portion of 2024 after the Spin-Off Date based on actual performance and the payout opportunities set forth on Exhibit A to this Agreement (the earned amount under such Curbline award, the “Curbline 2024 Bonus”)).

3.3 Equity Awards. The awards described in this Section 3.3 will at all times be subject to the approval of the Committee and to the terms and conditions of the Curbline Properties Corp. 2024 Equity and Incentive Compensation Plan (or its successor(s)), as in effect from time to time (collectively, the “Equity Plan”), including, without limitation, all authority and powers provided or reserved to each such plan’s administrator thereunder, as well as the award agreements for such awards. As applicable, any awards vesting in installments shall be rounded up to the next nearest share amount divisible by the number of installments.

 

3


(a) Salary Equity Award. During the Contract Period while Executive is employed by Curbline TRS, Executive shall receive a grant of time-based Operating Partnership Units (as such term is defined in the Equity Plan, “LTIP Units”) (or substantially similar award) in lieu of additional cash base salary for such period. The number of LTIP Units so granted shall equal the quotient of (i) $2,700,000, divided by (ii) the average of the daily volume-weighted average prices of a Share on the Spin-Off Date and each of the nine trading days immediately thereafter on the principal stock exchange on which it then trades (the “Post-Spin Curbline 10-Day VWAP”) (such award, the “Salary Equity Award”). The Salary Equity Award shall be granted on the business day immediately following the determination of the Post-Spin Curbline 10-Day VWAP. Such Salary Equity Award will, in general, vest subject to Executive’s continued employment with Curbline TRS in four substantially equal installments on each of the first four anniversaries of the date of grant for such Salary Equity Award, and distributions regarding such Salary Equity Award will be paid in cash on a current basis, all subject to terms and conditions set forth in the applicable award agreement and the terms and conditions of the Equity Plan. Additional detail regarding the terms of this award will be provided in the applicable award agreement for such award.

(b) One-Time Post-Spin-Off Performance-Based Award. During the Contract Period while Executive is employed by Curbline TRS, Executive shall receive a grant of performance-based LTIP Units (or substantially similar award), based on a “target” number of LTIP Units (in the aggregate) equal to the quotient of (i) $7,200,000, divided by (ii) the Post-Spin Curbline 10-Day VWAP (such award, the “One-Time Post-Spin-Off Performance-Based Award”). The One-Time Post-Spin-Off Performance-Based Award shall be granted on the business day immediately following the determination of the Post-Spin Curbline 10-Day VWAP. For the avoidance of doubt, such One-Time Post-Spin-Off Performance-Based Award will be issued based on its maximum value as of its date of grant, subject to forfeiture pursuant to its terms. The vesting of the One-Time Post-Spin-Off Performance-Based Award will vary in the aggregate from 0% to no more than 250% of the target award based on achievement with respect to metrics established by the Committee (in consultation with Executive prior to the date of grant) measured over a performance period of approximately five years; provided, however, that no less than 50% of the aggregate target One-Time Post-Spin-Off Performance-Based Award shall vest based on Curbline’s relative total shareholder return achievement relative to a peer group established by the Committee in consultation with Executive prior to the date of grant. In general, performance against the applicable metrics will be evaluated at the end of approximately three-year, four-year and five-year performance periods as follows: 25% of the target award can be earned (from 0% to 250%) after the first approximately three-year performance period; 50% of the target award can be earned (from 0% to 250%) after the first approximately four-year performance period (subject to reduction for any portion of the award earned after the first approximately three-year performance period); and 100% of the target award can be earned (from 0% to 250%) after the full approximately five-year performance period (subject to reduction for any portion of the award earned after the first approximately three-year performance period and/or first approximately four-year performance period). The One-Time Post-Spin-Off Performance-Based Award will earn distributions paid in cash on a deferred and contingent basis. Additional detail regarding the terms of this award will be provided in the applicable award agreement for such award.

 

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(c) Annual Time-Based Awards. After the Spin-Off, no later than March 15 of each calendar year during the Contract Period (starting with 2025), provided that Executive is continuously employed by Curbline TRS through the applicable date of grant, Executive shall be eligible to receive a grant of time-based restricted stock (“Restricted Stock”) or LTIP Units (or substantially similar award), in each case as reasonably determined by Executive at least 30 days prior to the applicable grant date (otherwise such grants will be made in the form of Restricted Stock), covering a number of shares/units equal to the quotient of (i) $800,000, divided by (ii) the average closing price of a Share for the 10 trading days immediately preceding (but not including) the date of grant on the principal stock exchange on which it then trades (the “Annual Time-Based Awards”). Each Annual Time-Based Award will, in general, vest (subject to Executive’s continued employment with Curbline TRS and notwithstanding any termination of this Agreement) in three substantially equal installments on each of the first three anniversaries of the applicable date of grant, and dividends on (or distributions regarding) such Annual Time-Based Award will be paid in cash on a current basis. Additional detail regarding the terms of these awards will be provided in the applicable award agreements for such awards.

3.4 Certain Other Equity Award Terms. Subject in all cases to the terms of the Equity Plan, the Salary Equity Award, the One-Time Post-Spin-Off Performance-Based Award, and/or any Annual Time-Based Awards, as applicable, granted to Executive in accordance with this Agreement that are not fully vested at the time of Executive’s termination of employment with Curbline TRS, will vest on an accelerated basis pursuant to their terms if such termination is: (a) by Curbline without Cause; (b) by Executive for Good Reason; (c) by Curbline due to Executive’s Total Disability; or (d) due to Executive’s death; otherwise, upon Executive’s termination of employment, any unvested portions of such outstanding awards (and any related unvested or unpaid dividends or distributions) will be forfeited by Executive (unless otherwise determined by the Committee before such termination of employment); provided, however, that any such accelerated vesting of the Salary Equity Award shall apply on a pro-rated basis to such Salary Equity Award based on (x) the period of time from the Spin-Off Date to the date of such qualifying termination of Executive’s employment, compared to (y) the period of time from the Spin-Off Date to the third anniversary of the Spin-Off Date.

3.5 Taxes. Executive shall be solely responsible for taxes imposed on Executive by reason of any compensation and benefits provided under this Agreement, and all such compensation and benefits shall be subject to applicable withholding taxes.

4. Benefits.

4.1 Retirement and Other Benefit Plans Generally. Throughout the Contract Period while Executive is employed by Curbline TRS, Executive will be entitled to participate in all retirement and other benefit plans maintained by Curbline that are generally available to its senior executives and with respect to which Executive is eligible pursuant to the terms of the underlying plan or plans, including, without limitation, Curbline’s 401(k) plan for its employees and any Curbline deferred compensation program.

 

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4.2 Insurance, Generally. Throughout the Contract Period while Executive is employed by Curbline TRS, Curbline will provide an enrollment opportunity to Executive and Executive’s eligible dependents for health, dental and vision insurance coverage, other insurance (e.g., life, disability, etc.) and any other health and welfare benefits maintained by Curbline from time to time, if any, during the Contract Period that are generally available to its senior executives and with respect to which Executive is eligible pursuant to the terms of the underlying plan or plans. To the extent that Curbline maintains director and officer insurance coverage, Executive shall be covered by such policy on terms no less favorable than provided to other Curbline directors or officers.

4.3 Paid Time Off. Executive will be entitled to such periods of paid time off during the Contract Period while Executive is employed by Curbline TRS as may be provided from time to time under any Curbline paid time off policy for senior executive officers.

4.4 Automobile. During the Contract Period while Executive is employed by Curbline TRS, at Executive’s request, Curbline TRS shall provide, at its reasonable cost, Executive with suitable automobile service for Executive’s business use, including all reasonable related maintenance, repairs, parking, gasoline, insurance and other reasonable costs and expenses. Such automobile may also be used by Executive (and anyone authorized by Executive, including family members) for personal use at no cost to Executive (except for any applicable taxes for which Executive is responsible).

4.5 Executive Insurance Policy. During the Contract Period while Executive is employed by Curbline TRS, Curbline TRS shall promptly (and, in any event, within thirty (30) days following receipt from Executive of written evidence of Executive’s having made expenditures therefor) reimburse Executive (up to an aggregate maximum of $25,000 in any calendar year) for premiums paid by Executive for life, disability and/or similar insurance policies.

5. Expense Reimbursements. Curbline TRS will reimburse Executive during the Contract Period while Executive is employed by Curbline TRS for travel, entertainment, and other expenses reasonably and necessarily incurred by Executive in connection with Curbline’s business. Executive will provide such documentation with respect to expenses to be reimbursed as Curbline TRS may reasonably request.

6. Termination.

6.1 Death or Disability. Executive’s employment under this Agreement will terminate immediately upon Executive’s death. During the Contract Period while Executive is employed by Curbline TRS, Curbline shall terminate Executive’s employment under this Agreement immediately upon giving notice of termination if Executive is Totally Disabled (as that term is defined in Section 9.1 below) for an aggregate of 120 days in any consecutive 12 calendar months or for 90 consecutive days.

6.2 For Cause by Curbline.

(a) During the Contract Period while Executive is employed by Curbline TRS, Curbline may terminate Executive’s employment under this Agreement for “Cause” at any time upon the occurrence of any of the following circumstances:

(i) willful failure by Executive substantially to perform the lawful instructions of Curbline or one of its Subsidiaries (other than as a result of total or partial incapacity due to physical or mental illness) following written notice by Curbline to Executive of such failure and 10 days within which to cure such failure;

 

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(ii) Executive’s theft or embezzlement of the property of Curbline;

(iii) Executive’s dishonesty in the performance of Executive’s duties resulting in material harm to Curbline;

(iv) any act by Executive that constitutes (A) a felony under the laws of the United States or any state thereof or, where applicable, any other equivalent offense (including a crime subject to a custodial sentence) under the laws of the applicable jurisdiction, or (B) any other crime involving moral turpitude;

(v) willful or gross misconduct by Executive in connection with Executive’s duties to Curbline or otherwise which, in the reasonable good faith judgment of the Curbline Board, could reasonably be expected to be materially injurious to the financial condition or business reputation of Curbline, its Subsidiaries or affiliates; or

(vi) breach of the provisions of any restrictive covenants with Curbline, its Subsidiaries or affiliates.

(b) The termination of Executive’s employment under this Agreement shall not be deemed to be for “Cause” pursuant to this Section 6.2 unless and until there shall have been delivered to Executive a copy of a resolution duly adopted by the affirmative vote of not less than three-fourths of the entire membership of the Curbline Board (other than Executive) at a meeting of the Curbline Board called and held for such purpose (after reasonable notice is provided to Executive and Executive is given an opportunity, together with counsel, to be heard before the Curbline Board) finding that, in the good faith opinion of the Curbline Board, Executive has committed the conduct described in Sections 6.2(a)(i), (ii), (iii), (iv), (v) or (vi) above, and specifying the particulars thereof in detail.

6.3 For Good Reason by Executive. During the Contract Period while Executive is employed by Curbline TRS, Executive may terminate Executive’s employment under this Agreement for “Good Reason” if any of the following circumstances occur:

(a) Curbline materially reduces Executive’s authority, duties or responsibilities with respect to Curbline from those set forth in Section 1 above;

(b) Curbline or Curbline TRS materially reduces Executive’s Cash Base Salary, Annual Bonus opportunity, or annual equity grant opportunity from that set forth in Section 3 above (but only to the extent that such reduction results in a substantial reduction in Executive’s total compensation);

(c) Executive is required to report to anyone other than Curbline’s Board, such as a corporate officer or employee;

 

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(d) Curbline changes Executive’s principal place of employment to a location that is more than 50 miles from the geographical center of New York, NY; or

(e) Curbline or any of its Subsidiaries materially breaches any of its obligations under this Agreement.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, no termination of employment by Executive shall constitute a termination for “Good Reason” unless (i) Executive gives Curbline notice of the existence of an event described in clause (a), (b), (c), (d) or (e) above, within sixty (60) days following the occurrence thereof and (ii) Curbline does not remedy such event described in clause (a), (b), (c), (d) or (e) above, as applicable, within thirty (30) days of receiving the notice described in the preceding clause (i), and (iii) in all cases, Executive terminates employment pursuant to this Section 6.3 within one year from the date the event described in clause (a), (b), (c), (d) or (e) above initially occurred.

6.4 Without Cause by Curbline. During the Contract Period while Executive is employed by Curbline TRS, Curbline may terminate Executive’s employment under this Agreement at any time without Cause pursuant to written notice provided to Executive not less than 90 days in advance of such termination upon the affirmative vote of a majority of all of the members of the Curbline Board (other than Executive). Any termination under this Section 6.4 will be effective at such time during the Contract Period while Executive is employed by Curbline TRS as may be specified in that written notice, subject to the preceding sentence.

6.5 Without Good Reason by Executive. During the Contract Period while Executive is employed by Curbline TRS, Executive may terminate Executive’s employment under this Agreement at any time without Good Reason pursuant to written notice provided to Curbline not less than 90 days in advance of such termination. Any termination under this Section 6.5 will be effective at such time during the Contract Period while Executive is employed by Curbline TRS as Executive may specify in that written notice, subject to the preceding sentence.

7. Payments upon Termination.

7.1 Upon Termination For Cause or Without Good Reason. If Executive’s employment under this Agreement is terminated by Curbline for Cause or by Executive without Good Reason during the Contract Period while Executive is employed by Curbline TRS, Curbline will pay and provide to Executive (or cause payment and provision to Executive of) the Executive’s Cash Base Salary and any accrued but unused paid time off through the Termination Date in accordance with Curbline policy to the extent not already paid and continuing health, dental and vision insurance and other insurance (e.g. life, disability, etc.) at the levels specified in Section 4.2 through the Termination Date, and, except as may otherwise be required by law, Curbline will not pay or provide to Executive any further compensation or other benefits under this Agreement. Curbline will pay (or cause payment of) any Cash Base Salary referred to in this Section 7.1 to Executive within 30 days of the Termination Date.

7.2 Upon Termination Without Cause or For Good Reason. If Executive’s employment under this Agreement is terminated by Curbline other than due to Cause, death or disability (pursuant to Section 6.1), or by Executive for Good Reason, during the Contract Period while Executive is employed by Curbline TRS, and Section 7.5 does not apply, Curbline will pay and provide to

 

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Executive (or cause payment and provision to Executive of) the amounts and benefits specified in this Section 7.2, except that Curbline will not be obligated to pay (or provide for payment of) the lump sum amounts specified in Section 7.2 (c), (d) and (e) unless either (x) Curbline is deemed to have waived its right to present and require a Release as provided in Section 8.2 or (y) Executive has timely executed a Release as contemplated by Section 8.3. The amounts and benefits specified in this Section 7.2 are as follows:

(a) A lump sum amount equal to Executive’s Cash Base Salary and any accrued but unused paid time off for the year through the Termination Date, to the extent not already paid in accordance with applicable policy. Curbline will pay (or cause payment of) this amount to Executive within 30 days of the Termination Date.

(b) A lump sum amount equal to Executive’s Annual Bonus (or 2024 Bonus, if applicable) earned for the calendar year immediately preceding the calendar year in which the Termination Date occurs, to the extent not already paid. Curbline will pay (or cause payment of) this amount to Executive on the same date and in the same amount that the Annual Bonus (or 2024 Bonus, if applicable) for such year would have been paid if Executive’s employment had not been terminated, but in any event not later than March 15 of the calendar year in which the Termination Date occurs.

(c) A lump sum amount equal in value to Executive’s Annual Bonus (or 2024 Bonus, if applicable, and to the extent unpaid) that would have been earned for the calendar year in which the Termination Date occurs, pro-rated based on the number of days that Executive is employed by Curbline TRS during the applicable performance period, and calculated on the basis of actual performance of the applicable performance objectives for the entire performance period. Subject to Section 13.1, Curbline will pay (or cause payment of) this amount to Executive on the same date that such Annual Bonus (or 2024 Bonus, if applicable) for such year would have been paid if Executive’s employment had not been terminated, but in any event not later than March 15 of the calendar year following the calendar year in which the Termination Date occurs.

(d) A lump sum amount equal to two times the sum of (i) $800,000, plus (ii) an amount equal to the average of the Annual Bonuses earned by Executive in the three fiscal years ending immediately prior to the fiscal year in which the Termination Date occurs (the “Average Annual Bonus”). Subject to Section 13.1, Curbline will pay (or cause payment of) this amount to Executive as soon as practicable (but no later than 74 days) following the Termination Date. As applicable, any annual bonus paid by SITE Centers to Executive for a calendar year prior to 2024, and the 2024 Bonus (consisting of the SITE 2024 Bonus and the Curbline 2024 Bonus), will constitute an “Annual Bonus” for purposes of calculating the Average Annual Bonus in connection with this Section 7.2(d) or Section 7.5(d).

(e) A lump sum in cash in an amount equal to the product of (i) 18 multiplied by (ii) the sum of (A) the monthly premium (both the employee and the employer portion) for employer-provided health, dental and vision insurance benefits in effect for Executive and Executive’s eligible dependents as of the Termination Date, plus (B) the employer portion of the monthly premium for other Curbline-provided insurance (e.g., life, disability, etc.) in effect for Executive as of the Termination Date. Such payments shall be taxable to Executive. Subject to Section 13.1, Curbline will pay (or cause payment of) this amount to Executive as soon as practicable (but no later than 74 days) following the Termination Date.

 

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7.3 Upon Termination by Reason of Death. If Executive’s employment under this Agreement is terminated by reason of Executive’s death during the Contract Period while Executive is employed by Curbline TRS, Curbline will pay, or cause to be paid, and provide, or cause to be provided, to Executive’s personal representative and Executive’s eligible dependents, as appropriate, the amounts and benefits specified in this Section 7.3, except that Curbline will not be obligated to pay (or provide for payment of) the lump sum amounts specified in Section 7.3 (c) and (d) unless either (x) Curbline is deemed to have waived its right to present and require a Release as provided in Section 8.2 or (y) Executive’s personal representative has timely executed a Release as contemplated by Section 8.3. The amounts and benefits specified in this Section 7.3 are as follows:

(a) A lump sum amount equal to Executive’s Cash Base Salary and any accrued but unused paid time off for the year through the Termination Date, to the extent not already paid in accordance with applicable policy. Curbline will pay (or cause payment of) this amount to Executive’s personal representative within 30 days of the Termination Date.

(b) A lump sum amount equal to Executive’s Annual Bonus (or 2024 Bonus, if applicable) earned for the calendar year immediately preceding the calendar year in which the Termination Date occurs, to the extent not already paid. Curbline will pay (or cause payment of) this amount to Executive’s personal representative on the same date and in the same amount that the Annual Bonus (or 2024 Bonus, if applicable) for such year would have been paid if Executive’s employment had not been terminated, but in any event not later than March 15 of the calendar year in which the Termination Date occurs.

(c) A lump sum amount equal in value to Executive’s Annual Bonus (or 2024 Bonus, if applicable, and to the extent unpaid) that would have been earned for the calendar year in which the Termination Date occurs at the “Target” level, pro-rated based on the number of days that Executive is employed by Curbline TRS during the applicable performance period. Subject to Section 13.1, Curbline will pay (or cause payment of) this amount to Executive’s personal representative as soon as practicable (but no later than 74 days) following the Termination Date.

(d) A lump sum in cash to Executive’s personal representative as soon as practicable (but no later than 74 days) following Executive’s death in an amount equal to the product of (i) 18 multiplied by (ii) the sum of (A) the monthly premium for employer-provided health, dental and vision insurance benefits at the levels specified in Section 4.2 in effect for Executive and Executive’s eligible dependents as of Executive’s death, plus (B) the employer portion of the monthly premium for other Curbline-provided insurance (e.g., life, disability, etc.) in effect for Executive as of Executive’s death.

 

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7.4 Upon Termination by Reason of Disability. If Executive’s employment under this Agreement is terminated by Curbline pursuant to Section 6.1 during the Contract Period while Executive is employed by Curbline TRS following Executive’s disability, Curbline will pay and provide to Executive and Executive’s eligible dependents (or cause payment and provision to Executive and Executive’s eligible dependents of), as appropriate, the amounts and benefits specified in this Section 7.4, except that Curbline will not be obligated to pay (or provide for payment of) the lump sum amounts specified in Section 7.4 (c) and (d) unless either (x) Curbline is deemed to have waived its right to present and require a Release as provided in Section 8.2 or (y) Executive (or in the event of Executive’s legal incapacity, Executive’s personal representative) has timely executed a Release as contemplated by Section 8.3. The amounts and benefits specified in this Section 7.4 are as follows:

(a) A lump sum amount equal to Executive’s Cash Base Salary and any accrued but unused paid time off for the year through the Termination Date, to the extent not already paid in accordance with applicable policy. Curbline will pay (or cause payment of) this amount to Executive within 30 days of the Termination Date.

(b) A lump sum amount equal to Executive’s Annual Bonus (or 2024 Bonus, if applicable) earned for the calendar year immediately preceding the calendar year in which the Termination Date occurs, to the extent not already paid. Curbline will pay (or cause payment of) this amount to Executive on the same date and in the same amount that the Annual Bonus (or 2024 Bonus, if applicable) for such year would have been paid if Executive’s employment had not been terminated, but in any event not later than March 15 of the calendar year in which the Termination Date occurs.

(c) A lump sum amount equal in value to Executive’s Annual Bonus (or 2024 Bonus, if applicable, and to the extent unpaid) that would have been earned for the calendar year in which the Termination Date occurs at the “Target” level, pro-rated based on the number of days that Executive is employed by Curbline TRS during the applicable performance period. Subject to Section 13.1, Curbline will pay (or cause payment of) this amount to Executive as soon as practicable (but no later than 74 days) following the Termination Date.

(d) A lump sum in cash in an amount equal to the product of (i) 18 multiplied by (ii) the sum of (A) the monthly premium (both the employee and the employer portion) for employer-provided health, dental and vision insurance benefits in effect for Executive and Executive’s eligible dependents as of the Termination Date, plus (B) the employer portion of the monthly premium for other Curbline-provided insurance (e.g., life, disability, etc.) in effect for Executive as of the Termination Date. Such payments shall be taxable to Executive. Curbline will pay (or cause payment of) this amount to Executive as soon as practicable (but no later than 74 days) following the Termination Date.

7.5 Upon Termination In Connection With a Change in Control. Upon the occurrence of a Triggering Event during the Contract Period while Executive is employed by Curbline TRS, Curbline will pay and provide to Executive (or cause payment and provision to Executive of) the amounts and benefits specified in this Section 7.5, and Curbline will be deemed to have waived its right to provide a Release as provided in Section 8.2, and the provision of a Release will not be a condition to Executive receiving any payment or benefit from (or on behalf of) Curbline under this Section 7.5. The amounts and benefits specified in this Section 7.5 are as follows:

(a) A lump sum amount equal to Executive’s Cash Base Salary and any accrued but unused paid time off for the year through the Termination Date, to the extent not already paid in accordance with Curbline policy. Curbline will pay (or cause payment of) this amount to Executive within 30 days of the Termination Date.

 

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(b) A lump sum amount equal to Executive’s Annual Bonus (or 2024 Bonus, if applicable) earned for the calendar year immediately preceding the calendar year in which the Termination Date occurs, to the extent not already paid. Curbline will pay (or cause payment of) this amount to Executive on the same date and in the same amount that the Annual Bonus (or 2024 Bonus, if applicable) for such year would have been paid if Executive’s employment had not been terminated, but in any event not later than March 15 of the calendar year in which the Termination Date occurs.

(c) A lump sum amount equal in value to Executive’s Annual Bonus (or 2024 Bonus, if applicable, and to the extent unpaid) that would have been earned for the calendar year in which the Termination Date occurs at the “Target” level, pro-rated based on the number of days that Executive is employed by Curbline TRS during the applicable performance period. Subject to Section 13.1, Curbline will pay (or cause payment of) this amount to Executive as soon as practicable (but no later than 74 days) following the Termination Date.

(d) A lump sum amount equal to three times the sum of (i) $800,000, plus (ii) an amount equal to the Average Annual Bonus. Subject to Section 13.1, Curbline will pay (or cause payment of) this amount to Executive as soon as practicable (but no later than 74 days) following the Termination Date.

(e) A lump sum in cash in an amount equal to the product of (i) 18 multiplied by (ii) the sum of (A) the monthly premium (both the employee and the employer portion) for employer-provided health, dental and vision insurance benefits in effect for Executive and Executive’s eligible dependents as of the Termination Date, plus (B) the employer portion of the monthly premium for other Curbline-provided insurance (e.g., life, disability, etc.) in effect for Executive as of the Termination Date. Such payments shall be taxable to Executive. Subject to Section 13.1, Curbline will pay (or cause payment of) this amount to Executive as soon as practicable (but no later than 74 days) following the Termination Date.

8. Release. This Section 8 will apply only upon termination of Executive’s employment during the Contract Period while Executive is employed by Curbline TRS (a) by Curbline without Cause, (b) by Executive for Good Reason, (c) by reason of Executive’s death or (d) by Curbline pursuant to Section 6.1 following Executive’s disability.

8.1 Presentation of Release by Curbline. If this Section 8 applies, Curbline may present to Executive (or in the case of Executive’s death or legal incapacity, to Executive’s personal representative), not later than 21 days after the Termination Date, a form of release (a “Release”) of all current and future claims, known or unknown, arising on or before the date on which the Release is to be executed, that Executive or Executive’s assigns have or may have against Curbline or any Subsidiary, and the directors, officers, and affiliates of any of them, substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit B, but subject to such modifications as may be reasonably

 

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determined necessary or appropriate by the Committee to reflect the terms and intentions of this Agreement or changes in applicable law or reasonable changes in best practices through the execution of such Release, together with a covering message in which Curbline advises Executive (or Executive’s personal representative) that the Release is being presented in accordance with this Section 8.1 and that a failure by Executive (or Executive’s personal representative) to execute and return the Release as contemplated by Section 8.3 would relieve Curbline of the obligation to make payments (or provide for payments) otherwise due to Executive (or to Executive’s personal representative) under one or more portions of Section 7.2, Section 7.3 or Section 7.4, as the case may be.

8.2 Effect of Failure by Curbline to Present Release. If Curbline fails to present a Release and covering message to Executive (or Executive’s personal representative) as contemplated by Section 8.1, Curbline will be deemed to have waived the requirement that Executive (or Executive’s personal representative) execute a Release as a condition to receiving payments under any portion of Section 7.2, Section 7.3 or Section 7.4, as the case may be.

8.3 Execution of Release by Executive or Executives Personal Representative. If Curbline does present a Release and covering message to Executive (or Executive’s personal representative) as contemplated by Section 8.1, Executive (or Executive’s personal representative) will have until 60 days after the Termination Date (i.e., at least 39 days after presentation of the Release to Executive (or Executive’s personal representative)) within which to deliver an executed copy of the Release to Curbline and thereby satisfy the condition to receiving payments under any portion of Section 7.2, Section 7.3 or Section 7.4, as the case may be, provided that Executive (or Executive’s personal representative) does not revoke the execution of the Release during any applicable revocation period.

8.4 Effect of Failure to Execute Release or of Revocation of Release. If Executive (or Executive’s personal representative) fails to deliver an executed copy of the Release to Curbline within 60 days after the Termination Date or revokes the execution of the Release during any applicable revocation period, Executive (or Executive’s personal representative) will be deemed to have waived the right to receive all payments under Section 7.2, Section 7.3 or Section 7.4, as the case may be, that were conditioned on the Release.

9. Disability Definitions; Physical Examination.

9.1 Definitions. For all purposes of this Agreement:

(a) Executive’s “Own Occupation” means the regular occupation in which Executive is engaged under this Agreement at the time Executive becomes disabled.

(b) “Total Disability” means that, because of sickness or injury, Executive is not able to perform the material and substantial duties of Executive’s Own Occupation.

(c) “Totally Disabled” means that Executive suffers from Total Disability (and Executive will be deemed to continue to be Totally Disabled so long as Executive is not able to work in Executive’s Own Occupation even if Executive works in some other capacity).

 

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9.2 Physical Examination. If either Curbline or Executive, at any time or from time to time after receipt of notice of Executive’s Total Disability from the other, desires to contend that Executive is not Totally Disabled, Executive will promptly submit to a physical examination by the chief of medicine of any major accredited hospital in the New York, New York or Cleveland, Ohio areas (at Curbline’s reasonable cost) and, unless that physician issues his or her written statement to the effect that, in his or her opinion, based on his or her diagnosis, Executive is capable of resuming Executive’s Own Occupation and discharging the duties of Executive’s Own Occupation in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, Executive will be deemed to be and to continue to be Totally Disabled for all purposes of this Agreement.

10. No Set-Off; No Obligation to Seek Other Employment or to Otherwise Mitigate Damages; No Effect Upon Other Plans. Each of Curbline and SITE Centers’ obligation to make the payments provided for in this Agreement and otherwise to perform its obligations under this Agreement will not be affected by any set-off, counterclaim, recoupment, defense, or other claim whatsoever that such entity or any subsidiary or affiliate of such entity may have against Executive, except that the prohibition on set-off, counterclaim, recoupment, defense, or other claim contained in this sentence will not apply if Executive’s employment is terminated by such entity for Cause. Executive will not be required to mitigate damages or the amount of any payment provided for under this Agreement by seeking other employment or otherwise. The amount of any payment provided for under this Agreement will not be reduced by any compensation or benefits earned by Executive as the result of employment by another employer or otherwise after the Termination Date. Neither the provisions of this Agreement nor the making of any payment provided for under this Agreement, nor the termination of any of SITE Centers or Curbline’s obligations under this Agreement, will reduce any amounts otherwise payable, or in any way diminish Executive’s rights, under any incentive compensation plan, stock option or stock appreciation rights plan, restricted stock plan or agreement, deferred compensation, retirement, or supplemental retirement plan, stock purchase and savings plan, disability or insurance plan, or other similar contract, plan, or arrangement of such entity or any subsidiary of such entity, all of which will be governed by their respective terms.

11. Payments Are in Lieu of Severance Payments. If Executive becomes entitled to receive payments under this Agreement as a result of termination of Executive’s employment, those payments will be in lieu of any and all other claims or rights that Executive may have against SITE Centers, Curbline and/or Curbline TRS for severance, separation, and/or salary continuation pay upon that termination of Executive’s employment.

12. Covenants and Confidential Information. Executive acknowledges each of SITE Centers and Curbline’s reliance on and expectation of Executive’s continued commitment to performance of Executive’s duties and responsibilities during the Contract Period while Executive is employed by Curbline TRS and Executive assumes the obligations set out in this Section 12 in light of that reliance and expectation on the part of such entities.

12.1 Noncompetition. During the Contract Period while Executive is employed by Curbline TRS, and for a period of 12 months thereafter, Executive will not, directly or indirectly, own, manage, control, or participate in the ownership, management, or control of, or be employed or engaged by or otherwise affiliated or associated as a consultant, independent contractor, or otherwise with the entities that are originally part of Curbline’s relative total shareholder return peer group, as most recently (but no later than as of the date of Executive’s termination of employment) designated with respect to performance-based awards granted to Executive; provided, however, that the ownership by Executive of not more than three percent of any class of

 

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publicly traded securities of any entity will not be deemed a violation of this Section 12.1 (such restriction that applies post-employment, the “Post-Termination Restriction”). Notwithstanding anything in this Section 12.1 to the contrary, if the inclusion of the Post-Termination Restriction in this Agreement becomes prohibited by the law applicable to this Agreement, then such Post-Termination Restriction shall be deemed inoperative and severed from this Agreement, with this Agreement further interpreted and operated as if such Post-Termination Restriction was not included in this Agreement as of the Effective Date.

12.2 Confidentiality. Throughout and after the Contract Period, Executive will not disclose, divulge, discuss, copy, or otherwise use or suffer to be used in any manner, in competition with, or contrary to the interests of, the Companies, any confidential information relating to the Companies’ operations, properties, or otherwise to their particular business or other trade secrets of the Companies, it being acknowledged by Executive that all such information regarding the business of the Companies compiled or obtained by, or furnished to, Executive during Executive’s employment by or association with the Companies is confidential information and the Companies’ exclusive property, respectively. The restrictions in this Section 12.2 will not apply to any information to the extent that it (a) is clearly obtainable in the public domain, (b) becomes obtainable in the public domain, except by reason of the breach by Executive of Executive’s obligations under this Section 12.2, (c) was not acquired by Executive in connection with Executive’s employment or affiliation with the Companies, (d) was not acquired by Executive from the Companies or their representatives, or (e) is required to be disclosed by rule of law or by order of a court or governmental body or agency. However, nothing in this Agreement or in ancillary agreements is intended to interfere with or discourage the disclosure of a suspected violation of the law to any governmental entity, or to discourage Executive from participating in an investigation by a governmental entity regarding a suspected violation of the law.

12.3 Non-Disparagement.

(a) Throughout and after the Contract Period, outside the ordinary course of business on behalf of the Companies, Executive will not make or issue, or procure any person, firm, or entity to make or issue, any statement in any form, including written, oral and electronic communications of any kind, which conveys negative or adverse information concerning the Companies or their subsidiaries or affiliates, or any of their legal predecessors, successors, assigns, parents, subsidiaries, divisions or other affiliates, or any of the foregoing’s respective past, present or future directors, officers, employees or representatives (collectively, the “Non-Disparagement Parties”), or any Non-Disparagement Party’s business, or its actions, to any person or entity, regardless of the truth or falsity of such statement.

(b) Throughout and after the Contract Period, the Companies will each reasonably direct the executive officers and directors of such Company not to make or issue, or procure any person, firm, or entity to make or issue, any statement in any form, including written, oral and electronic communications of any kind, which conveys negative or adverse information concerning Executive or any of Executive’s legal successors, assigns, or other affiliates, or any of the foregoing’s respective past, present or future directors, officers, employees or representatives (collectively, the “Executive Non-Disparagement Parties”), or any Executive Non-Disparagement Party’s business, or its actions, to any person or entity, regardless of the truth or falsity of such statement.

 

15


(c) This Section 12.3 does not apply to truthful testimony or disclosure compelled or required by applicable law or legal process. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement or ancillary agreements to the contrary, Executive is not prohibited from providing information voluntarily to the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Section 21F of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

12.4 Nonsolicitation. During the Contract Period while Executive is employed by Curbline TRS, and for a period of 12 months thereafter, Executive will not directly or indirectly solicit or induce or attempt to solicit or induce any employee of the Companies and/or of any of their subsidiaries or affiliates to terminate his or her employment with the Companies and/or any of their subsidiaries. Such requirement shall not apply to Executive during the Contract Period while Executive is employed by Curbline TRS with respect to any employee of SITE Centers as permitted by the Employee Matters Agreement.

12.5 Remedies. Executive acknowledges that the remedy at law for any breach by Executive of this Section 12 may be inadequate and that the damages following from any such breach may not be readily susceptible to being measured in monetary terms. Accordingly, Executive agrees that, upon adequate proof of Executive’s violation of any legally enforceable provision of this Section 12, the Companies will be entitled to immediate injunctive relief and may obtain a temporary order restraining any threatened or further breach. Nothing in this Section 12 will be deemed to limit the Companies’ remedies at law or in equity for any breach by Executive of any of the provisions of this Section 12 that may be pursued or availed of by the Companies.

12.6 Acknowledgement. Executive has carefully considered the nature and extent of the restrictions upon Executive and the rights and remedies conferred upon the Companies under this Section 12, and hereby acknowledges and agrees that the same are reasonable in time and territory, are designed to eliminate competition that otherwise would be unfair to the Companies, do not stifle the inherent skill and experience of Executive, would not operate as a bar to Executive’s sole means of support, are fully required to protect the legitimate interests of the Companies, and do not confer a benefit upon the Companies disproportionate to the detriment to Executive.

13. Compliance with Section 409A.

13.1 Six Month Delay on Certain Payments, Benefits, and Reimbursements. If Executive is a “specified employee” for purposes of Section 409A (as determined under Curbline’s policy for determining specified employees on the Termination Date), to the extent necessary to comply with Section 409A(a)(2)(B)(i), each payment, benefit, or reimbursement paid or provided under this Agreement that constitutes a “deferral of compensation” within the meaning of Section 409A, that is to be paid or provided as a result of a “separation from service” within the meaning of Section 409A, and that would otherwise be paid or provided at any time (a “Scheduled Time”) that is on or before the date (the “Six Month Date”) that is exactly six months after the Termination Date (other than payments, benefits, or reimbursements that are treated as separation pay under Section 1.409A-1(b)(9)(v) of the Treasury Regulations) will not be paid or provided at the Scheduled Time but will be accumulated (together with interest at the applicable federal rate

 

16


under Section 7872(f)(2)(A) of the Internal Revenue Code in effect on the Termination Date) through the Six Month Date and paid or provided during the period of 30 consecutive days beginning on the first business day after the Six Month Date (that period of 30 consecutive days, the “Seventh Month after the Termination Date”), except that if Executive dies before the Six Month Date, the payments, benefits, or reimbursements will be accumulated only through the date of Executive’s death and thereafter paid or provided not later than 30 days after the date of death.

13.2 Additional Limitations on Reimbursements and In-Kind Benefits. The reimbursement of expenses or in-kind benefits provided under Section 7 or under any other section of this Agreement that are taxable benefits (and that are not disability pay or death benefit plans within the meaning of Section 409A) are intended to comply, to the maximum extent possible, with the exception to Section 409A set forth in Section 1.409A-1(b)(9)(v) of the Treasury Regulations. To the extent that any reimbursement of expenses or in-kind benefits provided under Section 7 or under any other section of this Agreement do not qualify for that exception and are otherwise deferred compensation subject to Section 409A , then they will be subject to the following additional rules: (i) any reimbursement of eligible expenses will be paid within 30 days following Executive’s written request for reimbursement; provided, however, that Executive provides written notice no later than 60 days before the last day of the calendar year following the calendar year in which the expense was incurred so that the reimbursement can be made within the time periods required by Section 409A; (ii) the amount of expenses eligible for reimbursement, or in-kind benefits provided, during any calendar year will not affect the amount of expenses eligible for reimbursement, or in-kind benefits to be provided, during any other calendar year; and (iii) the right to reimbursement or in-kind benefits will not be subject to liquidation or exchange for any other benefit.

13.3 Compliance Generally. Each payment or reimbursement and the provision of each benefit under this Agreement shall be considered a separate payment and not one of a series of payments for purposes of Section 409A. The Companies and Executive intend that the payments and benefits provided under this Agreement will either be exempt from the application of, or comply with, the requirements of Section 409A. This Agreement is to be construed, administered, and governed in a manner that effects that intent and the Companies will not take any action that is inconsistent with that intent. Without limiting the foregoing, the payments and benefits provided under this Agreement may not be deferred, accelerated, extended, paid out, or modified in a manner that would result in the imposition of an additional tax under Section 409A upon Executive. Notwithstanding any provision of Section 7 to the contrary, if the period commencing on the Termination Date begins in one taxable year of Executive and the 74th day following the Termination Date is in a subsequent taxable year, any amounts payable under Section 7 which are considered deferred compensation under Section 409A shall be paid in such subsequent taxable year.

13.4 Termination of Employment to Constitute a Separation from Service. The parties hereto intend that the phrase “termination of employment” and words and phrases of similar import mean a “separation from service” with Curbline TRS within the meaning of Section 409A. Executive and the Companies will take all steps necessary (including taking into account this Section 13.4 when considering any further agreement regarding provision of services by Executive to Curbline after the Termination Date) to ensure that (a) any termination of employment under this Agreement constitutes a “separation from service” within the meaning of Section 409A, and (b) the Termination Date is the date on which Executive experiences a “separation from service” within the meaning of Section 409A.

 

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14. Indemnification. Curbline will indemnify Executive, to the full extent permitted or authorized by the Maryland General Corporation Law as it may from time to time be amended, if Executive is made or threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending, or completed action, suit, or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative, or investigative, by reason of the fact that Executive is or was a director, officer, or employee of Curbline and/or of any Subsidiary, or is or was serving at the request of Curbline and/or of any Subsidiary as a director, trustee, officer, or employee of a corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, or other enterprise. The indemnification provided by this Section 14 will not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which Executive may be entitled under the articles of incorporation or the regulations of Curbline and/or of any Subsidiary, or any agreement, vote of shareholders or disinterested directors, or otherwise, both as to action in Executive’s official capacity and as to action in another capacity while holding such office, and will continue as to Executive after Executive has ceased to be a director, trustee, officer, or employee and will inure to the benefit of Executive’s heirs, executors, and administrators. In particular, Executive will continue to be entitled to the full benefit of the indemnification agreement then in effect between Executive and Curbline (the “Indemnification Agreement”) for so long as that Indemnification Agreement remains in effect according to its terms. In the event of any conflict or inconsistency between the provisions of this Section 14 and the provisions of the Indemnification Agreement, the provisions of the Indemnification Agreement shall control.

15. Adjustment of Certain Payments and Benefits. Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, if any payment or benefit to be paid or provided hereunder or under any other plan or agreement would be an “Excess Parachute Payment,” within the meaning of Section 280G of the Internal Revenue Code, or any successor provision thereto, but for the application of this sentence, then the payments and benefits to be paid or provided hereunder shall be reduced to the minimum extent necessary (but in no event to less than zero) so that no portion of any such payment or benefit, as so reduced, constitutes an Excess Parachute Payment; provided, however, that the foregoing reduction shall be made only if and to the extent that such reduction would result in an increase in the aggregate payments and benefits to be provided, determined on an after-tax basis (taking into account the excise tax imposed pursuant to Section 4999 of the Internal Revenue Code, or any successor provision thereto, any tax imposed by any comparable provision of state law, and any applicable federal, state and local income taxes). The determination of whether any reduction in such payments or benefits to be provided hereunder is required pursuant to the preceding sentence shall be made at the expense of Curbline, if requested by Executive or Curbline, by Curbline’s independent accountants or a nationally recognized law firm chosen by Curbline. The fact that Executive’s right to payments or benefits may be reduced by reason of the limitations contained in this Section 15 shall not of itself limit or otherwise affect any other rights of Executive under this Agreement. In the event that any payment or benefit intended to be provided hereunder is required to be reduced pursuant to this Section 15, then the reduction will be made in accordance with Section 409A and will occur in the following order: (a) first, by reducing any cash payments with the last scheduled payment reduced first; (b) second, by reducing any equity-based benefits that are included at full value under Q&A-24(a) of the Treasury Regulations promulgated under Section 280G of the Internal Revenue Code (the “280G Regulations”), with the highest value reduced first; (c) third, by reducing any equity-based benefits included on an acceleration value under Q&A-24(b) or 24(c) of the 280G Regulations, with the highest value reduced first; and (d) fourth, by reducing any non-cash, non-equity based benefits, with the latest scheduled benefit reduced first.

 

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16. Certain Expenses. This Section 16 will apply only to expenses that (a) are otherwise described in one or more of its subsections and (b) are incurred at any time from the Effective Date through the fifth anniversary of Executive’s death.

16.1 Reimbursement of Certain Expenses. Each applicable Company (or Curbline TRS) will pay, as incurred, all expenses, including the reasonable fees of counsel engaged by Executive, of Executive in (a) prosecuting any action to compel such Company (including Curbline, on behalf of Curbline TRS) to comply with the terms of this Agreement upon receipt from Executive of an undertaking to repay such Company for such expenses if it is ultimately determined by a court of competent jurisdiction that Executive had no reasonable grounds for bringing such action or (b) defending any action brought by a party other than Executive or Executive’s personal representative to have this Agreement declared invalid or unenforceable.

16.2 Advancement of Certain Expenses. Expenses (including the reasonable fees of counsel engaged by Executive) incurred by Executive in defending any action, suit, or proceeding commenced or threatened against Executive for any action or failure to act as an employee, officer or director of one of the Companies and/or of any of its subsidiaries will be paid by such Company, as they are incurred, in advance of final disposition of the action, suit, or proceeding upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of Executive in which Executive agrees to reasonably cooperate with such Company and/or such subsidiary, as the case may be, concerning the action, suit, or proceeding, and (a) if the action, suit, or proceeding is commenced or threatened against Executive for any action or failure to act as a director, to repay the amount if it is proved by clear and convincing evidence in a court of competent jurisdiction that his action or failure to act involved an act or omission undertaken with deliberate intent to cause injury to such Company or one of its subsidiaries or with reckless disregard for the best interests of such Company or one of its subsidiaries, or (b) if the action, suit, or proceeding is commenced or threatened against Executive for any action or failure to act as an officer or employee, to repay the amount if it is ultimately determined that Executive is not entitled to be indemnified. The obligation of each such Company to advance expenses provided for in this Section 16.2 will not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which Executive may be entitled under the articles/certificate of incorporation or the regulations/bylaws of such Company or of any of its subsidiaries, or any agreement, vote of shareholders or disinterested directors, or otherwise.

17. Survival of Obligations. Except as is otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement, the respective obligations of each of the Companies (and Curbline TRS) and Executive under this Agreement will survive any termination of Executive’s employment under this Agreement.

18. Notices. Notices and all other communications provided for in this Agreement must be in writing and will be deemed to have been duly given upon receipt (or rejection) when delivered in person or by overnight delivery (to the chief legal officer of Curbline in the case of notices to Curbline and/or Curbline TRS, to the chief legal officer of SITE Centers in the case of notices to SITE Centers, and to Executive in the case of notices to Executive) or mailed by United States registered mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, and addressed, (a) if to Curbline, to its principal place of business, attention: Chief Legal Officer, (b) if to Curbline TRS, to its principal place of business, attention: Chief Legal Officer, (c) if to SITE Centers, to its principal place of business, attention: Chief Legal Officer, and (d) if to Executive, to Executive’s home address last shown on the records of Curbline, or to such other address or addresses as a party may furnish to the others in accordance with this Section 18.

 

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19. Entire Agreement. Except as otherwise set forth below in this Section 19 or as otherwise described herein, this Agreement and the agreements specifically referenced herein supersede in their entirety all prior agreements between the parties, if any, and all understandings between them, if any, with respect to the subject matter of this Agreement, including the Employment Agreement, dated as of March 2, 2017, and the 2020 Agreement, in each case between SITE Centers and Executive. As provided in Section 14, Executive will continue to be entitled to the full benefit of the Indemnification Agreement for so long as it remains in effect according to its terms. For purposes of clarification, notwithstanding anything in the 2020 Agreement, the 2024 Agreement and/or this Agreement to the contrary, there shall be no duplication of compensation and benefits under the 2020 Agreement, the 2024 Agreement and this Agreement.

20. Mandatory Arbitration Before a Change in Control. Section 20.1 will apply if and only if a party to this Agreement notifies another party to this Agreement, in writing, that it is demanding resolution of a then-current controversy or claim by arbitration and the notice is provided by the notifying party to such other party before any Change in Control has occurred. Nothing in this Section 20 will limit the right of each of the Companies to seek and obtain injunctive relief in a court of equity for any breach or threatened breach by Executive of any of Executive’s covenants contained in Section 12 above.

20.1 Scope of Arbitration. If this Section 20.1 applies, any controversy or claim arising out of or relating to this Agreement or any breach of this Agreement will be settled by binding arbitration to be held before three arbitrators and conducted in accordance with the Employment Arbitration Rules and Mediation Procedures of the American Arbitration Association in the City of Cleveland, Ohio or New York, New York. The decision of the arbitrators will be final and binding on such parties and judgment on any award rendered by the arbitrators may be entered in any court of competent jurisdiction. Costs and expenses of any such arbitration will be borne by the parties as may be directed by the arbitrators taking into account the extent to which the positions taken by such parties are reasonable. The arbitrators will have the power to issue mandatory orders and restraining orders in connection with any such arbitration.

20.2 Other Disputes. If Section 20.1 does not apply to any claim or controversy between such parties, such parties may nevertheless, but need not, mutually agree to submit any controversy or claim to arbitration as though Section 20.1 did apply. Failing any such mutual agreement, either of such parties may bring proceedings against the other with respect to any claim or controversy in any court of competent jurisdiction that satisfies the venue requirements set forth in Section 21.8. Nothing in this Section 20.2 imposes upon either of such parties any obligation to discuss possible arbitration of any claim or controversy to which Section 20.1 does not apply before bringing any court proceedings with respect to that claim or controversy.

21. Miscellaneous.

21.1 No Conflict. Executive represents and warrants that Executive is not a party to any agreement, contract, or understanding, whether employment or otherwise, that would restrict or prohibit Executive from undertaking or performing employment in accordance with the terms and conditions of this Agreement.

21.2 Assistance. During the term of this Agreement and thereafter, Executive will provide reasonable assistance to each of the Companies in litigation and regulatory matters that relate to events that occurred during Executive’s period of employment with each of such Company or Curbline TRS and its predecessors, and will provide reasonable assistance to each of the

 

20


Companies with matters relating to its corporate history from the period of Executive’s employment with it (or Curbline TRS) or its predecessors. Executive will be entitled to reimbursement of reasonable out-of-pocket travel or related costs and expenses relating to any such cooperation or assistance that occurs following the Termination Date.

21.3 Severability. The provisions of this Agreement are severable and if any one or more provision is determined to be illegal or otherwise unenforceable, in whole or in part, the remaining provisions and any partially unenforceable provision to the extent enforceable in any jurisdiction nevertheless will be binding and enforceable.

21.4 Benefit of Agreement. The rights and obligations of SITE Centers, Curbline TRS and Curbline, respectively, under this Agreement will inure to the benefit of, and will be binding on, SITE Centers, Curbline TRS and Curbline, respectively, and each of its successors and assigns, as applicable, and the rights and obligations (other than obligations to perform services) of Executive under this Agreement will inure to the benefit of, and will be binding upon, Executive and Executive’s heirs, personal representatives, and assigns.

21.5 No Waiver. The failure of any party to enforce any provision or provisions of this Agreement will not in any way be construed as a waiver of any such provision or provisions as to any future violations thereof, nor prevent that party from later enforcing each and every other provision of this Agreement. The rights granted the parties in this Agreement are cumulative and the waiver of any single remedy will not constitute a waiver of that party’s right to assert all other legal remedies available to it under the circumstances.

21.6 Modification. This Agreement may not be modified or terminated orally. No modification or termination will be valid unless in writing and signed by the parties against which the modification or termination is sought to be enforced. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, Executive acknowledges and agrees that this Agreement and any compensation described herein (or described in the 2024 Agreement or any predecessor agreement) are subject to the terms and conditions of SITE Centers’ or Curbline’s clawback provisions, policy or policies, respectively, as may be in effect from time to time, including specifically to implement Section 10D of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and any applicable rules or regulations promulgated thereunder (including applicable rules and regulations of any national securities exchange on which such Company’s shares at any point may be traded) (the “Compensation Recovery Policy”), and applicable sections of this Agreement (or the 2024 Agreement or any predecessor agreement) and any related documents shall be deemed superseded by and subject to (as applicable) the terms and conditions of the Compensation Recovery Policy. Further, Executive agrees to fully cooperate with each of the Companies in connection with any of Executive’s obligations to such Company pursuant to the Compensation Recovery Policy, and agrees that such Company may enforce its rights under the Compensation Recovery Policy through any and all reasonable means permitted under applicable law as it deems necessary or desirable under the Compensation Recovery Policy, in each case from and after the effective dates thereof.

21.7 Merger or Transfer of Assets of Curbline. During the Contract Period while Executive is employed by Curbline TRS, Curbline will not consolidate with or merge into any other corporation, or transfer all or substantially all of its assets to another corporation, unless such other corporation assumes this Agreement in a signed writing and delivers a copy thereof to

 

21


Executive, which signed writing may consist of the merger or sale agreement, or similar document. Upon any such assumption, the successor corporation will become obligated to perform the obligations of Curbline and Curbline TRS under this Agreement, and the term “Curbline,” as used in this Agreement, will be deemed to refer to that successor corporation, and the term “Curbline Board” as used in this Agreement will be deemed to refer to the board of directors of that successor corporation.

21.8 Governing Law and Venue. The provisions of this Agreement will be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Maryland applicable to contracts made in and to be performed exclusively within that State, notwithstanding any conflict of law provision to the contrary. Subject to the mandatory arbitration provisions of Section 20, the parties consent to venue and personal jurisdiction over them in the courts of the State of Maryland and federal courts sitting in Maryland, for purposes of construing and enforcing this Agreement.

21.9 Termination of Status as Director or Officer. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, unless otherwise agreed to by a Company (or Curbline TRS) and Executive prior to the Termination Date, as applicable, Executive shall be deemed to have automatically resigned from all directorships and offices with the Companies and their subsidiaries, and their affiliates (including joint ventures), as of the Termination Date.

22. Definitions.

22.1 Cause. The term “Cause” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.2.

22.2 Change in Control. For purposes of this Agreement, the term “Change in Control” means the occurrence, during the Contract Period while Executive is employed by Curbline TRS, of any of the following:

(a) consummation of a reorganization, merger or consolidation, or a sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of Curbline, or the acquisition of assets of another corporation or other transaction (“Business Combination”), but excluding any Business Combination pursuant to which (i) the individuals and entities who were the beneficial owners of the then-outstanding voting securities of Curbline entitled to vote generally in the election of directors immediately prior to such Business Combination beneficially own, directly or indirectly, more than 60% of, respectively, the then-outstanding shares of common stock and the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, as the case may be, of the entity resulting from such Business Combination (including, without limitation, an entity that as a result of such transaction owns Curbline or all or substantially all of Curbline’s assets either directly or through one or more subsidiaries), (ii) no individual, entity or group (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or 14(d)(2) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) (excluding Curbline, any employee benefit plan (or related trust) of Curbline or a Subsidiary, or such entity resulting from such Business Combination) beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, 30% or more of the combined voting power of the then-outstanding securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors of the entity resulting from such Business Combination and (iii) at least a majority of the members of the board of directors of the entity resulting from such Business Combination were members of the Curbline Board at the time of the execution of the initial agreement, or of the action of the Curbline Board, providing for such Business Combination;

 

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(b) any person or other entity (other than Curbline or a Subsidiary or any Curbline employee benefit plan (including any trustee of any such plan acting in its capacity as trustee)) purchases any Shares (or securities convertible into Shares) pursuant to a tender or exchange offer without the prior consent of the Curbline Board, or becomes the beneficial owner of securities of Curbline representing 30% or more of the voting power of Curbline’s outstanding securities without the prior consent of the Curbline Board;

(c) during any two-year period, individuals who at the beginning of such period constitute the entire Curbline Board cease to constitute a majority of the Curbline Board; provided, that any person becoming a director of Curbline during such two-year period whose election, or nomination for election by Curbline’s shareholders, was approved by a vote of at least two-thirds of the directors who at the beginning of such period constituted the entire Curbline Board or who became a director of Curbline during such two-year period as described in this proviso (either by a specific vote or by approval of Curbline’s proxy statement in which such person is named as a nominee of Curbline for director), but excluding for this purpose any person whose initial assumption of office as a director of Curbline occurs as a result of either an actual or threatened election contest with respect to the election or removal of directors of Curbline or other actual or threatened solicitation of proxies or consents by or on behalf of an individual, corporation, partnership, group, associate or other entity or person other than the Curbline Board, shall be, for purposes of this Section 22.2(c), considered as though such person was a member of the Curbline Board at the beginning of such period; or

(d) approval by the stockholders of Curbline of a complete liquidation or dissolution of Curbline except pursuant to a Business Combination that complies with clauses (i), (ii) and (iii) of subsection (a) above.

22.3 Committee. The term “Committee” means the Compensation Committee of the Curbline Board or any other committee or subcommittee authorized by the Curbline Board to discharge the Curbline Board’s responsibilities relating to the compensation of Curbline’s officers and directors.

22.4 Good Reason. The term “Good Reason” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.3.

22.5 Internal Revenue Code. The term “Internal Revenue Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

22.6 Section. References in this Agreement to one or more “Sections” are to sections of this Agreement, except for references to certain Sections of the Internal Revenue Code.

22.7 Section 409A. The term “Section 409A” means Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code. References in this Agreement to Section 409A are intended to include any proposed, temporary, or final regulations, or any other guidance, promulgated with respect to Section 409A by the U.S. Department of Treasury or the Internal Revenue Service.

 

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22.8 Shares. The term “Shares” means the Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share (or such other par value as may be established from time to time), of Curbline.

22.9 Subsidiary. The term “Subsidiary” means any corporation, partnership, or other entity a majority of the voting control of which is directly or indirectly owned or controlled by Curbline.

22.10 Termination Date. The term “Termination Date” means the date on which Executive’s employment with Curbline and its Subsidiaries terminates.

22.11 Triggering Event. A “Triggering Event” for the purpose of this Agreement will be deemed to have occurred if, during the Contract Period while Executive is employed by Curbline TRS:

(a) Within two years after the date on which a Change in Control occurs, Curbline terminates the employment of Executive, other than in the case of a termination for Cause, a termination by Curbline pursuant to Section 6.1 following Executive’s disability, or a termination based on death; or

(b) Within two years after the date on which a Change in Control occurs, Executive terminates Executive’s employment with Curbline for Good Reason.

[THE REMAINDER OF THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, SITE Centers, Curbline, Curbline TRS and Executive have executed this Agreement, each of SITE Centers, Curbline and Curbline TRS by its duly authorized officer (or other appropriate party), as of the date first written above.

 

SITE CENTERS CORP.
By:   /s/ Aaron M. Kitlowski
 

Name: Aaron M. Kitlowski

Title: Executive Vice President, General

   Counsel and Corporate Secretary

CURBLINE PROPERTIES CORP.
By:   /s/ Lesley H. Solomon
 

Name: Lesley H. Solomon

Title: Executive Vice President, General

   Counsel and Corporate Secretary

CURBLINE TRS LLC
By:   /s/ Lesley H. Solomon
 

Name: Lesley H. Solomon

Title: Executive Vice President, General

   Counsel and Corporate Secretary

/s/ David R. Lukes
DAVID R. LUKES

 

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EXHIBIT A

ANNUAL BONUS OPPORTUNITY

IN DOLLARS

 

Threshold

   Target    Maximum
$500,000    $1,000,000    $2,000,000


EXHIBIT B

Form of Release

In consideration of certain benefits provided to David R. Lukes (“Executive”) and to be received by Executive from Curbline Properties Corp. (the “Company”) and/or its subsidiaries as described in the Assigned Employment Agreement, dated as of September 1, 2024, by and among SITE Centers Corp., the Company, Curbline TRS LLC (“Curbline TRS”) and Executive (the “Agreement”):

 

1.

Claims Released. Executive, for himself and on behalf of anyone claiming through Executive including each and all of Executive’s legal representatives, administrators, executors, heirs, successors and assigns (collectively, the “Executive Releasors”), does hereby fully, finally and forever release, absolve and discharge the Company and each and all of its legal predecessors, successors, assigns, fiduciaries, parents, subsidiaries, divisions and other affiliates (including Curbline TRS), and each of the foregoing’s respective past, present and future principals, partners, shareholders, directors, officers, employees, agents, consultants, attorneys, trustees, administrators, executors and representatives (collectively, the “Company Released Parties”), of, from and for any and all claims, causes of action, lawsuits, controversies, liabilities, losses, damages, costs, expenses and demands of any nature whatsoever, at law or in equity, whether known or unknown, asserted or unasserted, foreseen or unforeseen, that the Executive Releasors (or any of them) now have, have ever had, or may have against the Company Released Parties (or any of them) based upon, arising out of, concerning, relating to or resulting from any act, omission, matter, fact, occurrence, transaction, claim, contention, statement or event occurring or existing at any time in the past up to and including the date on which Executive signs this Release, including, without limitation: (a) all claims arising out of or in any way relating to Executive’s employment with or separation of employment from the Company or its affiliates; (b) all claims for compensation or benefits, including salary, commissions, bonuses, vacation pay, expense reimbursements, severance pay, fringe benefits, stock options, restricted stock units or any other ownership interests in the Company Released Parties; (c) all claims for breach of contract, wrongful termination and breach of the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing; (d) all tort claims, including claims for fraud, defamation, invasion of privacy and emotional distress; (e) all other common law claims; and (f) all claims (including claims for discrimination, harassment, retaliation, attorneys fees, expenses or otherwise) that were or could have been asserted by Executive or on his behalf in any federal, state, or local court, commission, or agency, or under any federal, state, local, employment, services or other law, regulation, ordinance, constitutional provision, executive order or other source of law, including without limitation under any of the following laws, as amended from time to time: the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (the “ADEA”), as amended by the Older Workers’ Benefit Protection Act of 1990 (the “OWBPA”), Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, 42 U.S.C. §§ 1981 & 1981a, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Equal Pay Act, the Employee Retirement Income Security Act, the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2009, the Family and Medical Leave Act, Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, the National Labor Relations Act, the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Worker Adjustment Retraining and Notification Act, the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act, Federal Executive Order 11246, and the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act.


2.

Scope of Release. Nothing in this Release (a) shall release the Company from any of its obligations set forth in the Agreement or any claim that by law is non-waivable, (b) shall release the Company from any obligation to defend and/or indemnify Executive against any third party claims arising out of any action or inaction by Executive during the time of his employment and within the scope of his duties with the Company to the extent Executive has any such defense or indemnification right, and to the extent permitted by applicable law and to the extent the claims are covered by the Company’s director & officer liability insurance or (c) shall affect Executive’s right to file a claim for workers’ compensation or unemployment insurance benefits.

Executive further acknowledges that by signing this Release, Executive does not waive the right to file a charge against the Company with, communicate with or participate in any investigation by the EEOC, the Securities and Exchange Commission or any comparable state or local agency. However, Executive waives and releases, to the fullest extent legally permissible, all entitlement to any form of monetary relief arising from a charge Executive or others may file, including without limitation any costs, expenses or attorneys’ fees. Executive understands that this waiver and release of monetary relief would not affect an enforcement agency’s ability to investigate a charge or to pursue relief on behalf of others. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Executive will not give up his right to any benefits to which he is entitled under any retirement plan of the Company that is intended to be qualified under Section 401(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, or his rights, if any, under Part 6 of Subtitle B of Title I of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (COBRA), or any monetary award offered by the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Section 21F of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. By executing this Release, Executive represents that, as of the date Executive signs this Release, no claims, lawsuits, grievances, or charges have been filed by Executive or on Executive’s behalf against the Company Released Parties.

 

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Knowing and Voluntary ADEA Waiver. In compliance with the requirements of the OWBPA, Executive acknowledges by his signature below that, with respect to the rights and claims waived and released in this Release under the ADEA, Executive specifically acknowledges and agrees as follows: (a) Executive has read and understands the terms of this Release; (b) Executive has been advised and hereby is advised, and has had the opportunity, to consult with an attorney before signing this Release; (c) the Release is written in a manner understood by Executive; (d) Executive is releasing the Company and the other Company Released Parties from, among other things, any claims that Executive may have against them pursuant to the ADEA; (e) the releases contained in this Release do not cover rights or claims that may arise after Executive signs this Release; (f) Executive has been given a period of at least 21 days in which to consider and execute this Release (although Executive may elect not to use the full consideration period at Executive’s option); (g) Executive may revoke this Release during the seven-day period following the date on which Executive signs this Release, and this Release will not become effective and enforceable until the seven-day revocation period has expired; and (h) any such revocation must be submitted in writing to the Company c/o Lesley H. Solomon, Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary, Curbline Properties Corp., 320 Park Avenue, New York, New York 10022 prior to the expiration of such seven-day revocation period. If Executive revokes this Release within such seven-day revocation period, it shall be null and void.


4.

Acknowledgment of Restrictive Covenants. Executive acknowledges his obligations as outlined in Section 12 of the Agreement and in Section 21.6 regarding clawback or Executive forfeiture of compensation and related amounts (“Restrictive Covenants”), and acknowledges that the Restrictive Covenants remain in full force and effect.

 

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Entire Agreement. This Release, the Agreement, and the documents referenced therein contain the entire agreement between Executive and the Company, and take priority over any other written or oral understanding or agreement that may have existed in the past. Executive acknowledges that no other promises or agreements have been offered for this Release (other than those described above) and that no other promises or agreements will be binding unless they are in writing and signed by Executive and the Company.

I agree to the terms and conditions set forth in this Release.

 

EXECUTIVE

________________________________________

Date: ___________________________________

Exhibit 10.10

ASSIGNED EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

This Assigned Employment Agreement (this “Agreement”), dated as of September 1, 2024 (the “Effective Date”), is by and among SITE Centers Corp., an Ohio corporation (“SITE Centers”), Curbline Properties Corp., a Maryland corporation (“Curbline”), Curbline TRS LLC (“Curbline TRS”), and Conor Fennerty (“Executive”).

SITE Centers and Executive are currently parties to an Employment Agreement, dated as of September 15, 2023 (the “2023 Agreement”), reflecting the terms pursuant to which Executive has been serving SITE Centers since such date. The Board of Directors of SITE Centers (the “SITE Board”), on behalf of SITE Centers, plus the Board of Directors of Curbline (the “Curbline Board”), on behalf of Curbline and Curbline TRS, and Executive, desire to enter into this Agreement to transfer Executive’s employment from SITE Centers to Curbline TRS as of the Effective Date, and to amend and restate (and assign to Curbline and Curbline TRS) the 2023 Agreement to reflect the terms pursuant to which Executive will serve Curbline on and after the Effective Date (certain capitalized terms used in this Agreement have the meanings ascribed to them in Section 22 of this Agreement).

SITE Centers, Curbline, Curbline TRS and Executive agree, effective as of the Effective Date, as follows:

1. Employment, Term.

1.1 Continued SITE Centers Service. Until the date on which SITE Centers consummates its proposed spin-off of Curbline (such spin-off, the “Spin-Off,” and such date, the “Spin-Off Date”), SITE Centers will continue to engage Executive to render services in the administration and operation of its affairs as its Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer, reporting directly to SITE Centers’ Chief Executive Officer (the “SITE CEO”) and performing such duties and having such responsibilities and authority as are customarily incident to the principal financial officers of companies similar in size to, and in a similar business as, SITE Centers, together with such other duties as, from time to time, may be specified by the SITE CEO, in a manner consistent with Executive’s status as Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer of SITE Centers. On the Spin-Off Date, Executive will cease to render services to SITE Centers as its Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer (which cessation, for purposes of clarity, shall not trigger severance compensation or benefits for Executive under any of the 2023 Agreement or this Agreement). The period of time from the Effective Date until the Spin-Off Date is sometimes referred to herein as the “Remaining SITE Service Period.”

1.2 Assignment of Agreement to Curbline TRS; Transfer of Employment to Curbline TRS; Curbline Service. As of the Effective Date, SITE Centers hereby transfers Executive’s employment to Curbline TRS, a wholly-owned indirect subsidiary of Curbline, and the 2023 Agreement is superseded and replaced by the terms of this Agreement. Curbline TRS hereby engages and employs Executive to render services in the administration and operation of Curbline’s affairs as Curbline’s Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer, reporting directly to Curbline’s Chief Executive Officer (the “CEO”) and performing such duties and having such responsibilities and authority as are customarily incident to the principal financial officers of companies similar in size to, and in a similar business as, Curbline, together with such other duties as, from time to time, may be specified by the CEO, in a manner consistent with Executive’s status as Curbline’s Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer, all in accordance with the terms and conditions of this Agreement, for a term extending from the Effective Date through September 30, 2026. The period of time from the Effective Date through September 30, 2026 is sometimes referred to herein as the “Contract Period.” During the Contract Period while Executive is employed by Curbline TRS, Executive shall report to the CEO. SITE Centers and Curbline, together, are sometimes referred to herein as the “Companies”.


2. Full-Time Services. Throughout the Contract Period while Executive is employed by Curbline TRS, Executive will devote substantially all of Executive’s business time and efforts to the service of Curbline, except for (a) usual vacation periods and reasonable periods of illness, (b) reasonable periods of time devoted to Executive’s personal financial affairs, (c) with the prior consent of the CEO, services as a director or trustee of other corporations or organizations, either for profit or not for profit, that are not in competition with Curbline, and (d) reasonable service to SITE Centers during the Remaining SITE Service Period or as otherwise permitted by the Curbline Board following the Remaining SITE Service Period; provided, however, that in no event shall Executive devote less than 90% of Executive’s business time and efforts to the service of Curbline (other than in service to SITE Centers during the Remaining SITE Service Period or as permitted by the Curbline Board following the Remaining SITE Service Period).

3. Compensation. For all services to be rendered by Executive to Curbline under this Agreement during the Contract Period while Executive is employed by Curbline TRS (or, as applicable, for all services to be rendered by Executive to SITE Centers under this Agreement during the Remaining SITE Service Period), including services as Curbline’s Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer and any other services specified by the CEO, Curbline or Curbline TRS will pay and provide to Executive the compensation and benefits as specified in this Section 3.

3.1 Base Salary. From and after the Effective Date and through the end of the Contract Period while Executive is employed by Curbline TRS, Curbline TRS will pay Executive base salary (the “Base Salary”) in cash, in equal monthly or more frequent installments, at the rate of not less than Six Hundred Thousand Dollars ($600,000) per year, subject to such increases as the Committee or the Curbline Board may approve. Any such increased Base Salary shall constitute “Base Salary” for purposes of this Agreement.

3.2 Annual Bonus.

(a) Curbline Annual Bonus. For each calendar year during the Contract Period while Executive is employed by Curbline TRS (other than 2024), subject to achievement of applicable performance criteria, Curbline TRS shall make an annual incentive payment to Executive, in cash, for such calendar year (an “Annual Bonus”) between January 1 and March 15 of the immediately subsequent calendar year, determined and calculated in accordance with the percentages set forth on Exhibit A attached hereto (and rounded to the nearest dollar). Curbline TRS’ payment of an Annual Bonus to Executive (other than for 2024) shall be determined based on the factors and criteria that have been or may be reasonably established from time to time for the calculation of the Annual Bonus by the Committee. For each such calendar year in the Contract Period while Executive is employed by Curbline TRS (other than 2024), the Curbline Board or the Committee will establish, and thereafter provide Executive with written notice of, the performance metrics and their relative weighting to be used in, and any specific threshold, target and maximum performance targets applicable to, the determination of the Annual Bonus for Executive for such calendar year not later than March 15 of such year. There is no guaranteed Annual Bonus under this Agreement, and for each applicable year, Executive’s Annual Bonus could be as low as zero or as high as the maximum percentage set forth on Exhibit A attached hereto. Each such Annual Bonus shall be on the terms and subject to such conditions as are specified for the particular Curbline plans or programs pursuant to which such Annual Bonus is granted.

 

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(b) 2024 Bonus. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, if the Spin-Off Date occurs during 2024, Executive will receive an annual incentive award for 2024 (“2024 Bonus”) pursuant to the terms of the Employee Matters Agreement to be entered into between SITE Centers and Curbline in connection with the Spin-Off (which terms will involve Executive receiving a truncated payment from SITE Centers for the 2024 Bonus earned for the portion of 2024 occurring prior to the Spin-Off Date (based on actual performance) (the “SITE 2024 Bonus”), and Curbline establishing a truncated 2024 Bonus award opportunity for Executive for the remaining portion of 2024 after the Spin-Off Date based on actual performance and the payout opportunities set forth on Exhibit A to this Agreement (the earned amount under such Curbline award, the “Curbline 2024 Bonus”)).

3.3 Equity Awards. The awards described in this Section 3.3 will at all times be subject to the approval of the Committee and to the terms and conditions of the Curbline Properties Corp. 2024 Equity and Incentive Compensation Plan (or its successor(s)), as in effect from time to time (collectively, the “Equity Plan”), including, without limitation, all authority and powers provided or reserved to each such plan’s administrator thereunder, as well as the award agreements for such awards. As applicable, any awards vesting in installments shall be rounded up to the next nearest share amount divisible by the number of installments.

(a) Initial Post-Spin-Off Performance-Based Award. During the Contract Period while Executive is employed by Curbline TRS, Executive shall receive a grant of performance-based Curbline restricted stock (“Restricted Stock”) or performance-based Operating Partnership Units (as such term is defined in the Equity Plan, “LTIP Units”) (or substantially similar award), as reasonably determined by Executive at least 30 days prior to the applicable grant date (otherwise such grants will be made in the form of Restricted Stock), based on a “target” number of LTIP Units (in the aggregate) equal to the quotient of (i) $600,000, divided by (ii) the average of the daily volume-weighted average prices of a Share on the Spin-Off Date and each of the nine trading days immediately thereafter on the principal stock exchange on which it then trades (the “Post-Spin Curbline 10-Day VWAP”) (such award, the “Initial Post-Spin-Off Performance-Based Award”). The Initial Post-Spin-Off Performance-Based Award shall be granted on the business day immediately following the determination of the Post-Spin Curbline 10-Day VWAP. For the avoidance of doubt, such Initial Post-Spin-Off Performance-Based Award will be issued based on its maximum value as of its date of grant, subject to forfeiture pursuant to its terms. The vesting of the Initial Post-Spin-Off Performance-Based Award will vary from 0% to 200% of the target award based on achievement with respect to metrics established by the Committee (in consultation with the CEO prior to the date of grant) measured over an approximately 37-month performance period; provided, however, that no less than 50% of the aggregate target for such award shall vest based on Curbline’s relative total shareholder return achievement relative to a peer group established by the Committee in consultation with the CEO prior to the date of grant. In general, performance against the applicable metrics will be evaluated at the end of the approximately 37-month performance period. The Initial Post-Spin-Off Performance-Based Award will earn distributions paid in cash on a deferred and contingent basis. Additional detail regarding the terms of this award will be provided in the applicable award agreement for such award.

 

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(b) Other Annual Performance-Based Awards. No later than October 15 of each calendar year during the Contract Period (starting with 2025), provided that Executive is continuously employed by Curbline TRS through the applicable date of grant, Executive shall be eligible to receive a grant of Restricted Stock or LTIP Units (or substantially similar award), in each case as reasonably determined by Executive at least 30 days prior to the applicable grant date (otherwise such grants will be made in the form of Restricted Stock), based on a “target” number of shares/units equal to the quotient of (i) $600,000, divided by (ii) the average closing price of a Share for the 10 trading days immediately preceding (but not including) the date of grant on the principal stock exchange on which it then trades (the “Annual Performance-Based Awards”). For the avoidance of doubt, each such Annual Performance-Based Award will be issued based on its maximum value as of its date of grant, subject to forfeiture pursuant to its terms. The vesting of an Annual Performance-Based Award will vary from 0% to 200% of the target award based on achievement with respect to metrics established by the Committee (in consultation with the CEO prior to the date of grant) measured over an approximately 37-month performance period; provided, however, that no less than 50% of the aggregate target for such award shall vest based on Curbline’s relative total shareholder return achievement relative to a peer group established by the Committee in consultation with the CEO prior to the date of grant. In general, performance against the applicable metrics will be evaluated at the end of the approximately 37-month performance period. Each Annual Performance-Based Award will earn distributions paid in cash on a deferred and contingent basis. Additional detail regarding the terms of these awards will be provided in the applicable award agreements for such awards.

(c) Annual Time-Based Awards. No later than March 15 of each calendar year during the Contract Period (starting with 2025), provided that Executive is continuously employed by Curbline TRS through the applicable date of grant, Executive shall be eligible to receive a grant of time-based Restricted Stock or LTIP Units (or substantially similar award), in each case as reasonably determined by Executive at least 30 days prior to the applicable grant date (otherwise such grants will be made in the form of Restricted Stock), covering a number of shares/units equal to the quotient of (i) $250,000 divided by (ii) the average closing price of a Share for the 10 trading days immediately preceding (but not including) the date of grant on the principal stock exchange on which it then trades (the “Annual Time-Based Awards”). Each Annual Time-Based Award will, in general, vest (subject to Executive’s continued employment with Curbline TRS and notwithstanding any termination of this Agreement) in four substantially equal installments on each of the first four anniversaries of the applicable date of grant, and dividends on (or distributions regarding) such Annual Time-Based Award will be paid in cash on a current basis. Additional detail regarding the terms of these awards will be provided in the applicable award agreements for such awards.

3.4 Certain Other Equity Award Terms. Subject in all cases to the terms of the Equity Plan, any Initial Post-Spin-Off Performance-Based Awards, Annual Time-Based Awards and/or Annual Performance-Based Awards, as applicable, granted to Executive in accordance with this Agreement that are not fully vested at the time of Executive’s termination of employment with Curbline TRS will vest on an accelerated basis pursuant to their terms if such termination is: (a) by Curbline without Cause; (b) by Executive for Good Reason; (c) by Curbline due to Executive’s Total Disability; or (d) due to Executive’s death; otherwise, upon Executive’s termination of employment, any unvested portions of such outstanding awards (and any related unvested or unpaid dividends or distributions) will be forfeited by Executive (unless otherwise determined by the Committee before such termination of employment).

3.5 Taxes. Executive shall be solely responsible for taxes imposed on Executive by reason of any compensation and benefits provided under this Agreement, and all such compensation and benefits shall be subject to applicable withholding taxes.

 

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4. Benefits. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Section 4, during the Remaining SITE Service Period: (a) the references in Section 4.1 to “Curbline” will be deemed references to “Curbline or SITE Centers”; and (b) other references in this Section 4 to “Curbline” will be deemed references to “SITE Centers”.

4.1 Retirement and Other Benefit Plans Generally. Throughout the Contract Period while Executive is employed by Curbline TRS, Executive will be entitled to participate in all retirement and other benefit plans maintained by Curbline that are generally available to its senior executives and with respect to which Executive is eligible pursuant to the terms of the underlying plan or plans, including, without limitation, Curbline’s 401(k) plan for its employees and any Curbline deferred compensation program.

4.2 Insurance, Generally. Throughout the Contract Period while Executive is employed by Curbline TRS, Curbline will provide an enrollment opportunity to Executive and Executive’s eligible dependents for health, dental and vision insurance coverage, other insurance (e.g., life, disability, etc.) and any other health and welfare benefits maintained by Curbline from time to time, if any, during the Contract Period that are generally available to its senior executives and with respect to which Executive is eligible pursuant to the terms of the underlying plan or plans. To the extent that Curbline maintains officer insurance coverage, Executive shall be covered by such policy on terms no less favorable than provided to other Curbline officers.

4.3 Paid Time Off. Executive will be entitled to such periods of paid time off during the Contract Period while Executive is employed by Curbline TRS as may be provided from time to time under any Curbline paid time off policy for senior executive officers.

4.4 Executive Insurance Policy. During the Contract Period while Executive is employed by Curbline TRS, Curbline shall promptly (and, in any event, within thirty (30) days following receipt from Executive of written evidence of Executive’s having made expenditures therefor) reimburse Executive (up to an aggregate maximum of $10,000 in any calendar year) for premiums paid by Executive for life, disability and/or similar insurance policies.

5. Expense Reimbursements. Curbline TRS will reimburse Executive during the Contract Period while Executive is employed by Curbline TRS for travel, entertainment, and other expenses reasonably and necessarily incurred by Executive in connection with Curbline’s business (or, during the Remaining SITE Service Period, SITE Centers’ business). Executive will provide such documentation with respect to expenses to be reimbursed as Curbline TRS may reasonably request.

6. Termination. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Section 6, to the extent that Executive’s employment with Curbline TRS terminates during the Remaining SITE Service Period, then: (a) references in this Section 6 to “Curbline” will be deemed references to “SITE Centers”; (b) references in this Section 6 to the “Curbline Board” will be deemed references to the “SITE Board”; and (c) references in this Section 6 to “Subsidiaries” will be deemed references to the subsidiaries of SITE Centers.

6.1 Death or Disability. Executive’s employment under this Agreement will terminate immediately upon Executive’s death. During the Contract Period while Executive is employed by Curbline TRS, Curbline shall terminate Executive’s employment under this Agreement immediately upon giving notice of termination if Executive is Totally Disabled (as that term is defined in Section 9.1 below) for an aggregate of 120 days in any consecutive 12 calendar months or for 90 consecutive days.

 

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6.2 For Cause by Curbline.

(a) During the Contract Period while Executive is employed by Curbline TRS, Curbline may terminate Executive’s employment under this Agreement for “Cause” at any time upon the occurrence of any of the following circumstances:

(i) willful failure by Executive substantially to perform the lawful instructions of Curbline or one of its Subsidiaries (other than as a result of total or partial incapacity due to physical or mental illness) following written notice by Curbline to Executive of such failure and 10 days within which to cure such failure;

(ii) Executive’s theft or embezzlement of the property of Curbline;

(iii) Executive’s dishonesty in the performance of Executive’s duties resulting in material harm to Curbline;

(iv) any act by Executive that constitutes (A) a felony under the laws of the United States or any state thereof or, where applicable, any other equivalent offense (including a crime subject to a custodial sentence) under the laws of the applicable jurisdiction, or (B) any other crime involving moral turpitude;

(v) willful or gross misconduct by Executive in connection with Executive’s duties to Curbline or otherwise which, in the reasonable good faith judgment of the Curbline Board, could reasonably be expected to be materially injurious to the financial condition or business reputation of Curbline, its Subsidiaries or affiliates; or

(vi) breach of the provisions of any restrictive covenants with Curbline, its Subsidiaries or affiliates.

(b) The termination of Executive’s employment under this Agreement shall not be deemed to be for “Cause” pursuant to this Section 6.2 unless and until there shall have been delivered to Executive a copy of a resolution duly adopted by the affirmative vote of not less than three-fourths of the entire membership of the Curbline Board at a meeting of the Curbline Board called and held for such purpose (after reasonable notice is provided to Executive and Executive is given an opportunity, together with counsel, to be heard before the Curbline Board) finding that, in the good faith opinion of the Curbline Board, Executive has committed the conduct described in Sections 6.2(a)(i), (ii), (iii), (iv), (v) or (vi) above, and specifying the particulars thereof in detail.

6.3 For Good Reason by Executive. During the Contract Period while Executive is employed by Curbline TRS, Executive may terminate Executive’s employment under this Agreement for “Good Reason” if any of the following circumstances occur:

(a) Curbline materially reduces Executive’s authority, duties or responsibilities with respect to Curbline from those set forth in Section 1 above;

(b) Curbline or Curbline TRS materially reduces Executive’s Base Salary, Annual Bonus opportunity, or annual equity grant opportunity from that set forth in Section 3 above (but only to the extent that such reduction results in a substantial reduction in Executive’s total compensation);

(c) Executive is required to report to anyone other than the CEO;

 

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(d) Curbline changes Executive’s principal place of employment to a location that is more than 50 miles from the geographical center of New York, NY; or

(e) Curbline or any of its Subsidiaries materially breaches any of its obligations under this Agreement.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, no termination of employment by Executive shall constitute a termination for “Good Reason” unless (i) Executive gives Curbline notice of the existence of an event described in clause (a), (b), (c), (d) or (e) above, within sixty (60) days following the occurrence thereof and (ii) Curbline does not remedy such event described in clause (a), (b), (c), (d) or (e) above, as applicable, within thirty (30) days of receiving the notice described in the preceding clause (i), and (iii) in all cases, Executive terminates employment pursuant to this Section 6.3 within one year from the date the event described in clause (a), (b), (c), (d) or (e) above initially occurred.

6.4 Without Cause by Curbline. During the Contract Period while Executive is employed by Curbline TRS, Curbline may terminate Executive’s employment under this Agreement at any time without Cause pursuant to written notice provided to Executive not less than 90 days in advance of such termination upon the affirmative vote of a majority of all of the members of the Curbline Board. Any termination under this Section 6.4 will be effective at such time during the Contract Period while Executive is employed by Curbline TRS as may be specified in that written notice, subject to the preceding sentence.

6.5 Without Good Reason by Executive. During the Contract Period while Executive is employed by Curbline TRS, Executive may terminate Executive’s employment under this Agreement at any time without Good Reason pursuant to written notice provided to Curbline not less than 90 days in advance of such termination. Any termination under this Section 6.5 will be effective at such time during the Contract Period while Executive is employed by Curbline TRS as Executive may specify in that written notice, subject to the preceding sentence.

7. Payments upon Termination. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Section 7, to the extent that Executive’s employment with Curbline TRS terminates during the Remaining SITE Service Period, then: (a) the last two references in the first sentence of Section 7.1 to “Curbline” will be deemed references to both “Curbline” and “SITE Centers”; and (b) other references in this Section 7 to “Curbline” will be deemed references to “SITE Centers”.

7.1 Upon Termination For Cause or Without Good Reason. If Executive’s employment under this Agreement is terminated by Curbline for Cause or by Executive without Good Reason during the Contract Period while Executive is employed by Curbline TRS, Curbline will pay and provide to Executive (or cause payment and provision to Executive of) the Executive’s Base Salary and any accrued but unused paid time off through the Termination Date in accordance with Curbline policy to the extent not already paid and continuing health, dental and vision insurance and other insurance (e.g. life, disability, etc.) at the levels specified in Section 4.2 through the Termination Date, and, except as may otherwise be required by law, Curbline will not pay or provide to Executive any further compensation or other benefits under this Agreement. Curbline will pay (or cause payment of) any Base Salary referred to in this Section 7.1 to Executive within 30 days of the Termination Date.

7.2 Upon Termination Without Cause or For Good Reason. If Executive’s employment under this Agreement is terminated by Curbline other than due to Cause, death or disability (pursuant to Section 6.1), or by Executive for Good Reason, during the Contract Period while Executive is employed by Curbline TRS, and Section 7.5 does not apply, Curbline will pay and provide to Executive (or cause payment and provision to Executive of) the amounts and benefits specified in

 

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this Section 7.2, except that Curbline will not be obligated to pay (or provide for payment of) the lump sum amounts specified in Section 7.2 (c), (d) and (e) unless either (x) Curbline is deemed to have waived its right to present and require a Release as provided in Section 8.2 or (y) Executive has timely executed a Release as contemplated by Section 8.3. The amounts and benefits specified in this Section 7.2 are as follows:

(a) A lump sum amount equal to Executive’s Base Salary and any accrued but unused paid time off for the year through the Termination Date, to the extent not already paid in accordance with applicable policy. Curbline will pay (or cause payment of) this amount to Executive within 30 days of the Termination Date.

(b) A lump sum amount equal to Executive’s Annual Bonus (or 2024 Bonus, if applicable) earned for the calendar year immediately preceding the calendar year in which the Termination Date occurs, to the extent not already paid. Curbline will pay (or cause payment of) this amount to Executive on the same date and in the same amount that the Annual Bonus (or 2024 Bonus, if applicable) for such year would have been paid if Executive’s employment had not been terminated, but in any event not later than March 15 of the calendar year in which the Termination Date occurs.

(c) A lump sum amount equal in value to Executive’s Annual Bonus (or 2024 Bonus, if applicable, and to the extent unpaid) that would have been earned for the calendar year in which the Termination Date occurs, pro-rated based on the number of days that Executive is employed by Curbline TRS during the applicable performance period, and calculated on the basis of actual performance of the applicable performance objectives for the entire performance period. Subject to Section 13.1, Curbline will pay (or cause payment of) this amount to Executive on the same date that such Annual Bonus (or 2024 Bonus, if applicable) for such year would have been paid if Executive’s employment had not been terminated, but in any event not later than March 15 of the calendar year following the calendar year in which the Termination Date occurs.

(d) A lump sum amount equal to 1.5 times the sum of (i) Executive’s annual Base Salary as of the Termination Date, plus (ii) an amount equal to the average of the Annual Bonuses earned by Executive in the three fiscal years ending immediately prior to the fiscal year in which the Termination Date occurs (the “Average Annual Bonus”). Subject to Section 13.1, Curbline will pay (or cause payment of) this amount to Executive as soon as practicable (but no later than 74 days) following the Termination Date. As applicable, any annual bonus paid by SITE Centers to Executive for a calendar year prior to 2024, and the 2024 Bonus (consisting of the SITE 2024 Bonus and the Curbline 2024 Bonus), will constitute an “Annual Bonus” for purposes of calculating the Average Annual Bonus in connection with this Section 7.2(d) or Section 7.5(d).

(e) A lump sum in cash in an amount equal to the product of (i) 18 multiplied by (ii) the sum of (A) the monthly premium (both the employee and the employer portion) for employer-provided health, dental and vision insurance benefits in effect for Executive and Executive’s eligible dependents as of the Termination Date, plus (B) the employer portion of the monthly premium for other Curbline-provided insurance (e.g., life, disability, etc.) in effect for Executive as of the Termination Date. Such payments shall be taxable to Executive. Subject to Section 13.1, Curbline will pay (or cause payment of) this amount to Executive as soon as practicable (but no later than 74 days) following the Termination Date.

 

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7.3 Upon Termination by Reason of Death. If Executive’s employment under this Agreement is terminated by reason of Executive’s death during the Contract Period while Executive is employed by Curbline TRS, Curbline will pay, or cause to be paid, and provide, or cause to be provided, to Executive’s personal representative and Executive’s eligible dependents, as appropriate, the amounts and benefits specified in this Section 7.3, except that Curbline will not be obligated to pay (or provide for payment of) the lump sum amounts specified in Section 7.3 (c) and (d) unless either (x) Curbline is deemed to have waived its right to present and require a Release as provided in Section 8.2 or (y) Executive’s personal representative has timely executed a Release as contemplated by Section 8.3. The amounts and benefits specified in this Section 7.3 are as follows:

(a) A lump sum amount equal to Executive’s Base Salary and any accrued but unused paid time off for the year through the Termination Date, to the extent not already paid in accordance with applicable policy. Curbline will pay (or cause payment of) this amount to Executive’s personal representative within 30 days of the Termination Date.

(b) A lump sum amount equal to Executive’s Annual Bonus (or 2024 Bonus, if applicable) earned for the calendar year immediately preceding the calendar year in which the Termination Date occurs, to the extent not already paid. Curbline will pay (or cause payment of) this amount to Executive’s personal representative on the same date and in the same amount that the Annual Bonus (or 2024 Bonus, if applicable) for such year would have been paid if Executive’s employment had not been terminated, but in any event not later than March 15 of the calendar year in which the Termination Date occurs.

(c) A lump sum amount equal in value to Executive’s Annual Bonus (or 2024 Bonus, if applicable, and to the extent unpaid) that would have been earned for the calendar year in which the Termination Date occurs at the “Target” level, pro-rated based on the number of days that Executive is employed by Curbline TRS during the applicable performance period. Subject to Section 13.1, Curbline will pay (or cause payment of) this amount to Executive’s personal representative as soon as practicable (but no later than 74 days) following the Termination Date.

(d) A lump sum in cash to Executive’s personal representative as soon as practicable (but no later than 74 days) following Executive’s death in an amount equal to the product of (i) 18 multiplied by (ii) the sum of (A) the monthly premium for employer-provided health, dental and vision insurance benefits at the levels specified in Section 4.2 in effect for Executive and Executive’s eligible dependents as of Executive’s death, plus (B) the employer portion of the monthly premium for other Curbline-provided insurance (e.g., life, disability, etc.) in effect for Executive as of Executive’s death.

7.4 Upon Termination by Reason of Disability. If Executive’s employment under this Agreement is terminated by Curbline pursuant to Section 6.1 during the Contract Period while Executive is employed by Curbline TRS following Executive’s disability, Curbline will pay and provide to Executive and Executive’s eligible dependents (or cause payment and provision to Executive and Executive’s eligible dependents of), as appropriate, the amounts and benefits specified in this Section 7.4, except that Curbline will not be obligated to pay (or provide for payment of) the lump sum amounts specified in Section 7.4 (c) and (d) unless either (x) Curbline is deemed to have waived its right to present and require a Release as provided in Section 8.2 or (y) Executive (or in the event of Executive’s legal incapacity, Executive’s personal representative) has timely executed a Release as contemplated by Section 8.3. The amounts and benefits specified in this Section 7.4 are as follows:

(a) A lump sum amount equal to Executive’s Base Salary and any accrued but unused paid time off for the year through the Termination Date, to the extent not already paid in accordance with applicable policy. Curbline will pay (or cause payment of) this amount to Executive within 30 days of the Termination Date.

 

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(b) A lump sum amount equal to Executive’s Annual Bonus (or 2024 Bonus, if applicable) earned for the calendar year immediately preceding the calendar year in which the Termination Date occurs, to the extent not already paid. Curbline will pay (or cause payment of) this amount to Executive on the same date and in the same amount that the Annual Bonus (or 2024 Bonus, if applicable) for such year would have been paid if Executive’s employment had not been terminated, but in any event not later than March 15 of the calendar year in which the Termination Date occurs.

(c) A lump sum amount equal in value to Executive’s Annual Bonus (or 2024 Bonus, if applicable, and to the extent unpaid) that would have been earned for the calendar year in which the Termination Date occurs at the “Target” level, pro-rated based on the number of days that Executive is employed by Curbline TRS during the applicable performance period. Subject to Section 13.1, Curbline will pay (or cause payment of) this amount to Executive as soon as practicable (but no later than 74 days) following the Termination Date.

(d) A lump sum in cash in an amount equal to the product of (i) 18 multiplied by (ii) the sum of (A) the monthly premium (both the employee and the employer portion) for employer-provided health, dental and vision insurance benefits in effect for Executive and Executive’s eligible dependents as of the Termination Date, plus (B) the employer portion of the monthly premium for other Curbline-provided insurance (e.g., life, disability, etc.) in effect for Executive as of the Termination Date. Such payments shall be taxable to Executive. Curbline will pay (or cause payment of) this amount to Executive as soon as practicable (but no later than 74 days) following the Termination Date.

7.5 Upon Termination In Connection With a Change in Control. Upon the occurrence of a Triggering Event during the Contract Period while Executive is employed by Curbline TRS, Curbline will pay and provide to Executive (or cause payment and provision to Executive of) the amounts and benefits specified in this Section 7.5, and Curbline will be deemed to have waived its right to provide a Release as provided in Section 8.2, and the provision of a Release will not be a condition to Executive receiving any payment or benefit from (or on behalf of) Curbline under this Section 7.5. The amounts and benefits specified in this Section 7.5 are as follows:

(a) A lump sum amount equal to Executive’s Base Salary and any accrued but unused paid time off for the year through the Termination Date, to the extent not already paid in accordance with Curbline policy. Curbline will pay (or cause payment of) this amount to Executive within 30 days of the Termination Date.

(b) A lump sum amount equal to Executive’s Annual Bonus (or 2024 Bonus, if applicable) earned for the calendar year immediately preceding the calendar year in which the Termination Date occurs, to the extent not already paid. Curbline will pay (or cause payment of) this amount to Executive on the same date and in the same amount that the Annual Bonus (or 2024 Bonus, if applicable) for such year would have been paid if Executive’s employment had not been terminated, but in any event not later than March 15 of the calendar year in which the Termination Date occurs.

 

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(c) A lump sum amount equal in value to Executive’s Annual Bonus (or 2024 Bonus, if applicable, and to the extent unpaid) that would have been earned for the calendar year in which the Termination Date occurs at the “Target” level, pro-rated based on the number of days that Executive is employed by Curbline TRS during the applicable performance period. Subject to Section 13.1, Curbline will pay (or cause payment of) this amount to Executive as soon as practicable (but no later than 74 days) following the Termination Date.

(d) A lump sum amount equal to 2.5 times the sum of (i) Executive’s annual Base Salary as of the Termination Date, plus (ii) an amount equal to the Average Annual Bonus. Subject to Section 13.1, Curbline will pay (or cause payment of) this amount to Executive as soon as practicable (but no later than 74 days) following the Termination Date.

(e) A lump sum in cash in an amount equal to the product of (i) 18 multiplied by (ii) the sum of (A) the monthly premium (both the employee and the employer portion) for employer-provided health, dental and vision insurance benefits in effect for Executive and Executive’s eligible dependents as of the Termination Date, plus (B) the employer portion of the monthly premium for other Curbline-provided insurance (e.g., life, disability, etc.) in effect for Executive as of the Termination Date. Such payments shall be taxable to Executive. Subject to Section 13.1, Curbline will pay (or cause payment of) this amount to Executive as soon as practicable (but no later than 74 days) following the Termination Date.

8. Release. This Section 8 will apply only upon termination of Executive’s employment during the Contract Period while Executive is employed by Curbline TRS (a) by Curbline without Cause, (b) by Executive for Good Reason, (c) by reason of Executive’s death or (d) by Curbline pursuant to Section 6.1 following Executive’s disability. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Section 8 (or in Exhibit B), to the extent that Executive’s employment with Curbline TRS terminates during the Remaining SITE Service Period, then: (a) references in this Section 8 to Curbline or its subsidiaries or affiliates will be deemed references to SITE Centers or its subsidiaries or affiliates, as applicable; and (b) references in this Section 8 to the “Committee” will be deemed references to “the Compensation Committee of the SITE Board”).

8.1 Presentation of Release by Curbline. If this Section 8 applies, Curbline may present to Executive (or in the case of Executive’s death or legal incapacity, to Executive’s personal representative), not later than 21 days after the Termination Date, a form of release (a “Release”) of all current and future claims, known or unknown, arising on or before the date on which the Release is to be executed, that Executive or Executive’s assigns have or may have against Curbline or any Subsidiary, and the directors, officers, and affiliates of any of them, substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit B, but subject to such modifications as may be reasonably determined necessary or appropriate by the Committee to reflect the terms and intentions of this Agreement or changes in applicable law or reasonable changes in best practices through the execution of such Release, together with a covering message in which Curbline advises Executive (or Executive’s personal representative) that the Release is being presented in accordance with this Section 8.1 and that a failure by Executive (or Executive’s personal representative) to execute and return the Release as contemplated by Section 8.3 would relieve Curbline of the obligation to make payments (or provide for payments) otherwise due to Executive (or to Executive’s personal representative) under one or more portions of Section 7.2, Section 7.3 or Section 7.4, as the case may be.

8.2 Effect of Failure by Curbline to Present Release. If Curbline fails to present a Release and covering message to Executive (or Executive’s personal representative) as contemplated by Section 8.1, Curbline will be deemed to have waived the requirement that Executive (or Executive’s personal representative) execute a Release as a condition to receiving payments under any portion of Section 7.2, Section 7.3 or Section 7.4, as the case may be.

 

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8.3 Execution of Release by Executive or Executives Personal Representative. If Curbline does present a Release and covering message to Executive (or Executive’s personal representative) as contemplated by Section 8.1, Executive (or Executive’s personal representative) will have until 60 days after the Termination Date (i.e., at least 39 days after presentation of the Release to Executive (or Executive’s personal representative)) within which to deliver an executed copy of the Release to Curbline and thereby satisfy the condition to receiving payments under any portion of Section 7.2, Section 7.3 or Section 7.4, as the case may be, provided that Executive (or Executive’s personal representative) does not revoke the execution of the Release during any applicable revocation period.

8.4 Effect of Failure to Execute Release or of Revocation of Release. If Executive (or Executive’s personal representative) fails to deliver an executed copy of the Release to Curbline within 60 days after the Termination Date or revokes the execution of the Release during any applicable revocation period, Executive (or Executive’s personal representative) will be deemed to have waived the right to receive all payments under Section 7.2, Section 7.3 or Section 7.4, as the case may be, that were conditioned on the Release.

9. Disability Definitions; Physical Examination.

9.1 Definitions. For all purposes of this Agreement:

(a) Executive’s “Own Occupation” means the regular occupation in which Executive is engaged under this Agreement at the time Executive becomes disabled.

(b) “Total Disability” means that, because of sickness or injury, Executive is not able to perform the material and substantial duties of Executive’s Own Occupation.

(c) “Totally Disabled” means that Executive suffers from Total Disability (and Executive will be deemed to continue to be Totally Disabled so long as Executive is not able to work in Executive’s Own Occupation even if Executive works in some other capacity).

9.2 Physical Examination. If either Curbline or Executive, at any time or from time to time after receipt of notice of Executive’s Total Disability from the other, desires to contend that Executive is not Totally Disabled, Executive will promptly submit to a physical examination by the chief of medicine of any major accredited hospital in the New York, New York or Cleveland, Ohio areas (at Curbline’s reasonable cost) and, unless that physician issues his or her written statement to the effect that, in his or her opinion, based on his or her diagnosis, Executive is capable of resuming Executive’s Own Occupation and discharging the duties of Executive’s Own Occupation in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, Executive will be deemed to be and to continue to be Totally Disabled for all purposes of this Agreement. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Section 9.2, to the extent that Executive’s employment with Curbline TRS terminates during the Remaining SITE Service Period and this Section 9.2 is applicable, then references in this Section 9.2 to “Curbline” will be deemed references to “SITE Centers”.

10. No Set-Off; No Obligation to Seek Other Employment or to Otherwise Mitigate Damages; No Effect Upon Other Plans. Each of Curbline and SITE Centers’ obligation to make the payments provided for in this Agreement and otherwise to perform its obligations under this Agreement will not be affected by any set-off, counterclaim, recoupment, defense, or other claim whatsoever that such entity or any subsidiary or affiliate of such entity may have against Executive, except that the prohibition on set-off, counterclaim, recoupment, defense, or other claim contained in this sentence will not apply if Executive’s employment is terminated by such entity for Cause. Executive will not be required to mitigate damages or the amount of any payment provided for under this Agreement by seeking other employment or otherwise. The

 

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amount of any payment provided for under this Agreement will not be reduced by any compensation or benefits earned by Executive as the result of employment by another employer or otherwise after the Termination Date. Neither the provisions of this Agreement nor the making of any payment provided for under this Agreement, nor the termination of any of SITE Centers or Curbline’s obligations under this Agreement, will reduce any amounts otherwise payable, or in any way diminish Executive’s rights, under any incentive compensation plan, stock option or stock appreciation rights plan, restricted stock plan or agreement, deferred compensation, retirement, or supplemental retirement plan, stock purchase and savings plan, disability or insurance plan, or other similar contract, plan, or arrangement of such entity or any subsidiary of such entity, all of which will be governed by their respective terms.

11. Payments Are in Lieu of Severance Payments. If Executive becomes entitled to receive payments under this Agreement as a result of termination of Executive’s employment, those payments will be in lieu of any and all other claims or rights that Executive may have against SITE Centers, Curbline and/or Curbline TRS for severance, separation, and/or salary continuation pay upon that termination of Executive’s employment.

12. Covenants and Confidential Information. Executive acknowledges each of SITE Centers and Curbline’s reliance on and expectation of Executive’s continued commitment to performance of Executive’s duties and responsibilities during the Contract Period while Executive is employed by Curbline TRS and Executive assumes the obligations set out in this Section 12 in light of that reliance and expectation on the part of such entities.

12.1 Noncompetition. During the Contract Period while Executive is employed by Curbline TRS, and for a period of 12 months thereafter, Executive will not, directly or indirectly, own, manage, control, or participate in the ownership, management, or control of, or be employed or engaged by or otherwise affiliated or associated as a consultant, independent contractor, or otherwise with the entities that are originally part of Curbline’s relative total shareholder return peer group, as most recently (but no later than as of the date of Executive’s termination of employment) designated with respect to performance-based awards granted to Executive; provided, however, that the ownership by Executive of not more than three percent of any class of publicly traded securities of any entity will not be deemed a violation of this Section 12.1 (such restriction that applies post-employment, the “Post-Termination Restriction”). Notwithstanding anything in this Section 12.1 to the contrary, if the inclusion of the Post-Termination Restriction in this Agreement becomes prohibited by the law applicable to this Agreement, then such Post-Termination Restriction shall be deemed inoperative and severed from this Agreement, with this Agreement further interpreted and operated as if such Post-Termination Restriction was not included in this Agreement as of the Effective Date. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Section 12.1, to the extent that Executive’s employment with Curbline TRS terminates during the Remaining SITE Service Period, then references in this Section 12.1 to “Curbline” will be deemed references to “SITE Centers”.

12.2 Confidentiality. Throughout and after the Contract Period, Executive will not disclose, divulge, discuss, copy, or otherwise use or suffer to be used in any manner, in competition with, or contrary to the interests of, the Companies, any confidential information relating to the Companies’ operations, properties, or otherwise to their particular business or other trade secrets of the Companies, it being acknowledged by Executive that all such information regarding the business of the Companies compiled or obtained by, or furnished to, Executive during Executive’s employment by or association with the Companies is confidential information and the Companies’ exclusive property, respectively. The restrictions in this Section 12.2 will not apply to any information to the extent that it (a) is clearly obtainable in the public domain, (b) becomes obtainable in the public domain, except by reason of the breach by Executive of Executive’s obligations under this Section 12.2, (c) was not acquired by Executive in connection

 

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with Executive’s employment or affiliation with the Companies, (d) was not acquired by Executive from the Companies or their representatives, or (e) is required to be disclosed by rule of law or by order of a court or governmental body or agency. However, nothing in this Agreement or in ancillary agreements is intended to interfere with or discourage the disclosure of a suspected violation of the law to any governmental entity, or to discourage Executive from participating in an investigation by a governmental entity regarding a suspected violation of the law.

12.3 Non-Disparagement.

(a) Throughout and after the Contract Period, outside the ordinary course of business on behalf of the Companies, Executive will not make or issue, or procure any person, firm, or entity to make or issue, any statement in any form, including written, oral and electronic communications of any kind, which conveys negative or adverse information concerning the Companies or their subsidiaries or affiliates, or any of their legal predecessors, successors, assigns, parents, subsidiaries, divisions or other affiliates, or any of the foregoing’s respective past, present or future directors, officers, employees or representatives (collectively, the “Non-Disparagement Parties”), or any Non-Disparagement Party’s business, or its actions, to any person or entity, regardless of the truth or falsity of such statement.

(b) Throughout and after the Contract Period, the Companies will each reasonably direct the executive officers and directors of such Company not to make or issue, or procure any person, firm, or entity to make or issue, any statement in any form, including written, oral and electronic communications of any kind, which conveys negative or adverse information concerning Executive or any of Executive’s legal successors, assigns, or other affiliates, or any of the foregoing’s respective past, present or future directors, officers, employees or representatives (collectively, the “Executive Non-Disparagement Parties”), or any Executive Non-Disparagement Party’s business, or its actions, to any person or entity, regardless of the truth or falsity of such statement.

(c) This Section 12.3 does not apply to truthful testimony or disclosure compelled or required by applicable law or legal process. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement or ancillary agreements to the contrary, Executive is not prohibited from providing information voluntarily to the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Section 21F of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

12.4 Nonsolicitation. During the Contract Period while Executive is employed by Curbline TRS, and for a period of 12 months thereafter, Executive will not directly or indirectly solicit or induce or attempt to solicit or induce any employee of the Companies and/or of any of their subsidiaries or affiliates to terminate his or her employment with the Companies and/or any of their subsidiaries. Such requirement shall not apply to Executive during the Contract Period while Executive is employed by Curbline TRS with respect to any employee of SITE Centers as permitted by the Employee Matters Agreement.

12.5 Remedies. Executive acknowledges that the remedy at law for any breach by Executive of this Section 12 may be inadequate and that the damages following from any such breach may not be readily susceptible to being measured in monetary terms. Accordingly, Executive agrees that, upon adequate proof of Executive’s violation of any legally enforceable provision of this Section 12, the Companies will be entitled to immediate injunctive relief and may obtain a temporary order restraining any threatened or further breach. Nothing in this Section 12 will be deemed to limit the Companies’ remedies at law or in equity for any breach by Executive of any of the provisions of this Section 12 that may be pursued or availed of by the Companies.

 

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12.6 Acknowledgement. Executive has carefully considered the nature and extent of the restrictions upon Executive and the rights and remedies conferred upon the Companies under this Section 12, and hereby acknowledges and agrees that the same are reasonable in time and territory, are designed to eliminate competition that otherwise would be unfair to the Companies, do not stifle the inherent skill and experience of Executive, would not operate as a bar to Executive’s sole means of support, are fully required to protect the legitimate interests of the Companies, and do not confer a benefit upon the Companies disproportionate to the detriment to Executive.

13. Compliance with Section 409A.

13.1 Six Month Delay on Certain Payments, Benefits, and Reimbursements. If Executive is a “specified employee” for purposes of Section 409A (as determined under Curbline’s policy for determining specified employees on the Termination Date), to the extent necessary to comply with Section 409A(a)(2)(B)(i), each payment, benefit, or reimbursement paid or provided under this Agreement that constitutes a “deferral of compensation” within the meaning of Section 409A, that is to be paid or provided as a result of a “separation from service” within the meaning of Section 409A, and that would otherwise be paid or provided at any time (a “Scheduled Time”) that is on or before the date (the “Six Month Date”) that is exactly six months after the Termination Date (other than payments, benefits, or reimbursements that are treated as separation pay under Section 1.409A-1(b)(9)(v) of the Treasury Regulations) will not be paid or provided at the Scheduled Time but will be accumulated (together with interest at the applicable federal rate under Section 7872(f)(2)(A) of the Internal Revenue Code in effect on the Termination Date) through the Six Month Date and paid or provided during the period of 30 consecutive days beginning on the first business day after the Six Month Date (that period of 30 consecutive days, the “Seventh Month after the Termination Date”), except that if Executive dies before the Six Month Date, the payments, benefits, or reimbursements will be accumulated only through the date of Executive’s death and thereafter paid or provided not later than 30 days after the date of death.

13.2 Additional Limitations on Reimbursements and In-Kind Benefits. The reimbursement of expenses or in-kind benefits provided under Section 7 or under any other section of this Agreement that are taxable benefits (and that are not disability pay or death benefit plans within the meaning of Section 409A) are intended to comply, to the maximum extent possible, with the exception to Section 409A set forth in Section 1.409A-1(b)(9)(v) of the Treasury Regulations. To the extent that any reimbursement of expenses or in-kind benefits provided under Section 7 or under any other section of this Agreement do not qualify for that exception and are otherwise deferred compensation subject to Section 409A , then they will be subject to the following additional rules: (i) any reimbursement of eligible expenses will be paid within 30 days following Executive’s written request for reimbursement; provided, however, that Executive provides written notice no later than 60 days before the last day of the calendar year following the calendar year in which the expense was incurred so that the reimbursement can be made within the time periods required by Section 409A; (ii) the amount of expenses eligible for reimbursement, or in-kind benefits provided, during any calendar year will not affect the amount of expenses eligible for reimbursement, or in-kind benefits to be provided, during any other calendar year; and (iii) the right to reimbursement or in-kind benefits will not be subject to liquidation or exchange for any other benefit.

 

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13.3 Compliance Generally. Each payment or reimbursement and the provision of each benefit under this Agreement shall be considered a separate payment and not one of a series of payments for purposes of Section 409A. The Companies and Executive intend that the payments and benefits provided under this Agreement will either be exempt from the application of, or comply with, the requirements of Section 409A. This Agreement is to be construed, administered, and governed in a manner that effects that intent and the Companies will not take any action that is inconsistent with that intent. Without limiting the foregoing, the payments and benefits provided under this Agreement may not be deferred, accelerated, extended, paid out, or modified in a manner that would result in the imposition of an additional tax under Section 409A upon Executive. Notwithstanding any provision of Section 7 to the contrary, if the period commencing on the Termination Date begins in one taxable year of Executive and the 74th day following the Termination Date is in a subsequent taxable year, any amounts payable under Section 7 which are considered deferred compensation under Section 409A shall be paid in such subsequent taxable year.

13.4 Termination of Employment to Constitute a Separation from Service. The parties hereto intend that the phrase “termination of employment” and words and phrases of similar import mean a “separation from service” with Curbline TRS within the meaning of Section 409A. Executive and the Companies will take all steps necessary (including taking into account this Section 13.4 when considering any further agreement regarding provision of services by Executive to Curbline after the Termination Date) to ensure that (a) any termination of employment under this Agreement constitutes a “separation from service” within the meaning of Section 409A, and (b) the Termination Date is the date on which Executive experiences a “separation from service” within the meaning of Section 409A.

14. Indemnification. Curbline will indemnify Executive, to the full extent permitted or authorized by the Maryland General Corporation Law as it may from time to time be amended, if Executive is made or threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending, or completed action, suit, or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative, or investigative, by reason of the fact that Executive is or was a director, officer, or employee of Curbline and/or of any Subsidiary, or is or was serving at the request of Curbline and/or of any Subsidiary as a director, trustee, officer, or employee of a corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, or other enterprise. The indemnification provided by this Section 14 will not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which Executive may be entitled under the articles of incorporation or the regulations of Curbline and/or of any Subsidiary, or any agreement, vote of shareholders or disinterested directors, or otherwise, both as to action in Executive’s official capacity and as to action in another capacity while holding such office, and will continue as to Executive after Executive has ceased to be a director, trustee, officer, or employee and will inure to the benefit of Executive’s heirs, executors, and administrators. In particular, Executive will continue to be entitled to the full benefit of the indemnification agreement then in effect between Executive and Curbline (the “Indemnification Agreement”) for so long as that Indemnification Agreement remains in effect according to its terms. In the event of any conflict or inconsistency between the provisions of this Section 14 and the provisions of the Indemnification Agreement, the provisions of the Indemnification Agreement shall control.

15. Adjustment of Certain Payments and Benefits. Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, if any payment or benefit to be paid or provided hereunder or under any other plan or agreement would be an “Excess Parachute Payment,” within the meaning of Section 280G of the Internal Revenue Code, or any successor provision thereto, but for the application of this sentence, then the payments and benefits to be paid or provided hereunder shall be reduced to the minimum extent necessary (but in no event to less than zero) so that no portion of any such payment or benefit, as so reduced, constitutes an Excess Parachute Payment; provided, however, that the foregoing reduction shall be made only if and to the extent that such reduction would result in an increase in the aggregate payments and benefits to be provided, determined on an after-tax basis (taking into account the excise tax imposed pursuant to Section 4999 of the Internal Revenue Code, or any successor provision thereto, any tax imposed by any comparable provision of state law, and any applicable federal, state and local income taxes). The determination of whether any reduction in such payments or benefits to be provided hereunder

 

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is required pursuant to the preceding sentence shall be made at the expense of Curbline, if requested by Executive or Curbline, by Curbline’s independent accountants or a nationally recognized law firm chosen by Curbline. The fact that Executive’s right to payments or benefits may be reduced by reason of the limitations contained in this Section 15 shall not of itself limit or otherwise affect any other rights of Executive under this Agreement. In the event that any payment or benefit intended to be provided hereunder is required to be reduced pursuant to this Section 15, then the reduction will be made in accordance with Section 409A and will occur in the following order: (a) first, by reducing any cash payments with the last scheduled payment reduced first; (b) second, by reducing any equity-based benefits that are included at full value under Q&A-24(a) of the Treasury Regulations promulgated under Section 280G of the Internal Revenue Code (the “280G Regulations”), with the highest value reduced first; (c) third, by reducing any equity-based benefits included on an acceleration value under Q&A-24(b) or 24(c) of the 280G Regulations, with the highest value reduced first; and (d) fourth, by reducing any non-cash, non-equity based benefits, with the latest scheduled benefit reduced first. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Section 15, to the extent that Executive’s employment with Curbline TRS terminates during the Remaining SITE Service Period and this Section 15 is applicable, then references in this Section 15 to “Curbline” will be deemed references to “SITE Centers”.

16. Certain Expenses. This Section 16 will apply only to expenses that (a) are otherwise described in one or more of its subsections and (b) are incurred at any time from the Effective Date through the fifth anniversary of Executive’s death.

16.1 Reimbursement of Certain Expenses. Each applicable Company (or Curbline TRS) will pay, as incurred, all expenses, including the reasonable fees of counsel engaged by Executive, of Executive in (a) prosecuting any action to compel such Company (including Curbline, on behalf of Curbline TRS) to comply with the terms of this Agreement upon receipt from Executive of an undertaking to repay such Company for such expenses if it is ultimately determined by a court of competent jurisdiction that Executive had no reasonable grounds for bringing such action or (b) defending any action brought by a party other than Executive or Executive’s personal representative to have this Agreement declared invalid or unenforceable.

16.2 Advancement of Certain Expenses. Expenses (including the reasonable fees of counsel engaged by Executive) incurred by Executive in defending any action, suit, or proceeding commenced or threatened against Executive for any action or failure to act as an employee, officer or director of one of the Companies and/or of any of its subsidiaries will be paid by such Company, as they are incurred, in advance of final disposition of the action, suit, or proceeding upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of Executive in which Executive agrees to reasonably cooperate with such Company and/or such subsidiary, as the case may be, concerning the action, suit, or proceeding, and (a) if the action, suit, or proceeding is commenced or threatened against Executive for any action or failure to act as a director, to repay the amount if it is proved by clear and convincing evidence in a court of competent jurisdiction that his action or failure to act involved an act or omission undertaken with deliberate intent to cause injury to such Company or one of its subsidiaries or with reckless disregard for the best interests of such Company or one of its subsidiaries, or (b) if the action, suit, or proceeding is commenced or threatened against Executive for any action or failure to act as an officer or employee, to repay the amount if it is ultimately determined that Executive is not entitled to be indemnified. The obligation of each such Company to advance expenses provided for in this Section 16.2 will not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which Executive may be entitled under the articles/certificate of incorporation or the regulations/bylaws of such Company or of any of its subsidiaries, or any agreement, vote of shareholders or disinterested directors, or otherwise.

 

17


17. Survival of Obligations. Except as is otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement, the respective obligations of each of the Companies (and Curbline TRS) and Executive under this Agreement will survive any termination of Executive’s employment under this Agreement.

18. Notices. Notices and all other communications provided for in this Agreement must be in writing and will be deemed to have been duly given upon receipt (or rejection) when delivered in person or by overnight delivery (to the chief legal officer of Curbline in the case of notices to Curbline and/or Curbline TRS, to the chief legal officer of SITE Centers in the case of notices to SITE Centers, and to Executive in the case of notices to Executive) or mailed by United States registered mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, and addressed, (a) if to Curbline, to its principal place of business, attention: Chief Legal Officer, (b) if to Curbline TRS, to its principal place of business, attention: Chief Legal Officer, (c) if to SITE Centers, to its principal place of business, attention: Chief Legal Officer, and (d) if to Executive, to Executive’s home address last shown on the records of Curbline, or to such other address or addresses as a party may furnish to the others in accordance with this Section 18.

19. Entire Agreement. Except as otherwise set forth below in this Section 19 or as otherwise described herein, this Agreement and the agreements specifically referenced herein supersede in their entirety all prior agreements between the parties, if any, and all understandings between them, if any, with respect to the subject matter of this Agreement, including the Employment Agreement, dated as of September 15, 2023, between SITE Centers and Executive. As provided in Section 14, Executive will continue to be entitled to the full benefit of the Indemnification Agreement for so long as it remains in effect according to its terms. For purposes of clarification, notwithstanding anything in the 2023 Agreement or this Agreement to the contrary, there shall be no duplication of compensation and benefits under the 2023 Agreement and this Agreement.

20. Mandatory Arbitration Before a Change in Control. Section 20.1 will apply if and only if a party to this Agreement notifies another party to this Agreement, in writing, that it is demanding resolution of a then-current controversy or claim by arbitration and the notice is provided by the notifying party to such other party before any Change in Control has occurred. Nothing in this Section 20 will limit the right of each of the Companies to seek and obtain injunctive relief in a court of equity for any breach or threatened breach by Executive of any of Executive’s covenants contained in Section 12 above.

20.1 Scope of Arbitration. If this Section 20.1 applies, any controversy or claim arising out of or relating to this Agreement or any breach of this Agreement will be settled by binding arbitration to be held before three arbitrators and conducted in accordance with the Employment Arbitration Rules and Mediation Procedures of the American Arbitration Association in the City of Cleveland, Ohio or New York, New York. The decision of the arbitrators will be final and binding on such parties and judgment on any award rendered by the arbitrators may be entered in any court of competent jurisdiction. Costs and expenses of any such arbitration will be borne by the parties as may be directed by the arbitrators taking into account the extent to which the positions taken by such parties are reasonable. The arbitrators will have the power to issue mandatory orders and restraining orders in connection with any such arbitration.

20.2 Other Disputes. If Section 20.1 does not apply to any claim or controversy between such parties, such parties may nevertheless, but need not, mutually agree to submit any controversy or claim to arbitration as though Section 20.1 did apply. Failing any such mutual agreement, either of such parties may bring proceedings against the other with respect to any claim or controversy in any court of competent jurisdiction that satisfies the venue requirements set forth in Section 21.8. Nothing in this Section 20.2 imposes upon either of such parties any obligation to discuss possible arbitration of any claim or controversy to which Section 20.1 does not apply before bringing any court proceedings with respect to that claim or controversy.

 

18


21. Miscellaneous.

21.1 No Conflict. Executive represents and warrants that Executive is not a party to any agreement, contract, or understanding, whether employment or otherwise, that would restrict or prohibit Executive from undertaking or performing employment in accordance with the terms and conditions of this Agreement.

21.2 Assistance. During the term of this Agreement and thereafter, Executive will provide reasonable assistance to each of the Companies in litigation and regulatory matters that relate to events that occurred during Executive’s period of employment with each of such Company or Curbline TRS and its predecessors, and will provide reasonable assistance to each of the Companies with matters relating to its corporate history from the period of Executive’s employment with it (or Curbline TRS) or its predecessors. Executive will be entitled to reimbursement of reasonable out-of-pocket travel or related costs and expenses relating to any such cooperation or assistance that occurs following the Termination Date.

21.3 Severability. The provisions of this Agreement are severable and if any one or more provision is determined to be illegal or otherwise unenforceable, in whole or in part, the remaining provisions and any partially unenforceable provision to the extent enforceable in any jurisdiction nevertheless will be binding and enforceable.

21.4 Benefit of Agreement. The rights and obligations of SITE Centers, Curbline TRS and Curbline, respectively, under this Agreement will inure to the benefit of, and will be binding on, SITE Centers, Curbline TRS and Curbline, respectively, and each of its successors and assigns, as applicable, and the rights and obligations (other than obligations to perform services) of Executive under this Agreement will inure to the benefit of, and will be binding upon, Executive and Executive’s heirs, personal representatives, and assigns.

21.5 No Waiver. The failure of any party to enforce any provision or provisions of this Agreement will not in any way be construed as a waiver of any such provision or provisions as to any future violations thereof, nor prevent that party from later enforcing each and every other provision of this Agreement. The rights granted the parties in this Agreement are cumulative and the waiver of any single remedy will not constitute a waiver of that party’s right to assert all other legal remedies available to it under the circumstances.

21.6 Modification. This Agreement may not be modified or terminated orally. No modification or termination will be valid unless in writing and signed by the parties against which the modification or termination is sought to be enforced. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, Executive acknowledges and agrees that this Agreement and any compensation described herein (or described in the 2023 Agreement or any predecessor agreement) are subject to the terms and conditions of SITE Centers’ or Curbline’s clawback provisions, policy or policies, respectively, as may be in effect from time to time, including specifically to implement Section 10D of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and any applicable rules or regulations promulgated thereunder (including applicable rules and regulations of any national securities exchange on which such Company’s shares at any point may be traded) (the “Compensation Recovery Policy”), and applicable sections of this Agreement (or the 2023 Agreement or any predecessor agreement) and any related documents shall be deemed superseded by and subject to (as applicable) the terms and conditions of the Compensation Recovery Policy. Further, Executive agrees to fully cooperate with each of the Companies in connection with any of Executive’s obligations to such Company pursuant to the Compensation Recovery Policy, and agrees that such Company may enforce its rights under the Compensation Recovery Policy through any and all reasonable means permitted under applicable law as it deems necessary or desirable under the Compensation Recovery Policy, in each case from and after the effective dates thereof.

 

19


21.7 Merger or Transfer of Assets of Curbline. During the Contract Period while Executive is employed by Curbline TRS, Curbline will not consolidate with or merge into any other corporation, or transfer all or substantially all of its assets to another corporation, unless such other corporation assumes this Agreement in a signed writing and delivers a copy thereof to Executive, which signed writing may consist of the merger or sale agreement, or similar document. Upon any such assumption, the successor corporation will become obligated to perform the obligations of Curbline and Curbline TRS under this Agreement, and the term “Curbline,” as used in this Agreement, will be deemed to refer to that successor corporation, and the term “Curbline Board” as used in this Agreement will be deemed to refer to the board of directors of that successor corporation.

21.8 Governing Law and Venue. The provisions of this Agreement will be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Maryland applicable to contracts made in and to be performed exclusively within that State, notwithstanding any conflict of law provision to the contrary. Subject to the mandatory arbitration provisions of Section 20, the parties consent to venue and personal jurisdiction over them in the courts of the State of Maryland and federal courts sitting in Maryland, for purposes of construing and enforcing this Agreement.

21.9 Termination of Status as Director or Officer. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, unless otherwise agreed to by a Company (or Curbline TRS) and Executive prior to the Termination Date, as applicable, Executive shall be deemed to have automatically resigned from all directorships and offices with the Companies and their subsidiaries, and their affiliates (including joint ventures), as of the Termination Date.

22. Definitions.

22.1 Cause. The term “Cause” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.2.

22.2 Change in Control. For purposes of this Agreement, the term “Change in Control” means the occurrence, during the Contract Period while Executive is employed by Curbline TRS, of any of the following:

(a) consummation of a reorganization, merger or consolidation, or a sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of Curbline, or the acquisition of assets of another corporation or other transaction (“Business Combination”), but excluding any Business Combination pursuant to which (i) the individuals and entities who were the beneficial owners of the then-outstanding voting securities of Curbline entitled to vote generally in the election of directors immediately prior to such Business Combination beneficially own, directly or indirectly, more than 60% of, respectively, the then-outstanding shares of common stock and the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, as the case may be, of the entity resulting from such Business Combination (including, without limitation, an entity that as a result of such transaction owns Curbline or all or substantially all of Curbline’s assets either directly or through one or more subsidiaries), (ii) no individual, entity or group (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or 14(d)(2) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) (excluding Curbline, any employee benefit plan (or related trust) of Curbline or a Subsidiary, or such entity resulting from such Business Combination) beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, 30% or more of the combined voting power of the then-outstanding securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors of the entity resulting from such Business Combination and (iii) at least a majority of the members of the board of directors of the entity resulting from such Business Combination were members of the Curbline Board at the time of the execution of the initial agreement, or of the action of the Curbline Board, providing for such Business Combination;

 

20


(b) any person or other entity (other than Curbline or a Subsidiary or any Curbline employee benefit plan (including any trustee of any such plan acting in its capacity as trustee)) purchases any Shares (or securities convertible into Shares) pursuant to a tender or exchange offer without the prior consent of the Curbline Board, or becomes the beneficial owner of securities of Curbline representing 30% or more of the voting power of Curbline’s outstanding securities without the prior consent of the Curbline Board;

(c) during any two-year period, individuals who at the beginning of such period constitute the entire Curbline Board cease to constitute a majority of the Curbline Board; provided, that any person becoming a director of Curbline during such two-year period whose election, or nomination for election by Curbline’s shareholders, was approved by a vote of at least two-thirds of the directors who at the beginning of such period constituted the entire Curbline Board or who became a director of Curbline during such two-year period as described in this proviso (either by a specific vote or by approval of Curbline’s proxy statement in which such person is named as a nominee of Curbline for director), but excluding for this purpose any person whose initial assumption of office as a director of Curbline occurs as a result of either an actual or threatened election contest with respect to the election or removal of directors of Curbline or other actual or threatened solicitation of proxies or consents by or on behalf of an individual, corporation, partnership, group, associate or other entity or person other than the Curbline Board, shall be, for purposes of this Section 22.2(c), considered as though such person was a member of the Curbline Board at the beginning of such period; or

(d) approval by the stockholders of Curbline of a complete liquidation or dissolution of Curbline except pursuant to a Business Combination that complies with clauses (i), (ii) and (iii) of subsection (a) above.

22.3 Committee. The term “Committee” means the Compensation Committee of the Curbline Board or any other committee or subcommittee authorized by the Curbline Board to discharge the Curbline Board’s responsibilities relating to the compensation of Curbline’s officers and directors.

22.4 Good Reason. The term “Good Reason” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.3.

22.5 Internal Revenue Code. The term “Internal Revenue Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

22.6 Section. References in this Agreement to one or more “Sections” are to sections of this Agreement, except for references to certain Sections of the Internal Revenue Code.

22.7 Section 409A. The term “Section 409A” means Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code. References in this Agreement to Section 409A are intended to include any proposed, temporary, or final regulations, or any other guidance, promulgated with respect to Section 409A by the U.S. Department of Treasury or the Internal Revenue Service.

22.8 Shares. The term “Shares” means the Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share (or such other par value as may be established from time to time), of Curbline.

22.9 Subsidiary. The term “Subsidiary” means any corporation, partnership, or other entity a majority of the voting control of which is directly or indirectly owned or controlled by Curbline.

 

21


22.10 Termination Date. The term “Termination Date” means the date on which Executive’s employment with Curbline and its Subsidiaries terminates.

22.11 Triggering Event. A “Triggering Event” for the purpose of this Agreement will be deemed to have occurred if, during the Contract Period while Executive is employed by Curbline TRS:

(a) Within two years after the date on which a Change in Control occurs, Curbline terminates the employment of Executive, other than in the case of a termination for Cause, a termination by Curbline pursuant to Section 6.1 following Executive’s disability, or a termination based on death; or

(b) Within two years after the date on which a Change in Control occurs, Executive terminates Executive’s employment with Curbline for Good Reason.

[THE REMAINDER OF THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK]

 

22


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, SITE Centers, Curbline, Curbline TRS and Executive have executed this Agreement, each of SITE Centers, Curbline and Curbline TRS by its duly authorized officer (or other appropriate party), as of the date first written above.

 

SITE CENTERS CORP.

By:

 

/s/ David R. Lukes

 

Name:

  David R. Lukes
  Title:  

President and

   

Chief Executive Officer

CURBLINE PROPERTIES CORP.

By:

 

/s/ David R. Lukes

  Name:   David R. Lukes
  Title:   President and
   

Chief Executive Officer

CURBLINE TRS LLC

By:

 

/s/ David R. Lukes

 

Name:

 

David R. Lukes

 

Its:

 

President and Chief Executive Officer

/s/ Conor Fennerty
CONOR FENNERTY

 

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EXHIBIT A

ANNUAL BONUS OPPORTUNITY

AS A PERCENTAGE OF YEAR-END BASE SALARY

 

Threshold

  

Target

  

Maximum

50%

   100%    150%


EXHIBIT B

Form of Release

In consideration of certain benefits provided to Conor M. Fennerty (“Executive”) and to be received by Executive from Curbline Properties Corp. (the “Company”) and/or its subsidiaries as described in the Assigned Employment Agreement, dated as of September 1, 2024, by and among SITE Centers Corp., the Company, Curbline TRS LLC (“Curbline TRS”) and Executive (the “Agreement”):

 

1.

Claims Released. Executive, for himself and on behalf of anyone claiming through Executive including each and all of Executive’s legal representatives, administrators, executors, heirs, successors and assigns (collectively, the “Executive Releasors”), does hereby fully, finally and forever release, absolve and discharge the Company and each and all of its legal predecessors, successors, assigns, fiduciaries, parents, subsidiaries, divisions and other affiliates (including Curbline TRS), and each of the foregoing’s respective past, present and future principals, partners, shareholders, directors, officers, employees, agents, consultants, attorneys, trustees, administrators, executors and representatives (collectively, the “Company Released Parties”), of, from and for any and all claims, causes of action, lawsuits, controversies, liabilities, losses, damages, costs, expenses and demands of any nature whatsoever, at law or in equity, whether known or unknown, asserted or unasserted, foreseen or unforeseen, that the Executive Releasors (or any of them) now have, have ever had, or may have against the Company Released Parties (or any of them) based upon, arising out of, concerning, relating to or resulting from any act, omission, matter, fact, occurrence, transaction, claim, contention, statement or event occurring or existing at any time in the past up to and including the date on which Executive signs this Release, including, without limitation: (a) all claims arising out of or in any way relating to Executive’s employment with or separation of employment from the Company or its affiliates; (b) all claims for compensation or benefits, including salary, commissions, bonuses, vacation pay, expense reimbursements, severance pay, fringe benefits, stock options, restricted stock units or any other ownership interests in the Company Released Parties; (c) all claims for breach of contract, wrongful termination and breach of the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing; (d) all tort claims, including claims for fraud, defamation, invasion of privacy and emotional distress; (e) all other common law claims; and (f) all claims (including claims for discrimination, harassment, retaliation, attorneys fees, expenses or otherwise) that were or could have been asserted by Executive or on his behalf in any federal, state, or local court, commission, or agency, or under any federal, state, local, employment, services or other law, regulation, ordinance, constitutional provision, executive order or other source of law, including without limitation under any of the following laws, as amended from time to time: the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (the “ADEA”), as amended by the Older Workers’ Benefit Protection Act of 1990 (the “OWBPA”), Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, 42 U.S.C. §§ 1981 & 1981a, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Equal Pay Act, the Employee Retirement Income Security Act, the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2009, the Family and Medical Leave Act, Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, the National Labor Relations Act, the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Worker Adjustment Retraining and Notification Act, the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act, Federal Executive Order 11246, and the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act.


2.

Scope of Release. Nothing in this Release (a) shall release the Company from any of its obligations set forth in the Agreement or any claim that by law is non-waivable, (b) shall release the Company from any obligation to defend and/or indemnify Executive against any third party claims arising out of any action or inaction by Executive during the time of his employment and within the scope of his duties with the Company to the extent Executive has any such defense or indemnification right, and to the extent permitted by applicable law and to the extent the claims are covered by the Company’s director & officer liability insurance or (c) shall affect Executive’s right to file a claim for workers’ compensation or unemployment insurance benefits.

Executive further acknowledges that by signing this Release, Executive does not waive the right to file a charge against the Company with, communicate with or participate in any investigation by the EEOC, the Securities and Exchange Commission or any comparable state or local agency. However, Executive waives and releases, to the fullest extent legally permissible, all entitlement to any form of monetary relief arising from a charge Executive or others may file, including without limitation any costs, expenses or attorneys’ fees. Executive understands that this waiver and release of monetary relief would not affect an enforcement agency’s ability to investigate a charge or to pursue relief on behalf of others. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Executive will not give up his right to any benefits to which he is entitled under any retirement plan of the Company that is intended to be qualified under Section 401(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, or his rights, if any, under Part 6 of Subtitle B of Title I of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (COBRA), or any monetary award offered by the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Section 21F of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. By executing this Release, Executive represents that, as of the date Executive signs this Release, no claims, lawsuits, grievances, or charges have been filed by Executive or on Executive’s behalf against the Company Released Parties.

 

3.

Knowing and Voluntary ADEA Waiver. In compliance with the requirements of the OWBPA, Executive acknowledges by his signature below that, with respect to the rights and claims waived and released in this Release under the ADEA, Executive specifically acknowledges and agrees as follows: (a) Executive has read and understands the terms of this Release; (b) Executive has been advised and hereby is advised, and has had the opportunity, to consult with an attorney before signing this Release; (c) the Release is written in a manner understood by Executive; (d) Executive is releasing the Company and the other Company Released Parties from, among other things, any claims that Executive may have against them pursuant to the ADEA; (e) the releases contained in this Release do not cover rights or claims that may arise after Executive signs this Release; (f) Executive has been given a period of at least 21 days in which to consider and execute this Release (although Executive may elect not to use the full consideration period at Executive’s option); (g) Executive may revoke this Release during the seven-day period following the date on which Executive signs this Release, and this Release will not become effective and enforceable until the seven-day revocation period has expired; and (h) any such revocation must be submitted in writing to the Company c/o Lesley H. Solomon, Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary, Curbline Properties Corp., 320 Park Avenue, New York, New York 10022 prior to the expiration of such seven-day revocation period. If Executive revokes this Release within such seven-day revocation period, it shall be null and void.


4.

Acknowledgment of Restrictive Covenants. Executive acknowledges his obligations as outlined in Section 12 of the Agreement and in Section 21.6 regarding clawback or Executive forfeiture of compensation and related amounts (“Restrictive Covenants”), and acknowledges that the Restrictive Covenants remain in full force and effect.

 

5.

Entire Agreement. This Release, the Agreement, and the documents referenced therein contain the entire agreement between Executive and the Company, and take priority over any other written or oral understanding or agreement that may have existed in the past. Executive acknowledges that no other promises or agreements have been offered for this Release (other than those described above) and that no other promises or agreements will be binding unless they are in writing and signed by Executive and the Company.

I agree to the terms and conditions set forth in this Release.

 

EXECUTIVE

 

 

Date:

   

Exhibit 10.11

ASSIGNED EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

This Assigned Employment Agreement (this “Agreement”), dated as of September 1, 2024 (the “Effective Date”), is by and among SITE Centers Corp., an Ohio corporation (“SITE Centers”), Curbline Properties Corp., a Maryland corporation (“Curbline”), Curbline TRS LLC (“Curbline TRS”), and John Cattonar (“Executive”).

SITE Centers and Executive are currently parties to an Employment Agreement, dated as of September 15, 2023 (the “2023 Agreement”), reflecting the terms pursuant to which Executive has been serving SITE Centers since such date. The Board of Directors of SITE Centers (the “SITE Board”), on behalf of SITE Centers, plus the Board of Directors of Curbline (the “Curbline Board”), on behalf of Curbline and Curbline TRS, and Executive, desire to enter into this Agreement to transfer Executive’s employment from SITE Centers to Curbline TRS as of the Effective Date, and to amend and restate (and assign to Curbline and Curbline TRS) the 2023 Agreement to reflect the terms pursuant to which Executive will serve Curbline on and after the Effective Date (certain capitalized terms used in this Agreement have the meanings ascribed to them in Section 22 of this Agreement).

SITE Centers, Curbline, Curbline TRS and Executive agree, effective as of the Effective Date, as follows:

1. Employment, Term.

1.1 Continued SITE Centers Service. Until the date on which SITE Centers consummates its proposed spin-off of Curbline (such spin-off, the “Spin-Off,” and such date, the “Spin-Off Date”), SITE Centers will continue to engage Executive to render services in the administration and operation of its affairs as its Executive Vice President and Chief Investment Officer, reporting directly to SITE Centers’ Chief Executive Officer (the “SITE CEO”) and performing such duties and having such responsibilities and authority as are customarily incident to the principal investment officers of companies similar in size to, and in a similar business as, SITE Centers, together with such other duties as, from time to time, may be specified by the SITE CEO, in a manner consistent with Executive’s status as Executive Vice President and Chief Investment Officer of SITE Centers. On and immediately after the Spin-Off Date, Executive will continue to render services to SITE Centers as its Executive Vice President and Chief Investment Officer, at the pleasure of the SITE Board and the Curbline Board, subject to the terms of this Agreement and the Shared Services Agreement to be entered into on the Spin-Off Date among SITE Centers, Curbline and Curbline Properties LP. Executive acknowledges that any termination of Executive’s service to SITE Centers after the Pre-Spin SITE Service Period shall not trigger severance compensation or benefits for Executive under any of the 2023 Agreement or this Agreement. The period of time from the Effective Date until the Spin-Off Date is sometimes referred to herein as the “Pre-Spin SITE Service Period.”

1.2 Assignment of Agreement to Curbline TRS; Transfer of Employment to Curbline TRS; Curbline Service. As of the Effective Date, SITE Centers hereby transfers Executive’s employment to Curbline TRS, a wholly-owned indirect subsidiary of Curbline, and the 2023 Agreement is superseded and replaced by the terms of this Agreement. Curbline TRS hereby engages and employs Executive to render services in the administration and operation of Curbline’s affairs as Curbline’s Executive Vice President and Chief Investment Officer, reporting directly to Curbline’s Chief Executive Officer (the “CEO”) and performing such duties and having such responsibilities and authority as are customarily incident to the principal financial officers of companies similar in size to, and in a similar business as, Curbline, together with such other duties as, from time to time, may be specified by the CEO, in a manner consistent with


Executive’s status as Curbline’s Executive Vice President and Chief Investment Officer, all in accordance with the terms and conditions of this Agreement, for a term extending from the Effective Date through September 30, 2026. The period of time from the Effective Date through September 30, 2026 is sometimes referred to herein as the “Contract Period.” During the Contract Period while Executive is employed by Curbline TRS, Executive shall report to the CEO. SITE Centers and Curbline, together, are sometimes referred to herein as the “Companies”.

2. Full-Time Services. Throughout the Contract Period while Executive is employed by Curbline TRS, Executive will devote substantially all of Executive’s business time and efforts to the service of Curbline, except for (a) usual vacation periods and reasonable periods of illness, (b) reasonable periods of time devoted to Executive’s personal financial affairs, (c) with the prior consent of the CEO, services as a director or trustee of other corporations or organizations, either for profit or not for profit, that are not in competition with Curbline, and (d) reasonable service to SITE Centers during the Pre-Spin SITE Service Period or as otherwise permitted by the Curbline Board following the Pre-Spin SITE Service Period; provided, however, that in no event shall Executive devote less than 90% of Executive’s business time and efforts to the service of Curbline (other than in service to SITE Centers during the Pre-Spin SITE Service Period or as permitted by the Curbline Board following the Pre-Spin SITE Service Period).

3. Compensation. For all services to be rendered by Executive to Curbline under this Agreement during the Contract Period while Executive is employed by Curbline TRS (or, as applicable, for all services to be rendered by Executive to SITE Centers under this Agreement during and after the Pre-Spin SITE Service Period), including services as Curbline’s Executive Vice President and Chief Investment Officer and any other services specified by the CEO, Curbline or Curbline TRS will pay and provide to Executive the compensation and benefits as specified in this Section 3.

3.1 Base Salary. From and after the Effective Date and through the end of the Contract Period while Executive is employed by Curbline TRS, Curbline TRS will pay Executive base salary (the “Base Salary”) in cash, in equal monthly or more frequent installments, at the rate of not less than Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($500,000) per year, subject to such increases as the Committee or the Curbline Board may approve. Any such increased Base Salary shall constitute “Base Salary” for purposes of this Agreement.

3.2 Annual Bonus.

(a) Curbline Annual Bonus. For each calendar year during the Contract Period while Executive is employed by Curbline TRS (other than 2024), subject to achievement of applicable performance criteria, Curbline TRS shall make an annual incentive payment to Executive, in cash, for such calendar year (an “Annual Bonus”) between January 1 and March 15 of the immediately subsequent calendar year, determined and calculated in accordance with the percentages set forth on Exhibit A attached hereto (and rounded to the nearest dollar). Curbline TRS’ payment of an Annual Bonus to Executive (other than for 2024) shall be determined based on the factors and criteria that have been or may be reasonably established from time to time for the calculation of the Annual Bonus by the Committee. For each such calendar year in the Contract Period while Executive is employed by Curbline TRS (other than 2024), the Curbline Board or the Committee will establish, and thereafter provide Executive with written notice of, the performance metrics and their relative weighting to be used in, and any specific threshold, target and maximum performance targets applicable to, the determination of the Annual Bonus for Executive for such calendar year not later than March 15 of such year. There is no guaranteed Annual Bonus under this Agreement, and for each applicable year, Executive’s Annual Bonus could be as low as zero or as high as the maximum percentage set forth on Exhibit A attached hereto. Each such Annual Bonus shall be on the terms and subject to such conditions as are specified for the particular Curbline plans or programs pursuant to which such Annual Bonus is granted.

 

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(b) 2024 Bonus. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, if the Spin-Off Date occurs during 2024, Executive will receive an annual incentive award for 2024 (“2024 Bonus”) pursuant to the terms of the Employee Matters Agreement to be entered into between SITE Centers and Curbline in connection with the Spin-Off (which terms will involve Executive receiving a truncated payment from SITE Centers for the 2024 Bonus earned for the portion of 2024 occurring prior to the Spin-Off Date (based on actual performance) (the “SITE 2024 Bonus”), and Curbline establishing a truncated 2024 Bonus award opportunity for Executive for the remaining portion of 2024 after the Spin-Off Date based on actual performance and the payout opportunities set forth on Exhibit A to this Agreement (the earned amount under such Curbline award, the “Curbline 2024 Bonus”)).

3.3 Equity Awards. The awards described in this Section 3.3 will at all times be subject to the approval of the Committee and to the terms and conditions of the Curbline Properties Corp. 2024 Equity and Incentive Compensation Plan (or its successor(s)), as in effect from time to time (collectively, the “Equity Plan”), including, without limitation, all authority and powers provided or reserved to each such plan’s administrator thereunder, as well as the award agreements for such awards. As applicable, any awards vesting in installments shall be rounded up to the next nearest share amount divisible by the number of installments.

(a) Initial Post-Spin-Off Performance-Based Award. During the Contract Period while Executive is employed by Curbline TRS, Executive shall receive a grant of performance-based Curbline restricted stock (“Restricted Stock”) or performance-based Operating Partnership Units (as such term is defined in the Equity Plan, “LTIP Units”) (or substantially similar award), as reasonably determined by Executive at least 30 days prior to the applicable grant date (otherwise such grants will be made in the form of Restricted Stock), based on a “target” number of LTIP Units (in the aggregate) equal to the quotient of (i) $600,000, divided by (ii) the average of the daily volume-weighted average prices of a Share on the Spin-Off Date and each of the nine trading days immediately thereafter on the principal stock exchange on which it then trades (the “Post-Spin Curbline 10-Day VWAP”) (such award, the “Initial Post-Spin-Off Performance-Based Award”). The Initial Post-Spin-Off Performance-Based Award shall be granted on the business day immediately following the determination of the Post-Spin Curbline 10-Day VWAP. For the avoidance of doubt, such Initial Post-Spin-Off Performance-Based Award will be issued based on its maximum value as of its date of grant, subject to forfeiture pursuant to its terms. The vesting of the Initial Post-Spin-Off Performance-Based Award will vary from 0% to 200% of the target award based on achievement with respect to metrics established by the Committee (in consultation with the CEO prior to the date of grant) measured over an approximately 37-month performance period; provided, however, that no less than 50% of the aggregate target for such award shall vest based on Curbline’s relative total shareholder return achievement relative to a peer group established by the Committee in consultation with the CEO prior to the date of grant. In general, performance against the applicable metrics will be evaluated at the end of the approximately 37-month performance period. The Initial Post-Spin-Off Performance-Based Award will earn distributions paid in cash on a deferred and contingent basis. Additional detail regarding the terms of this award will be provided in the applicable award agreement for such award.

 

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(b) Other Annual Performance-Based Awards. No later than October 15 of each calendar year during the Contract Period (starting with 2025), provided that Executive is continuously employed by Curbline TRS through the applicable date of grant, Executive shall be eligible to receive a grant of Restricted Stock or LTIP Units (or substantially similar award), in each case as reasonably determined by Executive at least 30 days prior to the applicable grant date (otherwise such grants will be made in the form of Restricted Stock), based on a “target” number of shares/units equal to the quotient of (i) $600,000, divided by (ii) the average closing price of a Share for the 10 trading days immediately preceding (but not including) the date of grant on the principal stock exchange on which it then trades (the “Annual Performance-Based Awards”). For the avoidance of doubt, each such Annual Performance-Based Award will be issued based on its maximum value as of its date of grant, subject to forfeiture pursuant to its terms. The vesting of an Annual Performance-Based Award will vary from 0% to 200% of the target award based on achievement with respect to metrics established by the Committee (in consultation with the CEO prior to the date of grant) measured over an approximately 37-month performance period; provided, however, that no less than 50% of the aggregate target for such award shall vest based on Curbline’s relative total shareholder return achievement relative to a peer group established by the Committee in consultation with the CEO prior to the date of grant. In general, performance against the applicable metrics will be evaluated at the end of the approximately 37-month performance period. Each Annual Performance-Based Award will earn distributions paid in cash on a deferred and contingent basis. Additional detail regarding the terms of these awards will be provided in the applicable award agreements for such awards.

(c) Annual Time-Based Awards. No later than March 15 of each calendar year during the Contract Period (starting with 2025), provided that Executive is continuously employed by Curbline TRS through the applicable date of grant, Executive shall be eligible to receive a grant of time-based Restricted Stock or LTIP Units (or substantially similar award), in each case as reasonably determined by Executive at least 30 days prior to the applicable grant date (otherwise such grants will be made in the form of Restricted Stock), covering a number of shares/units equal to the quotient of (i) $150,000 divided by (ii) the average closing price of a Share for the 10 trading days immediately preceding (but not including) the date of grant on the principal stock exchange on which it then trades (the “Annual Time-Based Awards”). Each Annual Time-Based Award will, in general, vest (subject to Executive’s continued employment with Curbline TRS and notwithstanding any termination of this Agreement) in four substantially equal installments on each of the first four anniversaries of the applicable date of grant, and dividends on (or distributions regarding) such Annual Time-Based Award will be paid in cash on a current basis. Additional detail regarding the terms of these awards will be provided in the applicable award agreements for such awards.

3.4 Certain Other Equity Award Terms. Subject in all cases to the terms of the Equity Plan, any Initial Post-Spin-Off Performance-Based Awards, Annual Time-Based Awards and/or Annual Performance-Based Awards, as applicable, granted to Executive in accordance with this Agreement that are not fully vested at the time of Executive’s termination of employment with Curbline TRS will vest on an accelerated basis pursuant to their terms if such termination is: (a) by Curbline without Cause; (b) by Executive for Good Reason; (c) by Curbline due to Executive’s Total Disability; or (d) due to Executive’s death; otherwise, upon Executive’s termination of employment, any unvested portions of such outstanding awards (and any related unvested or unpaid dividends or distributions) will be forfeited by Executive (unless otherwise determined by the Committee before such termination of employment).

 

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3.5 Taxes. Executive shall be solely responsible for taxes imposed on Executive by reason of any compensation and benefits provided under this Agreement, and all such compensation and benefits shall be subject to applicable withholding taxes.

4. Benefits. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Section 4, during the Pre-Spin SITE Service Period: (a) the references in Section 4.1 to “Curbline” will be deemed references to “Curbline or SITE Centers”; and (b) other references in this Section 4 to “Curbline” will be deemed references to “SITE Centers”.

4.1 Retirement and Other Benefit Plans Generally. Throughout the Contract Period while Executive is employed by Curbline TRS, Executive will be entitled to participate in all retirement and other benefit plans maintained by Curbline that are generally available to its senior executives and with respect to which Executive is eligible pursuant to the terms of the underlying plan or plans, including, without limitation, Curbline’s 401(k) plan for its employees and any Curbline deferred compensation program.

4.2 Insurance, Generally. Throughout the Contract Period while Executive is employed by Curbline TRS, Curbline will provide an enrollment opportunity to Executive and Executive’s eligible dependents for health, dental and vision insurance coverage, other insurance (e.g., life, disability, etc.) and any other health and welfare benefits maintained by Curbline from time to time, if any, during the Contract Period that are generally available to its senior executives and with respect to which Executive is eligible pursuant to the terms of the underlying plan or plans. To the extent that Curbline maintains officer insurance coverage, Executive shall be covered by such policy on terms no less favorable than provided to other Curbline officers.

4.3 Paid Time Off. Executive will be entitled to such periods of paid time off during the Contract Period while Executive is employed by Curbline TRS as may be provided from time to time under any Curbline paid time off policy for senior executive officers.

5. Expense Reimbursements. Curbline TRS will reimburse Executive during the Contract Period while Executive is employed by Curbline TRS for travel, entertainment, and other expenses reasonably and necessarily incurred by Executive in connection with Curbline’s business (or, during and after the Pre-Spin SITE Service Period, SITE Centers’ business). Executive will provide such documentation with respect to expenses to be reimbursed as Curbline TRS may reasonably request.

6. Termination. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Section 6, to the extent that Executive’s employment with Curbline TRS terminates during the Pre-Spin SITE Service Period, then: (a) references in this Section 6 to “Curbline” will be deemed references to “SITE Centers”; (b) references in this Section 6 to the “Curbline Board” will be deemed references to the “SITE Board”; and (c) references in this Section 6 to “Subsidiaries” will be deemed references to the subsidiaries of SITE Centers.

6.1 Death or Disability. Executive’s employment under this Agreement will terminate immediately upon Executive’s death. During the Contract Period while Executive is employed by Curbline TRS, Curbline shall terminate Executive’s employment under this Agreement immediately upon giving notice of termination if Executive is Totally Disabled (as that term is defined in Section 9.1 below) for an aggregate of 120 days in any consecutive 12 calendar months or for 90 consecutive days.

 

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6.2 For Cause by Curbline.

(a) During the Contract Period while Executive is employed by Curbline TRS, Curbline may terminate Executive’s employment under this Agreement for “Cause” at any time upon the occurrence of any of the following circumstances:

(i) willful failure by Executive substantially to perform the lawful instructions of Curbline or one of its Subsidiaries (other than as a result of total or partial incapacity due to physical or mental illness) following written notice by Curbline to Executive of such failure and 10 days within which to cure such failure;

(ii) Executive’s theft or embezzlement of the property of Curbline;

(iii) Executive’s dishonesty in the performance of Executive’s duties resulting in material harm to Curbline;

(iv) any act by Executive that constitutes (A) a felony under the laws of the United States or any state thereof or, where applicable, any other equivalent offense (including a crime subject to a custodial sentence) under the laws of the applicable jurisdiction, or (B) any other crime involving moral turpitude;

(v) willful or gross misconduct by Executive in connection with Executive’s duties to Curbline or otherwise which, in the reasonable good faith judgment of the Curbline Board, could reasonably be expected to be materially injurious to the financial condition or business reputation of Curbline, its Subsidiaries or affiliates; or

(vi) breach of the provisions of any restrictive covenants with Curbline, its Subsidiaries or affiliates.

(b) The termination of Executive’s employment under this Agreement shall not be deemed to be for “Cause” pursuant to this Section 6.2 unless and until there shall have been delivered to Executive a copy of a resolution duly adopted by the affirmative vote of not less than three-fourths of the entire membership of the Curbline Board at a meeting of the Curbline Board called and held for such purpose (after reasonable notice is provided to Executive and Executive is given an opportunity, together with counsel, to be heard before the Curbline Board) finding that, in the good faith opinion of the Curbline Board, Executive has committed the conduct described in Sections 6.2(a)(i), (ii), (iii), (iv), (v) or (vi) above, and specifying the particulars thereof in detail.

6.3 For Good Reason by Executive. During the Contract Period while Executive is employed by Curbline TRS, Executive may terminate Executive’s employment under this Agreement for “Good Reason” if any of the following circumstances occur:

(a) Curbline materially reduces Executive’s authority, duties or responsibilities with respect to Curbline from those set forth in Section 1 above;

(b) Curbline or Curbline TRS materially reduces Executive’s Base Salary, Annual Bonus opportunity, or annual equity grant opportunity from that set forth in Section 3 above (but only to the extent that such reduction results in a substantial reduction in Executive’s total compensation);

(c) Executive is required to report to anyone other than the CEO; or

 

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(d) Curbline or any of its Subsidiaries materially breaches any of its obligations under this Agreement.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, no termination of employment by Executive shall constitute a termination for “Good Reason” unless (i) Executive gives Curbline notice of the existence of an event described in clause (a), (b), (c) or (d) above, within sixty (60) days following the occurrence thereof and (ii) Curbline does not remedy such event described in clause (a), (b), (c) or (d) above, as applicable, within thirty (30) days of receiving the notice described in the preceding clause (i), and (iii) in all cases, Executive terminates employment pursuant to this Section 6.3 within one year from the date the event described in clause (a), (b), (c) or (d) above initially occurred.

6.4 Without Cause by Curbline. During the Contract Period while Executive is employed by Curbline TRS, Curbline may terminate Executive’s employment under this Agreement at any time without Cause pursuant to written notice provided to Executive not less than 90 days in advance of such termination upon the affirmative vote of a majority of all of the members of the Curbline Board. Any termination under this Section 6.4 will be effective at such time during the Contract Period while Executive is employed by Curbline TRS as may be specified in that written notice, subject to the preceding sentence.

6.5 Without Good Reason by Executive. During the Contract Period while Executive is employed by Curbline TRS, Executive may terminate Executive’s employment under this Agreement at any time without Good Reason pursuant to written notice provided to Curbline not less than 90 days in advance of such termination. Any termination under this Section 6.5 will be effective at such time during the Contract Period while Executive is employed by Curbline TRS as Executive may specify in that written notice, subject to the preceding sentence.

7. Payments upon Termination. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Section 7, to the extent that Executive’s employment with Curbline TRS terminates during the Pre-Spin SITE Service Period, then: (a) the last two references in the first sentence of Section 7.1 to “Curbline” will be deemed references to both “Curbline” and “SITE Centers”; and (b) other references in this Section 7 to “Curbline” will be deemed references to “SITE Centers”.

7.1 Upon Termination For Cause or Without Good Reason. If Executive’s employment under this Agreement is terminated by Curbline for Cause or by Executive without Good Reason during the Contract Period while Executive is employed by Curbline TRS, Curbline will pay and provide to Executive (or cause payment and provision to Executive of) the Executive’s Base Salary and any accrued but unused paid time off through the Termination Date in accordance with Curbline policy to the extent not already paid and continuing health, dental and vision insurance and other insurance (e.g. life, disability, etc.) at the levels specified in Section 4.2 through the Termination Date, and, except as may otherwise be required by law, Curbline will not pay or provide to Executive any further compensation or other benefits under this Agreement. Curbline will pay (or cause payment of) any Base Salary referred to in this Section 7.1 to Executive within 30 days of the Termination Date.

7.2 Upon Termination Without Cause or For Good Reason. If Executive’s employment under this Agreement is terminated by Curbline other than due to Cause, death or disability (pursuant to Section 6.1), or by Executive for Good Reason, during the Contract Period while Executive is employed by Curbline TRS, and Section 7.5 does not apply, Curbline will pay and provide to Executive (or cause payment and provision to Executive of) the amounts and benefits specified in this Section 7.2, except that Curbline will not be obligated to pay (or provide for payment of) the lump sum amounts specified in Section 7.2 (c), (d) and (e) unless either (x) Curbline is deemed to have waived its right to present and require a Release as provided in Section 8.2 or (y) Executive

 

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has timely executed a Release as contemplated by Section 8.3. The amounts and benefits specified in this Section 7.2 are as follows:

(a) A lump sum amount equal to Executive’s Base Salary and any accrued but unused paid time off for the year through the Termination Date, to the extent not already paid in accordance with applicable policy. Curbline will pay (or cause payment of) this amount to Executive within 30 days of the Termination Date.

(b) A lump sum amount equal to Executive’s Annual Bonus (or 2024 Bonus, if applicable) earned for the calendar year immediately preceding the calendar year in which the Termination Date occurs, to the extent not already paid. Curbline will pay (or cause payment of) this amount to Executive on the same date and in the same amount that the Annual Bonus (or 2024 Bonus, if applicable) for such year would have been paid if Executive’s employment had not been terminated, but in any event not later than March 15 of the calendar year in which the Termination Date occurs.

(c) A lump sum amount equal in value to Executive’s Annual Bonus (or 2024 Bonus, if applicable, and to the extent unpaid) that would have been earned for the calendar year in which the Termination Date occurs, pro-rated based on the number of days that Executive is employed by Curbline TRS during the applicable performance period, and calculated on the basis of actual performance of the applicable performance objectives for the entire performance period. Subject to Section 13.1, Curbline will pay (or cause payment of) this amount to Executive on the same date that such Annual Bonus (or 2024 Bonus, if applicable) for such year would have been paid if Executive’s employment had not been terminated, but in any event not later than March 15 of the calendar year following the calendar year in which the Termination Date occurs.

(d) A lump sum amount equal to 1.5 times the sum of (i) Executive’s annual Base Salary as of the Termination Date, plus (ii) an amount equal to the average of the Annual Bonuses earned by Executive in the three fiscal years ending immediately prior to the fiscal year in which the Termination Date occurs (the “Average Annual Bonus”). Subject to Section 13.1, Curbline will pay (or cause payment of) this amount to Executive as soon as practicable (but no later than 74 days) following the Termination Date. As applicable, any annual bonus paid by SITE Centers to Executive for a calendar year prior to 2024, and the 2024 Bonus (consisting of the SITE 2024 Bonus and the Curbline 2024 Bonus), will constitute an “Annual Bonus” for purposes of calculating the Average Annual Bonus in connection with this Section 7.2(d) or Section 7.5(d).

(e) A lump sum in cash in an amount equal to the product of (i) 18 multiplied by (ii) the sum of (A) the monthly premium (both the employee and the employer portion) for employer-provided health, dental and vision insurance benefits in effect for Executive and Executive’s eligible dependents as of the Termination Date, plus (B) the employer portion of the monthly premium for other Curbline-provided insurance (e.g., life, disability, etc.) in effect for Executive as of the Termination Date. Such payments shall be taxable to Executive. Subject to Section 13.1, Curbline will pay (or cause payment of) this amount to Executive as soon as practicable (but no later than 74 days) following the Termination Date.

7.3 Upon Termination by Reason of Death. If Executive’s employment under this Agreement is terminated by reason of Executive’s death during the Contract Period while Executive is employed by Curbline TRS, Curbline will pay, or cause to be paid, and provide, or cause to be provided, to Executive’s personal representative and Executive’s eligible dependents, as appropriate, the amounts and benefits specified in this Section 7.3, except that Curbline will not

 

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be obligated to pay (or provide for payment of) the lump sum amounts specified in Section 7.3 (c) and (d) unless either (x) Curbline is deemed to have waived its right to present and require a Release as provided in Section 8.2 or (y) Executive’s personal representative has timely executed a Release as contemplated by Section 8.3. The amounts and benefits specified in this Section 7.3 are as follows:

(a) A lump sum amount equal to Executive’s Base Salary and any accrued but unused paid time off for the year through the Termination Date, to the extent not already paid in accordance with applicable policy. Curbline will pay (or cause payment of) this amount to Executive’s personal representative within 30 days of the Termination Date.

(b) A lump sum amount equal to Executive’s Annual Bonus (or 2024 Bonus, if applicable) earned for the calendar year immediately preceding the calendar year in which the Termination Date occurs, to the extent not already paid. Curbline will pay (or cause payment of) this amount to Executive’s personal representative on the same date and in the same amount that the Annual Bonus (or 2024 Bonus, if applicable) for such year would have been paid if Executive’s employment had not been terminated, but in any event not later than March 15 of the calendar year in which the Termination Date occurs.

(c) A lump sum amount equal in value to Executive’s Annual Bonus (or 2024 Bonus, if applicable, and to the extent unpaid) that would have been earned for the calendar year in which the Termination Date occurs at the “Target” level, pro-rated based on the number of days that Executive is employed by Curbline TRS during the applicable performance period. Subject to Section 13.1, Curbline will pay (or cause payment of) this amount to Executive’s personal representative as soon as practicable (but no later than 74 days) following the Termination Date.

(d) A lump sum in cash to Executive’s personal representative as soon as practicable (but no later than 74 days) following Executive’s death in an amount equal to the product of (i) 18 multiplied by (ii) the sum of (A) the monthly premium for employer-provided health, dental and vision insurance benefits at the levels specified in Section 4.2 in effect for Executive and Executive’s eligible dependents as of Executive’s death, plus (B) the employer portion of the monthly premium for other Curbline-provided insurance (e.g., life, disability, etc.) in effect for Executive as of Executive’s death.

7.4 Upon Termination by Reason of Disability. If Executive’s employment under this Agreement is terminated by Curbline pursuant to Section 6.1 during the Contract Period while Executive is employed by Curbline TRS following Executive’s disability, Curbline will pay and provide to Executive and Executive’s eligible dependents (or cause payment and provision to Executive and Executive’s eligible dependents of), as appropriate, the amounts and benefits specified in this Section 7.4, except that Curbline will not be obligated to pay (or provide for payment of) the lump sum amounts specified in Section 7.4 (c) and (d) unless either (x) Curbline is deemed to have waived its right to present and require a Release as provided in Section 8.2 or (y) Executive (or in the event of Executive’s legal incapacity, Executive’s personal representative) has timely executed a Release as contemplated by Section 8.3. The amounts and benefits specified in this Section 7.4 are as follows:

(a) A lump sum amount equal to Executive’s Base Salary and any accrued but unused paid time off for the year through the Termination Date, to the extent not already paid in accordance with applicable policy. Curbline will pay (or cause payment of) this amount to Executive within 30 days of the Termination Date.

 

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(b) A lump sum amount equal to Executive’s Annual Bonus (or 2024 Bonus, if applicable) earned for the calendar year immediately preceding the calendar year in which the Termination Date occurs, to the extent not already paid. Curbline will pay (or cause payment of) this amount to Executive on the same date and in the same amount that the Annual Bonus (or 2024 Bonus, if applicable) for such year would have been paid if Executive’s employment had not been terminated, but in any event not later than March 15 of the calendar year in which the Termination Date occurs.

(c) A lump sum amount equal in value to Executive’s Annual Bonus (or 2024 Bonus, if applicable, and to the extent unpaid) that would have been earned for the calendar year in which the Termination Date occurs at the “Target” level, pro-rated based on the number of days that Executive is employed by Curbline TRS during the applicable performance period. Subject to Section 13.1, Curbline will pay (or cause payment of) this amount to Executive as soon as practicable (but no later than 74 days) following the Termination Date.

(d) A lump sum in cash in an amount equal to the product of (i) 18 multiplied by (ii) the sum of (A) the monthly premium (both the employee and the employer portion) for employer-provided health, dental and vision insurance benefits in effect for Executive and Executive’s eligible dependents as of the Termination Date, plus (B) the employer portion of the monthly premium for other Curbline-provided insurance (e.g., life, disability, etc.) in effect for Executive as of the Termination Date. Such payments shall be taxable to Executive. Curbline will pay (or cause payment of) this amount to Executive as soon as practicable (but no later than 74 days) following the Termination Date.

7.5 Upon Termination In Connection With a Change in Control. Upon the occurrence of a Triggering Event during the Contract Period while Executive is employed by Curbline TRS, Curbline will pay and provide to Executive (or cause payment and provision to Executive of) the amounts and benefits specified in this Section 7.5, and Curbline will be deemed to have waived its right to provide a Release as provided in Section 8.2, and the provision of a Release will not be a condition to Executive receiving any payment or benefit from (or on behalf of) Curbline under this Section 7.5. The amounts and benefits specified in this Section 7.5 are as follows:

(a) A lump sum amount equal to Executive’s Base Salary and any accrued but unused paid time off for the year through the Termination Date, to the extent not already paid in accordance with Curbline policy. Curbline will pay (or cause payment of) this amount to Executive within 30 days of the Termination Date.

(b) A lump sum amount equal to Executive’s Annual Bonus (or 2024 Bonus, if applicable) earned for the calendar year immediately preceding the calendar year in which the Termination Date occurs, to the extent not already paid. Curbline will pay (or cause payment of) this amount to Executive on the same date and in the same amount that the Annual Bonus (or 2024 Bonus, if applicable) for such year would have been paid if Executive’s employment had not been terminated, but in any event not later than March 15 of the calendar year in which the Termination Date occurs.

(c) A lump sum amount equal in value to Executive’s Annual Bonus (or 2024 Bonus, if applicable, and to the extent unpaid) that would have been earned for the calendar year in which the Termination Date occurs at the “Target” level, pro-rated based on the number of days that Executive is employed by Curbline TRS during the applicable performance period. Subject to Section 13.1, Curbline will pay (or cause payment of) this amount to Executive as soon as practicable (but no later than 74 days) following the Termination Date.

 

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(d) A lump sum amount equal to 2.5 times the sum of (i) Executive’s annual Base Salary as of the Termination Date, plus (ii) an amount equal to the Average Annual Bonus. Subject to Section 13.1, Curbline will pay (or cause payment of) this amount to Executive as soon as practicable (but no later than 74 days) following the Termination Date.

(e) A lump sum in cash in an amount equal to the product of (i) 18 multiplied by (ii) the sum of (A) the monthly premium (both the employee and the employer portion) for employer-provided health, dental and vision insurance benefits in effect for Executive and Executive’s eligible dependents as of the Termination Date, plus (B) the employer portion of the monthly premium for other Curbline-provided insurance (e.g., life, disability, etc.) in effect for Executive as of the Termination Date. Such payments shall be taxable to Executive. Subject to Section 13.1, Curbline will pay (or cause payment of) this amount to Executive as soon as practicable (but no later than 74 days) following the Termination Date.

8. Release. This Section 8 will apply only upon termination of Executive’s employment during the Contract Period while Executive is employed by Curbline TRS (a) by Curbline without Cause, (b) by Executive for Good Reason, (c) by reason of Executive’s death or (d) by Curbline pursuant to Section 6.1 following Executive’s disability. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Section 8 (or in Exhibit B), to the extent that Executive’s employment with Curbline TRS terminates during the Pre-Spin SITE Service Period, then: (a) references in this Section 8 to Curbline or its subsidiaries or affiliates will be deemed references to SITE Centers or its subsidiaries or affiliates, as applicable; and (b) references in this Section 8 to the “Committee” will be deemed references to “the Compensation Committee of the SITE Board”).

8.1 Presentation of Release by Curbline. If this Section 8 applies, Curbline may present to Executive (or in the case of Executive’s death or legal incapacity, to Executive’s personal representative), not later than 21 days after the Termination Date, a form of release (a “Release”) of all current and future claims, known or unknown, arising on or before the date on which the Release is to be executed, that Executive or Executive’s assigns have or may have against Curbline or any Subsidiary, and the directors, officers, and affiliates of any of them, substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit B, but subject to such modifications as may be reasonably determined necessary or appropriate by the Committee to reflect the terms and intentions of this Agreement or changes in applicable law or reasonable changes in best practices through the execution of such Release, together with a covering message in which Curbline advises Executive (or Executive’s personal representative) that the Release is being presented in accordance with this Section 8.1 and that a failure by Executive (or Executive’s personal representative) to execute and return the Release as contemplated by Section 8.3 would relieve Curbline of the obligation to make payments (or provide for payments) otherwise due to Executive (or to Executive’s personal representative) under one or more portions of Section 7.2, Section 7.3 or Section 7.4, as the case may be.

8.2 Effect of Failure by Curbline to Present Release. If Curbline fails to present a Release and covering message to Executive (or Executive’s personal representative) as contemplated by Section 8.1, Curbline will be deemed to have waived the requirement that Executive (or Executive’s personal representative) execute a Release as a condition to receiving payments under any portion of Section 7.2, Section 7.3 or Section 7.4, as the case may be.

 

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8.3 Execution of Release by Executive or Executives Personal Representative. If Curbline does present a Release and covering message to Executive (or Executive’s personal representative) as contemplated by Section 8.1, Executive (or Executive’s personal representative) will have until 60 days after the Termination Date (i.e., at least 39 days after presentation of the Release to Executive (or Executive’s personal representative)) within which to deliver an executed copy of the Release to Curbline and thereby satisfy the condition to receiving payments under any portion of Section 7.2, Section 7.3 or Section 7.4, as the case may be, provided that Executive (or Executive’s personal representative) does not revoke the execution of the Release during any applicable revocation period.

8.4 Effect of Failure to Execute Release or of Revocation of Release. If Executive (or Executive’s personal representative) fails to deliver an executed copy of the Release to Curbline within 60 days after the Termination Date or revokes the execution of the Release during any applicable revocation period, Executive (or Executive’s personal representative) will be deemed to have waived the right to receive all payments under Section 7.2, Section 7.3 or Section 7.4, as the case may be, that were conditioned on the Release.

9. Disability Definitions; Physical Examination.

9.1 Definitions. For all purposes of this Agreement:

(a) Executive’s “Own Occupation” means the regular occupation in which Executive is engaged under this Agreement at the time Executive becomes disabled.

(b) “Total Disability” means that, because of sickness or injury, Executive is not able to perform the material and substantial duties of Executive’s Own Occupation.

(c) “Totally Disabled” means that Executive suffers from Total Disability (and Executive will be deemed to continue to be Totally Disabled so long as Executive is not able to work in Executive’s Own Occupation even if Executive works in some other capacity).

9.2 Physical Examination. If either Curbline or Executive, at any time or from time to time after receipt of notice of Executive’s Total Disability from the other, desires to contend that Executive is not Totally Disabled, Executive will promptly submit to a physical examination by the chief of medicine of any major accredited hospital in the New York, New York, Bucks County, Pennsylvania or Cleveland, Ohio areas (at Curbline’s reasonable cost) and, unless that physician issues his or her written statement to the effect that, in his or her opinion, based on his or her diagnosis, Executive is capable of resuming Executive’s Own Occupation and discharging the duties of Executive’s Own Occupation in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, Executive will be deemed to be and to continue to be Totally Disabled for all purposes of this Agreement. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Section 9.2, to the extent that Executive’s employment with Curbline TRS terminates during the Pre-Spin SITE Service Period and this Section 9.2 is applicable, then references in this Section 9.2 to “Curbline” will be deemed references to “SITE Centers”.

10. No Set-Off; No Obligation to Seek Other Employment or to Otherwise Mitigate Damages; No Effect Upon Other Plans. Each of Curbline and SITE Centers’ obligation to make the payments provided for in this Agreement and otherwise to perform its obligations under this Agreement will not be affected by any set-off, counterclaim, recoupment, defense, or other claim whatsoever that such entity or any subsidiary or affiliate of such entity may have against Executive, except that the prohibition on set-off, counterclaim, recoupment, defense, or other claim contained in this sentence will not apply if Executive’s employment is terminated by such entity for Cause. Executive will not be required to mitigate damages or the amount

 

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of any payment provided for under this Agreement by seeking other employment or otherwise. The amount of any payment provided for under this Agreement will not be reduced by any compensation or benefits earned by Executive as the result of employment by another employer or otherwise after the Termination Date. Neither the provisions of this Agreement nor the making of any payment provided for under this Agreement, nor the termination of any of SITE Centers or Curbline’s obligations under this Agreement, will reduce any amounts otherwise payable, or in any way diminish Executive’s rights, under any incentive compensation plan, stock option or stock appreciation rights plan, restricted stock plan or agreement, deferred compensation, retirement, or supplemental retirement plan, stock purchase and savings plan, disability or insurance plan, or other similar contract, plan, or arrangement of such entity or any subsidiary of such entity, all of which will be governed by their respective terms.

11. Payments Are in Lieu of Severance Payments. If Executive becomes entitled to receive payments under this Agreement as a result of termination of Executive’s employment, those payments will be in lieu of any and all other claims or rights that Executive may have against SITE Centers, Curbline and/or Curbline TRS for severance, separation, and/or salary continuation pay upon that termination of Executive’s employment.

12. Covenants and Confidential Information. Executive acknowledges each of SITE Centers and Curbline’s reliance on and expectation of Executive’s continued commitment to performance of Executive’s duties and responsibilities during the Contract Period while Executive is employed by Curbline TRS and Executive assumes the obligations set out in this Section 12 in light of that reliance and expectation on the part of such entities.

12.1 Noncompetition. During the Contract Period while Executive is employed by Curbline TRS, and for a period of 12 months thereafter, Executive will not, directly or indirectly, own, manage, control, or participate in the ownership, management, or control of, or be employed or engaged by or otherwise affiliated or associated as a consultant, independent contractor, or otherwise with the entities that are originally part of Curbline’s relative total shareholder return peer group, as most recently (but no later than as of the date of Executive’s termination of employment) designated with respect to performance-based awards granted to Executive; provided, however, that the ownership by Executive of not more than three percent of any class of publicly traded securities of any entity will not be deemed a violation of this Section 12.1 (such restriction that applies post-employment, the “Post-Termination Restriction”). Notwithstanding anything in this Section 12.1 to the contrary, if the inclusion of the Post-Termination Restriction in this Agreement becomes prohibited by the law applicable to this Agreement, then such Post-Termination Restriction shall be deemed inoperative and severed from this Agreement, with this Agreement further interpreted and operated as if such Post-Termination Restriction was not included in this Agreement as of the Effective Date. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Section 12.1, to the extent that Executive’s employment with Curbline TRS terminates during the Pre-Spin SITE Service Period, then references in this Section 12.1 to “Curbline” will be deemed references to “SITE Centers”.

12.2 Confidentiality. Throughout and after the Contract Period, Executive will not disclose, divulge, discuss, copy, or otherwise use or suffer to be used in any manner, in competition with, or contrary to the interests of, the Companies, any confidential information relating to the Companies’ operations, properties, or otherwise to their particular business or other trade secrets of the Companies, it being acknowledged by Executive that all such information regarding the business of the Companies compiled or obtained by, or furnished to, Executive during Executive’s employment by or association with the Companies is confidential information and the Companies’ exclusive property, respectively. The restrictions in this Section 12.2 will not apply to any information to the extent that it (a) is clearly obtainable in the public domain, (b) becomes obtainable in the public domain, except by reason of the breach by Executive of

 

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Executive’s obligations under this Section 12.2, (c) was not acquired by Executive in connection with Executive’s employment or affiliation with the Companies, (d) was not acquired by Executive from the Companies or their representatives, or (e) is required to be disclosed by rule of law or by order of a court or governmental body or agency. However, nothing in this Agreement or in ancillary agreements is intended to interfere with or discourage the disclosure of a suspected violation of the law to any governmental entity, or to discourage Executive from participating in an investigation by a governmental entity regarding a suspected violation of the law.

12.3 Non-Disparagement.

(a) Throughout and after the Contract Period, outside the ordinary course of business on behalf of the Companies, Executive will not make or issue, or procure any person, firm, or entity to make or issue, any statement in any form, including written, oral and electronic communications of any kind, which conveys negative or adverse information concerning the Companies or their subsidiaries or affiliates, or any of their legal predecessors, successors, assigns, parents, subsidiaries, divisions or other affiliates, or any of the foregoing’s respective past, present or future directors, officers, employees or representatives (collectively, the “Non-Disparagement Parties”), or any Non-Disparagement Party’s business, or its actions, to any person or entity, regardless of the truth or falsity of such statement.

(b) Throughout and after the Contract Period, the Companies will each reasonably direct the executive officers and directors of such Company not to make or issue, or procure any person, firm, or entity to make or issue, any statement in any form, including written, oral and electronic communications of any kind, which conveys negative or adverse information concerning Executive or any of Executive’s legal successors, assigns, or other affiliates, or any of the foregoing’s respective past, present or future directors, officers, employees or representatives (collectively, the “Executive Non-Disparagement Parties”), or any Executive Non-Disparagement Party’s business, or its actions, to any person or entity, regardless of the truth or falsity of such statement.

(c) This Section 12.3 does not apply to truthful testimony or disclosure compelled or required by applicable law or legal process. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement or ancillary agreements to the contrary, Executive is not prohibited from providing information voluntarily to the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Section 21F of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

12.4 Nonsolicitation. During the Contract Period while Executive is employed by Curbline TRS, and for a period of 12 months thereafter, Executive will not directly or indirectly solicit or induce or attempt to solicit or induce any employee of the Companies and/or of any of their subsidiaries or affiliates to terminate his or her employment with the Companies and/or any of their subsidiaries. Such requirement shall not apply to Executive during the Contract Period while Executive is employed by Curbline TRS with respect to any employee of SITE Centers as permitted by the Employee Matters Agreement.

12.5 Remedies. Executive acknowledges that the remedy at law for any breach by Executive of this Section 12 may be inadequate and that the damages following from any such breach may not be readily susceptible to being measured in monetary terms. Accordingly, Executive agrees that, upon adequate proof of Executive’s violation of any legally enforceable provision of this Section 12, the Companies will be entitled to immediate injunctive relief and may obtain a temporary order restraining any threatened or further breach. Nothing in this Section 12 will be deemed to limit the Companies’ remedies at law or in equity for any breach by Executive of any of the provisions of this Section 12 that may be pursued or availed of by the Companies.

 

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12.6 Acknowledgement. Executive has carefully considered the nature and extent of the restrictions upon Executive and the rights and remedies conferred upon the Companies under this Section 12, and hereby acknowledges and agrees that the same are reasonable in time and territory, are designed to eliminate competition that otherwise would be unfair to the Companies, do not stifle the inherent skill and experience of Executive, would not operate as a bar to Executive’s sole means of support, are fully required to protect the legitimate interests of the Companies, and do not confer a benefit upon the Companies disproportionate to the detriment to Executive.

13. Compliance with Section 409A.

13.1 Six Month Delay on Certain Payments, Benefits, and Reimbursements. If Executive is a “specified employee” for purposes of Section 409A (as determined under Curbline’s policy for determining specified employees on the Termination Date), to the extent necessary to comply with Section 409A(a)(2)(B)(i), each payment, benefit, or reimbursement paid or provided under this Agreement that constitutes a “deferral of compensation” within the meaning of Section 409A, that is to be paid or provided as a result of a “separation from service” within the meaning of Section 409A, and that would otherwise be paid or provided at any time (a “Scheduled Time”) that is on or before the date (the “Six Month Date”) that is exactly six months after the Termination Date (other than payments, benefits, or reimbursements that are treated as separation pay under Section 1.409A-1(b)(9)(v) of the Treasury Regulations) will not be paid or provided at the Scheduled Time but will be accumulated (together with interest at the applicable federal rate under Section 7872(f)(2)(A) of the Internal Revenue Code in effect on the Termination Date) through the Six Month Date and paid or provided during the period of 30 consecutive days beginning on the first business day after the Six Month Date (that period of 30 consecutive days, the “Seventh Month after the Termination Date”), except that if Executive dies before the Six Month Date, the payments, benefits, or reimbursements will be accumulated only through the date of Executive’s death and thereafter paid or provided not later than 30 days after the date of death.

13.2 Additional Limitations on Reimbursements and In-Kind Benefits. The reimbursement of expenses or in-kind benefits provided under Section 7 or under any other section of this Agreement that are taxable benefits (and that are not disability pay or death benefit plans within the meaning of Section 409A) are intended to comply, to the maximum extent possible, with the exception to Section 409A set forth in Section 1.409A-1(b)(9)(v) of the Treasury Regulations. To the extent that any reimbursement of expenses or in-kind benefits provided under Section 7 or under any other section of this Agreement do not qualify for that exception and are otherwise deferred compensation subject to Section 409A , then they will be subject to the following additional rules: (i) any reimbursement of eligible expenses will be paid within 30 days following Executive’s written request for reimbursement; provided, however, that Executive provides written notice no later than 60 days before the last day of the calendar year following the calendar year in which the expense was incurred so that the reimbursement can be made within the time periods required by Section 409A; (ii) the amount of expenses eligible for reimbursement, or in-kind benefits provided, during any calendar year will not affect the amount of expenses eligible for reimbursement, or in-kind benefits to be provided, during any other calendar year; and (iii) the right to reimbursement or in-kind benefits will not be subject to liquidation or exchange for any other benefit.

 

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13.3 Compliance Generally. Each payment or reimbursement and the provision of each benefit under this Agreement shall be considered a separate payment and not one of a series of payments for purposes of Section 409A. The Companies and Executive intend that the payments and benefits provided under this Agreement will either be exempt from the application of, or comply with, the requirements of Section 409A. This Agreement is to be construed, administered, and governed in a manner that effects that intent and the Companies will not take any action that is inconsistent with that intent. Without limiting the foregoing, the payments and benefits provided under this Agreement may not be deferred, accelerated, extended, paid out, or modified in a manner that would result in the imposition of an additional tax under Section 409A upon Executive. Notwithstanding any provision of Section 7 to the contrary, if the period commencing on the Termination Date begins in one taxable year of Executive and the 74th day following the Termination Date is in a subsequent taxable year, any amounts payable under Section 7 which are considered deferred compensation under Section 409A shall be paid in such subsequent taxable year.

13.4 Termination of Employment to Constitute a Separation from Service. The parties hereto intend that the phrase “termination of employment” and words and phrases of similar import mean a “separation from service” with Curbline TRS within the meaning of Section 409A. Executive and the Companies will take all steps necessary (including taking into account this Section 13.4 when considering any further agreement regarding provision of services by Executive to Curbline after the Termination Date) to ensure that (a) any termination of employment under this Agreement constitutes a “separation from service” within the meaning of Section 409A, and (b) the Termination Date is the date on which Executive experiences a “separation from service” within the meaning of Section 409A.

14. Indemnification. Curbline will indemnify Executive, to the full extent permitted or authorized by the Maryland General Corporation Law as it may from time to time be amended, if Executive is made or threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending, or completed action, suit, or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative, or investigative, by reason of the fact that Executive is or was a director, officer, or employee of Curbline and/or of any Subsidiary, or is or was serving at the request of Curbline and/or of any Subsidiary as a director, trustee, officer, or employee of a corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, or other enterprise. The indemnification provided by this Section 14 will not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which Executive may be entitled under the articles of incorporation or the regulations of Curbline and/or of any Subsidiary, or any agreement, vote of shareholders or disinterested directors, or otherwise, both as to action in Executive’s official capacity and as to action in another capacity while holding such office, and will continue as to Executive after Executive has ceased to be a director, trustee, officer, or employee and will inure to the benefit of Executive’s heirs, executors, and administrators. In particular, Executive will continue to be entitled to the full benefit of the indemnification agreement then in effect between Executive and Curbline (the “Indemnification Agreement”) for so long as that Indemnification Agreement remains in effect according to its terms. In the event of any conflict or inconsistency between the provisions of this Section 14 and the provisions of the Indemnification Agreement, the provisions of the Indemnification Agreement shall control.

15. Adjustment of Certain Payments and Benefits. Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, if any payment or benefit to be paid or provided hereunder or under any other plan or agreement would be an “Excess Parachute Payment,” within the meaning of Section 280G of the Internal Revenue Code, or any successor provision thereto, but for the application of this sentence, then the payments and benefits to be paid or provided hereunder shall be reduced to the minimum extent necessary (but in no event to less than zero) so that no portion of any such payment or benefit, as so reduced, constitutes an Excess Parachute Payment; provided, however, that the foregoing reduction shall be made only if and to the extent that such reduction would result in an increase in the aggregate payments and benefits to be provided, determined on an after-tax basis (taking into account the excise tax imposed pursuant to Section 4999 of the Internal Revenue Code, or any successor provision thereto, any tax

 

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imposed by any comparable provision of state law, and any applicable federal, state and local income taxes). The determination of whether any reduction in such payments or benefits to be provided hereunder is required pursuant to the preceding sentence shall be made at the expense of Curbline, if requested by Executive or Curbline, by Curbline’s independent accountants or a nationally recognized law firm chosen by Curbline. The fact that Executive’s right to payments or benefits may be reduced by reason of the limitations contained in this Section 15 shall not of itself limit or otherwise affect any other rights of Executive under this Agreement. In the event that any payment or benefit intended to be provided hereunder is required to be reduced pursuant to this Section 15, then the reduction will be made in accordance with Section 409A and will occur in the following order: (a) first, by reducing any cash payments with the last scheduled payment reduced first; (b) second, by reducing any equity-based benefits that are included at full value under Q&A-24(a) of the Treasury Regulations promulgated under Section 280G of the Internal Revenue Code (the “280G Regulations”), with the highest value reduced first; (c) third, by reducing any equity-based benefits included on an acceleration value under Q&A-24(b) or 24(c) of the 280G Regulations, with the highest value reduced first; and (d) fourth, by reducing any non-cash, non-equity based benefits, with the latest scheduled benefit reduced first. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Section 15, to the extent that Executive’s employment with Curbline TRS terminates during the Pre-Spin SITE Service Period and this Section 15 is applicable, then references in this Section 15 to “Curbline” will be deemed references to “SITE Centers”.

16. Certain Expenses. This Section 16 will apply only to expenses that (a) are otherwise described in one or more of its subsections and (b) are incurred at any time from the Effective Date through the fifth anniversary of Executive’s death.

16.1 Reimbursement of Certain Expenses. Each applicable Company (or Curbline TRS) will pay, as incurred, all expenses, including the reasonable fees of counsel engaged by Executive, of Executive in (a) prosecuting any action to compel such Company (including Curbline, on behalf of Curbline TRS) to comply with the terms of this Agreement upon receipt from Executive of an undertaking to repay such Company for such expenses if it is ultimately determined by a court of competent jurisdiction that Executive had no reasonable grounds for bringing such action or (b) defending any action brought by a party other than Executive or Executive’s personal representative to have this Agreement declared invalid or unenforceable.

16.2 Advancement of Certain Expenses. Expenses (including the reasonable fees of counsel engaged by Executive) incurred by Executive in defending any action, suit, or proceeding commenced or threatened against Executive for any action or failure to act as an employee, officer or director of one of the Companies and/or of any of its subsidiaries will be paid by such Company, as they are incurred, in advance of final disposition of the action, suit, or proceeding upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of Executive in which Executive agrees to reasonably cooperate with such Company and/or such subsidiary, as the case may be, concerning the action, suit, or proceeding, and (a) if the action, suit, or proceeding is commenced or threatened against Executive for any action or failure to act as a director, to repay the amount if it is proved by clear and convincing evidence in a court of competent jurisdiction that his action or failure to act involved an act or omission undertaken with deliberate intent to cause injury to such Company or one of its subsidiaries or with reckless disregard for the best interests of such Company or one of its subsidiaries, or (b) if the action, suit, or proceeding is commenced or threatened against Executive for any action or failure to act as an officer or employee, to repay the amount if it is ultimately determined that Executive is not entitled to be indemnified. The obligation of each such Company to advance expenses provided for in this Section 16.2 will not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which Executive may be entitled under the articles/certificate of incorporation or the regulations/bylaws of such Company or of any of its subsidiaries, or any agreement, vote of shareholders or disinterested directors, or otherwise.

 

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17. Survival of Obligations. Except as is otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement, the respective obligations of each of the Companies (and Curbline TRS) and Executive under this Agreement will survive any termination of Executive’s employment under this Agreement.

18. Notices. Notices and all other communications provided for in this Agreement must be in writing and will be deemed to have been duly given upon receipt (or rejection) when delivered in person or by overnight delivery (to the chief legal officer of Curbline in the case of notices to Curbline and/or Curbline TRS, to the chief legal officer of SITE Centers in the case of notices to SITE Centers, and to Executive in the case of notices to Executive) or mailed by United States registered mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, and addressed, (a) if to Curbline, to its principal place of business, attention: Chief Legal Officer, (b) if to Curbline TRS, to its principal place of business, attention: Chief Legal Officer, (c) if to SITE Centers, to its principal place of business, attention: Chief Legal Officer, and (d) if to Executive, to Executive’s home address last shown on the records of Curbline, or to such other address or addresses as a party may furnish to the others in accordance with this Section 18.

19. Entire Agreement. Except as otherwise set forth below in this Section 19 or as otherwise described herein, this Agreement and the agreements specifically referenced herein supersede in their entirety all prior agreements between the parties, if any, and all understandings between them, if any, with respect to the subject matter of this Agreement, including the Employment Agreement, dated as of September 15, 2023, between SITE Centers and Executive. As provided in Section 14, Executive will continue to be entitled to the full benefit of the Indemnification Agreement for so long as it remains in effect according to its terms. For purposes of clarification, notwithstanding anything in the 2023 Agreement or this Agreement to the contrary, there shall be no duplication of compensation and benefits under the 2023 Agreement and this Agreement.

20. Mandatory Arbitration Before a Change in Control. Section 20.1 will apply if and only if a party to this Agreement notifies another party to this Agreement, in writing, that it is demanding resolution of a then-current controversy or claim by arbitration and the notice is provided by the notifying party to such other party before any Change in Control has occurred. Nothing in this Section 20 will limit the right of each of the Companies to seek and obtain injunctive relief in a court of equity for any breach or threatened breach by Executive of any of Executive’s covenants contained in Section 12 above.

20.1 Scope of Arbitration. If this Section 20.1 applies, any controversy or claim arising out of or relating to this Agreement or any breach of this Agreement will be settled by binding arbitration to be held before three arbitrators and conducted in accordance with the Employment Arbitration Rules and Mediation Procedures of the American Arbitration Association in the City of Cleveland, Ohio or New York, New York. The decision of the arbitrators will be final and binding on such parties and judgment on any award rendered by the arbitrators may be entered in any court of competent jurisdiction. Costs and expenses of any such arbitration will be borne by the parties as may be directed by the arbitrators taking into account the extent to which the positions taken by such parties are reasonable. The arbitrators will have the power to issue mandatory orders and restraining orders in connection with any such arbitration.

20.2 Other Disputes. If Section 20.1 does not apply to any claim or controversy between such parties, such parties may nevertheless, but need not, mutually agree to submit any controversy or claim to arbitration as though Section 20.1 did apply. Failing any such mutual agreement, either of such parties may bring proceedings against the other with respect to any claim or controversy in any court of competent jurisdiction that satisfies the venue requirements set forth in Section 21.8. Nothing in this Section 20.2 imposes upon either of such parties any obligation to discuss possible arbitration of any claim or controversy to which Section 20.1 does not apply before bringing any court proceedings with respect to that claim or controversy.

 

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21. Miscellaneous.

21.1 No Conflict. Executive represents and warrants that Executive is not a party to any agreement, contract, or understanding, whether employment or otherwise, that would restrict or prohibit Executive from undertaking or performing employment in accordance with the terms and conditions of this Agreement.

21.2 Assistance. During the term of this Agreement and thereafter, Executive will provide reasonable assistance to each of the Companies in litigation and regulatory matters that relate to events that occurred during Executive’s period of employment with each of such Company or Curbline TRS and its predecessors, and will provide reasonable assistance to each of the Companies with matters relating to its corporate history from the period of Executive’s employment with it (or Curbline TRS) or its predecessors. Executive will be entitled to reimbursement of reasonable out-of-pocket travel or related costs and expenses relating to any such cooperation or assistance that occurs following the Termination Date.

21.3 Severability. The provisions of this Agreement are severable and if any one or more provision is determined to be illegal or otherwise unenforceable, in whole or in part, the remaining provisions and any partially unenforceable provision to the extent enforceable in any jurisdiction nevertheless will be binding and enforceable.

21.4 Benefit of Agreement. The rights and obligations of SITE Centers, Curbline TRS and Curbline, respectively, under this Agreement will inure to the benefit of, and will be binding on, SITE Centers, Curbline TRS and Curbline, respectively, and each of its successors and assigns, as applicable, and the rights and obligations (other than obligations to perform services) of Executive under this Agreement will inure to the benefit of, and will be binding upon, Executive and Executive’s heirs, personal representatives, and assigns.

21.5 No Waiver. The failure of any party to enforce any provision or provisions of this Agreement will not in any way be construed as a waiver of any such provision or provisions as to any future violations thereof, nor prevent that party from later enforcing each and every other provision of this Agreement. The rights granted the parties in this Agreement are cumulative and the waiver of any single remedy will not constitute a waiver of that party’s right to assert all other legal remedies available to it under the circumstances.

21.6 Modification. This Agreement may not be modified or terminated orally. No modification or termination will be valid unless in writing and signed by the parties against which the modification or termination is sought to be enforced. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, Executive acknowledges and agrees that this Agreement and any compensation described herein (or described in the 2023 Agreement or any predecessor agreement) are subject to the terms and conditions of SITE Centers’ or Curbline’s clawback provisions, policy or policies, respectively, as may be in effect from time to time, including specifically to implement Section 10D of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and any applicable rules or regulations promulgated thereunder (including applicable rules and regulations of any national securities exchange on which such Company’s shares at any point may be traded) (the “Compensation Recovery Policy”), and applicable sections of this Agreement (or the 2023 Agreement or any predecessor agreement) and any related documents shall be deemed superseded by and subject to (as applicable) the terms and conditions of the Compensation Recovery Policy. Further, Executive agrees to fully cooperate with each of the Companies in connection with any of Executive’s obligations to such Company pursuant to the Compensation Recovery Policy, and agrees that such Company may enforce its rights under the Compensation Recovery Policy through any and all reasonable means permitted under applicable law as it deems necessary or desirable under the Compensation Recovery Policy, in each case from and after the effective dates thereof.

 

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21.7 Merger or Transfer of Assets of Curbline. During the Contract Period while Executive is employed by Curbline TRS, Curbline will not consolidate with or merge into any other corporation, or transfer all or substantially all of its assets to another corporation, unless such other corporation assumes this Agreement in a signed writing and delivers a copy thereof to Executive, which signed writing may consist of the merger or sale agreement, or similar document. Upon any such assumption, the successor corporation will become obligated to perform the obligations of Curbline and Curbline TRS under this Agreement, and the term “Curbline,” as used in this Agreement, will be deemed to refer to that successor corporation, and the term “Curbline Board” as used in this Agreement will be deemed to refer to the board of directors of that successor corporation.

21.8 Governing Law and Venue. The provisions of this Agreement will be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Maryland applicable to contracts made in and to be performed exclusively within that State, notwithstanding any conflict of law provision to the contrary. Subject to the mandatory arbitration provisions of Section 20, the parties consent to venue and personal jurisdiction over them in the courts of the State of Maryland and federal courts sitting in Maryland, for purposes of construing and enforcing this Agreement.

21.9 Termination of Status as Director or Officer. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, unless otherwise agreed to by a Company (or Curbline TRS) and Executive prior to the Termination Date, as applicable, Executive shall be deemed to have automatically resigned from all directorships and offices with the Companies and their subsidiaries, and their affiliates (including joint ventures), as of the Termination Date.

22. Definitions.

22.1 Cause. The term “Cause” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.2.

22.2 Change in Control. For purposes of this Agreement, the term “Change in Control” means the occurrence, during the Contract Period while Executive is employed by Curbline TRS, of any of the following:

(a) consummation of a reorganization, merger or consolidation, or a sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of Curbline, or the acquisition of assets of another corporation or other transaction (“Business Combination”), but excluding any Business Combination pursuant to which (i) the individuals and entities who were the beneficial owners of the then-outstanding voting securities of Curbline entitled to vote generally in the election of directors immediately prior to such Business Combination beneficially own, directly or indirectly, more than 60% of, respectively, the then-outstanding shares of common stock and the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, as the case may be, of the entity resulting from such Business Combination (including, without limitation, an entity that as a result of such transaction owns Curbline or all or substantially all of Curbline’s assets either directly or through one or more subsidiaries), (ii) no individual, entity or group (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or 14(d)(2) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) (excluding Curbline, any employee benefit plan (or related trust) of Curbline or a Subsidiary, or such entity resulting from such Business Combination) beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, 30% or more of the combined voting power of the then-outstanding securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors of the entity resulting from such Business Combination and (iii) at least a majority of the members of the board of directors of the entity resulting from such Business Combination were members of the Curbline Board at the time of the execution of the initial agreement, or of the action of the Curbline Board, providing for such Business Combination;

 

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(b) any person or other entity (other than Curbline or a Subsidiary or any Curbline employee benefit plan (including any trustee of any such plan acting in its capacity as trustee)) purchases any Shares (or securities convertible into Shares) pursuant to a tender or exchange offer without the prior consent of the Curbline Board, or becomes the beneficial owner of securities of Curbline representing 30% or more of the voting power of Curbline’s outstanding securities without the prior consent of the Curbline Board;

(c) during any two-year period, individuals who at the beginning of such period constitute the entire Curbline Board cease to constitute a majority of the Curbline Board; provided, that any person becoming a director of Curbline during such two-year period whose election, or nomination for election by Curbline’s shareholders, was approved by a vote of at least two-thirds of the directors who at the beginning of such period constituted the entire Curbline Board or who became a director of Curbline during such two-year period as described in this proviso (either by a specific vote or by approval of Curbline’s proxy statement in which such person is named as a nominee of Curbline for director), but excluding for this purpose any person whose initial assumption of office as a director of Curbline occurs as a result of either an actual or threatened election contest with respect to the election or removal of directors of Curbline or other actual or threatened solicitation of proxies or consents by or on behalf of an individual, corporation, partnership, group, associate or other entity or person other than the Curbline Board, shall be, for purposes of this Section 22.2(c), considered as though such person was a member of the Curbline Board at the beginning of such period; or

(d) approval by the stockholders of Curbline of a complete liquidation or dissolution of Curbline except pursuant to a Business Combination that complies with clauses (i), (ii) and (iii) of subsection (a) above.

22.3 Committee. The term “Committee” means the Compensation Committee of the Curbline Board or any other committee or subcommittee authorized by the Curbline Board to discharge the Curbline Board’s responsibilities relating to the compensation of Curbline’s officers and directors.

22.4 Good Reason. The term “Good Reason” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.3.

22.5 Internal Revenue Code. The term “Internal Revenue Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

22.6 Section. References in this Agreement to one or more “Sections” are to sections of this Agreement, except for references to certain Sections of the Internal Revenue Code.

22.7 Section 409A. The term “Section 409A” means Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code. References in this Agreement to Section 409A are intended to include any proposed, temporary, or final regulations, or any other guidance, promulgated with respect to Section 409A by the U.S. Department of Treasury or the Internal Revenue Service.

22.8 Shares. The term “Shares” means the Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share (or such other par value as may be established from time to time), of Curbline.

22.9 Subsidiary. The term “Subsidiary” means any corporation, partnership, or other entity a majority of the voting control of which is directly or indirectly owned or controlled by Curbline.

 

21


22.10 Termination Date. The term “Termination Date” means the date on which Executive’s employment with Curbline and its Subsidiaries terminates.

22.11 Triggering Event. A “Triggering Event” for the purpose of this Agreement will be deemed to have occurred if, during the Contract Period while Executive is employed by Curbline TRS:

(a) Within two years after the date on which a Change in Control occurs, Curbline terminates the employment of Executive, other than in the case of a termination for Cause, a termination by Curbline pursuant to Section 6.1 following Executive’s disability, or a termination based on death; or

(b) Within two years after the date on which a Change in Control occurs, Executive terminates Executive’s employment with Curbline for Good Reason.

[THE REMAINDER OF THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, SITE Centers, Curbline, Curbline TRS and Executive have executed this Agreement, each of SITE Centers, Curbline and Curbline TRS by its duly authorized officer (or other appropriate party), as of the date first written above.

 

SITE CENTERS CORP.
By:   /s/ David R. Lukes
Name:   David R. Lukes
Title:  

President and

Chief Executive Officer

 

CURBLINE PROPERTIES CORP.
By:   /s/ David R. Lukes
Name:   David R. Lukes
Title:  

President and

Chief Executive Officer

 

CURBLINE TRS LLC
By:   /s/ David R. Lukes
Name:   David R. Lukes
Its:   President and Chief Executive Officer

 

/s/ John Cattonar
JOHN CATTONAR

 

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EXHIBIT A

ANNUAL BONUS OPPORTUNITY

AS A PERCENTAGE OF YEAR-END BASE SALARY

 

Threshold

  

Target

  

Maximum

50%    100%    150%


EXHIBIT B

Form of Release

In consideration of certain benefits provided to John Cattonar (“Executive”) and to be received by Executive from Curbline Properties Corp. (the “Company”) and/or its subsidiaries as described in the Assigned Employment Agreement, dated as of September 1, 2024, by and among SITE Centers Corp., the Company, Curbline TRS LLC (“Curbline TRS”) and Executive (the “Agreement”):

 

1.

Claims Released. Executive, for himself and on behalf of anyone claiming through Executive including each and all of Executive’s legal representatives, administrators, executors, heirs, successors and assigns (collectively, the “Executive Releasors”), does hereby fully, finally and forever release, absolve and discharge the Company and each and all of its legal predecessors, successors, assigns, fiduciaries, parents, subsidiaries, divisions and other affiliates (including Curbline TRS), and each of the foregoing’s respective past, present and future principals, partners, shareholders, directors, officers, employees, agents, consultants, attorneys, trustees, administrators, executors and representatives (collectively, the “Company Released Parties”), of, from and for any and all claims, causes of action, lawsuits, controversies, liabilities, losses, damages, costs, expenses and demands of any nature whatsoever, at law or in equity, whether known or unknown, asserted or unasserted, foreseen or unforeseen, that the Executive Releasors (or any of them) now have, have ever had, or may have against the Company Released Parties (or any of them) based upon, arising out of, concerning, relating to or resulting from any act, omission, matter, fact, occurrence, transaction, claim, contention, statement or event occurring or existing at any time in the past up to and including the date on which Executive signs this Release, including, without limitation: (a) all claims arising out of or in any way relating to Executive’s employment with or separation of employment from the Company or its affiliates; (b) all claims for compensation or benefits, including salary, commissions, bonuses, vacation pay, expense reimbursements, severance pay, fringe benefits, stock options, restricted stock units or any other ownership interests in the Company Released Parties; (c) all claims for breach of contract, wrongful termination and breach of the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing; (d) all tort claims, including claims for fraud, defamation, invasion of privacy and emotional distress; (e) all other common law claims; and (f) all claims (including claims for discrimination, harassment, retaliation, attorneys fees, expenses or otherwise) that were or could have been asserted by Executive or on his behalf in any federal, state, or local court, commission, or agency, or under any federal, state, local, employment, services or other law, regulation, ordinance, constitutional provision, executive order or other source of law, including without limitation under any of the following laws, as amended from time to time: the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (the “ADEA”), as amended by the Older Workers’ Benefit Protection Act of 1990 (the “OWBPA”), Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, 42 U.S.C. §§ 1981 & 1981a, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Equal Pay Act, the Employee Retirement Income Security Act, the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2009, the Family and Medical Leave Act, Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, the National Labor Relations Act, the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Worker Adjustment Retraining and Notification Act, the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act, Federal Executive Order 11246, and the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act.


2.

Scope of Release. Nothing in this Release (a) shall release the Company from any of its obligations set forth in the Agreement or any claim that by law is non-waivable, (b) shall release the Company from any obligation to defend and/or indemnify Executive against any third party claims arising out of any action or inaction by Executive during the time of his employment and within the scope of his duties with the Company to the extent Executive has any such defense or indemnification right, and to the extent permitted by applicable law and to the extent the claims are covered by the Company’s director & officer liability insurance or (c) shall affect Executive’s right to file a claim for workers’ compensation or unemployment insurance benefits.

Executive further acknowledges that by signing this Release, Executive does not waive the right to file a charge against the Company with, communicate with or participate in any investigation by the EEOC, the Securities and Exchange Commission or any comparable state or local agency. However, Executive waives and releases, to the fullest extent legally permissible, all entitlement to any form of monetary relief arising from a charge Executive or others may file, including without limitation any costs, expenses or attorneys’ fees. Executive understands that this waiver and release of monetary relief would not affect an enforcement agency’s ability to investigate a charge or to pursue relief on behalf of others. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Executive will not give up his right to any benefits to which he is entitled under any retirement plan of the Company that is intended to be qualified under Section 401(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, or his rights, if any, under Part 6 of Subtitle B of Title I of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (COBRA), or any monetary award offered by the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Section 21F of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. By executing this Release, Executive represents that, as of the date Executive signs this Release, no claims, lawsuits, grievances, or charges have been filed by Executive or on Executive’s behalf against the Company Released Parties.

 

3.

Knowing and Voluntary ADEA Waiver. In compliance with the requirements of the OWBPA, Executive acknowledges by his signature below that, with respect to the rights and claims waived and released in this Release under the ADEA, Executive specifically acknowledges and agrees as follows: (a) Executive has read and understands the terms of this Release; (b) Executive has been advised and hereby is advised, and has had the opportunity, to consult with an attorney before signing this Release; (c) the Release is written in a manner understood by Executive; (d) Executive is releasing the Company and the other Company Released Parties from, among other things, any claims that Executive may have against them pursuant to the ADEA; (e) the releases contained in this Release do not cover rights or claims that may arise after Executive signs this Release; (f) Executive has been given a period of at least 21 days in which to consider and execute this Release (although Executive may elect not to use the full consideration period at Executive’s option); (g) Executive may revoke this Release during the seven-day period following the date on which Executive signs this Release, and this Release will not become effective and enforceable until the seven-day revocation period has expired; and (h) any such revocation must be submitted in writing to the Company c/o Lesley H. Solomon, Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary, Curbline Properties Corp., 320 Park Avenue, New York, New York 10022 prior to the expiration of such seven-day revocation period. If Executive revokes this Release within such seven-day revocation period, it shall be null and void.


4.

Acknowledgment of Restrictive Covenants. Executive acknowledges his obligations as outlined in Section 12 of the Agreement and in Section 21.6 regarding clawback or Executive forfeiture of compensation and related amounts (“Restrictive Covenants”), and acknowledges that the Restrictive Covenants remain in full force and effect.

 

5.

Entire Agreement. This Release, the Agreement, and the documents referenced therein contain the entire agreement between Executive and the Company, and take priority over any other written or oral understanding or agreement that may have existed in the past. Executive acknowledges that no other promises or agreements have been offered for this Release (other than those described above) and that no other promises or agreements will be binding unless they are in writing and signed by Executive and the Company.

I agree to the terms and conditions set forth in this Release.

 

EXECUTIVE
 
Date:  

 

Exhibit 10.12

ASSIGNED EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

This Assigned Employment Agreement (this “Agreement”), dated as of September 1, 2024 (the “Effective Date”), is by and among SITE Centers Corp., an Ohio corporation (“SITE Centers”), Curbline Properties Corp., a Maryland corporation (“Curbline”), Curbline TRS LLC (“Curbline TRS”), and Lesley H. Solomon (“Executive”).

SITE Centers and Executive are currently parties to an Employment Agreement, dated as of April 8, 2024 (the “2024 Agreement”), reflecting the terms pursuant to which Executive has been serving SITE Centers since such date. The Board of Directors of SITE Centers (the “SITE Board”), on behalf of SITE Centers, plus the Board of Directors of Curbline (the “Curbline Board”), on behalf of Curbline and Curbline TRS, and Executive desire to enter into this Agreement to transfer Executive’s employment from SITE Centers to Curbline TRS as of the Effective Date, and to amend and restate (and assign to Curbline and Curbline TRS) the 2024 Agreement to reflect the terms pursuant to which Executive will serve Curbline on and after the Effective Date (certain capitalized terms used in this Agreement have the meanings ascribed to them in Section 22 of this Agreement).

SITE Centers, Curbline, Curbline TRS and Executive agree, effective as of the Effective Date, as follows:

1. Employment, Term.

1.1 Continued SITE Centers Service. Until the date on which SITE Centers consummates its proposed spin-off of Curbline (such spin-off, the “Spin-Off,” and such date, the “Spin-Off Date”), SITE Centers will continue to engage Executive to render services in the administration and operation of its affairs as its Senior Vice President and Deputy General Counsel, reporting directly to SITE Centers’ Chief Executive Officer (the “SITE CEO”) and performing such duties and having such responsibilities and authority as are customarily incident to similar officers of companies similar in size to, and in a similar business as, SITE Centers, together with such other duties as, from time to time, may be specified by the SITE CEO, in a manner consistent with Executive’s status as Senior Vice President and Deputy General Counsel of SITE Centers. On the Spin-Off Date, Executive will cease to render services to SITE Centers as its Senior Vice President and Deputy General Counsel (which cessation, for purposes of clarity, shall not trigger severance compensation or benefits for Executive under any of the 2024 Agreement or this Agreement). The period of time from the Effective Date until the Spin-Off Date is sometimes referred to herein as the “Remaining SITE Service Period.”

1.2 Assignment of Agreement to Curbline TRS; Transfer of Employment to Curbline TRS; Curbline Service. As of the Effective Date, SITE Centers hereby transfers Executive’s employment to Curbline TRS, a wholly-owned indirect subsidiary of Curbline, and the 2024 Agreement is superseded and replaced by the terms of this Agreement. Curbline TRS hereby engages and employs Executive to render services in the administration and operation of Curbline’s affairs as Curbline’s Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary, reporting directly to Curbline’s Chief Executive Officer (the “CEO”) and performing such duties and having such responsibilities and authority as are customarily incident to legal officers of companies similar in size to, and in a similar business as, Curbline, together with such other duties as, from time to time, may be specified by the CEO, in a manner consistent with Executive’s status as Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary of Curbline, all in accordance with the terms and conditions of this Agreement, for a term extending from the Effective Date through April 30, 2027. The period of time from the Effective Date through April 30, 2027 is sometimes referred to herein as the “Contract Period.” During the Contract Period while Executive is employed by Curbline TRS, Executive shall report to the CEO. SITE Centers and Curbline, together, are sometimes referred to herein as the “Companies”.


2. Full-Time Services. Throughout the Contract Period while Executive is employed by Curbline TRS, Executive will devote substantially all of Executive’s business time and efforts to the service of Curbline, except for (a) usual vacation periods and reasonable periods of illness, (b) reasonable periods of time devoted to Executive’s personal financial affairs, (c) with the prior consent of the CEO, services as a director or trustee of other corporations or organizations, either for profit or not for profit, that are not in competition with Curbline, and (d) reasonable service to SITE Centers during the Remaining SITE Service Period or as otherwise permitted by the Curbline Board following the Remaining SITE Service Period; provided, however, that in no event shall Executive devote less than 90% of Executive’s business time and efforts to the service of Curbline (other than in service to SITE Centers during the Remaining SITE Service Period or as permitted by the Curbline Board following the Remaining SITE Service Period).

3. Compensation. For all services to be rendered by Executive to Curbline under this Agreement during the Contract Period while Executive is employed by Curbline TRS (or, as applicable, for all services to be rendered by Executive to SITE Centers under this Agreement during the Remaining SITE Service Period), including services as Curbline’s Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary and any other services specified by the CEO, Curbline or Curbline TRS will pay and provide to Executive the compensation and benefits as specified in this Section 3.

3.1 Base Salary. From and after the Effective Date and through the end of the Contract Period while Executive is employed by Curbline TRS, Curbline TRS will pay Executive base salary (the “Base Salary”) in cash, in equal monthly or more frequent installments, at the rate of not less than Four Hundred Thousand Dollars ($400,000) per year, subject to such increases as the Committee or the Curbline Board may approve. Any such increased Base Salary shall constitute “Base Salary” for purposes of this Agreement.

3.2 Annual Bonus.

(a) Curbline Annual Bonus. For each calendar year during the Contract Period while Executive is employed by Curbline TRS (other than 2024), subject to achievement of applicable performance criteria, Curbline TRS shall make an annual incentive payment to Executive, in cash, for such calendar year (an “Annual Bonus”) between January 1 and March 15 of the immediately subsequent calendar year, determined and calculated in accordance with the percentages set forth on Exhibit A attached hereto (and rounded to the nearest dollar). Curbline TRS’ payment of an Annual Bonus to Executive (other than for 2024) shall be determined based on the factors and criteria that have been or may be reasonably established from time to time for the calculation of the Annual Bonus by the Committee. For each such calendar year in the Contract Period while Executive is employed by Curbline TRS (other than 2024), the Curbline Board or the Committee will establish, and thereafter provide Executive with written notice of, the performance metrics and their relative weighting to be used in, and any specific threshold, target and maximum performance targets applicable to, the determination of the Annual Bonus for Executive for such calendar year not later than March 15 of such year. There is no guaranteed Annual Bonus under this Agreement, and for each applicable year, Executive’s Annual Bonus could be as low as zero or as high as the maximum percentage set forth on Exhibit A attached hereto. Each such Annual Bonus shall be on the terms and subject to such conditions as are specified for the particular Curbline plans or programs pursuant to which such Annual Bonus is granted.

 

2


(b) 2024 Bonus. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, if the Spin-Off Date occurs during 2024, Executive will receive an annual incentive award for 2024 (“2024 Bonus”) pursuant to the terms of the Employee Matters Agreement to be entered into between SITE Centers and Curbline in connection with the Spin-Off (which terms will involve Executive receiving a truncated payment from SITE Centers for the 2024 Bonus earned for the portion of 2024 occurring prior to the Spin-Off Date (based on actual performance) (the “SITE 2024 Bonus”), and Curbline establishing a truncated 2024 Bonus award opportunity for Executive for the remaining portion of 2024 after the Spin-Off Date based on actual performance and the payout opportunities set forth on Exhibit A to this Agreement (the earned amount under such Curbline award, the “Curbline 2024 Bonus”)).

3.3 Equity Awards. The awards described in this Section 3.3 will at all times be subject to the approval of the Committee and to the terms and conditions of the Curbline Properties Corp. 2024 Equity and Incentive Compensation Plan (or its successor(s)), as in effect from time to time (collectively, the “Equity Plan”), including, without limitation, all authority and powers provided or reserved to each such plan’s administrator thereunder, as well as the award agreements for such awards. As applicable, any awards vesting in installments shall be rounded up to the next nearest share amount divisible by the number of installments.

(a) Initial Post-Spin-Off Performance-Based Award. During the Contract Period while Executive is employed by Curbline TRS, Executive shall receive a grant of performance-based Curbline restricted stock (“Restricted Stock”) or performance-based Operating Partnership Units (as such term is defined in the Equity Plan, “LTIP Units”) (or substantially similar award), as reasonably determined by Executive at least 30 days prior to the applicable grant date (otherwise such grants will be made in the form of Restricted Stock), based on a “target” number of LTIP Units (in the aggregate) equal to the quotient of (i) $150,000, divided by (ii) the average of the daily volume-weighted average prices of a Share on the Spin-Off Date and each of the nine trading days immediately thereafter on the principal stock exchange on which it then trades (the “Post-Spin Curbline 10-Day VWAP”) (such award, the “Initial Post-Spin-Off Performance-Based Award”). The Initial Post-Spin-Off Performance-Based Award shall be granted on the business day immediately following the determination of the Post-Spin Curbline 10-Day VWAP. For the avoidance of doubt, such Initial Post-Spin-Off Performance-Based Award will be issued based on its maximum value as of its date of grant, subject to forfeiture pursuant to its terms. The vesting of the Initial Post-Spin-Off Performance-Based Award will vary from 0% to 200% of the target award based on achievement with respect to metrics established by the Committee (in consultation with the CEO prior to the date of grant) measured over an approximately 37-month performance period; provided, however, that no less than 50% of the aggregate target for such award shall vest based on Curbline’s relative total shareholder return achievement relative to a peer group established by the Committee in consultation with the CEO prior to the date of grant. In general, performance against the applicable metrics will be evaluated at the end of the approximately 37-month performance period. The Initial Post-Spin-Off Performance-Based Award will earn distributions paid in cash on a deferred and contingent basis. Additional detail regarding the terms of this award will be provided in the applicable award agreement for such award.

 

3


(b) Other Annual Performance-Based Awards. No later than October 15 of each calendar year during the Contract Period (starting with 2025), provided that Executive is continuously employed by Curbline TRS through the applicable date of grant, Executive shall be eligible to receive a grant of Restricted Stock or LTIP Units (or substantially similar award), in each case as reasonably determined by Executive at least 30 days prior to the applicable grant date (otherwise such grants will be made in the form of Restricted Stock), based on a “target” number of shares/units equal to the quotient of (i) $150,000, divided by (ii) the average closing price of a Share for the 10 trading days immediately preceding (but not including) the date of grant on the principal stock exchange on which it then trades (the “Annual Performance-Based Awards”). For the avoidance of doubt, each such Annual Performance-Based Award will be issued based on its maximum value as of its date of grant, subject to forfeiture pursuant to its terms. The vesting of an Annual Performance-Based Award will vary from 0% to 200% of the target award based on achievement with respect to metrics established by the Committee (in consultation with the CEO prior to the date of grant) measured over an approximately 37-month performance period; provided, however, that no less than 50% of the aggregate target for such award shall vest based on Curbline’s relative total shareholder return achievement relative to a peer group established by the Committee in consultation with the CEO prior to the date of grant. In general, performance against the applicable metrics will be evaluated at the end of the approximately 37-month performance period. Each Annual Performance-Based Award will earn distributions paid in cash on a deferred and contingent basis. Additional detail regarding the terms of these awards will be provided in the applicable award agreements for such awards.

(c) Annual Time-Based Awards. No later than March 15 of each calendar year during the Contract Period (starting with 2025), provided that Executive is continuously employed by Curbline TRS through the applicable date of grant, Executive shall be eligible to receive a grant of time-based Restricted Stock or LTIP Units (or substantially similar award), in each case as reasonably determined by Executive at least 30 days prior to the applicable grant date (otherwise such grants will be made in the form of Restricted Stock), covering a number of shares/units equal to the quotient of (i) $100,000 divided by (ii) the average closing price of a Share for the 10 trading days immediately preceding (but not including) the date of grant on the principal stock exchange on which it then trades (the “Annual Time-Based Awards”). Each Annual Time-Based Award will, in general, vest (subject to Executive’s continued employment with Curbline TRS and notwithstanding any termination of this Agreement) in four substantially equal installments on each of the first four anniversaries of the applicable date of grant, and dividends on (or distributions regarding) such Annual Time-Based Award will be paid in cash on a current basis. Additional detail regarding the terms of these awards will be provided in the applicable award agreements for such awards.

3.4 Certain Other Equity Award Terms. Subject in all cases to the terms of the Equity Plan, any Initial Post-Spin-Off Performance-Based Awards, Annual Time-Based Awards and/or Annual Performance-Based Awards, as applicable, granted to Executive in accordance with this Agreement that are not fully vested at the time of Executive’s termination of employment with Curbline TRS will vest on an accelerated basis pursuant to their terms if such termination is: (a) by Curbline without Cause; (b) by Executive for Good Reason; (c) by Curbline due to Executive’s Total Disability; or (d) due to Executive’s death; otherwise, upon Executive’s termination of employment, any unvested portions of such outstanding awards (and any related unvested or unpaid dividends or distributions) will be forfeited by Executive (unless otherwise determined by the Committee before such termination of employment).

3.5 Taxes. Executive shall be solely responsible for taxes imposed on Executive by reason of any compensation and benefits provided under this Agreement, and all such compensation and benefits shall be subject to applicable withholding taxes.

 

4


4. Benefits. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Section 4, during the Remaining SITE Service Period: (a) the references in Section 4.1 to “Curbline” will be deemed references to “Curbline or SITE Centers”; and (b) other references in this Section 4 to “Curbline” will be deemed references to “SITE Centers”.

4.1 Retirement and Other Benefit Plans Generally. Throughout the Contract Period while Executive is employed by Curbline TRS, Executive will be entitled to participate in all retirement and other benefit plans maintained by Curbline that are generally available to its senior executives and with respect to which Executive is eligible pursuant to the terms of the underlying plan or plans, including, without limitation, Curbline’s 401(k) plan for its employees and any Curbline deferred compensation program.

4.2 Insurance, Generally. Throughout the Contract Period while Executive is employed by Curbline TRS, Curbline will provide an enrollment opportunity to Executive and Executive’s eligible dependents for health, dental and vision insurance coverage, other insurance (e.g., life, disability, etc.) and any other health and welfare benefits maintained by Curbline from time to time, if any, during the Contract Period that are generally available to its senior executives and with respect to which Executive is eligible pursuant to the terms of the underlying plan or plans. To the extent that Curbline maintains officer insurance coverage, Executive shall be covered by such policy on terms no less favorable than provided to other Curbline officers.

4.3 Paid Time Off. Executive will be entitled to such periods of paid time off during the Contract Period while Executive is employed by Curbline TRS as may be provided from time to time under any Curbline paid time off policy for senior executive officers.

5. Expense Reimbursements. Curbline TRS will reimburse Executive during the Contract Period while Executive is employed by Curbline TRS for travel, entertainment, and other expenses reasonably and necessarily incurred by Executive in connection with Curbline’s business (or, during the Remaining SITE Service Period, SITE Centers’ business). Executive will provide such documentation with respect to expenses to be reimbursed as Curbline TRS may reasonably request.

6. Termination. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Section 6, to the extent that Executive’s employment with Curbline TRS terminates during the Remaining SITE Service Period, then: (a) references in this Section 6 to “Curbline” will be deemed references to “SITE Centers”; (b) references in this Section 6 to the “Curbline Board” will be deemed references to the “SITE Board”; and (c) references in this Section 6 to “Subsidiaries” will be deemed references to the subsidiaries of SITE Centers.

6.1 Death or Disability. Executive’s employment under this Agreement will terminate immediately upon Executive’s death. During the Contract Period while Executive is employed by Curbline TRS, Curbline shall terminate Executive’s employment under this Agreement immediately upon giving notice of termination if Executive is Totally Disabled (as that term is defined in Section 9.1 below) for an aggregate of 120 days in any consecutive 12 calendar months or for 90 consecutive days.

6.2 For Cause by Curbline.

(a) During the Contract Period while Executive is employed by Curbline TRS, Curbline may terminate Executive’s employment under this Agreement for “Cause” at any time upon the occurrence of any of the following circumstances:

(i) willful failure by Executive substantially to perform the lawful instructions of Curbline or one of its Subsidiaries (other than as a result of total or partial incapacity due to physical or mental illness) following written notice by Curbline to Executive of such failure and 10 days within which to cure such failure;

 

5


(ii) Executive’s theft or embezzlement of the property of Curbline;

(iii) Executive’s dishonesty in the performance of Executive’s duties resulting in material harm to Curbline;

(iv) any act by Executive that constitutes (A) a felony under the laws of the United States or any state thereof or, where applicable, any other equivalent offense (including a crime subject to a custodial sentence) under the laws of the applicable jurisdiction, or (B) any other crime involving moral turpitude;

(v) willful or gross misconduct by Executive in connection with Executive’s duties to Curbline or otherwise which, in the reasonable good faith judgment of the Curbline Board, could reasonably be expected to be materially injurious to the financial condition or business reputation of Curbline, its Subsidiaries or affiliates; or

(vi) breach of the provisions of any restrictive covenants with Curbline, its Subsidiaries or affiliates.

(b) The termination of Executive’s employment under this Agreement shall not be deemed to be for “Cause” pursuant to this Section 6.2 unless and until there shall have been delivered to Executive a copy of a resolution duly adopted by the affirmative vote of not less than three-fourths of the entire membership of the Curbline Board at a meeting of the Curbline Board called and held for such purpose (after reasonable notice is provided to Executive and Executive is given an opportunity, together with counsel, to be heard before the Curbline Board) finding that, in the good faith opinion of the Curbline Board, Executive has committed the conduct described in Sections 6.2(a)(i), (ii), (iii), (iv), (v) or (vi) above, and specifying the particulars thereof in detail.

6.3 For Good Reason by Executive. During the Contract Period while Executive is employed by Curbline TRS, Executive may terminate Executive’s employment under this Agreement for “Good Reason” if any of the following circumstances occur:

(a) Curbline materially reduces Executive’s authority, duties or responsibilities with respect to Curbline from those set forth in Section 1 above;

(b) Curbline or Curbline TRS materially reduces Executive’s Base Salary, Annual Bonus opportunity, or annual equity grant opportunity from that set forth in Section 3 above (but only to the extent that such reduction results in a substantial reduction in Executive’s total compensation);

(c) Executive is required to report to anyone other than the CEO; or

(d) Curbline or any of its Subsidiaries materially breaches any of its obligations under this Agreement.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, no termination of employment by Executive shall constitute a termination for “Good Reason” unless (i) Executive gives Curbline notice of the existence of an event described in clause (a), (b), (c) or (d) above, within sixty (60) days following the occurrence thereof and (ii) Curbline does not remedy such event described in clause (a), (b), (c) or (d) above, as applicable, within thirty (30) days of receiving the notice described in the preceding clause (i), and (iii) in all cases, Executive terminates employment pursuant to this Section 6.3 within one year from the date the event described in clause (a), (b), (c) or (d) above initially occurred.

 

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6.4 Without Cause by Curbline. During the Contract Period while Executive is employed by Curbline TRS, Curbline may terminate Executive’s employment under this Agreement at any time without Cause pursuant to written notice provided to Executive not less than 90 days in advance of such termination upon the affirmative vote of a majority of all of the members of the Curbline Board. Any termination under this Section 6.4 will be effective at such time during the Contract Period while Executive is employed by Curbline TRS as may be specified in that written notice, subject to the preceding sentence.

6.5 Without Good Reason by Executive. During the Contract Period while Executive is employed by Curbline TRS, Executive may terminate Executive’s employment under this Agreement at any time without Good Reason pursuant to written notice provided to Curbline not less than 90 days in advance of such termination. Any termination under this Section 6.5 will be effective at such time during the Contract Period while Executive is employed by Curbline TRS as Executive may specify in that written notice, subject to the preceding sentence.

7. Payments upon Termination. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Section 7, to the extent that Executive’s employment with Curbline TRS terminates during the Remaining SITE Service Period, then: (a) the last two references in the first sentence of Section 7.1 to “Curbline” will be deemed references to both “Curbline” and “SITE Centers”; and (b) other references in this Section 7 to “Curbline” will be deemed references to “SITE Centers”.

7.1 Upon Termination For Cause or Without Good Reason. If Executive’s employment under this Agreement is terminated by Curbline for Cause or by Executive without Good Reason during the Contract Period while Executive is employed by Curbline TRS, Curbline will pay and provide to Executive (or cause payment and provision to Executive of) the Executive’s Base Salary and any accrued but unused paid time off through the Termination Date in accordance with Curbline policy to the extent not already paid and continuing health, dental and vision insurance and other insurance (e.g. life, disability, etc.) at the levels specified in Section 4.2 through the Termination Date, and, except as may otherwise be required by law, Curbline will not pay or provide to Executive any further compensation or other benefits under this Agreement. Curbline will pay (or cause payment of) any Base Salary referred to in this Section 7.1 to Executive within 30 days of the Termination Date.

7.2 Upon Termination Without Cause or For Good Reason. If Executive’s employment under this Agreement is terminated by Curbline other than due to Cause, death or disability (pursuant to Section 6.1), or by Executive for Good Reason, during the Contract Period while Executive is employed by Curbline TRS, and Section 7.5 does not apply, Curbline will pay and provide to Executive (or cause payment and provision to Executive of) the amounts and benefits specified in this Section 7.2, except that Curbline will not be obligated to pay (or provide for payment of) the lump sum amounts specified in Section 7.2 (c), (d) and (e) unless either (x) Curbline is deemed to have waived its right to present and require a Release as provided in Section 8.2 or (y) Executive has timely executed a Release as contemplated by Section 8.3. The amounts and benefits specified in this Section 7.2 are as follows:

(a) A lump sum amount equal to Executive’s Base Salary and any accrued but unused paid time off for the year through the Termination Date, to the extent not already paid in accordance with applicable policy. Curbline will pay (or cause payment of) this amount to Executive within 30 days of the Termination Date.

 

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(b) A lump sum amount equal to Executive’s Annual Bonus (or 2024 Bonus, if applicable) earned for the calendar year immediately preceding the calendar year in which the Termination Date occurs, to the extent not already paid. Curbline will pay (or cause payment of) this amount to Executive on the same date and in the same amount that the Annual Bonus (or 2024 Bonus, if applicable) for such year would have been paid if Executive’s employment had not been terminated, but in any event not later than March 15 of the calendar year in which the Termination Date occurs.

(c) A lump sum amount equal in value to Executive’s Annual Bonus (or 2024 Bonus, if applicable, and to the extent unpaid) that would have been earned for the calendar year in which the Termination Date occurs, pro-rated based on the number of days that Executive is employed by Curbline TRS during the applicable performance period, and calculated on the basis of actual performance of the applicable performance objectives for the entire performance period. Subject to Section 13.1, Curbline will pay (or cause payment of) this amount to Executive on the same date that such Annual Bonus (or 2024 Bonus, if applicable) for such year would have been paid if Executive’s employment had not been terminated, but in any event not later than March 15 of the calendar year following the calendar year in which the Termination Date occurs.

(d) A lump sum amount equal to 1.5 times the sum of (i) Executive’s annual Base Salary as of the Termination Date, plus (ii) an amount equal to the average of the Annual Bonuses earned by Executive in the three fiscal years ending immediately prior to the fiscal year in which the Termination Date occurs (or, if Executive has been eligible for fewer than three such Annual Bonuses, the number of fiscal years preceding the year in which the Termination Date occurs for which Executive was eligible for an Annual Bonus) (the “Average Annual Bonus”). Subject to Section 13.1, Curbline will pay (or cause payment of) this amount to Executive as soon as practicable (but no later than 74 days) following the Termination Date. As applicable, the 2024 Bonus (consisting of the SITE 2024 Bonus and the Curbline 2024 Bonus) will constitute an “Annual Bonus” for purposes of calculating the Average Annual Bonus in connection with this Section 7.2(d) or Section 7.5(d). Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that the Termination Date occurs prior to the determination of Annual Bonus payouts with respect to the 2025 calendar year, the Average Annual Bonus will be deemed to be Executive’s “Target” Annual Bonus as in effect on the Termination Date.

(e) A lump sum in cash in an amount equal to the product of (i) 18 multiplied by (ii) the sum of (A) the monthly premium (both the employee and the employer portion) for employer-provided health, dental and vision insurance benefits in effect for Executive and Executive’s eligible dependents as of the Termination Date, plus (B) the employer portion of the monthly premium for other Curbline-provided insurance (e.g., life, disability, etc.) in effect for Executive as of the Termination Date. Such payments shall be taxable to Executive. Subject to Section 13.1, Curbline will pay (or cause payment of) this amount to Executive as soon as practicable (but no later than 74 days) following the Termination Date.

7.3 Upon Termination by Reason of Death. If Executive’s employment under this Agreement is terminated by reason of Executive’s death during the Contract Period while Executive is employed by Curbline TRS, Curbline will pay, or cause to be paid, and provide, or cause to be provided, to Executive’s personal representative and Executive’s eligible dependents, as appropriate, the amounts and benefits specified in this Section 7.3, except that Curbline will not be obligated to pay (or provide for payment of) the lump sum amounts specified in Section 7.3 (c) and (d) unless either (x) Curbline is deemed to have waived its right to present and require a

 

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Release as provided in Section 8.2 or (y) Executive’s personal representative has timely executed a Release as contemplated by Section 8.3. The amounts and benefits specified in this Section 7.3 are as follows:

(a) A lump sum amount equal to Executive’s Base Salary and any accrued but unused paid time off for the year through the Termination Date, to the extent not already paid in accordance with applicable policy. Curbline will pay (or cause payment of) this amount to Executive’s personal representative within 30 days of the Termination Date.

(b) A lump sum amount equal to Executive’s Annual Bonus (or 2024 Bonus, if applicable) earned for the calendar year immediately preceding the calendar year in which the Termination Date occurs, to the extent not already paid. Curbline will pay (or cause payment of) this amount to Executive’s personal representative on the same date and in the same amount that the Annual Bonus (or 2024 Bonus, if applicable) for such year would have been paid if Executive’s employment had not been terminated, but in any event not later than March 15 of the calendar year in which the Termination Date occurs.

(c) A lump sum amount equal in value to Executive’s Annual Bonus (or 2024 Bonus, if applicable, and to the extent unpaid) that would have been earned for the calendar year in which the Termination Date occurs at the “Target” level, pro-rated based on the number of days that Executive is employed by Curbline TRS during the applicable performance period. Subject to Section 13.1, Curbline will pay (or cause payment of) this amount to Executive’s personal representative as soon as practicable (but no later than 74 days) following the Termination Date.

(d) A lump sum in cash to Executive’s personal representative as soon as practicable (but no later than 74 days) following Executive’s death in an amount equal to the product of (i) 18 multiplied by (ii) the sum of (A) the monthly premium for employer-provided health, dental and vision insurance benefits at the levels specified in Section 4.2 in effect for Executive and Executive’s eligible dependents as of Executive’s death, plus (B) the employer portion of the monthly premium for other Curbline-provided insurance (e.g., life, disability, etc.) in effect for Executive as of Executive’s death.

7.4 Upon Termination by Reason of Disability. If Executive’s employment under this Agreement is terminated by Curbline pursuant to Section 6.1 during the Contract Period while Executive is employed by Curbline TRS following Executive’s disability, Curbline will pay and provide to Executive and Executive’s eligible dependents (or cause payment and provision to Executive and Executive’s eligible dependents of), as appropriate, the amounts and benefits specified in this Section 7.4, except that Curbline will not be obligated to pay (or provide for payment of) the lump sum amounts specified in Section 7.4 (c) and (d) unless either (x) Curbline is deemed to have waived its right to present and require a Release as provided in Section 8.2 or (y) Executive (or in the event of Executive’s legal incapacity, Executive’s personal representative) has timely executed a Release as contemplated by Section 8.3. The amounts and benefits specified in this Section 7.4 are as follows:

(a) A lump sum amount equal to Executive’s Base Salary and any accrued but unused paid time off for the year through the Termination Date, to the extent not already paid in accordance with applicable policy. Curbline will pay (or cause payment of) this amount to Executive within 30 days of the Termination Date.

 

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(b) A lump sum amount equal to Executive’s Annual Bonus (or 2024 Bonus, if applicable) earned for the calendar year immediately preceding the calendar year in which the Termination Date occurs, to the extent not already paid. Curbline will pay (or cause payment of) this amount to Executive on the same date and in the same amount that the Annual Bonus (or 2024 Bonus, if applicable) for such year would have been paid if Executive’s employment had not been terminated, but in any event not later than March 15 of the calendar year in which the Termination Date occurs.

(c) A lump sum amount equal in value to Executive’s Annual Bonus (or 2024 Bonus, if applicable, and to the extent unpaid) that would have been earned for the calendar year in which the Termination Date occurs at the “Target” level, pro-rated based on the number of days that Executive is employed by Curbline TRS during the applicable performance period. Subject to Section 13.1, Curbline will pay (or cause payment of) this amount to Executive as soon as practicable (but no later than 74 days) following the Termination Date.

(d) A lump sum in cash in an amount equal to the product of (i) 18 multiplied by (ii) the sum of (A) the monthly premium (both the employee and the employer portion) for employer-provided health, dental and vision insurance benefits in effect for Executive and Executive’s eligible dependents as of the Termination Date, plus (B) the employer portion of the monthly premium for other Curbline-provided insurance (e.g., life, disability, etc.) in effect for Executive as of the Termination Date. Such payments shall be taxable to Executive. Curbline will pay (or cause payment of) this amount to Executive as soon as practicable (but no later than 74 days) following the Termination Date.

7.5 Upon Termination In Connection With a Change in Control. Upon the occurrence of a Triggering Event during the Contract Period while Executive is employed by Curbline TRS, Curbline will pay and provide to Executive (or cause payment and provision to Executive of) the amounts and benefits specified in this Section 7.5, and Curbline will be deemed to have waived its right to provide a Release as provided in Section 8.2, and the provision of a Release will not be a condition to Executive receiving any payment or benefit from (or on behalf of) Curbline under this Section 7.5. The amounts and benefits specified in this Section 7.5 are as follows:

(a) A lump sum amount equal to Executive’s Base Salary and any accrued but unused paid time off for the year through the Termination Date, to the extent not already paid in accordance with Curbline policy. Curbline will pay (or cause payment of) this amount to Executive within 30 days of the Termination Date.

(b) A lump sum amount equal to Executive’s Annual Bonus (or 2024 Bonus, if applicable) earned for the calendar year immediately preceding the calendar year in which the Termination Date occurs, to the extent not already paid. Curbline will pay (or cause payment of) this amount to Executive on the same date and in the same amount that the Annual Bonus (or 2024 Bonus, if applicable) for such year would have been paid if Executive’s employment had not been terminated, but in any event not later than March 15 of the calendar year in which the Termination Date occurs.

(c) A lump sum amount equal in value to Executive’s Annual Bonus (or 2024 Bonus, if applicable, and to the extent unpaid) that would have been earned for the calendar year in which the Termination Date occurs at the “Target” level, pro-rated based on the number of days that Executive is employed by Curbline TRS during the applicable performance period. Subject to Section 13.1, Curbline will pay (or cause payment of) this amount to Executive as soon as practicable (but no later than 74 days) following the Termination Date.

 

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(d) A lump sum amount equal to 2.5 times the sum of (i) Executive’s annual Base Salary as of the Termination Date, plus (ii) an amount equal to the Average Annual Bonus. Subject to Section 13.1, Curbline will pay (or cause payment of) this amount to Executive as soon as practicable (but no later than 74 days) following the Termination Date.

(e) A lump sum in cash in an amount equal to the product of (i) 18 multiplied by (ii) the sum of (A) the monthly premium (both the employee and the employer portion) for employer-provided health, dental and vision insurance benefits in effect for Executive and Executive’s eligible dependents as of the Termination Date, plus (B) the employer portion of the monthly premium for other Curbline-provided insurance (e.g., life, disability, etc.) in effect for Executive as of the Termination Date. Such payments shall be taxable to Executive. Subject to Section 13.1, Curbline will pay (or cause payment of) this amount to Executive as soon as practicable (but no later than 74 days) following the Termination Date.

8. Release. This Section 8 will apply only upon termination of Executive’s employment during the Contract Period while Executive is employed by Curbline TRS (a) by Curbline without Cause, (b) by Executive for Good Reason, (c) by reason of Executive’s death or (d) by Curbline pursuant to Section 6.1 following Executive’s disability. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Section 8 (or in Exhibit B), to the extent that Executive’s employment with Curbline TRS terminates during the Remaining SITE Service Period, then: (a) references in this Section 8 to Curbline or its subsidiaries or affiliates will be deemed references to SITE Centers or its subsidiaries or affiliates, as applicable; and (b) references in this Section 8 to the “Committee” will be deemed references to “the Compensation Committee of the SITE Board”).

8.1 Presentation of Release by Curbline. If this Section 8 applies, Curbline may present to Executive (or in the case of Executive’s death or legal incapacity, to Executive’s personal representative), not later than 21 days after the Termination Date, a form of release (a “Release”) of all current and future claims, known or unknown, arising on or before the date on which the Release is to be executed, that Executive or Executive’s assigns have or may have against Curbline or any Subsidiary, and the directors, officers, and affiliates of any of them, substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit B, but subject to such modifications as may be reasonably determined necessary or appropriate by the Committee to reflect the terms and intentions of this Agreement or changes in applicable law or reasonable changes in best practices through the execution of such Release, together with a covering message in which Curbline advises Executive (or Executive’s personal representative) that the Release is being presented in accordance with this Section 8.1 and that a failure by Executive (or Executive’s personal representative) to execute and return the Release as contemplated by Section 8.3 would relieve Curbline of the obligation to make payments (or provide for payments) otherwise due to Executive (or to Executive’s personal representative) under one or more portions of Section 7.2, Section 7.3 or Section 7.4, as the case may be.

8.2 Effect of Failure by Curbline to Present Release. If Curbline fails to present a Release and covering message to Executive (or Executive’s personal representative) as contemplated by Section 8.1, Curbline will be deemed to have waived the requirement that Executive (or Executive’s personal representative) execute a Release as a condition to receiving payments under any portion of Section 7.2, Section 7.3 or Section 7.4, as the case may be.

8.3 Execution of Release by Executive or Executives Personal Representative. If Curbline does present a Release and covering message to Executive (or Executive’s personal representative) as contemplated by Section 8.1, Executive (or Executive’s personal representative) will have until 60 days after the Termination Date (i.e., at least 39 days after presentation of the Release to

 

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Executive (or Executive’s personal representative)) within which to deliver an executed copy of the Release to Curbline and thereby satisfy the condition to receiving payments under any portion of Section 7.2, Section 7.3 or Section 7.4, as the case may be, provided that Executive (or Executive’s personal representative) does not revoke the execution of the Release during any applicable revocation period.

8.4 Effect of Failure to Execute Release or of Revocation of Release. If Executive (or Executive’s personal representative) fails to deliver an executed copy of the Release to Curbline within 60 days after the Termination Date or revokes the execution of the Release during any applicable revocation period, Executive (or Executive’s personal representative) will be deemed to have waived the right to receive all payments under Section 7.2, Section 7.3 or Section 7.4, as the case may be, that were conditioned on the Release.

9. Disability Definitions; Physical Examination.

9.1 Definitions. For all purposes of this Agreement:

(a) Executive’s “Own Occupation” means the regular occupation in which Executive is engaged under this Agreement at the time Executive becomes disabled.

(b) “Total Disability” means that, because of sickness or injury, Executive is not able to perform the material and substantial duties of Executive’s Own Occupation.

(c) “Totally Disabled” means that Executive suffers from Total Disability (and Executive will be deemed to continue to be Totally Disabled so long as Executive is not able to work in Executive’s Own Occupation even if Executive works in some other capacity).

9.2 Physical Examination. If either Curbline or Executive, at any time or from time to time after receipt of notice of Executive’s Total Disability from the other, desires to contend that Executive is not Totally Disabled, Executive will promptly submit to a physical examination by the chief of medicine of any major accredited hospital in the New York, New York, Cleveland, Ohio or Atlanta, Georgia areas (at Curbline’s reasonable cost) and, unless that physician issues his or her written statement to the effect that, in his or her opinion, based on his or her diagnosis, Executive is capable of resuming Executive’s Own Occupation and discharging the duties of Executive’s Own Occupation in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, Executive will be deemed to be and to continue to be Totally Disabled for all purposes of this Agreement. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Section 9.2, to the extent that Executive’s employment with Curbline TRS terminates during the Remaining SITE Service Period and this Section 9.2 is applicable, then references in this Section 9.2 to “Curbline” will be deemed references to “SITE Centers”.

10. No Set-Off; No Obligation to Seek Other Employment or to Otherwise Mitigate Damages; No Effect Upon Other Plans. Each of Curbline and SITE Centers’ obligation to make the payments provided for in this Agreement and otherwise to perform its obligations under this Agreement will not be affected by any set-off, counterclaim, recoupment, defense, or other claim whatsoever that such entity or any subsidiary or affiliate of such entity may have against Executive, except that the prohibition on set-off, counterclaim, recoupment, defense, or other claim contained in this sentence will not apply if Executive’s employment is terminated by such entity for Cause. Executive will not be required to mitigate damages or the amount of any payment provided for under this Agreement by seeking other employment or otherwise. The amount of any payment provided for under this Agreement will not be reduced by any compensation or benefits earned by Executive as the result of employment by another employer or otherwise after the Termination Date. Neither the provisions of this Agreement nor the making of any payment provided for

 

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under this Agreement, nor the termination of any of SITE Centers or Curbline’s obligations under this Agreement, will reduce any amounts otherwise payable, or in any way diminish Executive’s rights, under any incentive compensation plan, stock option or stock appreciation rights plan, restricted stock plan or agreement, deferred compensation, retirement, or supplemental retirement plan, stock purchase and savings plan, disability or insurance plan, or other similar contract, plan, or arrangement of such entity or any subsidiary of such entity, all of which will be governed by their respective terms.

11. Payments Are in Lieu of Severance Payments. If Executive becomes entitled to receive payments under this Agreement as a result of termination of Executive’s employment, those payments will be in lieu of any and all other claims or rights that Executive may have against SITE Centers, Curbline and/or Curbline TRS for severance, separation, and/or salary continuation pay upon that termination of Executive’s employment.

12. Covenants and Confidential Information. Executive acknowledges each of SITE Centers and Curbline’s reliance on and expectation of Executive’s continued commitment to performance of Executive’s duties and responsibilities during the Contract Period while Executive is employed by Curbline TRS and Executive assumes the obligations set out in this Section 12 in light of that reliance and expectation on the part of such entities.

12.1 Noncompetition. During the Contract Period while Executive is employed by Curbline TRS, and for a period of 12 months thereafter, Executive will not, directly or indirectly, own, manage, control, or participate in the ownership, management, or control of, or be employed or engaged by or otherwise affiliated or associated as a consultant, independent contractor, or otherwise with the entities that are originally part of Curbline’s relative total shareholder return peer group, as most recently (but no later than as of the date of Executive’s termination of employment) designated with respect to (a) performance-based awards granted to Executive or (b) performance-based awards granted to the CEO if, as of such date of Executive’s termination of employment, Executive has not yet been granted any performance-based awards; provided, however, that the ownership by Executive of not more than three percent of any class of publicly traded securities of any entity will not be deemed a violation of this Section 12.1 (such restriction that applies post-employment, the “Post-Termination Restriction”). Notwithstanding anything in this Section 12.1 to the contrary, if the inclusion of the Post-Termination Restriction in this Agreement becomes prohibited by the law applicable to this Agreement, then such Post-Termination Restriction shall be deemed inoperative and severed from this Agreement, with this Agreement further interpreted and operated as if such Post-Termination Restriction was not included in this Agreement as of the Effective Date. This provision shall not apply in the event Executive is employed as outside counsel solely in her capacity as an attorney and her responsibilities are limited only to the practice of law. Curbline is aware that the ethics rules governing the conduct of attorneys may include provisions which apply to agreements by an attorney to restrict her right to practice law. The provisions of this paragraph shall be deemed modified and amended to the extent required to conform to such attorney ethics rules. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Section 12.1, to the extent that Executive’s employment with Curbline TRS terminates during the Remaining SITE Service Period, then: (a) references in this Section 12.1 to “Curbline” will be deemed references to “SITE Centers”; and (b) reference in this Section 12.1 to “CEO” will be deemed references to “SITE CEO”.

12.2 Confidentiality. Throughout and after the Contract Period, Executive will not disclose, divulge, discuss, copy, or otherwise use or suffer to be used in any manner, in competition with, or contrary to the interests of, the Companies, any confidential information relating to the Companies’ operations, properties, or otherwise to their particular business or other trade secrets of the Companies, it being acknowledged by Executive that all such information regarding the

 

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business of the Companies compiled or obtained by, or furnished to, Executive during Executive’s employment by or association with the Companies is confidential information and the Companies’ exclusive property, respectively. The restrictions in this Section 12.2 will not apply to any information to the extent that it (a) is clearly obtainable in the public domain, (b) becomes obtainable in the public domain, except by reason of the breach by Executive of Executive’s obligations under this Section 12.2, (c) was not acquired by Executive in connection with Executive’s employment or affiliation with the Companies, (d) was not acquired by Executive from the Companies or their representatives, or (e) is required to be disclosed by rule of law or by order of a court or governmental body or agency. However, nothing in this Agreement or in ancillary agreements is intended to interfere with or discourage the disclosure of a suspected violation of the law to any governmental entity, or to discourage Executive from participating in an investigation by a governmental entity regarding a suspected violation of the law.

12.3 Non-Disparagement.

(a) Throughout and after the Contract Period, outside the ordinary course of business on behalf of the Companies, Executive will not make or issue, or procure any person, firm, or entity to make or issue, any statement in any form, including written, oral and electronic communications of any kind, which conveys negative or adverse information concerning the Companies or their subsidiaries or affiliates, or any of their legal predecessors, successors, assigns, parents, subsidiaries, divisions or other affiliates, or any of the foregoing’s respective past, present or future directors, officers, employees or representatives (collectively, the “Non-Disparagement Parties”), or any Non-Disparagement Party’s business, or its actions, to any person or entity, regardless of the truth or falsity of such statement.

(b) Throughout and after the Contract Period, the Companies will each reasonably direct the executive officers and directors of such Company not to make or issue, or procure any person, firm, or entity to make or issue, any statement in any form, including written, oral and electronic communications of any kind, which conveys negative or adverse information concerning Executive or any of Executive’s legal successors, assigns, or other affiliates, or any of the foregoing’s respective past, present or future directors, officers, employees or representatives (collectively, the “Executive Non-Disparagement Parties”), or any Executive Non-Disparagement Party’s business, or its actions, to any person or entity, regardless of the truth or falsity of such statement.

(c) This Section 12.3 does not apply to truthful testimony or disclosure compelled or required by applicable law or legal process. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement or ancillary agreements to the contrary, Executive is not prohibited from providing information voluntarily to the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Section 21F of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

12.4 Nonsolicitation. During the Contract Period while Executive is employed by Curbline TRS, and for a period of 12 months thereafter, Executive will not directly or indirectly solicit or induce or attempt to solicit or induce any employee of the Companies and/or of any of their subsidiaries or affiliates to terminate his or her employment with the Companies and/or any of their subsidiaries. Such requirement shall not apply to Executive during the Contract Period while Executive is employed by Curbline TRS with respect to any employee of SITE Centers as permitted by the Employee Matters Agreement.

 

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12.5 Remedies. Executive acknowledges that the remedy at law for any breach by Executive of this Section 12 may be inadequate and that the damages following from any such breach may not be readily susceptible to being measured in monetary terms. Accordingly, Executive agrees that, upon adequate proof of Executive’s violation of any legally enforceable provision of this Section 12, the Companies will be entitled to immediate injunctive relief and may obtain a temporary order restraining any threatened or further breach. Nothing in this Section 12 will be deemed to limit the Companies’ remedies at law or in equity for any breach by Executive of any of the provisions of this Section 12 that may be pursued or availed of by the Companies.

12.6 Acknowledgement. Executive has carefully considered the nature and extent of the restrictions upon Executive and the rights and remedies conferred upon the Companies under this Section 12, and hereby acknowledges and agrees that the same are reasonable in time and territory, are designed to eliminate competition that otherwise would be unfair to the Companies, do not stifle the inherent skill and experience of Executive, would not operate as a bar to Executive’s sole means of support, are fully required to protect the legitimate interests of the Companies, and do not confer a benefit upon the Companies disproportionate to the detriment to Executive.

13. Compliance with Section 409A.

13.1 Six Month Delay on Certain Payments, Benefits, and Reimbursements. If Executive is a “specified employee” for purposes of Section 409A (as determined under Curbline’s policy for determining specified employees on the Termination Date), to the extent necessary to comply with Section 409A(a)(2)(B)(i), each payment, benefit, or reimbursement paid or provided under this Agreement that constitutes a “deferral of compensation” within the meaning of Section 409A, that is to be paid or provided as a result of a “separation from service” within the meaning of Section 409A, and that would otherwise be paid or provided at any time (a “Scheduled Time”) that is on or before the date (the “Six Month Date”) that is exactly six months after the Termination Date (other than payments, benefits, or reimbursements that are treated as separation pay under Section 1.409A-1(b)(9)(v) of the Treasury Regulations) will not be paid or provided at the Scheduled Time but will be accumulated (together with interest at the applicable federal rate under Section 7872(f)(2)(A) of the Internal Revenue Code in effect on the Termination Date) through the Six Month Date and paid or provided during the period of 30 consecutive days beginning on the first business day after the Six Month Date (that period of 30 consecutive days, the “Seventh Month after the Termination Date”), except that if Executive dies before the Six Month Date, the payments, benefits, or reimbursements will be accumulated only through the date of Executive’s death and thereafter paid or provided not later than 30 days after the date of death.

13.2 Additional Limitations on Reimbursements and In-Kind Benefits. The reimbursement of expenses or in-kind benefits provided under Section 7 or under any other section of this Agreement that are taxable benefits (and that are not disability pay or death benefit plans within the meaning of Section 409A) are intended to comply, to the maximum extent possible, with the exception to Section 409A set forth in Section 1.409A-1(b)(9)(v) of the Treasury Regulations. To the extent that any reimbursement of expenses or in-kind benefits provided under Section 7 or under any other section of this Agreement do not qualify for that exception and are otherwise deferred compensation subject to Section 409A , then they will be subject to the following additional rules: (i) any reimbursement of eligible expenses will be paid within 30 days following Executive’s written request for reimbursement; provided, however, that Executive provides written notice no later than 60 days before the last day of the calendar year following the calendar year in which the expense was incurred so that the reimbursement can be made within the time periods required by Section 409A; (ii) the amount of expenses eligible for reimbursement, or in-kind benefits provided, during any calendar year will not affect the amount of expenses eligible for reimbursement, or in-kind benefits to be provided, during any other calendar year; and (iii) the right to reimbursement or in-kind benefits will not be subject to liquidation or exchange for any other benefit.

 

15


13.3 Compliance Generally. Each payment or reimbursement and the provision of each benefit under this Agreement shall be considered a separate payment and not one of a series of payments for purposes of Section 409A. The Companies and Executive intend that the payments and benefits provided under this Agreement will either be exempt from the application of, or comply with, the requirements of Section 409A. This Agreement is to be construed, administered, and governed in a manner that effects that intent and the Companies will not take any action that is inconsistent with that intent. Without limiting the foregoing, the payments and benefits provided under this Agreement may not be deferred, accelerated, extended, paid out, or modified in a manner that would result in the imposition of an additional tax under Section 409A upon Executive. Notwithstanding any provision of Section 7 to the contrary, if the period commencing on the Termination Date begins in one taxable year of Executive and the 74th day following the Termination Date is in a subsequent taxable year, any amounts payable under Section 7 which are considered deferred compensation under Section 409A shall be paid in such subsequent taxable year.

13.4 Termination of Employment to Constitute a Separation from Service. The parties hereto intend that the phrase “termination of employment” and words and phrases of similar import mean a “separation from service” with Curbline TRS within the meaning of Section 409A. Executive and the Companies will take all steps necessary (including taking into account this Section 13.4 when considering any further agreement regarding provision of services by Executive to Curbline after the Termination Date) to ensure that (a) any termination of employment under this Agreement constitutes a “separation from service” within the meaning of Section 409A, and (b) the Termination Date is the date on which Executive experiences a “separation from service” within the meaning of Section 409A.

14. Indemnification. Curbline will indemnify Executive, to the full extent permitted or authorized by the Maryland General Corporation Law as it may from time to time be amended, if Executive is made or threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending, or completed action, suit, or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative, or investigative, by reason of the fact that Executive is or was a director, officer, or employee of Curbline and/or of any Subsidiary, or is or was serving at the request of Curbline and/or of any Subsidiary as a director, trustee, officer, or employee of a corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, or other enterprise. The indemnification provided by this Section 14 will not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which Executive may be entitled under the articles of incorporation or the regulations of Curbline and/or of any Subsidiary, or any agreement, vote of shareholders or disinterested directors, or otherwise, both as to action in Executive’s official capacity and as to action in another capacity while holding such office, and will continue as to Executive after Executive has ceased to be a director, trustee, officer, or employee and will inure to the benefit of Executive’s heirs, executors, and administrators. In particular, Executive will continue to be entitled to the full benefit of the indemnification agreement then in effect between Executive and Curbline (the “Indemnification Agreement”) for so long as that Indemnification Agreement remains in effect according to its terms. In the event of any conflict or inconsistency between the provisions of this Section 14 and the provisions of the Indemnification Agreement, the provisions of the Indemnification Agreement shall control.

15. Adjustment of Certain Payments and Benefits. Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, if any payment or benefit to be paid or provided hereunder or under any other plan or agreement would be an “Excess Parachute Payment,” within the meaning of Section 280G of the Internal Revenue Code, or any successor provision thereto, but for the application of this sentence, then the payments and benefits to be paid or provided hereunder shall be reduced to the minimum extent necessary

 

16


(but in no event to less than zero) so that no portion of any such payment or benefit, as so reduced, constitutes an Excess Parachute Payment; provided, however, that the foregoing reduction shall be made only if and to the extent that such reduction would result in an increase in the aggregate payments and benefits to be provided, determined on an after-tax basis (taking into account the excise tax imposed pursuant to Section 4999 of the Internal Revenue Code, or any successor provision thereto, any tax imposed by any comparable provision of state law, and any applicable federal, state and local income taxes). The determination of whether any reduction in such payments or benefits to be provided hereunder is required pursuant to the preceding sentence shall be made at the expense of Curbline, if requested by Executive or Curbline, by Curbline’s independent accountants or a nationally recognized law firm chosen by Curbline. The fact that Executive’s right to payments or benefits may be reduced by reason of the limitations contained in this Section 15 shall not of itself limit or otherwise affect any other rights of Executive under this Agreement. In the event that any payment or benefit intended to be provided hereunder is required to be reduced pursuant to this Section 15, then the reduction will be made in accordance with Section 409A and will occur in the following order: (a) first, by reducing any cash payments with the last scheduled payment reduced first; (b) second, by reducing any equity-based benefits that are included at full value under Q&A-24(a) of the Treasury Regulations promulgated under Section 280G of the Internal Revenue Code (the “280G Regulations”), with the highest value reduced first; (c) third, by reducing any equity-based benefits included on an acceleration value under Q&A-24(b) or 24(c) of the 280G Regulations, with the highest value reduced first; and (d) fourth, by reducing any non-cash, non-equity based benefits, with the latest scheduled benefit reduced first. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Section 15, to the extent that Executive’s employment with Curbline TRS terminates during the Remaining SITE Service Period and this Section 15 is applicable, then references in this Section 15 to “Curbline” will be deemed references to “SITE Centers”.

16. Certain Expenses. This Section 16 will apply only to expenses that (a) are otherwise described in one or more of its subsections and (b) are incurred at any time from the Effective Date through the fifth anniversary of Executive’s death.

16.1 Reimbursement of Certain Expenses. Each applicable Company (or Curbline TRS) will pay, as incurred, all expenses, including the reasonable fees of counsel engaged by Executive, of Executive in (a) prosecuting any action to compel such Company (including Curbline, on behalf of Curbline TRS) to comply with the terms of this Agreement upon receipt from Executive of an undertaking to repay such Company for such expenses if it is ultimately determined by a court of competent jurisdiction that Executive had no reasonable grounds for bringing such action or (b) defending any action brought by a party other than Executive or Executive’s personal representative to have this Agreement declared invalid or unenforceable.

16.2 Advancement of Certain Expenses. Expenses (including the reasonable fees of counsel engaged by Executive) incurred by Executive in defending any action, suit, or proceeding commenced or threatened against Executive for any action or failure to act as an employee, officer or director of one of the Companies and/or of any of its subsidiaries will be paid by such Company, as they are incurred, in advance of final disposition of the action, suit, or proceeding upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of Executive in which Executive agrees to reasonably cooperate with such Company and/or such subsidiary, as the case may be, concerning the action, suit, or proceeding, and (a) if the action, suit, or proceeding is commenced or threatened against Executive for any action or failure to act as a director, to repay the amount if it is proved by clear and convincing evidence in a court of competent jurisdiction that his action or failure to act involved an act or omission undertaken with deliberate intent to cause injury to such Company or one of its subsidiaries or with reckless disregard for the best interests of such Company or one of its subsidiaries, or (b) if the action, suit, or proceeding is commenced or threatened against Executive for any action or failure to act as an officer or employee, to repay the amount if it is ultimately determined that Executive is not entitled to be indemnified. The

 

17


obligation of each such Company to advance expenses provided for in this Section 16.2 will not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which Executive may be entitled under the articles/certificate of incorporation or the regulations/bylaws of such Company or of any of its subsidiaries, or any agreement, vote of shareholders or disinterested directors, or otherwise.

17. Survival of Obligations. Except as is otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement, the respective obligations of each of the Companies (and Curbline TRS) and Executive under this Agreement will survive any termination of Executive’s employment under this Agreement.

18. Notices. Notices and all other communications provided for in this Agreement must be in writing and will be deemed to have been duly given upon receipt (or rejection) when delivered in person or by overnight delivery (to the chief legal officer of Curbline in the case of notices to Curbline and/or Curbline TRS, to the chief legal officer of SITE Centers in the case of notices to SITE Centers, and to Executive in the case of notices to Executive) or mailed by United States registered mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, and addressed, (a) if to Curbline, to its principal place of business, attention: Chief Legal Officer, (b) if to Curbline TRS, to its principal place of business, attention: Chief Legal Officer, (c) if to SITE Centers, to its principal place of business, attention: Chief Legal Officer, and (d) if to Executive, to Executive’s home address last shown on the records of Curbline, or to such other address or addresses as a party may furnish to the others in accordance with this Section 18.

19. Entire Agreement. Except as otherwise set forth below in this Section 19 or as otherwise described herein, this Agreement and the agreements specifically referenced herein supersede in their entirety all prior agreements between the parties, if any, and all understandings between them, if any, with respect to the subject matter of this Agreement, including the Employment Agreement, dated as of April 8, 2024, between SITE Centers and Executive. As provided in Section 14, Executive will continue to be entitled to the full benefit of the Indemnification Agreement for so long as it remains in effect according to its terms. For purposes of clarification, notwithstanding anything in the 2024 Agreement or this Agreement to the contrary, there shall be no duplication of compensation and benefits under the 2024 Agreement and this Agreement.

20. Mandatory Arbitration Before a Change in Control. Section 20.1 will apply if and only if a party to this Agreement notifies another party to this Agreement, in writing, that it is demanding resolution of a then-current controversy or claim by arbitration and the notice is provided by the notifying party to such other party before any Change in Control has occurred. Nothing in this Section 20 will limit the right of each of the Companies to seek and obtain injunctive relief in a court of equity for any breach or threatened breach by Executive of any of Executive’s covenants contained in Section 12 above.

20.1 Scope of Arbitration. If this Section 20.1 applies, any controversy or claim arising out of or relating to this Agreement or any breach of this Agreement will be settled by binding arbitration to be held before three arbitrators and conducted in accordance with the Employment Arbitration Rules and Mediation Procedures of the American Arbitration Association in the City of Cleveland, Ohio or New York, New York. The decision of the arbitrators will be final and binding on such parties and judgment on any award rendered by the arbitrators may be entered in any court of competent jurisdiction. Costs and expenses of any such arbitration will be borne by the parties as may be directed by the arbitrators taking into account the extent to which the positions taken by such parties are reasonable. The arbitrators will have the power to issue mandatory orders and restraining orders in connection with any such arbitration.

20.2 Other Disputes. If Section 20.1 does not apply to any claim or controversy between such parties, such parties may nevertheless, but need not, mutually agree to submit any controversy or claim to arbitration as though Section 20.1 did apply. Failing any such mutual agreement, either of such parties may bring proceedings against the other with respect to any claim or controversy in any court of competent jurisdiction that satisfies the venue requirements set forth in Section 21.8.

 

18


Nothing in this Section 20.2 imposes upon either of such parties any obligation to discuss possible arbitration of any claim or controversy to which Section 20.1 does not apply before bringing any court proceedings with respect to that claim or controversy.

21. Miscellaneous.

21.1 No Conflict. Executive represents and warrants that Executive is not a party to any agreement, contract, or understanding, whether employment or otherwise, that would restrict or prohibit Executive from undertaking or performing employment in accordance with the terms and conditions of this Agreement.

21.2 Assistance. During the term of this Agreement and thereafter, Executive will provide reasonable assistance to each of the Companies in litigation and regulatory matters that relate to events that occurred during Executive’s period of employment with each of such Company or Curbline TRS and its predecessors, and will provide reasonable assistance to each of the Companies with matters relating to its corporate history from the period of Executive’s employment with it (or Curbline TRS) or its predecessors. Executive will be entitled to reimbursement of reasonable out-of-pocket travel or related costs and expenses relating to any such cooperation or assistance that occurs following the Termination Date.

21.3 Severability. The provisions of this Agreement are severable and if any one or more provision is determined to be illegal or otherwise unenforceable, in whole or in part, the remaining provisions and any partially unenforceable provision to the extent enforceable in any jurisdiction nevertheless will be binding and enforceable.

21.4 Benefit of Agreement. The rights and obligations of SITE Centers, Curbline TRS and Curbline, respectively, under this Agreement will inure to the benefit of, and will be binding on, SITE Centers, Curbline TRS and Curbline, respectively, and each of its successors and assigns, as applicable, and the rights and obligations (other than obligations to perform services) of Executive under this Agreement will inure to the benefit of, and will be binding upon, Executive and Executive’s heirs, personal representatives, and assigns.

21.5 No Waiver. The failure of any party to enforce any provision or provisions of this Agreement will not in any way be construed as a waiver of any such provision or provisions as to any future violations thereof, nor prevent that party from later enforcing each and every other provision of this Agreement. The rights granted the parties in this Agreement are cumulative and the waiver of any single remedy will not constitute a waiver of that party’s right to assert all other legal remedies available to it under the circumstances.

21.6 Modification. This Agreement may not be modified or terminated orally. No modification or termination will be valid unless in writing and signed by the parties against which the modification or termination is sought to be enforced. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, Executive acknowledges and agrees that this Agreement and any compensation described herein (or described in the 2024 Agreement) are subject to the terms and conditions of SITE Centers’ or Curbline’s clawback provisions, policy or policies, respectively, as may be in effect from time to time, including specifically to implement Section 10D of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and any applicable rules or regulations promulgated thereunder (including applicable rules and regulations of any national securities exchange on which such Company’s shares at any point may be traded) (the “Compensation Recovery Policy”), and applicable sections of this Agreement (or the 2024 Agreement) and any related documents shall be deemed superseded by and subject to (as applicable) the terms and conditions of the Compensation Recovery Policy. Further, Executive agrees to fully cooperate with each of the Companies in connection with any of Executive’s obligations to such Company

 

19


pursuant to the Compensation Recovery Policy, and agrees that such Company may enforce its rights under the Compensation Recovery Policy through any and all reasonable means permitted under applicable law as it deems necessary or desirable under the Compensation Recovery Policy, in each case from and after the effective dates thereof.

21.7 Merger or Transfer of Assets of Curbline. During the Contract Period while Executive is employed by Curbline TRS, Curbline will not consolidate with or merge into any other corporation, or transfer all or substantially all of its assets to another corporation, unless such other corporation assumes this Agreement in a signed writing and delivers a copy thereof to Executive, which signed writing may consist of the merger or sale agreement, or similar document. Upon any such assumption, the successor corporation will become obligated to perform the obligations of Curbline and Curbline TRS under this Agreement, and the term “Curbline,” as used in this Agreement, will be deemed to refer to that successor corporation, and the term “Curbline Board” as used in this Agreement will be deemed to refer to the board of directors of that successor corporation.

21.8 Governing Law and Venue. The provisions of this Agreement will be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Maryland applicable to contracts made in and to be performed exclusively within that State, notwithstanding any conflict of law provision to the contrary. Subject to the mandatory arbitration provisions of Section 20, the parties consent to venue and personal jurisdiction over them in the courts of the State of Maryland and federal courts sitting in Maryland, for purposes of construing and enforcing this Agreement.

21.9 Termination of Status as Director or Officer. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, unless otherwise agreed to by a Company (or Curbline TRS) and Executive prior to the Termination Date, as applicable, Executive shall be deemed to have automatically resigned from all directorships and offices with the Companies and their subsidiaries, and their affiliates (including joint ventures), as of the Termination Date.

22. Definitions.

22.1 Cause. The term “Cause” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.2.

22.2 Change in Control. For purposes of this Agreement, the term “Change in Control” means the occurrence, during the Contract Period while Executive is employed by Curbline TRS, of any of the following:

(a) consummation of a reorganization, merger or consolidation, or a sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of Curbline, or the acquisition of assets of another corporation or other transaction (“Business Combination”), but excluding any Business Combination pursuant to which (i) the individuals and entities who were the beneficial owners of the then-outstanding voting securities of Curbline entitled to vote generally in the election of directors immediately prior to such Business Combination beneficially own, directly or indirectly, more than 60% of, respectively, the then-outstanding shares of common stock and the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, as the case may be, of the entity resulting from such Business Combination (including, without limitation, an entity that as a result of such transaction owns Curbline or all or substantially all of Curbline’s assets either directly or through one or more subsidiaries), (ii) no individual, entity or group (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or 14(d)(2) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) (excluding Curbline, any employee benefit plan (or related trust) of Curbline or a Subsidiary, or such entity resulting from such Business Combination) beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, 30% or more of

 

20


the combined voting power of the then-outstanding securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors of the entity resulting from such Business Combination and (iii) at least a majority of the members of the board of directors of the entity resulting from such Business Combination were members of the Curbline Board at the time of the execution of the initial agreement, or of the action of the Curbline Board, providing for such Business Combination;

(b) any person or other entity (other than Curbline or a Subsidiary or any Curbline employee benefit plan (including any trustee of any such plan acting in its capacity as trustee)) purchases any Shares (or securities convertible into Shares) pursuant to a tender or exchange offer without the prior consent of the Curbline Board, or becomes the beneficial owner of securities of Curbline representing 30% or more of the voting power of Curbline’s outstanding securities without the prior consent of the Curbline Board;

(c) during any two-year period, individuals who at the beginning of such period constitute the entire Curbline Board cease to constitute a majority of the Curbline Board; provided, that any person becoming a director of Curbline during such two-year period whose election, or nomination for election by Curbline’s shareholders, was approved by a vote of at least two-thirds of the directors who at the beginning of such period constituted the entire Curbline Board or who became a director of Curbline during such two-year period as described in this proviso (either by a specific vote or by approval of Curbline’s proxy statement in which such person is named as a nominee of Curbline for director), but excluding for this purpose any person whose initial assumption of office as a director of Curbline occurs as a result of either an actual or threatened election contest with respect to the election or removal of directors of Curbline or other actual or threatened solicitation of proxies or consents by or on behalf of an individual, corporation, partnership, group, associate or other entity or person other than the Curbline Board, shall be, for purposes of this Section 22.2(c), considered as though such person was a member of the Curbline Board at the beginning of such period; or

(d) approval by the stockholders of Curbline of a complete liquidation or dissolution of Curbline except pursuant to a Business Combination that complies with clauses (i), (ii) and (iii) of subsection (a) above.

22.3 Committee. The term “Committee” means the Compensation Committee of the Curbline Board or any other committee or subcommittee authorized by the Curbline Board to discharge the Curbline Board’s responsibilities relating to the compensation of Curbline’s officers and directors.

22.4 Good Reason. The term “Good Reason” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.3.

22.5 Internal Revenue Code. The term “Internal Revenue Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

22.6 Section. References in this Agreement to one or more “Sections” are to sections of this Agreement, except for references to certain Sections of the Internal Revenue Code.

22.7 Section 409A. The term “Section 409A” means Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code. References in this Agreement to Section 409A are intended to include any proposed, temporary, or final regulations, or any other guidance, promulgated with respect to Section 409A by the U.S. Department of Treasury or the Internal Revenue Service.

 

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22.8 Shares. The term “Shares” means the Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share (or such other par value as may be established from time to time), of Curbline.

22.9 Subsidiary. The term “Subsidiary” means any corporation, partnership, or other entity a majority of the voting control of which is directly or indirectly owned or controlled by Curbline.

22.10 Termination Date. The term “Termination Date” means the date on which Executive’s employment with Curbline and its Subsidiaries terminates.

22.11 Triggering Event. A “Triggering Event” for the purpose of this Agreement will be deemed to have occurred if, during the Contract Period while Executive is employed by Curbline TRS:

(a) Within two years after the date on which a Change in Control occurs, Curbline terminates the employment of Executive, other than in the case of a termination for Cause, a termination by Curbline pursuant to Section 6.1 following Executive’s disability, or a termination based on death; or

(b) Within two years after the date on which a Change in Control occurs, Executive terminates Executive’s employment with Curbline for Good Reason.

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, SITE Centers, Curbline, Curbline TRS and Executive have executed this Agreement, each of SITE Centers, Curbline and Curbline TRS by its duly authorized officer (or other appropriate party), as of the date first written above.

 

SITE CENTERS CORP.

By:

 

/s/ David R. Lukes

 

Name:

  David R. Lukes
  Title:  

President and

   

Chief Executive Officer

CURBLINE PROPERTIES CORP.

By:

 

/s/ David R. Lukes

  Name:   David R. Lukes
  Title:   President and
   

Chief Executive Officer

CURBLINE TRS LLC

By:

 

/s/ David R. Lukes

 

Name:

 

David R. Lukes

 

Its:

 

President and Chief Executive Officer

/s/ Lesley H. Solomon
LESLEY H. SOLOMON

 

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EXHIBIT A

ANNUAL BONUS OPPORTUNITY

AS A PERCENTAGE OF YEAR-END BASE SALARY

 

Threshold

  

Target

  

Maximum

25%

   50%    75%


EXHIBIT B

Form of Release

In consideration of certain benefits provided to Lesley Solomon (“Executive”) and to be received by Executive from Curbline Properties Corp. (the “Company”) and/or its subsidiaries as described in the Assigned Employment Agreement, dated as of September 1, 2024, by and among SITE Centers Corp., the Company, Curbline TRS LLC (“Curbline TRS”) and Executive (the “Agreement”):

 

1.

Claims Released. Executive, for herself and on behalf of anyone claiming through Executive including each and all of Executive’s legal representatives, administrators, executors, heirs, successors and assigns (collectively, the “Executive Releasors”), does hereby fully, finally and forever release, absolve and discharge the Company and each and all of its legal predecessors, successors, assigns, fiduciaries, parents, subsidiaries, divisions and other affiliates (including Curbline TRS), and each of the foregoing’s respective past, present and future principals, partners, shareholders, directors, officers, employees, agents, consultants, attorneys, trustees, administrators, executors and representatives (collectively, the “Company Released Parties”), of, from and for any and all claims, causes of action, lawsuits, controversies, liabilities, losses, damages, costs, expenses and demands of any nature whatsoever, at law or in equity, whether known or unknown, asserted or unasserted, foreseen or unforeseen, that the Executive Releasors (or any of them) now have, have ever had, or may have against the Company Released Parties (or any of them) based upon, arising out of, concerning, relating to or resulting from any act, omission, matter, fact, occurrence, transaction, claim, contention, statement or event occurring or existing at any time in the past up to and including the date on which Executive signs this Release, including, without limitation, (a) all claims arising out of or in any way relating to Executive’s employment with or separation of employment from the Company or its affiliates; (b) all claims for compensation or benefits, including salary, commissions, bonuses, vacation pay, expense reimbursements, severance pay, fringe benefits, stock options, restricted stock units or any other ownership interests in the Company Released Parties; (c) all claims for breach of contract, wrongful termination and breach of the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing; (d) all tort claims, including claims for fraud, defamation, invasion of privacy and emotional distress; (e) all other common law claims; and (f) all claims (including claims for discrimination, harassment, retaliation, attorneys fees, expenses or otherwise) that were or could have been asserted by Executive or on her behalf in any federal, state, or local court, commission, or agency, or under any federal, state, local, employment, services or other law, regulation, ordinance, constitutional provision, executive order or other source of law, including without limitation under any of the following laws, as amended from time to time: the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (the “ADEA”), as amended by the Older Workers’ Benefit Protection Act of 1990 (the “OWBPA”), Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, 42 U.S.C. §§ 1981 & 1981a, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Equal Pay Act, the Employee Retirement Income Security Act, the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2009, the Family and Medical Leave Act, Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, the National Labor Relations Act, the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Worker Adjustment Retraining and Notification Act, the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act, Federal Executive Order 11246, and the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act.


2.

Scope of Release. Nothing in this Release (a) shall release the Company from any of its obligations set forth in the Agreement or any claim that by law is non-waivable, (b) shall release the Company from any obligation to defend and/or indemnify Executive against any third party claims arising out of any action or inaction by Executive during the time of her employment and within the scope of her duties with the Company to the extent Executive has any such defense or indemnification right, and to the extent permitted by applicable law and to the extent the claims are covered by the Company’s director & officer liability insurance or (c) shall affect Executive’s right to file a claim for workers’ compensation or unemployment insurance benefits.

Executive further acknowledges that by signing this Release, Executive does not waive the right to file a charge against the Company with, communicate with or participate in any investigation by the EEOC, the Securities and Exchange Commission or any comparable state or local agency. However, Executive waives and releases, to the fullest extent legally permissible, all entitlement to any form of monetary relief arising from a charge Executive or others may file, including without limitation any costs, expenses or attorneys’ fees. Executive understands that this waiver and release of monetary relief would not affect an enforcement agency’s ability to investigate a charge or to pursue relief on behalf of others. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Executive will not give up her right to any benefits to which she is entitled under any retirement plan of the Company that is intended to be qualified under Section 401(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, or her rights, if any, under Part 6 of Subtitle B of Title I of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (COBRA), or any monetary award offered by the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Section 21F of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. By executing this Release, Executive represents that, as of the date Executive signs this Release, no claims, lawsuits, grievances, or charges have been filed by Executive or on Executive’s behalf against the Company Released Parties.

 

3.

Knowing and Voluntary ADEA Waiver. In compliance with the requirements of the OWBPA, Executive acknowledges by her signature below that, with respect to the rights and claims waived and released in this Release under the ADEA, Executive specifically acknowledges and agrees as follows: (a) Executive has read and understands the terms of this Release; (b) Executive has been advised and hereby is advised, and has had the opportunity, to consult with an attorney before signing this Release; (c) the Release is written in a manner understood by Executive; (d) Executive is releasing the Company and the other Company Released Parties from, among other things, any claims that Executive may have against them pursuant to the ADEA; (e) the releases contained in this Release do not cover rights or claims that may arise after Executive signs this Release; (f) Executive has been given a period of at least 21 days in which to consider and execute this Release (although Executive may elect not to use the full consideration period at Executive’s option); (g) Executive may revoke this Release during the seven-day period following the date on which Executive signs this Release, and this Release will not become effective and enforceable until the seven-day revocation period has expired; and (h) any such revocation must be submitted in writing to the Company c/o David Lukes, Chief Executive Officer, Curbline Properties Corp., 320 Park Avenue, New York, New York 10022 prior to the expiration of such seven-day revocation period. If Executive revokes this Release within such seven-day revocation period, it shall be null and void.


4.

Acknowledgment of Restrictive Covenants. Executive acknowledges her obligations as outlined in Section 12 of the Agreement and in Section 21.6 regarding clawback or Executive forfeiture of compensation and related amounts (“Restrictive Covenants”), and acknowledges that the Restrictive Covenants remain in full force and effect.

 

5.

Entire Agreement. This Release, the Agreement, and the documents referenced therein contain the entire agreement between Executive and the Company, and take priority over any other written or oral understanding or agreement that may have existed in the past. Executive acknowledges that no other promises or agreements have been offered for this Release (other than those described above) and that no other promises or agreements will be binding unless they are in writing and signed by Executive and the Company.

I agree to the terms and conditions set forth in this Release.

 

EXECUTIVE
 
Date:    

Exhibit 21.1

CURBLINE PROPERTIES CORP.

LIST OF SUBSIDIARIES

CBLP LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

CL AFC 120 Colonial Promenade AL LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

CL Alpha Soda Center GA LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

CL Artesia Village AZ LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

CL Barrett Corners GA LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

CL Belgate Plaza NC LP, a Delaware limited partnership

CL Boca Raton Outparcel FL LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

CL Boulevard Marketplace VA LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

CL Briarcroft Center TX LP, a Delaware limited partnership

CL Briarcroft Outparcel TX LP, a Delaware limited partnership

CL Broadway Center AZ LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

CL Brookhaven Station GA LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

CL California GP Holdings LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

CL Carolina Station NC LP, a Delaware limited partnership

CL Chandler Center AZ LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

CL Collection at Midtown Miami FL LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

CL Concourse Village FL LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

CL Creekside Plaza North CA LP, a Delaware limited partnership

CL Creekside Plaza South CA LP, a Delaware limited partnership

CL Crocker Commons OH LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

CL Crossroads Marketplace CA LP, a Delaware limited partnership

CL Deer Valley Plaza AZ LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

CL Eastchase Point AL LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

CL Emmet Street North VA LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

CL Emmet Street Station VA LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

CL Estero Crossing FL LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

CL Fairfax Marketplace VA LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

CL Fairfax Pointe VA LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

CL Foxtail Center MD LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

CL Freehold Marketplace NJ LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

CL Gilbert Crossroads AZ LLC, a Delaware limited liability company


CL Hammond Springs GA LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

CL Hampton Cove Corner AL LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

CL Houston Levee Galleria TN LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

CL Independence Point MO LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

CL Kedzie Ave IL LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

CL Kennestone Oaks GA LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

CL La Fiesta Square CA LP, a Delaware limited partnership

CL Lafayette Mercantile CA LP, a Delaware limited partnership

CL Lake Pleasant Pavilions AZ LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

CL Loma Alta Station CA LP, a Delaware limited partnership

CL Madison Station AL LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

CL Magnolia Point TX LP, a Delaware limited partnership

CL Mannheim Corner IL LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

CL Maple Corner TN LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

CL Marketplace at 249 TX LP, a Delaware limited partnership

CL Marketplace Plaza North GA LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

CL Marketplace Plaza South I GA LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

CL Marketplace Plaza South II GA LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

CL Meadowmont Village NC LP, a Delaware limited partnership

CL Narcoossee Cove North FL LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

CL Navarre Crossing OH LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

CL NC Holdings LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

CL Nine Mile Corner CO LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

CL Northsight Plaza AZ LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

CL Oak Park Point KS LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

CL Oaks at Slaughter TX LP, a Delaware limited partnership

CL Office Lease LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

CL Paradise Village Plaza AZ LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

CL Parker Keystone CO LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

CL Parker Station CO LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

CL Parkwood Shops GA LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

CL Phillips Village FL LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

CL Plaza at Market Square GA LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

2


CL Point at University NC LP, a Delaware limited partnership

CL Preserve at HG TX LP, a Delaware limited partnership

CL Presidential Plaza GA LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

CL Presidential Plaza North GA LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

CL Promenade Plaza AL LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

CL Red Mountain Corner AZ LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

CL Roswell Market Center GA LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

CL Santa Margarita Market Place CA LP, a Delaware limited partnership

CL Shelton CT LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

CL Shoppes at Addison Place FL LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

CL Shoppes of Boot Ranch FL LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

CL Shoppes of Crabapple GA LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

CL Shops at Bandera Pointe TX LP, a Delaware limited partnership

CL Shops at Bay Pines FL LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

CL Shops at Boca Center FL LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

CL Shops at Carillon FL LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

CL Shops at Casselberry FL LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

CL Shops at Cross Creek TX LP, a Delaware limited partnership

CL Shops at Echelon Village NJ LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

CL Shops at Framingham MA LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

CL Shops at Hamilton NJ LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

CL Shops at Harmon Square NV LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

CL Shops at Lake Brandon FL LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

CL Shops at Midway FL LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

CL Shops at Olde Town Station CO LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

CL Shops at Power and Baseline AZ LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

CL Shops at Prasada North AZ LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

CL Shops at Riverdale Commons MN LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

CL Shops at Saraland AL LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

CL Shops at Tanasbourne OR LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

CL Shops at Tanglewood TX LP, a Delaware limited partnership

CL Shops at Tiger Town AL LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

CL Shops at the Fountains FL LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

3


CL Shops at the Fresh Market NC LP, a Delaware limited partnership

CL Shops at the Grove FL LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

CL Shops at University Hills CO LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

CL Shops on Montview CO LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

CL Shops on Polaris I OH LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

CL Shops on Polaris II OH LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

CL Shops on Summit I CA LP, a Delaware limited partnership

CL Shops on Summit II CA LP, a Delaware limited partnership

CL Southtown Center FL LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

CL Sunrise Plaza FL LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

CL Terrell Mill GA LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

CL Towne Crossing Shops VA LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

CL TX Holdings LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

CL Village Plaza TX LP, a Delaware limited partnership

CL Vintage Plaza TX LP, a Delaware limited partnership

CL Waldorf Park MD LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

CL West Carmel Marketplace IN LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

CL White Oak Plaza VA LLC, Delaware limited liability company

CL Wilmette Center IL LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

CL Windy Hill Exchange GA LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

CL Worthington Plaza OH LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

Curbline Properties LP, a Delaware limited partnership

Curbline Property Manager LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

Curbline TRS LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

4

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Exhibit 99.1

 

LOGO

    , 2024

Dear SITE Centers Corp. Shareholder:

We are pleased to inform you that the Board of Directors of SITE Centers Corp., or SITE Centers, has declared the distribution of all the common stock of Curbline Properties Corp., or Curbline, a wholly owned subsidiary of SITE Centers, to SITE Centers’ shareholders.

SITE Centers’ Board of Directors has determined upon careful review and consideration that Curbline’s separation from SITE Centers is in the best interests of SITE Centers and its shareholders as it unlocks a unique, first-to-market opportunity and provides investors with two distinct investment strategies.

As of June 30, 2024, Curbline owned a portfolio of 72 convenience retail properties comprising approximately 2.4 million square feet of Gross Leasable Area. Following the separation and distribution, we believe that Curbline will be the first publicly traded real estate investment trust exclusively focused on the convenience real estate sector. Its properties are generally located on the curbline of well-trafficked intersections and major vehicular corridors in some of the wealthiest submarkets in the United States.

We believe that the separation will allow SITE Centers and Curbline to focus on their respective portfolios and distinct business strategies. Specifically, we believe Curbline’s embedded organic growth profile and net cash and debt-free position upon its separation from SITE Centers will allow it to significantly grow the size of its convenience property portfolio. The property type’s site plan and depth of leasing prospects that can utilize existing square footage generally reduce operating capital expenditures relative to other retail real estate formats and provide significant tenant diversification. Further, SITE Centers expects to focus on maximizing value in its curated portfolio of open-air shopping centers through leasing, tactical redevelopment projects and, subject to market conditions, additional sales of its properties.

The distribution of Curbline common stock will occur on    , 2024 by way of a pro rata special distribution to SITE Centers shareholders of record at the close of business on     , 2024, the record date of the distribution. The distribution is expected to be taxable. Each SITE Centers shareholder will be entitled to receive two shares of Curbline common stock for every one SITE Centers common share held by such shareholder on the record date. The shares of Curbline common stock will be issued in book-entry form only, which means that no physical stock certificates will be issued.

Shareholder approval of the distribution is not required and you are not required to take any action to receive your shares of Curbline common stock.

Following the distribution, you will own shares in both SITE Centers and Curbline. The number of SITE Centers shares you own will not change as a result of the distribution. SITE Centers’ common shares will continue to trade on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “SITC.” We intend to apply to list Curbline’s common stock on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “CURB.”

A Notice of Internet Availability containing instructions describing how to access the Information Statement is being mailed to all holders of SITE Centers common shares on the record date for the distribution. The Information Statement describes the distribution in detail and contains important information about Curbline, its business, financial condition and operations. We urge you to read the Information Statement carefully.

We want to thank you for your continued support of SITE Centers, and we look forward to your future support of Curbline.

 

Sincerely,

 

 

David R. Lukes

President and Chief Executive Officer

SITE Centers Corp.


Table of Contents

LOGO

    , 2024

Dear Future Curbline Stockholder:

It is our pleasure to welcome you as a stockholder of our company, Curbline Properties Corp., or Curbline. Following the separation of our company from SITE Centers Corp., or SITE Centers, and the distribution of our common stock, we will be a unique, newly listed public real estate investment trust, or REIT, formed to own convenience retail properties.

SITE Centers began investing in convenience properties over five years ago, and after reviewing transaction activity, data analytics, including mobile phone geolocation data, financial returns, and tenant credit and performance, determined that convenience properties operate as a distinctive sector within retail real estate and that the sector has unique attributes that differentiate it from other retail property formats and presents a compelling growth opportunity.

Convenience properties are generally positioned on the curbline of well-trafficked intersections and major vehicular corridors, offering excellent access and visibility, dedicated parking and often include drive-thru units, with 62% of our properties having at least one drive-thru unit as of June 30, 2024. Convenience properties generally consist of a homogenous row of primarily small-shop units leased to a diversified mixture of national and local service and restaurant tenants that cater to daily convenience trips from the growing suburban population and typically experience more customer foot traffic per square foot than anchored retail. The property type has the opportunity to generate above-average, occupancy-neutral cash flow growth driven by high retention rates and limited operating capital expenditures given the standardized site plan and depth of leasing prospects that can utilize existing square footage and provide significant tenant diversification. As of June 30, 2024, the median Gross Leasable Area, or GLA, of a property in the Curbline portfolio was 21,000 square feet with 92% of base rent generated by units less than 10,000 square feet.

We believe the creation of the first publicly traded REIT focused exclusively on the convenience real estate sector positions us to take advantage of the highly fragmented but liquid marketplace for convenience properties in order to aggregate this type of real estate. We expect to be in a net cash and debt-free position at the time of our separation from SITE Centers with approximately $600 million of cash on hand plus significant access to debt capital in order to grow our asset base through acquisitions with no additional near-term equity required. Additionally, with over 68,000 convenience properties in the United States (950 million square feet of GLA) and over $41 billion of convenience assets traded in the period of 2019 to 2023 (primarily among private investors), the market provides a substantial addressable opportunity for our company to scale and differentiate itself as the first mover public REIT exclusively focused on convenience assets.

We intend to focus on the wealthiest submarkets in the United States with significant barriers to entry. The portfolio is generally located in submarkets with compelling long-term population and employment growth prospects and above-average household incomes of over $115,000 (91st percentile as compared to all shopping centers in the United States as of June 30, 2024).

As of June 30, 2024, the Curbline portfolio consisted of approximately 2.4 million square feet of GLA of convenience retail real estate and was 95.9% leased and 93.7% occupied with Annualized Base Rent per square foot of $35.27. All of Curbline’s properties are located in the United States and are geographically diversified, principally across the Southeast, Mid-Atlantic, Southwest and Mountain regions, along with Texas.


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We intend to apply to list Curbline’s common stock on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “CURB.”

We invite you to learn more about Curbline by carefully reviewing the enclosed Information Statement, which contains important information about Curbline and our business, financial condition and operations, as well as certain risks. The Information Statement also explains how you will receive your shares of Curbline common stock. We look forward to your support as a stockholder of Curbline.

 

Sincerely,

 

 

David R. Lukes

President and Chief Executive Officer

Curbline Properties Corp.


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Information contained herein is subject to completion or amendment. A Registration Statement on Form 10 relating to these securities has been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

 

Preliminary and Subject to Completion, dated September 3, 2024

INFORMATION STATEMENT

 

 

LOGO

CURBLINE PROPERTIES CORP.

COMMON STOCK

This Information Statement is being furnished in connection with the distribution by SITE Centers Corp., or SITE Centers, an Ohio corporation and self-administered and self-managed real estate investment trust, or REIT, whose common shares are listed on the New York Stock Exchange, or NYSE, to its shareholders of all of the outstanding common stock of Curbline Properties Corp. (together with its consolidated subsidiaries, the Company or Curbline), a wholly owned subsidiary of SITE Centers. The Company is a Maryland corporation and, as of June 30, 2024, the Curbline portfolio consisted of 2.4 million square feet of Gross Leasable Area, or GLA, of convenience retail real estate.

For every one common share of SITE Centers held of record by you as of the close of business on     , 2024, or the distribution record date, you will receive two shares of the Company’s common stock, or the distribution. However, as discussed under “The Company’s Separation from SITE Centers—Market for Common Stock—Trading Prior to the Distribution Date,” if you sell your common shares of SITE Centers in the “regular-way” market after the distribution record date and before the Company’s separation from SITE Centers, or the separation, you also will be selling your right to receive the Company’s common stock in connection with the separation. The Company expects its common stock will be distributed by SITE Centers to you on or about     , 2024, or the distribution date.

No vote of SITE Centers’ shareholders is required in connection with the distribution. Therefore, you are not being asked for a proxy, and you are requested not to send either SITE Centers or the Company a proxy, in connection with the separation. You will not be required to pay any consideration or to exchange or surrender your existing common shares of SITE Centers or take any other action to receive your shares of Curbline common stock on the distribution date.

There is no current trading market for the Company’s common stock, although the Company expects that a limited market, commonly known as a “when-issued” trading market, will develop on the third trading day prior to the distribution date, and the Company expects “regular-way” trading of the Company’s common stock to begin on the distribution date. The Company intends to apply to list its common stock on the NYSE under the symbol “CURB.”

The Company intends to elect and qualify to be taxed as a REIT for U.S. federal income tax purposes, commencing with its taxable year ending December 31, 2024. To assist the Company in maintaining its qualification as a REIT for U.S. federal income tax purposes, the Company’s charter, or the Charter, contains certain restrictions on ownership of the Company’s common stock. See “Description of Securities—Description of Common Stock—Restrictions on Ownership and Transfer.”

The Company is an “emerging growth company” as defined in the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act of 2012, or the JOBS Act, and may elect to comply with certain reduced public company reporting requirements.

Owning the Company’s common stock involves risks. See “Risk Factors” beginning on page 25 of this Information Statement for a description of various risks you should consider in owning the Company’s common stock.

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

This Information Statement was first provided to SITE Centers shareholders on or about     , 2024.

The date of this Information Statement is      , 2024.


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LOGO

CURBLINE WHERE RETAILERS STAY AHEAD OF THE CURB. CURBLINE.COM


Table of Contents

LOGO


Table of Contents

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

     Page  

SUMMARY

     1  

RISK FACTORS

     25  

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

     46  

THE COMPANY’S SEPARATION FROM SITE CENTERS

     49  

DISTRIBUTION POLICY

     62  

UNAUDITED PRO FORMA COMBINED FINANCIAL INFORMATION

     63  

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

     68  

BUSINESS

     83  

MANAGEMENT

     92  

EXECUTIVE AND DIRECTOR COMPENSATION

     98  

THE COMPANY’S RELATIONSHIP AND AGREEMENTS WITH SITE CENTERS

     118  

PRINCIPAL STOCKHOLDERS

     127  

CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS

     129  

DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES

     131  

CERTAIN ANTI-TAKEOVER PROVISIONS OF THE CHARTER AND BYLAWS

     136  

CERTAIN U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS

     140  

PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT

     158  

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

     163  

INDEX TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

     F-1  


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SUMMARY

This summary highlights some of the information in this Information Statement. You should read carefully the more detailed information set forth under “Risk Factors,” “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” “The Company’s Separation from SITE Centers,” and the other information included in this Information Statement. Unless otherwise indicated, the information contained in this Information Statement, including the combined financial statements, assumes the completion of all the transactions referred to in this Information Statement in connection with the separation, which will be completed on the distribution date.

The Company

Curbline is a Maryland corporation formed to own, manage, lease, acquire and develop a portfolio of convenience retail properties. As of June 30, 2024, Curbline’s portfolio consisted of 72 properties comprising approximately 2.4 million square feet of GLA. All of Curbline’s properties are located in the United States and are geographically diversified, principally across the Southeast, Mid-Atlantic, Southwest and Mountain regions, along with Texas. The portfolio is generally located in submarkets with compelling long-term population and employment growth prospects and above-average household incomes of over $115,000 (91st percentile as compared to all shopping centers in the United States as of June 30, 2024).1 As of June 30, 2024, the Curbline portfolio’s largest Metropolitan Statistical Areas, or MSAs, included Miami (18.1% of Annualized Base Rent, or ABR), Atlanta (11.1%), Phoenix (10.4%), Orlando (7.0%) and San Francisco (6.7%).

Convenience properties are generally positioned on the curbline of well-trafficked intersections and major vehicular corridors, offering excellent access and visibility, dedicated parking and often include drive-thru units, with 62% of Curbline properties having at least one drive-thru unit as of June 30, 2024. The properties generally consist of a homogenous row of primarily small-shop units leased to a diversified mixture of national and local service and restaurant tenants that cater to daily convenience trips from the growing suburban population. The property type’s site plan and depth of leasing prospects that can utilize existing square footage generally reduce operating capital expenditures relative to other retail real estate formats and provide significant tenant diversification. In 2023, the Curbline portfolio achieved cash blended leasing spreads of 14.7% for both new leases and renewals. As of June 30, 2024, the median GLA of a property in the Curbline portfolio was 21,000 square feet with 92% of base rent generated by units less than 10,000 square feet.

As of June 30, 2024, the Curbline portfolio was 95.9% leased and 93.7% occupied with ABR per square foot of $35.27. The positioning of the Curbline portfolio’s properties, their location in affluent markets, and their standardized unit sizes attract a diversified group of primarily national, high credit quality tenants operating across a wide range of primarily service and restaurant businesses. As of June 30, 2024, national tenants accounted for over 72% of the portfolio’s total ABR, public company tenants comprised over 34% of the portfolio’s total ABR and only one tenant represented more than 2% of the portfolio’s total ABR. Curbline believes its diversification of primarily national tenants along with the depth of leasing prospects for its homogenous store unit sizes mitigates credit risk and will allow it to maintain elevated leased rates across the portfolio. As of June 30, 2024, the Curbline portfolio’s largest tenants included Starbucks (2.6% of ABR), Darden (1.7%), Total Wine & More (1.6%), Verizon (1.3%) and JPMorgan Chase (1.2%), and the portfolio’s top ten tenants comprised less than 14% of total ABR.

The Company is expected to be in a net cash position at the time of its separation from SITE Centers with approximately $600 million of cash on hand, a $400 million unsecured, undrawn line of credit, a $100 million unsecured, delayed draw term loan and no indebtedness. As of December 31, 2023, there were over 68,000 convenience properties in the United States (950 million square feet of GLA) representing approximately 60% of all shopping centers by count and 13% by GLA.2 Over $41 billion of convenience assets traded in the period of 2019 to 2023, primarily among private investors.3 This highly fragmented but liquid market, along with the Company’s net cash and liquidity position, provides a substantial addressable opportunity for Curbline to scale and differentiate itself as the first mover public REIT exclusively focused on convenience assets.

 

1 

Source: CoStar, “Open-Air Shopping Centers.”

2 

Source: ICSC, “U.S. Marketplace Count and Gross Leasable Area by Type.”

3 

Source: Real Capital Analytics.

 

  1  


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Below is a map showing the geographic locations of the portfolio’s assets as of June 30, 2024:

 

LOGO

The Company plans to elect to be treated as a REIT for U.S. federal income tax purposes, commencing with the taxable year ending December 31, 2024, and intends to maintain its status as a REIT for U.S. federal income tax purposes in future periods. The Company also intends to operate through an umbrella partnership, commonly referred to as an “UPREIT” structure, in which substantially all of the Company’s properties and assets are held through a subsidiary, Curbline Properties LP, or the Operating Partnership, a Delaware limited partnership. As the sole general partner of the Operating Partnership, the Company will have exclusive control of the Operating Partnership’s day-to-day management. The Company is not expected to conduct any material business itself, other than acting as the sole general partner of the Operating Partnership, guaranteeing certain debt of the Operating Partnership and issuing equity from time to time.

Reasons for the Separation

Upon careful review and consideration, SITE Centers’ Board of Directors, or the SITE Centers Board, determined that the Company’s separation from SITE Centers is in the best interests of SITE Centers and its shareholders. This determination was based on a number of factors, including those set forth below.

 

   

Focused company executing a distinct business strategy. SITE Centers’ current portfolio is comprised of several different types of retail real estate, including grocery, lifestyle, convenience, net lease and regional power center properties. The Company believes that its focus on the convenience property sector resulting from the separation and its ability to pursue a strategy based on the unique characteristics of convenience real estate will allow the Company to create value for its stockholders more effectively. Furthermore, the separation will enable investors and the financial community to evaluate Curbline and SITE Centers separately and better assess the merits, performance and future prospects of each business given their distinct property types and investment strategies. Additionally, the separation of the Company’s convenience properties from SITE Centers will create the first publicly traded REIT exclusively focused on convenience assets, providing a unique investment opportunity.

 

   

Convenience real estate represents a significant total addressable market. As of December 31, 2023, there were over 68,000 convenience properties in the United States (950 million square feet of GLA) representing approximately 60% of all shopping centers by count and 13% by GLA. Over $41 billion of convenience assets traded in the period of 2019 to 2023, primarily among private investors. This highly fragmented but liquid market provides a substantial addressable opportunity for Curbline to scale and differentiate itself.

 

   

Curated portfolio capitalizes on strong demographic and economic trends. Real estate located on the curbline overwhelmingly caters to frequent, short and targeted trips from the daily suburban population, which has grown in recent years as a result of demographic shifts. Curbline is well positioned to capitalize on these trends with properties generally concentrated

 

  2  


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in MSAs and affluent suburban submarkets exhibiting compelling long-term population and employment growth, barriers to entry and above-average household incomes.

The SITE Centers Board also considered a number of potentially negative factors in evaluating the Company’s separation from SITE Centers and concluded that the potential benefits of the Company’s separation from SITE Centers outweighed these factors. For more information, see “The Company’s Separation from SITE Centers—Reasons for the Separation.”

The anticipated benefits of the separation are based on a number of assumptions, and there can be no assurance that such benefits will materialize to the extent anticipated, or at all. In the event that the separation does not result in such benefits, the costs associated with the separation could have a material adverse effect on the Company and SITE Centers individually and in the aggregate. The estimated costs of the separation are approximately $35 million, which will be paid by SITE Centers on behalf of Curbline for expenses incurred prior to the separation and distribution, as specified in the Separation and Distribution Agreement. In addition, the Company will incur costs associated with its agreements with SITE Centers. For more information about the risks associated with the separation, see “Risk Factors.”

Competitive Strengths and Business

Convenience Lease Structure Positions Company for Above-Average Relative Organic Growth. Convenience properties offer the opportunity for above-average, occupancy-neutral cash flow growth through rental income increases from either fixed annual rental increases or renewal option increases embedded in tenant leases, elevated retention rates limiting lost rent resulting from vacancy, and positive mark-to-market of leases at renewal. In addition, the generally shorter duration of convenience tenant leases provides Curbline with more frequent opportunities to increase rents to market levels and to mitigate the risk and impact of inflation.

Limited Capital Expenditure Requirements Promote Cash Flow Efficiency. Convenience properties’ standardized site plans, high tenant retention rates, higher annualized base rents per square foot and depth of leasing prospects that can utilize existing square footage generally result in lower operating capital expenditure levels as a percentage of annualized base rents over time relative to other retail real estate formats including grocery, lifestyle and regional power center properties. Curbline generally does not expend a significant amount of capital on lease renewals, which constitute the majority of overall leasing activity. The weighted-average cost of tenant improvements and lease commissions estimated to be incurred over the expected lease term for all leases executed during the year ended December 31, 2023, was $2.09 per rentable square foot.

Diversified National Tenant Exposure Reduces Risk. The positioning of the Curbline portfolio’s properties, generally located on the curbline of well-trafficked intersections and major vehicular corridors in affluent markets, and its standardized unit sizes attract a diversified group of primarily national, high credit quality tenants operating across a wide range of primarily service and restaurant businesses, including quick-service restaurants, healthcare and wellness, financial services, beverage retail, telecommunications, beauty and hair salons, and fitness, among others. As of June 30, 2024, national tenants accounted for over 72% of the portfolio’s total ABR, public company tenants comprised over 34% of the portfolio’s total ABR and only one tenant represented more than 2% of the portfolio’s total ABR. Curbline believes its diversification of primarily national tenants along with the depth of leasing prospects for its homogenous store unit sizes mitigates credit risk and will allow it to maintain elevated leased rates across the portfolio.

Convenience Center Access and Site Plans Drive Higher Customer Traffic and Rents. Convenience-oriented properties are generally positioned to drive customer volume with ease of access, visibility, parking, and often include drive-thru units. As a result, convenience centers such as those owned by the Company typically experience more customer foot traffic per square foot than anchored retail, justifying higher rents and broad tenant demand. The Curbline portfolio leased rate has averaged 96.3% over the last seven years during its ownership of the applicable assets highlighting the portfolio and property type’s supply and demand imbalance along with steady demand from a broad range of service-based tenants for its space. As of June 30, 2024, the Curbline portfolio was 95.9% leased and 93.7% occupied with ABR per square foot of $35.27 as compared to a leased rate of 95.0% and ABR per square foot of $22.67 at June 30, 2024 for a peer group comprised of Brixmor Property Group Inc., Federal Realty Investment Trust, Kimco Realty Corp., Kite Realty Group Trust, Regency Centers Corporation, Retail Opportunities Investment Corp. and Urban Edge Properties. These seven entities were chosen because they were considered to be most similar to the Company in terms of geographic market overlap.

 

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Curated Portfolio Located in Affluent Submarkets. Curbline’s portfolio was curated based on a number of real estate and financial factors including demographics, access, visibility, vehicular traffic, tenant credit profile, rent mark-to-market opportunities and prospects for cash flow growth. The portfolio is generally located in submarkets with compelling long-term population and employment growth prospects and above-average household incomes of over $115,000 (91st percentile as compared to all shopping centers in the United States as of June 30, 2024).

Unlevered Balance Sheet and First Mover Advantage Positions Company for External Growth in a Liquid Property Type. The Company is expected to be in a net cash and debt-free position at the time of its separation from SITE Centers. As a result, the Company is expected to have approximately $600 million of cash on hand plus significant access to debt capital in order to grow its asset base through acquisitions with no additional near-term equity required. Additionally, with over 68,000 convenience properties in the United States (950 million square feet of GLA) and over $41 billion of convenience assets traded in the period of 2019 to 2023 (primarily among private investors), the highly fragmented but liquid market provides a substantial addressable opportunity for Curbline to scale and differentiate itself as the first mover public REIT exclusively focused on convenience assets.

Experienced and Well-Regarded Executives with Proven Track Record of Proactive Asset Management and Value Creation. The Company expects to benefit from the experience and significant expertise of members of SITE Centers’ executive team, which has a successful strategic track record, including having completed a spin-off of 50 properties to Retail Value Inc., or RVI, as well as a high volume of portfolio, single-property and joint venture transactions. The team has extensive transaction, property management, asset management, leasing and capital markets experience. Furthermore, the members of the management team have developed strong relationships with brokers and tenants that will provide additional value-added benefits.

Properties

The table below show the Curbline portfolio’s 72 assets as of June 30, 2024:

 

#   Property   MSA   City   State    

Owned

GLA(1)

   

ABR

PSF(2)

 
1   Chandler Center   Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale   Chandler     AZ       7     $ 43.58  
2   Shops at Gilbert Crossroads   Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale   Gilbert     AZ       15     $ 38.36  
3   Shops at Power and Baseline   Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale   Mesa     AZ       4     $ 56.22  
4   Shops at Lake Pleasant   Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale   Peoria     AZ       47     $ 40.52  
5   Deer Valley Plaza   Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale   Phoenix     AZ       38     $ 34.56  
6   Paradise Village Plaza   Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale   Phoenix     AZ       84     $ 35.68  
7   Artesia Village   Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale   Scottsdale     AZ       21     $ 40.90  
8   Northsight Plaza   Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale   Scottsdale     AZ       10     $ 35.00  
9   Broadway Center   Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale   Tempe     AZ       11     $ 37.74  
10   Red Mountain Corner   Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale   Phoenix     AZ       6     $ 24.18  
11   Shops on Summit   Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim   Fontana     CA       27     $ 45.21  
12   Creekside Plaza   Sacramento-Roseville-Arden-Arcade   Roseville     CA       32     $ 42.83  
13   Creekside Shops   Sacramento-Roseville-Arden-Arcade   Roseville     CA       57     $ 40.07  
14   La Fiesta Square   San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward   Lafayette     CA       74     $ 50.97  
15   Lafayette Mercantile   San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward   Lafayette     CA       53     $ 59.20  
16   Parker Keystone   Denver-Aurora-Lakewood   Denver     CO       17     $ 41.14  
17   Shops at University Hills   Denver-Aurora-Lakewood   Denver     CO       25     $ 45.28  
18   Shops on Montview   Denver-Aurora-Lakewood   Denver     CO       9     $ 37.90  
19   Parker Station   Denver-Aurora-Lakewood   Parker     CO       45     $ 28.85  

 

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#   Property   MSA   City   State    

Owned

GLA(1)

   

ABR

PSF(2)

 
20   Shops at Boca Center   Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach   Boca Raton     FL       117     $ 42.46  
21   Shoppes at Addison Place   Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach   Delray Beach     FL       56     $ 46.66  
22   Concourse Village   Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach   Jupiter     FL       134     $ 19.15  
23   Collection at Midtown Miami   Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach   Miami     FL       119     $ 39.26  
24   Shops at the Fountains   Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach   Plantation     FL       14     $ 35.38  
25   Shops at Midway   Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach   Tamarac     FL       10     $ 39.67  
26   Shops at Carillon   Naples-Immokalee-Marco Island   Naples     FL       15     $ 26.95  
27   Shops at Casselberry   Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford   Casselberry     FL       8     $ 30.80  
28   Sunrise Plaza   Sebastian-Vero Beach-West Vero Corridor   Vero Beach     FL       16     $ 24.05  
29   Estero Crossing   Cape Coral-Fort Myers   Estero     FL       34     $ 33.58  
30   Shops at the Grove   Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford   Orlando     FL       131     $ 42.63  
31   Shops at Lake Brandon   Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater   Brandon     FL       12     $ 40.50  
32   Shoppes of Boot Ranch   Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater   Palm Harbor     FL       52     $ 29.49  
33   Southtown Center   Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater   Tampa     FL       44     $ 40.51  
34   Roswell Market Center   Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell   Roswell     GA       82     $ 17.26  
35   Alpha Soda Center   Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell   Alpharetta     GA       15     $ 39.98  
36   Shoppes of Crabapple   Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell   Alpharetta     GA       8     $ 30.04  
37   Hammond Springs   Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell   Atlanta     GA       69     $ 32.17  
38   Parkwood Shops   Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell   Atlanta     GA       20     $ 25.78  
39   Marketplace Plaza North   Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell   Cumming     GA       44     $ 30.54  
40   Marketplace Plaza South   Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell   Cumming     GA       37     $ 33.55  
41   Plaza at Market Square   Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell   Douglasville     GA       9     $ 16.28  
42   Barrett Corners   Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell   Kennesaw     GA       19     $ 47.14  
43   Presidential Plaza South   Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell   Snellville     GA       10     $ 39.36  
44   Presidential Plaza North   Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell   Snellville     GA       11     $ 42.50  
45   Wilmette Center   Chicago-Naperville-Elgin   Wilmette     IL       9     $ 29.59  
46   Shops at Framingham   Boston-Cambridge-Newton   Framingham     MA       19     $ 61.23  
47   Foxtail Center   Baltimore-Columbia-Townson   Timonium     MD       30     $ 35.26  
48   Carolina Station   Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia   Charlotte     NC       10     $ 41.59  
49   Belgate Plaza   Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia   Charlotte     NC       20     $ 36.65  
50   Point at University   Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia   Charlotte     NC       14     $ 38.58  
51   Shops at The Fresh Market   Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia   Cornelius     NC       132     $ 18.48  
52   Meadowmont Village   Raleigh   Chapel Hill     NC       62     $ 29.33  
53   Freehold Marketplace   New York-Newark-Jersey City   Freehold     NJ       21     $ 37.18  
54   Shops at Hamilton   Trenton   Hamilton     NJ       62     $ 28.14  
55   Shops on Polaris(3)   Columbus   Columbus     OH       71     $ 31.81  
56   Shops at Tanasbourne(4)   Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro   Hillsboro     OR       5     $ 32.60  
57   Shops at Echelon Village   Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington   Voorhees     NJ       4     $ 49.52  
58   Oaks at Slaughter   Austin   Austin     TX       26     $ 35.62  

 

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#   Property   MSA   City   State    

Owned

GLA(1)

   

ABR

PSF(2)

 
59   Vintage Plaza   Austin   Round Rock     TX       41     $ 28.03  
60   Grove at Harper’s Preserve   Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land   Conroe     TX       21     $ 33.00  
61   Briarcroft Center   Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land   Houston     TX       33     $ 42.49  
62   Marketplace at 249   Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land   Houston     TX       17     $ 38.36  
63   Shops at Tanglewood   Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land   Houston     TX       26     $ 48.17  
64   Bandera Corner   San Antonio-New Braunfels   San Antonio     TX       3     $ 22.46  
65   Shops at Bandera Pointe   San Antonio-New Braunfels   San Antonio     TX       48     $ 25.77  
66   Emmet Street North   Charlottesville   Charlottesville     VA       2     $ 78.55  
67   Emmet Street Station   Charlottesville   Charlottesville     VA       11     $ 52.08  
68   Towne Crossing Shops   Richmond   Midlothian     VA       7     $ 39.79  
69   Boulevard Marketplace   Washington-Arlington-Alexandria   Fairfax     VA       19     $ 42.07  
70   Fairfax Marketplace   Washington-Arlington-Alexandria   Fairfax     VA       19     $ 58.70  
71   Fairfax Pointe   Washington-Arlington-Alexandria   Fairfax     VA       10     $ 50.34  
72   White Oak Plaza   Richmond   Richmond     VA       34     $ 35.47  

 

(1)

In thousands of square feet.

(2)

ABR per square foot as of June 30, 2024.

(3)

A portion of this property is subject to a 99-year ground lease expiring in February 2123, at a fixed, prepaid rent of $1.00 with an option to renew for an additional 99-year term.

(4)

This property is subject to a 90-year ground lease expiring in February 2114, at a fixed, prepaid rent of $1.00 with an option to renew for an additional 99-year term.

Tenant Lease Expirations and Renewals

The following table shows the impact of tenant lease expirations through 2033 for all of the Curbline portfolio’s properties, assuming that none of the tenants exercise any of their renewal options as of June 30, 2024:

 

Expiration

Year

   No. of
Leases
Expiring
     Approximate
GLA in
Square Feet

(Thousands)
     ABR Under
Expiring
Leases

(Thousands)
     ABR
per Square
Foot
Under Expiring

Leases
     Percentage of
Total GLA
Represented
by Expiring
Leases
    Percentage of
Total Base
Rental
Revenues
Represented
by Expiring
Leases
 

2024

     25        45      $ 1,404      $ 31.20        2.0     1.8

2025

     87        235        8,318        35.40        10.3     10.4

2026

     80        189        7,061        37.36        8.3     8.8

2027

     98        263        9,997        38.01        11.5     12.5

2028

     134        462        15,544        33.65        20.2     19.4

2029

     76        201        6,969        34.67        8.8     8.7

2030

     49        169        6,204        36.71        7.4     7.7

2031

     40        95        3,394        35.73        4.1     4.2

2032

     68        198        7,346        37.10        8.6     9.2

2033

     66        196        7,150        36.48        8.6     8.9
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

     723        2,053      $ 73,387      $ 35.75        10.2     8.4
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

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The Company’s Financing

The Company does not expect to have any debt at the time of the separation, with approximately $600 million of cash on hand, $400 million of immediate liquidity from an unsecured, undrawn line of credit and a $100 million unsecured, delayed draw term loan.

Summary Risk Factors

You should consider carefully the risks in owning the Company’s common stock discussed below and under the heading “Risk Factors” beginning on page 25 of this Information Statement. If any of these risks occur, the Company’s business, financial condition, results of operations, cash flows and prospects, as well as its ability to make distributions to the Company’s stockholders, could be materially and adversely affected. In that case, the market price of the Company’s common stock could decline significantly, and you could lose all or a part of the value of your ownership in the Company’s common stock.

Risks Related to the Company’s Business, Properties and Strategies

 

   

The Company was recently organized and is employing a business model with a limited track record, and it may not be able to operate its business successfully or execute its business plan.

 

   

The historical combined and pro forma financial information are not necessarily indicative of the Company’s future financial condition, results of operations or cash flows nor do they reflect what the Company’s financial condition, results of operations or cash flows would have been as an independent public company during the periods presented.

 

   

The economic performance and value of the Company’s convenience properties depend on many factors, including broad economic and local conditions, each of which could have an adverse impact on the Company’s results of operations and cash flows.

 

   

The Company’s dependence on rental income may adversely affect the Company’s results of operations in the event of significant occupancy loss.

 

   

Inflation could adversely impact the Company’s real estate operations due to increases in construction costs or operating expenses in excess of rental income.

 

   

The Company’s expenses may remain constant or increase even if income from the Company’s properties decreases.

 

   

The Company’s acquisition activities may not produce the cash flows that it expects and may be limited by competitive pressures or other factors.

 

   

The Company may be unable to manage its growth effectively and be unable to capture the efficiencies of scale that it expects from expansion.

 

   

The Company may not be able to obtain additional capital to finance its operations or make investments.

 

   

Real estate investments are illiquid; therefore, the Company may not be able to dispose of properties if desired on favorable terms.

 

   

The Company’s real estate investments may contain environmental risks that could adversely affect its results of operations.

 

   

Changes in consumer trends, distribution channels and suburban populations may negatively affect revenues.

 

   

Expectations relating to sustainability considerations expose the Company to potential liabilities, increased costs, reputational harm and other adverse effects on the Company’s business.

 

   

The Company may be adversely affected by laws, regulations or other issues related to climate change.

 

   

The Company’s properties could be subject to climate change, damage from natural disasters, public health crises and weather-related factors; an uninsured loss on the Company’s properties or a loss that exceeds the limits of the Company’s insurance policies could subject the Company to lost capital or revenue on those properties.

 

   

Crime or civil unrest may affect the markets in which the Company operates its business and its profitability.

 

   

The Company’s real estate assets may be subject to impairment charges.

 

   

A disruption, failure or breach of the networks or systems on which the Company relies, including as a result of cyber-attacks, could harm its business.

 

   

The Company may be subject to litigation that could adversely affect its results of operations.

Risks Related to the Separation and the Company’s Relationship with SITE Centers

 

   

The Company may have conflicts of interest with SITE Centers.

 

   

The agreements with SITE Centers were not negotiated on an arm’s-length basis and may not be on the same terms as if they had been negotiated with an unaffiliated third party.

 

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After the distribution, the Company will be subject to additional regulatory and reporting requirements that will increase legal, accounting and financial compliance costs.

 

   

The distribution of the Company’s common stock is not expected to qualify for tax-free treatment and will be taxable to you as a dividend.

 

   

It is possible that the Company may not obtain a fair market value tax basis in the Company’s assets as a result of the distribution.

 

   

The Company may not achieve some or all of the expected benefits of the separation, and the separation may have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, financial condition and results of operations.

Risks Related to the Company’s Taxation as a REIT

 

   

If the Company fails to qualify as a REIT in any taxable year, it will be subject to U.S. federal income tax as a regular corporation and could have significant tax liability, which may have a significant adverse consequence to the value of the Company’s stock.

 

   

If certain subsidiaries fail to qualify as partnerships or disregarded entities for U.S. federal income tax purposes, the Company may not qualify as a REIT.

 

   

Compliance with REIT requirements may negatively affect the Company’s operating decisions.

 

   

The Company may be forced to borrow funds to maintain its REIT status, and the unavailability of such capital on favorable terms at the desired times, or at all, may cause the Company to curtail its investment activities and/or to dispose of assets at inopportune times, which could materially and adversely affect the Company.

 

   

Distributions paid by REITs generally do not qualify for reduced tax rates.

 

   

Certain foreign stockholders may be subject to U.S. federal income tax on a gain recognized on a disposition of the Company’s common stock if the Company does not qualify as a “domestically controlled” REIT.

 

   

Legislative or other actions affecting REITs could have a negative effect on the Company or its stockholders.

 

   

If SITE Centers fails to qualify as a REIT for the year in which the distribution occurs, the Company may not be eligible to elect to be taxed as a REIT.

Risks Related to Company’s Ownership of Interests in the Operating Partnership

 

   

Certain Operating Partnership assets may have book-tax differences, which may cause the Company to recognize taxable income in excess of cash proceeds and affect the Company’s ability to comply with REIT distribution requirements.

 

   

The Company will be liable for any under-withholdings with respect to any non-U.S. limited partner’s share of Operating Partnership income.

 

   

The Operating Partnership and any subsidiary partnerships may be subject to a U.S. federal income tax audit and the Company may be required to bear the economic cost of its attributable share of taxes.

Risks Related to the Company’s Organization, Structure and Ownership

 

   

Provisions in the Charter and the Company’s bylaws, or the Bylaws, could have the effect of delaying, deferring or preventing a change in control, even if that change may be considered beneficial by some of the Company’s stockholders.

 

   

The Company’s authorized but unissued common and preferred stock may prevent a change in the Company’s control.

 

   

After the separation, the Company will have significant stockholders who may exert influence on the Company as a result of their considerable beneficial ownership of the Company’s common stock, and their interests may differ from the interests of the other stockholders.

 

   

The Curbline Board may change significant corporate policies without stockholder approval.

 

   

Maryland law may limit the ability of a third party to acquire control of the Company.

 

   

Conflicts of interest may exist or could arise in the future with the Operating Partnership and its limited partners, which may impede business decisions that could benefit stockholders.

 

   

Curbline Properties Corp. is a holding company with no direct operations and expects to rely on distributions received from the Operating Partnership to make distributions to stockholders.

Risks Related to the Company’s Common Stock

 

   

No public market currently exists for the Company’s common stock and if an active trading market does not develop or is not sustained, your ability to sell stock when desired and the prices obtained will be adversely affected.

 

   

The Company has not established a minimum distribution payment level, and it cannot assure you of its ability to make distributions in the future.

 

   

Substantial sales of the Company’s common stock may occur in connection with the distribution, which could cause the stock price to decline.

 

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Shares eligible for future sale may have adverse effects on the Company’s stock price.

 

   

Offerings of debt or equity securities, which would rank senior to the Company’s common stock, may adversely affect the market price for the Company’s common stock.

 

   

The Company is an “emerging growth company,” and it cannot be certain if the reduced disclosure requirements applicable to emerging growth companies make its securities less attractive to investors.

 

   

The Company’s ability to make distributions is limited by the requirements of Maryland law.

 

   

Changes in accounting standards issued by the Financial Accounting Standards Board or other standard-setting bodies may adversely affect the Company’s business.

The Company’s Agreements with SITE Centers

Following the distribution, Curbline will operate as an independent public company. To govern certain ongoing relationships between the Company, the Operating Partnership and SITE Centers after the distribution, and to provide for the allocation among the Company, the Operating Partnership, and SITE Centers of SITE Centers’ assets, liabilities and obligations attributable to periods both prior to and following the separation of the Company and the Operating Partnership from SITE Centers, the Company, the Operating Partnership and SITE Centers intend to enter into agreements pursuant to which certain services and rights will be provided following the distribution, and the Company, the Operating Partnership and SITE Centers will indemnify each other against certain liabilities arising from its respective businesses. The Separation and Distribution Agreement, the Tax Matters Agreement, the Employee Matters Agreement, the Shared Services Agreement (each as defined below) and other agreements governing ongoing relationships have been and will be negotiated between related parties and their terms, including fees and other amounts payable, may not be on the same terms as if they had been negotiated at arm’s length with an unaffiliated third party.

For more information on the agreements with SITE Centers, including the fees and expenses to be paid by the Company in connection with the services contemplated by the agreements with SITE Centers, see “The Company’s Relationship and Agreements with SITE Centers—Agreements with SITE Centers.”

Separation and Distribution Agreement

The Company, the Operating Partnership and SITE Centers will enter into a separation and distribution agreement, or the Separation and Distribution Agreement, which will set forth, among other things, the Company’s and the Operating Partnership’s agreements with SITE Centers regarding the principal transactions necessary to separate the Company and the Operating Partnership from SITE Centers, including providing for the allocation among the Company, the Operating Partnership and SITE Centers of SITE Centers’ assets, liabilities and obligations attributable to periods both prior to and following the separation of the Company and the Operating Partnership from SITE Centers. Furthermore, the Separation and Distribution Agreement will govern the rights and obligations among the Company, the Operating Partnership and SITE Centers regarding the distribution both prior to and following the completion of the separation. See “Certain Relationships and Related Transactions—Agreements with SITE Centers—Separation and Distribution Agreement.”

Tax Matters Agreement

The Company and the Operating Partnership will enter into a tax matters agreement, or the Tax Matters Agreement, with SITE Centers that will govern the respective rights, responsibilities and obligations of the Company, the Operating Partnership and SITE Centers after the distribution with respect to various tax matters. The Tax Matters Agreement will require (i) SITE Centers to (a) represent that commencing with its taxable year ending in December 31, 1993 through its taxable year ending on December 31, 2023, SITE Centers was organized and operated in conformity with the requirements for qualification and taxation as a REIT under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, or the Code and (b) covenant to qualify as a REIT under the Code for its taxable year ending December 31, 2024 (unless SITE Centers obtains an opinion from a nationally recognized tax counsel or a private letter ruling from the U.S. Internal Revenue Service, or IRS, to the effect that SITE Centers’ failure to maintain its REIT status will not cause the Company to fail to qualify as a REIT) and (ii) the Company to covenant to (a) be organized and operated so that it will qualify as a REIT for its initial taxable year ending December 31, 2024 and (b) elect to be taxed as a REIT commencing with its initial taxable year ending December 31, 2024. The Tax Matters Agreement will also provide for the allocation between the Company and SITE Centers of SITE Centers’ tax-related assets, liabilities and obligations attributable to periods prior to the separation of the Company from SITE Centers. See “Certain Relationships and Related Transactions—Agreements with SITE Centers—Tax Matters Agreement.”

 

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Employee Matters Agreement

In connection with the separation and distribution, the Company and the Operating Partnership will enter into an employee matters agreement, or the Employee Matters Agreement, with SITE Centers that will govern the respective rights, responsibilities, and obligations of the Company, the Operating Partnership and SITE Centers after the separation with respect to transitioning employees, equity plans and retirement plans, health and welfare benefits, and other employment, compensation, and benefit-related matters. See “Certain Relationships and Related Transactions—Agreements with SITE Centers—Employee Matters Agreement.”

Shared Services Agreement

The Company, the Operating Partnership and SITE Centers will enter into a shared services agreement, or the Shared Services Agreement, pursuant to which SITE Centers will provide the Operating Partnership with certain services and the Operating Partnership or its affiliates will provide SITE Centers with certain services, in each case for the term of the Shared Services Agreement. Pursuant to the Shared Services Agreement, the Operating Partnership or its affiliates will provide SITE Centers (i) leadership and management services that are of a nature customarily performed by leadership and management overseeing the business and operation of a REIT similarly situated to SITE Centers, including supervising various business functions of SITE Centers necessary for the day-to-day management operations of SITE Centers and its affiliates and (ii) transaction services that are of a nature customarily performed by a dedicated transactions team within an organization similarly situated to SITE Centers. Additionally, SITE Centers will provide to the Operating Partnership the services of its employees and the use or benefit of SITE Centers’ assets, offices and other resources as may be necessary or useful to establish and operate various business functions of the Operating Partnership or its affiliates in a manner as would be established and operated for a REIT similarly situated to the Company. See “Certain Relationships and Related Transactions—Agreements with SITE Centers—Shared Services Agreement.”

Ownership Structure

The simplified structure of SITE Centers prior to the separation and distribution is set forth below:

 

 

LOGO

 

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The simplified structure of each of SITE Centers and Curbline immediately following the separation and distribution is set forth below:

 

 

LOGO

Distribution Policy

The Company anticipates making distributions to holders of its common stock to satisfy the requirements to qualify as a REIT and generally not be subject to U.S. federal income and excise tax (other than with respect to operations conducted through a taxable REIT subsidiary, or TRS, of the Company). U.S. federal income tax law generally requires that a REIT distribute annually to holders of its capital stock at least 90% of its REIT taxable income, without regard to the deduction for dividends paid and excluding net capital gains, and that it pay tax at regular corporate rates to the extent that it annually distributes less than 100% of its REIT taxable income. The Company generally intends to make distributions to holders of common stock with respect to each taxable year in an amount at least equal to its REIT taxable income for such taxable year. Although the Company expects to declare and make distributions on a quarterly basis, the Curbline Board of Directors, or the Curbline Board, will evaluate its distribution policy regularly. The Curbline Board may choose not to declare a distribution in 2024, unless necessary to satisfy certain requirements for the Company to be taxed as a REIT.

To the extent cash available for distribution is less than the Company’s REIT taxable income, the Company may make a portion of its distributions in the form of common stock, and any such distribution of common stock may be taxable as a dividend to stockholders.

Any distributions the Company makes to its stockholders will be at the discretion of the Curbline Board and will depend upon, among other things, the Company’s actual and anticipated results of operations and liquidity, which will be affected by various factors, including the income from its properties, its operating expenses and any other expenditures. For more information, see “Distribution Policy,” “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Liquidity, Capital Resources and Financing Activities.”

Distributions to the Company’s stockholders will be generally taxable to them as ordinary income, although a portion of the Company’s distributions may be designated by the Company as capital gain or qualified dividend income or may constitute a return of capital. U.S. stockholders that are individuals, trusts and estates generally may deduct up to 20% of the ordinary dividends (e.g., REIT dividends that are not designated as capital gain dividends or qualified dividend income) received from a REIT for taxable years beginning after

 

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December 31, 2017 and before January 1, 2026. See “Certain U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations—Taxation of Taxable U.S. Holders of the Company’s Common Stock.”

REIT Qualification

The Company intends to elect to qualify as a REIT for U.S. federal income tax purposes commencing with its initial taxable year ending on December 31, 2024. The Company’s qualification as a REIT depends upon its ability to meet on a continuing basis, through actual investment and results of operations, various complex requirements under the Code relating to, among other things, the sources of the Company’s gross income, the composition and values of its assets, the Company’s distribution levels and the diversity of ownership of its stock. The Company believes that it has been organized in conformity with the requirements for qualification and taxation as a REIT under the Code, and that the Company’s intended manner of operation will enable it to meet the requirements for qualification and taxation as a REIT.

So long as the Company qualifies as a REIT, it generally will not be subject to U.S. federal income tax on its REIT taxable income that the Company distributes currently to its stockholders. If the Company fails to qualify as a REIT in any taxable year and does not qualify for certain statutory relief provisions, it will be subject to U.S. federal income tax at regular corporate rates and may be precluded from qualifying as a REIT for the subsequent four taxable years following the year during which the Company lost its REIT qualification. Even if the Company qualifies for taxation as a REIT, it may be subject to certain U.S. federal, state and local taxes on its income (including on any gain from a “prohibited transaction”) or property, and any income or gain derived through a TRS will be subject to U.S. federal corporate income taxes.

Restrictions on Ownership and Transfer

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

To help ensure that five or fewer individuals do not own more than 50% in value of the Company’s outstanding common stock, the Charter provides that, subject to certain exceptions (including those set forth below), no holder may own, or be deemed to own by virtue of the attribution provisions of the Code, more than 8% of the Company’s outstanding common stock prior to an exempt holder reduction event or more than 9.8% of the Company’s outstanding common stock from and after an exempt holder reduction event, which the Company refers to as the ownership limit. Under the Charter, an “exempt holder reduction event” means the date on which the Curbline Board determines, based on the annual written notice delivered by the exempt holder to the Company pursuant to the Charter, that the beneficial ownership of the exempt holder is 7.5% or less of the Company’s outstanding common stock. The Charter provides that the “exempt holder” may own, or be deemed to own by virtue of the attribution provisions of the Code, no more than 17.5% of the Company’s outstanding common stock prior to an exempt holder reduction event. Pursuant to the Charter, the “exempt holder” includes, collectively, (a) Professor Werner Otto, his wife Maren Otto and/or all descendants of Professor Werner Otto, including, without limitation, Alexander Otto, (b) trusts or family foundations established for the benefit of the individuals named in (a) above and (c) any partnership, firm, corporation, association, trust, unincorporated organization, joint venture, limited liability company or other legal entity, in which the individuals or entities named under (a) hold (either directly or indirectly) more than 50% of the voting rights or more than 50% of the equity capital of any such partnership, firm, corporation, association, trust, unincorporated organization, joint venture, limited liability company or other legal entity; provided that, from and after an exempt holder reduction event, no person, individually or collectively with any other persons, shall be, or shall be deemed an exempt holder for purposes of the Charter.

As rent from a related party tenant (any tenant 10% of which is owned, directly or constructively, by a REIT, including an owner of 10% or more of a REIT) is not qualifying rent for purposes of the gross income tests under the Code, the Charter provides that no individual or entity may own, or be deemed to own by virtue of the attribution provisions of the Code (which differ from the attribution provisions

 

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applied to the ownership limit), in excess of 9.8% of the Company’s outstanding common stock, which the Company refers to as the related party limit. In connection with the separation from SITE Centers, the Company will enter into a waiver agreement pursuant to which it will waive the related party limit contained in its Charter that would otherwise have prohibited Alexander Otto and his family (and other persons who may be deemed to have constructive ownership of common stock owned by the Otto family) from constructively owning more than 9.8% of the Company’s outstanding common stock.

The Curbline Board may exempt a person from the ownership limit if the person would not be deemed an “individual” and may exempt a person from the related party limit if the Curbline Board is satisfied that the ownership will not then or in the future jeopardize its status as a REIT. The Curbline Board may also exempt the exempt holder and any person who would constructively own common stock constructively owned by the exempt holder from the related party limit in its sole discretion. As a condition of any exemption, the Curbline Board will require appropriate representations and undertakings from the applicant with respect to preserving its REIT status.

Finally, the Charter prohibits any transfer of common stock that would cause it to cease to be a “domestically controlled qualified investment entity” as defined in Section 897(h)(4)(B) of the Code.

The preceding restrictions on transferability and ownership of common stock may apply even if the Curbline Board determines that it is no longer in the Company’s best interests to continue to qualify as a REIT. The ownership limit and the related party limit will not be automatically removed even if the REIT provisions of the Code are changed to no longer contain any ownership concentration limitation or if the ownership concentration limitation is increased. In addition to preserving the Company’s status as a REIT, the effects of the ownership limit and the related party limit are to prevent any person or small group of persons from acquiring unilateral control of the Company. Any change in the ownership limit, other than modifications that may be made by the Curbline Board as permitted by the Charter, requires an amendment to the Charter, even if the Curbline Board determines that maintenance of REIT status is no longer in its best interests.

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

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

 

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Emerging Growth Company Status

Upon completion of the distribution, the Company is expected to be an “emerging growth company,” as defined in the JOBS Act and may take advantage of certain exemptions from various reporting requirements that are otherwise applicable to other public companies that are not emerging growth companies. These provisions include, but are not limited to:

 

   

not being required to comply with the auditor attestations of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, or the Sarbanes-Oxley Act;

 

   

reduced disclosure obligations regarding executive compensation in the Company’s periodic reports, proxy statements and registration statements and

 

   

exemptions from the requirements of holding a nonbinding advisory vote to approve named executive officer compensation and stockholder approval of any golden parachute payments not previously approved.

The Company may take advantage of some or all of the reduced regulatory and reporting requirements that will be available to it so long as it qualifies as an emerging growth company.

The Company will, in general, qualify as an emerging growth company until the earliest of:

 

   

the last day of the Company’s fiscal year following the fifth anniversary of the date of the separation;

 

   

the last day of its fiscal year in which the Company has annual gross revenue of $1.235 billion or more;

 

   

the date on which the Company has, during the previous three-year period, issued more than $1.0 billion in non-convertible debt securities and

 

   

the date on which the Company is deemed to be a “large accelerated filer,” as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, or the Exchange Act, which will occur at such time as the Company

 

   

has an aggregate worldwide market value of common equity securities held by non-affiliates of $700 million or more as of the last business day of its most recently completed second fiscal quarter;

 

   

has been required to file annual and quarterly reports under the Exchange Act for a period of at least 12 months and

 

   

has filed at least one annual report pursuant to the Exchange Act.

In addition, Section 107(b) of the JOBS Act also provides that an emerging growth company can take advantage of an extended transition period for complying with new or revised accounting standards. However, the Company has chosen to “opt out” of such extended transition period, and as a result, the Company will comply with new or revised accounting standards on the relevant dates adoption of such standards is required for non-emerging growth companies. The Company’s decision to opt out of the extended transition period for complying with new or revised accounting standards is irrevocable.

Corporate Information

The Company was organized as a Maryland corporation and a wholly owned subsidiary of SITE Centers on October 25, 2023. Prior to and after the completion of the separation, the Company’s principal executive offices will be located at 320 Park Avenue, New York, New York 10022, and its telephone number will be (216) 755-5500.

Commencing shortly prior to the separation, the Company will maintain a website at www.curbline.com. The information on the Company’s website is not a part of, or incorporated by reference into, this Information Statement.

 

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Questions and Answers about the Company and the Separation

 

Why is the separation structured as a distribution?    SITE Centers believes that a distribution of the Company’s common stock is an efficient way to separate its assets and that the separation will create benefits and value for SITE Centers and its shareholders.
How will the separation work?    SITE Centers will distribute the Company’s common stock to the holders of SITE Centers’ common shares on a pro rata basis. Each holder of SITE Centers common shares will receive two shares of the Company’s common stock for every one SITE Centers common share held on     , 2024, the distribution record date.

When will the

distribution occur?

   The Company expects that SITE Centers will distribute the Company’s common stock on a pro rata basis on     , 2024 to holders of record of SITE Centers’ common shares on the distribution record date, subject to certain conditions described under “—The Separation and the Distribution—Conditions to the distribution.”
What do shareholders of SITE Centers need to do to participate in the distribution?    Nothing, but the Company urges you to read this entire Information Statement carefully. Holders of SITE Centers’ common shares as of the distribution record date will not be required to take any action to receive the Company’s common stock on the distribution date. No shareholder approval of the distribution is required or sought. The Company is not asking you for a proxy, and you are requested not to send the Company or SITE Centers a proxy. You will not be required to make any payment, or to surrender or exchange your SITE Centers common shares or take any other action to receive the Company’s common stock on the distribution date to which you are entitled. If you own SITE Centers common shares as of the close of business on the distribution record date, SITE Centers, with the assistance of Computershare Trust Company, N.A., or the distribution agent, will electronically issue the Company’s common stock to you or to your brokerage firm on your behalf by way of direct registration in book-entry form. The distribution agent will send you a book-entry account statement that reflects the Company’s common stock to which you are entitled, or your bank or brokerage firm will credit your account for the stock. If you sell SITE Centers common shares in the “regular-way” market prior to the distribution date, you will be selling your right to receive the Company’s common stock in the distribution even if you were the record holder of those shares on the distribution record date. Following the distribution, stockholders whose stock is held in book-entry form may request that their common stock held in book-entry form be transferred to a brokerage or other account at any time, without charge.
Will I be taxed on the common stock that I receive in the distribution?    Yes. The distribution will be in the form of a taxable special distribution to SITE Centers shareholders. An amount equal to the fair market value of the Company’s common stock received by you, which is expected to be determined based on the average closing price per share of the Company’s common stock on its first three trading days beginning with the distribution date, will be treated as a taxable dividend to the extent of your ratable share of any current or accumulated earnings and profits of SITE Centers, with the excess treated as a non-taxable return of capital to the extent of your tax basis in SITE Centers common shares and any remaining excess treated as capital gain. If this special distribution is distributed in the structure and timeframe currently anticipated, the special dividend is expected to satisfy a portion of SITE Centers’ 2024 REIT taxable income distribution requirements. SITE Centers or other applicable withholding agents may be required to withhold on all or a portion of the distribution payable to non-U.S. shareholders. For a more detailed discussion, see “The Company’s Separation from SITE Centers—Certain U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences of the Separation” and “Certain U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations.”
Can SITE Centers decide to cancel the distribution of the Company’s common stock even if all the conditions have been met?    Yes. The distribution is subject to the satisfaction or waiver of certain conditions. See “—The Separation and the Distribution—Conditions to the distribution.” SITE Centers has the right to terminate the distribution, even if all of the conditions are satisfied, if at any time the SITE Centers Board determines that the Company’s separation from it is not in the best interests of SITE Centers or its shareholders or that market conditions are such that the separation is not advisable.

 

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Does the Company plan to pay dividends?   

The Company anticipates making distributions to holders of its common stock to satisfy the requirements to qualify as a REIT and generally not be subject to U.S. federal income and excise tax. U.S. federal income tax law generally requires that a REIT distribute annually to holders of its capital stock at least 90% of its REIT taxable income, without regard to the deduction for dividends paid and excluding net capital gains, and that it pay tax at regular corporate rates to the extent that it annually distributes less than 100% of its REIT taxable income. The Company generally intends to make distributions to holders of common stock with respect to each taxable year in an amount at least equal to its REIT taxable income for such taxable year. Although the Company expects to declare and pay distributions on a quarterly basis, the Curbline Board will evaluate its distribution policy regularly. The Curbline Board may choose not to declare a distribution in 2024, unless necessary to satisfy certain requirements for the Company to be taxed as a REIT.

 

To the extent that cash available for distribution is less than the Company’s REIT taxable income, the Company may make a portion of its distributions in the form of common stock, and any such distribution of common stock may be taxable as a dividend to stockholders.

 

Any distributions the Company makes to its stockholders will be at the discretion of the Curbline Board and will depend upon, among other things, the Company’s actual and anticipated results of operations and liquidity, which will be affected by various factors, including the income from its properties and its operating expenses. For more information, see “Distribution Policy.”

What is an UPREIT?    UPREIT stands for “Umbrella Partnership Real Estate Investment Trust.” An UPREIT is a REIT that holds all or substantially all of its properties through an operating partnership in which the REIT holds a general partnership interest. Using an UPREIT structure may give the Company a competitive advantage when acquiring assets from private sellers. Generally, a sale of property directly to a REIT, or a contribution in exchange for REIT shares, is a taxable transaction to the selling property owner. However, in an UPREIT structure, a seller of a property who desires to defer taxable gain on the sale of his property may instead contribute the property to the partnership in exchange for limited partnership units.
Will the Company have any debt?   

The Company does not expect to have any debt at the time of the separation. In addition to approximately $600 million of cash on hand, the Company expects to have $400 million of immediate liquidity from an unsecured, undrawn line of credit and a $100 million unsecured, delayed draw term loan.

 

For more information see “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Liquidity, Capital Resources and Financing Activities.”

What will the separation cost?    The estimated costs of the separation are approximately $35 million, which will be paid by SITE Centers on behalf of Curbline for expenses incurred prior to the separation and distribution, as specified in the Separation and Distribution Agreement. In addition, the Company will incur costs associated with its agreements with SITE Centers. For a full description of such fees, see “The Company’s Relationship and Agreements with SITE Centers.”
How will the separation affect my tax basis and holding period in SITE Centers common shares?    Your tax basis in shares of SITE Centers held at the time of the distribution will be reduced (but not below zero) to the extent the fair market value of the Company’s stock distributed by SITE Centers in the distribution exceeds SITE Centers’ current and accumulated earnings and profits. Your holding period for such SITE Centers shares will not be affected by the distribution. See “The Company’s Separation from SITE Centers—Certain U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences of the Separation.” You should consult your own tax advisor as to the particular tax consequences of the distribution to you, including the applicability of any U.S. federal, state, local and non-U.S. tax laws.

 

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What will my tax basis and holding period be for the Company stock that I receive in the distribution?   

Your tax basis in the Company’s common stock received will equal the fair market value of such stock, which is expected to be determined based on the average closing price per share of the Company’s common stock on its first three trading days beginning with the distribution date. Your holding period for such stock will begin the day after the distribution date. See “The Company’s Separation from SITE Centers—Certain U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences of the Separation.”

 

You should consult your own tax advisor as to the particular tax consequences of the distribution to you, including the applicability of any U.S. federal, state, local and non-U.S. tax laws.

What will be the relationships between SITE Centers and the Company following the separation?    The Company, the Operating Partnership and SITE Centers will enter into the Separation and Distribution Agreement to effect the separation and provide a framework for certain of the Company’s and the Operating Partnership’s relationships with SITE Centers after the separation. This agreement will primarily govern the relationships among the Company, the Operating Partnership and SITE Centers subsequent to the completion of the separation with respect to the allocation among the Company, the Operating Partnership and SITE Centers of SITE Centers’ assets, liabilities and obligations attributable to periods both prior to and following the separation. See “The Company’s Relationship and Agreements with SITE Centers—Agreements with SITE Centers—Separation and Distribution Agreement.” In addition, the Company and the Operating Partnership will enter into the Tax Matters Agreement that will govern the respective rights, responsibilities and obligations of the Company, the Operating Partnership and SITE Centers after the distribution with respect to various tax matters. See “The Company’s Relationship and Agreements with SITE Centers—Agreements with SITE Centers—Tax Matters Agreement.” The Company and the Operating Partnership will also enter into an Employee Matters Agreement with SITE Centers that will govern the respective rights, responsibilities, and obligations of the Company, the Operating Partnership and SITE Centers after the separation with respect to transitioning employees, equity plans and retirement plans, health and welfare benefits, and other employment, compensation, and benefit-related matters. See “The Company’s Relationship and Agreements with SITE Centers—Agreements with SITE Centers—Employee Matters Agreement.” Furthermore, the Company, the Operating Partnership and SITE Centers will enter into a Shared Services Agreement for certain business services to be provided by (i) SITE Centers to the Operating Partnership, and (ii) the Operating Partnership to SITE Centers, in each case for the term of the Shared Services Agreement. See “The Company’s Relationship and Agreements with SITE Centers—Agreements with SITE Centers—Shared Services Agreement.” These and other agreements governing ongoing relationships have been negotiated between related parties, and the Company cannot assure you that the terms of these agreements are the same as those that could be achieved in agreements with independent third parties.
Will I receive physical certificates representing the Company’s common stock following the separation?    No. Following the separation, neither SITE Centers nor the Company will be issuing physical certificates representing the Company’s common stock. Instead, SITE Centers, with the assistance of the distribution agent, will electronically issue the Company’s common stock to you or to your bank or brokerage firm on your behalf by way of direct registration in book-entry form. The distribution agent will mail you a book-entry account statement that reflects the Company’s common stock to which you are entitled, or your bank or brokerage firm will credit your account for the stock. A benefit of issuing stock electronically in book-entry form is that there will be none of the physical handling and safekeeping responsibilities that are inherent in owning physical stock certificates.
Will I receive a fractional number of the Company common stock?    The Company does not expect that any registered holders will be entitled to fractional shares in the distribution. See “The Company’s Separation from SITE Centers—General—Treatment of Fractional Shares” for further information.
What if I want to sell my SITE Centers common shares or my Curbline common stock?   

You should consult with your financial advisors, such as your stockbroker, bank or tax advisor. Neither SITE Centers nor the Company makes any recommendations on the purchase, retention or sale of SITE Centers common shares or the Company’s common stock to be distributed.

 

If you decide to sell any shares before the distribution, you should make sure your stockbroker, bank or other nominee understands whether you want to sell your SITE Centers common shares or the Company’s common stock you will receive in the distribution or both.

 

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Where will I be able to trade the Company’s common stock?    There is not currently a public market for the Company’s common stock. The Company intends to apply to list its common stock on the NYSE under the symbol “CURB.” The Company anticipates that trading in its common stock will begin on a “when-issued” basis on the third trading day prior to the distribution date and will continue through the last trading day prior to the distribution date and that “regular-way” trading in the Company’s common stock will begin on the distribution date. If trading begins on a “when-issued” basis, you may purchase or sell the Company’s common stock prior to the distribution date, but your transaction will not settle until the distribution date. The Company cannot predict the trading prices for its common stock before, on or after the distribution date.
Will the number of SITE Centers shares I own change as a result of the distribution?    No. The number of SITE Centers common shares you own will not change as a result of the distribution.
What will happen to the listing of SITE Centers common shares?    Nothing. SITE Centers common shares will continue to be traded on the NYSE under the symbol “SITC.”
How will existing SITE Centers equity incentive awards be treated in the separation?   

The Company currently expects that SITE Centers equity-based compensation awards outstanding immediately prior to the separation will generally be treated as follows, subject to changes as may be necessary or desirable under applicable tax or other law:

 

•  SITE Centers time-based restricted share units, or RSUs, held immediately prior to the separation by SITE Centers employees who continue to be employed by SITE Centers immediately after the separation will remain SITE Centers RSUs that will continue to be payable in SITE Centers common shares, and will continue to be subject to substantially the same terms and conditions after the separation as the terms and conditions that applied to such awards prior to the separation, except the number of SITE Centers common shares underlying each such RSU award will be adjusted as provided for in the Employee Matters Agreement so that the award generally retains, immediately after the separation, substantially the same intrinsic value that it had immediately prior to the separation (rounding down to the nearest whole number of RSUs).

 

•  SITE Centers time-based RSUs held immediately prior to the separation by awardees who are employed by the Company immediately after the separation will continue to be subject to substantially the same terms and conditions after the separation as the terms and conditions that applied to such awards prior to the separation, except:

 

•  the awards will be adjusted into Company time-based RSU awards payable in Company common stock;

 

•  the number of shares of Company common stock underlying each such RSU award will be adjusted as provided for in the Employee Matters Agreement so that the award generally retains, immediately after the separation, substantially the same intrinsic value that it had immediately prior to the separation (rounding down to the nearest whole number of RSUs) and

 

•  with respect to any continuous employment requirement associated with such Company RSU awards, such requirement will be satisfied after the separation by the Company employee based on continuous employment with the Company.

 

•  SITE Centers performance-based RSUs, or PRSUs, held immediately prior to the separation by SITE Centers employees who continue to be employed by SITE Centers immediately after the separation will be adjusted into SITE Centers time-based RSUs payable in SITE Centers common shares and subject to substantially the same terms and conditions after the separation as the terms and conditions that applied to such PRSUs prior to the separation, except:

 

•  the number of PRSUs earned under each PRSU award will be determined by evaluating performance under the PRSU award as of the separation date and will equal the greater of (1) the number of PRSUs earned based on actual performance through the separation date and (2) 150% of the target number of PRSUs;

 

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•  such number of PRSUs determined to be earned as of the separation date will be converted into SITE Centers time-based RSUs, subject to the same continued employment requirements as the PRSUs, with any unearned PRSUs forfeited and

 

•  the number of such SITE Centers RSUs will be adjusted as provided for in the Employee Matters Agreement so that each such adjusted SITE Centers RSU award generally retains, immediately after the separation, substantially the same intrinsic value that the number of PRSUs determined to have been earned as of the separation date had immediately prior to the separation (rounding down to the nearest whole number of RSUs and thereafter earning current dividend equivalent payments in cash).

 

•  SITE Centers PRSUs held immediately prior to the separation by awardees who are employed by the Company immediately after the separation will be adjusted into Company time-based RSUs payable in Company common stock and subject to substantially the same terms and conditions after the separation as the terms and conditions that applied to such PRSUs prior to the separation, except:

 

•  the number of PRSUs earned under each PRSU award will be determined by evaluating performance under the PRSU award as of the separation date and will equal the greater of (1) the number of PRSUs earned based on actual performance through the separation date and (2) 150% of the target number of PRSUs;

 

•  such number of PRSUs determined to be earned as of the separation date will be converted into Company time-based RSUs, subject to the same continued employment requirements as the PRSUs, with any unearned PRSUs forfeited (provided that, with respect to such continuous employment requirement associated with such Company RSU awards, such requirement will be satisfied after the separation by the Company employee based on continuous employment with the Company) and

 

•  the number of such Company RSUs will be adjusted as provided for in the Employee Matters Agreement so that each such adjusted Company RSU award generally retains, immediately after the separation, substantially the same intrinsic value that the number of PRSUs determined to have been earned as of the separation date had immediately prior to the separation (rounding down to the nearest whole number of RSUs and thereafter earning current dividend equivalent payments in cash).

 

•  Outstanding options to purchase SITE Centers common shares (whether held immediately after the separation by a SITE Centers employee or a Company employee) will be retained by the awardee and continue to be payable in SITE Centers common shares, and will continue to be subject to substantially the same terms and conditions after the separation as the terms and conditions that applied to such awards prior to the separation, except:

 

•  the number of shares subject to, and per-share exercise price for, each SITE Centers stock option award will be adjusted as provided for in the Employee Matters Agreement so that the award generally retains, immediately after the separation, substantially the same intrinsic value that it had immediately prior to the separation (subject to specific rounding conventions described in the Employee Matters Agreement) and

 

•  with respect to any continuous employment requirement associated with such retained SITE Centers stock option award held immediately after the separation by awardees who are employed by the Company, such requirement will be satisfied after the separation by the Company employee based on continuous employment with the Company.

 

•  With respect to SITE Centers share units held under SITE Centers’ directors’ deferred compensation plan, the number of such SITE Centers share units will be increased to reflect substantially the value of the distribution of Company common stock in the separation, but holders of such share units will not receive any of such shares of Company common stock specifically as a result of the separation.

 

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Will the distribution affect the market price of my SITE Centers shares?    Yes. As a result of the distribution, SITE Centers expects the trading price of SITE Centers common shares immediately following the distribution to be lower than immediately prior to the distribution because their market price will no longer reflect the value of the Company’s assets. Furthermore, until the market has fully analyzed the value of SITE Centers without the assets owned by Curbline, the market price of SITE Centers common shares may fluctuate significantly. In addition, the combined market prices of SITE Centers common shares and the Company’s common stock after the distribution may be equal to or less than the market price of SITE Centers common shares before the distribution.
Are there risks to owning the Company’s common stock?    Yes. The Company’s business is subject to various risks, including risks relating to the separation. These risks are described in the “Risk Factors” section of this Information Statement beginning on page 25. The Company encourages you to read that section carefully.
Where can SITE Centers shareholders get more information?   

Before the separation, if you have any questions relating to the separation, you should contact:

 

SITE Centers Corp.

3300 Enterprise Parkway

Beachwood, Ohio 44122

Tel: 216-755-5500

www.sitecenters.com

  

After the separation, if you have any questions relating to the Company’s common stock, you should contact:

 

Curbline Properties Corp.

3300 Enterprise Parkway

Beachwood, Ohio 44122

Tel: 216-755-5500

www.curbline.com

The Separation and the Distribution

The following is a summary of the material terms of the separation and distribution and other related transactions.

 

Distributing company    SITE Centers Corp.
   After the separation, SITE Centers will not own any of the Company’s common stock.
Distributed company   

Curbline Properties Corp.

 

Curbline is a Maryland corporation and, prior to the separation, a wholly owned subsidiary of SITE Centers. After the separation, the Company will be an independent publicly traded company and intends to conduct its business as a REIT for U.S. federal income tax purposes. The Company also intends to operate through an UPREIT structure, in which substantially all of the Company’s properties and assets are held through the Operating Partnership.

Distribution ratio    Each holder of SITE Centers common shares will receive two shares of the Company’s common stock for every one SITE Centers common share held on the distribution record date. The Company does not expect that any registered owner will be entitled to fractional shares in the distribution. See “The Company’s Separation from SITE Centers—General—Treatment of Fractional Shares.”
Distributed securities   

All of the shares of the Company’s common stock owned by SITE Centers, which is 100% of the Company’s common stock outstanding immediately prior to the separation.

 

Based on the 52,393,880 SITE Centers common shares outstanding on August 22, 2024, and the distribution ratio of two shares of the Company’s common stock for every one SITE Centers common share, approximately 104,787,760 shares of the Company’s common stock will be distributed to SITE Centers shareholders.

 

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Distribution record date    The distribution record date is the close of business on     , 2024.
Distribution date    The distribution date is on or about     , 2024.
Distribution    On the distribution date, SITE Centers, with the assistance of the distribution agent, will electronically issue the Company’s common stock to you or to your bank or brokerage firm on your behalf by way of direct registration in book-entry form. You will not be required to make any payment or to surrender or exchange your SITE Centers common shares or take any other action to receive the Company’s common stock on the distribution date to which you are entitled. If you sell SITE Centers common shares in the “regular-way” market prior to the distribution date, you will be selling your right to receive the Company’s common stock in the distribution, even if you were the record holder on the distribution record date. Registered stockholders will receive additional information from the distribution agent shortly after the distribution date. Following the distribution, stockholders whose common stock is held in book-entry form may request that their common stock be transferred to a brokerage or other account at any time, without charge. Beneficial stockholders that hold stock through brokerage firms will receive additional information from their brokerage firms shortly after the distribution date.
Conditions to the distribution   

The distribution of the Company’s common stock by SITE Centers is subject to the satisfaction, or waiver by SITE Centers in its sole and absolute discretion, of the following conditions:

 

•  the SEC shall have declared effective the Company’s Registration Statement on Form 10, of which this Information Statement is a part, under the Exchange Act, no stop order relating to the Registration Statement shall be in effect, and no proceedings for such purposes shall have been instituted or threatened by the SEC;

 

•  the Information Statement (or Notice of Internet Availability thereof) shall have been mailed to record holders of SITE Centers common shares on the distribution record date;

 

•  the transfer of the assets and liabilities from SITE Centers to the Company and from the Company to SITE Centers, in each case pursuant to the terms of the Separation and Distribution Agreement shall have been completed;

 

•  the actions and filings necessary or appropriate under applicable law shall have been taken or made, and, where applicable, have become effective or been accepted by the applicable governmental authority;

 

•  each of the various agreements contemplated by the Separation and Distribution Agreement shall have been executed;

 

•  no order, injunction or decree issued by any court of competent jurisdiction or other legal restraint or prohibition preventing consummation of the separation and distribution or any of the transactions related thereto, including the transfers of assets and liabilities contemplated by the Separation and Distribution Agreement, shall be in effect;

 

•  the Company’s common stock to be distributed shall have been accepted for listing on the NYSE, subject to official notice of distribution;

 

•  an independent appraisal firm acceptable to SITE Centers shall have delivered one or more opinions to the SITE Centers Board confirming the solvency and financial viability of SITE Centers and the Company after consummation of the distribution, and such opinions shall be acceptable to SITE Centers in form and substance in SITE Centers’ sole discretion and such opinions shall not have been withdrawn or rescinded;

 

•  the Company shall have received an opinion of its counsel, satisfactory to it, to the effect that the manner in which the Company is organized and its proposed method of operation will enable it to qualify to be taxed as a REIT under the Code commencing with its initial taxable year ending December 31, 2024 and

 

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•  no other events or developments shall exist or have occurred that, in the judgment of the SITE Centers Board, in its sole and absolute discretion, makes it inadvisable to effect the separation, distribution or other related transactions.

 

SITE Centers has the right not to complete the distribution if, at any time, the SITE Centers Board determines, in its sole discretion, that the Company’s separation from SITE Centers is not in the best interests of SITE Centers or its shareholders or that market conditions are such that it is not advisable to separate the Company from SITE Centers.

Stock exchange listing   

The Company intends to apply to list its common stock on the NYSE under the symbol “CURB.” The Company anticipates that on the third trading day prior to the distribution date, trading of the Company’s common stock will begin on a “when-issued” basis and will continue through the last trading day prior to the distribution date. See “The Company’s Separation from SITE Centers—Market for Common Stock—Trading Prior to the Distribution Date.”

 

After the separation and distribution, SITE Centers common shares will continue to be traded on the NYSE under the symbol “SITC.”

Distribution agent    Computershare Trust Company, N.A.
Tax considerations    The distribution of the Company’s common stock is not expected to qualify for tax-free treatment, and an amount equal to the fair market value of the stock received by you on the distribution date, which is expected to be determined based on the average closing price per share of the Company’s common stock on its first three trading days beginning with the distribution date, will be treated as a taxable dividend to the extent of your ratable share of any current or accumulated earnings and profits of SITE Centers. The excess will be treated as a non-taxable return of capital to the extent of your tax basis in SITE Centers common shares and any remaining excess will be treated as capital gain. Your tax basis in shares of SITE Centers held at the time of the distribution will be reduced (but not below zero) to the extent the fair market value of the Company’s stock distributed by SITE Centers in the distribution exceeds SITE Centers’ current and accumulated earnings and profits. Your holding period for such SITE Centers shares will not be affected by the distribution. Your holding period for the Company’s common stock will begin the day following the distribution of the Company’s common stock, and your basis in the Company’s common stock will equal the fair market value of the stock received by you on the distribution date, which is expected to be determined based on the average closing price per share of the Company’s common stock on its first three trading days beginning with the distribution date. SITE Centers will not be able to advise shareholders of the amount of earnings and profits of SITE Centers until after the end of the 2024 calendar year. SITE Centers or other applicable withholding agents may be required to withhold on all or a portion of the distribution payable to non-U.S. shareholders. For a more detailed discussion, see “The Company’s Separation from SITE Centers—Certain U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences of the Separation” and “Certain U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations.”

Summary Selected Financial Information

The following table sets forth selected combined financial information and other data, which was carved-out from the financial information of SITE Centers at their historical carrying amounts. As of December 31, 2023, Curbline did not conduct any business and did not have any material assets or liabilities. The selected historical financial information and other data set forth below as of December 31, 2023 and 2022 and for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021 has been derived from the audited combined financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States, or GAAP, which are included elsewhere in this Information Statement. The selected historical financial information and other data set forth as of June 30, 2024 and for the six-month periods ended June 30, 2024 and 2023 have been derived from the unaudited combined financial statements prepared in

 

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accordance with GAAP, which are included elsewhere in this Information Statement. Curbline Predecessor’s results of operations for the six months ended June 30, 2024 are not necessarily indicative of the Company’s results of operations for the year ending December 31, 2024.

The combined financial statements include the revenues and direct expenses of the portfolio of convenience retail properties intended to be separated from the rest of SITE Centers, or Curbline Predecessor. Additionally, the combined financial statements also include an allocation of indirect costs and expenses incurred by SITE Centers related to Curbline Predecessor’s business, primarily consisting of general and administrative costs that have been allocated using the relative percentage of GLA of Curbline Predecessor and SITE Centers and management’s knowledge of the Curbline Predecessor business. The amounts allocated in the accompanying combined financial statements are not necessarily indicative of the actual amount of such indirect expenses that would have been recorded had Curbline Predecessor been a separate independent entity. The Company and SITE Centers believe the assumptions underlying SITE Centers’ allocation of indirect expenses are reasonable.

The Company anticipates making distributions to holders of its common stock to satisfy the requirements to qualify as a REIT and generally not be subject to U.S. federal income and excise tax (other than with respect to operations through a TRS of the Company). U.S. federal income tax law generally requires that a REIT distribute annually at least 90% of its REIT taxable income, without regard to the deduction for dividends paid and excluding net capital gains, and that it pay tax at regular corporate rates to the extent that it annually distributes less than 100% of its REIT taxable income. The Company generally intends to make distributions to holders of common stock with respect to each taxable year in an amount at least equal to its REIT taxable income for such taxable year.

Summary Selected Financial Information is presented below (in thousands):

 

     For the Six Months
Ended June 30,
     For the Year Ended December 31,  
     2024      2023      2023      2022      2021  

Operating Data:

              

Revenues

   $ 56,195      $ 43,955      $ 93,660      $ 73,136      $ 52,317  

Rental operation expenses

     34,323        27,889        59,122        45,777        29,079  

Net income attributable to Curbline Predecessor

     14,211        14,606        31,013        25,730        20,658  

 

     June 30,      December 31,  
     2024      2023      2022  

Balance Sheet Data:

        

Real estate (at cost)

   $ 1,087,919      $ 1,010,806      $ 834,568  

Real estate, net of accumulated depreciation

     938,539        874,638        721,007  

Total assets

     1,004,658        921,632        758,019  

Total liabilities

     39,138        58,994        66,241  

Total equity

     965,520        862,638        691,778  

 

     For the Six Months
Ended June 30,
    For the Year Ended December 31,  
     2024     2023     2023     2022     2021  

Cash Flow Data:

          

Cash flow provided by (used for)

          

Operating activities

   $ 32,331     $ 31,604     $ 59,241     $ 49,885     $ 36,227  

Investing activities

     (80,876     (87,177     (186,024     (323,464     (78,103

Financing activities

     49,350       56,058       126,914       273,334       41,088  

Other Data:

          

FFO

   $ 32,822     $ 29,800     $ 62,635     $ 52,357     $ 35,662  

 

 

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Funds from Operations, or FFO, is generally defined and calculated by Curbline Predecessor as net income (computed in accordance with GAAP), adjusted to exclude (i) gains and losses from disposition of real estate property, which are presented net of taxes, (ii) impairment charges on real estate property and (iii) certain non-cash items. These non-cash items principally include real property depreciation and amortization of intangibles. Curbline Predecessor’s calculation of FFO is consistent with the definition of FFO provided by the National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts, or NAREIT.

This measure of performance is used by Curbline Predecessor for several business purposes and by other REITs. Curbline Predecessor uses FFO in part (i) as a disclosure to improve the understanding of Curbline Predecessor’s operating results among the investing public, (ii) as a measure of a real estate asset company’s performance, (iii) to influence acquisition, disposition and capital investment strategies and (iv) to compare Curbline Predecessor’s performance to that of other publicly traded shopping center REITs.

A reconciliation of net income computed in accordance with GAAP to FFO is as follows (in thousands).

 

     For the Six Months
Ended June 30,
     For the Year Ended December 31,  
      2024        2023       2023     2022      2021  

Net income attributable to Curbline Predecessor

   $ 14,211      $ 14,606      $ 31,013     $ 25,730      $ 20,658  

Depreciation and amortization of real estate investments

     18,611        15,194        31,993       26,627        15,004  

Gain on disposition of real estate

     —         —         (371     —         —   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

FFO

   $ 32,822      $ 29,800      $ 62,635     $ 52,357      $ 35,662  

 

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RISK FACTORS

The following are certain risk factors that could affect the Company’s business, financial condition and results of operations. The risks that are highlighted below are not the only ones that the Company faces. You should carefully consider each of the following risks and all of the other information contained in this Information Statement. Some of these risks relate principally to the Company’s separation from SITE Centers, while others relate principally to the Company’s business and the industry in which it operates or to the securities markets generally and ownership of the Company’s common stock. If any of the following risks actually occur, the Company’s business, financial condition or results of operations could be negatively affected.

Risks Related to the Company’s Business, Properties and Strategies

The Company was recently organized and is employing a business model with a limited track record, and it may not be able to operate its business successfully or execute its business plan.

The Company was organized in 2023 and has a very limited operating history. Furthermore, the Company expects to be the first publicly traded REIT focused exclusively on the convenience real estate sector. Convenience real estate sector assets have historically been owned and managed by private and individual investors in local markets or as part of larger, more diversified real estate portfolios. The Company’s business strategy involves creating a pure-play convenience retail REIT that exclusively owns and manages these types of properties. No publicly traded peer REITs exist. Therefore, there are limited long-term track records available that might assist it in predicting whether its business model and investment strategy can be scaled and sustained over an extended period of time. The Company cannot assure you that it will be able to operate its business successfully or implement its business strategy as described in this Information Statement. If the Company encounters unanticipated problems as it continues to refine its business model or is unable to scale or operate its business successfully, it could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows and adversely affect the price of the Company’s common stock, and you could lose all or a portion of the value of your ownership in its common stock.

It may also be difficult for you to evaluate the Company’s potential future performance without the benefit of established long-term track records from companies implementing a similar business model. As a result, ownership of the Company’s common stock may entail more risk than an investment in the common stock of a more conventional real estate company or one with a substantial operating history.

The historical combined and pro forma financial information are not necessarily indicative of the Company’s future financial condition, results of operations or cash flows nor do they reflect what the Company’s financial condition, results of operations or cash flows would have been as an independent public company during the periods presented.

The historical combined financial information included in this Information Statement does not reflect what the Company’s financial condition, results of operations or cash flows would have been as an independent public company during the periods presented and is not necessarily indicative of the Company’s future financial condition, future results of operations or future cash flows. This is primarily a result of the following factors:

 

   

the historical combined financial results reflect allocations of expenses for services historically provided by SITE Centers, and may not fully reflect the increased costs associated with being an independent public company, including significant changes that will occur in the Company’s cost structure, management and business operations as a result of the separation from SITE Centers and

 

   

the working capital requirements and capital expenditures historically have been satisfied as part of SITE Centers’ corporate-wide capital access, capital allocation and cash management programs; the Company’s capital structure may be significantly different from that reflected in the historical combined financial statements.

 

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The pro forma adjustments are based on available information and assumptions that the Company believes are reasonable; however, the Company’s assumptions may prove not to be accurate. In addition, the unaudited pro forma combined financial information may not give effect to various ongoing additional costs that the Company may incur in connection with being an independent public company. Accordingly, the unaudited pro forma combined financial information does not reflect what the Company’s financial condition, results of operations or cash flows would have been as an independent public company and are not necessarily indicative of the Company’s future financial condition, future results of operations or future cash flows. Please refer to “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” “Unaudited Pro Forma Combined Financial Information,” and the combined financial statements and corresponding notes included elsewhere in this Information Statement.

The economic performance and value of the Company’s convenience properties depend on many factors, including broad economic and local conditions, each of which could have an adverse impact on the Company’s results of operations and cash flows.

The economic performance and value of the Company’s real estate holdings can be affected by many factors, including the following:

 

   

changes in the national, regional, local and international economic climate;

 

   

local conditions, such as an excess amount of space or a reduction in demand for real estate in the area and population, demographic and employment trends;

 

   

the attractiveness of the properties to tenants;

 

   

the Company’s ability to provide adequate management services and to maintain its properties and

 

   

the expense of renovating, repairing and re-letting spaces.

Because of the nature of the Company’s business and property format, the Company’s performance is also linked to general economic conditions in the retail industry, including conditions that affect consumers’ spending behaviors and disposable income. To the extent that any of these conditions occur, they may affect market rents for convenience space. In addition, the Company may face challenges in the management and maintenance of its properties or incur increased operating costs, such as real estate taxes, insurance and utilities, that may make its properties unattractive to tenants.

In addition, the Company’s properties compete with numerous other shopping and commercial venues in attracting and retaining tenants. As of June 30, 2024, leases at the Company’s properties were scheduled to expire on a total of approximately 2.0% of leased GLA during 2024. For those leases that renew, rental rates upon renewal may be lower than current rates. For those leases that do not renew, the Company may not be able to promptly re-lease the space on favorable terms. In these situations, the Company’s financial condition, results of operations and cash flows could be adversely impacted.

The Company’s dependence on rental income may adversely affect the Company’s results of operations in the event of significant occupancy loss.

Substantially all of the Company’s income is derived from rental income from real property. As a result, the Company’s performance depends on the ability of its tenants to pay timely the full amount of rent due under their leases. The Company’s income would be negatively affected in the event of the bankruptcy or insolvency of, or a downturn in the business of, a significant number of its tenants, or in the event that such tenants decline to extend or renew leases upon expiration. In the event the Company is able to re-lease spaces vacated by bankrupt, distressed or non-renewing tenants, the downtime and capital expenditures required in the re-leasing process may adversely affect the Company’s results of operations.

 

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Inflation could adversely impact the Company’s real estate operations due to increases in construction costs or operating expenses in excess of rental income.

Inflationary pressures pose risks to the Company’s business, tenants and the U.S. economy. Inflation could cause construction costs, maintenances costs, operating and general and administrative expenses and interest expense to rise. The Company may incur construction costs for a project that exceed its original estimates due to high interest rates, increased materials, labor, leasing or other costs, material shortages or supply chain delays, or unanticipated technical difficulties, which could make completion of the project less profitable because market rents may not increase sufficiently to compensate for the increase in construction costs.

Inflationary pressures and rising interest rates could also result in reductions in retail-sector profitability and consumer discretionary spending, which could impact tenant demand for new and existing locations and the Company’s ability to grow rents. Increasing interest rates or capital availability constraints may also adversely impact the transaction market, including the availability of acquisition financing, asset values and the Company’s ability to buy properties. A sustained or further increase in inflation could have a negative impact on variable-rate debt that the Company may incur in the future. Any of the foregoing risks could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, financial condition and results of operations.

The Company’s expenses may remain constant or increase even if income from the Company’s properties decreases.

Costs associated with the Company’s business, such as utilities, insurance and real estate taxes, are relatively inflexible and generally do not decrease in the event that a property is not fully occupied, rental rates decrease, a tenant fails to pay rent or other circumstances cause the Company’s revenues to decrease. Although most of the Company’s leases require tenants to pay their share of property operating expenses, some tenants may be unable to absorb large expense increases and such increased expenses may limit tenants’ ability to pay higher base rents upon renewal, or renew leases at all. Other aspects of the Company’s operating costs may also increase for reasons beyond the Company’s control, including insurance and real estate taxes. If the Company is unable to lower its operating costs when property-level revenues decline and/or is unable to pass along cost increases to tenants, the Company’s results of operations and cash flows could be adversely impacted.

The Company’s acquisition activities may not produce the cash flows that it expects and may be limited by competitive pressures or other factors.

Growth through convenience property acquisitions is a primary element of the Company’s strategy. Acquisitions of commercial properties entail risks such as the following:

 

   

the Company may not have sufficient operational capacity to scale its business at a rapid enough pace, including by failing to achieve desired volume targets for property acquisitions;

 

   

the Company also may incur significant costs in connection with evaluating and negotiating potential acquisitions that the Company subsequently abandons or is otherwise unable to complete, including due to unexpected discoveries in due diligence investigations or insufficient available resources;

 

   

the Company may be unable to identify, or may have difficulty identifying, acquisition opportunities that fit its investment strategy and cost of capital;

 

   

the Company may be unable to secure necessary financing on favorable terms, or at all;

 

   

the Company’s estimates of expected occupancy and rental rates may differ from actual conditions;

 

   

the properties may become subject to environmental liabilities that the Company was unaware of at the time the Company acquired the property or

 

   

the Company may be unable to successfully integrate new properties into its existing operations.

 

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In addition, the Company may face challenges in acquiring suitable convenience properties in the future due to competition for such properties. Competition from an increased number of investors may also adversely impact the Company’s financial returns by making it more expensive to acquire convenience real estate assets. If the Company is not able to execute its acquisition strategy, it could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows and adversely affect the price of the Company’s common stock.

The Company may be unable to manage its growth effectively and be unable to capture the efficiencies of scale that it expects from expansion.

Significant rapid growth could strain the Company’s internal resources, including its personnel, management systems and infrastructure. The Company’s ability to manage future growth effectively will also require the Company to successfully attract, train, motivate, retain, and manage new employees and continue to update and improve its operational, financial, and management controls and procedures.

If the Company is unable to successfully manage the potential difficulties associated with growth for these or any other reasons, the Company may not be able to capture the efficiencies of scale that it expects from expansion, which could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows and adversely affect the price of the Company’s common stock.

The Company may not be able to obtain additional capital to make investments or finance its operations.

The Company does not expect to have any debt at the time of the separation, with approximately $600 million of cash on hand, $400 million of immediate liquidity from an unsecured, undrawn line of credit and a $100 million unsecured, delayed draw term loan. As part of its growth strategy, the Company may incur a substantial amount of debt to finance future acquisitions, including debt that refinances or replaces borrowings under the line of credit.

Incurring debt or other preferred obligations, such as preferred equity, including any refinancing or replacement thereof, could have important consequences for the Company, including (i) decreasing the Company’s overall profitability, (ii) increasing the Company’s vulnerability to adverse economic or industry conditions, (iii) limiting the Company’s ability to obtain additional financing on acceptable terms, or at all, to fund capital expenditures and acquisitions, particularly when the availability of financing in the capital markets is limited, (iv) subjecting the Company to financial and other restrictive covenants, which could limit its operating flexibility and performance, (v) requiring a substantial portion of the Company’s cash flows from operations for the payment of interest on debt and reducing the Company’s ability to use its cash flows to fund working capital, capital expenditures, acquisitions, and general corporate requirements, and to make distributions and (vi) placing the Company at a competitive disadvantage to less leveraged competitors.

In addition, to qualify as a REIT, the Company must, among other things, distribute at least 90% of its REIT taxable income (excluding any net capital gains) to its stockholders each year. Because of these distribution requirements, the Company may require third-party sources of capital, including secured debt and common and preferred equity financings, to fund capital needs and expenses. Economic conditions and conditions in the capital markets may not be favorable at the time the Company needs to raise capital, which may cause the Company to seek alternative sources of potentially less attractive financing and may require it to adjust its business plan accordingly. Disruptions in the financial markets may also have a material adverse effect on the market value of the Company’s common stock and other adverse effects on the Company.

Real estate investments are illiquid; therefore, the Company may not be able to dispose of properties if desired on favorable terms.

Real estate investments generally cannot be disposed of quickly. In addition, the Code imposes restrictions, which are not applicable to other types of real estate companies, on the ability of a REIT to dispose of properties.

 

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Therefore, the Company may not be able to diversify or alter its portfolio in response to economic conditions or trends in convenience real estate sector or consumer behavior promptly or on favorable terms. The Company’s inability to quickly respond to such changes or dispose of properties could adversely affect the value of the Company’s portfolio.

The Company’s real estate investments may contain environmental risks that could adversely affect its results of operations.

The acquisition and ownership of properties may subject the Company to liabilities, including environmental liabilities. The Company’s operating expenses could be higher than anticipated due to the cost of complying with existing or future environmental laws and regulations. In addition, under various federal, state and local laws, ordinances and regulations, the Company may be considered an owner or operator of real property or to have arranged for the disposal or treatment of hazardous or toxic substances. As a result, the Company may become liable for the costs of removal or remediation of certain hazardous substances released on or in its properties. The Company may also be liable for other potential costs that could relate to hazardous or toxic substances (including governmental fines and injuries to persons and property). The Company may incur such liability whether or not it knew of, or was responsible for, the presence of such hazardous or toxic substances. Such liability could be of substantial magnitude and divert management’s attention from other aspects of the Company’s business and, as a result, could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial condition, results of operations, cash flow and its ability to make distributions to stockholders.

Changes in consumer trends, distribution channels and suburban populations may negatively affect revenues.

The Company’s properties are primarily convenience-driven shopping centers generally positioned on the curbline of well-trafficked intersections and major vehicular corridors and the Company’s tenants are largely dependent on the volume of customer traffic around and within their locations to generate revenue. Therefore, demand for space may be adversely affected by changing consumer trends, changes in shopping or alternative shopping methods and service locations, and overall changes in suburban population or other demographic factors and trends. Decreases in the number of daily convenience trips to the Company’s properties for any of the foregoing reasons could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial condition and results of operations.

Expectations relating to sustainability considerations expose the Company to potential liabilities, increased costs, reputational harm and other adverse effects on the Company’s business.

There are certain governments, regulators, investors, employees, customers and other stakeholders that are focused on sustainability considerations relating to businesses, including climate change and greenhouse gas emissions, human capital and diversity, equity and inclusion. The Company anticipates that it will make statements about its sustainability initiatives through information provided on its website, press releases and other communications. Disclosures regarding sustainability considerations and the implementation of related initiatives involve risks and uncertainties. Some stakeholders may disagree with the Company’s initiatives and stakeholders’ views related to sustainability may change and evolve over time. Reporting certain environmental metrics also involves the use of estimates and assumptions and reliance on third-party information that cannot be independently verified by the Company if it is available at all. The Company expects to incur additional costs and devote additional resources to implement sustainability initiatives and comply with increasing environmental disclosure obligations, including disclosures relating to the impact of climate change on the Company’s business. Any failure, or perceived failure, by the Company to further its initiatives, adhere to its public statements, accurately report sustainability metrics and progress, comply with federal or state laws and regulations, or meet evolving and varied stakeholder expectations and standards could result in legal and regulatory proceedings against the Company and/or materially adversely affect the Company’s business, reputation, financial condition, results of operations and stock price.

 

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The Company may be adversely impacted by laws, regulations or other issues related to climate change.

The Company may become subject to laws or regulations related to climate change, which could cause its business, financial condition and results of operations to be impacted adversely. The federal government and some states and localities have enacted certain climate change laws and regulations and have begun regulating carbon footprints and greenhouse gas emissions. Although these laws and regulations have not had any known material impact on the Company’s business to date, they could result in substantial costs, including compliance costs, increased energy costs, retrofit costs, including monitoring and reporting costs, and capital expenditures for environmental control facilities and other new equipment. The Company cannot predict how future laws and regulations related to climate change will affect the Company’s business, results of operations and financial condition.

The Company’s properties could be subject to climate change, damage from natural disasters, public health crises and weather-related factors; an uninsured loss on the Company’s properties or a loss that exceeds the limits of the Company’s insurance policies could subject the Company to lost capital or revenue on those properties.

Extreme weather conditions may impact the profitability of the Company’s tenants by decreasing traffic at or hindering access to the Company’s properties, which may decrease the amount of rent the Company collects. Furthermore, several of the Company’s properties are located in regions or states that have exposure or the potential for exposure to natural disasters. Such properties could therefore be affected by hurricanes, tropical storms, earthquakes and wildfires. The potential impacts of climate change on the Company’s operations are highly uncertain but could include local changes in rainfall and storm patterns and intensities, water shortages, changing sea levels and changing temperature averages or extremes. More generally, a public health crisis or other catastrophic event could adversely affect economies and financial markets and lead to an economic downturn, which could harm the Company’s business, financial condition, and results of operations.

The potential increase in the frequency and intensity of natural disasters, extreme weather-related events and climate change in the future may limit the types of insurance coverage and the coverage limits the Company is able to obtain on commercially reasonable terms.

Should a loss occur that is uninsured or is in an amount exceeding the aggregate limits for the applicable insurance policy, or in the event of a loss that is subject to a substantial deductible under an insurance policy, the Company could lose all or part of its capital invested in, and anticipated revenue from, one or more of the properties, which could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial condition and results of operations.

Crime or civil unrest may affect the markets in which the Company operates its business and its profitability.

While the Company’s properties are generally located in suburban areas, they are generally located near major metropolitan areas or other areas that are susceptible to property and violent crime, including mass shootings. Increased incidence of property crime, such as shoplifting or damage caused by civil unrest, could reduce tenant profitability or demand for space and, as a result, decrease the rents the Company is able to collect from affected properties. Furthermore, any kind of violent criminal acts or civil unrest could alter shopping habits or otherwise deter customers from visiting the Company’s convenience properties. The Company may also incur increased expenses as a result of its efforts to provide enhanced security measures at its properties to contend with criminal or other threats. Any of the foregoing circumstances could have a negative effect on the Company’s business, the operations of its tenants and the value of its properties.

The Company’s real estate assets may be subject to impairment charges.

On a periodic basis, the Company assesses whether there are any indicators that the value of its real estate assets may be impaired. A property’s value is impaired only if the estimate of the aggregate future cash flows

 

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(undiscounted and without interest charges) to be generated by the property are less than the carrying value of the property. In the Company’s estimate of projected cash flows, it considers factors such as expected future operating income, trends and prospects, the effects of demand, competition and other factors. If the Company is evaluating the potential sale of an asset, the undiscounted future cash flows considerations include the most likely course of action at the balance sheet date based on current plans, intended holding periods and available market information. The Company is required to make subjective assessments as to whether there are impairments in the value of its real estate assets. These assessments have a direct impact on the Company’s earnings because recording an impairment charge results in an immediate negative adjustment to earnings. There can be no assurance that the Company will not take significant impairment charges in the future. Any future impairment could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s results of operations in the period in which the charge is taken.

A disruption, failure or breach of the networks or systems on which the Company relies, including as a result of cyber-attacks, could harm its business.

The Company relies extensively on computer systems to manage its business. The Company primarily depends on third parties, including SITE Centers, to provide important information technology services relating to several key business functions, such as payroll, human resources, electronic communications and certain finance functions. These systems are subject to damage or interruption from power outages, facility damage, computer or telecommunications failures, computer viruses, security breaches, vandalism, natural disasters, catastrophic events, human error and potential cyber threats, including phishing attacks, ransomware and other sophisticated cyber-attacks. Although such third parties employ a number of measures to prevent, detect and mitigate cyber threats, including password protection, firewalls, backup servers, threat monitoring and periodic penetration testing, the techniques used to obtain unauthorized access change frequently and there is no guarantee that the efforts to prevent unauthorized access will be successful. Should they occur, these threats could compromise the confidential information of the Company’s tenants, employees and third-party vendors; disrupt the Company’s business operations and the availability and integrity of data in the Company’s systems; and result in litigation, violation of applicable privacy and other laws, investigations, actions, fines or penalties. In the event of damage or disruption to the Company’s business due to these occurrences, the Company may not be able to successfully and quickly recover all of its critical business functions, assets and data.

The Company may be subject to litigation that could adversely affect its results of operations.

The Company may become a defendant from time to time in major lawsuits and regulatory proceedings relating to its business. Due to the inherent uncertainties of litigation and regulatory proceedings, the Company cannot accurately predict the ultimate outcome of any such litigation or proceedings. An unfavorable outcome could adversely affect the Company’s business, financial condition or results of operations. Any such litigation could also lead to increased volatility of the trading price of the Company’s common stock. For a further discussion of litigation risks, see “Legal Matters” in Note 9, “Commitments and Contingencies,” to the combined financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2023 and Note 6, “Commitments and Contingencies,” to the unaudited combined financial statements for the six months ended June 30, 2024 included elsewhere in this Information Statement.

Risks Related to the Separation and the Company’s Relationship with SITE Centers

The Company may have conflicts of interest with SITE Centers.

The Company is subject to conflicts of interest arising out of its relationship with SITE Centers. Conflicts with the Company’s business and interests may arise from involvement in activities related to the allocation of SITE Centers and Company management’s time and services between the Company and SITE Centers. For example, David Lukes is initially expected to serve as a director and Chief Executive Officer of both SITE Centers and the Company, which could cause him to devote less time and attention to the Company’s business than he would if he only served as the director and Chief Executive Officer of the Company. It is also expected that some of SITE Centers’ current or former directors and executive officers will become directors or executive officers of

 

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Curbline following the separation. Members of management may become subject to certain financial conflicts of interest, including conflicts of interest associated with their incentive compensation from the Company and/or SITE Centers. Furthermore, members of the Curbline Board and the Company’s management are expected to own shares of SITE Centers, which could create, or appear to create, potential conflicts of interest if the Company’s directors and executive officers are faced with decisions that could have different implications for SITE Centers and the Company.

In addition, the Company’s agreements with SITE Centers could also lead to, or appear to cause, conflicts of interest. For example, pursuant to the Shared Services Agreement, the Operating Partnership or its affiliates will provide SITE Centers (i) leadership and management services that are of a nature customarily performed by leadership and management overseeing the business and operation of a REIT similarly situated to SITE Centers, including supervising various business functions of SITE Centers necessary for the day-to-day management operations of SITE Centers and its affiliates and (ii) transaction services that are of a nature customarily performed by a dedicated transactions team within an organization similarly situated to SITE Centers, and SITE Centers will provide the Operating Partnership the services of its employees and the use or benefit of SITE Centers’ assets, offices and other resources as may be necessary or useful to establish and operate various business functions of the Operating Partnership or its affiliates in a manner as would be established and operated for a REIT similarly situated to the Company. Under the Shared Services Agreement, the personnel providing services to the Operating Partnership will be employees of SITE Centers, and the personnel providing leadership and management services to SITE Centers will be employees of the Company, the Operating Partnership or one of their affiliates. As such, conflicts of interest may arise in connection with the performance of the services provided by the Operating Partnership or SITE Centers and the allocation of priority to providing such services. Conflicts of interest could likewise arise in connection with the resolution of any dispute among SITE Centers, the Company and the Operating Partnership regarding the terms of the agreements governing the separation, including expense and revenue allocation determinations among SITE Centers, the Company and the Operating Partnership. Conflicts of interest may also arise from the lease of vacant space or renewal of existing leases at the Company’s properties, which may be located near and compete with properties owned or managed by affiliates of SITE Centers.

The agreements with SITE Centers were not negotiated on an arm’s-length basis and may not be on the same terms as if they had been negotiated with an unaffiliated third party.

The Separation and Distribution Agreement, the Tax Matters Agreement, the Employee Matters Agreement, the Shared Services Agreement and other agreements governing ongoing relationships have been negotiated between related parties and the terms, including fees and other amounts payable, may not be on the same terms as if they had been negotiated at arm’s length with an unaffiliated third party.

For example, the allocation of assets, liabilities, expenses, rights, durations, indemnification and other obligations among SITE Centers, the Company and the Operating Partnership under these agreements may have been different if agreed to by unaffiliated parties. It is unlikely that an unaffiliated third party would be willing or able to perform certain of these agreements or provide similar services to the Company on the same terms or at all. See “The Company’s Relationship and Agreements with SITE Centers—Agreements with SITE Centers.”

After the distribution, the Company will be subject to additional regulatory and reporting requirements that will increase legal, accounting and financial compliance costs.

After the completion of the distribution, the Company will be subject to the reporting requirements under the Exchange Act, the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, and the listing standards of the NYSE. The Company expects that the requirements of these rules and regulations will continue to increase its legal, accounting and financial compliance costs and make some activities more difficult, time consuming and costly.

The Sarbanes-Oxley Act requires, among other things, that the Company maintain effective disclosure controls and procedures and internal control over financial reporting. The Company is developing and refining its

 

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disclosure controls and other procedures that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports that it will file with the SEC is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in SEC rules and forms, and that information required to be disclosed in reports under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to its principal executive and financial officers.

The Company’s current controls and any new controls that it develops may become inadequate because of changes in conditions in its business. Further, weaknesses in the Company’s disclosure controls or its internal control over financial reporting may be discovered in the future. Any failure to develop or maintain effective controls, or any difficulties encountered in their implementation or improvement, could harm the Company’s results of operations or cause it to fail to meet its reporting obligations and may result in a restatement of its financial statements for prior periods. Any failure to implement and maintain effective internal control over financial reporting also could adversely affect the results of management evaluations and independent registered public accounting firm audits of its internal control over financial reporting that the Company will eventually be required to include in its periodic reports that will be filed with the SEC. Ineffective disclosure controls and procedures and internal control over financial reporting could also cause investors to lose confidence in the Company’s reported financial and other information, which would likely have a negative effect on the trading price of its common stock. In addition, if the Company is unable to continue to meet these requirements, it may not be able to remain listed on the NYSE.

The Company is not currently required to comply with the SEC rules that implement Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, and is therefore not required to make a formal assessment of the effectiveness of its internal control over financial reporting for that purpose. Upon becoming a public company, the Company will be required to provide an annual management report on the effectiveness of its internal control over financial reporting commencing with its second Annual Report on Form 10-K. The Company’s independent registered public accounting firm is not required to audit the effectiveness of its internal control over financial reporting until after it is no longer an “emerging growth company,” as defined in the JOBS Act. At such time, the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm may issue a report that is adverse in the event it is not satisfied with the level at which its internal control over financial reporting is documented, designed or operating.

Any failure to maintain effective disclosure controls and internal control over financial reporting could have a material and adverse effect on the Company’s business and results of operations, and cause a decline in the price of its common stock.

The distribution of the Company’s common stock is not expected to qualify for tax-free treatment and will be taxable to you as a dividend.

The distribution of the Company’s common stock is not expected to qualify for tax-free treatment, and an amount equal to the fair market value of the stock received by you, which is expected to be determined based on the average closing price per share of the Company’s common stock on its first three trading days beginning with the distribution date, will be treated as a taxable dividend to the extent of your ratable share of any current or accumulated earnings and profits of SITE Centers. As no cash will be paid in connection with the distribution, you will need to have alternative sources from which to pay your resulting U.S. federal income tax liability. The amount in excess of earnings and profits will be treated as a non-taxable return of capital to the extent of your tax basis in SITE Centers common shares and any remaining excess will be treated as capital gain. Your tax basis in shares of SITE Centers held at the time of the distribution will be reduced (but not below zero) to the extent the fair market value of the Company’s stock distributed by SITE Centers in the distribution exceeds SITE Centers’ current and accumulated earnings and profits. Your holding period for such SITE Centers shares will not be affected by the distribution. Your holding period for the Company’s common stock will begin the day following the distribution of the Company’s common stock, and your basis in the Company’s common stock will equal the fair market value of the stock received by you. SITE Centers will not be able to advise shareholders of the amount of earnings and profits of SITE Centers until after the end of the 2024 calendar year. SITE Centers or other applicable withholding agents may be required or permitted to withhold at the applicable rate on all or a

 

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portion of the distribution payable to non-U.S. shareholders, and any such withholding would be satisfied by SITE Centers or such agent by withholding and selling a portion of the Company’s stock otherwise distributable to non-U.S. shareholders. For a more detailed discussion, see “The Company’s Separation from SITE Centers—Certain U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences of the Separation” and “Certain U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations.”

Although SITE Centers will be ascribing a fair market value to the Company’s stock in the distribution for tax purposes, and will report that value to shareholders and the IRS, this valuation is not binding on the IRS or any other tax authority. These taxing authorities could ascribe a higher valuation to the Company’s stock, particularly if the Company’s stock trades at prices significantly above the value ascribed to the Company’s stock by SITE Centers in the period following the distribution. Such a higher valuation may cause a larger reduction in the tax basis of your SITE Centers shares or may cause you to recognize additional dividend or capital gain income. You should consult your own tax advisor as to the particular tax consequences of the distribution to you.

It is possible that the Company may not obtain a fair market value tax basis in the Company’s assets as a result of the distribution.

The distribution has been structured, and SITE Centers and the Company intend to treat it for U.S. federal income tax purposes as, a taxable distribution of shares in the Company to you. SITE Centers and the Company intend (and are generally obligated pursuant to the Tax Matters Agreement) to take the position for tax purposes that such shares are distributed to you at the close of business on the day of the distribution, and that immediately prior to such distribution, the Company shall be treated as acquiring all of its assets (and assuming all of its liabilities) from SITE Centers in exchange for the Company’s stock. It is possible, however, that the IRS may conclude that the tax basis of the Company’s assets equals their historic tax basis.

The Company may not achieve some or all of the expected benefits of the separation, and the separation may have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, financial condition and results of operations.

The Company may not be able to achieve the full strategic and financial benefits expected to result from the separation, or such benefits may be delayed due to a variety of circumstances, not all of which may be under the Company’s control. These circumstances include, among others: (i) disruption of the Company’s ongoing business or inconsistencies in its services, standards, controls, procedures and policies, which could adversely affect its ability to maintain relationships with tenants and (ii) increased susceptibility to market fluctuations and other adverse events following the separation. Failure to achieve some or all of the benefits expected to result from the separation, or a delay in realizing such benefits, may have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, financial condition and results of operations.

Risks Related to the Company’s Taxation as a REIT

If the Company fails to qualify as a REIT in any taxable year, it will be subject to U.S. federal income tax as a regular corporation and could have significant tax liability, which may have a significant adverse consequence to the value of the Company’s stock.

The Company intends to operate in a manner that allows it to qualify as a REIT for U.S. federal income tax purposes. However, REIT qualification requires that the Company satisfy numerous requirements (some on an annual or quarterly basis) established under highly technical and complex provisions of the Code, for which there are a limited number of judicial or administrative interpretations. The Company’s status as a REIT requires an analysis of various factual matters and circumstances that are not entirely within its control. Accordingly, the Company’s ability to qualify and remain qualified as a REIT for U.S. federal income tax purposes is not certain.

 

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Even a technical or inadvertent violation of the REIT requirements could jeopardize the Company’s REIT qualification. Furthermore, Congress or the IRS might change the tax laws or regulations and the courts could issue new rulings, in each case potentially having a retroactive effect that could make it more difficult or impossible for the Company to continue to qualify as a REIT. If the Company fails to qualify as a REIT in any tax year, the following will result:

 

   

the Company would be taxed as a regular domestic corporation, which, among other things, means that it would be unable to deduct distributions to its stockholders in computing its taxable income and would be subject to U.S. federal income tax on its taxable income at regular corporate rates;

 

   

any resulting tax liability could be substantial and would reduce the amount of cash available for distribution to stockholders and could force the Company to liquidate assets or take other actions that could have a detrimental effect on its results of operations and

 

   

unless the Company were entitled to relief under applicable statutory provisions, it would be disqualified from treatment as a REIT for the four taxable years following the year during which the Company lost its qualification, and its cash available for distribution to its stockholders, therefore, would be reduced for each of the years in which the Company does not qualify as a REIT.

Even if the Company remains qualified as a REIT, it may face other tax liabilities that directly or indirectly reduce its cash flow. The Company may also be subject to certain federal, state and local taxes on its income and property either directly or at the level of its subsidiaries. Any of these taxes would decrease cash available for distribution to the Company’s stockholders.

If certain subsidiaries fail to qualify as partnerships or disregarded entities for U.S. federal income tax purposes, the Company may not qualify as a REIT.

The Company believes the Operating Partnership and other subsidiary partnerships and limited liability companies that do not elect REIT or TRS status have been and/or will be classified as disregarded entities for U.S. federal income tax purposes. The Company’s ownership of interests in such subsidiaries involve special tax considerations, including the possibility that the IRS might challenge the status of these entities as partnerships or disregarded entities, as opposed to associations taxable as corporations, for U.S. federal income tax purposes. If one or more of the Company’s subsidiary partnerships or disregarded entities were treated as an association taxable as a corporation, the subsidiary partnership or disregarded entity would be subject to U.S. federal income taxes on its income. In that case, the character of the entity and its income would change for purposes of the asset and income tests applicable to REITs and could prevent the Company from satisfying these tests. This, in turn, could prevent the Company from qualifying as a REIT.

Compliance with REIT requirements may negatively affect the Company’s operating decisions.

To maintain its status as a REIT for U.S. federal income tax purposes, the Company must meet certain requirements on an ongoing basis, including requirements regarding its sources of income, the nature and diversification of its assets, the amounts the Company distributes to its stockholders and the ownership of its stock. The Company may also be required to make distributions to its stockholders when it does not have funds readily available for distribution or at times when the Company’s funds are otherwise needed to fund capital expenditures.

As a REIT, the Company must distribute at least 90% of its annual net taxable income (excluding net capital gains) to its stockholders. To the extent that the Company satisfies this distribution requirement, but distributes less than 100% of its net taxable income, the Company will be subject to U.S. federal corporate income tax on its undistributed taxable income. In addition, the Company will be subject to a 4% non-deductible excise tax if the actual amount paid to its stockholders in a calendar year is less than the minimum amount specified under U.S.

 

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federal tax laws. From time to time, the Company may generate taxable income greater than its income for financial reporting purposes, or its net taxable income may be greater than its cash flows available for distribution to its stockholders. If the Company does not have other funds available in these situations, it could be required to borrow funds, sell its securities or a portion of its properties at unfavorable prices or find other sources of funds in order to meet the REIT distribution requirements and avoid corporate income tax and the 4% excise tax.

In addition, the REIT provisions of the Code impose a 100% tax on income from “prohibited transactions.” Prohibited transactions generally include sales of assets, other than foreclosure property, that constitute inventory or other property held for sale to customers in the ordinary course of business. This 100% tax could affect the Company’s decisions to sell property if it believes such sales could be treated as a prohibited transaction. However, the Company would not be subject to this tax if it were to sell assets through a TRS. The Company will also be subject to a 100% tax on certain amounts if the economic arrangements between the Company and a TRS are not comparable to similar arrangements among unrelated parties.

The Company may be forced to borrow funds to maintain its REIT status, and the unavailability of such capital on favorable terms at the desired times, or at all, may cause the Company to curtail its investment activities and/or to dispose of assets at inopportune times, which could materially and adversely affect the Company.

To qualify as a REIT, the Company generally must distribute to stockholders at least 90% of its REIT taxable income each year, determined without regard to the dividends paid deduction and excluding any net capital gains, and the Company will be subject to regular corporate income taxes on its undistributed taxable income to the extent that the Company distributes less than 100% of its REIT taxable income, determined without regard to the dividends paid deduction and including any net capital gains, each year. In addition, the Company will be subject to a 4% nondeductible excise tax on the amount, if any, by which distributions paid by the Company in any calendar year are less than the sum of 85% of the Company’s ordinary income, 95% of its capital gain net income and 100% of its undistributed income from prior years. The Company could have a potential distribution shortfall as a result of, among other things, differences in timing between the actual receipt of cash and recognition of income for U.S. federal income tax purposes or the effect of nondeductible capital expenditures or the creation of reserves. In order to maintain REIT status and avoid the payment of income and excise taxes, the Company may need to borrow funds to meet the REIT distribution requirements. The Company may not be able to borrow funds on favorable terms or at all. The Company’s access to third-party sources of capital depends on a number of factors, including the market’s perception of the Company’s growth potential, the market price of its common stock and current and potential future earnings. The Company cannot assure stockholders that it will have access to such capital on favorable terms at the desired times, or at all, which may cause the Company to curtail its investment activities and/or to dispose of assets at inopportune times and could materially and adversely affect the Company. The Company may make taxable in-kind distributions of its common stock, which may cause stockholders to be required to pay income taxes with respect to such distributions in excess of any cash received, or the Company may be required to withhold taxes with respect to such distributions in excess of any cash stockholders receive.

Distributions paid by REITs generally do not qualify for reduced tax rates.

In general, the maximum U.S. federal income tax rate for dividends paid to individual U.S. stockholders is 20%. Due to its REIT status, the Company’s distributions to individual stockholders generally are not eligible for the reduced rates. However, U.S. stockholders that are individuals, trusts or estates generally may deduct up to 20% of the ordinary dividends (e.g., REIT dividends that are not designated as capital gain dividends or qualified dividend income) received from a REIT for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2017, and before January 1, 2026. Although this deduction reduces the effective tax rate applicable to certain dividends paid by REITs (generally to 29.6%, assuming the stockholder is subject to the 37% maximum rate), such tax rate is still higher than the tax rate applicable to corporate dividends that constitute qualified dividend income. Accordingly,

 

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investors who are individuals, trusts or estates may perceive investments in REITs to be relatively less attractive than investments in stocks of non-REIT corporations that pay dividends, which could materially and adversely affect the value of the stock of REITs, including the per share trading price of the Company’s common stock.

Certain foreign stockholders may be subject to U.S. federal income tax on a gain recognized on a disposition of the Company’s common stock if the Company does not qualify as a “domestically controlled” REIT.

A foreign person disposing of a U.S. real property interest, including stock of a U.S. corporation whose assets consist principally of U.S. real property interests, is generally subject to U.S. federal income tax on any gain recognized on the disposition. This tax does not apply, however, to the disposition of stock in a REIT if the REIT is “domestically controlled.” In general, the Company will be a domestically controlled REIT if at all times during the five-year period ending on the applicable stockholder’s disposition of the Company’s stock, less than 50% in value of the stock was held directly or indirectly by non-U.S. persons. Recently finalized regulations require a REIT to “look through” certain foreign controlled domestic corporations to their owners when determining whether the REIT is domestically controlled. If the Company were to fail to qualify as a domestically controlled REIT, gain recognized by a foreign stockholder on a disposition of the Company’s common stock would be subject to U.S. federal income tax unless the common stock was traded on an established securities market and the foreign stockholder did not at any time during a specific testing period directly or indirectly own more than 10% of the Company’s outstanding common stock.

Legislative or other actions affecting REITs could have a negative effect on the Company or its stockholders.

The laws and regulations dealing with U.S. federal income taxation are constantly under review by persons involved in the legislative process and by the IRS and the Department of the Treasury. Changes to the tax laws, with or without retroactive application, could materially and adversely affect the Company or its stockholders. The Company cannot predict how changes in the tax laws might affect stockholders or the Company. New legislation, Treasury regulations, administrative interpretations or court decisions could significantly and negatively affect the Company’s ability to qualify as a REIT, the U.S. federal income tax consequences of such qualification or the U.S. federal income tax consequences of an investment in the Company. In addition, the law relating to the tax treatment of other entities, or an investment in other entities, could change, making an investment in such other entities more attractive relative to an investment in a REIT. Furthermore, potential amendments and technical corrections, as well as interpretations and implementation of regulations by the Treasury and IRS, may have or may in the future occur or be enacted, and, in each case, they could lessen or increase the impact of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, or the TCJA. In addition, states and localities, which often use federal taxable income as a starting point for computing state and local tax liabilities, continue to react to the TCJA, and these may exacerbate its negative, or diminish its positive, effects on the Company. It is impossible to predict the nature or extent of any new tax legislation, regulation or administrative interpretations, but such items could adversely affect the Company’s financial condition, results of operations or future business planning.

If SITE Centers fails to qualify as a REIT for the year in which the distribution occurs, the Company may not be eligible to elect to be taxed as a REIT.

A rule against electing REIT status would apply to the Company if SITE Centers fails to qualify as a REIT for the year in which the distribution occurs and the Company is treated as a successor to SITE Centers for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Although SITE Centers will represent in the Tax Matters Agreement that commencing with its taxable year ending in December 31, 1993 through its taxable year ending on December 31, 2023, SITE Centers was organized and operated in conformity with the requirements for qualification and taxation as a REIT under the Code and will covenant to qualify as a REIT under the Code for its taxable year ending December 31, 2024 (unless SITE Centers obtains an opinion from a nationally recognized tax counsel or a private letter ruling from the IRS to the effect that SITE Centers’ failure to maintain its REIT status will not cause the Company to fail to qualify as a REIT under the successor REIT rule referred to above), no assurance

 

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can be given that such representation and covenant would prevent the Company from failing to qualify as a REIT. Although, in the event of a breach, the Company may be able to seek damages from SITE Centers, there can be no assurance that such damages, if any, would appropriately compensate the Company.

Risks Related to Company’s Ownership of Interests in the Operating Partnership

Certain Operating Partnership assets may have book-tax differences, which may cause the Company to recognize taxable income in excess of cash proceeds and affect the Company’s ability to comply with REIT distribution requirements.

In general, when property is contributed to a partnership in exchange for a partnership interest, the partnership inherits the carry-over tax basis of the contributing partner in the contributed property. Any difference between the fair market value and the adjusted tax basis of contributed property at the time of contribution is referred to as a “book-tax difference.” Certain of the Operating Partnership’s assets may have book-tax differences, and the agreement of limited partnership of the Operating Partnership requires such allocations to be made in a manner consistent with Section 704(c) of the Code. As a result, the Company may be allocated lower amounts of depreciation and other deductions for tax purposes, and possibly greater amounts of taxable income in the event of a disposition, as compared to its share of such items for economic or book purposes. Thus, these rules may cause the Company to recognize taxable income in excess of cash proceeds, which might adversely affect the Company’s ability to comply with the REIT distribution requirements.

The Company will be liable for any under-withholdings with respect to any non-U.S. limited partner’s share of Operating Partnership income.

In the event the Company admits a non-U.S. limited partner into the Operating Partnership, the Operating Partnership generally will be required to withhold with respect to the non-U.S. limited partner’s share of the Operating Partnership income (with such rates based on the character of the items comprising the income and the status of the limited partner for U.S. federal income tax purposes), regardless of the amounts distributed to such non-U.S. limited partner. The Operating Partnership may also be required to withhold on distributions made to a transferee who acquires units from a non-U.S. limited partner if the transferee did not properly withhold. The Company will be liable for any under-withholdings (including interest and penalties).

The Operating Partnership and any subsidiary partnerships may be subject to a U.S. federal income tax audit and the Company may be required to bear the economic cost of its attributable share of taxes.

Under the rules applicable to federal income tax audits of partnerships (such as the Operating Partnership), the partnership itself may be liable for a hypothetical increase in partner-level taxes (including interest and penalties) resulting from an adjustment of “partnership-related items” on audit, regardless of changes in the composition of the partners (or their relative ownership) between the year under audit and the year of the adjustment. The rules also include an elective alternative method under which the additional taxes resulting from the adjustment are assessed from the affected direct or indirect partners (often referred to as a “push-out election”), subject to a higher rate of interest than otherwise would apply. It is possible that these rules could result in partnerships in which we directly or indirectly invest, including the Operating Partnership, being required to pay additional taxes, interest and penalties as a result of an audit adjustment, and we, as a direct or indirect partner of these partnerships, could be required to bear the economic burden of those taxes, interest, and penalties, including in situations where we, as a REIT, may not otherwise have been required to pay additional corporate-level taxes as a result of the related audit adjustment.

 

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Risks Related to the Company’s Organization, Structure and Ownership

Provisions in the Charter and Bylaws could have the effect of delaying, deferring or preventing a change in control, even if that change may be considered beneficial by some of the Company’s stockholders.

The Charter and the Bylaws contain provisions that could have the effect of rendering more difficult, delaying or preventing an acquisition deemed undesirable by the Curbline Board. Among other things, the Charter and Bylaws include provisions:

 

   

initially dividing the Curbline Board into three classes;

 

   

providing that removal of a member of the Curbline Board can only be for cause prior to the conclusion of the annual meeting of the stockholders to be held in 2027;

 

   

prohibiting any person, except for certain stockholders as set forth in the Charter, from owning more than 8% of the Company’s outstanding common stock prior to an exempt holder reduction event or more than 9.8% of the Company’s outstanding common stock from and after an exempt holder reduction event in order to maintain the Company’s status as a REIT;

 

   

authorizing “blank check” preferred stock, which could be issued by the Curbline Board without stockholder approval and may contain voting, liquidation, dividend and other rights superior to the Company’s common stock;

 

   

providing that the Curbline Board may increase its size and that any vacancy on the Curbline Board may be filled only by the affirmative vote of a majority of the remaining directors then in office;

 

   

providing that special meetings of the stockholders may only be called by the Curbline Board, certain executive officers of the Company or upon the written request of stockholders entitled to cast not less than a majority of all the votes entitled to be cast on such matter at such meeting;

 

   

providing that stockholders may not act by written consent unless (a) such written consent is unanimous or (b) the action is advised, and submitted to the stockholders for approval, by the Curbline Board and such written consent of a majority of votes entitled to be cast is delivered to the Company in accordance with the Maryland General Corporation Law, or the MGCL and

 

   

requiring advance notice of stockholder proposals for business to be conducted at meetings of the Company’s stockholders and for nominations of candidates for election to the Curbline Board.

These provisions, alone, together or together with others, could delay or prevent hostile takeovers and changes in control or changes in the Company’s management. The Company believes these provisions protect its stockholders from coercive or otherwise unfair takeover tactics and are not intended to make the Company immune from takeovers. However, these provisions apply even if the offer may be considered beneficial by some stockholders and could delay, defer or prevent an acquisition that the Curbline Board determines is not in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders, which under certain circumstances could reduce the market price of its common stock.

The Company’s authorized but unissued common and preferred stock may prevent a change in the Company’s control.

The Charter authorizes the Company to issue additional authorized but unissued common or preferred stock. In addition, the Curbline Board may, without stockholder approval, amend the Charter to increase the aggregate number of its shares of capital stock or the number of its shares of capital stock of any class or series that the Company has authority to issue and classify or reclassify any unissued common or preferred stock and set the preferences, rights and other terms of the classified or reclassified stock. As a result, the Curbline Board may establish a class of common or preferred stock that could delay or prevent a transaction or a change in control that might involve a premium price for the Company’s common stock or otherwise be in the best interest of the Company’s stockholders.

 

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After the separation, the Company will have significant stockholders who may exert influence on the Company as a result of their considerable beneficial ownership of the Company’s common stock, and their interests may differ from the interests of other stockholders.

After the completion of the separation, the Company will have stockholders, including Mr. Alexander Otto, who has been designated as a member of the Curbline Board, who will be in a position to exert significant influence over the Company because of their considerable beneficial ownership of the Company’s common stock. These stockholders may exert influence with respect to matters that are brought to a vote of the Curbline Board and/or the holders of the Company’s common stock. Among others, these matters include the election of the Curbline Board, corporate finance transactions and joint venture activity, merger, acquisition and disposition activity, and amendments to the Charter and Bylaws. In the context of major corporate events, the interests of the Company’s significant stockholders may differ from the interests of other stockholders. For example, if a significant stockholder does not support a merger, tender offer, sale of assets or other business combination because the stockholder judges it to be inconsistent with the stockholder’s investment strategy, the Company may be unable to enter into or consummate a transaction that would enable other stockholders to realize a premium over the then-prevailing market prices for common stock. Furthermore, significant stockholders of the Company have in the past sold substantial amounts of SITE Centers’ common shares, and may sell in the future substantial amounts of the Company’s common stock in the public market to enhance the stockholders’ liquidity positions, fund alternative investments or for other reasons. This has caused in the past the trading price of SITE Centers’ common shares and may in the future cause the trading price of the Company’s common stock, to decline significantly, resulting in other stockholders being unable to sell their common stock at favorable prices. The Company cannot predict or control how the Company’s significant stockholders may use the influence they have as a result of their common stock holdings.

The Curbline Board may change significant corporate policies without stockholder approval.

The Company’s strategies and investment, financing and distribution policies will be determined by the Curbline Board. These strategies and policies may be amended or revised at any time at the discretion of the Curbline Board without a vote of the Company’s stockholders. A change in any of these strategies and policies could have an adverse effect on the Company’s financial condition, results of operations and cash flow and on its ability to make distributions to stockholders.

Maryland law may limit the ability of a third party to acquire control of the Company.

The MGCL provides protection for Maryland corporations against unsolicited takeovers by limiting, among other things, the duties of the directors in unsolicited takeover situations. The duties of directors of Maryland corporations do not require them to (a) accept, recommend or respond to any proposal by a person seeking to acquire control of the corporation, (b) authorize the corporation to redeem any rights under, or modify or render inapplicable, any stockholder rights plan, (c) make a determination under the Maryland Business Combination Act, or (d) act or fail to act solely because of the effect the act or failure to act may have on an acquisition or potential acquisition of control of the corporation or the amount or type of consideration that may be offered or paid to the stockholders in an acquisition. Moreover, under the MGCL, the act of a director of a Maryland corporation relating to or affecting an acquisition or potential acquisition of control is not subject to any higher duty or greater scrutiny than is applied to any other act of a director. The MGCL also contains a statutory presumption that an act of a director of a Maryland corporation satisfies the applicable standards of conduct for directors under the MGCL.

The MGCL also provides that, unless exempted, certain Maryland corporations may not engage in business combinations, including mergers, dispositions of 10% or more of its assets, certain issuances of shares of stock and other specified transactions, with an “interested stockholder” or an affiliate of an interested stockholder for five years after the most recent date on which the interested stockholder became an interested stockholder, and thereafter unless specified criteria are met. An interested stockholder is generally a person owning or controlling,

 

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directly or indirectly, 10% or more of the voting power of the outstanding stock of the Maryland corporation, unless the stock had been obtained in a transaction approved by its board of directors. These and other provisions of the MGCL could have the effect of delaying, deferring or preventing a proxy contest, tender offer, merger or other change in control, which may have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, financial condition and results of operations.

Conflicts of interest may exist or could arise in the future with the Operating Partnership and its limited partners, which may impede business decisions that could benefit stockholders.

Conflicts of interest may exist or could arise as a result of the relationships between the Company and its affiliates, on the one hand, and the Operating Partnership or any partner thereof, on the other. The Company’s directors and officers have duties to the Company and its stockholders under applicable Maryland law in connection with their management of the Company. At the same time, the Company, as general partner of the Operating Partnership, has duties to the Operating Partnership and to its limited partners under Delaware law in connection with the management of the Operating Partnership. The Company’s duties to the Operating Partnership and its limited partners as the general partner may come into conflict with the duties of the Company’s directors and officers to the Company and its stockholders. These conflicts may be resolved in a manner that is not in the best interest of the Company’s stockholders.

Curbline Properties Corp. is a holding company with no direct operations and expects to rely on distributions received from the Operating Partnership to make distributions to stockholders.

The Company operates through an UPREIT structure. Therefore, Curbline Properties Corp. is a holding company that conducts all of its operations through the Operating Partnership, a subsidiary, and expects to rely on distributions from the Operating Partnership to make any distributions to stockholders and to meet any of its obligations. The ability of the Operating Partnership to make distributions to Curbline Properties Corp., and the ability of subsidiaries of the Operating Partnership to make distributions to the Operating Partnership, will depend on the respective results of operations and any restrictions imposed on them by creditors or otherwise. In addition, the claims of the Company’s stockholders will be structurally subordinated to all existing and future liabilities and other obligations and any preferred equity of the Operating Partnership and its subsidiaries, including in the case of any liquidation, bankruptcy or reorganization of the Company.

Risks Related to the Company’s Common Stock

No public market currently exists for the Company’s common stock and if an active trading market does not develop or is not sustained, your ability to sell stock when desired and the prices obtained will be adversely affected.

There will not be any public market for the Company’s common stock prior to the distribution. The Company intends to apply to have its common stock listed on the NYSE under the trading symbol “CURB”. However, there can be no assurance that an active trading market for the Company’s common stock will develop, or, if one develops, be maintained. Accordingly, no assurance can be given as to the ability of the Company’s stockholders to sell their common stock or the price that its stockholders may obtain for their common stock.

Some of the factors that could negatively affect the market price of the Company’s common stock include:

 

   

the Company’s actual or projected financial condition, results of operations, cash flows and liquidity, or changes in business strategies or prospects;

 

   

the market’s perception of the Company’s potential and future cash dividends;

 

   

changes in the valuation and capitalization rates applicable to the Company’s properties;

 

   

the ability to acquire additional assets on a timely basis and on attractive terms;

 

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actual or perceived conflicts of interest with SITE Centers and individuals, including the Company’s executives, or any termination of the agreements with SITE Centers;

 

   

equity issuances by the Company, or stock resales by its significant stockholders, or the perception that such issuances or resales may occur;

 

   

the publication of research reports about the Company or the real estate industry;

 

   

changes in market valuations of similar companies;

 

   

adverse market reaction to any indebtedness the Company incurs in the future;

 

   

additions to or departures of key personnel or members of the Curbline Board;

 

   

speculation in the press or investment community;

 

   

the Company’s failure to meet, or the lowering of, its earnings estimates or those of any securities analysts;

 

   

the extent of institutional investor interest in the Company;

 

   

increases in market interest rates, which may have a negative impact on the number of potential buyers for the Company’s properties and the prices such buyers are willing to pay;

 

   

ability to pay distributions to the Company’s stockholders pursuant to its operating strategy;

 

   

changes to the debt markets could adversely affect the Company’s ability to raise capital;

 

   

failure of the Company to qualify as a REIT and the Company’s continued qualification as a REIT;

 

   

the reputation of REITs generally and the reputation of REITs with similar businesses;

 

   

the attractiveness of the securities of REITs in comparison to securities issued by other entities (including securities issued by other real estate companies or sovereign governments), bank deposits or other investments;

 

   

price and volume fluctuations in the stock market generally;

 

   

natural disasters and environmental hazards affecting areas in which the Company’s properties are located;

 

   

political or economic turmoil impacting the economy of areas in which the Company’s properties are located and

 

   

general market and economic conditions, including the current state of the credit and capital markets and the market for sales and investments in properties similar to those owned by the Company.

Market factors unrelated to the Company’s performance could also negatively impact the market price of its common stock. One of the factors that investors may consider in deciding whether to buy or sell the Company’s common stock is its distribution rate as a percentage of its stock price relative to market interest rates. If market interest rates increase, prospective investors may demand a higher distribution rate or seek alternative investments paying higher dividends or interest. As a result, interest rate fluctuations and conditions in the capital markets can affect the market value of the Company’s common stock. For instance, if interest rates rise, it is likely that the market price of its common stock will decrease as market rates on interest-bearing securities increase.

The Company has not established a minimum distribution payment level, and it cannot assure you of its ability to make distributions in the future.

The Company anticipates making distributions to holders of its common stock to satisfy the requirements to qualify as a REIT and generally not be subject to U.S. federal income and excise tax (other than with respect to

 

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operations conducted through a TRS of the Company). U.S. federal income tax law generally requires that a REIT distribute annually at least 90% of its REIT taxable income, without regard to the deduction for dividends paid and excluding net capital gains, and that it pay tax at regular corporate rates to the extent that it annually distributes less than 100% of its REIT taxable income. The Company generally intends to make distributions to holders of common stock with respect to each taxable year in an amount at least equal to its REIT taxable income for such taxable year. Although the Company expects to declare and pay distributions on a quarterly basis, the Curbline Board will evaluate its distribution policy regularly. The Curbline Board may choose not to declare a distribution in 2024, unless necessary to satisfy certain requirements for the Company to be taxed as a REIT.

To the extent cash available for distribution is less than the Company’s REIT taxable income, the Company may make a portion of its distributions in the form of common stock, and any such distribution of common stock may be taxable as a dividend to stockholders. The Company may also distribute debt or other securities in the future, which also may be taxable as a dividend to stockholders.

Any distributions the Company makes to its stockholders will be at the discretion of the Curbline Board and will depend upon, among other things, the Company’s actual and anticipated results of operations and liquidity, which will be affected by various factors, including the income from its properties, its operating expenses and any other expenditures. For more information, see “Distribution Policy.”

As a result, no assurance can be given that the Company will be able to make distributions to its stockholders at any time in the future or the level or timing of any distributions the Company does make.

Substantial sales of the Company’s common stock may occur in connection with the distribution, which could cause the stock price to decline.

The shares of the Company that SITE Centers intends to distribute to its shareholders generally may be sold immediately in the public market. Upon completion of the distribution, based on the number of outstanding SITE Centers common shares as of August 22, 2024, the Company expects that it will have an aggregate of approximately 104,787,760 shares of common stock issued and outstanding. These shares will be freely tradable without restriction or further registration under the Securities Act of 1933, or the Securities Act, unless the shares are owned by one of the Company’s “affiliates,” as that term is defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act.

It is possible that some SITE Centers shareholders, including possibly some of its large shareholders, will sell the Company’s common stock that they receive in the distribution. For example, SITE Centers shareholders may sell the Company’s common stock because the Company’s business profile or market capitalization as an independent company does not fit their investment objectives or because the Company’s common stock is not included in certain indices after the distribution. The sales of significant amounts of the Company’s common stock, or the perception in the market that this will occur, may result in the lowering of the market price of the Company’s common stock.

Shares eligible for future sale may have adverse effects on the Company’s stock price.

The effect of any future sales of the Company’s common or preferred stock on the market price of its common stock cannot be predicted. Sales of substantial amounts of common stock or preferred stock, or the perception that such sales could occur, may adversely affect the prevailing market price for the Company’s common stock. The Company is not required to offer any such shares to existing stockholders on a preemptive basis. Therefore, it may not be possible for existing stockholders to participate in such future issuances, which may dilute the existing stockholders’ interests in the Company.

 

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Offerings of debt or equity securities, which would rank senior to the Company’s common stock, may adversely affect the market price for the Company’s common stock.

If the Company decides in the future to issue debt or preferred equity securities ranking senior to its common stock, it is likely that they will be governed by an indenture or other instrument containing covenants restricting the Company’s operating flexibility. Additionally, any convertible or exchangeable securities that the Company issues in the future may have rights, preferences and privileges more favorable than those of its common stock and may result in dilution to owners of its common stock. The Company and, indirectly, its stockholders, will bear the cost of issuing and servicing such securities. Because the Company’s decision to issue debt or equity securities in any future offering will depend on market conditions and other factors beyond its control, the Company cannot predict or estimate the amount, timing or nature of its future offerings. Thus holders of the Company’s common stock will bear the risk of its future offerings reducing the market price of its common stock and diluting the value of their stockholdings in the Company.

In addition, the Company’s governing documents authorize it to issue, without the approval of the common stockholders, one or more classes or series of preferred stock having such designation, voting powers, preferences, rights and other terms, including preferences over the common stock respecting dividends and distributions, as the Curbline Board generally may determine. The terms of one or more classes or series of preferred stock could dilute the voting power or reduce the value of the Company’s common stock. For example, the Company could grant the holders of preferred stock the right to elect some number of the Company’s directors in all events or on the occurrence of specified events, or the right to veto specified transactions. Similarly, the repurchase or redemption rights or liquidation preferences the Company could assign to holders of preferred stock could affect the residual value or market price of the common stock.

The Company is an “emerging growth company,” and it cannot be certain if the reduced disclosure requirements applicable to emerging growth companies make its securities less attractive to investors.

The Company is an “emerging growth company,” as defined in the JOBS Act. For so long as the Company remains an emerging growth company, the Company is not required to comply with, among other things, the auditor attestation requirements of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. In addition, the Company is subject to reduced disclosure obligations regarding executive compensation in the Company’s periodic reports, proxy statements and registration statements. Investors may find the Company’s common stock less attractive because it relies on these provisions. If investors find the Company’s common stock less attractive as a result, there may be a less active trading market for the Company’s stock and the Company’s stock price may be more volatile.

In addition, Section 107(b) of the JOBS Act also provides that an emerging growth company can take advantage of an extended transition period for complying with new or revised accounting standards. However, the Company has chosen to “opt out” of such extended transition period, and as a result, the Company will comply with new or revised accounting standards on the relevant dates adoption of such standards is required for non-emerging growth companies. The Company’s decision to opt out of the extended transition period for complying with new or revised accounting standards is irrevocable.

The Company’s ability to make distributions is limited by the requirements of Maryland law.

The Company’s ability to make distributions on its common stock is limited by the laws of Maryland. Under the MGCL, a Maryland corporation, including Curbline, generally may not make a distribution (including a dividend or redemption) if, after giving effect to the distribution, the corporation would not be able to pay its debts as the debts become due in the usual course of business, or the corporation’s total assets would be less than the sum of its total liabilities plus, unless the corporation’s charter provides otherwise, the amount that would be needed, if the corporation were dissolved at the time of the dividend, to satisfy the preferential rights upon dissolution of stockholders whose preferential rights are superior to those receiving the dividend. Any dividends or redemption payments may be delayed or prohibited. As a result, the price of the Company’s common stock may decrease, which may have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, financial condition and results of operations.

 

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Changes in accounting standards issued by the Financial Accounting Standards Board or other standard-setting bodies may adversely affect the Company’s business.

The Company’s financial statements are subject to the application of GAAP, which are periodically revised and/or expanded. From time to time, the Company is required to adopt new or revised accounting standards issued by recognized authoritative bodies, including the Financial Accounting Standards Board, or the FASB, and the SEC. It is possible that accounting standards the Company is required to adopt may require changes to the current accounting treatment that it applies to its combined financial statements and may require it to make significant changes to its systems. Changes in accounting standards could result in a material adverse impact on the Company’s business, financial condition and results of operations.

 

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FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This Information Statement contains “forward-looking” statements within the meaning of federal securities laws. Forward-looking statements include, without limitation, statements related to acquisitions (including any related pro forma financial information) and other business development activities, future capital expenditures, financing sources and availability and the effects of environmental and other regulations. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in these forward-looking statements are based upon reasonable assumptions, the Company can give no assurance that its expectations will be achieved. For this purpose, any statements contained herein that are not statements of historical fact should be deemed to be forward-looking statements. Without limiting the foregoing, the words “will,” “believes,” “anticipates,” “plans,” “expects,” “seeks,” “estimates” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Readers should exercise caution in interpreting and relying on forward-looking statements because such statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that are, in some cases, beyond the Company’s control and that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements and that could materially affect the Company’s actual results, performance or achievements.

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

 

   

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

 

   

The Company could be adversely affected by changes in the local markets where its properties are located, as well as by adverse changes in regional or national economic and market conditions;

 

   

The Company may fail to anticipate the effects on its properties of changes in consumer practices, retailing practices and space needs of its tenants, or a general downturn in its tenants’ businesses, which may cause tenants to close stores or default in payment of rent;

 

   

The Company is subject to competition for tenants from other owners of retail properties, and its tenants are subject to competition from other sectors, including those who utilize different methods of distribution. The Company is dependent upon the successful operations and financial condition of its tenants and could be adversely affected by the bankruptcy of those tenants;

 

   

The Company may fail to identify, acquire, construct or develop additional properties that produce a desired yield on invested capital, or may fail to effectively integrate acquisitions of properties or portfolios of properties. The acquisition of certain assets may subject the Company to liabilities, including environmental liabilities. In addition, the Company may be limited in its acquisition opportunities due to competition, the inability to obtain financing on reasonable terms or any financing at all and other factors;

 

   

Real estate investments can be illiquid, particularly as prospective buyers may experience increased costs of financing or difficulties obtaining financing due to local or global conditions, and could limit the Company’s ability to promptly make changes to its portfolio to respond to economic and other conditions;

 

   

Changes in interest rates could adversely affect the market price of the Company’s common stock, its ability to finance acquisitions and prices realized, as well as its performance, interest expense levels and cash flow;

 

   

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

 

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Disruptions in the financial markets could affect the Company’s ability to obtain financing on reasonable terms and have other adverse effects on the Company and the market price of the Company’s common stock;

 

   

Inflationary pressures could result in reductions in tenant profitability, consumer discretionary spending and tenant demand to lease space. Inflation could also increase the costs incurred by the Company to operate its properties and finance its operations and could adversely impact the valuation of its properties, all of which could have an adverse effect on the market price of the Company’s common stock;

 

   

The Company is subject to complex regulations related to its status as a REIT and would be adversely affected if it failed to qualify as a REIT;

 

   

The Company must make distributions to stockholders to continue to qualify as a REIT, and if the Company must borrow funds to make distributions, those borrowings may not be available on favorable terms or at all;

 

   

The outcome of litigation, including litigation with tenants, may adversely affect the Company’s results of operations and financial condition;

 

   

Property damage, expenses related thereto, and other business and economic consequences (including the potential loss of revenue) resulting from extreme weather conditions or natural disasters in locations where the Company owns properties may adversely affect the Company’s results of operations and financial condition;

 

   

Sufficiency and timing of any insurance recovery payments related to damages and lost revenues from extreme weather conditions or natural disasters may adversely affect the Company’s results of operations and financial condition;

 

   

The Company and its tenants could be negatively affected by the impacts of pandemics and other public health crises;

 

   

The Company is subject to potential environmental liabilities;

 

   

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

 

   

The Company could be subject to potential liabilities, increased costs, reputation harm and other adverse effects on the Company’s business due to stakeholders’, including regulators’, views regarding the Company’s sustainability initiatives, and the impact of factors outside of our control on such initiatives;

 

   

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

 

   

Changes in accounting standards or other standards may adversely affect the Company’s business;

 

   

The Curbline Board, which regularly reviews the Company’s business strategy and objectives, may change the Company’s strategic plan based on a variety of factors and conditions, including in response to changing market conditions;

 

   

The Company and its vendors could sustain a disruption, failure or breach of their respective networks and systems, including as a result of cyber-attacks, which could disrupt the Company’s business operations, compromise the confidentiality of sensitive information and result in fines or penalties;

 

   

A change in the Company’s relationship with SITE Centers;

 

   

The Company is subject to potential conflicts of interest with SITE Centers;

 

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The ability of SITE Centers and the Company to complete the separation in a timely and cost effective manner and

 

   

Factors referenced in this Information Statement, including those set forth under the section captioned “Risk Factors.”

When considering forward-looking statements, you should keep in mind the risk factors and other cautionary statements in this Information Statement. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any of these forward-looking statements, which reflect the Company’s views as of the date of this Information Statement. The matters summarized under “Summary,” “Risk Factors,” “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” “Business,” “Certain Relationships and Related Transactions” and elsewhere in this Information Statement could cause the Company’s actual results and performance to differ materially from those set forth in, or implied by, its forward-looking statements. Accordingly, the Company cannot guarantee future results or performance. Furthermore, except as required by law, the Company is under no duty to, and it does not intend to, update any of its forward-looking statements after the date of this Information Statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

 

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THE COMPANY’S SEPARATION FROM SITE CENTERS

General

The SITE Centers Board determined upon careful review and consideration that the separation of the Company’s assets from the rest of SITE Centers and the establishment of the Company as a separate, publicly traded company is in the best interests of SITE Centers and its shareholders.

In furtherance of this plan, SITE Centers will distribute all of the shares of the Company’s common stock held by SITE Centers to holders of SITE Centers common shares, subject to certain conditions. The distribution of the Company’s common stock will take place on    , 2024. On the distribution date, each holder of SITE Centers common shares will receive two shares of the Company’s common stock for every one SITE Centers common share held at the close of business on the distribution record date, as described below. You will not be required to make any payment, surrender or exchange your SITE Centers common shares or take any other action to receive the Company’s common stock on the distribution date to which you are entitled.

The distribution of the Company’s common stock as described in this Information Statement is subject to the satisfaction or waiver of certain conditions. The Company cannot provide any assurances that the distribution will be completed. For a more detailed description of these conditions, see the section entitled “—Conditions to the Distribution.”

The Number of Shares You Will Receive

For every one SITE Centers common share that you owned at the close of business on    , 2024, the distribution record date, you will receive two shares of the Company’s common stock on the distribution date.

Transferability of Shares You Receive

Except as described in “Description of Securities—Description of Common Stock—Restrictions on Ownership and Transfer,” the Company’s common stock distributed to SITE Centers shareholders will be freely transferable, except for shares received by persons who may be deemed to be the Company’s “affiliates” under the Securities Act. Persons who may be deemed to be the Company’s affiliates after the separation generally include individuals or entities that control, are controlled by or are under common control with the Company and may include directors and certain officers or principal stockholders of the Company. The Company’s affiliates will be permitted to sell their common stock only pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act or an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act, such as the exemptions afforded by Rule 144.

When and How You Will Receive the Distributed Shares

SITE Centers will distribute the Company’s common stock on     , 2024, the distribution date. Computershare Trust Company, N.A. will serve as distribution agent and registrar for the Company’s common stock and as distribution agent in connection with the distribution.

If you own SITE Centers common shares as of the close of business on the distribution record date, the Company’s common stock that you are entitled to receive in the distribution will be issued electronically, as of the distribution date, to you or to your bank or brokerage firm on your behalf by way of direct registration in book-entry form. Registration in book-entry form refers to a method of recording stock ownership when no physical stock certificates are issued to stockholders, as is the case in the distribution. No physical stock certificates of the Company will be issued.

If you sell SITE Centers common shares in the “regular-way” market prior to the distribution date, you will be selling your right to receive the Company’s common stock in the distribution.

For more information see the section entitled “—Market for Common Stock—Trading Prior to the Distribution Date.”

 

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Commencing on or shortly after the distribution date, if you hold physical stock certificates that represent your SITE Centers common shares, or if you hold your shares in book-entry form, and you are the registered holder of such shares, the distribution agent will send to you an account statement that indicates the number of the Company’s common stock that have been registered in book-entry form in your name.

Most SITE Centers shareholders hold their SITE Centers common shares through a bank or brokerage firm. In such cases, the bank or brokerage firm would be said to hold the stock in “street name” and ownership would be recorded on the bank’s or brokerage firm’s books. If you hold your SITE Centers common shares through a bank or brokerage firm, your bank or brokerage firm will credit your account for the Company’s common stock that you are entitled to receive in the distribution. If you have any questions concerning the mechanics of having the Company’s common stock held in “street name,” the Company encourages you to contact your bank or brokerage firm.

Treatment of Fractional Shares

The Company does not expect that any registered holders will be entitled to receive fractional shares in the distribution.

To the extent any fractional shares are held in street name through intermediaries, the Company expects that such fractional shares will be aggregated and sold by brokers or other nominees according to their standard procedures, and that brokers or other nominees may request the distribution agent to sell the fractional shares on their behalf. You should contact your broker or other nominee for additional details. None of SITE Centers, the Company or its distribution agent will guarantee any minimum sale price for fractional shares or pay any interest on the proceeds from the sale of fractional shares. The receipt of cash in lieu of fractional shares will generally be taxable to the recipient stockholder. See “—Certain U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences of the Separation.”

Results of the Separation

After the separation, the Company will be a separate, publicly traded company. Immediately following the distribution, the Company expects to have approximately 3,244 common stockholders of record, based on the number of registered shareholders of SITE Centers common shares on August 22, 2024 and the distribution of the Company’s common stock. The actual number of shares of common stock to be distributed will be determined on the distribution record date and will reflect any changes in the number of SITE Centers common shares between August 22, 2024 and the distribution record date.

The Company, the Operating Partnership and SITE Centers will enter into a Separation and Distribution Agreement to effect the separation and provide a framework for certain aspects of the Company’s and the Operating Partnership’s relationships with SITE Centers after the separation. This agreement will primarily govern the relationship among the Company, the Operating Partnership and SITE Centers subsequent to the completion of the separation plan and provide for the allocation among the Company, the Operating Partnership, and SITE Centers of SITE Centers’ assets, liabilities and obligations attributable to periods both prior to and following the separation of the Company and the Operating Partnership from SITE Centers. Furthermore, the Company, the Operating Partnership and SITE Centers will enter into the Shared Services Agreement, pursuant to which, among other things, the Operating Partnership or its affiliates will provide SITE Centers (i) leadership and management services that are of a nature customarily performed by leadership and management overseeing the business and operation of a REIT similarly situated to SITE Centers, including supervising various business functions of SITE Centers necessary for the day-to-day management operations of SITE Centers and its affiliates and (ii) transaction services that are of a nature customarily performed by a dedicated transactions team within an organization similarly situated to SITE Centers, and SITE Centers will provide the Operating Partnership the services of its employees and the use or benefit of SITE Centers’ assets, offices and other resources as may be necessary or useful to establish and operate various business functions of the Operating Partnership or its affiliates in a manner as would be established and operated for a REIT similarly situated to the Company. The

 

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Company and the Operating Partnership will also enter into an Employee Matters Agreement with SITE Centers that will govern the respective rights, responsibilities, and obligations of the Company, the Operating Partnership and SITE Centers after the separation with respect to transitioning employees, equity plans and retirement plans, health and welfare benefits, and other employment, compensation, and benefit-related matters. The Company and the Operating Partnership will enter into the Tax Matters Agreement with SITE Centers that will govern the respective rights, responsibilities and obligations of the Company, the Operating Partnership and SITE Centers after the distribution with respect to various tax matters.

For a more detailed description of these and other agreements governing ongoing relationships, see the section entitled “The Company’s Relationship and Agreements with SITE Centers—Agreements with SITE Centers.”

The distribution will not affect the number of outstanding SITE Centers common shares or any rights of SITE Centers shareholders.

Treatment of Outstanding SITE Centers Equity Incentive Awards

The Company currently expects that SITE Centers equity-based compensation awards outstanding immediately prior to the separation will generally be treated as follows, subject to changes as may be necessary or desirable under applicable tax or other law:

 

   

SITE Centers time-based RSUs held immediately prior to the separation by SITE Centers employees who continue to be employed by SITE Centers immediately after the separation will remain SITE Centers RSUs that will continue to be payable in SITE Centers common shares, and will continue to be subject to substantially the same terms and conditions after the separation as the terms and conditions that applied to such awards prior to the separation, except the number of SITE Centers common shares underlying each such RSU award will be adjusted as provided for in the Employee Matters Agreement so that the award generally retains, immediately after the separation, substantially the same intrinsic value that it had immediately prior to the separation (rounding down to the nearest whole number of RSUs).

 

   

SITE Centers time-based RSUs held immediately prior to the separation by awardees who are employed by the Company immediately after the separation will continue to be subject to substantially the same terms and conditions after the separation as the terms and conditions that applied to such awards prior to the separation, except:

 

   

the awards will be adjusted into Company time-based RSU awards payable in Company common stock;

 

   

the number of shares of Company common stock underlying each such RSU award will be adjusted as provided for in the Employee Matters Agreement so that the award generally retains, immediately after the separation, substantially the same intrinsic value that it had immediately prior to the separation (rounding down to the nearest whole number of RSUs) and

 

   

with respect to any continuous employment requirement associated with such Company RSU awards, such requirement will be satisfied after the separation by the Company employee based on continuous employment with the Company.

 

   

SITE Centers PRSUs held immediately prior to the separation by SITE Centers employees who continue to be employed by SITE Centers immediately after the separation will be adjusted into SITE Centers time-based RSUs payable in SITE Centers common shares and subject to substantially the same terms and conditions after the separation as the terms and conditions that applied to such PRSUs prior to the separation, except:

 

   

the number of PRSUs earned under each PRSU award will be determined by evaluating performance under the PRSU award as of the separation date and will equal the greater of (1) the number of PRSUs earned based on actual performance through the separation date and (2) 150% of the target number of PRSUs;

 

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such number of PRSUs determined to be earned as of the separation date will be converted into SITE Centers time-based RSUs, subject to the same continued employment requirements as the PRSUs, with any unearned PRSUs forfeited and

 

   

the number of such SITE Centers RSUs will be adjusted as provided for in the Employee Matters Agreement so that each such adjusted SITE Centers RSU award generally retains, immediately after the separation, substantially the same intrinsic value that the number of PRSUs determined to have been earned as of the separation date had immediately prior to the separation (rounding down to the nearest whole number of RSUs and thereafter earning current dividend equivalent payments in cash).

 

   

SITE Centers PRSUs held immediately prior to the separation by awardees who are employed by the Company immediately after the separation will be adjusted into Company time-based RSUs payable in Company common stock and subject to substantially the same terms and conditions after the separation as the terms and conditions that applied to such PRSUs prior to the separation, except:

 

   

the number of PRSUs earned under each PRSU award will be determined by evaluating performance under the PRSU award as of the separation date and will equal the greater of (1) the number of PRSUs earned based on actual performance through the separation date and (2) 150% of the target number of PRSUs;

 

   

such number of PRSUs determined to be earned as of the separation date will be converted into Company time-based RSUs, subject to the same continued employment requirements as the PRSUs, with any unearned PRSUs forfeited (provided that, with respect to such continuous employment requirement associated with such Company RSU awards, such requirement will be satisfied after the separation by the Company employee based on continuous employment with the Company) and

 

   

the number of such Company RSUs will be adjusted as provided for in the Employee Matters Agreement so that each such adjusted Company RSU award generally retains, immediately after the separation, substantially the same intrinsic value that the number of PRSUs determined to have been earned as of the separation date had immediately prior to the separation (rounding down to the nearest whole number of RSUs and thereafter earning current dividend equivalent payments in cash).

 

   

Outstanding options to purchase SITE Centers common shares (whether held immediately after the separation by a SITE Centers employee or a Company employee) will be retained by the awardee and continue to be payable in SITE Centers common shares, and will continue to be subject to substantially the same terms and conditions after the separation as the terms and conditions that applied to such awards prior to the separation, except:

 

   

the number of shares subject to, and per-share exercise price for, each SITE Centers stock option award will be adjusted as provided for in the Employee Matters Agreement so that the award generally retains, immediately after the separation, substantially the same intrinsic value that it had immediately prior to the separation (subject to specific rounding conventions described in the Employee Matters Agreement) and

 

   

with respect to any continuous employment requirement associated with such retained SITE Centers stock option award held immediately after the separation by awardees who are employed by the Company, such requirement will be satisfied after the separation by the Company employee based on continuous employment with the Company.

 

   

With respect to SITE Centers share units held under SITE Centers’ directors’ deferred compensation plan, the number of such SITE Centers share units will be increased to reflect substantially the value of the distribution of Company common stock in the separation, but holders of such share units will not receive any of such shares of Company common stock specifically as a result of the separation.

 

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Certain U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences of the Separation

The following is a discussion of certain material U.S. federal income tax consequences of the separation, and in particular the distribution by SITE Centers of the Company’s common stock to shareholders of SITE Centers. For purposes of this section under the heading “Certain U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences of the Separation”: (1) any references to the “separation” shall mean only the distribution of the Company’s common stock by SITE Centers to shareholders of SITE Centers; (2) references to “the Company,” “we,” “our” and “us” mean only Curbline and not its subsidiaries or other lower-tier entities, except as otherwise indicated; and (3) references to SITE Centers refer to SITE Centers Corp. This summary is based upon the Code, the regulations promulgated by the U.S. Treasury Department, rulings and other administrative pronouncements issued by the IRS, and judicial decisions, all as currently in effect, and all of which are subject to differing interpretations or to change, possibly with retroactive effect. No assurance can be given that the IRS would not assert, or that a court would not sustain, a position contrary to any of the tax consequences described below. The Company has not sought and does not intend to seek an advance ruling from the IRS regarding any matter discussed herein. The summary is also based upon the assumption that SITE Centers, the Company and their respective subsidiaries and affiliated entities will operate in accordance with their applicable organizational documents or partnership agreements and the agreements and other documents applicable to the separation. This summary is for general information only and is not tax advice. The Code provisions governing the U.S. federal income tax treatment of REITs (such as SITE Centers) and their stockholders are highly technical and complex, and this summary is qualified in its entirety by the express language of applicable Code provisions, Treasury regulations promulgated thereunder, and administrative and judicial interpretations thereof. This summary does not address all possible tax considerations that may be material to an investor and does not constitute legal or tax advice. Moreover, this summary does not purport to discuss all aspects of U.S. federal income taxation that may be important to a particular investor in light of its investment or tax circumstances, or to investors subject to special tax rules, such as:

 

   

financial institutions;

 

   

insurance companies;

 

   

broker-dealers;

 

   

regulated investment companies;

 

   

REITs;

 

   

partnerships and trusts;

 

   

persons holding 10% or more (by vote or value) of the Company’s outstanding common stock, except to the extent discussed below;

 

   

foreign sovereigns and their controlled entities;

 

   

qualified foreign pension funds;

 

   

partnerships and trusts;

 

   

persons who hold the Company’s stock on behalf of other persons as nominees;

 

   

persons who receive the Company’s stock through the exercise of employee share options or otherwise as compensation;

 

   

persons holding the Company’s stock as part of a “straddle,” “hedge,” “conversion transaction,” “synthetic security” or other integrated investment and

 

   

except to the extent discussed below, tax-exempt organizations and foreign investors.

This summary assumes that investors will hold their common stock as a capital asset, which generally means as property held for investment.

 

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For purposes of this discussion under the heading “Certain U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences of the Separation,” a domestic holder is a shareholder of SITE Centers that is for U.S. federal income tax purposes:

 

   

an individual who is a citizen or resident of the U.S.;

 

   

a corporation created or organized in the United States or under the laws of the United States, or of any state thereof, or Washington, D.C.;

 

   

an estate, the income of which is includable in gross income for U.S. federal income tax purposes regardless of its source or

 

   

a trust if a U.S. court is able to exercise primary supervision over the administration of such trust and one or more U.S. fiduciaries have the authority to control all substantial decisions of the trust.

A “non-U.S. holder” is a shareholder of SITE Centers that is neither a domestic holder nor a partnership (or other entity treated as a partnership) for federal income tax purposes. If a partnership, including for this purpose any entity that is treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes, holds SITE Centers stock, the tax treatment of a partner in the partnership will generally depend upon the status of the partner and the activities of the partnership. An investor that is a partnership and the partners in such partnership should consult their tax advisors about the U.S. federal income tax consequences of the separation.

THE U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX TREATMENT OF THE SEPARATION TO SHAREHOLDERS OF SITE CENTERS DEPENDS IN SOME INSTANCES ON DETERMINATIONS OF FACT AND INTERPRETATIONS OF COMPLEX PROVISIONS OF U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX LAW FOR WHICH NO CLEAR PRECEDENT OR AUTHORITY MAY BE AVAILABLE. IN ADDITION, THE TAX CONSEQUENCES OF THE SEPARATION TO ANY PARTICULAR SHAREHOLDER OF SITE CENTERS WILL DEPEND ON THE SHAREHOLDER’S PARTICULAR TAX CIRCUMSTANCES. YOU ARE URGED TO CONSULT YOUR TAX ADVISOR REGARDING THE FEDERAL, STATE, LOCAL, AND FOREIGN INCOME AND OTHER TAX CONSEQUENCES TO YOU OF THE SEPARATION IN LIGHT OF YOUR PARTICULAR INVESTMENT OR TAX CIRCUMSTANCES.

Tax Classification of the Separation in General

For U.S. federal income tax purposes, the separation is not expected to be eligible for treatment as a tax-free distribution by SITE Centers with respect to its stock. Accordingly, the separation will be treated as if SITE Centers had distributed to each SITE Centers shareholder an amount equal to the fair market value of the Company’s common stock received by such shareholder, determined as of the date of the separation, or, such amount, the distribution amount. The tax consequences of the separation on SITE Centers’ shareholders are thus generally the same as the tax consequences of SITE Centers’ cash distribution. The discussion below describes the U.S. federal income tax consequences to a domestic holder, a non-U.S. holder, and a tax-exempt holder of SITE Centers stock upon the receipt of the Company’s common stock in the separation.

Although SITE Centers will ascribe a fair market value to the Company stock distributed in the separation, which is expected to be determined based on the average closing price per share of the Company’s common stock on its first three trading days beginning with the distribution date, this valuation is not binding on the IRS or any other tax authority. These taxing authorities could ascribe a higher valuation to the Company’s stock, particularly if, following the separation, those shares trade at prices significantly above the value ascribed to those shares by SITE Centers. Such a higher valuation may affect the distribution amount and thus the tax consequences of the separation to SITE Centers’ shareholders.

SITE Centers will be required to recognize any gain, but will not be permitted to recognize any loss, with respect to the Company’s stock that it distributes in the separation.

Any cash received by a street name SITE Centers shareholder in lieu of a fractional share of the Company’s common stock will be treated as if such fractional share was received by the shareholder in the separation and

 

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then sold by such shareholder, via the distribution agent, for the amount of cash received. As discussed below, a SITE Centers shareholder’s basis in the common stock of the Company generally will equal the fair market value of such shares on the date of the separation.

Tax Basis and Holding Period of the Company’s Stock Received by Holders of SITE Centers Shares

A SITE Centers shareholder’s tax basis in the Company’s common stock received in the separation will equal the fair market value of such stock on the distribution date, which is expected to be determined based on the average closing price per share of the Company’s common stock on its first three trading days beginning with the distribution date. A SITE Centers shareholder’s holding period for the Company’s common stock received in the separation will begin the day after the distribution date.

Tax Treatment of the Separation to Domestic Holders

The following discussion describes the U.S. federal income tax consequences to a domestic holder of SITE Centers stock upon the receipt of the Company’s common stock in the separation.

Ordinary Dividend Distributions

The portion of the distribution amount received by a domestic holder that is payable out of SITE Centers’ current or accumulated earnings and profits and that is not designated by SITE Centers as a capital gain dividend will generally be taken into account by such domestic holder as ordinary income and will not be eligible for the dividends received deduction for corporations. With limited exceptions, dividends paid by SITE Centers are not eligible for taxation at the preferential income tax rates for qualified dividends received by domestic holders that are individuals, trusts and estates from taxable C corporations. Such domestic holders, however, are taxed at the preferential rates on dividends designated by and received from a REIT such as SITE Centers to the extent that the dividends are attributable to dividends received by the REIT from TRSs or other taxable C corporations. Domestic holders that are individuals, trusts and estates generally may deduct up to 20% of the ordinary dividends (e.g., REIT dividends that are not designated as capital gain dividends or qualified dividend income) received from a REIT for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2017 and before January 1, 2026. This deduction reduces the effective tax rate applicable to certain dividends paid by REITs (generally to 29.6% assuming the shareholder is subject to the 37% maximum rate).

Capital Gain Dividend Distributions

A distribution that SITE Centers designates as a capital gain dividend will generally be taxed to domestic holders as long-term capital gain, to the extent that such distribution does not exceed SITE Centers’ actual net capital gain for the taxable year, without regard to the period for which the holder that receives such distribution has held its SITE Centers stock. Corporate domestic holders may be required to treat up to 20% of some capital gain dividends as ordinary income. Long-term capital gains are generally taxable at reduced maximum federal rates in the case of domestic holders that are individuals, trusts and estates, and ordinary income rates in the case of stockholders that are corporations.

Non-Dividend Distributions

A distribution to SITE Centers’ domestic holders in excess of SITE Centers’ current and accumulated earnings and profits will generally represent a return of capital and will not be taxable to a shareholder to the extent that the amount of such distribution does not exceed the adjusted basis of the holder’s SITE Centers shares in respect of which the distribution was made. Rather, the distribution will reduce the adjusted basis of the holder’s shares in SITE Centers. To the extent that such distribution exceeds the adjusted basis of a domestic holder’s SITE Centers shares, the holder generally must include such distribution in income as long-term capital gain, or short-term capital gain if the holder’s SITE Centers shares have been held for one year or less.

 

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Medicare Tax

Certain domestic holders of SITE Centers’ common shares that are individuals, estates or trusts and whose income exceeds certain thresholds will be subject to a 3.8% Medicare tax on, among other things, dividends on and capital gains from the sale or other disposition of stock. Domestic holders should consult their tax advisors regarding the effect, if any, of the 3.8% Medicare tax on the distribution.

Backup Withholding

Under the backup withholding rules, a shareholder may be subject to backup withholding with respect to dividends paid unless the holder is a corporation or comes within certain other exempt categories and, when required, demonstrates this fact, or provides a taxpayer identification number, certifies as to no loss of exemption from backup withholding, and otherwise complies with applicable requirements of the backup withholding rules. A domestic holder that does not provide SITE Centers with its correct taxpayer identification number may also be subject to penalties imposed by the IRS. Backup withholding is not an additional tax. Rather, any amounts withheld under the backup withholding rules will generally be allowed as a credit against a domestic holder’s U.S. federal income tax liability and may entitle such holder to a refund, provided the required information is timely furnished to the IRS.

Tax Treatment of the Separation to Non-U.S. Holders

The following discussion describes the U.S. federal income tax consequences to a non-U.S. holder of SITE Centers stock upon the receipt of the Company’s common stock in the separation.

Ordinary Dividend Distributions

The portion of the distribution amount received by a non-U.S. holder that is (1) payable out of SITE Centers’ earnings and profits, (2) not attributable to SITE Centers’ capital gains, and (3) not effectively connected with a U.S. trade or business of the non-U.S. holder, will be treated as a dividend that is subject to U.S. withholding tax at the rate of 30%, unless reduced or eliminated by treaty.

In general, non-U.S. holders will not be considered to be engaged in a U.S. trade or business solely as a result of their ownership of SITE Centers stock. In cases where the dividend income from a non-U.S. holder’s investment in SITE Centers stock is, or is treated as, effectively connected with the non-U.S. holder’s conduct of a U.S. trade or business, the non-U.S. holder generally will be subject to U.S. federal income tax at graduated rates, in the same manner as domestic holders are taxed with respect to such dividends. Such income must generally be reported on a U.S. income tax return filed by or on behalf of the non-U.S. holder. The income may also be subject to the 30% branch profits tax in the case of a non-U.S. holder that is a corporation.

Capital Gain Distributions

Under the Foreign Investment in Real Property Tax Act of 1980, or FIRPTA, a distribution (whether or not paid from SITE Centers’ earnings and profits) that SITE Centers makes to a non-U.S. holder, to the extent attributable to gains from dispositions of U.S. real property interests, or USRPIs, that SITE Centers held directly or through pass-through subsidiaries, will, except as described below, be considered effectively connected with a U.S. trade or business of the non-U.S. holder and will be subject to U.S. income tax at the rates applicable to U.S. individuals or corporations. SITE Centers will generally be required to withhold a 21% tax on such distributions. Distributions subject to FIRPTA may also be subject to a 30% branch profits tax in the hands of a non-U.S. holder that is a corporation. A distribution is not attributable to USRPI capital gain if SITE Centers held an interest in the underlying asset that gave rise to such gain solely as a creditor. It is anticipated that all or a portion of the distribution amount will be attributable to gain from the disposition of USRPIs by SITE Centers.

 

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Distributions received by a non-U.S. holder that are attributable to dispositions of SITE Centers’ assets other than USRPIs are not subject to U.S. federal income tax, unless (1) the gain is effectively connected with the non-U.S. holder’s U.S. trade or business, in which case the non-U.S. holder would be subject to the same treatment as U.S. holders with respect to such gain, or (2) the non-U.S. holder is a nonresident alien individual who was present in the United States for 183 days or more during the taxable year and has a “tax home” in the United States, in which case the non-U.S. holder will incur a 30% tax on his capital gains.

A distribution that would otherwise have been treated as attributable to a USRPI capital gain will not be so treated or be subject to FIRPTA, and generally will not be treated as income that is effectively connected with a U.S. trade or business, but instead will be treated in the same manner as ordinary distributions (discussed above), provided that (1) the distribution is received with respect to a class of stock that is regularly traded on an established securities market located in the United States, and (2) the recipient non-U.S. holder does not own more than 10% of that class of stock at any time during the year ending on the date on which the distribution is received. The stock of SITE Centers is “regularly traded” on an established securities exchange.

Non-Dividend Distributions

Unless SITE Centers’ stock constitutes a USRPI, the distribution amount, to the extent not made out of SITE Centers’ earnings and profits, and not attributable to gain from the disposition of USRPIs (including gain realized in the separation distribution), will not be subject to U.S. income tax. If SITE Centers cannot determine at the time of the separation whether or not the distribution amount will exceed current and accumulated earnings and profits, the separation distribution will be subject to withholding at the rate applicable to ordinary dividends, as described above.

If SITE Centers’ stock constitutes a USRPI, a determination made as described below, distributions that it makes in excess of the sum of (1) the shareholder’s proportionate share of SITE Centers’ earnings and profits, plus (2) the shareholder’s basis in its SITE Centers stock, will be taxed under FIRPTA in the same manner as if the SITE Centers stock had been sold. In such situations, the non-U.S. holder would be required to file a U.S. federal income tax return and would be subject to the same treatment and same tax rates as a domestic holder with respect to such excess, subject to applicable alternative minimum tax and a special alternative minimum tax in the case of non-resident alien individuals.

SITE Centers’ stock will not be treated as a USRPI if less than 50% of SITE Centers’ assets throughout a prescribed testing period consist of interests in real property located within the United States, excluding, for this purpose, interests in real property solely in a capacity as a creditor.

In addition, SITE Centers’ stock will not constitute a USRPI if SITE Centers is a “domestically controlled qualified investment entity.” A domestically controlled qualified investment entity includes a REIT, less than 50% of value of which is held directly or indirectly by non-U.S. holders at all times during a specified testing period. While recently finalized regulations require a REIT to “look through” certain foreign controlled domestic corporations to their owners when determining whether the REIT is domestically controlled, it is anticipated that SITE Centers will be a domestically controlled qualified investment entity, and that a distribution with respect to SITE Centers’ stock in excess of SITE Centers’ earnings and profits will not be subject to taxation under FIRPTA. No assurance can be given that SITE Centers is or will remain a domestically controlled qualified investment entity.

In the event that SITE Centers is not a domestically controlled qualified investment entity, but its stock is “regularly traded,” as defined by applicable Treasury regulations, on an established securities market, a distribution to a non-U.S. holder nonetheless would not be subject to tax under FIRPTA, provided that the non-U.S. holder held 10% or less of SITE Centers’ stock at all times during a specified testing period. It is anticipated that SITE Centers’ stock will be regularly traded.

 

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In addition, if a non-U.S. holder owning more than 10% of SITE Centers’ common shares disposes of such shares during the 30-day period preceding the ex-dividend date of any dividend payment by SITE Centers, and such non-U.S. holder acquires or enters into a contract or option to acquire SITE Centers’ common shares within 61 days of the first day of such 30-day period described above, and any portion of such dividend payment would, but for the disposition, be treated as USRPI capital gain (as defined below) to such non-U.S. holder under FIRPTA, then such non-U.S. holder will be treated as having USRPI capital gain in an amount that, but for the disposition, would have been treated as USRPI capital gain.

Gain in respect of a non-dividend distribution that would not otherwise be subject to FIRPTA will nonetheless be taxable in the United States to a non-U.S. holder in two cases: (1) if the non-U.S. holder’s investment in SITE Centers stock is effectively connected with a U.S. trade or business conducted by such non-U.S. holder, the non-U.S. holder will be subject to the same treatment as a domestic holder with respect to such gain; or (2) if the non-U.S. holder is a nonresident alien individual who was present in the United States for 183 days or more during the taxable year and has a “tax home” in the United States, the nonresident alien individual will be subject to a 30% tax on the individual’s capital gain.

Withholding of Amounts Distributable to Non-U.S. Holders in the Separation

If SITE Centers is required to withhold any amounts otherwise distributable to a non-U.S. holder in the separation, SITE Centers or other applicable withholding agents will collect the amount required to be withheld by reducing to cash for remittance to the IRS a sufficient portion of the Company’s common stock that such non-U.S. holder would otherwise receive, and such holder may bear brokerage or other costs for this withholding procedure. A non-U.S. holder may seek a refund from the IRS of any amounts withheld if it is subsequently determined that the amounts withheld exceeded the holder’s U.S. tax liability for the year in which the separation occurred.

FATCA Withholding

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

Backup Withholding

Payments of dividends made to a non-U.S. holder may be subject to backup withholding (currently at a rate of 24%) unless the non-U.S. holder establishes an exemption, for example, by properly certifying its non-United States status on an IRS Form W-8BEN or another appropriate version of IRS Form W-8. Notwithstanding the foregoing, backup withholding may apply if either SITE Centers or its paying agent has actual knowledge, or reason to know, that the holder is a United States person. Backup withholding is not an additional tax. Rather, any amounts withheld under the backup withholding rules will generally be allowed as a credit against a SITE Centers shareholder’s U.S. federal income tax liability and may entitle such shareholder to a refund, provided the required information is timely furnished to the IRS. Each non-U.S. holder is urged to consult its own tax advisors

 

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regarding the application of information reporting and backup withholding rules to its particular situation, the availability of an exemption therefrom, and the procedure for obtaining such an exemption, if applicable.

Time for Determination of the Tax Impact of the Separation

The tax consequences of the separation will be affected by a number of facts that are yet to be determined, including SITE Centers’ final earnings and profits for 2024 (including as a result of the gain, if any, SITE Centers recognizes in the separation), the fair market value of the Company’s common stock on the date of the separation, the extent to which SITE Centers recognizes gain on the sales of FIRPTA or other capital assets. Thus, a definitive calculation of the U.S. federal income tax consequences of the separation will not be possible until after the end of the 2024 calendar year. SITE Centers will provide its shareholders with tax information on an IRS Form 1099-DIV, informing them of the character of distributions made during the taxable year, including the separation.

Market for Common Stock

There is currently no public market for the Company’s common stock. A condition to the distribution is the listing on the NYSE of the Company’s common stock. The Company’s intends to apply to list its common stock on the NYSE under the symbol “CURB.”

Trading Prior to the Distribution Date

Beginning three trading days before the distribution date and continuing up to but not including the distribution date, the Company expects that there will be two markets in SITE Centers common shares: a “regular-way” market and an “ex-distribution” market. SITE Centers common shares that trade on the regular-way market will trade with an entitlement to the Company’s common stock distributed pursuant to the distribution. Shares that trade on the ex-distribution market will trade without an entitlement to the Company’s common stock distributed pursuant to the distribution. Therefore, if you sell SITE Centers common shares in the “regular-way” market up to but not including the distribution date, you will be selling your right to receive the Company’s common stock in the distribution. If you own SITE Centers common shares at the close of business on the distribution record date and sell those shares on the “ex-distribution” market up to but not including the distribution date, you will still receive the Company’s common stock that you would be entitled to receive pursuant to your ownership of the SITE Centers common shares on the distribution record date.

Furthermore, beginning three trading days prior to the distribution date and continuing up to but not including the distribution date, the Company expects that there will be a “when-issued” market in the Company’s common stock. “When-issued” trading refers to a sale or purchase made conditionally because the security has been authorized but not yet issued. The “when-issued” trading market will be a market for the Company’s common stock that will be distributed to SITE Centers shareholders on the distribution date. If you owned SITE Centers common shares at the close of business on the distribution record date, you would be entitled to the Company’s common stock distributed pursuant to the distribution. You may trade this entitlement to the Company’s common stock, without trading the SITE Centers common shares you own, on the “when-issued” market. On the distribution date, “when-issued” trading with respect to the Company’s common stock will end and “regular-way” trading will begin.

Conditions to the Distribution

The distribution of the Company’s common stock by SITE Centers is subject to the satisfaction, or waiver by SITE Centers in its sole and absolute discretion, of the following conditions:

 

   

the SEC shall have declared effective the Company’s Registration Statement on Form 10, of which this Information Statement is a part, under the Exchange Act, no stop order relating to the Registration Statement shall be in effect, and no proceedings for such purposes shall have been instituted or threatened by the SEC;

 

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the Information Statement (or Notice of Internet Availability thereof) shall have been mailed to record holders of SITE Centers common shares on the distribution record date;

 

   

the transfer of the assets and liabilities from SITE Centers to the Company and from the Company to SITE Centers, in each case pursuant to the terms of the Separation and Distribution Agreement shall have been completed;

 

   

the actions and filings necessary or appropriate under applicable law shall have been taken or made, and, where applicable, have become effective or been accepted by the applicable governmental authority;

 

   

each of the various agreements contemplated by the Separation and Distribution Agreement shall have been executed;

 

   

no order, injunction or decree issued by any court of competent jurisdiction or other legal restraint or prohibition preventing consummation of the separation and distribution or any of the transactions related thereto, including the transfers of assets and liabilities contemplated by the Separation and Distribution Agreement, shall be in effect;

 

   

the Company’s common stock to be distributed shall have been accepted for listing on the NYSE, subject to official notice of distribution;

 

   

an independent appraisal firm acceptable to SITE Centers shall have delivered one or more opinions to the SITE Centers Board confirming the solvency and financial viability of SITE Centers and the Company after consummation of the distribution, and such opinions shall be acceptable to SITE Centers in form and substance in SITE Centers’ sole discretion and such opinions shall not have been withdrawn or rescinded;

 

   

the Company shall have received an opinion of its counsel, satisfactory to it, to the effect that the manner in which the Company is organized and its proposed method of operation will enable it to qualify to be taxed as a REIT under the Code commencing with its initial taxable year ending December 31, 2024 and

 

   

no other events or developments shall exist or have occurred that, in the judgment of the SITE Centers Board, in its sole and absolute discretion, makes it inadvisable to effect the separation, distribution or other related transactions.

SITE Centers has the right not to complete the distribution if, at any time, the SITE Centers Board determines, in its sole discretion, that the Company’s separation from SITE Centers is not in the best interests of SITE Centers or its shareholders or that market conditions are such that it is not advisable to separate the Company from SITE Centers.

Reasons for the Separation

Upon careful review and consideration, the SITE Centers Board determined that the Company’s separation from SITE Centers is in the best interests of SITE Centers and its shareholders. This determination was based on a number of factors, including those set forth below.

 

   

Focused company executing a distinct business strategy. SITE Centers’ current portfolio is comprised of several different types of retail real estate, including grocery, lifestyle, convenience, net lease and regional power center properties. The Company believes that its focus on the convenience property sector resulting from the separation and its ability to pursue a strategy based on the unique characteristics of convenience real estate will allow the Company to create value for its stockholders more effectively. Furthermore, the separation will enable investors and the financial community to evaluate Curbline and SITE Centers separately and better assess the merits, performance and future prospects of each business given their distinct property types and investment strategies. Additionally, the separation of the Company’s convenience properties from SITE Centers will create the first publicly traded REIT exclusively focused on convenience assets, providing a unique investment opportunity.

 

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Convenience real estate represents a significant total addressable market. As of December 31, 2023, there were over 68,000 convenience properties in the United States (950 million square feet of GLA) representing approximately 60% of all shopping centers by count and 13% by GLA. Over $41 billion of convenience assets traded in the period of 2019 to 2023, primarily among private investors. This highly fragmented but liquid market provides a substantial addressable opportunity for Curbline to scale and differentiate itself.

 

   

Curated portfolio capitalizes on strong demographic and economic trends. Real estate located on the curbline overwhelmingly caters to frequent, short and targeted trips from the daily suburban population, which has grown in recent years as a result of demographic shifts. Curbline is well positioned to capitalize on these trends with properties generally concentrated in MSAs and affluent suburban submarkets exhibiting compelling long-term population and employment growth, barriers to entry and above-average household incomes.

The SITE Centers Board also considered a number of potentially negative factors in evaluating the Company’s separation from SITE Centers, including the following:

 

   

Assumption of certain costs and liabilities. Certain costs and liabilities of SITE Centers will have an increased impact on Curbline as a stand-alone company, and Curbline and SITE Centers will separately bear certain costs, such as the costs associated with being a public company.

 

   

One-time costs of the separation. The separation will entail additional costs in connection with the Company’s transition to being a separate, stand-alone public company, that may include accounting, tax, legal and other professional services costs and costs to separate information systems.

 

   

Inability to realize anticipated benefits of the separation. The Company may not achieve the anticipated benefits of the separation for a variety of reasons, including: (i) following the separation, the Company may be more susceptible to market fluctuations and other adverse events than if the Company were still a part of SITE Centers and (ii) following the separation, both Curbline’s and SITE Centers’ businesses will be less diversified than prior to the separation.

 

   

Taxability of the distribution. The distribution is expected to be treated as a taxable distribution to SITE Centers common shareholders for U.S. federal income tax purposes. For a more detailed discussion, see “The Company’s Separation from SITE Centers—Certain U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences of the Separation” and “Certain U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations.”

The SITE Centers Board concluded that the potential benefits of the separation and distribution outweighed these potentially negative factors.

The anticipated benefits of the separation are based on a number of assumptions, and there can be no assurance that such benefits will materialize to the extent anticipated, or at all. In the event that the separation does not result in such benefits, the costs associated with the separation could have a material adverse effect on SITE Centers and Curbline individually and in the aggregate. The estimated costs of the separation are approximately

$35 million, which will be paid by SITE Centers on behalf of Curbline for expenses incurred prior to the separation and distribution, as specified in the Separation and Distribution Agreement. In addition, the Company will incur costs associated with its agreements with SITE Centers. For more information about the risks associated with the separation, see “Risk Factors.”

Reasons for Furnishing this Information Statement

This Information Statement is being furnished solely to provide information to SITE Centers shareholders who are entitled to receive the Company’s common stock in the distribution. The Information Statement is not, and is not to be construed as, an inducement or encouragement to buy, hold or sell any of the Company’s securities or securities of SITE Centers. The Company believes that the information in this Information Statement is accurate as of the date set forth on the cover. Changes may occur after that date and neither SITE Centers nor the Company undertake any obligation to update such information.

 

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DISTRIBUTION POLICY

The Company anticipates making distributions to holders of its common stock to satisfy the requirements to qualify as a REIT and generally not be subject to U.S. federal income and excise tax (other than with respect to operations conducted through a TRS of the Company). U.S. federal income tax law generally requires that a REIT distribute to holders of its capital stock annually at least 90% of its REIT taxable income, without regard to the deduction for dividends paid and excluding net capital gains, and that it pay tax at regular corporate rates to the extent that it annually distributes less than 100% of its REIT taxable income. The Company generally intends to make distributions to holders of common stock with respect to each taxable year in an amount at least equal to its REIT taxable income for such taxable year. Although the Company expects to declare and make distributions on a quarterly basis, the Curbline Board will evaluate its dividend policy regularly. The Curbline Board may choose not to declare a distribution in 2024, unless necessary to satisfy certain requirements for the Company to be taxed as a REIT.

To the extent cash available for distribution is less than the Company’s REIT taxable income, the Company may make a portion of its distributions in the form of common stock, and any such distribution of common stock may be taxable as a dividend to stockholders.

Any distributions the Company makes to its stockholders will be at the discretion of the Curbline Board and will depend upon, among other things, the Company’s actual and anticipated results of operations and liquidity, which will be affected by various factors, including the income from its properties, its operating expenses and any other expenditures.

Distributions to the Company’s stockholders will be generally taxable to them as ordinary income, although a portion of the Company’s distributions may be designated by the Company as capital gain or qualified dividend income or may constitute a return of capital. U.S. stockholders that are individuals, trusts and estates generally may deduct up to 20% of the ordinary dividends (e.g., REIT dividends that are not designated as capital gain dividends or qualified dividend income) received from a REIT for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2017 and before January 1, 2026. The Company will furnish annually to each of its stockholders a statement setting forth distributions paid during the preceding year and their characterization as ordinary income, return of capital, qualified dividend income or capital gain. See “Certain U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations—Taxation of Taxable U.S. Holders of the Company’s Common Stock.”

 

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UNAUDITED PRO FORMA COMBINED FINANCIAL INFORMATION

The following tables present unaudited pro forma combined financial statements of Curbline Predecessor consisting of pro forma combined results of operations for the six months ended June 30, 2024 and year ended December 31, 2023 and a pro forma combined balance sheet as of June 30, 2024. The financial information of Curbline Predecessor is comprised of the results and financial condition of 72 convenience assets.

The unaudited pro forma combined statement of operations for the year ended December 31, 2023 has been derived from Curbline Predecessor’s audited combined financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2023, which are included elsewhere in this Information Statement, and Curbline Predecessor’s unaudited pro forma combined statement of operations for the six months ended June 30, 2024 and Curbline Predecessor’s unaudited pro forma combined balance sheet as of June 30, 2024 have been derived from Curbline Predecessor’s unaudited combined financial statements as of and for the six months ended June 30, 2024, which are included elsewhere in this Information Statement.

The unaudited pro forma adjustments include the following:

 

   

issuance of approximately 104.8 million shares of Curbline common stock;

 

   

performance of the Separation and Distribution Agreement and the Shared Services Agreement with SITE Centers and the Operating Partnership as described in this Information Statement and

 

   

transfer to Curbline of unrestricted cash of $600 million upon consummation of the separation pursuant to the terms of the Separation and Distribution Agreement.

The unaudited pro forma combined statements of operations represent the results of Curbline Predecessor for the six months ended June 30, 2024 and year ended December 31, 2023 and give effect to the separation from SITE Centers and other transactions described above as if they occurred on January 1, 2023. The unaudited pro forma combined balance sheet assumes the separation and other transactions described above occurred on June 30, 2024.

The unaudited pro forma combined financial statements of Curbline Predecessor are not necessarily indicative of what our financial condition or results of operations would have been for the periods presented, nor are they representative of the future financial condition or results of operations of Curbline. The unaudited pro forma combined financial statements of Curbline Predecessor should be read in conjunction with the audited combined financial statements and the notes thereto of Curbline Predecessor, the unaudited combined financial statements and notes thereto of Curbline Predecessor, and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” all of which are included elsewhere in this Information Statement.

 

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The following tables present the unaudited pro forma combined statements of operations of Curbline Predecessor for the six months ended June 30, 2024 and year ended December 31, 2023:

Curbline Properties Corp. Predecessor Unaudited Pro Forma Combined Statement of Operations For the Six Months ended June 30, 2024 (in thousands, except per share data)

 

     Curbline
Predecessor
    Autonomous
Entity
Adjustments
          Pro Forma
Combined
       

Revenues from operations:

          

Rental income

   $ 55,810         $ 55,810    

Other income

     385           385    
  

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   
     56,195       —          56,195    
  

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

Rental operation expenses:

          

Operating and maintenance

     5,991           5,991    

Real estate taxes

     5,996           5,996    

General and administrative

     3,725         (A     3,725    

Depreciation and amortization

     18,611           18,611    
  

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   
     34,323       —          34,323    
  

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

Other income (expense):

          

Interest expense

     (416       $ (416  

Other expense

     (7,245         (7,245  
  

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   
     (7,661     —          (7,661  
  

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

Net income

   $ 14,211     $ —        $ 14,211    
  

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

Net income attributable to Curbline Predecessor
per share of common stock (dollars)

          

Basic and Diluted

         $ 0.14       (B
        

 

 

   

Weighted average common shares outstanding

          

Basic and Diluted

           104,781       (B
        

 

 

   

See accompanying Notes to Unaudited Pro Forma Combined Financial Information

 

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Curbline Properties Corp. Predecessor Unaudited Pro Forma Combined Statement of Operations For the Year ended December 31, 2023 (in thousands, except per share data)

 

     Curbline
Predecessor
    Autonomous
Entity
Adjustments
          Pro Forma
Combined
       

Revenues from operations:

          

Rental income

   $ 93,004         $ 93,004    

Other income

     656           656    
  

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   
     93,660       —          93,660    
  

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

Rental operation expenses:

          

Operating and maintenance

     10,653           10,653    

Real estate taxes

     11,261           11,261    

General and administrative

     5,215         (A     5,215    

Depreciation and amortization

     31,993           31,993    
  

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   
     59,122       —          59,122    
  

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

Other income (expense):

          

Interest expense

     (1,520         (1,520  

Other expense

     (2,376         (2,376  

Gain on disposition of real estate

     371           371    
  

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   
     (3,525     —          (3,525  
  

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

Net income

   $ 31,013     $ —        $ 31,013    
  

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

Net income attributable to Curbline Predecessor
per share of common stock (dollars)

          

Basic and Diluted

         $ 0.30       (B
        

 

 

   

Weighted average common shares outstanding

          

Basic and Diluted

           104,781       (B
        

 

 

   

See accompanying Notes to Unaudited Pro Forma Combined Financial Information

 

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The following table presents the unaudited pro forma combined balance sheet as of June 30, 2024:

Curbline Properties Corp. Predecessor Unaudited Pro Forma Combined Balance Sheet As of June 30, 2024 (in thousands)

 

     Curbline
Predecessor
    Transaction
Accounting
Adjustments
         Pro Forma
Combined
 

Assets

         

Land

   $ 341,666          $ 341,666  

Buildings

     667,281            667,281  

Fixtures and tenant improvements

     66,120            66,120  
  

 

 

   

 

 

      

 

 

 
     1,075,067       —           1,075,067  

Less: Accumulated depreciation

     (149,380          (149,380
  

 

 

   

 

 

      

 

 

 
     925,687       —           925,687  

Construction in progress

     12,852            12,852  
  

 

 

   

 

 

      

 

 

 

Total real estate assets, net

     938,539       —           938,539  
  

 

 

   

 

 

      

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents

     1,526       598,474     (C)      600,000  

Accounts receivable, net

     11,535       34,400     (D)      45,935  

Intangible assets, net

     50,720            50,720  

Other assets

     2,338            2,338  
  

 

 

   

 

 

      

 

 

 
   $ 1,004,658     $ 632,874        $ 1,637,532  
  

 

 

   

 

 

      

 

 

 

Liabilities and Equity

         

Below-market leases, net

   $ 21,961          $ 21,961  

Accounts payable and other liabilities

     17,177            17,177  
  

 

 

   

 

 

      

 

 

 

Total liabilities

     39,138       —           39,138  
  

 

 

   

 

 

      

 

 

 

Commitments and contingencies (Note 9)

         

Equity

         

Common stock, $0.01 par value

       1,048     (E)      1,048  

Curbline Predecessor equity

     965,520       (965,520   (E)      —   

Additional paid-in-capital

       1,597,346     (E)      1,597,346  
  

 

 

   

 

 

      

 

 

 

Total equity

     965,520       632,874          1,598,394  
  

 

 

   

 

 

      

 

 

 
   $ 1,004,658     $ 632,874        $ 1,637,532  
  

 

 

   

 

 

      

 

 

 

See accompanying Notes to Unaudited Pro Forma Combined Financial Information

 

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Curbline Properties Corp. Predecessor

Notes to the Unaudited Pro Forma Combined Financial Information

For further information regarding the historical combined financial statements, please refer to the annual audited combined financial statements and unaudited combined financial statements as of June 30, 2024, included in this Information Statement. The unaudited pro forma combined balance sheet as of June 30, 2024 and unaudited pro forma combined statement of operations for the six months ended June 30, 2024 and year ended December 31, 2023, include adjustments related to the following:

Autonomous Entity Adjustments:

 

(A)

The allocation of general and administrative expenses to Curbline Predecessor for the periods presented approximates the contractually supportable general and administrative expenses expected to be incurred by Curbline relating to employee salaries for employees that will move to Curbline plus amounts that Curbline will pay to SITE Centers under the Shared Services Agreement. The Company expects to incur additional general and administrative costs following the separation relating to our employees, including bonus payments and time-based and performance-based equity awards, and, resulting from becoming a stand-alone publicly-traded company, expenses for legal, insurance, accounting and other compliance matters. The unaudited combined pro forma financial information was not adjusted for such additional general and administrative expenses as such expenses are projected amounts based on estimates that are not currently contractually supportable.

 

(B)

The calculations of pro forma basic and diluted earnings per share and weighted average shares outstanding for the periods presented are based on the number of shares expected to be issued as described in (E) below.

SITE Centers time-based RSUs held immediately prior to the separation by awardees who are employed by Curbline immediately after the separation will be converted into Curbline time-based RSUs payable in shares of Curbline common stock. SITE Centers PRSUs held immediately prior to the separation by awardees who are employed by Curbline immediately after the separation will also be converted into Curbline time-based RSUs payable in shares of Curbline common stock. Curbline time-based RSUs have not been considered in the computation of diluted earnings per share for the periods presented as the number of RSUs that will be outstanding is not yet known and will be based on calculations following the separation date described in the Employee Matters Agreement. Time-based RSUs are the only potentially dilutive securities that will be outstanding on the date of the separation.

Transaction Accounting Adjustments:

 

(C)

Reflects the transfer of unrestricted cash of $600.0 million and corresponding equity contribution from SITE Centers upon consummation of the separation pursuant to the terms of the Separation and Distribution Agreement. No pro forma income statement adjustment has been reflected as Curbline is not expected to hold this cash for the purpose of earning interest. Instead, such cash is expected to be used for future acquisitions.

 

(D)

Represents future funding commitments from SITE Centers included in the Separation and Distribution Agreement for all costs and expenses in connection with redevelopment projects at Boca Raton, Florida, Miami, Florida and Freehold, New Jersey estimated at approximately $34.4 million as of June 30, 2024.

 

(E)

Represents the distribution of approximately 104.8 million shares of Curbline’s common stock at par value $0.01 per share to holders of SITE Centers’ common shares for a total par amount of $1.0 million and the resulting elimination of the Curbline Predecessor’s equity. The number of shares is based on a ratio of two shares of Curbline common stock being distributed for each SITE Centers common share held as of the anticipated record date, which incorporates the impact of SITE Centers’ 1-for-4 reverse stock split of its common shares, which took place on August 16, 2024.

 

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MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS

OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

The following discussion should be read in conjunction with “Summary Selected Financial Information,” “Business” and the historical audited combined financial statements and related notes thereto included elsewhere in this Information Statement. This discussion contains forward-looking statements based upon the Company’s current expectations that involve risks and uncertainties. The historical audited combined financial statements do not represent the financial statements of a legal entity, but rather a combination of entities under common control that have been “carved-out” of SITE Centers’ consolidated financial statements. Accordingly, the Company’s actual results may differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, including those set forth under “Risk Factors,” “Forward-Looking Statements” or in other parts of this Information Statement.

On October 30, 2023, SITE Centers announced that it intended to separate its portfolio of convenience retail properties from the rest of its operations. The separation will be effectuated by means of a pro rata distribution by SITE Centers to its common shareholders of all the shares of Curbline common stock held by SITE Centers. On     , 2024, the SITE Centers Board declared the distribution of all the shares of Curbline common stock to SITE Centers shareholders in the distribution on the basis of two shares of Curbline common stock for every one SITE Centers common share held of record as of the close of business on     , 2024, which is the record date for the distribution by SITE Centers.

Overview

Curbline is a Maryland corporation formed to own, manage, lease, acquire and develop a portfolio of convenience retail properties. As of June 30, 2024, Curbline Predecessor’s portfolio consisted of 72 properties comprising approximately 2.4 million square feet of GLA. All of Curbline Predecessor’s convenience properties are located in the United States and are geographically diversified principally across the Southeast, Mid-Atlantic, Southwest, and Mountain regions along with Texas. The portfolio is generally located in submarkets with compelling long-term population and employment growth prospects and above-average household incomes of over $115,000 (91st percentile as compared to all shopping centers in the United States as of June 30, 2024). As of June 30, 2024, the Curbline portfolio’s largest MSAs included Miami (18.1% of Annualized Base Rent, or ABR), Atlanta (11.1%), Phoenix (10.4%), Orlando (7.0%) and San Francisco (6.7%). At June 30, 2024, the leased and occupancy rates of Curbline Predecessor’s convenience property portfolio were 95.9% and 93.7%, respectively, and the annualized base rent per square foot was $35.27.

Convenience properties are generally positioned on the curbline of well-trafficked intersections and major vehicular corridors, offering excellent access and visibility, dedicated parking and often include drive-thru units, with 62% of our properties having at least one drive-thru unit as of June 30, 2024. The properties generally consist of a homogenous row of primarily small-shop units leased to a diversified mixture of national and local service and restaurant tenants that cater to daily convenience trips from the growing suburban population and typically experience more customer foot traffic per square foot than anchored retail. The property type has the opportunity to generate above-average, occupancy-neutral cash flow growth driven by high retention rates and limited operating capital expenditures given the standardized site plan and depth of leasing prospects that can utilize existing square footage and provide significant tenant diversification. In 2023, Curbline Predecessor’s portfolio achieved cash blended leasing spreads of 14.7% for both new leases and renewals. As of June 30, 2024, the median GLA of a property in Curbline Predecessor’s portfolio was 21,000 square feet with 92% of base rent generated by units less than 10,000 square feet.

Tenant Demand and Company Fundamentals

The Company continues to see steady demand from a broad range of service-based tenants, who are continuing to expand their store fleets and launch new concepts. As a result, the Company believes that its prospects to

 

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backfill spaces vacated by non-renewing tenants are generally favorable.

The tenants of the convenience retail properties typically cater to the consumer’s desire for value, service and convenience and offer day-to-day necessities. The properties often include restaurants, healthcare and wellness, financial services, beverage retail, telecommunications, beauty and hair salons, and fitness, among others as tenants.

Curbline Predecessor’s portfolio had a leased rate of 95.9% and an occupancy rate of 93.7%, respectively, as of June 30, 2024, highlighting the portfolio and property type’s supply and demand imbalance. Convenience-oriented properties are generally positioned to drive customer volume with ease of access, visibility, and parking. As a result, convenience retail properties typically experience more customer foot traffic per square foot than anchored retail, justifying higher rents and broad tenant demand.

Curbline Predecessor’s portfolio is highly diversified by tenant composition. As of June 30, 2024, the portfolio’s top ten tenants comprised less than 14% of Curbline Predecessor’s total ABR with only one tenant whose annualized rental revenue equaled or exceeded 2% of Curbline Predecessor’s annualized combined revenues. Curbline Predecessor’s largest tenants based on the total annualized base rental revenues as of June 30, 2024, were as follows:

 

Tenant

   % of
Shopping Center
Base Rental
Revenues
    % of
Owned Shopping
Center GLA
 

Starbucks

     2.6     1.5

Darden(A)

     1.7     1.9

Total Wine & More

     1.6     2.0

Verizon

     1.3     0.9

Inspire Brands(B)

     1.2     1.0

JPMorgan Chase

     1.2     0.9

Wells Fargo

     1.1     0.9

Chipotle

     1.1     0.8

AT&T

     1.1     0.9

Cracker Barrel(C)

     1.1     1.4

Brinker (Chili’s)

     1.0     1.2

FedEx Office

     1.0     0.9

Nordstrom Rack

     1.0     1.3

Williams-Sonoma

     1.0     0.7

 

(A)

Includes Longhorn Steakhouse and Olive Garden.

(B)

Includes Buffalo Wild Wings, Dunkin Donuts and Jimmy John’s.

(C)

Includes Cracker Barrel and Maple Street Biscuit.

Critical Accounting Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions in certain circumstances that affect amounts reported in the accompanying combined financial statements and related notes. In preparing these financial statements, management has used available information, including Curbline Predecessor’s history, industry standards and the current economic environment, among other factors, in forming its estimates and judgments of certain amounts included in Curbline Predecessor’s combined financial statements, giving due consideration to materiality. It is possible that the

 

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ultimate outcome as anticipated by management in formulating its estimates inherent in these financial statements might not materialize. Application of the critical accounting policies described below involves the exercise of judgment and the use of assumptions as to future uncertainties. Accordingly, actual results could differ from these estimates. In addition, other companies may use different estimates that may affect the comparability of Curbline Predecessor’s results of operations to those of companies in similar businesses.

Purchase Price Allocations of Property Acquisitions

For the acquisition of real estate assets, Curbline Predecessor allocates the purchase price to assets acquired and liabilities assumed at the date of acquisition. Curbline Predecessor applies various valuation methods, all of which require significant estimates by management, including discount rates, exit capitalization rates, estimated land values (per square foot), capitalization rates and certain market leasing assumptions. Further, the valuation of above- and below-market lease values are significantly impacted by management’s estimate of fair market lease rates for each corresponding in-place lease. If Curbline Predecessor determines that an event has occurred after the initial allocation of the asset or liability that would change the estimated useful life of the asset, Curbline Predecessor will reassess the depreciation and amortization of the asset. Curbline Predecessor is required to make subjective estimates in connection with these valuations and allocations.

Real Estate Allocation of Carved-out Assets

As of June 30, 2024, Curbline Predecessor’s portfolio consisted of 72 convenience retail properties, of which 27 properties were carved out of existing shopping centers owned by SITE Centers. Curbline Predecessor’s process of allocating the land value to the carved-out properties was to conclude on the acquisition date fair value per square foot of convenience retail land with the residual value allocated to the existing shopping center which was validated with market comparisons. Curbline Predecessor’s process of allocating the building value at the carved-out convenience retail property as compared to the shopping center, is based on ABR as of the date of acquisition or based on specific identification of costs for ground up developments as of the date placed in service. Curbline Predecessor’s process of allocating mortgage indebtedness and interest expense for these properties was based on the percentage of total assets at acquisition date or refinancing. The mortgages related to the carved-out properties were repaid during the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021.

Measurement of Fair Value—Real Estate

Curbline Predecessor is required to periodically assess for impairment the value of its combined real estate assets. The fair value of real estate investments used in Curbline Predecessor’s impairment calculations is estimated based on the price that would be received for the sale of an asset in an orderly transaction between marketplace participants at the measurement date. Real estate assets without a public market are valued based on assumptions made and valuation techniques used by Curbline Predecessor. The lack of availability of observable transaction data and inputs can make it more difficult and/or subjective to determine the fair value of such real estate assets. As a result, amounts ultimately realized by Curbline Predecessor from real estate assets sold may differ from the fair values presented, and the differences could be material.

The valuation of real estate assets for impairment is determined using widely accepted valuation techniques including the income capitalization approach or discounted cash flow analysis on the expected cash flows of each asset considering prevailing market capitalization rates, analysis of recent comparable sales transactions, actual sales negotiations, bona fide purchase offers received from third parties and/or consideration of the amount that currently would be required to replace the asset, as adjusted for obsolescence. In general, Curbline Predecessor utilizes a valuation technique that is based on the characteristics of the specific asset when measuring fair value of an investment. However, a single valuation technique is generally used for Curbline Predecessor’s property type.

For operating real estate assets, the significant assumptions include the capitalization rate used in the income capitalization valuation, as well as the projected property net operating income. Valuation of real estate assets is

 

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calculated based on market conditions and assumptions made by management at the measurement date, which may differ materially from actual results if market conditions or the underlying assumptions change.

Results of Operations

Comparison for the six months ended June 30, 2024 to the same period in 2023

For the comparison of 2024 performance to 2023, presented below, shopping center properties owned as of January 1, 2023 are referred to herein as the “Comparable Portfolio Properties.”

Revenues from Operations (in thousands)

 

     Six Months
Ended June 30,
        
     2024      2023      $ Change  

Rental income(A)

   $ 55,810      $ 43,636      $ 12,174  

Other income

     385        319        66  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total revenues

   $ 56,195      $ 43,955      $ 12,240  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

(A)

The following table summarizes the key components of rental income (in thousands):

 

     Six Months
Ended June 30,
        
Contractual Lease Payments    2024      2023      $ Change  

Base and percentage rental income(1)

   $ 41,090      $ 33,935      $ 7,155  

Recoveries from tenants(2)

     11,683        9,842        1,841  

Uncollectible revenue(3)

     (479      (348      (131

Lease termination fees, ancillary and other rental income(4)

     3,516        207        3,309  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total contractual lease payments

   $ 55,810      $ 43,636      $ 12,174  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

(1)

The changes in base and percentage rental income were due to the following (in millions):

 

     Increase
(Decrease)
 

Acquisition of convenience retail centers

   $ 5.0  

Comparable Portfolio Properties

     2.2  
  

 

 

 

Total

   $ 7.2  
  

 

 

 

At June 30, 2024 and 2023, Curbline Predecessor owned 72 and 58 properties, respectively, which had an aggregate leased rate of 95.9% and 96.5%, respectively, an occupancy rate of 93.7% and 92.2%, respectively, and annualized base rent per square foot of $35.27 and $35.17, respectively.

 

(2)

Recoveries from tenants were approximately 97.5% and 94.8% of operating expenses and real estate taxes for the six months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively. The higher recovery rate was primarily the result of an increase in occupancy.

(3)

The net amount reported was primarily attributable to the impact of tenants on the cash basis of accounting and related reserve adjustments.

(4)

The increase includes the assumption of buildings due to ground lease terminations of $2.7 million.

 

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Expenses from Operations (in thousands)

 

     Six Months
Ended June 30,
        
     2024      2023      $ Change  

Operating and maintenance(A)

   $ 5,991      $ 5,009      $ 982  

Real estate taxes(A)

     5,996        5,377        619  

General and administrative(B)

     3,725        2,309        1,416  

Depreciation and amortization(A)

     18,611        15,194        3,417  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 
   $ 34,323      $ 27,889      $ 6,434  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

(A)

The changes for the six months ended June 30, 2024 were due to the following (in millions):

 

     Operating
and
Maintenance
     Real
Estate
Taxes
     Depreciation
and
Amortization
 

Acquisition of convenience retail centers

   $ 0.9      $ 0.5      $ 3.1  

Comparable Portfolio Properties

     0.1        0.1        0.3  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 
   $ 1.0      $ 0.6      $ 3.4  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

(B)

Primarily represents the allocation of indirect costs and expenses incurred by SITE Centers related to Curbline Predecessor’s business consisting of compensation and other general and administrative expenses that have been allocated using the GLA of Curbline Predecessor. Included in the allocation in 2023 are charges aggregating $0.3 million related to SITE Centers’ restructuring plan, which included a voluntary retirement offer and other costs.

Other Income and Expenses (in thousands)

 

     Six Months
Ended June 30,
        
     2024      2023      $ Change  

Interest expense(A)

   $ (416    $ (779    $ 363  

Other expense(B)

     (7,245      (681      (6,564
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 
   $ (7,661    $ (1,460    $ (6,201
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

(A)

Consists of interest expense incurred on secured mortgages. Mortgages were repaid in December 2023 and May 2024.

(B)

Amounts primarily related to transaction costs.

Net Income (in thousands)

 

     Six Months
Ended June 30,
        
     2024      2023      $ Change  

Net income attributable to Curbline Predecessor(A)

   $ 14,211      $ 14,606        (395

 

(A)

The decrease in net income attributable to Curbline Predecessor as compared to the prior-year period was primarily attributable to an increase in transaction costs offset by the net impact of property acquisitions.

Comparison of 2023, 2022 and 2021

For the comparison of 2023 performance to 2022, presented below, shopping center properties owned as of January 1, 2022 are referred to herein as the “Comparable Portfolio Properties.” For the comparison of 2022 performance to 2021, presented below, shopping center properties owned as of January 1, 2021 are referred to herein as the “Comparable Portfolio Properties.”

 

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Revenues from Operations (in thousands)

 

     2023      2022      2021      2023
vs
2022
$ Change
     2022
vs
2021
$ Change
 

Rental income(A)

   $ 93,004      $ 72,855      $ 52,194      $ 20,149      $ 20,661  

Other income

     656        281        123        375        158  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total revenues

   $ 93,660      $ 73,136      $ 52,317      $ 20,524      $ 20,819  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

(A)

The following table summarizes the key components of rental income (in thousands):

 

Contractual Lease Payments

   2023     2022     2021      2023
vs
2022
$ Change
    2022
vs
2021
$ Change
 

Base and percentage rental income(1)

   $ 71,354     $ 57,041     $ 40,237      $ 14,313     $ 16,804  

Recoveries from tenants(2)

     21,602       15,294       10,938        6,308       4,356  

Uncollectible revenue(3)

     (407     (205     372        (202     (577

Lease termination fees, ancillary and other rental income

     455       725       647        (270     78  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total contractual lease payments

   $ 93,004     $ 72,855     $ 52,194      $ 20,149     $ 20,661  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

  (1)

The changes in base and percentage rental income were due to the following (in millions):

 

     2023 vs. 2022
Increase
(Decrease)
     2022 vs. 2021
Increase
(Decrease)
 

Acquisition of convenience retail centers

   $ 11.3      $ 15.3  

Comparable Portfolio Properties

     3.0        1.5  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

   $ 14.3      $ 16.8  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

At December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021, Curbline Predecessor owned 65, 53 and 38 properties, respectively, which had an aggregate leased rate of 96.7%, 96.9%, and 93.4%, respectively, an occupancy rate of 94.8%, 90.4% and 89.3%, respectively, and annualized base rent per square foot of $35.84, $34.61 and $30.76, respectively.

 

  (2)

Recoveries from tenants were approximately 98.6%, 99.5% and 101.5% of operating expenses and real estate taxes for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021, respectively, as a result of a change in the mix of assets owned.

  (3)

The net amount reported was primarily attributable to the impact of tenants on the cash basis of accounting and related reserve adjustments.

Expenses from Operations (in thousands)

 

     2023      2022      2021      2023
vs
2022
$ Change
     2022
vs
2021
$ Change
 

Operating and maintenance(A)

   $ 10,653      $ 7,385      $ 4,671      $ 3,268      $ 2,714  

Real estate taxes(A)

     11,261        7,990        6,105        3,271        1,885  

General and administrative(B)

     5,215        3,775        3,299        1,440        476  

Depreciation and amortization(A)

     31,993        26,627        15,004        5,366        11,623  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 
   $ 59,122      $ 45,777      $ 29,079      $ 13,345      $ 16,698  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

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(A)

The changes for 2023 were due to the following (in millions):

 

     Operating
and
Maintenance
     Real
Estate
Taxes
     Depreciation
and
Amortization
 

Acquisition of convenience retail centers

   $ 2.7      $ 2.8      $ 7.3  

Comparable Portfolio Properties

     0.6        0.5        (1.9
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 
   $ 3.3      $ 3.3      $ 5.4  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

The changes for 2022 were due to the following (in millions):

 

     Operating
and
Maintenance
     Real
Estate
Taxes
     Depreciation
and
Amortization
 

Acquisition of convenience retail centers

   $ 2.5      $ 2.0      $ 10.4  

Comparable Portfolio Properties

     0.2        (0.1      1.2  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 
   $ 2.7      $ 1.9      $ 11.6  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

(B)

Primarily represents the allocation of indirect costs and expenses incurred by SITE Centers related to Curbline Predecessor’s business consisting of compensation and other general and administrative expenses that have been allocated using the GLA of Curbline Predecessor. Included in the allocation in 2023 are charges aggregating $0.4 million related to SITE Centers’ restructuring plan, which included a voluntary retirement offer and other costs.

Other Income and Expenses (in thousands)

 

     2023     2022     2021     2023
vs
2022
$ Change
    2022
vs
2021
$ Change
 

Interest expense(A)

   $ (1,520   $ (1,619   $ (2,146   $ 99     $ 527  

Other expense(B)

     (2,376     (10     (7   $ (2,366     (3

Gain on disposition of real estate

     371       —        —      $ 371       —   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
   $ (3,525   $ (1,629   $ (2,153   $ (1,896   $ 524  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

(A)

Consists of interest expense incurred on secured mortgages. Mortgages were repaid in December 2021, March 2022, December 2023 with the remainder repaid in May 2024. Mortgages are presented in Note 7, “Mortgage Indebtedness,” to Curbline Predecessor’s combined financial statements included herein.

(B)

Amounts primarily related to transaction costs.

Non-Controlling Interest and Net Income (in thousands)

 

     2023      2022      2021     2023
vs
2022
$ Change
     2022
vs
2021
$ Change
 

Non-controlling interest

   $ —       $ —       $ (427   $ —       $ 427  

Net income attributable to Curbline Predecessor(A)

     31,013        25,730        20,658       5,283        5,072  

 

(A)

The increase in net income attributable to Curbline Predecessor as compared to the prior-year period, was primarily attributable to the net impact of property acquisitions.

 

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Non-GAAP Financial Measures

Funds from Operations and Operating Funds from Operations

Definition and Basis of Presentation

Curbline Predecessor believes that FFO and Operating FFO (as defined below), both non-GAAP financial measures, provide additional and useful means to assess the financial performance of REITs. FFO and Operating FFO are frequently used by the real estate industry, as well as securities analysts, investors and other interested parties, to evaluate the performance of REITs. The Company also believes that FFO and Operating FFO more appropriately measure the core operations of the Company and provide benchmarks to its peer group.

FFO excludes GAAP historical cost depreciation and amortization of real estate and real estate investments, which assume that the value of real estate assets diminishes ratably over time. Historically, however, real estate values have risen or fallen with market conditions, and many companies use different depreciable lives and methods. Because FFO excludes depreciation and amortization unique to real estate and gains and losses from property dispositions, it can provide a performance measure that, when compared year over year, reflects the impact on operations from trends in occupancy rates, rental rates, operating costs, interest costs and acquisition, disposition and development activities. This provides a perspective of Curbline Predecessor’s financial performance not immediately apparent from net income determined in accordance with GAAP.

FFO is generally defined and calculated by Curbline Predecessor as net income (computed in accordance with GAAP), adjusted to exclude (i) gains and losses from disposition of real estate property, which are presented net of taxes, (ii) impairment charges on real estate property and (iii) certain non-cash items. These non-cash items principally include real property depreciation and amortization of intangibles. Curbline Predecessor’s calculation of FFO is consistent with the definition of FFO provided by NAREIT.

Curbline Predecessor believes that certain charges, income and gains recorded in its operating results are not comparable or reflective of its core operating performance. Operating FFO is useful to investors as Curbline Predecessor removes non-comparable charges, income and gains to analyze the results of its operations and assess performance of the core operating real estate portfolio. As a result, Curbline Predecessor also computes Operating FFO and discusses it with the users of its financial statements, in addition to other measures such as net income determined in accordance with GAAP and FFO. Operating FFO is generally defined and calculated by Curbline Predecessor as FFO excluding transaction and severance costs that management believes are not comparable and indicative of the results of Curbline Predecessor’s operating real estate portfolio. The disclosure of these adjustments is regularly requested by users of Curbline Predecessor’s financial statements.

The adjustment for these charges, income and gains may not be comparable to how other REITs or real estate companies calculate their results of operations, and Curbline Predecessor’s calculation of Operating FFO differs from NAREIT’s definition of FFO. Additionally, the Company provides no assurances that these charges, income and gains are non-recurring. These charges, income and gains could reasonably be expected to recur in future results of operations.

These measures of performance are used by Curbline Predecessor for several business purposes and by other REITs. Curbline Predecessor uses FFO and/or Operating FFO in part (i) as a disclosure to improve the understanding of Curbline Predecessor’s operating results among the investing public, (ii) as a measure of a real estate asset company’s performance, (iii) to influence acquisition, disposition and capital investment strategies and (iv) to compare Curbline Predecessor’s performance to that of other publicly traded shopping center REITs.

For the reasons described above, management believes that FFO and Operating FFO provide Curbline Predecessor and investors with an important indicator of Curbline Predecessor’s operating performance. They provide recognized measures of performance other than GAAP net income, which may include non-cash items. Other real estate companies may calculate FFO and Operating FFO in a different manner.

 

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Management recognizes the limitations of FFO and Operating FFO when compared to GAAP’s net income. FFO and Operating FFO do not represent amounts available for dividends, capital replacement or expansion, debt service obligations or other commitments and uncertainties. Management does not use FFO or Operating FFO as an indicator of Curbline Predecessor’s cash obligations and funding requirements for future commitments, acquisitions or development activities. Neither FFO nor Operating FFO represents cash generated from operating activities in accordance with GAAP, and neither is necessarily indicative of cash available to fund cash needs. Neither FFO nor Operating FFO should be considered an alternative to net income (computed in accordance with GAAP) or as an alternative to cash flow as a measure of liquidity. FFO and Operating FFO are simply used as additional indicators of Curbline Predecessor’s operating performance. Curbline Predecessor believes that to further understand its performance, FFO and Operating FFO should be compared with Curbline Predecessor’s reported net income and considered in addition to cash flows determined in accordance with GAAP, as presented in its combined financial statements. Reconciliations of these measures to their most directly comparable GAAP measure of net income have been provided below.

Reconciliation Presentation

A reconciliation of net income to FFO and Operating FFO is as follows (in thousands). The Company provides no assurances that these charges and gains adjusted in the calculation of Operating FFO are non-recurring. These charges and gains could reasonably be expected to recur in future results of operations.

 

     Six Months
Ended June 30,
     For the Year Ended December 31,  
     2024      2023      2023     2022      2021  

Net income attributable to Curbline Predecessor

   $ 14,211      $ 14,606      $ 31,013     $ 25,730      $ 20,658  

Depreciation and amortization of real estate investments

     18,611        15,194        31,993       26,627        15,004  

Gain on disposition of real estate

     —         —         (371     —         —   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

FFO

     32,822        29,800        62,635       52,357        35,662  

Separation and other charges

     118        265        488       —         —   

Other expense

     7,223        666        2,376       —         —   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Operating FFO

   $ 40,163      $ 30,731      $ 65,499     $ 52,357      $ 35,662  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Comparison of Six Months Ended June 30, 2024 to June 30, 2023

The increase in FFO was primarily due to the impact of property acquisitions offset by increase in transaction costs. The increase in Operating FFO primarily was due to the impact of property acquisitions.

Comparison of 2023 to 2022 and 2022 to 2021

The increase in both FFO and Operating FFO primarily was due to the impact of property acquisitions.

Liquidity, Capital Resources and Financing Activities

The Company requires capital to fund its business plan including investment activities, capital expenditures and operating expenses. Immediately following its separation from SITE Centers, the Company’s primary sources of capital are expected to consist of approximately $600 million of cash on hand, a $400 million unsecured, undrawn line of credit and a $100 million unsecured, delayed draw term loan, along with cash flow from operations. The Company may also raise additional capital as appropriate to finance the growth of its business.

Debt outstanding was $25.8 million and $38.8 million at December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. As of June 30, 2024, there was no indebtedness outstanding.

 

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Revolving Credit Facility and Term Loan Facility

In connection with the separation, the Company and the Operating Partnership are expected to enter into (i) an unsecured revolving credit facility, or the Revolving Credit Facility and (ii) an unsecured, delayed draw term loan facility, or the Term Loan Facility, and, together with the Revolving Credit Facility, the Facilities, with a syndicate of financial institutions and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, or Wells Fargo, as administrative agent. The Facilities are expected to become effective substantially concurrently with the separation.

The Revolving Credit Facility is expected to provide for borrowings of up to $400 million if certain borrowing conditions are satisfied. The Revolving Credit Facility is also expected to provide a $35 million sublimit for letters of credit. The Revolving Credit Facility maturity date is expected to be October 2028 subject to two six-month options to extend the maturity to October 2029 upon the Operating Partnership’s request (subject to satisfaction of certain conditions).

The Term Loan Facility is expected to provide the Operating Partnership with the ability to borrow up to $100 million in the aggregate of term loans during the six-month period commencing on the distribution date, if certain borrowing conditions are satisfied. The Company does not expect to borrow any amounts under the Term Loan Facility on the distribution date. The Term Loan Facility is expected to mature in October 2027 subject to two one-year options to extend the maturity upon the Operating Partnership’s request (subject to satisfaction of certain conditions).

Borrowings under the Facilities are expected to bear interest at variable rates at the Operating Partnership’s election, based on either (i) an adjusted daily simple Secured Overnight Financing Rate, or SOFR, rate, (ii) an adjusted term SOFR rate or (iii) the alternative base rate, in each case plus an applicable margin. The Revolving Credit Facility is anticipated to require the payment of a quarterly facility fee and the Term Loan Facility is anticipated to require the payment of a ticking fee. The Company and the Operating Partnership would be required to comply with certain covenants under the Facilities customary for financings of this type.

The Facilities are expected to have an accordion feature for expansion of aggregate availability under the Facilities of up to $250 million, provided that new lenders agree to the existing terms of the applicable Facility or existing lenders increase their commitment level and subject to other customary conditions precedent.

The Company and the Operating Partnership can provide no assurance that they will enter into either Facility on these terms or at all.

As part of its growth strategy, the Company may incur a substantial amount of debt to finance future acquisitions, including debt that refinances or replaces borrowings under the Revolving Credit Facility or the Term Loan Facility. While the Company believes it has several viable sources to obtain capital and fund its business, the sources of funds could be affected by various risks and uncertainties. For more information about risks related to the Company’s financings, see “Risk Factors.”

Dividend Distributions

The Company anticipates making distributions to holders of its common stock to satisfy the requirements to qualify as a REIT and generally not be subject to U.S. federal income and excise tax (other than with respect to operations conducted through a TRS of the Company). U.S. federal income tax law generally requires that a REIT distribute annually at least 90% of its REIT taxable income, without regard to the deduction for dividends paid and excluding net capital gains, and that it pay tax at regular corporate rates to the extent that it annually distributes less than 100% of its REIT taxable income. The Company generally intends to make distributions with respect to each taxable year in an amount at least equal to its REIT taxable income for such taxable year. To the extent that cash available for distribution is less than the Company’s REIT taxable income, the Company may make a portion of its distributions in the form of additional shares of common stock, and any such distribution of such common stock may be taxable as a dividend to stockholders.

 

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Although the Company generally expects to declare and pay distributions on a quarterly basis, the Curbline Board will evaluate its distribution policy regularly in order to maintain sufficient liquidity for operations and in order to maximize the Company’s free cash flow while still adhering to REIT payout requirements and minimizing federal income taxes (excluding federal income taxes applicable to its taxable REIT subsidiary activities). The Curbline Board may choose not to declare a distribution in 2024, unless necessary to satisfy certain requirements for the Company to be taxed as a REIT.

Any distributions the Company makes to its stockholders will be at the discretion of the Curbline Board and will depend upon, among other things, the Company’s actual and anticipated results of operations and liquidity, which will be affected by various factors, including the income from its portfolio, its operating expenses and any other expenditures.

Cash Flow Activity

The Company expects that its core business of leasing space to well capitalized retailers will continue to generate consistent cash flow after expenses. The following presents a summary of combined statements of cash flow (in thousands):

 

     Six Months
Ended June 30,
    For the Year Ended December 31,  
     2024     2023     2023     2022     2021  

Cash flow provided by operating activities

   $ 32,331     $ 31,604     $ 59,241     $ 49,885     $ 36,227  

Cash flow used for investing activities

     (80,876     (87,177     (186,024     (323,464     (78,103

Cash flow provided by financing activities

     49,350       56,058       126,914       273,334       41,088  

Changes in cash flow for the six months ended June 30, 2024, compared to the prior period are as follows:

Operating Activities: Cash provided by operating activities increased $0.7 million primarily due to the net impact of property acquisitions.

Investing Activities: Cash used for investing activities decreased $6.3 million primarily due to the decrease in real estate asset improvements of $3.8 million and a decrease in real estate assets acquired of $2.5 million.

Financing Activities: Cash provided by financing activities decreased $6.7 million primarily due to the increase in transactions with SITE Centers of $18.5 million offset by an increase in the repayment of mortgage debt of $25.2 million.

Changes in cash flow for the year ended December 31, 2023, compared to the prior year are as follows:

Operating Activities: Cash provided by operating activities increased $9.4 million primarily due to the net impact of property acquisitions.

Investing Activities: Cash used for investing activities decreased $137.4 million primarily due to the decrease in real estate assets acquired of $141.2 million, partially offset by an increase in real estate asset improvements of $4.3 million.

Financing Activities: Cash provided by financing activities decreased $146.4 million primarily due to the decrease in transactions with SITE Centers of $137.7 million and an increase in the repayment of mortgage debt of $9.1 million.

Changes in cash flow for the year ended December 31, 2022, compared to the prior year are as follows:

Operating Activities: Cash provided by operating activities increased $13.7 million primarily due to the net impact of property acquisitions.

 

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Investing Activities: Cash used for investing activities increased $245.4 million primarily due to the increase in real estate assets acquired of $232.7 million and real estate asset improvements of $12.7 million.

Financing Activities: Cash provided by financing activities increased $232.2 million primarily due to the increase in transactions with SITE Centers of $216.6 million and a decrease in the repayment of mortgage debt of $11.5 million.

Other Commitments

In conjunction with the redevelopment of convenience retail properties, Curbline Predecessor had entered into commitments with general contractors aggregating approximately $0.7 million for its combined properties at June 30, 2024. These obligations, composed principally of construction contracts, are generally due within 12 to 24 months, as the related construction costs are incurred, and are expected to be financed through operating cash flow. These contracts typically can be changed or terminated without penalty.

Curbline Predecessor routinely enters into contracts for the maintenance of its properties. These contracts typically can be canceled upon 30 to 60 days’ notice without penalty. At June 30, 2024, Curbline Predecessor had purchase order obligations, typically payable within one year, aggregating approximately $0.6 million related to the maintenance of its properties.

Sources and Uses of Capital

The Company remains committed to maintaining significant liquidity and financial flexibility in order to pursue its stated business plan to acquire additional convenience properties and scale the Company’s portfolio while managing its overall risk profile. Cash on hand and cash flow from operations, as well as debt and equity financings, represent potential sources of proceeds to be used to achieve these objectives. The Company is expected to be in a net cash position at the time of its separation from SITE Centers with approximately $600 million of cash on hand, a $400 million unsecured, undrawn line of credit, a $100 million unsecured, delayed draw term loan and no indebtedness.

Acquisitions

From January 1, 2024 through September 3, 2024, Curbline Predecessor acquired the following convenience retail properties (in thousands of square feet and $):

 

Date Acquired

  

Property Name

  

City, State

   Total
Owned

GLA
     Gross

Purchase
Price
 

February 2024

  

Grove at Harper’s Preserve

  

Conroe, Texas

     21      $ 10,650  

March 2024

  

Shops at Gilbert Crossroads

  

Gilbert, Arizona

     15        8,460  

May 2024

  

Wilmette Center

  

Wilmette, Illinois

     9        2,850  

May 2024

  

Sunrise Plaza

  

Vero Beach, Florida

     16        5,500  

May 2024

  

Meadowmont Village

  

Chapel Hill, North Carolina

     62        26,534  

June 2024

  

Red Mountain Corner

  

Phoenix, Arizona

     6        2,100  

June 2024

  

Roswell Market Center

  

Roswell, Georgia

     82        17,750  

July 2024

  

Crocker Commons

  

Westlake, Ohio

     29        18,500  

July 2024

  

Maple Corner

  

Henderson, Tennessee

     20        8,250  

August 2024

  

Village Plaza

  

Houston, Texas

     42        31,000  

August 2024

  

Brookhaven Station

  

Atlanta, Georgia

     45        30,200  
        

 

 

    

 

 

 
           347      $ 161,794  
        

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

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During 2023, Curbline Predecessor acquired the following convenience retail properties (in thousands of square feet and $):

 

Date Acquired

  

Property Name

  

City, State

   Total
Owned
GLA
     Gross
Purchase
Price
 

January 2023

   Foxtail Center    Timonium, Maryland      30      $ 15,075  

January 2023

   Parker Keystone    Denver, Colorado      17        11,000  

April 2023

   Barrett Corners    Kennesaw, Georgia      19        15,600  

May 2023

   Alpha Soda Center    Alpharetta, Georgia      15        9,400  

May 2023

   Briarcroft Center    Houston, Texas      33        23,500  

July 2023

   Towne Crossing Shops    Midlothian, Virginia      7        4,200  

August 2023

   Oaks at Slaughter    Austin, Texas      26        14,100  

September 2023

   Marketplace at 249    Houston, Texas      17        9,800  

October 2023

   Point at University    Charlotte, North Carolina      14        8,900  

October 2023

   Estero Crossing    Estero, Florida      34        17,122  

November 2023

   Presidential Plaza North    Snellville, Georgia      11        7,420  

December 2023

   Shops at Lake Pleasant    Peoria, Arizona      47        29,000  
        

 

 

    

 

 

 
           270      $ 165,117  
        

 

 

    

 

 

 

During 2022, Curbline Predecessor acquired the following convenience retail properties (in thousands of square feet and $):

 

Date Acquired

  

Property Name

  

City, State

   Total
Owned
GLA
     Gross
Purchase
Price
 

January 2022

   Artesia Village    Scottsdale, Arizona      21      $ 14,500  

February 2022

   Shops at Casselberry    Casselberry, Florida      8        3,151  

March 2022

   Shops at Boca Center    Boca Raton, Florida      117        90,000  

April 2022

   Shoppes of Crabapple    Alpharetta, Georgia      8        4,350  

May 2022

   La Fiesta Square    Lafayette, California      74        60,798  

May 2022

   Lafayette Mercantile    Lafayette, California      53        43,000  

June 2022

   Shops at Tanglewood    Houston, Texas      26        22,150  

June 2022

   Boulevard Marketplace    Fairfax, Virginia      19        10,448  

June 2022

   Fairfax Marketplace    Fairfax, Virginia      19        16,038  

June 2022

   Fairfax Pointe    Fairfax, Virginia      10        8,394  

July 2022

   Parkwood Shops    Atlanta, Georgia      20        8,400  

August 2022

   Chandler Center    Chandler, Arizona      7        5,250  

August 2022

   Shops at Power and Baseline    Mesa, Arizona      4        4,600  

August 2022

   Northsight Plaza    Scottsdale, Arizona      10        6,150  

August 2022

   Broadway Center    Tempe, Arizona      11        7,000  

November 2022

   Shops on Montview    Denver, Colorado      9        5,762  
        

 

 

    

 

 

 
           416      $ 309,991  
        

 

 

    

 

 

 

Outparcel Construction Projects

During the years ended December 31, 2023, December 31, 2022, and December 31, 2021, Curbline Predecessor invested $5.8 million, $10.2 million and $1.2 million, respectively, in multiple outparcel construction projects. These outparcels were carved out of existing shopping centers owned by SITE Centers.

 

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Market Environment for Convenience Properties

Curbline Predecessor continues to experience steady retailer demand for vacant space and executed new leases and renewals aggregating approximately 200,000 square feet of GLA for the six months ended June 30, 2024. The Company believes the elevated leased rate and overall tenant activity are attributable to demand for space at properties located on the curbline of well-trafficked intersections and major vehicular corridors and limited new supply. Additionally, the Company’s portfolio benefits from its concentration in suburban, above-average household income communities along with positive demographic and economic trends.

Curbline Predecessor has a diversified tenant base, with only one tenant whose annualized rental revenue equals or exceeds 2% of Curbline Predecessor’s annualized combined revenues (Starbucks at 2.6% as of June 30, 2024). Other significant national tenants generally have relatively strong financial positions, have outperformed their respective retail categories over time and the Company believes remain well-capitalized. The majority of the tenants in Curbline Predecessor’s convenience retail properties provide day-to-day consumer necessities with a focus on value and convenience, versus discretionary items, which the Company believes will enable many of the tenants to outperform under a variety of economic conditions and provide a stable revenue base. Curbline Predecessor has relatively little reliance on overage or percentage rents generated by tenant sales performance or on ancillary income.

The Company believes that the convenience property portfolio is well positioned, as evidenced by recent leasing activity, historical leased and occupancy levels and consistent growth in annualized base rent per square foot. At June 30, 2024, the convenience property portfolio leased and occupancy rates were 95.9% and 93.7%, respectively, and the portfolio ABR per square foot was $35.27, as compared to leased and occupancy rates of 96.7% and 94.8%, respectively, and ABR per square foot of $35.84 at December 31, 2023. The per square foot cost of leasing capital expenditures has been consistent with Curbline Predecessor’s historical trends and the standardized site plan of the majority of Curbline Predecessor’s convenience properties together with high tenant retention rates, higher annualized base rents per square foot and the depth of leasing prospects that can utilize existing square footage generally result in lower operating capital expenditure levels as a percentage of annualized base rents over time. Curbline Predecessor generally does not expend a significant amount of capital on lease renewals, which constitute the majority of overall leasing activity. The weighted-average cost of tenant improvements and lease commissions estimated to be incurred over the expected lease term for all leases executed during the six months ended June 30, 2024 was $1.68 per rentable square foot.

Inflation, higher interest rates and concerns over consumer spending growth, along with the volatility of global capital markets continue to pose risks to the U.S. economy, the retail sector overall and Curbline Predecessor’s tenants. The retail sector overall has also been affected by changing consumer behaviors, increased competition and e-commerce market share gains. Curbline Predecessor routinely monitors the credit profiles of its tenants and analyzes the possible impact of any potential tenant credit issues on the financial statements and overall cash flow, balance sheet and liquidity. In some cases, changing conditions have resulted in weaker retailers losing market share and declaring bankruptcy and/or closing stores. However, other retailers, continue to expand their store fleets and launch new concepts within the suburban, high-household-income communities in which the properties are located. As a result, the Company believes that its prospects to backfill any spaces vacated by bankrupt or non-renewing tenants are generally favorable. However, there can be no assurance that vacancy resulting from increasingly uncertain economic conditions will not adversely affect the Company’s operating results.

Rising interest rates and the availability of commercial real estate financing have also impacted, at certain times, real estate owners’ ability to acquire and sell assets and raise equity and debt financing. Although Curbline Predecessor had no indebtedness as of June 30, 2024, debt capital markets liquidity could adversely impact the Company’s current and expected future business plan and its ability to finance future maturities and/or investments, and the interest rates applicable thereto. Depending on market conditions, the Company intends to acquire additional assets funded with cash on hand along with retained cash flow and debt and equity financing. The timing of certain acquisitions may be impacted by capital markets activity along with the volume and pricing

 

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of assets available to acquire. Unfavorable changes in interest rates or the capital markets could adversely impact the Company’s return on investments.

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosure About Market Risk

Curbline Predecessor’s fixed-rate debt was repaid in May 2024. At December 31, 2023, Curbline Predecessor’s carrying value of the fixed-rate debt was $25.8 million and the fair value was $24.8 million. A 100 basis-point increase in interest rates was estimated to result in a decrease in the fair value of the debt to $24.6 million. At December 31, 2022, Curbline Predecessor’s carrying value of the fixed-rate debt was $38.8 million and the fair value was $36.8 million. A 100 basis-point increase in interest rates was estimated to result in a decrease in the fair value of debt to $36.2 million. The sensitivity to changes in interest rates of Curbline Predecessor’s fixed-rate debt was determined using a valuation model based upon factors that measure the net present value of such obligations that arise from the hypothetical estimate as discussed above.

If the Company were to incur variable-rate indebtedness, its exposure to increases in interest rates could increase. The Company does not believe, however, that increases in interest expense as a result of inflation or other economic factors will significantly impact the Company’s distributable cash flow.

The Company intends to continually monitor and actively manage interest costs on any variable-rate debt portfolio and may enter into swap positions or interest rate caps. Accordingly, the cost of obtaining such protection agreements in relation to the Company’s access to capital markets will continue to be evaluated. The Company has not entered into, and does not plan to enter into, any derivative financial instruments for trading or speculative purposes. As of June 30, 2024, Curbline Predecessor had no other material exposure to market risk.

 

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BUSINESS

Curbline is a Maryland corporation formed to own, manage, lease, acquire and develop a portfolio of convenience retail properties. As of June 30, 2024, the Curbline portfolio consisted of 72 properties comprising approximately 2.4 million square feet of GLA. All of the portfolio’s properties are located in the United States and are geographically diversified, principally across the Southeast, Mid-Atlantic, Southwest and Mountain regions, along with Texas. The portfolio is generally located in submarkets with compelling long-term population and employment growth prospects and above-average household incomes of over $115,000 (91st percentile as compared to all shopping centers in the United States as of June 30, 2024). As of June 30, 2024, the Curbline portfolio’s largest MSAs included Miami (18.1% of ABR), Atlanta (11.1%), Phoenix (10.4%), Orlando (7.0%) and San Francisco (6.7%).

Convenience properties are generally positioned on the curbline of well-trafficked intersections and major vehicular corridors, offering excellent access and visibility, dedicated parking and often include drive-thru units, with 62% of Curbline properties having at least one drive-thru unit as of June 30, 2024. The properties generally consist of a homogenous row of primarily small-shop units leased to a diversified mixture of national and local service and restaurant tenants that cater to daily convenience trips from the growing suburban population. The property type’s site plan and depth of leasing prospects that can utilize existing square footage generally reduce operating capital expenditures relative to other real estate formats and provide significant tenant diversification. In 2023, the Curbline portfolio achieved cash blended leasing spreads of 14.7% for both new leases and renewals. As of June 30, 2024, the median GLA of a property in the Curbline portfolio was 21,000 square feet with 92% of base rent generated by units less than 10,000 square feet.

As of June 30, 2024, the Curbline portfolio was 95.9% leased and 93.7% occupied with ABR per square foot of $35.27. The positioning of the Curbline portfolio’s properties, their location in affluent markets, and their standardized unit sizes attract a diversified group of primarily national, high credit quality tenants operating across a wide range of primarily service and restaurant businesses. As of June 30, 2024, national tenants accounted for over 72% of the portfolio’s total ABR, public company tenants comprised over 34% of the portfolio’s total ABR and only one tenant represented more than 2% of the portfolio’s total ABR. Curbline believes its diversification of primarily national tenants along with the depth of leasing prospects for its homogenous store unit sizes mitigates credit risk and will allow it to maintain elevated leased rates across the portfolio. As of June 30, 2024, the portfolio’s largest tenants included Starbucks (2.6% of ABR), Darden (1.7%), Total Wine & More (1.6%), Verizon (1.3%) and JPMorgan Chase (1.2%), and the portfolio’s top ten tenants comprised less than 14% of total ABR.

Below is a map showing the geographic locations of the portfolio’s assets as of June 30, 2024:

 

LOGO

 

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The Company focuses on leasing space to a diversified group of primarily national, high credit quality tenants operating across a wide range of primarily service and restaurant businesses, including quick-service restaurants, healthcare and wellness, financial services, beverage retail, telecommunications, beauty and hair salons, and fitness, among others.

Convenience properties offer the opportunity to generate above-average, occupancy-neutral cash flow growth (compared to cash flow growth levels for other retail real estate assets) through rental income increases from either fixed annual rental increases or renewal option increases embedded in tenant leases, elevated retention rates limiting lost rent resulting from vacancy, and positive mark-to-market of leases at renewal. In addition, tenant lease agreements at convenience properties typically have shorter lease terms and fewer tenant renewal options with approximately 53% of the ABR under Curbline’s leases expiring within the next five years without any tenant renewal options. The duration of convenience tenant leases provides Curbline with more frequent opportunities to increase rents to market levels and to mitigate the risk and impact of inflation. Convenience properties’ standardized site plans, high tenant retention rates, higher annualized base rents per square foot and depth of leasing prospects that can utilize existing square footage also generally result in lower operating capital expenditure levels as a percentage of annualized base rents over time relative to other retail real estate formats including grocery, lifestyle and regional power center properties.

In addition to its focus on growing cash flows at its existing properties, the Company intends to utilize its balance sheet to acquire additional convenience real estate assets. At the time of its separation from SITE Centers, the Company expects to be in a net cash and debt-free position with access to approximately $600 million of cash on hand, a $400 million unsecured, undrawn line of credit and a $100 million unsecured, delayed draw term loan thereby positioning the Company for acquisitions in order to scale its business. As of December 31, 2023, there were over 68,000 convenience properties in the United States (950 million square feet of GLA) representing approximately 60% of all shopping centers by count and 13% by GLA. Over $41 billion of convenience assets traded in the period of 2019 to 2023, primarily among private investors. This highly fragmented but liquid market, along with the Company’s net cash and liquidity position, provides a substantial addressable opportunity for Curbline to scale and differentiate itself as the first mover public REIT exclusively focused on convenience assets.

The Company plans to elect to be treated as a REIT for U.S. federal income tax purposes, commencing with the taxable year ending December 31, 2024, and intends to maintain its status as a REIT for U.S. federal income tax purposes in future periods. The Company also intends to operate through an UPREIT structure, in which substantially all of the Company’s properties and assets are held through the Operating Partnership. As the sole general partner of the Operating Partnership, the Company will have exclusive control of the Operating Partnership’s day-to-day management. The Company is not expected to conduct any material business itself, other than acting as the sole general partner of the Operating Partnership, guaranteeing certain debt of the Operating Partnership and issuing equity from time to time.

Operational Metrics

An overview of key operational results and transactions is as follows:

 

   

In 2023, signed new leases and renewals for approximately 309,000 square feet of GLA, which included 76,000 square feet of new leasing volume. In the first half of 2024, signed new leases and renewals for approximately 200,000 square feet of GLA, which included 59,000 square feet of new leasing volume;

 

   

In 2023, achieved cash blended leasing spreads of 14.7% for both new leases and renewals. In the first half of 2024, achieved cash blended leasing spreads of 15.3% for both new leases and renewals;

 

   

The ABR per square foot was $35.27 at June 30, 2024, as compared to $35.84 at December 31, 2023 and $34.61 at December 31, 2022. The decrease in ABR is attributable to acquisitions, partially offset by rent growth from rent steps and renewals, including options;

 

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Leased rate of 95.9% at June 30, 2024, as compared to 96.7% at December 31, 2023 and 96.9% at December 31, 2022. The decrease in leased rate is primarily attributable to acquisitions;

 

   

Occupied rate of 93.7% at June 30, 2024, as compared to 94.8% at December 31, 2023 and 90.4% at December 31, 2022. The decrease in occupied rate is primarily attributable to acquisitions; and

 

   

Acquired eleven properties in 2024 through September 3, 2024, at an aggregate cost of $161.8 million.

Competitive Strengths and Business

Convenience Lease Structure Positions Company for Above-Average Relative Organic Growth. Convenience properties offer the opportunity for above-average, occupancy-neutral cash flow growth through rental income increases from either fixed annual rental increases or renewal option increases embedded in tenant leases, elevated retention rates limiting lost rent resulting from vacancy, and positive mark-to-market of leases at renewal. In addition, the generally shorter duration of convenience tenant leases provides Curbline with more frequent opportunities to increase rents to market levels and to mitigate the risk and impact of inflation.

Limited Capital Expenditure Requirements Promote Cash Flow Efficiency. Convenience properties’ standardized site plans, high tenant retention rates, higher annualized base rents per square foot and depth of leasing prospects that can utilize existing square footage generally result in lower operating capital expenditure levels as a percentage of annualized base rents over time relative to other retail real estate formats including grocery, lifestyle and regional power center properties. Curbline generally does not expend a significant amount of capital on lease renewals, which constitute the majority of overall leasing activity. The weighted-average cost of tenant improvements and lease commissions estimated to be incurred over the expected lease term for all leases executed during the year ended December 31, 2023, was $2.09 per rentable square foot.

Diversified National Tenant Exposure Reduces Risk. The positioning of the Curbline portfolio’s properties, generally located on the curbline of well-trafficked intersections and major vehicular corridors in affluent markets, and its standardized unit sizes attract a diversified group of primarily national, high credit quality tenants operating across a wide range of primarily service and restaurant businesses, including quick-service restaurants, healthcare and wellness, financial services, beverage retail, telecommunications, beauty and hair salons, and fitness, among others. As of June 30, 2024, national tenants accounted for over 72% of the portfolio’s total ABR, public company tenants comprised over 34% of the portfolio’s total ABR and only one tenant represented more than 2% of the portfolio’s total ABR. Curbline believes its diversification of primarily national tenants along with the depth of leasing prospects for its homogenous store unit sizes mitigates credit risk and will allow it to maintain elevated leased rates across the portfolio.

Convenience Center Access and Site Plans Drive Higher Customer Traffic and Rents. Convenience-oriented properties are generally positioned to drive customer volume with ease of access, visibility, parking, and often include drive-thru units. As a result, convenience centers such as those owned by the Company typically experience more customer foot traffic per square foot than anchored retail, justifying higher rents and broad tenant demand. The Curbline portfolio leased rate has averaged 96.3% over the last seven years during its ownership of the applicable assets highlighting the portfolio and property type’s supply and demand imbalance along with steady demand from a broad range of service-based tenants for its space. As of June 30, 2024, the Curbline portfolio was 95.9% leased and 93.7% occupied with ABR per square foot of $35.27 as compared to a leased rate of 95.0% and ABR per square foot of $22.67 at June 30, 2024 for a peer group comprised of Brixmor Property Group Inc., Federal Realty Investment Trust, Kimco Realty Corp., Kite Realty Group Trust, Regency Centers Corporation, Retail Opportunities Investment Corp. and Urban Edge Properties. These seven entities were chosen because they were considered to be most similar to the Company in terms of geographic market overlap.

Curated Portfolio Located in Affluent Submarkets. Curbline’s portfolio was curated based on a number of real estate and financial factors including demographics, access, visibility, vehicular traffic, tenant credit profile, rent

 

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mark-to-market opportunities and prospects for cash flow growth. The portfolio is generally located in submarkets with compelling long-term population and employment growth prospects and above-average household incomes of over $115,000 (91st percentile as compared to all shopping centers in the United States as of June 30, 2024).

Unlevered Balance Sheet and First Mover Advantage Positions Company for External Growth in a Liquid Property Type. The Company is expected to be in a net cash and debt-free position at the time of its separation from SITE Centers. As a result, the Company is expected to have approximately $600 million of cash on hand plus significant access to debt capital in order to grow its asset base through acquisitions with no additional near-term equity required. Additionally, with over 68,000 convenience properties in the United States (950 million square feet of GLA) and over $41 billion of convenience assets traded in the period of 2019 to 2023 (primarily among private investors), the highly fragmented but liquid market provides a substantial addressable opportunity for Curbline to scale and differentiate itself as the first mover public REIT exclusively focused on convenience assets.

Experienced and Well-Regarded Executives with Proven Track Record of Proactive Asset Management and Value Creation. The Company expects to benefit from the experience and significant expertise of members of SITE Centers’ executive team, which has a successful strategic track record, including having completed a spin-off of 50 properties to RVI, as well as a high volume of portfolio, single-property and joint venture transactions. The team has extensive transaction, property management, asset management, leasing and capital markets experience. Furthermore, the members of the management team have developed strong relationships with brokers and tenants that will provide additional value-added benefits.

Properties

The table below shows the Curbline portfolio’s 72 assets as of June 30, 2024:

 

#   Property   MSA   City   State    

Owned

GLA(1)

   

ABR

PSF(2)

 
1   Chandler Center   Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale   Chandler     AZ       7     $ 43.58  
2   Shops at Gilbert Crossroads   Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale   Gilbert     AZ       15     $ 38.36  
3   Shops at Power and Baseline   Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale   Mesa     AZ       4     $ 56.22  
4   Shops at Lake Pleasant   Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale   Peoria     AZ       47     $ 40.52  
5   Deer Valley Plaza   Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale   Phoenix     AZ       38     $ 34.56  
6   Paradise Village Plaza   Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale   Phoenix     AZ       84     $ 35.68  
7   Artesia Village   Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale   Scottsdale     AZ       21     $ 40.90  
8   Northsight Plaza   Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale   Scottsdale     AZ       10     $ 35.00  
9   Broadway Center   Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale   Tempe     AZ       11     $ 37.74  
10   Red Mountain Corner   Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale   Phoenix     AZ       6     $ 24.18  
11   Shops on Summit   Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim   Fontana     CA       27     $ 45.21  
12   Creekside Plaza   Sacramento-Roseville-Arden-Arcade   Roseville     CA       32     $ 42.83  
13   Creekside Shops   Sacramento-Roseville-Arden-Arcade   Roseville     CA       57     $ 40.07  
14   La Fiesta Square   San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward   Lafayette     CA       74     $ 50.97  

 

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#   Property   MSA   City   State    

Owned

GLA(1)

   

ABR

PSF(2)

 
15   Lafayette Mercantile   San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward   Lafayette     CA       53     $ 59.20  
16   Parker Keystone   Denver-Aurora-Lakewood   Denver     CO       17     $ 41.14  
17   Shops at University Hills   Denver-Aurora-Lakewood   Denver     CO       25     $ 45.28  
18   Shops on Montview   Denver-Aurora-Lakewood   Denver     CO       9     $ 37.90  
19   Parker Station   Denver-Aurora-Lakewood   Parker     CO       45     $ 28.85  
20   Shops at Boca Center   Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach   Boca Raton     FL       117     $ 42.46  
21   Shoppes at Addison Place   Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach   Delray Beach     FL       56     $ 46.66  
22   Concourse Village   Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach   Jupiter     FL       134     $ 19.15  
23   Collection at Midtown Miami   Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach   Miami     FL       119     $ 39.26  
24   Shops at the Fountains   Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach   Plantation     FL       14     $ 35.38  
25   Shops at Midway   Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach   Tamarac     FL       10     $ 39.67  
26   Shops at Carillon   Naples-Immokalee-Marco Island   Naples     FL       15     $ 26.95  
27   Shops at Casselberry   Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford   Casselberry     FL       8     $ 30.80  
28   Sunrise Plaza   Sebastian-Vero Beach-West Vero Corridor   Vero Beach     FL       16     $ 24.05  
29   Estero Crossing   Cape Coral-Fort Myers   Estero     FL       34     $ 33.58  
30   Shops at the Grove   Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford   Orlando     FL       131     $ 42.63  
31   Shops at Lake Brandon   Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater   Brandon     FL       12     $ 40.50  
32   Shoppes of Boot Ranch   Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater   Palm Harbor     FL       52     $ 29.49  
33   Southtown Center   Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater   Tampa     FL       44     $ 40.51  
34   Roswell Market Center   Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell   Roswell     GA       82     $ 17.26  
35   Alpha Soda Center   Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell   Alpharetta     GA       15     $ 39.98  
36   Shoppes of Crabapple   Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell   Alpharetta     GA       8     $ 30.04  
37   Hammond Springs   Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell   Atlanta     GA       69     $ 32.17  
38   Parkwood Shops   Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell   Atlanta     GA       20     $ 25.78  
39   Marketplace Plaza North   Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell   Cumming     GA       44     $ 30.54  

 

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#   Property   MSA   City   State    

Owned

GLA(1)

   

ABR

PSF(2)

 
40   Marketplace Plaza South   Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell   Cumming     GA       37     $ 33.55  
41   Plaza at Market Square   Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell   Douglasville     GA       9     $ 16.28  
42   Barrett Corners   Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell   Kennesaw     GA       19     $ 47.14  
43   Presidential Plaza South   Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell   Snellville     GA       10     $ 39.36  
44   Presidential Plaza North   Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell   Snellville     GA       11     $ 42.50  
45   Wilmette Center   Chicago-Naperville-Elgin   Wilmette     IL       9     $ 29.59  
46   Shops at Framingham   Boston-Cambridge-Newton   Framingham     MA       19     $ 61.23  
47   Foxtail Center   Baltimore-Columbia-Townson   Timonium     MD       30     $ 35.26  
48   Carolina Station   Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia   Charlotte     NC       10     $ 41.59  
49   Belgate Plaza   Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia   Charlotte     NC       20     $ 36.65  
50   Point at University   Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia   Charlotte     NC       14     $ 38.58  
51   Shops at The Fresh Market   Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia   Cornelius     NC       132     $ 18.48  
52   Meadowmont Village   Raleigh   Chapel Hill     NC       62     $ 29.33  
53   Freehold Marketplace   New York-Newark-Jersey City   Freehold     NJ       21     $ 37.18  
54   Shops at Hamilton   Trenton   Hamilton     NJ       62     $ 28.14  
55   Shops on Polaris(3)   Columbus   Columbus     OH       71     $ 31.81  
56   Shops at Tanasbourne(4)   Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro   Hillsboro     OR       5     $ 32.60  
57   Shops at Echelon Village   Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington   Voorhees     NJ       4     $ 49.52  
58   Oaks at Slaughter   Austin   Austin     TX       26     $ 35.62  
59   Vintage Plaza   Austin   Round Rock     TX       41     $ 28.03  
60   Grove at Harper’s Preserve   Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land   Conroe     TX       21     $ 33.00  
61   Briarcroft Center   Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land   Houston     TX       33     $ 42.49  
62   Marketplace at 249   Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land   Houston     TX       17     $ 38.36  
63   Shops at Tanglewood   Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land   Houston     TX       26     $ 48.17  
64   Bandera Corner   San Antonio-New Braunfels   San Antonio     TX       3     $ 22.46  
65   Shops at Bandera Pointe   San Antonio-New Braunfels   San Antonio     TX       48     $ 25.77  
66   Emmet Street North   Charlottesville   Charlottesville     VA       2     $ 78.55  
67   Emmet Street Station   Charlottesville   Charlottesville     VA       11     $ 52.08  
68   Towne Crossing Shops   Richmond   Midlothian     VA       7     $ 39.79  
69   Boulevard Marketplace   Washington-Arlington-Alexandria   Fairfax     VA       19     $ 42.07  

 

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#   Property   MSA   City   State    

Owned

GLA(1)

   

ABR

PSF(2)

 
70   Fairfax Marketplace   Washington-Arlington-Alexandria   Fairfax     VA       19     $ 58.70  
71   Fairfax Pointe   Washington-Arlington-Alexandria   Fairfax     VA       10     $ 50.34  
72   White Oak Plaza   Richmond   Richmond     VA       34     $ 35.47  

 

(1)

In thousands of square feet.

(2)

ABR per square foot as of June 30, 2024.

(3)

A portion of this property is subject to a 99-year ground lease expiring in February 2123, at a fixed, prepaid rent of $1.00 with an option to renew for an additional 99-year term.

(4)

This property is subject to a 90-year ground lease expiring in February 2114, at a fixed, prepaid rent of $1.00 with an option to renew for an additional 99-year term.

Tenant Lease Expirations and Renewals

The following table shows the impact of tenant lease expirations through 2033 for all of the Curbline portfolio’s properties, assuming that none of the tenants exercise any of their renewal options as of June 30, 2024:

 

Expiration
Year

   No. of
Leases
Expiring
     Approximate
GLA
in Square
Feet

(Thousands)
     ABR Under
Expiring
Leases

(Thousands)
     ABR
per Square
Foot Under
Expiring

Leases
     Percentage of
Total GLA
Represented
by Expiring
Leases
    Percentage of
Total Base
Rental
Revenues
Represented
by Expiring
Leases
 

2024

     25        45      $ 1,404      $ 31.20        2.0     1.8

2025

     87        235        8,318        35.40        10.3     10.4

2026

     80        189        7,061        37.36        8.3     8.8

2027

     98        263        9,997        38.01        11.5     12.5

2028

     134        462        15,544        33.65        20.2     19.4

2029

     76        201        6,969        34.67        8.8     8.7

2030

     49        169        6,204        36.71        7.4     7.7

2031

     40        95        3,394        35.73        4.1     4.2

2032

     68        198        7,346        37.10        8.6     9.2

2033

     66        196        7,150        36.48        8.6     8.9
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

     723        2,053      $ 73,387      $ 35.75        10.2     8.4
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Tenant Demand

The Company continues to see steady demand from a broad range of service-based tenants for its space. The Curbline portfolio leased rate has averaged 96.3% over the last seven years during Curbline’s ownership of the applicable assets. This highlights the portfolio and property type’s supply and demand imbalance. Convenience-oriented properties are generally positioned to drive customer volume with ease of access, visibility and parking. As a result, convenience centers such as those owned by the Company typically experience more customer foot traffic per square foot than anchored retail, justifying higher rents and broad tenant demand.

 

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In 2023, the Curbline portfolio leased approximately 309,000 square feet of GLA, including 33 new leases and 77 renewals. At December 31, 2022, the Curbline portfolio had 76 leases set to expire in 2023, and of those, eight leases were not renewed or extended, which aggregated approximately 20,400 square feet of GLA. At June 30, 2024, the Curbline portfolio had 25 leases expiring in 2024 with an annualized base rent per square foot of $31.20.

Leasing spreads are a key metric in real estate, representing the percentage change of rental rates on existing leases versus rental rates on new and renewal leases. The following table summarizes the portfolio’s leased rate as well as leasing spreads for the comparable leases executed for the periods presented as well as the weighted average cost of tenant improvements and lease costs:

 

     Full Year 2023     First Half 2024  

Leased Rate

    

Beginning of period

     96.9     96.7

End of Period

     96.7     95.9

Cash Leasing spreads

    

Blended all leases

     14.7     15.3

New leases

     31.6     46.3

Renewal leases

     9.7     11.1

Lease costs

    

New leases(1)

   $ 6.53     $ 6.72  

Renewal leases

     0.09       —   

 

(1)

Represents weighted average cost of tenant improvements and lease commissions estimated to be incurred over the expected lease term for new leases per rentable square foot.

The cash leasing spread calculation includes all deals, including those vacant for a period greater than 12 months, other than first generation space or spaces that were vacant at the time of acquisition and, as a result, is a good benchmark to compare the average ABR of expiring leases with the comparable executed market rental rates. The Company believes the leasing spreads reported during 2023 are a good indicator of current market trends for the portfolio. The overall total reported leasing spreads could vary from quarter to quarter depending upon both the volume and size of leases executed in each period. For more information, see “Risk Factors—The Company’s dependence on rental income may adversely affect the Company’s results of operations.”

Competition

Numerous real estate companies and developers, private and public, compete with the Company in leasing space in convenience properties to tenants. The Company competes with other real estate companies and owners in terms of rental rate, property location, availability of other space and maintenance.

Insurance

The Company expects to have comprehensive liability, casualty, flood, terrorism and rental loss insurance policies on its properties. The Company believes the policy specifications and insured limits will be appropriate for its properties given the relative risk of loss, the cost of the coverage and industry practice; however, the Company’s insurance coverage may not be sufficient to fully cover its losses.

Government Approval

Outside of routine business filings, the Company does not believe that it is necessary to obtain any government approval in order to operate its business.

 

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Governmental Regulations

The Company’s business is subject to numerous governmental regulations, including regulations relating to the ownership of real estate, environmental law, regulations governing REITs and other. For additional information, please refer to the discussion in this section, “Risk Factors” and “The Company’s Separation from SITE Centers— Certain U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences of the Separation.”

Compliance with Environmental Laws

As an owner of real estate, the Company will be subject to various federal, state, territorial and local laws, ordinances and regulations. See the detailed discussion of these and other risks related to environmental matters are described in more detail in “Risk Factors—The Company’s real estate investments may contain environmental risks that could adversely affect its results of operations.”

Legal Proceedings

Neither the Company nor, to its knowledge, SITE Centers is currently subject to any legal proceedings which the Company or SITE Centers consider to be material.

Employees

As of June 30, 2024, the Company had no employees. As of June 30, 2024, SITE Centers had approximately 224 employees. On September 1, 2024, approximately 37 of such employees (including Messrs. Lukes, Fennerty and Cattonar and Ms. Solomon) became employees of a subsidiary of the Company with the balance of SITE Centers’ current employees remaining at SITE Centers. See “The Company’s Relationship and Agreements with SITE Centers.”

Corporate Information

Prior to and after the completion of the separation, the Company’s principal executive offices will be located at 320 Park Avenue, New York, New York 10022, and its telephone number will be (216) 755-5500. The Company’s website is www.curbline.com.

 

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MANAGEMENT

The Company’s Directors and Executive Officers

Upon the Company’s separation from SITE Centers, the Curbline Board is expected to include David R. Lukes, Linda B. Abraham, Terrance R. Ahern, Jane E. DeFlorio, Victor B. MacFarlane, Alexander Otto and Barry A. Sholem. Terrence R. Ahern is expected to serve as Chair of the Curbline Board. Initially, the Curbline Board will be divided into three classes, designated Class I, Class II and Class III. Class I directors will serve a one-year initial term, Class II directors will serve a two-year initial term and Class III directors will serve a three-year initial term. At the annual meeting of stockholders held in 2025, the successors to the directors whose terms expire at that meeting (i.e., Class I directors) will be elected to hold office for a term expiring at the annual meeting of stockholders held in 2027. At the annual meeting of stockholders held in 2026 and each annual meeting of stockholders held thereafter, the successors to the directors whose terms expire will be elected at such meeting to hold office for a term expiring at the annual meeting of stockholders held in the year following the year of their election (e.g., Class II directors elected at the 2026 annual meeting of stockholders will serve until the 2027 annual meeting of stockholders). The Company expects the Curbline Board to determine that all of the directors, other than Mr. Lukes, satisfy the NYSE listing standards for independence. Linda B. Abraham, Terrance R. Ahern, Jane E. DeFlorio, Victor B. MacFarlane, Alexander Otto and Barry A. Sholem are also currently on the SITE Centers Board and are expected to resign from the SITE Centers Board upon completion of the Company’s separation from SITE Centers.

The following table and accompanying narrative presents information as of June 30, 2024.

 

Name

   Age     

Position

   Class  

Executive Officers and Directors

        

David R. Lukes

     54      Chief Executive Officer, President and Director      Class I  

Conor M. Fennerty

     39      Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer   

John M. Cattonar

     42      Executive Vice President and Chief Investment Officer   

Lesley H. Solomon

     52      Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary   

Linda B. Abraham

     61      Director      Class I  

Terrance R. Ahern

     69      Chair of the Curbline Board      Class III  

Jane E. DeFlorio

     54      Director      Class II  

Victor B. MacFarlane

     73      Director      Class III  

Alexander Otto

     56      Director      Class III  

Barry A. Sholem

     69      Director      Class II  

David R. Lukes has served as Chief Executive Officer and President of the Company since November 2023 and has served as President and Chief Executive Officer of SITE Centers and has been a member of the SITE Centers Board since March 2017. Prior to joining SITE Centers, Mr. Lukes served as Chief Executive Officer and President of Equity One, Inc., an owner, developer and operator of shopping centers, from 2014 until 2017. Mr. Lukes also served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Sears Holding Corporation affiliate Seritage Realty Trust, a real estate company, from 2012 to 2014 and as President and Chief Executive Officer of Olshan Properties, a privately-owned real estate firm specializing in commercial real estate, from 2010 to 2012. From 2002 to 2010, Mr. Lukes served in various senior management positions at Kimco Realty Corporation, including serving as its Chief Operating Officer from 2008 to 2010. Mr. Lukes has also served as the President, Chief Executive Officer and Director of RVI since April 2018 and as an Independent Director of Citycon Oyj, an owner and manager of shopping centers in the Nordic region listed on the Nasdaq Helsinki stock exchange, since 2017. Mr. Lukes also serves as a member of the Advisory Board of Governors of the NAREIT. Mr. Lukes holds

 

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a Bachelor of Environmental Design from Miami University, a Master of Architecture from the University of Pennsylvania and a Master of Science in real estate development from Columbia University.

Conor M. Fennerty has served as Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer of the Company since November 2023 and has served as Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer of SITE Centers since November 2019. From 2017 to 2019, Mr. Fennerty served as SITE Centers’ Senior Vice President of Capital Markets. Mr. Fennerty has also served as Executive Vice President of RVI since 2020 and director of RVI since 2022. Prior to joining SITE Centers, Mr. Fennerty served as a Vice President and Senior Analyst at BlackRock, Inc., a global funds manager, from 2014 to 2017, an Analyst at Cohen & Steers Capital Management, a specialist asset manager focused on real assets, from 2012 to 2014, and prior to that, a member of the global investment research division of Goldman Sachs from 2010 to 2012. Mr. Fennerty earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a major in finance from Georgetown University.

John M. Cattonar has served as Executive Vice President and Chief Investment Officer of the Company since November 2023 and has served as Executive Vice President and Chief Investment Officer of SITE Centers since May 2021. Previously, Mr. Cattonar served as Senior Vice President of Investments of SITE Centers from 2017 to 2021. Prior to joining SITE Centers, Mr. Cattonar served as Vice President of Asset Management for Equity One from 2015 to 2017 and at Sears Holding Corporation affiliate Seritage Realty Trust from 2012 to 2015. Mr. Cattonar earned a Master of Science in Real Estate Development from Columbia University and holds a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Lesley H. Solomon has served as Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary of the Company and as Senior Vice President and Deputy General Counsel of SITE Centers since April 2024. Previously, Ms. Solomon served as General Counsel and Secretary for CatchMark Timber Trust, Inc., a REIT focused on timberland investment, from 2018 to 2022. From 2006 to 2018, Ms. Solomon was a partner at Alston & Bird LLP where she focused on mergers and acquisitions, capital raises, and compliance with obligations under the Exchange Act and the listing standards of NYSE and Nasdaq. Ms. Solomon earned a Juris Doctor from Georgetown University and a Bachelor of Arts in Comparative Area Studies and History from Duke University.

Linda B. Abraham has served on the SITE Centers Board since 2018. Since 2014, Ms. Abraham has served as Managing Director of Crimson Capital, which invests in and advises a broad range of early stage technology companies spanning data/analytics, cybersecurity, machine learning, e-commerce, educational technology, clean energy and healthcare. From 1999 to 2013, Ms. Abraham co-founded and served as Executive Vice President of comScore, a leader in digital measurement and analytics which went public in 2007. Ms. Abraham also served as an Independent Director and chair of the compensation committee of Carlotz, Inc., an online consignment company for used vehicles, from 2021 until 2022. Additionally, she serves on the boards of the School of Data Science at the University of Virginia and Tiger 21, a member-based organization focused on investment management and education. Ms. Abraham has been named a Fellow in the Stanford University Distinguished Careers Institute. Ms. Abraham holds a degree in Quantitative Business Analysis from Penn State University.

Ms. Abraham’s qualifications to serve on the Curbline Board include extensive experience as a technology entrepreneur and as an expert in consumer analytics, a field that is critical to the Company’s efforts to understand shopping patterns and merchandise mix.

Terrance R. Ahern has served on the SITE Centers Board since 2000. Mr. Ahern served as Co-Founder, Principal and Chief Executive Officer of The Townsend Group, an institutional real estate advisory and investment management firm formed in 1986, until his retirement in May 2022. The Townsend Group serves as adviser to, or invests on behalf of, domestic and offshore public and private pension plans, endowments and foundations, and sovereign wealth funds. Mr. Ahern has also served as an Independent Director of KKR Real Estate Finance Trust since 2017. Mr. Ahern is a past member of the Young Presidents Organization, the Pension Real Estate Association, or PREA, NAREIT, and the National Council of Real Estate Investment Fiduciaries. He is a former member of the Board of Directors of PREA and the Board of Editors of Institutional Real Estate

 

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Securities. Mr. Ahern has been a frequent speaker at industry conferences, including PREA, NAREIT and the National Association of Real Estate Investment Managers.

Mr. Ahern has over 35 years of real estate industry and institutional real estate consulting experience. This experience includes founding and managing a leading institutional real estate advisory and investment firm whose core skill is analyzing real estate firms and investment opportunities. This role and experience has provided Mr. Ahern with unique insight into the structure and operations of both public and private real estate companies, and into the real estate environment and capital markets in which the Company operates. Through his experience, Mr. Ahern has gained an understanding and knowledge of the opportunities, challenges and risks that face real estate companies, as well as the functions of a board of directors.

Jane E. DeFlorio has served on the SITE Centers Board since 2017. Ms. DeFlorio was Managing Director, Deutsche Bank AG Retail/Consumer Sector Investment Banking Coverage, a division of a global banking and financial services company, from 2007 to 2013. While at Deutsche Bank, Ms. DeFlorio covered a range of mid- to large-cap retail clients. Ms. DeFlorio has served as an Independent Director and chair of the audit committee of Vivid Seats since 2021 and also served as an Independent Director of Perry Ellis International from 2014 to 2018. Ms. DeFlorio is also a member of the Board of Trustees and Chairman of the Audit and Risk Committee at The New School University in New York City. She serves on the Boards of Directors for The Parsons School of Design and the Museum at Fashion Institute of Technology. She also serves on the Advisory Council for the School of Engineering at the University of Notre Dame. Ms. DeFlorio is a graduate of the University of Notre Dame and Harvard Business School.

With over 15 years of experience in investment banking, primarily focusing on the retail sector, as well as her service on other public company boards, Ms. DeFlorio is uniquely qualified to advise the Curbline Board in connection with capital structure, capital allocation, strategic direction, risk management, financial matters, shareholder value creation and strategic opportunities.

Victor B. MacFarlane has served on the SITE Centers Board since 2002. Mr. MacFarlane is Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of MacFarlane Partners, which he founded in 1987 to provide real estate investment management services to institutional investors and has more than 40 years of real estate investment experience. Mr. MacFarlane has served as an Independent Director of Veris Residential, Inc. since 2021 and currently serves on its audit committee and compensation committee. Mr. MacFarlane is a co-founder and emeritus board member of the Real Estate Executive Council, a member and former Trustee of the Urban Land Institute and a member and former Director of PREA.

Mr. MacFarlane brings to the Curbline Board three decades of experience as a chief executive officer of a real estate investment and advisory firm and over 40 years of experience in the areas of real estate investment, corporate finance, portfolio management and risk management. His extensive managerial experience as well as his knowledge of the real estate and private capital industries provide the Curbline Board with an expansive view on issues impacting the Company and its corporate strategy.

Alexander Otto has served on the SITE Centers Board since 2015. Mr. Otto has served as the Chief Executive Officer of ECE Group GmbH & Co. KG, a commercial real estate company based in Hamburg, Germany that manages assets in Europe, since 2000. Mr. Otto is a graduate of St. Clare’s, Oxford, Harvard College and Harvard Business School. Mr. Otto is a member of the boards of directors, or equivalent governing bodies, of privately held companies Otto Group and Peek & Cloppenburg KG. Mr. Otto served as a director of publicly traded company Deutsche EuroShop AG, which owns and operates retail real estate assets in Europe, from 2002 until 2022 and of Sonae Sierra Brasil S.A., which owns and operates retail real estate assets in Brazil, from 2014 until 2019. Additionally, Mr. Otto is the Chairman of Lebendige Stadt (Vibrant City) Foundation, HSV Campus gemeinnützige GmbH and the Alexander Otto Sportstiftung Foundation, is a member of the board of the Harvard Global Advisory Council and, together with his wife, established the Dorit and Alexander Otto Foundation.

 

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Mr. Otto has more than 25 years of experience in the shopping center business. This experience includes serving as a real estate analyst with a focus on financial analysis and appraisals of shopping centers, as well as a development manager and leasing executive for large shopping centers. These qualifications and his experience as the chief executive officer of a leading private European shopping center company enable Mr. Otto to provide particular insights to the Curbline Board regarding the Company’s corporate strategy, the continual optimization of the Company’s operations, transactional activity and general management.

Barry A. Sholem has served on the SITE Centers Board since 2022. Mr. Sholem joined MSD Capital, L.P., the family office of Michael and Susan Dell, in 2004 and currently serves as Founder and Chairman of MSD Real Estate. From 1995 until 2000, Mr. Sholem was Chairman of DLJ Real Estate Capital Partners, a $2 billion real estate fund that he co-founded and that invested in a broad range of real estate-related assets, and a Managing Director at Credit Suisse First Boston, an investment bank. Since 2023, Mr. Sholem has served as an Independent Director and a member of the nominating and corporate governance committee of Hudson Pacific Properties, Inc. From 2018 until 2022, Mr. Sholem served as a Director of RVI and as a member of its audit, corporate governance and executive committees. From 1998 to 2018, Mr. Sholem served as a Director of SITE Centers, where he served as a member of several board committees. Mr. Sholem is active in Urban Land Institute, ICSC, the University of California, Berkeley Real Estate Advisory Board, Brown University President’s Leadership Council and the Business Roundtable.

Mr. Sholem’s qualifications to serve on the Curbline Board include years of experience leading the real estate groups of investment firms. In addition, he brings a broad understanding of the social and political issues facing the Company through his involvement with Urban Land Institute and ICSC.

Each of Messrs. Lukes, Fennerty and Cattonar is an executive officer of SITE Centers and Ms. Solomon is a non-executive officer SITE Centers. Mr. Fennerty and Ms. Solomon are expected to resign from their respective positions at SITE Centers upon the completion of the Company’s separation from SITE Centers.

Corporate Governance—Board of Directors and Committees

A majority of the Curbline Board is expected to be “independent,” as determined by the requirements of the NYSE and the regulations of the SEC. The Company’s directors will keep informed about the Company’s business by attending meetings of the Curbline Board and its committees and through supplemental reports and communications from management. The Company’s independent directors will meet regularly in executive sessions without the presence of the Company’s corporate officers or non-independent directors.

In connection with the separation, the Curbline Board will form an audit committee, or the Curbline Audit Committee, a compensation committee, or the Curbline Compensation Committee, and a nominating and sustainability committee, or the Curbline Nominating and Sustainability Committee, and adopt charters for these committees. Each of these committees will be composed of independent directors, as defined by the listing standards of the NYSE. Moreover, the Curbline Compensation Committee will be composed exclusively of individuals intended to be, to the extent provided by Rule 16b-3 of the Exchange Act, non-executive directors.

Curbline Audit Committee

The Curbline Audit Committee is expected to be comprised of Linda Abraham, Terrance Ahern and Jane DeFlorio, each of whom will be an independent director and “financially literate” under the rules of the NYSE. The Company expects Ms. DeFlorio to chair the Curbline Audit Committee and that she will be designated as an audit committee financial expert, as that term is defined by the SEC.

The Curbline Audit Committee assists the Curbline Board in overseeing:

 

   

the accounting and financial reporting processes of the Company and the audits of its financial statements;

 

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its compliance with legal and regulatory requirements;

 

   

its independent registered public accounting firm’s qualifications and independence;

 

   

the performance of the Company’s internal audit function and its independent registered public accounting firm;

 

   

the assessment and management of enterprise risk;

 

   

management’s initiatives and practices with respect to information technology and cybersecurity and

 

   

the preparation of the Audit Committee Report to be included in the Company’s annual proxy statement.

The Curbline Audit Committee is also responsible for engaging the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm, reviewing with the independent registered public accounting firm the plans and results of the audit engagement, approving professional services provided by the independent registered public accounting firm, reviewing the independence of the independent registered public accounting firm, considering the range of audit and non-audit fees and reviewing the adequacy of the Company’s internal accounting controls.

Curbline Compensation Committee

The Curbline Compensation Committee is expected to be comprised of Terrance Ahern, Jane DeFlorio and Barry Sholem, each of whom will be an independent director. Mr. Ahern is expected to chair the Curbline Compensation Committee.

The principal functions of the Curbline Compensation Committee will be to:

 

   

review and approve compensation for the Company’s executive officers;

 

   

review and recommend to the Curbline Board compensation for directors;

 

   

oversee the Company’s equity compensation and executive benefit plans;

 

   

administer the Company’s clawback policy and

 

   

review and discuss with management the disclosure requirements and (if applicable) produce the Compensation Committee Report to be included in the Company’s annual proxy statement.

The Curbline Compensation Committee may engage a compensation consultant or one or more other advisors to assist in the performance of its responsibilities.

Curbline Nominating and Sustainability Committee

The Curbline Nominating and Sustainability Committee is expected to be comprised of Linda Abraham, Victor MacFarlane and Barry Sholem, each of whom will be an independent director. Mr. MacFarlane is expected to chair the Curbline Nominating and Sustainability Committee.

The Curbline Nominating and Sustainability Committee will be responsible for the following:

 

   

identifying individuals qualified to become members of the Curbline Board and recommending to the Curbline Board the persons to be nominated as directors at each annual meeting of stockholders;

 

   

recommending to the Curbline Board qualified individuals to fill vacancies on the Curbline Board;

 

   

reviewing and recommending to the Curbline Board qualifications for committee membership and committee structure and operations;

 

   

recommending directors to serve on each committee;

 

   

developing and recommending to the Curbline Board corporate governance policies and procedures in compliance with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and other rules and regulations relating to the Company’s corporate governance;

 

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receiving periodic reports from management on the Company’s sustainability initiatives and related topics;

 

   

reviewing and making recommendations regarding any waivers under the Company’s Code of Business Conduct and Ethics with respect to officers and directors and

 

   

leading the Curbline Board in its annual review of the performance of the Curbline Board.

Code of Ethics for Senior Financial Officers

The Company will have a Code of Ethics for Senior Financial Officers that applies to the senior financial officers of the Company, including, among others, the Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, Chief Accounting Officer, Controller, Treasurer and Chief Internal Auditor, who we collectively refer to as our senior financial officers. Among other matters, this code will require the Company’s senior financial officers to:

 

   

act with honesty and integrity and ethically handle all actual or apparent conflicts of interest between personal and professional relationships;

 

   

endeavor to provide information that is full, fair, accurate, timely and understandable in all reports and documents that the Company files with, or submits to, the SEC and other public filings or communications it makes;

 

   

endeavor to comply faithfully with all laws, rules and regulations of federal, state and local governments and all applicable private or public regulatory agencies as well as all applicable professional codes of conduct;

 

   

not knowingly or recklessly misrepresent material facts or allow their independent judgment to be compromised;

 

   

not use for personal advantage confidential information acquired in the course of their employment;

 

   

proactively promote ethical behavior among peers and subordinates in the workplace and

 

   

promptly report any violation or suspected violation of this code in accordance with the Company’s Reporting and Non-Retaliation Policy and, if appropriate, directly to the Curbline Audit Committee.

Only the Curbline Audit Committee or the Curbline Board, including a majority of the independent directors, may waive any provision of this code with respect to a senior financial officer. Any such waiver or any amendment to this code will be promptly disclosed on the Company’s website or in a Current Report on Form 8-K, as required by applicable rules or regulations. This code will be posted on the Company’s website, www.curbline.com, under “Governance” in the “Investors” section.

Code of Business Conduct and Ethics

The Company will adopt a Code of Business Conduct and Ethics that addresses its commitment to honesty, integrity and the ethical behavior of its employees, officers and directors. This code governs the actions and working relationships of the Company’s employees, officers and directors tenants, vendors, contractors, fellow employees, competitors, government and regulatory agencies and officials, potential or actual joint venture partners, third-party consultants, investors, the public, the media and anyone else with whom the Company may conduct business. Employees are required to review and acknowledge the Code of Business Conduct and Ethics on a periodic basis in connection with their completion of certain compliance training modules. Only the Curbline Board or the Curbline Nominating and Sustainability Committee may waive any provision of this code with respect to an officer or director. Any such waiver or any amendment to this code will be promptly disclosed on the Company’s website or in a Current Report on Form 8-K, as required by applicable rules or regulations. The Company’s General Counsel may waive any provision of this code with respect to all other employees. This code will be posted on the Company’s website, www.curbline.com, under “Governance” in the “Investors” section.

 

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EXECUTIVE AND DIRECTOR COMPENSATION

Introduction

As an emerging growth company under the JOBS Act, Curbline is complying in this Information Statement with the SEC’s reduced executive compensation disclosure requirements applicable to “smaller reporting companies.” These reduced requirements involve disclosure for SITE Centers’ 2023 principal executive officer and the two most highly-compensated executive officers (other than the principal executive officer) serving as executive officers of SITE Centers at the end of 2023. After the separation and distribution, those three officers will be the senior-most executive officers of Curbline, and are considered the named executive officers, or NEOs, for Curbline for 2023. The information in this section describes the executive compensation program in place for the NEOs, who are:

 

  (1)

David R. Lukes—President and Chief Executive Officer;

 

  (2)

Conor M. Fennerty—Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer and

 

  (3)

John M. Cattonar—Executive Vice President and Chief Investment Officer.

This Information Statement reflects compensation provided by or earned for service to SITE Centers for each of the NEOs based on their respective roles within SITE Centers during 2023 and prior years. For purposes of this executive and director compensation disclosure, Curbline may also be referred to as “we” or “us” (or substantially similar or related terms).

Mr. Lukes is identified as an NEO because he is expected to serve as our President and Chief Executive Officer, and Messrs. Fennerty and Cattonar are identified because they are expected to serve as our Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer, and our Executive Vice President and Chief Investment Officer, respectively.

As discussed above, we are currently a part of SITE Centers and are not an independent company, and the Curbline Compensation Committee has not yet been formed. Each of our NEOs has historically participated in SITE Centers’ executive compensation programs. All 2023 executive compensation decisions for our NEOs prior to the separation and distribution were made or overseen by the SITE Centers Compensation Committee, or the SITE Centers Committee, as further described below. Except as discussed below under “—Our Anticipated NEO Compensation Programs,” no decisions with respect to Curbline compensation for 2024 or any subsequent year for any of the NEOs have yet been made or implemented. We expect that further NEO compensation decisions for 2024 and future years will be made by the Curbline Compensation Committee following the separation and distribution.

 

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2023 Summary Compensation Table

The following table sets forth compensation information for our NEOs during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023:

 

(a)

   (b)      (c)      (d)      (e)      (f)      (g)      (h)  

Name and Principal Position

   Year      Salary
($)(1)
     Bonus
($)
     Stock
Awards
($)(2)
     Non-Equity
Incentive Plan
Compensation

($)(1)(3)
     All Other
Compensation

($)(4)
     Total
($)
 

David R. Lukes

     2023        900,000        —         3,550,043        2,250,000        40,607        6,740,650  

Chief Executive Officer and

President

                    

Conor M. Fennerty

     2023        575,000        —         1,902,419        900,000        18,930        3,396,349  

Executive Vice President, Chief

Financial Officer and Treasurer

                    

John M. Cattonar

     2023        475,000        —         1,458,668        750,000        12,399        2,696,067  

Executive Vice President and

Chief Investment Officer

                    

 

(1)

The amounts reported in columns (c) and (f) include amounts deferred into SITE Centers’ 401(k) plan (a qualified plan) by Messrs. Lukes, Fennerty and Cattonar for the year ended December 31, 2023 as follows: Mr. Lukes, $30,000; Mr. Fennerty, $22,500; and Mr. Cattonar, $22,500.

(2)

The amounts reported in column (e) reflect the aggregate grant date fair value computed in accordance with FASB Accounting Standards Codification, or ASC, Topic 718 of all stock awards granted during 2023. Assumptions used in the calculation of these amounts are included in footnote 13 to the financial statements included in SITE Centers’ Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023. The amounts reported in this column include:

 

   

for each of Messrs. Lukes, Fennerty and Cattonar, $2,591,211, $647,803, and $323,901, respectively, relating to the grant date fair value of performance-based restricted stock units (or PRSUs) granted in March 2023 in accordance with their employment agreements. The grant date fair value associated with the PRSU awards was computed in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718 and is based on the probable outcome of the performance condition, although the ultimate value of the awards could be as low as zero. Assuming achievement of maximum performance, the value as of the grant date of these PRSU awards made to Messrs. Lukes, Fennerty and Cattonar would be $5,182,422, $1,295,606, and $647,802, respectively. See “2023 Retention-Based and Performance-Based Equity Grants and Results” below for more information;

 

   

for each of Messrs. Lukes, Fennerty and Cattonar, $958,832, $239,738, and $119,889, respectively, relating to the grant date fair value of annual service-based restricted stock units (or RSUs) granted in accordance with their employment agreements and

 

   

for each of Messrs. Fennerty and Cattonar, $1,014,878 relating to the grant date fair value of service-based RSUs granted upon execution of their September 2023 employment agreements.

 

(3)

The amounts reported in column (f) reflect cash amounts earned by Messrs. Lukes, Fennerty and Cattonar as annual cash performance-based incentive compensation for 2023. For more information about the awards reported in this column, see “2023 Annual Incentive Compensation Decisions” below.

(4)

The amounts shown in column (g) for the NEOs include:

 

   

for Mr. Lukes, automobile service, reimbursement of personal disability/life insurance premiums of $25,000, matching contributions to the SITE Centers 401(k) plan and a matching contribution to the SITE Centers medical health savings account plan;

 

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for Mr. Fennerty, reimbursement of personal disability/life insurance premiums and matching contributions to the SITE Centers 401(k) plan and

 

   

for Mr. Cattonar, matching contributions to the SITE Centers 401(k) plan and disability insurance premiums.

None of the amounts reported for the NEOs in column (g), if not a perquisite or personal benefit, exceeds $10,000 or, if a perquisite or personal benefit, exceeds the greater of $25,000 or 10% of the total amount of perquisites and personal benefits, except as disclosed in this footnote.

2023 NEO Compensation Program

2023 Base Salary Levels

In 2023, SITE Centers paid salaries to our NEOs to provide them with a base level of income for services rendered. These base salaries were each originally established at the time of the NEO’s first employment with SITE Centers based on an analysis of the salaries paid to executives in comparable positions within the industry provided by SITE Centers’ compensation consultant, Gressle & McGinley.

Mr. Lukes’ base salary was originally established by SITE Centers in 2020, and was not adjusted for 2023. Base salaries for Messrs. Fennerty and Cattonar were established in 2021 in connection with their prior employment agreements with SITE Centers. In January 2023, the SITE Centers Committee increased both the base salary and target level of annual incentive pay for Mr. Fennerty from $450,000 to $600,000 and for Mr. Cattonar from $350,000 to $500,000, specifically in acknowledgement of their increased levels of experience and the competitive marketplace for similar executive talent. In evaluating these increases, the SITE Centers Committee considered an analysis prepared by Gressle & McGinley with respect to comparable positions at other REITs deemed similar to SITE Centers in property type, size or executive office location. No further adjustments were made to base salary levels for Messrs. Fennerty and Cattonar in connection with the execution of their September 15, 2023 employment agreements.

2023 Annual Incentive Compensation Design

In 2023, the employment agreements between SITE Centers and our NEOs specified threshold, target and maximum annual incentive opportunities as a percentage of year-end base salary. SITE Centers did not guarantee our NEOs an annual incentive payment and each NEO’s annual incentive payment could have been as low as zero or as high as the maximum amount set forth in his agreement based on the degree of achievement of corporate and individual performance measures established by the SITE Centers Committee in the beginning of 2023. Expressed in dollar values, the minimum, threshold, target and maximum annual incentive award payable to each of our NEOs for 2023 pursuant to the terms of his employment agreement, and the maximum amount expressed as a percentage of the NEO’s base salary, were as follows:

 

NAMED EXECUTIVE OFFICER

   DOLLAR VALUE OF      MAXIMUM
PAYOUT AS A
PERCENTAGE
OF BASE
SALARY
 
   MINIMUM
PAYOUT
     THRESHOLD
PAYOUT
     TARGET
PAYOUT
     MAXIMUM
PAYOUT
 

David R. Lukes

   $ 0      $ 675,000      $ 1,350,000      $ 2,250,000        250

Conor M. Fennerty

   $ 0      $ 300,000      $ 600,000      $ 900,000        150

John M. Cattonar

   $ 0      $ 250,000      $ 500,000      $ 750,000        150

The 2023 SITE Centers annual incentive compensation program was established by the SITE Centers Committee in March 2023 and used a combination of a SITE Centers-wide quantitative performance metric as well as qualitative objectives. In each case, the SITE Centers Committee believed that the performance measures were appropriate because their achievement was expected to contribute to SITE Centers’ long-term success and the creation of value for SITE Centers’ shareholders. The quantitative metric, namely Operating FFO, was designed to comprise 50% of the program’s overall assessment of each NEO’s performance for 2023. The remaining 50% of the annual incentive

 

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compensation program involved a qualitative assessment of each NEO’s performance, with consideration given to the achievement of pre-identified goals for which each NEO was individually responsible.

The quantitative component of SITE Centers’ 2023 executive incentive compensation program differed from the approach utilized in prior years’ SITE Centers executive incentive compensation programs (in which 30% of the annual incentive award was determined by reference to Operating FFO performance, 30% was determined by reference to adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (or Adjusted EBITDA) performance and 40% was determined based on the Committee’s qualitative assessment of performance). In early 2023, the SITE Centers Committee and management recognized that SITE Centers would likely seek to dispose a significant number of its properties during the year in pursuit of a strategy focused on convenience real estate and that the impact of those sales on SITE Centers’ revenues would make it difficult to adopt performance targets with respect to Adjusted EBITDA. In light of these strategic changes and their uncertain impact on quantitative 2023 results, and to help avoid a misalignment of the NEOs’ compensation interests with SITE Centers’ intended strategy, SITE Centers felt that it was appropriate to increase the weighting of the program’s qualitative assessment of performance from 40% to 50% in order to provide the SITE Centers Committee with sufficient control and flexibility to award levels of incentive pay commensurate with the NEOs’ actual performance in 2023.

The following charts identify the design of SITE Centers’ 2023 annual incentive compensation program, including the performance measures applicable to our NEOs, the range of performance in 2023 for which points were awarded in the SITE Centers scoring system and the weighting of each of the performance measures to the overall score. Within the performance range applicable to the quantitative metric, the program awarded from one to five points based on SITE Centers’ level of actual performance relative to break-points within the stated performance range on a formulaic, nondiscretionary basis. No points were to be earned on account of the quantitative measure to the extent actual performance was below the bottom end of the identified performance range. In the case of each individualized performance measure, the applicable NEO received from zero to five points based on the SITE Centers Committee’s subjective assessment of performance. After points were awarded for each performance measure, each NEO was given an overall score based on the weighting of each measure as indicated below. An overall score of one point corresponded to a “threshold” incentive payout, a score of three points corresponded to a “target” incentive payout and a score of five points corresponded to a “maximum” incentive payout, in each case as indicated in the applicable NEO’s employment agreement (with straight line interpolation applicable to scores between those break-points).

 

MR. LUKES’ PERFORMANCE MEASURES

   PERFORMANCE
RANGE
   MEASUREMENT
WEIGHTING
 

Operating FFO per share(1)

   $1.10 to $1.16      50

Committee’s Evaluation (general and administrative (or G&A) expense management; sustainability; transactions, etc.)

   0 to 5      50

 

MR. FENNERTY’S PERFORMANCE
MEASURES

   PERFORMANCE
RANGE
   MEASUREMENT
WEIGHTING
 

Operating FFO per share(1)

   $1.10 to $1.16      50

Committee’s Evaluation (G&A expense management, sustainability, investor relations, etc.)

   0 to 5      50

 

MR. CATTONAR’S PERFORMANCE
MEASURES

   PERFORMANCE
RANGE
   MEASUREMENT
WEIGHTING
 

Operating FFO per share(1)

   $1.10 to $1.16      50

Committee’s Evaluation (acquisitions and dispositions, etc.)

   0 to 5      50

 

(1)

FFO is a supplemental non-GAAP financial measure used as a standard in the real estate industry and is a widely accepted measure of REIT performance. FFO is generally defined and calculated by SITE Centers as

 

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  net income (loss) (computed in accordance with GAAP), adjusted to exclude: (a) preferred share dividends, (b) gains and losses from disposition of real estate property and related investments, which are presented net of taxes, (c) impairment charges on real estate property and related investments, and (d) certain non-cash items. These non-cash items principally include real property depreciation and amortization of intangibles, equity income (loss) from joint ventures and equity income (loss) from non-controlling interests and adding SITE Centers’ proportionate share of FFO from its unconsolidated joint ventures and non-controlling interests, determined on a consistent basis. SITE Centers’ calculation of FFO is consistent with the definition of FFO provided by the NAREIT. SITE Centers calculates Operating FFO by excluding certain non-operating charges, income and gains in order to allow investors to analyze the results of its operations and assess performance of its core operating real estate portfolio. Operating FFO provides additional indicators of the financial performance of a REIT. Operating FFO also more appropriately measures the core operations of SITE Centers and provides benchmarks to its peer group. Operating FFO is useful to investors as SITE Centers removes non-comparable charges, income and gains to analyze the results of its operations and assess performance of the core operating real estate portfolio. Other real estate companies may calculate Operating FFO in a different manner. For the limited purpose of determining 2023 executive incentive compensation, the SITE Centers Committee maintained discretion to make equitable adjustments to Operating FFO results based on the level and timing of tenant bankruptcies, acquisitions, dispositions, captive joint ventures and casualty events relative to management’s budgeted estimates for those items (but no such adjustments were ultimately made by the SITE Centers Committee). Within the performance range, the target level of Operating FFO per share was $1.13.

2023 Annual Incentive Compensation Decisions

With respect to the 2023 SITE Centers incentive compensation program’s quantitative metric, which comprised 50% of each NEO’s overall assessment of 2023 performance, SITE Centers achieved 2023 Operating FFO of $1.18 per share (as compared to the performance range of $1.10 to $1.16 per share). With respect to the qualitative components of the 2023 annual incentive compensation program, the SITE Centers Committee recognized the NEOs’ collective contributions to SITE Centers’ 2023 results of operations and also considered the following individual achievements in determining each NEO’s score with respect to his individual objectives:

 

   

For Mr. Lukes: leadership in formulating a strategy to create shareholder value through the planned separation and distribution of Curbline as the first publicly-traded REIT focused on the convenience properties subsector; leadership in consummating an elevated level of property dispositions at favorable pricing in order to launch the announcement of SITE Centers’ convenience separation and distribution strategy; achieving a portfolio “high-water” leased rate of 95.9% at March 31, 2023; and reduction of SITE Centers’ general and administrative expense levels in order to better align its cost structure with the size and needs of the organization.

 

   

For Mr. Fennerty: effective and transparent investor communication strategy with respect to the announcement of SITE Centers’ convenience separation and distribution strategy, which contributed to the relative outperformance of the SITE Centers’ common stock price subsequent to the announcement; analyzing and formulating optimal capital structures for SITE Centers and Curbline following consummation of the separation and distribution, including obtaining a lender commitment to provide a $1.1 billion mortgage facility with loan proceeds to be used to repay all of SITE Centers’ unsecured indebtedness prior to the separation and distribution date; closing a $380.6 million ($76.1 million at SITE Centers’ share) refinancing of the mortgage loan supporting SITE Centers’ DTP joint venture and a $100 million mortgage loan secured by Nassau Park Pavilion; leadership of SITE Centers’ sustainability reporting steering committee; and continued management of lender and rating agency relationships.

 

   

For Mr. Cattonar: continued development and use of personal relationships to optimize execution with respect to the sale of 22 shopping centers in 2023 for $966.6 million ($876.9 million at SITE Centers’ share); and building local relationships in target markets in order to source attractive acquisitions for

 

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SITE Centers’ convenience separation and distribution strategy, including the acquisition of 12 shopping centers in 2023 for an aggregate price of approximately $165.1 million.

Based on Operating FFO results and qualitative assessments, the SITE Centers’ Committee determined that Messrs. Lukes, Fennerty, and Cattonar had achieved the maximum overall level of performance under the 2023 incentive compensation program (in other words, 5 points in the scoring system described above), thereby entitling Messrs. Lukes, Fennerty and Cattonar to 2023 incentive payments of $2,250,000, $900,000, and $750,000, respectively (which represented the maximum incentive award opportunity under their respective employment agreements as in effect with SITE Centers in 2023).

Mr. Lukes’ employment agreement (as in effect with SITE Centers in 2023) entitled him to elect to receive all or a portion his annual incentive compensation in the form of RSUs (in lieu of cash), which RSUs would be subject to a ratable three-year vesting schedule and a 20% increase. In October 2023, Mr. Lukes elected to receive his 2023 annual incentive compensation payout entirely in the form of cash. In accordance with their employment agreements (as in effect with SITE Centers in 2023), annual incentive payments were provided to Messrs. Fennerty and Cattonar in cash.

2023 Retention-Based and Performance-Based Equity Grants and Results

RSU and PRSU amounts reflected in this section do not take into account SITE Centers’ one-for-four reverse stock split on August 16, 2024.

Service-Based RSUs Awarded in Connection with the Execution of September 2023 Employment Agreements. Each of Messrs. Fennerty and Cattonar received an award of 74,187 service-based RSUs in connection with the execution of his September 15, 2023 employment agreement with SITE Centers. Both of these awards generally vest 10%, 10%, 10%, 10% and 60% on each of the first five anniversaries of the grant date, in order to promote SITE Centers’ retention of such officers, and had a value at inception of approximately $1,000,000. Dividend equivalents credited with respect to these RSUs will be paid in cash on a current basis.

Annual Service-Based RSU Awards. Pursuant to the terms of their employment agreements (as in effect with SITE Centers in 2023), on February 22, 2023, Messrs. Lukes, Fennerty and Cattonar were granted 72,915, 18,231 and 9,117 service-based RSUs, respectively, having a value of approximately $1 million, $250,000 and $125,000, respectively, which grants generally vest in substantially equal installments on each of the first three anniversaries of the grant date. Dividend equivalents credited with respect to these RSUs will be paid in cash on a current basis.

2023 Performance-Based RSU Awards. Pursuant to the terms of their employment agreements (as in effect with SITE Centers in 2023), on March 1, 2023, Messrs. Lukes, Fennerty and Cattonar were granted 147,373, 36,843, and 18,422 PRSUs, respectively, subject generally to a performance period beginning on March 1, 2023 and ending on February 28, 2026 and having “target” values of approximately $2,000,000, $500,000, and $250,000, respectively (excluding accrued dividends). These PRSUs become payable to the NEOs at the end of the performance period, if at all, based on the percentile rank of the total shareholder return (or TSR) of SITE Centers measured over the performance period as compared to the total shareholder return of a particular set of peer companies during such period as shown below (with straight-line interpolation between levels):

 

PERFORMANCE LEVEL

  

  RELATIVE TSR   

   PERCENTAGE
EARNED
 

Below Threshold

   Below 33rd percentile      0

Threshold

   33rd percentile      50

Target

   55th percentile      100

Maximum

   70th percentile or above      200

For these purposes, SITE Centers’ peer companies consist of Acadia Realty Trust, Brixmor Property Group Inc., Federal Realty Investment Trust, Kimco Realty Corporation, Kite Realty Group Trust, Phillips Edison & Company Inc., Regency Centers Corporation, Retail Opportunity Investments Corp., RPT Realty, Saul Centers

 

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Inc., Tanger Factory Outlet Centers, Urban Edge Properties and Urstadt Biddle Properties. These 13 entities were chosen because they were considered to be most similar to SITE Centers in terms of the economic forces that impact their financial performance and the trading characteristics of their common stock. For purposes of determining TSR, dividends paid on SITE Centers’ common shares during the performance period are deemed reinvested in additional common shares of SITE Centers. In accordance with the terms of the PRSU awards, Urstadt Biddle Properties and RPT Realty were eliminated from SITE Centers’ list of peer companies when they were acquired in August 2023 and January 2024, respectively.

More information about the treatment of each of the awards described above in connection with the separation and distribution is provided under “The Company’s Separation from SITE Centers—Treatment of Outstanding SITE Centers Equity Incentive Awards” appearing elsewhere in this Information Statement.

Settlement of 2020 Performance-Based RSU Awards for Messrs. Lukes and Fennerty. On March 1, 2020, in accordance with the terms of their prior employment agreements with SITE Centers, SITE Centers granted Messrs. Lukes and Fennerty PRSUs having a performance period ending on February 28, 2023 and a target value (excluding accrued dividends) of approximately $3 million and $225,000, respectively. The potential payouts for these PRSUs based on relative TSR achievement utilized the same scale as described above for the SITE Centers 2023 PRSUs. Based on SITE Centers’ relative TSR during the three-year period ended February 28, 2023, this award paid out at the maximum level in March 2023, and Messrs. Lukes and Fennerty received 520,520 and 39,039 SITE Centers common shares (which included payment for accrued dividends) having a market value of $6,959,357 and $521,957, respectively, based on the closing price of SITE Centers’ common shares on February 28, 2023.

More information concerning the terms of the employment agreements, including the equity compensation granted to the executives thereunder, is provided below under “—SITE Centers Employment Agreements in Effect in 2023.”

Other 2023 Benefits and Information

Perquisites and Fringe Benefits. The NEOs received certain additional benefits from SITE Centers during 2023. The SITE Centers Committee believed that these benefits were reasonable and consistent with its overall compensation program and better enabled SITE Centers to attract and retain superior executive talent.

For 2023, each of Messrs. Lukes, Fennerty and Cattonar were eligible for participation in SITE Centers’ health, life, disability and other insurance plans, sick leave, reasonable vacation time, and other customary fringe benefits generally on terms available to SITE Centers’ other employees.

Pursuant to his employment agreement (as in effect with SITE Centers in 2023), Mr. Lukes was entitled to automobile service for business and personal use. The benefit includes all reasonable related maintenance, repairs, parking, gasoline, insurance and other reasonable costs and expenses.

Pursuant to their employment agreements (as in effect with SITE Centers in 2023), Messrs. Lukes and Fennerty were entitled to reimbursement (up to an aggregate maximum in any calendar year of $25,000 for Mr. Lukes and $10,000 for Mr. Fennerty) for premiums for life, disability and/or similar insurance policies.

Retirement Benefits. In 2023, SITE Centers maintained a customary tax qualified 401(k) plan for its employees pursuant to which SITE Centers made semi-monthly matching contributions during 2023 equal to 50% of each participant’s contribution, up to 6% of the sum of his or her base salary plus annual cash performance-based incentive, not to exceed 3% of the sum of the participant’s base salary plus annual cash performance-based incentive, subject to Internal Revenue Code limits.

Elective Deferred Compensation Plan. In 2023, our NEOs were entitled to participate in SITE Centers’ Elective Deferred Compensation Plan. Pursuant to the Elective Deferred Compensation Plan, certain SITE Centers

 

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officers can defer up to 100% of their base salaries and annual cash performance-based incentives, less applicable taxes and authorized benefits deductions. SITE Centers’ Elective Deferred Compensation Plan is a nonqualified plan and is an unsecured, general obligation of SITE Centers, and SITE Centers has established and funded a “rabbi” trust to satisfy its payment obligations under this plan. SITE Centers provides a matching contribution to any participant who defers compensation into SITE Centers’ Elective Deferred Compensation Plan equal to the difference between (1) up to 3% of the sum of the participant’s base salary and annual cash performance-based incentive eligible for deferral under SITE Centers’ 401(k) plan and the Elective Deferred Compensation Plan, combined, and (2) the actual employer matching contribution provided under the SITE Centers 401(k) plan. Earnings on a participant’s deferred account are based on the results of the investment options available in the SITE Centers’ Elective Deferred Compensation Plan that are selected by the participant (which are similar to the investment options available under the above-described 401(k) plan). Settlement is generally made in cash at a date determined by the participant at the time a deferral election is made. None of our NEOs elected to defer any portion of his 2023 cash compensation pursuant to SITE Centers’ Elective Deferred Compensation Plan. In connection with the separation and distribution, Curbline is implementing its own Elective Deferred Compensation Plan (and the balance of Mr. Lukes’ account under the SITE Centers’ Elective Deferred Compensation Plan will be transferred to Curbline’s Elective Deferred Compensation Plan).

Equity Deferred Compensation Plan. Under SITE Centers’ Equity Deferred Compensation Plan, certain officers of SITE Centers, including our NEOs, had the right to defer the receipt of RSUs earned under any SITE Centers equity compensation plan in 2023. None of our NEOs elected to defer 2023 service-based RSUs pursuant to the SITE Centers Equity Deferred Compensation Plan. The Equity Deferred Compensation Plan was terminated by SITE Centers in early 2024.

SITE Centers Employment Agreements in Effect in 2023

This section provides a description of our NEOs’ employment agreements that were in effect with SITE Centers in 2023. On July 18, 2024, SITE Centers entered into a new employment agreement with Mr. Lukes, the details of which are described below. In addition, on September 1, 2024, SITE Centers assigned our NEOs’ SITE Centers employment agreements to Curbline and a subsidiary of Curbline in preparation for the separation and distribution.

During 2023, SITE Centers was a party to employment agreements with each of our NEOs. On September 15, 2023, SITE Centers entered into new employment agreements with Messrs. Fennerty and Cattonar, which new agreements superseded and replaced their prior employment agreements on a going-forward basis, largely because the prior employment agreements were scheduled to terminate in February 2024 and May 2024, respectively. The key terms of the SITE Centers employment agreements in effect with our NEOs on December 31, 2023 (which included customary non-competition and non-solicitation restrictive covenants that extend for one year following termination and perpetual confidentiality and mutual non-disparagement restrictive covenants) are described below (RSU and PRSU amounts reflected in this section do not reflect SITE Centers’ one-for-four reverse stock split on August 16, 2024):

 

Key Terms

 

David R. Lukes

 

Conor M. Fennerty

 

John M. Cattonar

Date of Agreement

  September 11, 2020   September 15, 2023   September 15, 2023

Term of Agreement

  September 11, 2024   September 30, 2026   September 30, 2026

Annual Base Salary Rate

  $900,000   $600,000   $500,000

Annual Cash Incentive Compensation

  Target award of 150% of year-end base salary(1)   Target award of 100% of year-end base salary   Target award of 100% of year-end base salary

Initial Equity Grants Under Employment Agreement

  190,696 SITE Centers service-based RSUs (or Upfront RSUs) generally vesting over four years, plus 190,695 Upfront RSUs   74,187 Upfront RSUs generally vesting 10%, 10%, 10%, 10% and 60% on the first, second, third, fourth and fifth   74,187 Upfront RSUs generally vesting 10%, 10%, 10%, 10% and 60% on the first, second, third, fourth and fifth

 

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Key Terms

 

David R. Lukes

 

Conor M. Fennerty

 

John M. Cattonar

  generally vesting on the fourth anniversary of the grant date (or Cliff Vest Upfront RSUs)   anniversaries of the grant date   anniversaries of the grant date

Annual Equity Grants Under Employment Agreement

  In each of 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024: $1,000,000 in SITE Centers service- based RSUs (or Annual RSUs) generally vesting over three years, plus $2,000,000 in “target” SITE Centers PRSUs (or Annual PRSUs)(2)   In each of 2024, 2025 and 2026: $250,000 in Annual RSUs generally vesting over four years, plus $600,000 in “target” Annual PRSUs   In each of 2024, 2025 and 2026: $150,000 in Annual RSUs generally vesting over four years, plus $600,000 in “target” Annual PRSUs

Other Ongoing Terms

  Annual automobile service, and annual reimbursement for $25,000 in life, disability and similar insurance premiums   Annual reimbursement for $10,000 in life, disability and similar insurance premiums   N/A

 

(1)

Mr. Lukes was entitled to elect, generally no later than October 31 of each calendar year, to receive up to 100% of his SITE Centers annual cash incentive payout (if any) for such calendar year in the form of a grant of SITE Centers service-based RSUs equal in value to 120% of the portion of the SITE Centers annual cash incentive subject to the election, and generally vesting in substantially equal installments on the first three anniversaries of the grant date (or Annual Bonus RSUs).

(2)

Payout for Annual PRSUs may vary from 0% to 200% of the target award based on achievement with respect to performance objectives established by the SITE Centers Committee in consultation with Mr. Lukes measured over a three-year performance period, provided that no less than 50% of the aggregate target Annual PRSUs each year will vest based on SITE Centers’ relative total shareholder return achievement.

The September 15, 2023 SITE Centers agreements with Messrs. Fennerty and Cattonar contained compensation structures which were generally consistent with the compensation structures set forth in their prior SITE Centers employment agreements and with the compensation structure set forth in Mr. Lukes’ September 2020 SITE Centers employment agreement. In terms of specific changes, each of the September 2023 SITE Centers employment agreements generally set the NEO’s annual base salary rate (as further described above), and provided for the grant of SITE Centers service-based RSUs and annual SITE Centers PRSUs starting in 2024 (as further described above). The September 15, 2023 SITE Centers agreements also made certain non-substantive, conforming and clarifying changes compared to the prior SITE Centers employment agreements.

Each of the employment agreements that were in effect in 2023 could have been terminated under a variety of circumstances. The SITE Centers Board had the right to terminate an employment agreement for “cause” if the NEO engaged in certain specified conduct, for “disability” if the NEO was disabled for a specified period of time, or at any other time without cause by giving the NEO at least 90 days’ prior written notice. The NEO also has the right to terminate his employment agreement for “good reason” in certain specified circumstances or at any other time without good reason by giving SITE Centers at least 90 days’ prior written notice.

Change in Control and Related Provisions in SITE Centers Employment Agreements in Effect in 2023

The NEOs (or their personal representatives or dependents, as appropriate) were entitled under the above-described SITE Centers employment agreements to certain additional payments and benefits in the event of certain termination circumstances during the agreement term, including in connection with a change in control of SITE

 

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Centers. As discussed further below, on September 1, 2024, SITE Centers revised our NEOs’ employment agreements and assigned them to Curbline and a subsidiary of Curbline in preparation for the separation and distribution. Following the separation and distribution, the change in control provisions of such revised employment agreements will be explicitly tied to a change in control of Curbline, rather than a change in control of SITE Centers.

In general, inclusion of change in control provisions in the SITE Centers employment agreements was determined appropriate because such agreements would help ensure a continuity of SITE Centers management during a potential change in control of SITE Centers and help ensure that SITE Centers management would remain focused on completing a transaction that would be likely to maximize shareholder value of SITE Centers. The payment of change in control compensation was also determined appropriate because the NEO might forego other opportunities at the time of the change in control of SITE Centers. For information concerning the amounts payable upon a change in control of SITE Centers measured as of December 29, 2023, the last trading day of the year, see the “—Certain Potential SITE Centers Retirement and Termination or Change in Control Benefits” section below. The table below summarizes the benefits to which our NEOs were entitled under the SITE Centers employment agreements in effect on December 29, 2023 in the event of certain termination scenarios (over and above accrued compensation and benefits):

 

Termination Without Cause

or for Good Reason

  

Termination Due to Death or
Disability

  

“Triggering Event”(1) Within

Two Years After a “Change in
Control”(2)

•  Lump sum in cash equal to 1.5 times (two times for Mr. Lukes) sum of (a) base salary plus (b) average of the annual incentives earned in the three fiscal years preceding the year of termination (or Average Bonus) disregarding any enhanced value received based on any election by Mr. Lukes to receive Annual Bonus RSUs in lieu of cash for any annual incentive;

 

•  Lump sum in cash equal to the annual incentive that would have been earned for the year of termination based on actual performance, pro-rated based on the NEO’s period of service during such year (or Pro-Rata Actual Bonus);

 

•  Lump sum in cash equal to 18 months of monthly insurance premiums for health, dental and vision benefits and the employer portion of the premium for other insurance provided by SITE Centers, or the 18-month Health Benefit) and

 

•  Vesting of Annual Bonus RSUs, Upfront RSUs, Cliff Vest Upfront RSUs, Annual RSUs and Annual PRSUs based on level of performance to date, or the Accelerated Award Vesting).

  

•  Lump sum in cash equal to the target annual incentive for year of termination, pro-rated based on the NEO’s period of service during such year (or Pro-Rata Target Bonus);

 

•  18-month Health Benefit and

 

•  Accelerated Award Vesting.

  

•  Lump sum in cash equal to 2.5 times (three times for Mr. Lukes) sum of (a) base salary plus (b) Average Bonus;

 

•  Pro-Rata Target Bonus;

 

•  18-month Health Benefit and

 

•  Accelerated Award Vesting.

 

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(1)

“Triggering Event” is the occurrence of one of the following within two years after a SITE Centers “Change in Control”: (a) SITE Centers terminates the employment of the NEO, other than in the case of a termination for “Cause” (as defined in the applicable SITE Centers employment agreement), a termination following disability, or a termination based on death; or (b) the NEO terminates his employment for “Good Reason” (as defined in the applicable SITE Centers employment agreement).

(2)

A SITE Centers “Change in Control” generally occurs if: (a) there is a consummation of a consolidation or merger in which SITE Centers is not the surviving corporation, the sale of substantially all of SITE Centers’ assets, or the liquidation or dissolution of SITE Centers; (b) any person or other entity (subject to certain exceptions) purchases SITE Centers shares (or securities convertible into SITE Centers shares) pursuant to a tender or exchange offer without the prior consent of the SITE Centers Board, or becomes the beneficial owner of 30% or more of the voting power of SITE Centers outstanding securities without the prior consent of the SITE Centers Board; or (c) during any two-year period, SITE Centers experiences a turnover of a majority of the directors on the SITE Centers Board (subject to certain exceptions for replacement directors approved by at least two-thirds of the directors serving at the beginning of such period, but specifically excluding certain replacement directors elected in connection with an election or proxy contest).

New SITE Centers Employment Agreement Entered into With Mr. Lukes During 2024

On July 18, 2024, SITE Centers entered into a new employment agreement with Mr. Lukes, referred to as the 2024 Lukes Agreement, which was designed to extend and ultimately replace his prior employment agreement (referred to as the 2020 Lukes Agreement) that was scheduled to expire in September 2024. The 2024 Lukes Agreement primarily did two things. First, it extended and continued the 2020 Lukes Agreement until the earlier of the separation and distribution or March 11, 2025 (six months after the 2020 Lukes Agreement would have otherwise terminated by its terms), in order to facilitate the completion of the separation and distribution. Second, the 2024 Lukes Agreement established and evidenced the terms on which Mr. Lukes is expected to serve as our Chief Executive Officer and President during the three-year period immediately following our separation from SITE Centers.

 

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As discussed further below, SITE Centers revised the 2024 Lukes Agreement and assigned it to Curbline and a subsidiary of Curbline on September 1, 2024, in preparation for the separation and distribution (at the same time such action was also taken for the other NEOs’ employment agreements). The key terms of the 2024 Lukes Agreement (which includes customary non-competition and non-solicitation restrictive covenants that extend for one year following termination and perpetual confidentiality and mutual non-disparagement restrictive covenants) are described below:

 

Key Terms

  

David R. Lukes

Date of 2024 Lukes Agreement

   July 18, 2024

Term of 2024 Lukes Agreement

   The 2024 Lukes Agreement extends the operation of the 2020 Lukes Agreement until the earlier of the separation and distribution and March 11, 2025, in order to facilitate the separation and distribution. Contingent upon the occurrence of the separation and distribution prior to March 11, 2025, the 2024 Lukes Agreement extends until the third anniversary of the date on which the separation and distribution occurs

Annual Cash Base Salary Rate

   $50,000

Salary Equity Award

   After the separation and distribution, $2,700,000 service-based limited partnership units in the Operating Partnership (or LTIP units) generally vesting over four years, referred to as the Salary Equity Award, reflecting the equivalent of additional annual salary of $750,000 per year over three years, plus a 20% premium due to the form of payment being made in LTIP units rather than cash

Annual Cash Incentive Compensation

   Target annual award of $1,000,000(1)

Other Initial Equity Grant Under 2024 Lukes Agreement

   After the separation and distribution, a grant of performance-based LTIP units (target value $7.2 million), which we refer to as the Performance Equity Award(2)

Annual Equity Grants Under 2024 Lukes Agreement

   Assuming the separation and distribution occurs in 2024, by March 15 of each of 2025, 2026 and 2027, a grant of $800,000 in service-based LTIP units (or service-based Curbline restricted stock, at Mr. Lukes’ timely election) generally vesting over three years, referred to as the Annual Award

Certain Other Terms

   Annual reimbursement for $25,000 in life, disability and similar insurance premiums, plus (if requested by Mr. Lukes) Curbline-provided automobile service

 

(1)

As discussed further below, the 2024 annual incentive award opportunity for Mr. Lukes originally established by the SITE Centers Committee in the beginning of 2024 is being paid by SITE Centers on a truncated and pro-rated basis, reflecting Mr. Lukes’ service to SITE Centers up to the separation and distribution date, based on actual achievement up to the separation and distribution date as determined by the SITE Centers Committee. We expect that we will establish our own annual incentive award opportunity for Mr. Lukes for the portion of 2024 remaining after the separation and distribution (and future years) based on this target value (with a related threshold value of $500,000 per year and maximum value of $2,000,000 per year).

(2)

Vesting for the Performance Equity Award will vary from 0% to 250% of target value based on achievement with respect to metrics established by the Curbline Compensation Committee (in consultation with Mr. Lukes) prior to the date of grant, provided that no less than 50% of the Performance Equity Award will vest based on our relative total shareholder return achievement. In general, the Performance Equity Award will be earned based on performance evaluated at the end of approximately three-year, four-year and five-year performance periods regarding 25%, 25% and 50%, respectively, of the award (with opportunities

 

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  at the end of the four-year and five-year performance periods to earn amounts that had not been earned at the end of the prior performance periods, up to the total cap of 250% of the target amount of such award). The Performance Equity Award will earn distributions paid in cash on a deferred and contingent basis.

In addition, Mr. Lukes will be eligible to participate in all retirement and other benefit plans maintained by us that are generally available to our senior executives and for which he is eligible. The 2024 Lukes Agreement also includes customary indemnification provisions, and provides for the reimbursement of certain legal fees and expenses, including fees and expenses incurred in relation to enforcement of the 2024 Lukes Agreement, plus provisions applying both of SITE Centers’ and our clawback policies in effect from time to time to the 2024 Lukes Agreement.

The LTIP units described above are expected to be structured to enable them to qualify as “profits interests” for U.S. federal income tax purposes under current federal income tax law. As a result, the LTIP units will generally only have value (other than with respect to the right to receive distributions) to the extent that they receive sufficient allocations of book gain for tax purposes, after which LTIP units that have vested can be redeemed for cash or shares of Curbline common stock.

The 2024 Lukes Agreement may be terminated under a variety of circumstances. The Curbline Board has the right to terminate the employment agreement for “cause” if Mr. Lukes engages in certain specified conduct, for “disability” if Mr. Lukes is disabled for a specified period of time, or at any other time without cause by giving Mr. Lukes at least 90 days’ prior written notice. Mr. Lukes also has the right to terminate his employment agreement for “good reason” in certain specified circumstances or at any other time without good reason by giving us at least 90 days’ prior written notice.

Change in Control and Related Provisions in 2024 Lukes Agreement

Similar to provisions under the 2020 Lukes Agreement, Mr. Lukes (or his personal representative or dependents, as appropriate) is entitled under the 2024 Lukes Agreement to certain additional payments and benefits in the event of certain terminations occurring during the agreement’s term, including in connection with a change in control. On September 1, 2024, the 2024 Lukes Agreement was revised and assigned to Curbline and a subsidiary of Curbline in preparation for the separation and distribution, and following the separation and distribution the agreement’s change of control and related severance arrangements is explicitly tied to a change in control of Curbline, rather than a change in control of SITE Centers. Prior to the separation and distribution, change in control and related severance arrangements will be determined and provided by SITE Centers generally as set forth in the 2020 Lukes Agreement.

In general, inclusion of change in control provisions in the 2024 Lukes Agreement was determined appropriate primarily because such agreement would help ensure a continuity of Curbline management during a potential change in control of Curbline and help ensure that Mr. Lukes would remain focused on completing a transaction that would be likely to maximize shareholder value of Curbline. The payment of change in control compensation was also determined appropriate because Mr. Lukes might forego other opportunities at the time of the change in control of Curbline. The table below summarizes the currently-anticipated benefits to which Mr. Lukes would be

 

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entitled under the 2024 Lukes Agreement in the event of certain termination scenarios following our separation from SITE Centers (over and above accrued compensation and benefits):

 

Termination Without Cause

or for Good Reason

  

Termination Due to Death or
Disability

  

“Triggering Event”(1) Within

Two Years After a “Change in
Control”(2)

•  Lump sum in cash equal to two times sum of (a) $800,000 plus (b) average of the annual incentives earned in the three fiscal years preceding the year of termination (or Lukes Average Bonus);

 

•  Lump sum in cash equal to the annual incentive that would have been earned for the year of termination based on actual performance, pro-rated based on Mr. Lukes’ period of service during such year (or Lukes Pro-Rata Actual Bonus);

 

•  Lump sum in cash equal to 18 months of monthly insurance premiums for health, dental and vision benefits and the employer portion of the premium for other insurance provided by Curbline, or the Lukes 18-month Health Benefit and

 

•  Vesting of Salary Equity Award (pro-rated, and based on three required years of service), Performance Equity Award and any Annual Award, including based on level of performance to date (referred to as the Lukes Accelerated Award Vesting)

  

•  Lump sum in cash equal to the target annual incentive for year of termination, pro-rated based on Mr. Lukes’ period of service during such year (or Lukes Pro-Rata Target Bonus);

 

•  Lukes 18-month Health Benefit and

 

•  Lukes Accelerated Award Vesting

  

•  Lump sum in cash equal to three times sum of (a) $800,000 plus (b) Lukes Average Bonus;

 

•  Lukes Pro-Rata Target Bonus;

 

•  Lukes 18-month Health Benefit and

 

•  Lukes Accelerated Award Vesting

 

(1)

“Triggering Event” is the occurrence (after the separation and distribution) of one of the following within two years after a Curbline “Change in Control”: (a) Curbline terminates the employment of Mr. Lukes, other than in the case of a termination for “Cause” (as defined in the 2024 Lukes Agreement), a termination following disability, or a termination based on death; or (b) Mr. Lukes terminates his employment for “Good Reason” (as defined in the 2024 Lukes Agreement).

(2)

A Curbline “Change in Control” generally occurs (after the separation and distribution) if: (a) there is a consummation of a reorganization, merger or consolidation in which Curbline is not the surviving corporation (subject to certain limited exceptions as described in the 2024 Lukes Agreement), the sale of all or substantially all of Curbline’s assets, or the acquisition of assets of another corporation or certain other transactions constituting a “Business Combination” (subject to terms and limited exceptions as described in the 2024 Lukes Agreement); (b) any person or other entity (subject to certain exceptions) purchases Curbline shares (or securities convertible into Curbline shares) pursuant to a tender or exchange offer without the prior consent of the Curbline Board, or becomes the beneficial owner of 30% or more of the voting power of Curbline outstanding securities without the prior consent of the Curbline Board; (c) during any two-year period, Curbline experiences a turnover of a majority of the directors on the Curbline Board (subject to certain exceptions for replacement directors approved by at least two-thirds of the directors serving at the beginning of such period, but specifically excluding certain replacement directors elected in connection with an election or proxy contest); or (d) stockholder approval of the liquidation or dissolution of Curbline, subject to limited exceptions described in the 2024 Lukes Agreement.

 

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Outstanding Equity Awards at 2023 Fiscal Year-End Table(1)

The following table provides information about outstanding SITE Centers equity awards for each of our NEOs as of December 31, 2023. More information about the treatment of each of the awards described in this table in connection with the separation and distribution is provided under “The Company’s Separation from SITE Centers—Treatment of Outstanding SITE Centers Equity Incentive Awards” appearing elsewhere in this Information Statement.

 

     Stock Awards  

Name

   Grant
Date
     Number of
Shares or
Units of
Stock That
Have Not
Vested (#)(2)
     Market
Value

of Shares or
Units of
Stock That
Have Not
Vested ($)(3)
     Equity
Incentive
Plan Awards:
Number of
Unearned
Shares, Units
or Other
Rights

That Have
Not Vested
(#)(4)
     Equity
Incentive
Plan Awards:
Market or
Payout Value
of Unearned
Shares, Units
or Other Rights
That Have Not
Vested ($)(3)(4)
 

David R. Lukes

     various        447,713        6,102,328        —         —   
     3/1/2021        —         —         173,443        2,364,034  
     3/1/2022        —         —         140,484        1,914,790  
     3/1/2023        —         —         154,725        2,108,908  

Conor M. Fennerty

     various        127,155        1,733,123        —         —   
     3/1/2021        —         —         43,361        591,008  
     3/1/2022        —         —         35,121        478,698  
     3/1/2023        —         —         38,681        527,223  

John M. Cattonar

     various        97,371        1,327,167        —         —   
     3/1/2022        —         —         17,561        239,356  
     3/1/2023        —         —         19,341        263,619  

 

(1)

Except as otherwise indicated, the information in the Outstanding Equity Awards at 2023 Fiscal Year-End Table and its footnotes is provided as of December 31, 2023 (and RSU and PRSU amounts (and related market or payout values or per share amounts) reflected in this table and its footnotes do not reflect SITE Centers’ one-for-four reverse stock split on August 16, 2024).

(2)

The amounts in this column with respect to the following NEOs reflect service-based RSUs that generally vest or vested as follows:

 

Mr. Lukes (#)

    Mr. Fennerty (#)     Mr. Cattonar (#)    

Vesting Dates

  71,457       23,781       1,148     February 22, 2024
  43,818       10,956       5,478     February 22, 2024 and 2025
  72,915       18,231       9,117     February 22, 2024, 2025 and 2026
  —        —        7,441     May 11, 2024
  259,523       —        —      September 11, 2024
  —        29,676       29,676     September 15, 2024, 2025, 2026, 2027
  —        44,511       44,511     September 15, 2028
  447,713       127,155       97,371     Total

 

(3)

These amounts were calculated based upon the closing price of SITE Centers’ common shares on December 29, 2023, the last trading day of the year, of $13.63.

(4)

For Messrs. Lukes and Fennerty, represents the “target” number of shares that could be earned under outstanding SITE Centers PRSUs for the performance period beginning on March 1, 2021 and ending on February 28, 2024 (the second row), the performance period beginning on March 1, 2022 and ending on February 29, 2025 (the third row) and the performance period beginning on March 1, 2023 and ending on February 28, 2026 (the fourth row). For Mr. Cattonar, represents the “target” number of shares that could be earned under outstanding SITE Centers PRSUs for the performance period beginning on March 1, 2022 and ending on February 28, 2025 (the second row) and the performance period beginning on March 1, 2023 and ending on February 28, 2026 (the third row). Consistent with the terms of these PRSUs, the payout values include dividend equivalents accrued under the PRSU awards from the date of grant through December 31, 2023. These awards are described more fully under “—2023 Retention-Based and Performance-Based Equity Grants and Results” above.

 

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Certain Potential SITE Centers Retirement and Termination or Change in Control Benefits

As discussed further below, Curbline and a Curbline subsidiary have assumed employment agreements, and/or expect to enter into certain agreements and maintain certain plans and policies, that will require us to provide certain compensation and other benefits to our NEOs in the event of a termination of employment or a change in control of the Company.

Based on a hypothetical termination and/or change in control of SITE Centers occurring on December 29, 2023, the following tables describe the potential payments upon such termination or change in control owing to each NEO then serving at the end of the year under his employment agreement and other arrangements in effect with SITE Centers on December 29, 2023. Please note in particular that such potential payments are based on the NEOs’ employment agreements then in effect with SITE Centers. Further, the terms and conditions of the NEOs’ employment agreements, and any applicable Company policies and compensation arrangements, as in effect after the separation and distribution will govern any potential payments for actual terminations or a change in control of the Company.

 

EVENT

   DAVID R.
LUKES

($)
     CONOR M.
FENNERTY

($)
     JOHN M.
CATTONAR

($)
 

Retirement or other Voluntary Termination (without Good Reason)

        

Accrued Vacation(1)

     34,615        23,077        19,231  

Total

     34,615        23,077        19,231  

Involuntary Not for Cause or Good Reason Termination

        

Cash Severance(2)

     5,700,000        1,725,000        1,387,500  

Unvested Restricted Stock Units

     6,102,328        1,733,123        1,327,167  

Unvested Performance-Based Equity Awards(3)

     6,387,732        1,596,929        502,975  

COBRA Payment(4)

     66,737        60,961        30,996  

Accrued Vacation(1)

     34,615        23,077        19,231  

Total

     18,291,412        5,139,090        3,267,869  

For Cause Termination

        

No Payments

     N/A        N/A        N/A  

Total

     N/A        N/A        N/A  

Involuntary or Good Reason Termination

(in Connection with a Change in Control)

        

Cash Severance(2)

     8,550,000        2,875,000        2,312,500  

Unvested Restricted Stock Units

     6,102,328        1,733,123        1,327,167  

Unvested Performance-Based Equity Awards(3)

     6,387,732        1,596,929        502,975  

COBRA Payment(4)

     66,737        60,961        30,996  

Accrued Vacation(1)

     34,615        23,077        19,231  

Total

     21,141,412        6,289,090        4,192,869  

Disability

        

Cash Severance(2)

     1,950,000        550,000        925,000  

Unvested Restricted Stock Units

     6,102,328        1,733,123        1,327,167  

Unvested Performance-Based Equity Awards(3)

     6,387,732        1,596,929        502,975  

COBRA Payment(4)

     66,737        60,961        30,996  

Disability Insurance Proceeds(5)

     1,145,722        1,961,664        3,020,284  

Accrued Vacation(1)

     34,615        23,077        19,231  

Total

     15,687,134        5,925,754        5,825,653  

Death

        

Cash Severance(2)

     1,950,000        550,000        925,000  

Unvested Restricted Stock Units

     6,102,328        1,733,123        1,327,167  

Unvested Performance-Based Equity Awards(3)

     6,387,732        1,596,929        502,975  

COBRA Payment(4)

     66,737        60,961        30,996  

Accrued Vacation(1)

     34,615        23,077        19,231  

Total(6)

     14,541,412        3,964,090        2,805,369  

 

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(1)

Assumes two weeks of personal time off (or PTO) is paid pursuant to SITE Centers’ current PTO policy.

(2)

Reported amounts calculated pursuant to the terms of the respective SITE Centers employment agreement, if applicable, assuming an annual incentive payout for 2023 at the “target” level (except in the case of termination in connection with a change in control), payable in a lump sum. Assumes any accrued base salary and annual incentive for 2023 have been paid, due to evaluation as of the last business day of the year.

(3)

As of December 29, 2023, SITE Centers’ relative TSR during the performance periods applicable to the three-year PRSUs issued to Messrs. Lukes and Fennerty on March 1, 2021 and to Messrs. Lukes, Fennerty and Cattonar on March 1, 2022 and March 1, 2023 had each exceeded their “threshold” requirements set forth in the applicable awards, and therefore, each of these awards is included in the respective reported amount for each NEO assuming “target” value. These values assume no SITE Centers replacement awards are granted in the event of a SITE Centers Change of Control.

(4)

Reported amounts consist of an estimate of 18 months of monthly COBRA premiums for SITE Centers health, dental and vision benefits and the employer portion of the premium for other insurance provided by SITE Centers.

(5)

Reported amounts consist of an estimate of payments for long-term disability using a present value calculation that takes into account (a) age and total payments over the benefit term assuming that the disability occurs on December 29, 2023, and (b) a discount rate based on the rate for the Treasury security with a similar term. In general, benefits are available until age 65.

(6)

Reported amounts do not include payments under personal life insurance policies arranged and obtained by the NEOs for which SITE Centers reimburses the premium (subject to caps on reimbursement set forth in the applicable NEO’s employment agreement).

Our Anticipated NEO Compensation Programs

We believe the SITE Centers executive compensation programs described above were both effective at retaining and motivating our NEOs and competitive as compared to the compensation programs of SITE Centers’ peers. However, after the separation and distribution, the Curbline Compensation Committee will continue to evaluate our compensation and benefit programs and may make adjustments, which may be significant, including as necessary to meet prevailing business needs and/or strategic priorities. Adjustments to elements of our compensation programs may be made going forward if appropriate, based on industry practices and the competitive environment for a newly-formed, publicly-traded company of our size, or for other reasons.

Assigned Employment Agreements with Our NEOs

On September 1, 2024, SITE Centers revised each of our NEOs’ employment agreements (including the 2024 Lukes Agreement) and assigned them to Curbline and a subsidiary of Curbline in preparation for the separation and distribution. These revised and assigned employment agreements, or the Assigned Employment Agreements, which are described more specifically below, superseded and replaced our NEOs’ employment agreements with SITE Centers on a going-forward basis to the extent described therein, facilitated the transfer of the employment of our NEOs from SITE Centers to a subsidiary of Curbline prior to the separation and distribution, and will generally govern the employment and compensation terms and conditions and related items for our NEOs during the term of such Assigned Employment Agreements after the separation and distribution.

Assigned Employment Agreement with Mr. Lukes

The Assigned Employment Agreement with Mr. Lukes (referred to as the Lukes Assigned Employment Agreement):

 

  (i)

reiterates, as previously disclosed, the extension of the 2020 Lukes Agreement until the earlier of the separation and distribution and March 11, 2025, during which period a Curbline subsidiary will employ Mr. Lukes on behalf of SITE Centers under the terms of the 2020 Lukes Agreement to continue to serve SITE Centers as its President and Chief Executive Officer;

 

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  (ii)

reiterates, as previously disclosed, that the Lukes Assigned Employment Agreement will supersede and replace the 2020 Lukes Agreement if the separation and distribution occurs prior to March 11, 2025, after which a Curbline subsidiary will continue to employ Mr. Lukes as our President and Chief Executive Officer for a term that will extend until the third anniversary of the separation and distribution and

 

  (iii)

provides that Mr. Lukes may render service to SITE Centers as its President and Chief Executive Officer after the separation and distribution, at the pleasure of the SITE Centers Board and the Curbline Board, subject to the terms of the Lukes Assigned Employment Agreement and the Shared Services Agreement.

Otherwise, the Lukes Assigned Employment Agreement does not substantively change the terms of the 2024 Lukes Agreement described above regarding Mr. Lukes’ employment and compensation arrangements with SITE Centers and Curbline and its subsidiaries (including those to be in effect after the separation and distribution).

Assigned Employment Agreements with Messrs. Fennerty and Cattonar

The Assigned Employment Agreement with each of Messrs. Fennerty and Cattonar (each referred to as an Officer Assigned Employment Agreement):

 

  (i)

for Mr. Fennerty, provides that he will continue to serve as SITE Centers’ Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer until the separation and distribution (at which time he is expected to cease serving in such roles for SITE Centers), and that he will be employed by a Curbline subsidiary after the separation and distribution as our Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer;

 

  (ii)

for Mr. Cattonar, provides that he will continue to serve as SITE Centers’ Executive Vice President and Chief Investment Officer until the separation and distribution (and thereafter at the pleasure of the SITE Centers Board), and that he will be employed by a Curbline subsidiary after the separation and distribution as our Executive Vice President and Chief Investment Officer and

 

  (iii)

provides that each of Messrs. Fennerty and Cattonar may render reasonable service to SITE Centers after the separation and distribution, at the pleasure of the SITE Centers Board and the Curbline Board, subject to the terms of the Officer Assigned Employment Agreement and the Shared Services Agreement, as applicable.

As a general matter, the Officer Assigned Employment Agreements do not otherwise substantively change the terms (including the fixed term of the agreement, level of base salary and the target level of annual performance-based and time-based equity awards thereunder) of such NEOs’ September 2023 SITE Centers employment agreements regarding the NEOs’ employment and compensation arrangements with SITE Centers and Curbline and its subsidiaries (including those to be in effect after the separation and distribution), as described above, except as follows:

 

  (i)

the annual performance-based equity awards that Messrs. Fennerty and Cattonar are scheduled to receive under the Officer Assigned Employment Agreements will be granted to them in October of each year (beginning in October 2024) in the form of LTIP Units or Curbline restricted stock (as chosen by each NEO), with a performance period of approximately 37 months (instead of being granted to them each March in restricted stock units with a performance period of 36 months);

 

  (ii)

for the annual time-based equity awards that Messrs. Fennerty and Cattonar are scheduled to receive under the Officer Assigned Employment Agreements by March 15 of each year, each NEO will be able to choose annually to receive such award in LTIP Units or Curbline restricted stock (rather than in restricted stock units) and

 

  (iii)

the annual cash incentive for 2024 (assuming the separation and distribution occurs during 2024) will be split between SITE Centers and Curbline and consist of (1) a pro-rated payment from SITE Centers

 

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  for the portion of 2024 occurring prior to the separation and distribution based on actual performance, and (2) a payment from Curbline for the remaining portion of 2024 after the separation and distribution based on actual performance.

Grants of LTIP Units or Restricted Stock to Our NEOs

Including as described above, following the separation and distribution and from time to time, we expect to grant LTIP units or restricted stock to our NEOs under the Curbline Properties Corp. 2024 Equity and Incentive Compensation Plan. For a description of the LTIP units, see “Partnership Agreement—LTIP Units” below. We expect the LTIP units or restricted stock to be issued will be subject to time-based or performance-based vesting requirements, consistent with the Assigned Employment Agreements and as determined by the Curbline Compensation Committee at the time of such grants (which vesting requirements, if not satisfied, may result in the automatic forfeiture or repurchase of the LTIP units or restricted stock so granted).

Other Anticipated NEO Compensation Arrangements

After the separation and distribution, we expect that our NEOs will be eligible to participate in a new non-qualified elective deferred compensation plan established by Curbline. Additionally, as described above, 2024 annual incentive award opportunities for the NEOs originally established by the SITE Centers Committee in the beginning of 2024 will be paid by SITE Centers on a truncated and pro-rated basis, reflecting the NEOs’ service to SITE Centers up to the separation and distribution date, based on actual achievement up to the separation and distribution date as determined by the SITE Centers Committee. We expect that Curbline will establish its own annual incentive award opportunities for the NEOs for the portion of 2024 remaining after the separation and distribution on terms and conditions including as required under the Assigned Employment Agreements.

Treatment of Outstanding SITE Centers Equity Awards in Separation and Distribution

See “The Company’s Separation from SITE Centers—Treatment of Outstanding SITE Centers Equity Incentive Awards” above for a description of the treatment of outstanding SITE Centers equity incentive awards in connection with the separation and distribution.

Director Compensation

None of Curbline’s directors received any compensation for their service during 2023 as a director of Curbline, and Curbline has not yet paid any compensation in 2024 to its directors or to any individuals who are expected to become directors on the Curbline Board for such Board service.

We expect that, after the separation and distribution, each of our non-employee directors will receive an annual cash retainer of $75,000, paid quarterly, and for meetings in excess of eight per year, a Board meeting fee of $2,000 ($3,000 for the non-employee Chair of the Board) in cash for each such additional Board meeting attended. We also expect that the non-employee Chair of the Board will receive an additional annual cash retainer of $100,000, paid quarterly. In terms of Board committee service, we expect that the chairs of each of the Audit, Compensation and Nominating and Sustainability Committees of the Board will receive additional annual cash retainers in the amount of $25,000, $20,000 and $15,000, respectively, while the non-chair members of each of the Audit, Compensation and Nominating and Sustainability Committees of the Board will receive additional annual cash retainers in the amount of $12,500, $10,000 and $7,500, respectively, all of which will be paid quarterly. Additionally, for meetings each year in excess of six for Audit, four for Compensation and four for Nominating and Sustainability, the chair of each such committee is expected to receive committee meeting fees in cash equal to $3,000 for each such additional committee meeting attended, while each non-chair member of such committees is expected to receive committee meeting fees in cash equal to $2,000 for each such additional committee meeting attended.

 

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In addition to cash compensation, we expect that each non-employee director will receive an upfront restricted stock grant equal in value to $300,000 in connection with his or her service on the Curbline Board. This restricted stock grant will generally vest on a ratable basis, subject to continued service on the Curbline Board, over three years, and dividends and other distributions will be paid on such restricted stock on a current basis. Following the separation and distribution, the compensation of the directors on the Curbline Board may be further reviewed and changed by the Curbline Board and Curbline Compensation Committee. Curbline directors who are also employees of Curbline are not expected to receive any additional compensation for their services as directors.

Curbline Properties Corp. 2024 Equity and Incentive Compensation Plan

Prior to the separation and distribution, we expect that the Curbline Board will approve and adopt, and that SITE Centers as our sole stockholder will approve, the Curbline Properties Corp. 2024 Equity and Incentive Compensation Plan, or the 2024 Equity Plan. The 2024 Equity Plan is expected to permit award grants to our non-employee directors, officers and other employees of the Company and its subsidiaries, and certain consultants of the Company and its subsidiaries. It is also expected to permit the issuance of awards to people who are our employees immediately prior to the separation and distribution in adjustment for awards relating to common shares of SITE Centers granted prior to the separation and distribution, in accordance with the terms of the Employee Matters Agreement. The Equity Plan will generally be administered by the Curbline Compensation Committee (or the Curbline Board, as determined by the Curbline Board). Pursuant to the 2024 Equity Plan, we may grant stock options (including “incentive stock options” as defined in Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code), restricted stock, RSUs, performance shares, performance units, cash incentive awards, operating partnership units and certain other awards based on or related to Curbline common stock (including LTIP units and other interests in the Operating Partnership exchangeable for equity of the Company), subject to certain share limitations as described in the 2024 Equity Plan. The 2024 Equity Plan will permit award agreements with respect to any grant under the 2024 Equity Plan to provide for continued or accelerated vesting or exercise of the awards, including in the event of the awardee’s retirement, death, disability or termination of employment or service, or in the event of a “change in control” of Curbline (as defined in the 2024 Equity Plan). Further, the 2024 Equity Plan will require the Curbline Compensation Committee or the Curbline Board to make adjustments to outstanding awards in the event of certain corporate transactions or changes in the capital structure of Curbline. Subject to adjustment as described in the 2024 Equity Plan, as of the effective date of the 2024 Equity Plan, total awards under the 2024 Equity Plan will be limited to the sum of (i) 9,000,000 shares of Curbline common stock, plus (ii) any Curbline shares subject to awards under the 2024 Equity Plan that are added back to the aggregate share pool available under the 2024 Equity Plan pursuant to the share counting rules of the 2024 Equity Plan. This pool of shares will also be used to satisfy the Company’s obligations with respect to Curbline equity awards issued in adjustment for awards relating to common shares of SITE Centers granted prior to the separation and distribution, in accordance with the terms of the Employee Matters Agreement. The 2024 Equity Plan also provides that, subject to adjustment as described in the 2024 Equity Plan: (1) the aggregate number of shares of Curbline common stock actually issued or transferred upon the exercise of incentive stock options will not exceed 9,000,000 shares; and (2) no non-employee director of the Company will be granted in any calendar year compensation for such non-employee director service to the Company having an aggregate maximum value (measured at the applicable date of grant and calculating the value of 2024 Equity Plan awards based on the grant date fair value for financial reporting purposes) in excess of $800,000. Curbline common stock issued or transferred pursuant to awards granted under the 2024 Equity Plan in substitution for or in conversion of, or in connection with the assumption of, awards held by awardees of an entity engaging in a corporate acquisition or merger with the Company or any of its subsidiaries will not count against the share limits under the 2024 Equity Plan. Additionally, shares available under certain plans that the Company or its subsidiaries may assume in connection with corporate transactions from another entity may be available for certain awards under the 2024 Equity Plan, under circumstances further described in the 2024 Equity Plan, but will not count against the share limits under the 2024 Equity Plan. The Curbline Compensation Committee or the Curbline Board generally will be able to amend the 2024 Equity Plan, subject to Curbline stockholder approval in certain circumstances as described in the 2024 Equity Plan.

 

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THE COMPANY’S RELATIONSHIP AND AGREEMENTS WITH SITE CENTERS

General

The Company was organized as a Maryland corporation and a wholly owned subsidiary of SITE Centers on October 25, 2023. SITE Centers will be our sole stockholder until completion of the separation and distribution. As a result of the historical relationship between the Company and SITE Centers, in the ordinary course of our business, the Company and the Operating Partnership have received various services provided by SITE Centers, including tax, treasury and cash management, information technology, general accounting and finance, payroll and human resources, legal, communications, facilities, insurance and other general and administrative stewardship.

Agreements with SITE Centers

The discussion that immediately follows summarizes the terms of the Separation and Distribution Agreement, the Tax Matters Agreement, the Employee Matters Agreement and the Shared Services Agreement, each of which the Company and/or the Operating Partnership intends to enter into with SITE Centers in connection with the separation and to govern its ongoing relationships with SITE Centers following the separation. These agreements have been and will be negotiated between related parties, and the terms, including fees and other amounts payable, may not be on the same terms as if they had been negotiated at arm’s length with an unaffiliated third party. The summaries of the agreements below are qualified in their entirety by reference to the text of the agreements, which have been filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement on Form 10, of which this Information Statement is a part.

The Company and SITE Centers or their applicable subsidiaries have entered into additional agreements governing their ongoing relationships, summarized below.

Separation and Distribution Agreement

The Company and the Operating Partnership will enter into a Separation and Distribution Agreement with SITE Centers to effect the separation and provide a framework for certain aspects of the Company’s and the Operating Partnership’s relationships with SITE Centers after the separation. The Separation and Distribution Agreement sets forth the Company’s and the Operating Partnership’s agreements with SITE Centers regarding the principal transactions necessary to separate the Company and the Operating Partnership from SITE Centers.

Transfer of Assets and Assumption of Liabilities. The Separation and Distribution Agreement will provide for the allocation among the Company, the Operating Partnership and SITE Centers of SITE Centers’ assets, liabilities and obligations attributable to periods both prior to and following the separation of the Company and the Operating Partnership from SITE Centers. In particular, the Separation and Distribution Agreement will provide, among other things, that subject to the terms and conditions contained therein:

 

   

certain assets relating to the Company’s business, referred to as “CURB Assets,” will be transferred to the Operating Partnership or the applicable Company subsidiary, including:

 

   

equity interests of certain SITE Centers subsidiaries that hold assets and liabilities related to the Company’s business;

 

   

interests in real property;

 

   

tangible equipment, machinery, supplies, furniture and other tangible personal property and, except as provided in the Separation and Distribution Agreement, motor vehicles, in each case, (i) primarily used or held primarily for use in the Company’s business or (ii) exclusively used or held for use in the Company’s business;

 

   

pre-distribution accounts receivable and prepaid assets primarily related to the Company’s business;

 

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cash and cash equivalents and marketable securities held in Company accounts;

 

   

rights and assets expressly allocated to the Company or one of the Company’s subsidiaries pursuant to the terms of the Separation and Distribution Agreement or certain other agreements entered into in connection with the separation;

 

   

contracts as of the effective time of the distribution that relate to the Company’s business;

 

   

intellectual property and goodwill, in each case, as of the effective time of the distribution primarily used or held primarily for use in the Company’s business;

 

   

permits as of the effective time of the distribution relating to the Company’s business;

 

   

rights to causes of action relating to the Company’s business;

 

   

information relating to the Company’s assets, liabilities, or business as of the effective time of the distribution and

 

   

assets primarily used or held primarily for use in the Company’s business.

 

   

certain liabilities relating to the Company’s business or CURB Assets, referred to as “CURB Liabilities,” will be transferred to the Operating Partnership or the applicable Company subsidiary, including:

 

   

liabilities relating to or arising out of the operation of the Company’s business or ownership or use of CURB Assets after the effective time of the distribution;

 

   

liabilities from the contracts or permits relating to the Company’s business to the extent they arise out of or result from conduct or activity after the effective time of the distribution;

 

   

liabilities relating to or arising out of indebtedness under which the Company or its subsidiaries are borrowers thereunder, except for any costs or expenses arising in connection with the closing of such indebtedness;

 

   

liabilities expressly allocated to the Company or one of the Company’s subsidiaries by the Separation and Distribution Agreement or certain other agreements entered into in connection with the separation and

 

   

liabilities arising out of claims made by any third party (including SITE Centers’ or the Company’s respective directors, officers, shareholders, employees and agents) against SITE Centers and its subsidiaries or the Company and its subsidiaries relating to the above-described CURB Liabilities.

The Distribution. The Separation and Distribution Agreement will govern the rights and obligations among the Company, the Operating Partnership and SITE Centers regarding the distribution both prior to and following the completion of the separation. On the distribution date, SITE Centers will distribute to its common shareholders that held SITE Centers common shares as of the distribution record date all of the issued and outstanding shares of the Company’s common stock on a pro rata basis. No holders of preferred shares or other interests of SITE Centers will be entitled to receive any form of compensation in connection with the distribution and instead will continue to hold their preferred shares or other interests of SITE Centers.

Conditions. The Separation and Distribution Agreement will also provide that certain conditions must be satisfied before the distribution can occur. For further information about these conditions, see “The Company’s Separation from SITE Centers—Conditions to the Distribution.”

Insurance. The Separation and Distribution Agreement will provide for the Company and SITE Centers to use commercially reasonable efforts prior to the distribution date to (i) obtain either separate insurance policies for the Company and SITE Centers and their respective subsidiaries or (ii) ensure that the Company and its

 

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applicable subsidiaries are named insureds under existing SITE Centers’ insurance policies. The Separation and Distribution Agreement will provide for the allocation of rights and obligations among the Company and SITE Centers and their respective subsidiaries with respect to insurance for losses, claims and liabilities occurring prior to the distribution.

Termination. SITE Centers, at the direction of the SITE Centers Board in its sole and absolute discretion, may terminate the Separation and Distribution Agreement without the approval or consent of any other person or entity, including the Company, at any time prior to the distribution. Following the distribution, the Separation and Distribution Agreement may not be terminated except by an agreement in writing among the Company, the Operating Partnership and SITE Centers.

Release of Claims. The Company and SITE Centers will each agree to release the other and its affiliates, successors, and assigns, and all persons that prior to the distribution have been the other’s shareholders, directors, officers, agents, and employees, and their respective heirs, executors, administrators, successors, and assigns, from claims against any of them that arise out of or relate to the other party’s liabilities, actions, inactions, events, omissions, conditions, facts or circumstances occurring or existing prior to the distribution. These releases will be subject to exceptions set forth in the Separation and Distribution Agreement.

Indemnification. Pursuant to the Separation and Distribution Agreement, the Company will indemnify, defend and hold harmless SITE Centers and its subsidiaries and each of their respective past, present and future directors, officers, employees and agents from and against all liabilities relating to, arising out of or resulting from:

 

   

the CURB Liabilities and the failure to pay any CURB Liabilities in accordance with their terms;

 

   

the breach by the Company or any of its subsidiaries of the Separation and Distribution Agreement and

 

   

any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact in the registration statement or this Information Statement or omission or alleged omission to state a material fact required to be stated therein or herein or necessary to make the statements therein or herein not misleading, in each case to the extent related to the Company, its business or any of its subsidiaries.

SITE Centers agrees to indemnify, defend and hold harmless, the Company, its subsidiaries, the Operating Partnership, and each of their respective past, present and future directors, officers, employees or agents from and against all liabilities relating to, arising out of or resulting from:

 

   

the SITC Liabilities (as defined in the Separation and Distribution Agreement) and the failure to pay any SITC Liabilities in accordance with their terms;

 

   

the breach by SITE Centers or any of its subsidiaries of the Separation and Distribution Agreement and

 

   

any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact in the registration statement or this Information Statement or omission or alleged omission to state a material fact required to be stated therein or herein or necessary to make the statements therein or herein not misleading, in each case to the extent related to SITE Centers, its business or any of its subsidiaries.

Dispute Resolution. The Separation and Distribution Agreement will contain provisions that govern the resolution of disputes, controversies or claims that may arise among the Company, the Operating Partnership and SITE Centers related to the separation or distribution by mediation, if they are unable to be resolved first through good-faith negotiations among the Company, the Operating Partnership and SITE Centers, and by arbitration, if they are unable to be resolved first by good-faith negotiations and mediation.

Expenses. The Separation and Distribution Agreement will provide that all fees, costs and expenses, including all accounting, legal, financial advisory, NYSE or third party fees, incurred prior to or on the distribution date in connection with the preparation, execution, delivery and implementation of the Separation and Distribution

 

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Agreement, any ancillary agreement (including the Shared Services Agreement and the Beachwood, Ohio office lease option contemplated thereby, the Employee Matters Agreement, and the Tax Matters Agreement), the separation, this Information Statement, the CURB Financing Arrangements (as defined in the Separation and Distribution Agreement) and the distribution and the consummation of the transactions contemplated thereby shall be borne by SITE Centers, and except as expressly set forth in the Separation and Distribution Agreement or the Shared Services Agreement, all fees, costs and expenses, including all accounting, legal, financial advisory, NYSE or third party fees, incurred after the distribution date shall be borne by the party or its applicable affiliate incurring such fees, costs or expenses.

Additionally, the Separation and Distribution Agreement contains provisions relating to certain redevelopment projects expected to be completed after the distribution date at properties that will be owned by the Company after the distribution. As of June 30, 2024, such redevelopment projects are estimated to cost $34.4 million, and the Separation and Distribution Agreement provides that SITE Centers shall bear all costs and expenses in connection with such redevelopment projects both before and after the distribution date. In addition, the Separation and Distribution Agreement provides that SITE Centers and the Company will enter into a lease agreement that provides that SITE Centers will lease a portion of the Collection at Midtown Miami for a term of one year, beginning on April 1, 2025 and ending on March 31, 2026. Pursuant to the lease, SITE Centers will pay the Company an aggregate of approximately $0.9 million for rent and a contribution to real estate taxes.

Insurance Subsidiary Purchase Option. The Separation and Distribution Agreement contains a purchase option pursuant to which the Company will have the right to purchase SITE Centers’ captive insurance subsidiary for the price of one dollar plus any retained capital held by such subsidiary at the time of purchase. The purchase option is exercisable upon the two-year anniversary of the distribution date and terminates upon the earlier of (i) the three-year anniversary of the distribution date or (ii) the termination of the Shared Services Agreement for an event in which SITE Centers would not be obligated to continue to provide shared corporate office space to the Company, as specified in the Shared Services Agreement.

Tax Matters Agreement

The Company and the Operating Partnership will enter into the Tax Matters Agreement with SITE Centers that will govern the respective rights, responsibilities and obligations of the Company, the Operating Partnership and SITE Centers after the distribution with respect to various tax matters. The Tax Matters Agreement will require (i) SITE Centers to (a) represent that commencing with its taxable year ending in December 31, 1993 through its taxable year ending on December 31, 2023, SITE Centers was organized and operated in conformity with the requirements for qualification and taxation as a REIT under the Code and (b) covenant to qualify as a REIT under the Code for its taxable year ending December 31, 2024 (unless SITE Centers obtains an opinion from a nationally recognized tax counsel or a private letter ruling from the IRS to the effect that SITE Centers’ failure to maintain its REIT status will not cause the Company to fail to qualify as a REIT) and (ii) the Company to covenant to (a) be organized and operated so that it will qualify as a REIT for its initial taxable year ending on December 31, 2024 and (b) elect to be taxed as a REIT commencing with its initial taxable year ending on December 31, 2024. The Tax Matters Agreement will also provide for the allocation between the Company and SITE Centers of SITE Centers’ tax-related assets, liabilities and obligations attributable to periods prior to the separation of the Company from SITE Centers.

Employee Matters Agreement

In connection with the separation and distribution, the Company and the Operating Partnership will enter into an Employee Matters Agreement with SITE Centers that will govern the respective rights, responsibilities, and obligations of the Company, the Operating Partnership and SITE Centers after the separation with respect to transitioning employees, equity plans and retirement plans, health and welfare benefits, and other employment, compensation, and benefit-related matters. The Employee Matters Agreement generally provides that the Company and SITE Centers each has responsibility for the employment and compensation of its own employees

 

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and for the costs associated with providing its employees health and welfare benefits and retirement and other compensation plans. For a period of time following the separation and distribution, the employees and former employees of the Company and SITE Centers will generally continue to participate in the same benefit plans pursuant to the Employee Matters Agreement and the governing plan-related documents.

For information about treatment of outstanding SITE Centers equity compensation in the separation, see “The Company’s Separation from SITE Centers—Treatment of Outstanding SITE Centers Equity Incentive Awards.”

Shared Services Agreement

The Company, the Operating Partnership and SITE Centers will enter into the Shared Services Agreement pursuant to which SITE Centers will provide and/or make available certain services to the Operating Partnership, and the Operating Partnership or its affiliates will provide and/or make available certain services to SITE Centers for the term of the Shared Services Agreement (unless earlier terminated in whole or in part in accordance with its terms).

Services Provided by the Operating Partnership. Pursuant to the Shared Services Agreement, the Operating Partnership or its affiliates will provide SITE Centers (i) leadership and management services that are of a nature customarily performed by leadership and management overseeing the business and operation of a REIT similarly situated to SITE Centers, including supervising various business functions of SITE Centers necessary for the day-to-day management operations of SITE Centers and its affiliates and (ii) transaction services that are of a nature customarily performed by a dedicated transactions team within an organization similarly situated to SITE Centers, including the provision of personnel at both the leadership and operational levels necessary to ensure effective and efficient preparation, negotiation, execution and implementation of real estate transactions, as well as overseeing post-transaction activities and alignment with SITE Centers’ strategic objectives. The Company is expected to provide SITE Centers with a chief executive officer and chief investment officer, but SITE Centers is expected to employ its own chief financial officer, chief accounting officer and general counsel.

The Shared Services Agreement will also provide that the SITE Centers Board will delegate to the Operating Partnership the authority to:

 

   

from time to time, or at any time reasonably requested by the SITE Centers Board, make reports to the SITE Centers Board on the operations of SITE Centers, including reports with respect to potential conflicts of interest involving the Company or any of its affiliates, and cooperate in good faith to eliminate or minimize any such conflicts;

 

   

make dispositions subject to the approval of, and within the authority granted by, the SITE Centers Board;

 

   

furnish the SITE Centers Board with advice and recommendations with respect to making property dispositions consistent with the objectives and policies of SITE Centers (including through participating in the formulation of SITE Centers’ disposition strategy) and

 

   

advise and assist SITE Centers and the SITE Centers Board in employee recruitment, performance evaluation and establishment of salary, bonus and other compensation scales for SITE Centers employees.

Services Provided by SITE Centers. Pursuant to the Shared Services Agreement, SITE Centers will provide to the Operating Partnership and its affiliates the services of its employees and the use or benefit of SITE Centers’ assets, offices and other resources (including access to SITE Centers’ information technology systems) as may be necessary or useful to establish and operate various business functions of the Operating Partnership and its affiliates in a manner as would be established and operated for a REIT similarly situated to the Company. The Operating Partnership will have the authority to supervise the employees of SITE Centers and its affiliates and direct and control the day-to-day activities of such employees while such employees are providing services to the Operating Partnership or its affiliates under the Shared Services Agreement.

 

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Shared Corporate Offices. Under the Shared Services Agreement, SITE Centers will grant the Operating Partnership and its affiliates a license to access and use any and all space (non-exclusively, in common with the other SITE Centers occupants thereof) at the office owned by SITE Centers in Beachwood, Ohio (the “Owned Shared Corporate Office”) and the offices leased by SITE Centers in New York, New York and Boca Raton, Florida until the earlier of (i) the three-year anniversary of the Shared Services Agreement or (ii) the date of the earlier termination of the Shared Services Agreement by (A) SITE Centers upon a CURB Change of Control (as defined in the Shared Services Agreement) or a change in the composition of the Curbline Board such that the CURB Continuing Directors (as defined in the Shared Services Agreement) cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority of the Curbline Board, (B) SITE Centers on account of the Company’s uncured material breach of the Shared Services Agreement, or (C) the Operating Partnership upon a CURB Change of Control (such termination date, the “Shared Corporate Office Termination Date”). SITE Centers or its affiliates agree not to terminate, assign (other than to another SITE Centers’ affiliate), transfer or amend any lease for real property for any of the leased shared corporate offices, without the prior written consent of the Operating Partnership, until the Shared Corporate Office Termination Date.

Beachwood Lease Option. SITE Centers will also provide the Operating Partnership (or its affiliate designee) an option exercisable until the Shared Corporate Office Termination Date to enter into a lease agreement for office space at SITE Centers’ corporate headquarters location in Beachwood, Ohio for an initial five-year term with the right to extend the lease for up to four successive terms of five years each.

Binding Effect. The obligations with respect to the shared corporate offices at the Owned Shared Corporate Office and the lease option granted to the Operating Partnership with respect to the Owned Shared Corporate Office shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the Company, the Operating Partnership and SITE Centers and their respective successors and assigns. If SITE Centers enters into a transaction regarding the sale, transfer, pledge, repledge, assignment, hypothecation, or rehypothecation of the property in which the Owned Shared Corporate Office is located, then prior to the closing of any such transaction, SITE Centers and the Operating Partnership shall cooperate in good faith to enter into a lease agreement for the Owned Shared Corporate Office, containing the rights and obligations of the parties set forth in the Shared Services Agreement, to the reasonable satisfaction of the Operating Partnership.

Fees for Services. In consideration for services provided by SITE Centers to the Operating Partnership, the Operating Partnership will pay SITE Centers a fee in the aggregate amount of 2.0% of the Company’s Gross Revenue (as defined in the Shared Services Agreement) during the term of the Shared Services Agreement to be paid in monthly installments each month in arrears no later than the tenth calendar day of each month based upon the Company’s Gross Revenue for the prior month.

There will be no separate fee paid by SITE Centers in connection with the provision of services by the Operating Partnership or its affiliates under the Shared Services Agreement; however, SITE Centers will reimburse or pay for expenses incurred by the Operating Partnership and its affiliates in the provisions of such services to SITE Centers.

Reimbursements. SITE Centers will pay or reimburse the Operating Partnership and its affiliates for reasonable out-of-pocket third-party expenses incurred by the Operating Partnership or its affiliates in connection with its performance of services, which expenses shall be reimbursed no less than quarterly. Unless otherwise agreed, the Operating Partnership has no obligation to pay or reimburse SITE Centers for any expenses incurred by SITE Centers or its affiliates in connection with its performance of services. To the extent that the Company or the Operating Partnership directly contracts with a third party that is not an affiliate of SITE Centers to provide services in support of the Company’s business (e.g., auditors, property managers, information systems providers, etc.), the Operating Partnership shall be directly responsible for and pay for the cost of such services, and SITE Centers shall have no obligation to reimburse the Company or the Operating Partnership for such costs or expenses. For certain categories of expenses which are not reasonably capable of being identified with, or attributable to, a particular party’s performance or receipt of services in a reasonably practicable manner, such expenses will be, unless otherwise agreed, paid by SITE Centers, and the Operating Partnership and its affiliates shall have no obligation to reimburse SITE Centers for such expenses.

 

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Unpaid Fees and Expenses. To the extent any fees or expenses under the Shared Services Agreement are not paid or reimbursed as and when such fees and expenses are required to be paid or reimbursed thereunder, such unpaid sum shall accrue interest at a rate equal to the prime rate of interest plus 5% per annum calculated from the date such payment was due (without regard to any grace or cure periods contained therein) until the date on which the party with such payment obligation pays such unpaid sum.

Liabilities. Each company providing services is an independent contractor under the Shared Services Agreement. The company providing services will be solely responsible for all aspects of the employment relationship with the employees such company classifies as employees of such company or its affiliates including, but not limited to hiring and terminating employment, providing compensation and benefits and all withholding, employment or payroll taxes, unemployment insurance, workers’ compensation and other insurance and fringe benefits with respect to such employees. Accordingly, SITE Centers shall retain all liability and be solely responsible for all employment-related, compensation and employee benefits liabilities relating to the employees of SITE Centers or its affiliates, and the Operating Partnership shall retain all liability and be solely responsible for all employment-related, compensation and employee benefits liabilities relating to the employees of the Operating Partnership or its affiliates.

Term and Termination. Unless terminated earlier, the term of the Shared Services Agreement will be for three years following the effective date thereof. The Shared Services Agreement or the services provided thereunder may be terminated before such expiration as follows:

By the Operating Partnership:

 

   

the Operating Partnership may terminate all of the services provided by SITE Centers to the Operating Partnership, without cause, at any time upon at least 90 days’ notice to SITE Centers;

 

   

the Operating Partnership may terminate all of the services provided by SITE Centers to the Operating Partnership, if SITE Centers breaches any material provision of the Shared Services Agreement and such material breach continues for a period of 20 business days after notice thereof;

 

   

the Operating Partnership may terminate all of the services provided by the Operating Partnership to SITE Centers upon at least 30 days’ notice to SITE Centers in the event of a change in the composition of the SITE Centers Board at any time such that the SITC Continuing Directors (as defined in the Shared Services Agreement) cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority of the SITE Centers Board and

 

   

the Operating Partnership may terminate the Shared Services Agreement:

 

   

upon at least 30 days’ notice to SITE Centers in event of a SITC Change of Control (as defined in the Shared Services Agreement);

 

   

upon at least 30 days’ notice to SITE Centers in event of a change in the composition of the SITE Centers Board at any time such that the SITC Continuing Directors cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority of the SITE Centers Board or

 

   

upon at least 90 days’ notice to SITE Centers in the event of a CURB Change of Control.

By SITE Centers:

 

   

SITE Centers may terminate all services provided by the Operating Partnership to SITE Centers, in their entirety, at any time upon at least 30 days’ notice to the Operating Partnership;

 

   

SITE Centers may terminate the Shared Services Agreement upon a determination of a majority of the SITC Disinterested Directors (as defined in the Shared Services Agreement):

 

   

upon at least 30 days’ notice to the Operating Partnership in the event of a CURB Change of Control;

 

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upon at least 30 days’ notice to the Operating Partnership in the event of a change in the composition of the Curbline Board at any time such that CURB Continuing Directors (as defined in the Shared Services Agreement) cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority of the Curbline Board or

 

   

upon at least 90 days’ notice to the Operating Partnership in the event of a SITC Change of Control.

 

   

SITE Centers may terminate the Shared Services Agreement for convenience effective upon the second anniversary of the date of the agreement by providing notice to the Operating Partnership not later than 90 days prior to the second anniversary of the date of the agreement.

By the Operating Partnership or SITE Centers:

 

   

the Shared Services Agreement may be terminated by either the Operating Partnership or SITE Centers, upon notice 20 business days prior to the termination from the terminating party to the other party if the other party breaches any material provision of the Shared Services Agreement and such material breach shall continue for a period of 20 business days after notice thereof.

Termination Amount; Convenience Early Exit Amount. SITE Centers may be obligated to pay an amount to the Company upon termination of the Shared Services Agreement or the services provided thereunder in the following circumstances:

 

   

in the event that the Operating Partnership terminates the services provided by SITE Centers in their entirety on account of SITE Centers’ uncured material breach of the Shared Services Agreement, SITE Centers will pay the Operating Partnership an amount equal to $2.5 million multiplied by the total number of whole and partial fiscal quarters remaining in the term of the Shared Services Agreement, or the Termination Amount, on or prior to the effective date of the termination of the services provided by SITE Centers to the Operating Partnership;

 

   

in the event that the Operating Partnership terminates the Shared Services Agreement (i) upon a SITC Change of Control, (ii) upon a change in the composition of the SITE Centers Board such that the SITC Continuing Directors cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority of the SITE Centers Board or (iii) on account of SITE Centers’ uncured material breach of the Shared Services Agreement, in each case, SITE Centers will pay the Operating Partnership the Termination Amount on the termination date;

 

   

in the event that SITE Centers terminates the Shared Services Agreement upon a SITC Change of Control, SITE Centers will pay the Operating Partnership the Termination Amount on the termination date or

 

   

in the event that SITE Centers terminates the Shared Services Agreement for convenience effective on the second anniversary of the date of the agreement, SITE Centers will pay the Operating Partnership $12 million on the termination date.

Indemnification. Under the Shared Services Agreement, the Operating Partnership will indemnify, defend and hold harmless SITE Centers and its affiliates, directors, officers, employees and agents, for and from all liability, claims, damages and losses, and related expenses, including reasonable attorneys’ fees, to the extent that such liability, claims, damages or losses and related expenses are incurred by reason of the Operating Partnership’s gross negligence or willful misconduct as determined by a final, non-appealable determination of a court of competent jurisdiction in connection with its performance of any obligations or agreements of the Operating Partnership thereunder; provided, however, that the Operating Partnership shall not be held responsible for any action of the SITE Centers Board or the SITE Centers executives in following or declining to follow any advice or recommendation given by the Operating Partnership.

SITE Centers shall indemnify, defend and hold harmless the Operating Partnership and its affiliates, directors, officers, employees and agents, for and from all liability, claims, damages and losses, and related expenses,

 

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including reasonable attorneys’ fees, to the extent that such liability, claims, damages or losses and related expenses are incurred by reason of SITE Centers’ gross negligence or willful misconduct as determined by a final, non-appealable determination of a court of competent jurisdiction in connection with its performance of any obligations or agreements of SITE Centers hereunder; provided, however, that SITE Centers shall not be held responsible for any action taken at the direction or request of the Operating Partnership (or its executives and management exercising their supervisory authority over SITE Centers’ employees in the provision of SITE Centers providing services to the Operating Partnership as contemplated under the Shared Services Agreement).

Dispute Resolution. The Shared Services Agreement will contain provisions that govern the resolution of disputes, controversies or claims that may arise among the Company, the Operating Partnership and SITE Centers related to the Shared Services Agreement by mediation, if they are unable to be resolved first through good-faith negotiations among the Company, the Operating Partnership and SITE Centers, and by arbitration, if they are unable to be resolved first by good-faith negotiations and mediation.

 

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PRINCIPAL STOCKHOLDERS

As of the date hereof, all of the shares of the Company’s outstanding common stock are owned by SITE Centers. The following table sets forth certain information, as of immediately after the separation, regarding the ownership of the Company’s common stock by:

 

   

each of the Company’s directors;

 

   

the Company’s named executive officers;

 

   

each holder of 5% or more of the Company’s common stock and

 

   

all of the Company’s directors and executive officers as a group.

The Company based the share amounts on each person’s beneficial ownership of SITE Centers common shares as of August 22, 2024, unless it indicates some other basis for the share amounts, and assuming a distribution ratio of two shares of the Company’s common stock for every one SITE Centers common share. In accordance with SEC rules, each listed person’s beneficial ownership is based on:

 

   

all of the SITE Centers common shares the holder owns beneficially or of record;

 

   

all of the SITE Centers common shares over which the holder has or shares voting or dispositive control (such as in the capacity as a general partner of an investment fund) and

 

   

all of the SITE Centers common shares the holder has the right to acquire on or before the distribution record date and all of the SITE Centers common shares the holder has the right to acquire within 60 days (such as common shares subject to restricted share units that are scheduled to vest within 60 days).

Unless otherwise indicated, all shares are owned directly, and the indicated person has sole voting and investment power. Unless otherwise indicated, the business address of the stockholders listed below is the address of the Company’s principal executive office upon the completion of the separation, 320 Park Avenue, New York, New York 10022.

 

Name and Address

   Shares Owned      Percentage  

Directors and Named Executive Officers

              

David R. Lukes

     747,140       

Conor M. Fennerty

     83,418       

John M. Cattonar

     62,622       

Linda B. Abraham

     23,148       

Terrance R. Ahern

     55,672       

Jane E. DeFlorio

     29,540       

Victor B. MacFarlane

     4,518       

Alexander Otto

     7,933,338        7.6

Barry A. Sholem

     97,076       

All Directors and Executive Officers as a Group

     9,036,472        8.6

5% or More Owners

     

BlackRock, Inc.(1)

     17,542,226        16.7

The Vanguard Group, Inc.(2)

     15,169,882        14.5

FMR LLC(3)

     12,276,830        11.7

Alexander Otto(4)

     7,933,338        7.6

State Street Corporation(5)

     5,992,130        5.7

 

*

Less than 1%

(1)

According to a report on Schedule 13G/A filed with the SEC on January 22, 2024 by BlackRock, Inc., BlackRock, Inc. is the beneficial owner of 35,084,454 SITE Centers common shares and has sole voting

 

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  power over 33,009,147 SITE Centers common shares and sole dispositive power over 35,084,454 SITE Centers common shares, which amounts were reduced to 8,771,113, 8,252,286 and 8,771,113 shares, respectively, as a result of SITE Centers’ one-for-four reverse stock split on August 16, 2024. The address for this reporting person is 50 Hudson Yards, New York, New York 10001.
(2)

According to a report on Schedule 13G/A filed with the SEC on February 13, 2024 by The Vanguard Group, Inc., The Vanguard Group, Inc. is the beneficial owner of 30,339,767 SITE Centers common shares and has sole voting power over 0 SITE Centers common shares, shared voting power over 293,007 SITE Centers common shares, sole dispositive power over 29,843,443 SITE Centers common shares and shared dispositive power over 496,324 SITE Centers common shares, which amounts were reduced to 7,584,941, 0, 73,251, 7,460,860 and 124,081 shares, respectively, as a result of SITE Centers’ one-for-four reverse stock split on August 16, 2024. The address for this reporting person is 100 Vanguard Boulevard, Malvern, Pennsylvania 19355.

(3)

According to a report on Schedule 13G/A filed with the SEC on July 10, 2024 by FMR LLC and Abigail P. Johnson, FMR LLC is the beneficial owner of, and has sole dispositive power over, 24,553,663 SITE Centers common shares and has sole voting power over 23,764,353 SITE Centers common shares, which amounts were reduced to 6,138,415 and 5,941,088 shares, respectively, as a result of SITE Centers’ one-for-four reverse stock split on August 16, 2024. According to the report, members of Ms. Johnson’s family may be deemed to form a controlling group with respect to FMR LLC under the Investment Company Act of 1940. The address for FMR LLC and Ms. Johnson is 245 Summer Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02210.

(4)

According to a Form 4 filed with the SEC on August 19, 2024 and Schedule 13D/A filed with the SEC on July 1, 2024, Alexander Otto was the beneficial owner of, and had sole voting and sole dispositive power over, 15,866,677 SITE Centers common shares, which amount was reduced to 3,966,669 shares as a result of SITE Centers’ one-for-four reverse stock split on August 16, 2024. The address for this reporting persons is c/o Julie A. Mediamolle, Alston & Bird LLP, 950 F Street, N.W., Washington, DC 20004.

(5)

According to a report on Schedule 13G/A filed with the SEC on January 29, 2024 by State Street Corporation, State Street Corporation is the beneficial owner of 11,984,263 SITE Centers common shares and has sole voting power over 0 SITE Centers common shares, shared voting power over 9,510,275 SITE Centers common shares, sole dispositive power over 0 SITE Centers common shares and shared dispositive power over 11,965,263 SITE Centers common shares, which amounts were reduced to 2,996,065, 0, 2,377,568 and 0 shares, respectively, as a result of SITE Centers’ one-for-four reverse stock split on August 16, 2024. The address for this reporting person is State Street Financial Center, One Congress Street, Suite 1, Boston Massachusetts 02114-2016.

 

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CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS

Policy Regarding Related-Party Transactions

The Company anticipates that the Curbline Board will adopt a written policy regarding the review and approval of related-party transactions. A proposed transaction between the Company and certain parties to be enumerated in the policy would be required to be submitted to the Company’s General Counsel. The relationship of the parties and the terms of the proposed transaction, among other things, would be reviewed by the Company’s General Counsel in consultation with the chair of the Curbline Nominating and Sustainability Committee to determine if the proposed transaction would constitute a material related-party transaction, in which case it would be reported to the Curbline Nominating and Sustainability Committee prior to its approval. The Curbline Nominating and Sustainability Committee will then determine whether the transaction requires its approval. All material related-party transactions, whether or not those transactions must be disclosed under federal securities laws, will be subject to prior approval by the Curbline Nominating and Sustainability Committee pursuant to the policy.

Agreements with SITE Centers

Following the distribution, the Company will operate as an independent public company. To govern certain ongoing relationships between the Company and SITE Centers after the distribution, and to provide mechanisms for an orderly transition, the Company and SITE Centers and/or their applicable affiliates intend to enter into agreements pursuant to which certain services and rights will be provided following the distribution, and the Company and SITE Centers will indemnify each other against certain liabilities arising from its respective businesses. The Separation and Distribution Agreement, the Tax Matters Agreement, the Employee Matters Agreement, the Shared Services Agreement and other agreements governing ongoing relationships have been and will be negotiated between related parties and their terms, including fees and other amounts payable, may not be on the same terms as if they had been negotiated at arm’s length with an unaffiliated third party. See “The Company’s Relationship and Agreements with SITE Centers—Agreements with SITE Centers” for more information on these agreements.

Separation and Distribution Agreement

The Company, the Operating Partnership and SITE Centers will enter into the Separation and Distribution Agreement, which will set forth, among other things, the Company’s and the Operating Partnership’s agreements with SITE Centers regarding the principal transactions necessary to separate the Company and the Operating Partnership from SITE Centers, including providing for the allocation among the Company, the Operating Partnership and SITE Centers of SITE Centers’ assets, liabilities and obligations attributable to periods both prior to and following the separation of the Company and the Operating Partnership from SITE Centers. Furthermore, the Separation and Distribution Agreement will govern the rights and obligations among the Company, the Operating Partnership and SITE Centers regarding the distribution both prior to and following the completion of the separation.

Tax Matters Agreement

The Company and the Operating Partnership will enter into a Tax Matters Agreement with SITE Centers that will govern the respective rights, responsibilities and obligations of the Company, the Operating Partnership and SITE Centers after the distribution with respect to various tax matters. The Company’s obligations under the Tax Matters Agreement will not be limited in amount or subject to any cap. If the Company is required to pay any liabilities under the circumstances set forth in the Tax Matters Agreement or pursuant to applicable tax law, the amounts may be significant.

 

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Employee Matters Agreement

In connection with the separation and distribution, the Company and the Operating Partnership will enter into an Employee Matters Agreement with SITE Centers that will govern the respective rights, responsibilities, and obligations of the Company, the Operating Partnership and SITE Centers after the separation with respect to transitioning employees, equity plans and retirement plans, health and welfare benefits, and other employment, compensation, and benefit-related matters.

Shared Services Agreement

The Company, the Operating Partnership and SITE Centers will enter into the Shared Services Agreement, pursuant to which SITE Centers will provide the Operating Partnership with certain services and the Operating Partnership or its affiliates will provide SITE Centers with certain services, in each case for the term of the Shared Services Agreement. Pursuant to the Shared Services Agreement, the Operating Partnership or its affiliates will provide SITE Centers (i) leadership and management services that are of a nature customarily performed by leadership and management overseeing the business and operation of a REIT similarly situated to SITE Centers, including supervising various business functions of SITE Centers necessary for the day-to-day management operations of SITE Centers and its affiliates and (ii) transaction services that are of a nature customarily performed by a dedicated transactions team within an organization similarly situated to SITE Centers, including the provision of personnel at both the leadership and operational levels necessary to ensure effective and efficient preparation, negotiation, execution and implementation of real estate transactions, as well as overseeing post-transaction activities and alignment with SITE Centers’ strategic objectives. Additionally, SITE Centers will provide to the Operating Partnership the services of its employees and the use or benefit of SITE Centers’ assets, offices and other resources as may be necessary or useful to establish and operate various business functions of the Operating Partnership or its affiliates in a manner as would be established and operated for a REIT similarly situated to the Company.

Indemnification and Limitation of Directors’ and Officers’ Liability

Maryland law permits the Company to include a provision in its Charter eliminating the liability of its directors and officers to it and its stockholders for money damages, except for liability resulting from (a) actual receipt of an improper benefit or profit in money, property or services or (b) active and deliberate dishonesty that is established by a final judgment and is material to the cause of action. The Charter will contain a provision that eliminates its directors’ and officers’ liability to it and its stockholders for money damages to the maximum extent permitted by Maryland law. For more information, see “Description of Securities—Indemnification and Limitation of Directors’ and Officers’ Liability.”

 

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DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES

The following is a summary of the rights and preferences of the Company’s preferred and common stock. While the Company believes that the following description covers the material terms of the Company’s preferred and common stock, the description may not contain all of the information that is important to you. The Company encourages you to read carefully this entire Information Statement, the Charter and Bylaws and the other documents the Company refers to for a more complete understanding of the Company’s preferred and common stock. Copies of the Charter and Bylaws are filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement of which this Information Statement is a part. See “Where You Can Find More Information.”

Description of Preferred Stock

The Charter authorizes the Curbline Board to provide for the issuance of up to 100 million shares of preferred stock, $0.01 par value per share, in one or more classes or series, with such terms, preferences, conversion or other rights, voting powers, restrictions, ownership limitations, limitations as to dividends or other distributions, qualifications and redemption provisions, as the Curbline Board may approve, subject to certain restrictions.

If any preferred stock is publicly offered, the terms and conditions of such preferred stock, including any convertible preferred stock, will be set forth in an articles supplementary and described in a prospectus or prospectus supplement relating to the issuance of such preferred stock, if such preferred stock is registered. Because the Curbline Board has the power to establish the preferences and rights of each class or series of preferred stock, it may afford the holders of any series or class of preferred stock preferences, powers, and rights senior to the rights of holders of common stock or other preferred stock, subject to certain restrictions. If the Company ever authorizes, creates and issues additional preferred stock with a distribution preference over common stock or preferred stock, payment of any distribution preferences of new outstanding preferred stock would reduce the amount of funds available for the payment of distributions on the common stock and junior preferred stock. Further, holders of preferred stock are normally entitled to receive a preference payment if the Company liquidates, dissolves, or winds up before any payment is made to the common stockholders, likely reducing the amount common stockholders and junior preferred stockholders, if any, would otherwise receive upon such an occurrence. In addition, under certain circumstances, the issuance of additional preferred stock may delay, prevent, render more difficult or tend to discourage the following:

 

   

a merger tender offer, or proxy contest;

 

   

the assumption of control by a holder of a large block of the Company’s securities or

 

   

the removal of incumbent management.

Also, subject to certain restrictions, the Curbline Board, without stockholder approval, may issue additional preferred stock with voting and conversion rights that could adversely affect the holders of common stock or preferred stock.

Description of Common Stock

The Charter provides that the Company may issue up to 400 million shares of the Company’s common stock, $0.01 par value per share. After giving effect to the separation and the other transactions described in this Information Statement, approximately 104,787,760 shares of the Company’s common stock will be issued and outstanding, based on the number of outstanding SITE Centers common shares as of August 22, 2024.

Voting Rights

Holders of the Company’s common stock are entitled to one vote per share on all matters voted on by stockholders, including election of our directors.

 

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Dividend Rights

Holders of the Company’s common stock are entitled to receive dividends when, as and if declared by the Curbline Board, out of funds legally available therefor. The rights, powers, preferences and privileges of holders of the Company’s common stock will be subject to those of the holders of any preferred stock or any other class or series of shares of capital stock the Company may authorize and issue in the future.

Liquidation Rights

If the Company is liquidated, dissolved or involved in any winding-up, the holders of its common stock are entitled to receive ratably any assets remaining after it has fully paid all of its liabilities, including any preferential amounts it owes with respect to any preferred stock the Company may authorize and issue in the future.

Preemptive or Other Rights

Holders of the Company’s common stock do not have preemptive rights, which means that they have no right to acquire any additional shares of common stock that the Company may subsequently issue.

Restrictions on Ownership and Transfer

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

To help ensure that five or fewer individuals do not own more than 50% in value of the Company’s outstanding common stock, the Charter provides that, subject to certain exceptions (including those set forth below), no holder may own, or be deemed to own by virtue of the attribution provisions of the Code, more than 8% of the Company’s outstanding common stock prior to an exempt holder reduction event or more than 9.8% of the Company’s outstanding common stock from and after an exempt holder reduction event, which the Company refers to as the ownership limit. Under the Charter, an “exempt holder reduction event” means the date on which the Curbline Board determines, based on the annual written notice delivered by the exempt holder to the Company pursuant to the Charter, that the beneficial ownership of the exempt holder is 7.5% or less of the Company’s outstanding common stock. The Charter provides that the “exempt holder” may own, or be deemed to own by virtue of the attribution provisions of the Code, no more than 17.5% of the Company’s outstanding common stock prior to an exempt holder reduction event. Pursuant to the Charter, the “exempt holder” includes, collectively, (a) Professor Werner Otto, his wife Maren Otto and/or all descendants of Professor Werner Otto, including, without limitation, Alexander Otto, (b) trusts or family foundations established for the benefit of the individuals named in (a) above and (c) any partnership, firm, corporation, association, trust, unincorporated organization, joint venture, limited liability company or other legal entity, in which the individuals or entities named under (a) hold (either directly or indirectly) more than 50% of the voting rights or more than 50% of the equity capital of any such partnership, firm, corporation, association, trust, unincorporated organization, joint venture, limited liability company or other legal entity; provided that, from and after an exempt holder reduction event, no person, individually or collectively with any other persons, shall be, or shall be deemed an exempt holder for purposes of the Charter.

As rent from a related party tenant (any tenant 10% of which is owned, directly or constructively, by a REIT, including an owner of 10% or more of a REIT) is not qualifying rent for purposes of the gross income tests under the Code, the Charter provides that no individual or entity may own, or be deemed to own by virtue of the attribution provisions of the Code (which differ from the attribution provisions applied to the ownership limit), in

 

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excess of 9.8% of the Company’s outstanding common stock, which the Company refers to as the related party limit. In connection with the separation from SITE Centers, the Company will enter into a waiver agreement pursuant to which it will waive the related party limit contained in its Charter that would otherwise have prohibited Alexander Otto and his family (and other persons who may be deemed to have constructive ownership of common stock owned by the Otto family) from constructively owning more than 9.8% of the Company’s outstanding common stock.

The Curbline Board, with a ruling from the IRS or an opinion or other advice of counsel, may exempt a person from the ownership limit if the person would not be deemed an “individual” and may exempt a person from the related party limit if the Curbline Board is satisfied that the ownership will not then or in the future jeopardize its status as a REIT. The Curbline Board may also exempt the exempt holder and any person who would constructively own common stock constructively owned by the exempt holder from the ownership limit in its sole discretion. As a condition of any exemption, the Curbline Board will require appropriate representations and undertakings from the applicant with respect to preserving its REIT status.

Finally, the Charter prohibits any transfer of common stock that would cause the Company to cease to be a “domestically controlled qualified investment entity” as defined in Section 897(h)(4)(B) of the Code.

The preceding restrictions on transferability and ownership of common stock may apply even if the Curbline Board determines that it is no longer in the Company’s best interests to continue to qualify as a REIT. The ownership limit and the related party limit will not be automatically removed even if the REIT provisions of the Code are changed to no longer contain any ownership concentration limitation or if the ownership concentration limitation is increased. In addition to preserving the Company’s status as a REIT, the effects of the ownership limit and the related party limit are to prevent any person or small group of persons from acquiring unilateral control of the Company. Any change in the ownership limit, other than modifications that may be made by the Curbline Board as permitted by the Charter, requires an amendment to the Charter, even if the Curbline Board determines that maintenance of REIT status is no longer in its best interests.

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

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

 

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Indemnification and Limitation of Directors’ and Officers’ Liability

Maryland law permits the Company to include a provision in its Charter eliminating the liability of its directors and officers to it and its stockholders for money damages, except for liability resulting from (a) actual receipt of an improper benefit or profit in money, property or services or (b) active and deliberate dishonesty that is established by a final judgment and is material to the cause of action. The Charter will contain a provision that eliminates its directors’ and officers’ liability to it and its stockholders for money damages to the maximum extent permitted by Maryland law.

The MGCL requires a corporation (unless its charter or bylaws provide otherwise, which the Charter will not) to indemnify a director or officer who has been successful, on the merits or otherwise, in the defense of any proceeding to which he or she is made or threatened to be made a party by reason of his or her service in that capacity and permits a corporation to indemnify its present and former directors and officers, among others, against judgments, penalties, fines, settlements and reasonable expenses actually incurred by them in connection with any proceeding to or in which they may be made or threatened to be made a party or witness by reason of their service in those or other capacities unless it is established that:

 

   

the act or omission of the director or officer was material to the matter giving rise to the proceeding and (1) was committed in bad faith or (2) was the result of active and deliberate dishonesty;

 

   

the director or officer actually received an improper personal benefit in money, property or services; or

 

   

in the case of any criminal proceeding, the director or officer had reasonable cause to believe that the act or omission was unlawful.

The MGCL prohibits the Company from indemnifying a director or officer who has been adjudged liable in a suit by the Company or on its behalf or in which the director or officer was adjudged liable on the basis that a personal benefit was improperly received. A court may order indemnification if it determines that the director or officer is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnification, even though the director or officer did not meet the prescribed standard of conduct or was adjudged liable on the basis that personal benefit was improperly received; however, indemnification for an adverse judgment in a suit by the Company or on its behalf, or for a judgment of liability on the basis that personal benefit was improperly received, is limited to expenses.

In addition, the MGCL permits a Maryland corporation to advance reasonable expenses to a director or officer upon receipt of (a) a written affirmation by the director or officer of his or her good faith belief that he or she has met the standard of conduct necessary for indemnification and (b) a written undertaking by him or her or on his or her behalf to repay the amount paid or reimbursed if it is ultimately determined that the standard of conduct was not met.

The Charter obligates it to the maximum extent permitted by Maryland law in effect from time to time, to indemnify and, without requiring a preliminary determination of the ultimate entitlement to indemnification, pay or reimburse reasonable expenses in advance of final disposition of a proceeding to:

 

   

any present or former director or officer who is made or threatened to be made a party to, or witness in, a proceeding by reason of his or her service in that capacity; or

 

   

any individual who, while a director or officer of the Company and at its request, serves or has served as a director, officer, member, manager, partner or trustee of another corporation, REIT, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or any other enterprise and who is made or threatened to be made a party to, or witness in, the proceeding by reason of his or her service in that capacity.

The Company expects to enter into indemnification agreements with its directors and certain officers which will provide for indemnification to the maximum extent permitted by Maryland law. The Company also expects to maintain a directors’ and officers’ insurance policy that will insure the directors and officers of the Company

 

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from claims arising out of an alleged wrongful act by such person in their respective capacities as directors and officers of the Company, subject to certain exceptions.

The limitation of liability and indemnification provisions that will be in the Charter may discourage stockholders from bringing a lawsuit against directors for breach of their fiduciary duty. These provisions may also have the effect of reducing the likelihood of derivative litigation against our directors and officers, even though such an action, if successful, might otherwise benefit Curbline and its stockholders. Your investment may be adversely affected to the extent that, in a class action or direct suit, Curbline pays the costs of settlement and damage awards against directors and officers pursuant to these indemnification provisions. However, these provisions will not limit or eliminate our rights, or those of any stockholder, to seek non-monetary relief such as an injunction or rescission in the event of a breach of a director’s fiduciary duties. The provisions will not alter the liability of directors under the federal securities laws.

Listing

The Company intends to list the Company’s common stock on the NYSE under the symbol “CURB.”

Transfer Agent and Registrar

The Company expects the transfer agent and registrar for the Company’s common stock to be Computershare Trust Company, N.A.

 

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CERTAIN ANTI-TAKEOVER PROVISIONS OF THE CHARTER AND BYLAWS

Although the following describes certain provisions of the Charter and Bylaws, it may not contain all of the information that is important to you. For a complete description, the Company refers you to its Charter and Bylaws.

The Charter and Bylaws contain provisions that could have the effect of rendering more difficult, delaying, or preventing an acquisition deemed undesirable by the Curbline Board.

Initially Classified Board

The Charter initially divides the Curbline Board into three classes, designated Class I, Class II and Class III. The directors first appointed to Class I will hold office for a term expiring at the annual meeting of stockholders to be held in 2025, the directors first appointed to Class II will hold office for a term expiring at the annual meeting of stockholders to be held in 2026 and the directors first appointed to Class III will hold office for a term expiring at the annual meeting of stockholders to be held in 2027. At the annual meeting of stockholders held in 2025, the successors to the directors whose terms expire at that meeting will be elected to hold office for a term expiring at the annual meeting of stockholders held in 2027. At the annual meeting of stockholders held in 2026 and each annual meeting of stockholders held thereafter, the successors to the directors whose terms expire will be elected to hold office for a term expiring at the annual meeting of stockholders held in the year following the year of their election (e.g., Class II directors elected at the 2026 annual meeting of stockholders will serve until the 2027 annual meeting of stockholders).

“Blank Check” Preferred Stock

The Charter authorizes “blank check” preferred stock, which could be issued by the Curbline Board without stockholder approval and may contain voting, liquidation, dividend and other rights superior to the Company’s common stock.

Size of the Board; Vacancies; Removal

The Charter and Bylaws provide that the number of directors on the Curbline Board may be fixed only by the Curbline Board. The Charter and Bylaws provide that the Curbline Board may increase its size and any vacancy on the Curbline Board may be filled only by the affirmative vote of a majority of the remaining directors then in office. The Charter also provides that stockholders may remove directors with or without cause by holders of the affirmative vote of a majority of the shares entitles to vote at the election of directors; provided that prior to conclusion of the annual meeting of stockholders to be held in 2027, such removal shall only be for cause.

No Cumulative Voting

The MGCL provides that stockholders can have the right to cumulate votes in the election of directors if the corporation’s charter provides for such rights and the terms on which such cumulative voting rights may be exercised. The Charter does not include a provision providing for any cumulative voting.

Stockholder Action by Written Consent

The Charter provides that stockholders may not act by written consent unless (a) such written consent is unanimous or (b) the action is advised, and submitted to the stockholders for approval, by the Curbline Board and the written consent of stockholders entitled to cast not less than the minimum number of votes that would be necessary to authorize or take the action is delivered to the Company in accordance with the MGCL. Stockholder action must otherwise take place at the annual or a special meeting of stockholders.

 

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Special Meeting of Stockholders

Stockholders who hold a majority of the shares of the Company’s outstanding common stock may call a special meeting.

Advance Notice of Stockholder Proposals and Nominations

The Bylaws establish advance notice procedures with respect to stockholder proposals for business to be conducted at meetings of the Company’s stockholders and for nominations of candidates for election to the Curbline Board.

Proxy Access

In addition to advance notice procedures, the Bylaws include provisions permitting, subject to certain terms and conditions, stockholders who have maintained continuous qualifying ownership of at least 3% of our outstanding common stock for at least three years to use our annual meeting proxy statement to nominate a number of director candidates not to exceed the greater of two candidates or 20% of the number of directors in office.

Exclusive Forum

The Bylaws provide that, unless the Company consents in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the sole and exclusive forum for (a) any derivative action or proceeding brought on the Company’s behalf, other than any action asserting solely claims arising under federal securities laws, (b) any claim, action or proceeding asserting a claim based on an alleged breach of any duty owed by any of the Company’s directors, officers or other employees to the Company or to the Company’s stockholders, (c) any claim, action or proceeding asserting a claim against the Company or any of its directors, officers or other employees arising under or pursuant to any provision of the MGCL, the Charter or Bylaws or (d) any other claim, action or proceeding asserting a claim against the Company or any of its directors, officers or other employees that is governed by the internal affairs doctrine shall be, in each case, the Circuit Court for Baltimore City, Maryland, or, if that court does not have jurisdiction, the United States District Court for the District of Maryland, Northern Division.

Business Combinations

Under the Business Combination Act, certain “business combinations” between a Maryland corporation and an interested stockholder or an affiliate of an interested stockholder are prohibited for five years after the most recent date on which the interested stockholder becomes an interested stockholder. These business combinations include a merger, consolidation, share exchange, and, in circumstances specified in the statute, an asset transfer or issuance or reclassification of equity securities. An interested stockholder is defined as:

 

   

any person (other than the trust or a subsidiary) who beneficially, directly or indirectly, owns 10% or more of the voting power of the corporation’s outstanding stock after the date on which the corporation had 100 or more beneficial owners of stock; or

 

   

an affiliate or associate of the corporation who, at any time within the two-year period before the date in question and after the date on which the corporation had 100 or more beneficial owners of its stock, was the beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, of 10% or more of the voting power of the corporation’s then-outstanding voting stock of the corporation.

A person is not an interested stockholder under the Business Combination Act if the board of directors of the corporation approves in advance the transaction by which the person otherwise would have become an interested stockholder. In approving the transaction, the board of directors may provide that its approval is subject to compliance, at or after the time of approval, with any terms and conditions determined by the board of directors.

 

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After the five-year prohibition, any business combination between the Maryland corporation and the interested stockholder generally must be recommended by the board of directors and approved by the affirmative vote of at least:

 

   

80% of the votes entitled to be cast by holders of outstanding voting stock of the corporation; and

 

   

two-thirds of the votes entitled to be cast by holders of outstanding voting stock of the board of directors other than voting stock held by the interested stockholder with whom or with whose affiliate the business combination is to be effected or held by an affiliate or associate of the interested stockholder.

These super-majority vote requirements do not apply if the holders of the corporation’s common stock receive a minimum price, as defined under the Business Combination Act, for their shares in the form of cash or other consideration in the same form as previously paid by the interested stockholder for its stock.

As permitted under Maryland law, the Curbline Board has elected for the Company to opt out of the foregoing provisions on business combinations, provided that such business combination is first approved by the Curbline Board. However, the Company cannot assure you that the Curbline Board will not opt to be subject to such provisions in the future, including opting to be subject to such provisions retroactively.

Control Share Acquisitions

The Maryland Control Share Acquisition Act, or the MCSAA, provides that a holder of control shares of a Maryland corporation acquired in a control share acquisition has no voting rights with respect to the control shares except to the extent approved by a vote of two-thirds of the votes entitled to be cast on the matter. Shares owned by the acquirer, by officers or by employees who are also directors of the corporation are excluded from shares entitled to vote on the matter. Control shares are voting shares that, if aggregated with all other shares owned by the acquirer or in respect of which the acquirer is able to exercise or direct the exercise of voting power (except solely by virtue of a revocable proxy), would entitle the acquirer to exercise or direct voting power in electing directors within one of the following ranges of voting power:

 

   

one-tenth or more but less than one-third;

 

   

one-third or more but less than a majority; or

 

   

a majority or more of all voting power.

Control shares do not include shares the acquirer is then entitled to vote as a result of having previously obtained shareholder approval or shares acquired directly from the corporation. A control share acquisition means the acquisition of issued and outstanding control shares, subject to certain exceptions.

A person who has made or proposes to make a control share acquisition may compel the board of directors to call a special meeting of shareholder to be held within 50 days of demand to consider the voting rights of the shares. The right to compel the calling of a special meeting is subject to the satisfaction of certain conditions, including an undertaking to pay the expenses of the meeting. If no request for a meeting is made, the corporation may itself present the question at any stockholders meeting.

If voting rights are not approved at the meeting or if the acquirer does not deliver an acquiring person statement as required by the statute, then the corporation may, subject to certain limitations and conditions, redeem for fair value any or all of the control shares, except those for which voting rights have previously been approved. Fair value is determined, without regard to the absence of voting rights for the control shares, as of the date of the last acquisition of control shares by the acquiring person in a control share acquisition; or, if a meeting of stockholders is held at which the voting rights of the shares are considered and not approved, then as of the date of the meeting. If voting rights for control shares are approved at a stockholders meeting and the acquirer

 

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becomes entitled to exercise or direct the exercise of a majority of the voting power, all other stockholders may exercise appraisal rights. The fair value of the shares as determined for purposes of appraisal rights may not be less than the highest price per share paid by the acquirer in the control share acquisition.

The MCSAA does not apply (a) to shares acquired in a merger, consolidation or share exchange if the corporation is a party to the transaction or (b) to acquisitions approved or exempted by the charter or bylaws of the corporation.

The Company’s Bylaws contain a provision exempting any acquisition of its shares by any person from the foregoing provisions on control shares. In the event that the Company’s Bylaws are amended to modify or eliminate this provision, certain acquisitions of outstanding shares of its common stock may constitute control share acquisitions and may be subject to the MCSAA.

Unsolicited Takeovers

The Maryland Unsolicited Takeover Act (Title 3, Subtitle 8 of the MGCL), or the MUTA, permits a Maryland corporation that has a class of equity securities registered under the Exchange Act and at least three independent directors to elect, by provision in its charter or bylaws or a resolution of its board of directors and without the need for stockholder approval, and notwithstanding any contrary provision in the charter or bylaws, to be subject to any or all of five provisions, including:

 

   

a classified board of directors;

 

   

a two-thirds vote requirement for removing a director;

 

   

a requirement that the number of directors be fixed only by vote of the directors;

 

   

a requirement that a vacancy on the board of directors be filled only by the affirmative vote of a majority of the remaining directors and for the remainder of the full term of the directorship in which the vacancy occurred and until a successor is elected and qualifies; and

 

   

a provision that a special meeting of stockholders must be called upon stockholder request only on the written request of stockholders entitled to cast a majority of the votes entitled to be cast at the meeting.

The MUTA also permits a Maryland corporation to “opt out” of any or all provisions of the MUTA with express language in in its charter or a resolution of its board of directors. The Charter will provide that the Company has opted out of the provisions of MUTA that would allow the Curbline Board to unilaterally classify itself unless such election is first approved by the affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast on the matter by stockholders entitled to vote generally in the election of directors.

Through provisions in the Charter and Bylaws unrelated to the MUTA, (1) the Curbline Board will initially be classified, (2) a director may be removed only by the affirmative vote of a majority of the shares then outstanding and entitled to vote generally in the election of directors; provided that prior to conclusion of the annual meeting of stockholders to be held in 2027, such removal shall only be for cause, (3) any vacancy on the Curbline Board may be filled only by the affirmative vote of a majority of the remaining directors then in office, (4) the Curbline Board has the exclusive power to fix the number of directors and (5) the Company requires the request of stockholders who hold a majority of the shares of the Company’s outstanding common stock to call a special meeting.

 

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CERTAIN U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS

The following is a general discussion of certain material U.S. federal income tax considerations relating to the Company’s qualification and taxation as a REIT and the acquisition, ownership and disposition of the Company’s common stock. The information in this section is based on the Code, current, temporary and proposed Treasury Regulations promulgated under the Code, the legislative history of the Code, current administrative interpretations and practices of the IRS (including its practices and policies as expressed in certain private letter rulings which are not binding on the IRS except with respect to the particular taxpayers who requested and received such rulings), and court decisions, all as of the date of this Information Statement. Future legislation, Treasury Regulations, administrative interpretations and practices and court decisions may adversely affect, perhaps retroactively, the tax considerations described herein. The Company has not requested, and does not plan to request, any rulings from the IRS concerning its tax treatment and the statements in this Information Statement are not binding on the IRS or any court. Thus, the Company can provide no assurance that these statements will not be challenged by the IRS or sustained by a court if challenged by the IRS.

This summary assumes that the common stock registered pursuant to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form 10, of which this Information Statement is a part, will be held as a capital asset (generally, property held for investment) within the meaning of Section 1221 of the Code. This summary is for general information only, and does not purport to discuss all aspects of U.S. federal income taxation that may be relevant to a particular holder in light of its investment or tax circumstances, or to certain types of holders subject to special tax rules, such as financial institutions, insurance companies, tax-exempt organizations (except to the extent discussed under the subheading “—Taxation of Tax-Exempt U.S. Holders of the Company’s Common Stock” below), broker-dealers, partnerships and other pass-through entities or their partners or other investors, stockholders holding the Company’s common stock as part of a conversion transaction, or a hedge or hedging transaction or as a position in a straddle for tax purposes, and Non-U.S. Holders (as defined below) (except to the extent discussed under the subheading “—Taxation of Non-U.S. Holders of the Company’s Common Stock” below).

The U.S. federal income tax treatment of holders of the Company’s common stock depends in some instances on determinations of fact and interpretations of complex provisions of U.S. federal income tax law for which no clear precedent or authority may be available. In addition, the tax consequences to any particular stockholder of holding the Company’s common stock will depend on the stockholder’s particular tax circumstances.

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

Taxation of the Company

General. The Company intends to elect to be taxed as a REIT under the Code, commencing with its initial taxable year ending December 31, 2024, upon the filing of its U.S. federal income tax return for such year. The Company believes that it has been organized, and expects to operate, in such a manner as to qualify for taxation as a REIT.

The law firm of Jones Day has acted as the Company’s tax counsel in connection with the filing of this Information Statement. In connection with the separation, the Company expects to receive an opinion of Jones Day to the effect that it has been organized in conformity with the requirements for qualification and taxation as a REIT under the Code, and the Company’s proposed method of operation will enable it to meet the requirements for qualification and taxation as a REIT under the Code commencing with its initial taxable year ending December 31, 2024. The opinion of Jones Day is based on current law, which is subject to change, possibly with retroactive effect. It must be emphasized that the opinion of Jones Day is based upon certain assumptions, representations and statements made by the Company, including representations made by the Company in a

 

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representation letter and certificate provided by one of the Company’s officers and the Company’s representations set forth in this Information Statement. Any variation from the representations and statements set forth herein or in the representation letter and certificate the Company has provided to Jones Day may affect the conclusions upon which its opinion is based. While the Company intends to operate so that it will qualify as a REIT, given the highly complex nature of the rules governing REITs, the ongoing importance of certain determinations, and the possibility of future changes in its circumstances, no assurance can be given by Jones Day or by the Company that the Company will qualify as a REIT for any particular year. The opinion will be expressed as of the date issued, and will not cover any subsequent periods.

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

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

First, the Company will be taxed at the regular corporate tax rate on any undistributed REIT taxable income, including undistributed net capital gains.

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

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

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

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

 

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

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

Eighth, the Company will be required to pay a 100% tax on any “redetermined rents,” “redetermined deductions” or “excess interest.” In general, redetermined rents are rents from real property that are overstated as a result of services furnished to any of the Company’s tenants by a “taxable REIT subsidiary” of the Company. Redetermined deductions and excess interest generally represent amounts that are deducted by a TRS of the Company for amounts paid to it that are in excess of the amounts that would have been deducted based on arm’s length negotiations.

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

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

 

(1)

that is managed by one or more trustees or directors;

 

(2)

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

 

(3)

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

 

(4)

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

 

(5)

that is beneficially owned by 100 or more persons;

 

(6)

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

 

(7)

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

 

(8)

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

 

(9)

that adopts a calendar year accounting period.

The Code provides that conditions (1) to (4), inclusive, must be met during the entire taxable year and that condition (5) must be met during at least 335 days of a taxable year of 12 months, or during a proportionate part of a taxable year of less than 12 months. Conditions (5) and (6) do not apply until after the first taxable year for which an election is made to be taxed as a REIT. For purposes of condition (6), certain pension funds and other

 

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tax-exempt entities are treated as individuals, subject to a “look-through” exception with respect to certain pension funds. The Company believes that it has satisfied, or will satisfy, each of the above conditions. In addition, the Charter provides for restrictions regarding ownership and transfer of stock. These restrictions are intended to assist the Company in continuing to satisfy the stock ownership requirements described in (5) and (6) above. These restrictions, however, may not ensure that the Company will, in all cases, be able to satisfy the stock ownership requirements described in (5) and (6) above. In general, if the Company fails to satisfy these stock ownership requirements, its status as a REIT will terminate. However, if the Company complies with the rules in applicable Treasury Regulations that require it to ascertain the actual ownership of its stock, and the Company does not know, or would not have known through the exercise of reasonable diligence, that it failed to meet the requirement described in condition (6) above, the Company will be treated as having met this requirement.

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

Ownership of Interests in Taxable REIT Subsidiaries. REITs may own more than 10% of the voting power and value of securities in a TRS. A TRS is a corporation other than a REIT in which a REIT directly or indirectly holds stock, and that has made a joint election with the REIT to be treated as a TRS. A TRS also includes any corporation other than a REIT with respect to which a TRS owns securities possessing more than 35% of the total voting power or value of the outstanding securities of such corporation. Other than some activities relating to lodging and healthcare facilities, a TRS may generally engage in any business, including the provision of customary or non-customary services to tenants of its parent REIT. A TRS is subject to income tax as a regular C corporation. In addition, a TRS may be prevented from deducting interest on debt funded directly or indirectly by its parent REIT if certain tests regarding the TRS’s debt to equity ratio and interest expense are not satisfied. A REIT’s ownership of securities of a TRS will not be subject to the 10% or 5% asset tests described below, and its operations will be subject to the provisions described above related to the operation of lodging and healthcare facilities.

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

 

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

 

   

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

 

   

The Company, or an actual or constructive owner of 10% or more of the value of the Company’s outstanding stock, must not actually or constructively own 10% or more of the interests in a tenant of the Company, or, if the tenant is a corporation, 10% or more of the voting power or value of all classes of stock of the tenant. Rents received from such a tenant that is the Company’s TRS, however, will not be excluded from the definition of “rents from real property” as a result of this condition if at least 90% of the space at the property to which the rents relate is leased to third parties, and the rents paid by the TRS are comparable to rents paid by the Company’s other tenants for comparable space. Whether rents paid by a TRS are substantially comparable to rents paid by other tenants is determined at the time the lease with the TRS is entered into, extended, and modified, if such modification increases the rents due under such lease. Notwithstanding the foregoing, however, if a lease with a “controlled taxable REIT subsidiary” is modified and such modification results in an increase in the rents payable by such TRS, any such increase will not qualify as “rents from real property.” For purposes of this rule, a “controlled taxable REIT subsidiary” is a TRS in which the Company owns shares possessing more than 50% of the voting power or more than 50% of the total value of outstanding stock of such TRS.

 

   

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

 

   

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

The Company does not intend to charge rent for any property that is based in whole or in part on the net income or profits of any person (except by reason of being based on a percentage of gross receipts or sales, as heretofore described), and the Company does not intend to rent any personal property (other than in connection with a lease of real property where less than 15% of the total rent is attributable to personal property). To the extent that the Company provides services under its leases, and the performance of such services provided by the Company would cause amounts received from its tenants to be excluded from rents from real property, the Company intends to hire a TRS, or an independent contractor from whom the Company derives no revenue, to perform such services.

On February 23, 2009, SITE Centers entered into a stock purchase agreement with Mr. Alexander Otto to issue and sell to him, Katharina Otto-Bernstein, Dr. Michael Otto and Janina Otto, referred to herein collectively as the Otto Family, in excess of 20% of SITE Centers’ then outstanding common shares. In connection with the separation from SITE Centers, the Company will enter into a waiver agreement pursuant to which it will waive the related party limit contained in its Charter that would otherwise have prohibited the Otto Family (and other persons who may be deemed to have constructive ownership of common stock owned by the Otto Family) from constructively owning more than 9.8% of the Company’s outstanding common stock.

 

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

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

The Company may enter into hedging transactions with respect to one or more of its assets or liabilities.

The Company’s hedging activities may include entering into interest rate swaps, caps, and floors, options to purchase these items, and futures and forward contracts. Except to the extent determined by the IRS, income from a hedging transaction, including gain from the sale or disposition of such a transaction, that is clearly identified as such as specified in the Code and that hedges indebtedness incurred or to be incurred by the Company to acquire or carry real estate as specified in the Code or that hedges existing hedging positions after any portion of the hedged indebtedness or property is extinguished or disposed of will not constitute gross income for purposes of the 95% gross income test and the 75% gross income test and therefore will be exempt from these gross income tests. The term “hedging transaction,” as used above, generally means any transaction the Company enters into in the normal course of its business primarily to manage risk of interest rate changes or fluctuations with respect to borrowings made or to be made by it, and it also includes a transaction entered into to manage the risk of currency fluctuations with respect to any items of income or gain that would be qualifying income under the 75% and 95% gross income tests. To the extent that the Company hedges with other types of financial instruments, the income from those transactions is not likely to be treated as qualifying income for purposes of the gross income tests. The Company intends to structure any hedging transactions in a manner that does not jeopardize its status as a REIT.

If the Company fails to satisfy one or both of the 75% or 95% gross income tests for any taxable year, it may nevertheless qualify as a REIT for the year if it is entitled to relief under certain provisions of the Code. The Company generally may make use of the relief provisions if:

 

   

following the Company’s identification of the failure to meet the 75% or 95% gross income tests for any taxable year, it files a schedule with the IRS setting forth each item of its gross income for purposes of the 75% or 95% gross income tests for such taxable year in accordance with Treasury Regulations and

 

   

the Company’s failure to meet these tests was due to reasonable cause and not due to willful neglect.

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

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

 

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

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

Certain relief provisions may be available to the Company if it fails to satisfy the asset tests described above after the 30-day cure period. Under these provisions, the Company will be deemed to have met the 5% and 10% REIT asset tests if the value of its nonqualifying assets (i) does not exceed the lesser of (a) 1% of the total value of its assets at the end of the applicable quarter or (b) $10,000,000, and (ii) the Company disposes of the nonqualifying assets or otherwise satisfies such tests within six months after the last day of the quarter in which the failure to satisfy the asset tests is discovered or the period of time prescribed by Treasury Regulations to be issued. For violations due to reasonable cause and not willful neglect that are in excess of the de minimis exception described above, the Company may avoid disqualification as a REIT under any of the asset tests, after the 30-day cure period, by taking steps including (i) the disposition of sufficient nonqualifying assets, or the taking of other

 

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actions, which allow the Company to meet the asset test within six months after the last day of the quarter in which the failure to satisfy the asset tests is discovered or the period of time prescribed by Treasury Regulations to be issued, (ii) paying a tax equal to the greater of (a) $50,000 or (b) the regular corporate tax rate multiplied by the net income generated by the nonqualifying assets and (iii) disclosing certain information to the IRS.

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

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

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

The Company must pay the distributions described above in the taxable year to which they relate, or current distributions, or in the following taxable year if they are either (i) declared before the Company timely files its tax return for such year and paid on or before the first regular dividend payment after such declaration, or throwback distributions or (ii) paid during January to stockholders of record in October, November or December of the prior year, or deemed current distributions. Throwback distributions are taxable to the Company’s stockholders for the year in which they are paid, even though the distributions relate to the prior year for purposes of the Company’s 90% distribution requirement. Current distributions are taxable for the year they are paid and deemed current distributions, although distributed in January are taxable for the year of their record date. To the extent that the Company does not distribute all of its net capital gain or distributes at least 90%, but less than 100%, of its “REIT taxable income,” as adjusted, the Company will be subject to tax thereon at the regular corporate income tax rate. The Company intends to make timely distributions sufficient to satisfy these annual distribution requirements.

The Company generally expects that its REIT taxable income will be less than its cash flow because of the allowance of depreciation and other non-cash charges in computing REIT taxable income. Accordingly, the Company anticipates that it will generally have sufficient cash or liquid assets to enable it to satisfy the distribution requirements discussed above. However, from time to time, the Company may not have sufficient cash or other liquid assets to meet these distribution requirements because of timing differences between the actual receipt of income and actual payment of deductible expenses, the inclusion of income and deduction of expenses in arriving at its taxable income and the required use of cash flow to pay down indebtedness, if incurred. If these timing differences occur or cash flow is used to repay indebtedness, in order to meet the distribution requirements, the Company may need to arrange for short-term, or possibly long-term, borrowings or need to pay dividends in the form of taxable stock dividends.

Under certain circumstances, the Company may be able to rectify a failure (due to, for example, an IRS adjustment such as an increase in the Company’s taxable income or a reduction in reported expenses) to meet the

 

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90% distribution requirement for a year by paying “deficiency dividends” to stockholders in a later year, which may be included in the Company’s deduction for dividends paid for the earlier year. Thus, the Company may be able to avoid being taxed on amounts distributed as deficiency dividends. However, the Company will be required to pay interest to the IRS based on the amount of any deduction taken for deficiency dividends.

In addition, the Company would be subject to a 4% excise tax to the extent it fails to distribute during each calendar year (or in the case of distributions with declaration and record dates falling in the last three months of the calendar year, by the end of January immediately following such year) at least the sum of 85% of the Company’s REIT ordinary income for such year, 95% of the Company’s REIT capital gain income for the year (other than certain long-term capital gains for which the Company makes a Capital Gains Designation (as defined below) and on which it pays the tax), and any undistributed taxable income from prior periods. Any REIT taxable income and net capital gain on which a REIT-level corporate income tax is imposed for any year is treated as an amount distributed during that year for purposes of calculating the excise tax.

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

The Company intends to make timely distributions to satisfy the annual distribution requirements.

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

The rule against re-electing REIT status following a loss of such status would also apply to the Company if SITE Centers fails to qualify as a REIT, and the Company is treated as a successor to SITE Centers for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Although, as described under the heading “The Company’s Relationship and Agreements with SITE Centers—Agreements with SITE Centers—Tax Matters Agreement,” SITE Centers will represent in the Tax Matters Agreement that commencing with its taxable year ending in December 31, 1993 through its taxable year ending on December 31, 2023, SITE Centers was organized and operated in conformity with the requirements for qualification and taxation as a REIT under the Code and will covenant to qualify as a REIT under the Code for its taxable year ending December 31, 2024 (unless SITE Centers obtains an opinion from a nationally recognized tax counsel or a private letter ruling from the IRS to the effect that SITE Centers’ failure to maintain its REIT status will not cause the Company to fail to qualify as a REIT under the successor REIT rule referred to above), no assurance can be given that such representation and covenant would prevent the Company from failing to qualify as a REIT. Although, in the event of a breach, the Company may be able to seek damages from SITE Centers, there can be no assurance that such damages, if any, would appropriately compensate the Company.

 

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Tax Aspects of the Operating Partnership

In General. The Company owns and will owns all or substantially all of its assets through the Operating Partnership, and the Operating Partnership in turn may own a substantial portion of its assets through interests in various partnerships and limited liability companies.

We expect that the Operating Partnership’s partnership subsidiaries will be treated as partnerships or disregarded entities for U.S. federal income tax purposes. In general, entities that are classified as partnerships for U.S. federal income tax purposes are treated as “pass-through” entities that are not required to pay U.S. federal income taxes. Rather, partners are allocated their share of the items of income, gain, loss, deduction and credit of the partnership and are potentially required to pay tax on that income without regard to whether the partners receive a distribution of cash from the partnership. The Company will include in its income its allocable share of the foregoing items for purposes of computing the Company’s REIT taxable income, based on the Operating Agreement. For purposes of applying the REIT income and asset tests, the Company will include its pro rata share of the income generated by and the assets held by the Operating Partnership, including the Operating Partnership’s share of the income and assets of any subsidiary partnerships, generally based on the Company’s capital interests in the Operating Partnership. See “—Taxation of the Company—Ownership of Interests in Partnerships and Limited Liability Companies.”

The Company’s ownership of interests in such subsidiaries involve special tax considerations, including the possibility that the IRS might challenge the status of these entities as partnerships or disregarded entities, as opposed to associations taxable as corporations, for U.S. federal income tax purposes. If the Operating Partnership or one or more of its subsidiary partnerships or disregarded entities, were treated as an association taxable as a corporation, it would be subject to U.S. federal income taxes on its income. In that case, the character of the entity and its income would change for purposes of the asset and income tests applicable to REITs and could prevent the Company from satisfying these tests. See “—Taxation of the Company—Asset Tests” and “—Taxation of the Company—Income Tests.” This, in turn, could prevent the Company from qualifying as a REIT. See “—Taxation of the Company—Failure to Qualify” for a discussion of the effect of the Company’s failure to meet these tests for a taxable year.

The Company believes the Operating Partnership and other subsidiary partnerships and limited liability companies that do not elect REIT or TRS status have been and will be classified as partnerships or disregarded entities for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

Publicly Traded Partnership Status

Although a domestic unincorporated entity is generally treated as a partnership (if it has more than one owner) or a disregarded entity (if it has a single owner) for U.S. federal income tax purposes, in certain situations such an entity may be treated as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes, including if the entity is a “publicly traded partnership” that does not qualify for an exemption based on the character of its income. A partnership is a “publicly traded partnership” under Section 7704 of the Code if (i) interests in the partnership are traded on an established securities market; or (ii) interests in the partnership are readily tradable on a “secondary market” or the “substantial equivalent” of a secondary market. A partnership will not be treated as a publicly traded partnership if it qualifies for certain safe harbors, one of which applies to certain partnerships with 100 or fewer partners. There is no guarantee that the Operating Partnership will qualify for any of these safe harbors.

The right of a holder of Operating Partnership common units to redeem the units for cash (or shares of our common stock at our option) may cause such units to be considered readily tradable on the substantial equivalent of a secondary market, and the Operating Partnership may not be eligible for a safe harbor at all times. If the Operating Partnership, or one of its subsidiaries, is treated as a publicly traded partnership, it will be taxed as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes unless at least 90% of its gross income has consisted and will consist of “qualifying income” under Section 7704 of the Code. Qualifying income generally includes real

 

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property rents and certain other types of passive income. The income requirements applicable to REITs under the Code and the definition of qualifying income under the publicly traded partnership rules are very similar. Although differences exist between these two income tests, we do not believe that these differences will cause the Operating Partnership to fail the 90% qualifying income test applicable to publicly traded partnerships in the event that the Operating Partnership were taxed as a publicly traded partnership.

Allocations of Income, Gain, Loss and Deduction. A partnership agreement (or other operating agreement of a partnership) will generally determine the allocation of income and losses among partners for U.S. federal income tax purposes so long as the agreement provides for allocations that comply with the provisions of Section 704(b) of the Code and the related Treasury Regulations. Generally, Section 704(b) of the Code and the related Treasury Regulations require that partnership allocations respect the economic arrangement of their partners. If an allocation is not recognized by the IRS for U.S. federal income tax purposes, the item subject to the allocation will be reallocated according to the partners’ interests in the partnership. This reallocation will be determined by taking into account all of the facts and circumstances relating to the economic arrangement of the partners with respect to such item. The allocations of taxable income and loss in the Operating Partnership and its partnership subsidiaries are intended to comply with the requirements of Section 704(b) of the Code and the Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder.

Tax Allocations With Respect to Contributed Properties. In general, when property is contributed to a partnership in exchange for a partnership interest, the partnership inherits the carry-over tax basis of the contributing partner in the contributed property. Any difference between the fair market value and the adjusted tax basis of contributed property at the time of contribution is referred to as a “book-tax difference.” Under Section 704(c) of the Code, income, gain, loss and deduction attributable to property with a book-tax difference that is contributed to a partnership in exchange for an interest in the partnership must be allocated in a manner so that the contributing partner is charged with the unrealized gain or benefits from the unrealized loss associated with the property at the time of the contribution and to the extent possible under the applicable method elected under Section 704(c) of the Code, the non-contributing partners receive allocations of depreciation and gain or loss for tax purposes comparable to the allocations they would have received in the absence of book-tax differences. These allocations are solely for U.S. federal income tax purposes and do not affect the book capital accounts or other economic or legal arrangements among the partners or members. Similar tax allocations are required with respect to the book-tax differences in the assets owned by a partnership when additional assets are contributed in exchange for a new partnership interest.

Certain of the Operating Partnership’s assets may have book-tax differences, and the agreement of limited partnership of the Operating Partnership requires such allocations to be made in a manner consistent with Section 704(c) of the Code. As a result, the Company may be allocated lower amounts of depreciation and other deductions for tax purposes, and possibly greater amounts of taxable income in the event of a disposition, as compared to its share of such items for economic or book purposes. Thus, these rules may cause the Company to recognize taxable income in excess of cash proceeds, which might adversely affect the Company’s ability to comply with the REIT distribution requirements. See “—Taxation of the Company—Annual Distribution Requirements.”

Withholding Obligations with respect to Non-U.S. Partners. In the event a non-U.S. limited partner is admitted into the Operating Partnership, the Operating Partnership generally will be required to withhold with respect to the non-U.S. limited partner’s share of the Operating Partnership income (with such rates based on the character of the items comprising the income and the status of the limited partner for U.S. federal income tax purposes), regardless of the amounts distributed to such non-U.S. limited partner. The Company will be liable for any under-withholdings (including interest and penalties). The Operating Partnership will have to make the withholding payments in any event even if the withholding obligation exceeds a limited partner’s share of distributions. Unless it can recover the excess withholdings from the limited partner, the Operating Partnership will have to find other sources of cash to fund excess withholdings. The Company also generally must withhold under FIRPTA or otherwise on the amount realized if and when a non-U.S. limited partner exercises its

 

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redemption rights and exchanges its units for shares of Company common stock (or cash funded by the Company). The Operating Partnership also may be required to withhold on distributions made to a transferee who acquires units from a non-U.S. limited partner if the transferee did not properly withhold with respect to a non-U.S. transferor.

Partnership Audit Rules. Under the rules applicable to U.S. federal income tax audits of partnerships, the partnership itself may be liable for a hypothetical increase in partner-level taxes (including interest and penalties) resulting from an adjustment of “partnership-related items” on audit, or the imputed adjustment amount, regardless of changes in the composition of the partners (or their relative ownership) between the year under audit and the year of the adjustment (and thus potentially causing the partners at the time of the audit adjustment to bear taxes attributable to former partners). The rules also include an elective alternative method under which the additional taxes resulting from the adjustment are assessed against the affected partners, subject to a higher rate of interest than otherwise would apply (often referred to as a “push-out election”). Applicable Treasury Regulations provide that when a push-out election causes a partner that is itself a partnership to be assessed with its share of such additional taxes from the adjustment, such partnership may cause such additional taxes to be pushed out to its own partners. In addition, these Treasury Regulations provide that a partnership may request a modification of the imputed adjustment amount based on partnership adjustments allocated to a relevant partner where the modification is based on deficiency dividends distributed by a partner that is a REIT. It is possible that the Operating Partnership and subsidiary partnerships in which the Company directly and indirectly invests may be subject to U.S. federal income tax, interest and penalties in the event of a U.S. federal income tax audit as a result of the foregoing rules, and as a result, the Company could be required to bear the economic cost of taxes attributable to the Company as a direct or indirect partner of such partnerships.

Taxation of Taxable U.S. Holders of the Company’s Common Stock

The following summary describes certain U.S. federal income tax consequences to taxable U.S. Holders (as defined below) with respect to an investment in the Company’s common stock. Certain U.S. federal income tax consequences applicable to tax-exempt stockholders are described under the subheading “—Taxation of Tax-Exempt U.S. Holders of the Company’s Common Stock” below and certain U.S. federal income tax consequences applicable to Non-U.S. Holders are described under the subheading “—Taxation of Non-U.S. Holders of the Company’s Common Stock” below.

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

 

   

is a citizen or resident of the United States;

 

   

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

 

   

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

 

   

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

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

 

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

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

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

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

Taxable Stock Dividends. The IRS has issued a Revenue Procedure authorizing elective cash/stock dividends to be made by publicly offered REITs (e.g., REITs that are required to file annual and periodic reports with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission under the Exchange Act). Pursuant to the Revenue Procedure 2017-45, effective for distributions declared on or after August 11, 2017, the IRS will treat the distribution of stock pursuant to an elective cash/stock dividend as a distribution of property under Section 301 of the Code (e.g., a dividend), as long as at least 20% of the total dividend is available in cash and certain other parameters detailed in the Revenue Procedure are satisfied. It is possible that the Company will issue elective cash/stock dividends to the Company’s stockholders. You are urged to consult your own tax advisors regarding the possible receipt of dividends paid in the form of cash and stock in accordance with Revenue Procedure 2017-45.

Passive Activity Losses and Investment Interest Limitations. Distributions the Company makes and gain arising from the sale or exchange by a U.S. Holder of the Company’s common stock will be treated as portfolio income. As a result, U.S. Holders generally will not be able to apply any “passive losses” against this income or gain. A

 

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U.S. Holder may elect to treat capital gain dividends, capital gains from the disposition of common stock and qualified dividend income as investment income for purposes of computing the investment interest limitation, but in such case, the stockholders will be taxed at ordinary income rates on such amount. Other distributions the Company makes (to the extent they do not constitute a return of capital) generally will be treated as investment income for purposes of computing the investment interest limitation. Gain arising from the sale or other disposition of the Company’s common stock, however, will not be treated as investment income under certain circumstances.

Retention of Net Long-Term Capital Gains. The Company may elect to retain, rather than distribute as a capital gain dividend, its net long-term capital gains. If the Company makes this election, or a Capital Gains Designation, it would pay tax on its retained net long-term capital gains. In addition, to the extent the Company makes a Capital Gains Designation, a U.S. Holder generally would:

 

   

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

 

   

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

 

   

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

 

   

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

 

   

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

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

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

Medicare Tax. Certain U.S. Holders of the Company’s common stock that are individuals, estates or trusts and whose income exceeds certain thresholds will be subject to a 3.8% Medicare tax on, among other things,

 

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dividends on and capital gains from the sale or other disposition of stock, unless such dividends or gains are derived in the ordinary course of the conduct of a trade or business (other than a trade or business that consists of certain passive or trading activities). If you are a U.S. Holder that is an individual, estate or trust, you are urged to consult your tax advisors regarding the applicability of the Medicare tax to your income and gains in respect of your investment in the Company’s common stock.

Taxation of Tax-Exempt U.S. Holders of the Company’s Common Stock

The IRS has ruled that amounts distributed as dividends by a qualified REIT do not constitute unrelated business taxable income, or UBTI, when received by a tax-exempt entity. Based on that ruling, and provided that (i) a tax-exempt U.S. stockholder has not held the Company’s common stock as “debt financed property” within the meaning of the Code (i.e., where the acquisition or ownership of common stock is financed through a borrowing by the tax-exempt stockholder) and (ii) the Company’s common stock is not otherwise used in an unrelated trade or business, dividend income from the Company and income from the sale of the Company’s common stock generally will not be UBTI to a tax-exempt stockholder.

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

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

Tax-exempt stockholders are encouraged to consult their own tax advisors concerning the U.S. federal, state, local and foreign tax consequences of an investment in the Company’s common stock.

Taxation of Non-U.S. Holders of the Company’s Common Stock

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

Distributions Generally. Distributions that are neither attributable to gain from the Company’s sale or exchange of U.S. real property interests nor designated by the Company as capital gain dividends will be treated as

 

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dividends of ordinary income to the extent that they are made out of the Company’s current or accumulated earnings and profits. Such distributions ordinarily will be subject to withholding of U.S. federal income tax at a 30% rate or such lower rate as may be specified by an applicable income tax treaty, unless the distributions are treated as effectively connected with the conduct by you of a U.S. trade or business. Under some treaties, however, lower withholding rates generally applicable to dividends do not apply to dividends from REITs. Dividends that are treated as effectively connected with the conduct of a U.S. trade or business will be subject to tax on a net basis (that is, after allowance for deductions), generally in the same manner (and at the same rates) as dividends paid to U.S. Holders are subject to tax, and are generally not subject to withholding. Any such dividends received by a Non-U.S. Holder that is a corporation may also be subject to an additional branch profits tax at a 30% rate or such lower rate as may be specified by an applicable income tax treaty.

The Company expects to withhold U.S. federal tax at the rate of 30% on any distributions made to you unless:

 

   

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

 

   

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

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

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

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

However, any distribution with respect to any class of equity securities which is regularly traded on an established securities market located in the United States is not subject to FIRPTA, and therefore, not subject to

 

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the 21% U.S. withholding tax described above, if you did not own more than 10% of such class of equity securities at any time during the one-year period ending on the date of the distribution, or the 10% Exception. Instead, such distributions will be treated as ordinary dividend distributions and, as a result, Non-U.S. Holders generally would be subject to withholding tax on such distributions in the same manner as they are subject to ordinary dividends.

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

Sale of Common Stock. Gain recognized by a Non-U.S. Holder upon the sale or exchange of the Company’s common stock generally will not be subject to U.S. taxation unless such common stock constitute a U.S. real property interest. The Company’s common stock will not constitute a U.S. real property interest if it is a domestically controlled qualified investment entity, which includes a REIT. A REIT is domestically controlled if, at all times during a specified testing period, less than 50% in value of its common stock are held directly or indirectly by Non-U.S. Holders. Recently finalized regulations require a REIT to “look through” certain foreign controlled domestic corporations to their owners when determining whether the REIT is domestically controlled. The Company believes that it is, and expects to continue to be, a domestically controlled REIT. However, because the Company’s common stock is publicly traded, no assurance can be given that it is or will be a domestically controlled REIT.

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

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

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

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

 

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

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

FATCA. FATCA imposes a U.S. federal withholding tax of 30% on certain types of payments, including payments of U.S.-source dividends and gross proceeds from the sale or other disposition of certain securities producing such U.S.-source dividends made to (i) “foreign financial institutions” unless they agree to collect and disclose to the IRS information regarding their direct and indirect U.S. account holders, and (ii) certain non-financial foreign entities unless they certify certain information regarding their direct and indirect U.S. owners. Foreign financial institutions located in jurisdictions that have an intergovernmental agreement with the United States governing FATCA may be subject to different rules. Under certain circumstances, a holder might be eligible for refunds or credits of such taxes. Under final Treasury Regulations, as modified by certain IRS guidance, the withholding obligations described above generally apply to payments of U.S.-source dividends made on or after July 1, 2014. Under proposed Treasury Regulations, the preamble to which specified that taxpayers may rely on them pending finalization, the FATCA withholding requirement on gross proceeds was eliminated. The rules under FATCA are complex. Non-U.S. Holders and holders that hold the Company’s common stock through a non-U.S. intermediary should consult their own tax advisors regarding the implications of FATCA on an investment in the Company’s common stock.

State and Local Tax Consequences

The Company may be subject to state or local taxation in various state or local jurisdictions, including those in which it transacts business and its stockholders may be subject to state or local taxation in various state or local jurisdictions, including those in which they reside. The Company’s state and local tax treatment may not conform to the U.S. federal income tax treatment discussed above. In addition, your state and local tax treatment may not conform to the U.S. federal income tax treatment discussed above. You are urged to consult with your own tax advisors regarding the effect of state and local tax laws on an investment in the Company’s common stock.

 

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PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT

A summary of the material terms and provisions of the Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of the Operating Partnership, or the Partnership Agreement, is set forth below. The following summary is subject to and qualified in its entirety by reference to Delaware law and the Partnership Agreement. For more detail, please refer to the Partnership Agreement itself, a copy of which will be filed with the SEC and will be incorporated by reference as an exhibit to the Registration Statement on Form 10 of which this Information Statement is a part. For purposes of this section, references to the “Company” and the “general partner” refer to Curbline, in its capacity as the general partner of the Operating Partnership. See the section entitled “Where You Can Find More Information.”

Management of the Operating Partnership

The Company is the sole general partner of the Operating Partnership, which is organized as a Delaware limited partnership. The Company expects to conduct substantially all of its operations and make substantially all of its investments through the Operating Partnership. Except as otherwise expressly provided in the Partnership Agreement, the Company has full, exclusive and complete responsibility and discretion in the management and control of the Operating Partnership, including the ability to cause the Operating Partnership to enter into certain major transactions including acquisitions, dispositions and refinancings, make distributions to partners, and to cause changes in the Operating Partnership’s business activities. The Partnership Agreement will require that the Operating Partnership be operated in a manner that permits the Company to qualify as a REIT.

Transferability of General Partner Interests; Extraordinary Transactions

The Company may voluntarily withdraw from the Operating Partnership or transfer or assign the Company’s interest in the Operating Partnership or engage in any merger, consolidation or other combination, or sale of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets without obtaining the consent of limited partners if either:

 

   

the Company is the surviving entity in the transaction and its shareholders do not receive cash, securities or other property in the transaction;

 

   

as a result of such a transaction, all limited partners (other than the Company) will receive for each common unit an amount of cash, securities and other property equal in value to the greatest amount of cash, securities and other property paid in the transaction to a holder of shares of the Company’s common stock, provided that if, in connection with the transaction, a purchase, tender or exchange offer shall have been made to and accepted by the holders of more than 50% of the outstanding shares of the Company’s common stock, each holder of common units (other than those held by the Company or its subsidiaries) shall be given the option to exchange its common units for the greatest amount of cash, securities or other property that a limited partner would have received had it (A) exercised its redemption right (described below) and (B) sold, tendered or exchanged pursuant to the offer the shares of the Company’s common stock received upon exercise of the redemption right immediately prior to the expiration of the offer or

 

   

if immediately after such a transaction (i) substantially all of the assets of the successor or surviving entity, other than common units held by the Company, are owned, directly or indirectly, by the Operating Partnership or another limited partnership or limited liability company, which the Company refers to as the surviving partnership; (ii) the rights, preferences and privileges of the limited partners in the surviving partnership are at least as favorable as those in effect immediately prior to the consummation of such transaction and as those applicable to any other limited partners or non-managing members of the surviving partnership (who have, in either case, the rights of a common equity holder); and (iii) such rights of the limited partners include the right to exchange their common units in the surviving partnership for at least one of: (A) the consideration paid in the transaction to a holder of shares of the Company’s common stock or (B) if the ultimate controlling person of the

 

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surviving partnership has publicly traded common equity securities, such common equity securities, with an exchange ratio based on the relative fair market value of such securities and the shares of the Company’s common stock as of the time of the transaction.

The Company also may transfer all or any portion of its general partner interest to a wholly owned subsidiary, including any TRS or QRS, and following such transfer may withdraw as the general partner.

Limited partners generally have no voting or consent rights, except with respect to certain amendments to the Partnership Agreement that may be adopted by the general partner. Amendments to reflect the issuance of additional partnership interests or to set forth or modify the designations, rights, powers, duties and preferences of holders of any additional partnership interests in the partnership may be made by the general partner without the consent of the limited partners. In addition, amendments that would not adversely affect the rights of the limited partners in any material respect and certain other specified types of amendments may be made by the general partner without the consent of the limited partners. Otherwise, amendments to the Partnership Agreement that would adversely affect the rights of the limited partners in any material respect must be approved by limited partners holding a majority of the common units (including the common units held by the Company and its affiliates) and, if such amendments would modify certain provisions of the Partnership Agreement relating to distributions, allocations, and redemptions, among others, the consent of a majority in interest of the common units held by limited partners (other than the Company and its affiliates) is required if such an amendment would disproportionately affect such limited partners. In addition, any amendment to the Partnership Agreement that would convert a limited partner interest into a general partner interest (except for the Company’s acquiring such interest) or modify the limited liability of a limited partner would require the consent of each limited partner adversely affected or otherwise will be effective against only those limited partners who provide consent.

Capital Contributions

The Partnership Agreement provides that if the Operating Partnership requires additional funds at any time in excess of funds available to the Operating Partnership from borrowing or capital contributions, the Company may borrow such funds from a financial institution or other lender and lend such funds to the Operating Partnership on substantially the same terms and conditions as are applicable to the Company’s borrowing of such funds. Under the Partnership Agreement, if the Company issues any additional equity securities, it is obligated, subject to certain exceptions, including in connection with issuances of dividends or distributions, to contribute the net proceeds from such issuance as additional capital to the Operating Partnership and it will receive additional common units with economic interests substantially similar to those of the securities it issued. In addition, if the Company contributes additional capital to the Operating Partnership, it generally will revalue the property of the Operating Partnership to its fair market value (as determined by the Company) and the capital accounts of the partners will 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 under the terms of the Partnership Agreement if there were a taxable disposition of such property for its fair market value (as determined by the Company) on the date of the revaluation. The Operating Partnership may issue preferred partnership interests, in connection with acquisitions of property or otherwise, which could have priority over common partnership interests with respect to distributions from the Operating Partnership, including the partnership interests that the Company owns.

Redemption Rights

Pursuant to the Partnership Agreement, except as set forth in any separate agreement entered into between the Operating Partnership and the applicable limited partner, any future limited partners, other than the Company or its subsidiaries, will receive redemption rights, which will enable them to cause the Operating Partnership to redeem the common units held by such limited partners in exchange for cash or, at the Company’s option, shares of the Company’s common stock on a one-for-one basis. The cash redemption amount per common unit would be based on the market price of the Company’s common stock at the time of redemption. The number of shares

 

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of the Company’s common stock issuable upon redemption of common units held by limited partners may be adjusted upon the occurrence of certain events such as stock dividends, stock subdivisions or combinations. The Company expects to fund cash redemptions, if any, out of available cash or borrowings. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a limited partner will not be entitled to exercise its redemption rights if the delivery of common stock to the redeeming limited partner could cause:

 

   

the redeeming partner or any other person to violate any of the restrictions on ownership and transfer of the Company’s stock contained in the Charter;

 

   

the Operating Partnership to cease to be classified as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes (except as a result of the redemption of all units other than those owned by the Company);

 

   

the Operating Partnership to become, with respect to any employee benefit plan subject to Title I of Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, or ERISA, a “party-in-interest” (as defined in Section 3(14) of ERISA) or a “disqualified person” (as defined in Section 4975(e) of the Code);

 

   

any portion of the assets of the Operating Partnership to constitute assets of any employee benefit plan pursuant to Department of Labor Regulations Section 2510.2-101;

 

   

the Operating Partnership to fail to qualify for any of the safe harbors from treatment as a “publicly traded partnership,” as such term is defined in Section 7704(b) of the Code, or cause the Operating Partnership to derive income that is not “qualifying income” within the meaning of Section 7704(d) of the Code;

 

   

the Operating Partnership to be regulated under the Investment Company Act of 1940, the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended, or ERISA;

 

   

a transfer to a lender to the Operating Partnership, or any person who is “related” and whose loan constitutes a “non-recourse liability” (each within the meaning of Section 1.752-4 of the Federal Income Tax Regulations promulgated under the Code);

 

   

an adverse effect on the Company’s ability to continue to qualify as a REIT or, except with its consent, cause any taxes to become payable by the Company under Section 857 or Section 4981 of the Code or

 

   

the Operating Partnership to become subject to a withholding obligation under section 1446(f) of the Code.

The Company may, in its sole and absolute discretion or, in certain cases, upon the advice of counsel, waive any of these restrictions.

Reimbursement of Expenses

In addition to the administrative and operating costs and expenses incurred by the Operating Partnership, the Operating Partnership or one of its subsidiaries generally will pay all of the Company’s administrative costs and expenses, including:

 

   

all expenses relating to the Company’s formation and continuity of existence and operation;

 

   

all expenses relating to offerings, registrations and repurchases of securities, including those incurred in connection with issuing or redeeming interests in the Operating Partnership;

 

   

all expenses associated with the preparation and filing of any of the Company’s periodic or other reports and communications under U.S. federal, state or local laws or regulations;

 

   

all expenses associated with the Company’s compliance with laws, rules and regulations promulgated by any regulatory body;

 

   

all expenses for compensation of the Company’s directors, director nominees, officers and employees and

 

   

all of the Company’s other operating or administrative costs incurred in the ordinary course of business on behalf of the Operating Partnership.

 

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Exculpation and Indemnification of the General Partner

The Partnership Agreement provides that none of the general partner, its affiliates nor any of their directors, officers, agents or employees nor any officers, agents or employees of the Operating Partnership or its affiliates (each of which we refer to as a “covered person”) will be liable to the Operating Partnership, any of its partners or any assignees for losses sustained, liabilities incurred or benefits not derived as a result of errors in judgment or mistakes of fact or law or any act or omission unless such covered person acted in bad faith and the act or omission was material to the matter giving rise to the loss, liability or benefit not derived.

In addition, the Partnership Agreement requires the Operating Partnership to indemnify the general partner, its directors and such other persons (including affiliates, officers, employees and agents of the general partner or the Operating Partnership or any of their respective subsidiaries or representatives of the Operating Partnership) as the general partner may designate from time to time, in its sole and absolute discretion, to the fullest extent permitted by Delaware law, including from and against any and all claims that relate to the operations of the Operating Partnership or the general partner in which any such indemnitee may be involved, or is threatened to be involved, as a party or otherwise, except to the extent (i) the act or omission was material to the matter giving rise to the proceeding and either was committed in bad faith, constituted fraud or was the result of active and deliberate dishonesty; (ii) an improper personal benefit in money, property or services was actually received; or (iii) in the case of any criminal proceeding, there was reasonable cause to believe that the act or omission was unlawful.

No indemnitee may subject any partner of the Operating Partnership to personal liability with respect to this indemnification obligation as this indemnification obligation will be satisfied solely out of the assets of the Operating Partnership and any insurance proceeds.

Distributions

The Partnership Agreement provides that, subject to the terms of any preferred partnership interests, the Operating Partnership will make non-liquidating distributions at such time and in such amounts as determined by the Company in its sole discretion, to the Company and the limited partners in accordance with their respective percentage interests in the Operating Partnership.

Upon liquidation of the Operating Partnership, after payment of, or adequate provision for, debts and obligations of the partnership, including any partner loans and subject to the terms of any preferred partnership interests, any remaining assets of the partnership will be distributed to the Company and the limited partners with positive capital accounts in accordance with their respective positive capital account balances unless otherwise modified by an award agreement.

Allocations

Profits and losses of the partnership (including depreciation and amortization deductions) for each taxable year generally will be allocated to the Company and the other limited partners in accordance with the respective percentage interests in the partnership, subject to certain allocations to be made with respect to LTIP units as described below (or as modified by an award agreement) or the terms of any preferred partnership interests. All of the foregoing allocations are subject to compliance with the provisions of Sections 704(b) and 704(c) of the Code and Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder. To the extent Treasury Regulations promulgated pursuant to Section 704(c) of the Code permit, the Company, as the general partner, shall have the authority to elect the method to be used by the Operating Partnership for allocating items with respect to any contributed property for which fair market value differs from the adjusted tax basis at the time of contribution, or with respect to properties that are revalued and carried for purposes of maintaining capital accounts at a value different from adjusted tax basis at the time of revaluation, and such election shall be binding on all partners.

 

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LTIP Units

The Company may cause the Operating Partnership to issue LTIP units, which are intended to qualify as “profits interests” in the Operating Partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes, to certain persons providing services to or for the benefit of the Operating Partnership. LTIP units may be issued subject to performance- and/or service-based vesting requirements, which, if they are not met, may result in the automatic forfeiture or repurchase of any issued LTIP units. Generally, LTIP units will be entitled to the same non-liquidating distributions and allocations of profits and losses as the common units on a per unit basis unless otherwise modified or required by an award agreement.

As with common units, liquidating distributions with respect to LTIP units are made in accordance with the holder’s positive capital account balances associated with these LTIP units. However, unlike common units, upon issuance, LTIP units generally will have a capital account equal to zero. Upon the sale of all or substantially all of the assets of the Operating Partnership or a book-up event for tax purposes in which the book values of the Operating Partnership’s assets are adjusted, holders of LTIP units will be entitled to priority allocations of any book gain that may be allocated by the Operating Partnership to increase the value of their capital accounts associated with their LTIP units until these capital accounts are equal, on a per unit basis, to the capital accounts associated with the common units. In addition, once the capital account associated with a vested LTIP unit has increased to an amount equal, on a per unit basis, to the capital accounts associated with the common units, that LTIP unit will be automatically converted into a common unit. The book gain that may be allocated to increase the capital accounts associated with LTIP units is comprised in part of unrealized gain, if any, inherent in the property of the Operating Partnership on an aggregate basis at the time of a book-up event. Book-up events are events that, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, require or permit a partnership to revalue its property and allocate any unrealized gain or loss since the last book-up event to its partners. Book-up events generally include, among other things, the issuance or redemption by a partnership of more than a de minimis partnership interest.

LTIP units may be converted into common units once such LTIP units have vested, as further described in the Partnership Agreement, and will be subject to mandatory conversion in the event of certain corporate transactions or events, as further described in the Partnership Agreement. LTIP units are not entitled to the redemption right described above, but any common units into which LTIP units are converted are entitled to this redemption right. In general, LTIP units vote with the common units and do not have any separate voting rights except in connection with actions that would materially and adversely affect the rights of the LTIP units.

Term

The Operating Partnership will continue indefinitely, or until sooner dissolved upon:

 

   

an event of withdrawal of the general partner, as defined in the Delaware Revised Uniform Limited Partnership Act (unless a majority of the partnership interests held by the limited partners elect to continue the partnership);

 

   

an election by the general partner, in its sole and absolute discretion;

 

   

entry of a decree of judicial dissolution or

 

   

the sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Operating Partnership.

Tax Matters

The Partnership Agreement provides that the Company, as the sole general partner of the Operating Partnership, or the Company’s designee will be the partnership representative of the Operating Partnership and, in such capacity will have authority to handle tax audits and to make tax elections under the Code on behalf of the Operating Partnership.

 

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WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

The Company has filed with the SEC a Registration Statement on Form 10, including exhibits and schedules filed with the Registration Statement of which this Information Statement is a part, under the Exchange Act, with respect to the Company’s common stock to be distributed. This Information Statement is part of, and does not contain all of the information set forth in, the Registration Statement and exhibits and schedules to the Registration Statement. For further information with respect to the Company and the Company’s common stock to be distributed, reference is made to the Registration Statement, including the exhibits and schedules to the Registration Statement. You may review a copy of the Registration Statement, including its exhibits and schedules on the Internet website maintained by the SEC at www.sec.gov. Information contained on any website referenced in this Information Statement is not incorporated by reference in this Information Statement.

As a result of the separation, the Company will become subject to the information and reporting requirements of the Exchange Act and will file periodic reports, proxy statements and will make available to its stockholders annual reports containing audited financial information for each year and quarterly reports for the first three quarters of each fiscal year containing unaudited interim financial information.

You should rely only on the information contained in this Information Statement or to which the Company has referred you. The Company has not authorized any person to provide you with different information or to make any representation not contained in this Information Statement.

 

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INDEX TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

CURBLINE PROPERTIES CORP.

 

     Page  

Financial Statements:

  

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

     F-2  

Balance Sheet at July 31, 2024

     F-3  

Notes to Balance Sheet

     F-4  

CURBLINE PROPERTIES CORP. PREDECESSOR

 

     Page  

Financial Statements:

  

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

     F-5  

Combined Balance Sheets at December 31, 2023 and 2022

     F-6  

Combined Statements of Operations for the three years ended December 31, 2023

     F-7  

Combined Statements of Equity for the three years ended December 31, 2023

     F-8  

Combined Statements of Cash Flows for the three years ended December 31, 2023

     F-9  

Notes to Combined Financial Statements

     F-10  

Financial Statement Schedules:

  

II — Valuation and Qualifying Accounts and Reserves for the three years ended December 31, 2023

     F-20  

III — Real Estate and Accumulated Depreciation at December 31, 2023

     F-21  

All other schedules are omitted because they are not applicable or the required information is shown in the combined financial statements or notes thereto.

 

     Page  

Financial Statements:

  

Combined Balance Sheets at June 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023 (unaudited)

     F-23  

Combined Statements of Operations for the six months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023 (unaudited)

     F-24  

Combined Statements of Equity for the six months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023 (unaudited)

     F-25  

Combined Statements of Cash Flows for the six months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023 (unaudited)

     F-26  

Notes to Combined Financial Statements (unaudited)

     F-27  

 

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Table of Contents

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

To the Board of Directors and Shareholders of SITE Centers Corp.

Opinion on the Financial Statement – Balance Sheet

We have audited the accompanying balance sheet of Curbline Properties Corp. (the “Company”) as of July 31, 2024, including the related notes (collectively referred to as the “financial statement”).

In our opinion, the financial statement presents fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of July 31, 2024 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

Basis for Opinion

The financial statement is the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s financial statement based on our audit. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB) and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.

We conducted our audit of this financial statement in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB and in accordance with auditing standards generally accepted in the United States of America. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statement is free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud.

Our audit included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statement, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statement. Our audit also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statement. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.

/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

Cleveland, OH

August 16, 2024

We have served as the Company’s auditor since 2024.

 

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Curbline Properties Corp.

BALANCE SHEET

(In thousands)

 

     July 31, 2024  

Assets

  

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 1  
  

 

 

 
   $ 1  
  

 

 

 

Liabilities and Equity

  

Equity

  

Common stock, par value $0.01 per share; 1,000 shares authorized; 100 shares issued at July 31, 2024

   $ —   

Additional paid-in-capital

     1  
  

 

 

 

Total equity

   $ 1  
  

 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

 

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Notes to Balance Sheet

1. Organization and Description of Business

Curbline Properties Corp. (the “Company”), was incorporated in the state of Maryland on October 25, 2023 and was capitalized with $1,000 in July of 2024. The Company is a direct, wholly owned subsidiary of SITE Centers Corp. (“SITE Centers”), formed in contemplation of a spin-off transaction in which SITE Centers plans to contribute substantially all of its convenience properties to the Company, or its subsidiaries, and distribute all the outstanding voting shares of common stock of the Company to SITE Centers’ common shareholders.

2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“U.S. GAAP”) as set forth within the Financial Accounting Standards Board’s Accounting Standards Codification. Statements of operations, equity and cash flows have not been prepared as no material substantive transactions have taken place aside from the initial capitalization on July 15, 2024. The Company has been capitalized with the issuance of 100 shares of common stock ($0.01 par value per share).

3. Subsequent Events

In connection with the preparation of these financial statements, subsequent events were evaluated through August 16, 2024, the date this balance sheet was available to be issued. Based upon this review, the Company did not identify any subsequent events that would have required adjustment or disclosure in the financial statements.

 

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Table of Contents

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

To the Board of Directors and Shareholders of SITE Centers Corp.

Opinion on the Financial Statements

We have audited the accompanying combined balance sheets of Curbline Properties Corp. Predecessor (the “Curbline Predecessor”), a business of SITE Centers Corp., as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, and the related combined statements of operations, of equity and of cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2023, including the related notes and financial statement schedules listed in the accompany index (collectively referred to as the “combined financial statements”). In our opinion, the combined financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Curbline Predecessor as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2023 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

Basis for Opinion

These combined financial statements are the responsibility of the Curbline Predecessor’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Curbline Predecessor’s combined financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB) and are required to be independent with respect to the Curbline Predecessor in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.

We conducted our audits of these combined financial statements in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB and in accordance with auditing standards generally accepted in the United States of America. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audits to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the combined financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud.

Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the combined financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the combined financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the combined financial statements. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

Cleveland, Ohio

June 28, 2024

We have served as the Curbline Predecessor’s auditor since 2024.

 

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Curbline Properties Corp. Predecessor

COMBINED BALANCE SHEETS

(In thousands)

 

     December 31,  
     2023     2022  

Assets

    

Land

   $ 316,212     $ 260,044  

Buildings

     622,414       515,264  

Fixtures and tenant improvements

     58,676       34,708  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 
     997,302       810,016  

Less: Accumulated depreciation

     (136,168     (113,561
  

 

 

   

 

 

 
     861,134       696,455  

Construction in progress

     13,504       24,552  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total real estate assets, net

     874,638       721,007  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents

     566       77  

Restricted cash

     155       513  

Accounts receivable

     11,528       9,115  

Intangible assets, net

     34,330       27,027  

Other assets

     415       280  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 
   $ 921,632     $ 758,019  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Liabilities and Equity

    

Mortgage indebtedness, net

   $ 25,758     $ 38,845  

Below-market leases, net

     21,243       14,971  

Accounts payable and other liabilities

     11,993       12,425  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total liabilities

     58,994       66,241  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Commitments and contingencies (Note 9)

    

Equity

    

Curbline Predecessor equity

     862,638       691,778  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total equity

     862,638       691,778  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 
   $ 921,632     $ 758,019  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these combined financial statements.

 

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Table of Contents

Curbline Properties Corp. Predecessor

COMBINED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(In thousands)

 

     For the Year Ended December 31,  
     2023     2022     2021  

Revenues from operations:

      

Rental income

   $ 93,004     $ 72,855     $ 52,194  

Other income

     656       281       123  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
     93,660       73,136       52,317  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Rental operation expenses:

      

Operating and maintenance

     10,653       7,385       4,671  

Real estate taxes

     11,261       7,990       6,105  

General and administrative

     5,215       3,775       3,299  

Depreciation and amortization

     31,993       26,627       15,004  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
     59,122       45,777       29,079  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Other income (expense):

      

Interest expense

     (1,520     (1,619     (2,146

Other expense

     (2,376     (10     (7

Gain on disposition of real estate

     371       —        —   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
     (3,525     (1,629     (2,153
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net income

   $ 31,013     $ 25,730     $ 21,085  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Income attributable to non-controlling interest

     —        —        (427
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net income attributable to Curbline Predecessor

   $ 31,013     $ 25,730     $ 20,658  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these combined financial statements.

 

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Table of Contents

Curbline Properties Corp. Predecessor

COMBINED STATEMENTS OF EQUITY

(In thousands)

 

     Curbline
Predecessor
Equity
    Non-Controlling
Interest
    Total  

Balance, December 31, 2020

   $ 312,939     $ (1,528   $ 311,411  

Acquisition of non-controlling interest

     (5,503     1,101       (4,402

Net transactions with SITE Centers

     60,819       —        60,819  

Net income

     20,658       427       21,085  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Balance, December 31, 2021

     388,913       —        388,913  

Acquisition of non-controlling interest

     (411     —        (411

Net transactions with SITE Centers

     277,546       —        277,546  

Net income

     25,730       —        25,730  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Balance, December 31, 2022

     691,778       —        691,778  

Net transactions with SITE Centers

     139,847       —        139,847  

Net income

     31,013       —        31,013  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Balance, December 31, 2023

   $ 862,638     $ —      $ 862,638  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these combined financial statements.

 

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Curbline Properties Corp. Predecessor

COMBINED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(In thousands)

 

     For the Year Ended December 31,  
     2023     2022     2021  

Cash flow from operating activities:

      

Net income

   $ 31,013     $ 25,730     $ 21,085  

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash flow provided by operating activities:

      

Depreciation and amortization

     31,993       26,627       15,004  

Amortization of debt issuance costs

     161       161       176  

Gain on disposition of real estate

     (371     —        —   

Net change in accounts receivable

     (2,667     (1,773     608  

Net change in accounts payable and accrued expenses

     (753     (1,582     (418

Net change in other operating assets and liabilities

     (135     722       (228
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total adjustments

     28,228       24,155       15,142  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net cash flow provided by operating activities

     59,241       49,885       36,227  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash flow from investing activities:

      

Real estate acquired, net of liabilities and cash assumed

     (163,423     (304,587     (71,950

Real estate improvements to operating real estate

     (23,164     (18,877     (6,153

Proceeds from disposition of real estate

     563       —        —   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net cash flow used for investing activities

     (186,024     (323,464     (78,103
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash flow from financing activities:

      

Repayment of mortgage debt

     (12,933     (3,801     (15,329

Acquisition of non-controlling interests

     —        (411     (4,402

Transactions with SITE Centers

     139,847       277,546       60,819  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net cash flow provided by financing activities

     126,914       273,334       41,088  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net increase (decrease) in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash

     131       (245     (788

Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, beginning of period

     590       835       1,623  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, end of period

   $ 721     $ 590     $ 835  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these combined financial statements.

 

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Notes to Combined Financial Statements

1. Nature of Business

On October 30, 2023, SITE Centers Corp. (“SITE Centers”) announced that it intended to separate its portfolio of convenience retail properties from the rest of its operations (collectively, the “Curbline Business” or “Curbline Predecessor”), into a separate publicly-traded company expected to separate on or around October 1, 2024. To accomplish this separation, in October 2023, SITE Centers formed a Maryland corporation, Curbline Properties Corp. (“Curbline” or the “Company”), to own the Curbline Business. The separation will be effected by means of a pro rata special distribution of all outstanding shares of Curbline common stock to the holders of SITE Centers common shares as of the record date for the distribution (the “Distribution”).

As of December 31, 2023, Curbline Predecessor consisted of 65 assets comprising approximately 2.2 million square feet of gross leasable area (“GLA”) located in the United States and are geographically diversified principally across the Southeast, Mid-Atlantic, Southwest and Mountain regions along with Texas. Amounts relating to the number of properties and GLA are unaudited.

Following the separation from SITE Centers, Curbline plans to elect to be treated as a real estate investment trust (“REIT”) for U.S. federal income tax purposes, commencing with the taxable year ending December 31, 2024 and intends to maintain its status as a REIT for U.S. federal income taxes purposes in future periods.

The Curbline Business is operated as one segment, which owns and operates convenience retail properties. The tenant base of the Curbline Business primarily includes a diversified mixture of national and local retail tenants. Consequently, the Curbline Business’ credit risk is concentrated in the retail industry.

2. Basis of Presentation

The accompanying historical combined financial statements and related notes of the Curbline Business do not represent the balance sheets, statements of operations and cash flows of a legal entity, but rather a combination of entities under common control that have been “carved-out” of SITE Centers’ consolidated financial statements in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“U.S. GAAP”). All intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated in combination. The preparation of these combined financial statements requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the dates of the combined financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting periods. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

As of December 31, 2023, the Curbline Predecessor portfolio consisted of 65 convenience retail properties, of which 26 properties were carved out of existing shopping centers owned by SITE Centers. Curbline Predecessor’s process of allocating the land value to the carved-out properties was to conclude on the acquisition date the fair value per square foot of convenience retail land with the residual value allocated to the existing shopping center which was validated with market comparisons. Curbline Predecessor’s process of allocating the building value at the carved-out convenience retail property as compared to the shopping center, is based on annualized base rent as of the date of acquisition or based on specific identification of costs for ground up developments as of the date placed in service. Curbline Predecessor’s process of allocating mortgage indebtedness and interest expense for these properties was based on the percentage of total assets at acquisition date or refinancing. The mortgages related to the carved-out assets were repaid during the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021.

These combined financial statements reflect the revenues and direct expenses of the Curbline Predecessor and include material assets and liabilities of SITE Centers that are specifically attributable to the Curbline Business. Curbline Predecessor equity in these combined financial statements represents the excess of total assets over total liabilities. Curbline Predecessor equity is impacted by contributions from and distributions to SITE

 

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Centers, which are the result of treasury activities and net funding provided by or distributed to SITE Centers prior to the Distribution, as well as the allocated costs and expenses described below.

The combined financial statements include the revenues and direct expenses of the Curbline Predecessor. Net transactions with SITE Centers shown in the combined statements of equity include contributions from and distributions to SITE Centers, which are the result of treasury activities and net funding provided by or distributed to SITE Centers prior to the Distribution, in addition to the indirect costs and expenses allocated to Curbline Predecessor by SITE Centers. Further, the combined financial statements include an allocation of indirect costs and expenses incurred by SITE Centers related to the Curbline Business, primarily consisting of compensation and other general and administrative costs that have been allocated using the relative percentage of GLA of the Curbline Business and SITE Centers’ management’s knowledge of the Curbline Business. The amounts allocated in the accompanying combined financial statements are not necessarily indicative of the actual amount of such indirect expenses that would have been recorded had the Curbline Predecessor been a separate independent entity. SITE Centers believes the assumptions underlying SITE Centers’ allocation of indirect expenses are reasonable.

3. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Real Estate

Real estate assets, which include construction in progress, are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation. Depreciation and amortization is recorded on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful lives of the assets as follows:

 

Buildings

   Useful lives, 30 to 31.5 years

Building improvements and fixtures

   Useful lives, ranging from 3 to 20 years

Tenant improvements

   Shorter of economic life or lease terms

Useful lives of its depreciable real estate assets are assessed periodically and accounts for any revisions, which are not material for the periods presented, prospectively. Expenditures for maintenance and repairs are charged to operations as incurred. Significant expenditures that improve or extend the life of the asset are capitalized.

Construction in progress primarily relates to convenience retail property redevelopment projects. Curbline Predecessor capitalized certain direct costs (salaries and related personnel) and incremental internal construction costs of $0.6 million, $0.7 million and $0.5 million in 2023, 2022 and 2021, respectively.

In 2023, Gain on disposition of real estate is a result of condemnation proceeds in excess of land value.

Purchase Price Accounting

Curbline Predecessor’s acquisitions were accounted for as asset acquisitions, and Curbline Predecessor capitalized the acquisition costs incurred. Upon acquisition of properties, Curbline Predecessor estimates the fair value of acquired tangible assets, consisting of land, building and improvements and intangibles, generally including above- and below-market leases and in-place leases. Curbline Predecessor allocates the purchase price to assets acquired and liabilities assumed on a gross basis based on their relative fair values at the date of acquisition.

The fair value of land of an acquired property considers the value of land as if the site were unimproved based on comparable market transactions. The fair value of the building is determined as if it were vacant by applying a capitalization rate to property net operating income based upon market leasing assumptions. Above- and below-market lease values are calculated based on the present value (using a discount rate that reflects the risks associated with the leases acquired) of the difference between contractual rents and estimated market rents,

 

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measured over a period equal to the remaining term of the lease for above-market leases and the remaining term plus the estimated term of any below-market, renewal options for below-market leases. The capitalized above- and below-market lease values are amortized to base rental revenue over the related lease term plus fixed-rate renewal options, as appropriate. The value of acquired in-place leases is recorded based on the present value of the estimated gross monthly market rental rate for each individual lease multiplied by the estimated period of time it would take to lease the space to a new tenant. Such amounts are amortized to depreciation and amortization expense over the remaining initial lease term.

Real Estate Impairment Assessment

Curbline Predecessor reviews its individual real estate assets, including undeveloped land and construction in progress, and intangibles for potential impairment indicators whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value may not be recoverable. Impairment indicators are primarily related to changes in estimated hold periods and significant, prolonged decreases in projected cash flows; however, other impairment indicators could occur. Decreases in cash flows may be caused by declines in occupancy, projected losses on potential future sales, market factors, significant changes in projected development costs or completion dates and sustainability of development projects. An asset with impairment indicators is considered impaired when the undiscounted future cash flows are not sufficient to recover the asset’s carrying value. The determination of anticipated undiscounted cash flows is inherently subjective, requiring significant estimates made by management, and considers the most likely expected course of action at the balance sheet date based on current plans, intended holding periods and available market information. For operational real estate assets, the significant valuation assumptions included the capitalization rate used in the income capitalization valuation, as well as the projected property net operating income. If Curbline Predecessor is evaluating the potential sale of an asset, the undiscounted future cash flows analysis is probability-weighted based upon management’s best estimate of the likelihood of the alternative courses of action as of the balance sheet date. If an asset’s carrying value is not recoverable, an impairment loss is recognized based on the excess of the carrying amount of the asset over its fair value. There were no impairment charges recorded during the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021.

Real Estate Held for Sale

Curbline Predecessor generally considers assets to be held for sale when management believes that a sale is probable within a year. This generally occurs when a sales contract is executed with no substantive contingencies and the prospective buyer has significant funds at risk. Assets that are classified as held for sale are recorded at the lower of their carrying amount or fair value, less cost to sell. Curbline Predecessor evaluated its property portfolio and did not identify any properties that would meet the above-mentioned criteria for held for sale as of December 31, 2023 and 2022.

Interest Expense

Interest expense paid on Curbline Predecessor’s mortgage indebtedness during the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021, aggregated $1.7 million, $1.7 million and $2.2 million, respectively.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

Curbline Predecessor considers all highly liquid investments with an original maturity of three months or less to be cash equivalents. Curbline Predecessor maintains cash deposits with major financial institutions, which from time to time may exceed federally insured limits. Curbline Predecessor periodically assesses the financial condition of these institutions and believes that the risk of loss is minimal.

 

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Restricted Cash

Restricted cash represents amounts on deposit with financial institutions primarily for debt service payments and real estate taxes, as required pursuant to the applicable loan agreement. For purposes of Curbline Predecessor’s combined statements of cash flows, changes in restricted cash are aggregated with cash and cash equivalents.

Statements of Cash Flows and Supplemental Disclosure of Non-Cash Investing and Financing Information

For the three years ended December 31, 2023, non-cash investing and financing activities related to accounts payable included in Construction in progress were $1.5 million, $3.9 million and $1.3 million, respectively.

Accounts Receivable

Curbline Predecessor makes estimates of the collectability of its accounts receivable related to base rents, including straight-line rentals, expense reimbursements and other revenue or income. Rental income has been reduced for amounts Curbline Predecessor believes are not probable of being collected. Curbline Predecessor analyzes tenant credit worthiness, as well as current economic and tenant-specific sector trends when evaluating the probability of collection of accounts receivable. In evaluating tenant credit worthiness, Curbline Predecessor’s assessment may include a review of payment history, tenant sales performance and financial position. For national tenants, Curbline Predecessor also evaluates projected liquidity, as well as the tenant’s access to capital and the overall health of the particular sector. In addition, with respect to tenants in bankruptcy, Curbline Predecessor makes estimates of the expected recovery of pre-petition and post-petition claims in assessing the probability of collection of the related receivable. The time to resolve these claims may exceed one year. These estimates have a direct impact on Curbline Predecessor’s earnings because once the amount is not considered probable of being collected, earnings are reduced by a corresponding amount until the receivable is collected.

Accounts receivable, excluding straight-line rents receivable, exclude estimated amounts not probable of being collected (including contract disputes) of $0.3 million and $0.1 million at December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. Accounts receivable are generally expected to be collected within one year. At December 31, 2023 and 2022, straight-line rents receivable, net of a provision for uncollectible amounts of $0.3 million and $0.2 million, respectively, aggregated $8.0 million and $6.5 million, respectively.

Deferred Financing Costs

External costs and fees incurred in obtaining indebtedness are included in Curbline Predecessor’s combined balance sheets as a direct deduction from the related debt liability, rather than as an asset. The aggregate costs are amortized over the terms of the related debt agreements. Such amortization is reflected in Interest expense in Curbline Predecessor’s combined statements of operations.

Revenue Recognition

For the real estate industry, leasing transactions are not within the scope of the revenue standard. A majority of Curbline Predecessor’s tenant-related revenue is recognized pursuant to lease agreements and is governed by the leasing guidance.

Rental Income

Rental income on the combined statements of operations includes contractual lease payments that generally consist of the following:

 

   

Fixed-lease payments, which include fixed payments associated with expense reimbursements from tenants for common area maintenance, taxes and insurance from tenants and are recognized on a

 

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straight-line basis over the non-cancelable term of the lease, which generally ranges from one month to 10 years, and include the effects of applicable rent steps and abatements.

 

   

Variable lease payments, which include overage income, recognized after a tenant’s reported sales have exceeded the applicable sales breakpoint set forth in the applicable lease and percentage income.

 

   

Variable lease payments associated with expense reimbursements from tenants for common area maintenance, taxes, insurance and other property operating expenses, based upon the tenant’s lease provisions, which are recognized in the period the related expenses are incurred.

 

   

Lease termination payments, which are recognized upon the effective termination of a tenant’s lease when Curbline Predecessor has no further obligations under the lease.

 

   

Ancillary and other property-related rental payments, primarily composed of leasing vacant space to temporary tenants, and parking and signage income, which are recognized in the period earned.

For those tenants where Curbline Predecessor is unable to assert that collection of amounts due over the lease term is probable, regardless if Curbline Predecessor has entered into a deferral agreement to extend the payment terms, Curbline Predecessor has categorized these tenants on the cash basis of accounting. As a result, all existing accounts receivable relating to these tenants have been reserved in full, including straight-line rental income, and no rental income is recognized from such tenants once they have been placed on the cash basis of accounting until payments are received. Curbline Predecessor will remove the cash basis designation and resume recording rental income from such tenants on a straight-line basis at such time it believes collection from the tenants is probable based upon a demonstrated payment history, improved liquidity, the addition of credit-worthy guarantors or a recapitalization event.

Leases

Curbline Predecessor’s accounting policies as a lessor exclude from lease payments taxes assessed by a governmental authority that are both imposed on and concurrent with rental income and collected by the lessor from the lessee (e.g., sales tax).

Segments

Curbline Predecessor’s chief operating decision maker may review operational and financial data on a property basis and does not differentiate among properties on a geographical basis for purposes of allocating resources or capital. Curbline Predecessor evaluates individual property performance primarily based on net operating income before depreciation, amortization and certain nonrecurring items.

Fair Value Hierarchy

The standard Fair Value Measurements specifies a hierarchy of valuation techniques based upon whether the inputs to those valuation techniques reflect assumptions other market participants would use based upon market data obtained from independent sources (observable inputs). The following summarizes the fair value hierarchy:

 

•  Level 1

   Quoted prices in active markets that are unadjusted and accessible at the measurement date for identical, unrestricted assets or liabilities;

•  Level 2

   Quoted prices for identical assets and liabilities in markets that are inactive, quoted prices for similar assets and liabilities in active markets or financial instruments for which significant inputs are observable, either directly or indirectly, such as interest rates and yield curves that are observable at commonly quoted intervals and

•  Level 3

   Prices or valuations that require inputs that are both significant to the fair value measurement and unobservable.

 

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In certain cases, the inputs used to measure fair value may fall into different levels of the fair value hierarchy. In such cases, the level in the fair value hierarchy within which the fair value measurement in its entirety falls has been determined based on the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement in its entirety. Curbline Predecessor’s assessment of the significance of a particular input to the fair value measurement in its entirety requires judgment and considers factors specific to the asset or liability.

4. Acquisitions

In 2023 and 2022, Curbline Predecessor acquired the following convenience retail properties (purchase price in thousands):

 

Asset

  

Location

  

Date
Acquired

   Purchase
Price
 

Parker Keystone

   Denver, Colorado    January 2023      $11,000  

Foxtail Center

   Timonium, Maryland    January 2023      15,075  

Barrett Corners

   Kennesaw, Georgia    April 2023      15,600  

Alpha Soda Center

   Alpharetta, Georgia    May 2023      9,400  

Briarcroft Center

   Houston, Texas    May 2023      23,500  

Towne Crossing Shops

   Midlothian, Virginia    July 2023      4,200  

Oaks at Slaughter

   Austin, Texas    August 2023      14,100  

Marketplace at 249

   Houston, Texas    September 2023      9,800  

Point at University

   Charlotte, North Carolina    October 2023      8,900  

Estero Crossing

   Estero, Florida    October 2023      17,122  

Presidential Plaza North

   Snellville, Georgia    November 2023      7,420  

Shops at Lake Pleasant

   Peoria, Arizona    December 2023      29,000  
        

 

 

 
           $165,117  
        

 

 

 

 

Asset

  

Location

  

Date
Acquired

   Purchase
Price
 

Artesia Village

   Scottsdale, Arizona    January 2022      $14,500  

Shops at Casselberry

   Casselberry, Florida    February 2022      3,151  

Shops at Boca Center

   Boca Raton, Florida    March 2022      90,000  

Shoppes of Crabapple

   Alpharetta, Georgia    April 2022      4,350  

La Fiesta Square

   Lafayette, California    May 2022      60,798  

Lafayette Mercantile

   Lafayette, California    May 2022      43,000  

Shops at Tanglewood

   Houston, Texas    June 2022      22,150  

Boulevard at Marketplace

   Fairfax, Virginia    June 2022      10,448  

Fairfax Marketplace

   Fairfax, Virginia    June 2022      16,038  

Fairfax Pointe

   Fairfax, Virginia    June 2022      8,394  

Parkwood Shops

   Atlanta, Georgia    July 2022      8,400  

Chandler Center

   Chandler, Arizona    August 2022      5,250  

Shops at Power and Baseline

   Mesa, Arizona    August 2022      4,600  

Northsight Plaza

   Scottsdale, Arizona    August 2022      6,150  

Broadway Center

   Tempe, Arizona    August 2022      7,000  

Shops on Montview

   Denver, Colorado    November 2022      5,762  
        

 

 

 
           $309,991  
        

 

 

 

 

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The fair value of acquisitions was allocated as follows ($ in thousands):

 

                   Weighted-Average
Amortization Period
(in Years)
 
     2023      2022      2023      2022  

Land

   $ 56,174      $ 86,677        N/A        N/A  

Buildings

     94,260        200,442        (A      (A

Tenant improvements

     5,720        3,893        (A      (A

In-place leases (including lease origination costs and fair market value of leases)

     16,480        24,386        7.1        6.4  

Other assets acquired

     —         379        N/A        N/A  
  

 

 

    

 

 

       
     172,634        315,777        

Less: Below-market leases

     (8,330      (8,741      16.0        13.7  

Less: Other liabilities assumed

     (881      (2,449      N/A        N/A  
  

 

 

    

 

 

       

Net assets acquired

   $ 163,423      $ 304,587        
  

 

 

    

 

 

       

 

(A)

Depreciated in accordance with Curbline Predecessor’s policy (Note 3).

Total consideration for the acquisitions in 2023 and 2022 was paid in cash. In 2021, Curbline Predecessor acquired five assets for an aggregate purchase price of $89.1 million. Included in Curbline Predecessor’s combined statements of operations are $6.3 million, $15.0 million and $3.3 million in total revenues from the date of acquisition through December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021, respectively, for properties acquired during each of the respective years.

5. Intangible Assets and Liabilities

Intangible assets and liabilities consist of the following (in thousands):

 

     December 31, 2023  
     Asset      Accumulated
Amortization
     Net  

Intangible assets, net:

        

In-place leases

   $ 46,839      $ (20,277    $ 26,562  

Above-market leases

     3,458        (1,706      1,752  

Lease origination costs

     8,548        (2,678      5,870  

Tenant relationships

     651        (505      146  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total intangible assets, net

   $ 59,496      $ (25,166    $ 34,330  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

     Liability      Accumulated
Amortization
     Net  

Below-market leases, net

   $ 25,893      $ (4,650    $ 21,243  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

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     December 31, 2022  
     Asset      Accumulated
Amortization
     Net  

Intangible assets, net:

        

In-place leases

   $ 34,844      $ (13,930    $ 20,914  

Above-market leases

     3,114        (1,233      1,881  

Lease origination costs

     5,629        (1,566      4,063  

Tenant relationships

     651        (482      169  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total intangible assets, net

   $ 44,238      $ (17,211    $ 27,027  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

     Liability      Accumulated
Amortization
     Net  

Below-market leases, net

   $ 17,927      $ (2,956    $ 14,971  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Amortization expense related to Curbline Predecessor’s intangibles, excluding above- and below-market leases, was as follows (in thousands):

 

Year

   Expense  

2023

   $ 8,125  

2022

     7,607  

2021

     3,441  

Curbline Predecessor recorded contra revenue for above-market leases of $0.6 million, $0.5 million and $0.2 million for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021, respectively. Curbline Predecessor recorded revenue for below-market leases of $2.1 million, $1.5 million and $0.8 million for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021, respectively. These items are included in Rental income within the combined statements of operations.

Estimated net future amortization associated with Curbline Predecessor’s intangibles is as follows (in thousands):

 

Year

   Income      Expense  

2024

   $ 1,731      $ 8,004  

2025

     1,664        6,246  

2026

     1,612        4,907  

2027

     1,532        3,690  

2028

     1,394        2,786  

6. Leases

Space in Curbline Predecessor’s convenience retail properties is leased to tenants pursuant to agreements that provide for terms generally ranging from one month to 10 years and for rents which, in some cases, are subject to upward adjustments based on operating expense levels, sales volume or contractual increases as defined in the lease agreements.

 

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The scheduled future minimum rental income from rental properties under the terms of all non-cancelable tenant leases (including those on the cash basis), assuming no new or renegotiated leases or option extensions, as determined under Topic 842 for such premises for the years ending December 31, were as follows (in thousands):

 

Year

   December 31,  

2024

   $ 74,627  

2025

     67,605  

2026

     60,521  

2027

     53,008  

2028

     41,358  

Thereafter

     113,013  
  

 

 

 

Total

   $ 410,132  
  

 

 

 

7. Mortgage Indebtedness

The terms of Curbline Predecessor’s outstanding mortgages payable at December 31, 2023 and 2022 were as follows ($ in thousands):

 

     Interest
Rate
   

Maturity Date

   December 31,  

Name

   2023      2022  

Shoppes at Addison Place (North), Florida(A)

     4.70   February 2025    $ 8,701      $ 8,879  

Shoppes at Addison Place (South), Florida(A)

     3.77   February 2025      6,586        6,877  

Shoppes at Addison Place (Outlot), Florida(A)

     3.77   February 2025      1,264        1,319  

Southtown Center, Florida(A)

     4.20   May 2025      9,100        9,100  

Concourse Village, Florida(B)

     4.86   February 2024      —         12,409  
       

 

 

    

 

 

 
          25,651        38,584  

Unamortized fair market value of assumed debt

          201        516  

Deferred financing costs, net of accumulated amortization of $250 and $335, respectively

 

       (94      (255
       

 

 

    

 

 

 
        $ 25,758      $ 38,845  
       

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

(A)

Repaid in May 2024.

(B)

Repaid in December 2023.

The mortgage indebtedness, collateralized by real estate with a net book value of $56.2 million at December 31, 2023, and related tenant leases are generally due in monthly installments of principal and/or interest. There are no covenants associated with any of the mortgages.

8. Financial Instruments and Fair Value Measurements

The following methods and assumptions were used by Curbline Predecessor in estimating fair value disclosures of financial instruments:

Cash and Cash Equivalents, Restricted Cash, Accounts Receivable and Accounts Payable and Other Liabilities

The carrying amounts reported in Curbline Predecessor’s combined balance sheets for these financial instruments approximated fair value because of their short-term maturities.

Debt

The fair market value of debt is estimated using a discounted cash flow technique that incorporates future contractual interest and principal payments and a market interest yield curve with adjustments for duration,

 

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Table of Contents

optionality and risk profile, including Curbline Predecessor’s non-performance risk and loan to value, and is classified as Level 3 in the fair value hierarchy.

Considerable judgment is necessary to develop estimated fair values of financial instruments. Accordingly, the estimates presented are not necessarily indicative of the amounts Curbline Predecessor could realize on disposition of the financial instruments. The carrying amount of debt was $25.8 million and $38.8 million at December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. The fair value of mortgage indebtedness was $24.8 million and $36.8 million at December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively.

9. Commitments and Contingencies

Legal Matters

Curbline Predecessor and its subsidiaries are subject to various legal proceedings, which, taken together, are not expected to have a material adverse effect on Curbline Predecessor. Curbline Predecessor is also subject to a variety of legal actions for personal injury or property damage arising in the ordinary course of its business, most of which are covered by insurance. While the resolution of all matters cannot be predicted with certainty, management believes that the final outcome of such legal proceedings and claims will not have a material adverse effect on Curbline Predecessor’s liquidity, financial position or results of operations.

Commitments and Guaranties

In conjunction with the redevelopment of various convenience retail properties, Curbline Predecessor had entered into commitments with general contractors aggregating approximately $1.0 million for its properties as of December 31, 2023. These obligations, composed principally of construction contracts, are generally due within 12 to 24 months, as the related construction costs are incurred, and are expected to be financed through operating cash flow. These contracts typically can be changed or terminated without penalty.

Curbline Predecessor routinely enters into contracts for the maintenance of its properties. These contracts typically can be canceled upon 30 to 60 days’ notice without penalty. At December 31, 2023, Curbline Predecessor had purchase order obligations, typically payable within one year, aggregating approximately $0.6 million related to the maintenance of its properties and general and administrative expenses.

10. Non-Controlling Interests

In 2021, Curbline Predecessor acquired its partner’s 33% interest in Paradise Village Gateway (Phoenix, Arizona), which had a value of non-controlling interest of negative $1.1 million, for $5.5 million. In 2022, Curbline Predecessor paid an additional $0.4 million in earnouts, which are reflected in Curbline Predecessor’s combined statements of equity.

11. Subsequent Events

In connection with the preparation of these combined financial statements, subsequent events were evaluated through June 28, 2024, the date these combined financial statements were available to be issued.

In May 2024, Curbline Predecessor repaid all of its mortgages outstanding at December 31, 2023.

From January 1, 2024 through June 28, 2024, Curbline Predecessor acquired seven convenience retail properties for an aggregate price of $73.8 million.

In June 2024, SITE Centers Corp. sold two properties to unrelated third-parties including land which was subject to intercompany ground leases with Curbline Predecessor having initial terms of 90-years and 99-years, respectively, with a fixed, prepaid rent of $1. The buyers of these properties assumed the in-place below-market ground leases with Curbline Predecessor resulting in Curbline Predecessor recording a right of use asset of approximately $13.7 million.

 

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Table of Contents

SCHEDULE II

Curbline Properties Corp. Predecessor

Valuation and Qualifying Accounts and Reserves

For the Years Ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021

(In thousands)

 

     Balance at
Beginning of
Year
     Charged to
Expense
     Deductions     Balance at
End of
Year
 

Allowance for uncollectible accounts:(A)

          

Year ended December 31, 2023

   $ 146      $ 17      $ (97   $ 260  

Year ended December 31, 2022

   $      $ 146      $     $ 146  

Year ended December 31, 2021

   $ 65      $      $ 65     $  

 

(A)

Includes allowances on accounts receivable and straight-line rents.

 

F-20


Table of Contents

SCHEDULE III

Curbline Properties Corp. Predecessor

Real Estate and Accumulated Depreciation

December 31, 2023

(In thousands)

 

    Initial Cost     Total Cost(1)           Total Cost,
Net of
Accumulated
Depreciation
         

Date of
Construction (C)
Acquisition (A)

Location

  Land     Buildings &
Improvements
    Land     Buildings &
Improvements(2)
    Total     Accumulated
Depreciation(3)
    Encumbrances(4)  

Chandler, AZ

  $ 1,417     $ 3,490     $ 1,417     $ 3,497     $ 4,914     $ 187     $ 4,727       —      2022 (A)

Mesa, AZ

    1,486       3,202       1,486       3,202       4,688       160       4,528       —      2022 (A)

Peoria, AZ

    11,048       16,918       11,048       16,918       27,966       —         27,966       —      2023 (A)

Phoenix, AZ

    5,631       4,177       5,631       5,647       11,278       3,486       7,792       —      1999 (A)

Phoenix, AZ

    7,496       9,488       7,496       14,390       21,886       9,083       12,803       —      2003 (A)

Scottsdale, AZ

    6,424       7,684       6,424       7,697       14,121       547       13,574       —      2022 (A)

Scottsdale, AZ

    1,756       4,404       1,756       4,404       6,160       240       5,920       —      2022 (A)

Tempe, AZ

    2,451       4,640       2,451       4,660       7,111       262       6,849       —      2022 (A)

Lafayette, CA

    21,431       36,076       21,432       36,086       57,518       2,170       55,348       —      2022 (A)

Lafayette, CA

    6,808       32,751       6,808       33,332       40,140       1,990       38,150       —      2022 (A)

Roseville, CA

    5,174       14,031       5,174       14,694       19,868       2,641       17,227       —      2014 (A)

Roseville, CA

    6,544       21,423       6,544       22,994       29,538       9,029       20,509       —      2014 (A)

Fontana, CA

    3,661       8,993       3,661       9,444       13,105       2,828       10,277       —      2014 (A)

Denver, CO

    5,188       3,450       5,188       7,451       12,639       1,272       11,367       —      2003 (A)

Denver, CO

    1,222       4,305       1,223       4,490       5,713       182       5,531       —      2022 (A)

Parker, CO

    2,474       7,842       2,456       7,842       10,298       299       9,999       —      2023 (A)

Parker, CO

    3,553       8,345       3,553       9,213       12,766       2,960       9,806       —      2003 (A)

Boca Raton, FL

    23,120       58,982       23,120       62,549       85,669       3,599       82,070       —      2022 (A)

Brandon, FL

    734       2,682       734       3,036       3,770       1,118       2,652       —      2013 (A)

Casselberry, FL

    3,002       1,052       3,002       1,052       4,054       93       3,961       —      2022 (A)

Delray Beach, FL

    12,664       26,006       12,664       26,240       38,904       2,404       36,500       16,551     2021 (A)

Estero, FL

    3,504       13,286       3,504       13,300       16,804       84       16,720       —      2023 (A)

Jupiter, FL

    8,764       20,051       8,764       21,873       30,637       2,431       28,206       —      2020 (A)

Miami, FL

    11,217       19,555       11,217       40,091       51,308       20,648       30,660       —      2007 (C)

Naples, FL

    1,557       2,316       1,557       2,852       4,409       928       3,481       —      2013 (A)

Palm Harbor, FL

    1,137       4,089       1,137       5,799       6,936       4,581       2,355       —      1995 (A)

Plantation, FL

    3,842       2,198       3,842       2,763       6,605       1,449       5,156       —      2007 (A)

Tamarac, FL

    2,333       2,611       2,333       2,709       5,042       292       4,750       —      2021 (A)

Tampa, FL

    10,000       10,907       10,000       11,358       21,358       1,647       19,711       9,100     2019 (A)

Winter Garden, FL

    20,340       25,345       20,340       27,959       48,299       8,993       39,306       —      2013 (A)

Alpharetta, GA

    1,370       3,003       1,370       3,007       4,377       202       4,175       —      2022 (A)

Alpharetta, GA

    1,489       7,489       1,490       7,542       9,032       189       8,843       —      2023 (A)

Atlanta, GA

    12,358       17,103       12,365       17,590       29,955       1,579       28,376       —      2021 (A)

Atlanta, GA

    2,719       5,379       2,719       5,406       8,125       301       7,824       —      2022 (A)

Cumming, GA

    4,421       4,693       4,421       7,014       11,435       4,387       7,048       —      2003 (A)

Cumming, GA

    2,432       9,148       2,432       9,989       12,421       3,425       8,996       —      2013 (A)

Douglasville, GA

    616       191       616       244       860       40       820       —      2018 (A)

Kennesaw, GA

    3,819       10,807       3,826       11,007       14,833       293       14,540       —      2023 (A)

Snellville, GA

    4,077       2,217       4,079       2,217       6,296       13       6,283       —      2023 (A)

Snellville, GA

    1,638       1,514       1,638       2,463       4,101       1,140       2,961       —      2007 (A)

Timonium, MD

    4,380       9,921       4,366       9,957       14,323       363       13,960       —      2023 (A)

Framingham, MA

    5,173       208       5,173       8,156       13,329       188       13,141       —      2013 (A)

Freehold, NJ

    2,460       2,475       3,166       12,677       15,843       1,826       14,017       —      2005 (C)

Hamilton, NJ

    5,382       3,542       5,382       5,385       10,767       3,302       7,465       —      2003 (A)

Voorhees, NJ

    613       251       613       984       1,597       59       1,538       —      2020 (A)

Charlotte, NC

    1,201       1,772       1,201       4,453       5,654       896       4,758       —      2012 (A)

Charlotte, NC

    1,911       6,892       1,904       6,892       8,796       43       8,753       —      2023 (A)

Charlotte, NC

    1,792       —        1,506       8,303       9,809       1,289       8,520       —      2017 (A)

Cornelius, NC

    4,382       15,184       4,190       29,164       33,354       12,672       20,682       —      2007 (A)

Columbus, OH

    6,322       9,143       6,322       14,154       20,476       5,465       15,011       —      2011 (A)

Portland, OR

    751       290       751       1,283       2,034       116       1,918       —      2012 (A)

 

F-21


Table of Contents

SCHEDULE III

Curbline Properties Corp. Predecessor

Real Estate and Accumulated Depreciation

December 31, 2023

(In thousands)

 

    Initial Cost     Total Cost(1)           Total Cost,
Net of
Accumulated
Depreciation
         

Date of
Construction (C)
Acquisition (A)

Location

  Land     Buildings &
Improvements
    Land     Buildings &
Improvements(2)
    Total     Accumulated
Depreciation(3)
    Encumbrances(4)  

Austin, TX

    5,000       8,838       5,521       8,272       13,793       106       13,687       —      2023 (A)

Houston, TX

    2,141       6,689       2,141       6,881       9,022       62       8,960       —      2023 (A)

Houston, TX

    15,189       6,531       15,204       6,541       21,745       184       21,561       —      2023 (A)

Houston, TX

    2,743       18,506       2,743       18,458       21,201       1,011       20,190       —      2022 (A)

Round Rock, TX

    3,467       8,839       3,467       9,533       13,000       1,421       11,579       —      2019 (A)

San Antonio, TX

    1,866       10,183       1,866       12,328       14,194       7,824       6,370       —      2002 (C)

Charlottesville, VA

    1,400       2,537       1,396       2,537       3,933       168       3,765       —      2021 (A)

Charlottesville, VA

    2,181       6,571       2,181       7,113       9,294       593       8,701       —      2021 (A)

Fairfax, VA

    4,377       10,868       4,377       11,357       15,734       592       15,142       —      2022 (A)

Fairfax, VA

    1,830       6,206       1,830       6,227       8,057       345       7,712       —      2022 (A)

Fairfax, VA

    4,532       5,221       4,532       5,588       10,120       333       9,787       —      2022 (A)

Midlothian, VA

    634       3,499       633       3,499       4,132       49       4,083       —      2023 (A)

Richmond, VA

    4,829       791       4,829       831       5,660       89       5,571       —      2020 (A)
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   
  $ 315,473     $ 586,800     $ 316,212     $ 694,594     $ 1,010,806     $ 136,168     $ 874,638     $ 25,651    
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

(1)

The aggregate cost for federal income tax purposes was approximately $0.9 billion at December 31, 2023.

(2)

Includes $13.5 million of construction in progress at December 31, 2023.

(3)

Depreciation and amortization is recorded on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful lives of the assets as follows:

 

Buildings

   Useful lives, ranging from 30 to 31.5 years

Building improvements and fixtures

   Useful lives, ranging from 3 to 20 years

Tenant improvements

   Shorter of economic life or lease terms

 

(4)

Excludes fair market value of debt adjustments and net loan costs aggregating $0.1 million.

The changes in Total Real Estate Assets are as follows (in thousands):

 

     For the Year Ended December 31,  
     2023      2022      2021  

Balance at beginning of year

   $ 834,568      $ 525,358      $ 433,610  

Acquisitions

     156,154        291,012        85,629  

Improvements

     20,919        21,955        6,986  

Disposals

     (835      (3,757      (867
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Balance at end of year

   $ 1,010,806      $ 834,568      $ 525,358  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

The changes in Accumulated Depreciation and Amortization are as follows (in thousands):

 

     2023      2022      2021  

Balance at beginning of year

   $ 113,561      $ 98,467      $ 87,996  

Depreciation for year

     23,868        19,020        11,563  

Disposals

     (1,261      (3,926      (1,092
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Balance at end of year

   $ 136,168      $ 113,561      $ 98,467  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

F-22


Table of Contents

Curbline Properties Corp. Predecessor

COMBINED BALANCE SHEETS

(Unaudited, In thousands)

 

     June 30, 2024     December 31, 2023  

Assets

    

Land

   $ 341,666     $ 316,212  

Buildings

     667,281       622,414  

Fixtures and tenant improvements

     66,120       58,676  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 
     1,075,067       997,302  

Less: Accumulated depreciation

     (149,380     (136,168
  

 

 

   

 

 

 
     925,687       861,134  

Construction in progress

     12,852       13,504  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total real estate assets, net

     938,539       874,638  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents

     1,526       566  

Restricted cash

     —        155  

Accounts receivable

     11,535       11,528  

Intangible assets, net

     50,720       34,330  

Other assets

     2,338       415  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 
   $ 1,004,658     $ 921,632  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Liabilities and Equity

    

Mortgage indebtedness, net

   $ —      $ 25,758  

Below-market leases, net

     21,961       21,243  

Accounts payable and other liabilities

     17,177       11,993  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total liabilities

     39,138       58,994  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Commitments and contingencies (Note 6)

    

Equity

    

Curbline Predecessor equity

     965,520       862,638  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total equity

     965,520       862,638  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 
   $ 1,004,658     $ 921,632  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited combined financial statements.

 

F-23


Table of Contents

Curbline Properties Corp. Predecessor

COMBINED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(Unaudited, In thousands)

 

     Six Months
Ended June 30,
 
     2024     2023  

Revenues from operations:

    

Rental income

   $ 55,810     $ 43,636  

Other income

     385       319  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 
     56,195       43,955  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Rental operation expenses:

    

Operating and maintenance

     5,991       5,009  

Real estate taxes

     5,996       5,377  

General and administrative

     3,725       2,309  

Depreciation and amortization

     18,611       15,194  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 
     34,323       27,889  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Other expense:

 

Interest expense

     (416     (779

Other expense

     (7,245     (681
  

 

 

   

 

 

 
     (7,661     (1,460
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net income attributable to Curbline Predecessor

   $ 14,211     $ 14,606  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited combined financial statements.

 

F-24


Table of Contents

Curbline Properties Corp. Predecessor

COMBINED STATEMENTS OF EQUITY

(Unaudited, In thousands)

 

     Curbline Predecessor
Equity
 

Balance, December 31, 2023

   $ 862,638  

Net transactions with SITE Centers

     88,671  

Net income

     14,211  
  

 

 

 

Balance, June 30, 2024

   $ 965,520  
  

 

 

 
     Curbline Predecessor
Equity
 

Balance, December 31, 2022

   $ 691,778  

Net transactions with SITE Centers

     56,480  

Net income

     14,606  
  

 

 

 

Balance, June 30, 2023

   $ 762,864  
  

 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited combined financial statements.

 

F-25


Table of Contents

Curbline Properties Corp. Predecessor

COMBINED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(Unaudited, In thousands)

 

     Six Months
Ended June 30,
 
     2024     2023  

Cash flow from operating activities:

    

Net income

   $ 14,211     $ 14,606  

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash flow provided by operating activities:

    

Depreciation and amortization

     18,611       15,194  

Amortization and write-off of debt issuance costs

     93       77  

Assumption of buildings due to ground lease terminations

     (2,678     —   

Net change in accounts receivable

     (7     (114

Net change in accounts payable and other liabilities

     3,211       2,441  

Net change in other operating assets

     (1,110     (600
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total adjustments

     18,120       16,998  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net cash flow provided by operating activities

     32,331       31,604  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash flow from investing activities:

    

Real estate acquired, net of liabilities

     (72,266     (74,783

Real estate redeveloped and improvements to operating real estate

     (8,610     (12,394
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net cash flow used for investing activities

     (80,876     (87,177

Cash flow from financing activities:

    

Repayment of mortgage debt

     (25,651     (422

Transactions with SITE Centers

     75,001       56,480  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net cash flow provided by financing activities

     49,350       56,058  

Net increase in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash

     805       485  

Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, beginning of period

     721       590  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, end of period

   $ 1,526     $ 1,075  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited combined financial statements.

 

F-26


Table of Contents

Notes to Combined Financial Statements (Unaudited)

1. Nature of Business

On October 30, 2023, SITE Centers Corp. (“SITE Centers”) announced that it intended to separate its portfolio of convenience retail properties from the rest of its operations (collectively, the “Curbline Business” or “Curbline Predecessor”), into a separate publicly-traded company expected to separate on or around October 1, 2024. To accomplish this separation, in October 2023, SITE Centers formed a Maryland corporation, Curbline Properties Corp. (“Curbline” or the “Company”), to own the Curbline Business. The separation will be effected by means of a pro rata special distribution of all outstanding shares of Curbline common stock to the holders of SITE Centers common shares as of the record date for the distribution (the “Distribution”).

As of June 30, 2024, Curbline Predecessor consisted of 72 assets comprising approximately 2.4 million square feet of gross leasable area (“GLA”) located in the United States and are geographically diversified principally across the Southeast, Mid-Atlantic, Southwest and Mountain regions along with Texas.

Following the separation from SITE Centers, Curbline plans to elect to be treated as a real estate investment trust (“REIT”) for U.S. federal income tax purposes, commencing with the taxable year ending December 31, 2024 and intends to maintain its status as a REIT for U.S. federal income taxes purposes in future periods.

The Curbline Business is operated as one segment, which owns and operates convenience retail properties. The tenant base of the Curbline Business primarily includes a diversified mixture of national and local retail tenants. Consequently, the Curbline Business’ credit risk is concentrated in the retail industry.

2. Basis of Presentation

The accompanying historical combined financial statements and related notes of the Curbline Business do not represent the balance sheets, statements of operations and cash flows of a legal entity, but rather a combination of entities under common control that have been “carved-out” of SITE Centers’ consolidated financial statements in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“U.S. GAAP”). All intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated in combination. The preparation of these combined financial statements requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the dates of the combined financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting periods. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

As of June 30, 2024, the Curbline Predecessor portfolio consisted of 72 convenience retail properties, of which 27 properties were carved out of existing shopping centers owned by SITE Centers. Curbline Predecessor’s process of allocating the land value to the carved-out properties was to conclude on the acquisition date the fair value per square foot of convenience retail land with the residual value allocated to the existing shopping center which was validated with market comparisons. Curbline Predecessor’s process of allocating the building value at the carved-out convenience retail property as compared to the shopping center, is based on annualized base rent as of the date of acquisition or based on specific identification of costs for ground up developments as of the date placed in service. Curbline Predecessor’s process of allocating mortgage indebtedness and interest expense for these properties was based on the percentage of total assets at acquisition date or refinancing. The mortgages related to the carved-out assets were repaid during the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021.

These combined financial statements reflect the revenues and direct expenses of Curbline Predecessor and include material assets and liabilities of SITE Centers that are specifically attributable to the Curbline Business. Curbline Predecessor equity in these combined financial statements represents the excess of total assets over total liabilities. Curbline Predecessor equity is impacted by contributions from and distributions to SITE Centers, which are the result of treasury activities and net funding provided by or distributed to SITE Centers prior to the Distribution, as well as the allocated costs and expenses described below.

 

F-27


Table of Contents

Further, the combined financial statements include an allocation of indirect costs and expenses incurred by SITE Centers related to the Curbline Business, primarily consisting of compensation and other general and administrative costs that have been allocated using the relative percentage of GLA of the Curbline Business and SITE Centers’ management’s knowledge of the Curbline Business. The amounts allocated in the accompanying combined financial statements are not necessarily indicative of the actual amount of such indirect expenses that would have been recorded had Curbline Predecessor been a separate independent entity. SITE Centers believes the assumptions underlying SITE Centers’ allocation of indirect expenses are reasonable.

Unaudited Interim Financial Statements

These financial statements have been prepared by Curbline Predecessor in accordance with U.S. GAAP for interim financial information and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission. Accordingly, they do not include all information and footnotes required by U.S. GAAP for complete financial statements. However, in the opinion of management, the interim financial statements include all adjustments, consisting of only normal recurring adjustments, necessary for a fair statement of the results of the periods presented. The results of operations for the six months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023, are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the full year. These unaudited combined financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited combined financial statements and notes thereto which are included in this Information Statement.

3. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Statements of Cash Flows and Supplemental Disclosure of Non-Cash Investing and Financing Information

Non-cash investing and financing activities are summarized as follows (in millions):

 

     Six Months
Ended June 30,
 
     2024      2023  

Accounts payable related to construction in progress

   $ 1.0      $ 2.5  

Assumption of buildings due to ground lease terminations

     2.7        —   

Recognition of below market ground lease assets

     13.7        —   

Mortgage Indebtedness

In May 2024, Curbline Predecessor repaid all of its mortgages outstanding at December 31, 2023.

4. Acquisitions

In the first six months of 2024, Curbline Predecessor acquired the following convenience retail properties (purchase price in thousands):

 

Asset

  

Location

  

Date
Acquired

   Purchase
Price
 

Grove at Harper’s Preserve

   Conroe, Texas    February 2024      $10,650  

Shops at Gilbert Crossroads

   Gilbert, Arizona    March 2024      8,460  

Wilmette Center

   Wilmette, Illinois    May 2024      2,850  

Sunrise Plaza

   Vero Beach, Florida    May 2024      5,500  

Meadowmont Village

   Chapel Hill, North Carolina    May 2024      26,534  

Red Mountain Corner

   Phoenix, Arizona    June 2024      2,100  

Roswell Market Center

   Roswell, Georgia    June 2024      17,750  
        

 

 

 
           $73,844  
        

 

 

 

 

F-28


Table of Contents

The fair value of acquisitions was allocated as follows ($ in thousands):

 

            Weighted-
Average
Amortization
Period
(in Years)
 

Land

   $ 25,895        N/A  

Buildings

     38,976        (A

Tenant improvements

     2,624        (A

In-place leases (including lease origination costs and fair market value of leases)

     7,756        7.6  

Other assets assumed

     31        N/A  
  

 

 

    
     75,282     

Less: Below-market leases

     (2,278      15.4  

Less: Other liabilities assumed

     (738      N/A  
  

 

 

    

Net assets acquired

   $ 72,266     
  

 

 

    

 

(A)

Depreciated in accordance with Curbline Predecessor’s policy.

Total consideration for the acquisitions was paid in cash. Included in Curbline Predecessor’s combined statements of operations for the six months ended June 30, 2024 is $0.8 million in total revenues from the date of acquisition through June 30, 2024 for properties acquired in 2024.

5. Intangible Assets and Liabilities

Intangible assets and liabilities consist of the following (in thousands):

 

     June 30, 2024  
     Asset      Accumulated
Amortization
     Net  

Intangible assets, net:

        

In-place leases

   $ 51,956      $ (23,510    $ 28,446  

Above-market leases

     3,769        (1,886      1,883  

Lease origination costs

     9,857        (3,270      6,587  

Tenant relationships

     651        (517      134  

Below market ground lease (as lessee)(A)

     13,670        —         13,670  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total intangible assets, net

   $ 79,903      $ (29,183    $ 50,720  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 
     Liability      Accumulated
Amortization
     Net  

Below-market leases, net

   $ 27,595      $ (5,634    $ 21,961  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

(A)

In connection with two assets sold by SITE Centers in June 2024 to unrelated third parties, intercompany ground leases related to certain portions of land that had initial terms of 90-years and 99-years, respectively, with a fixed, prepaid rent of $1 were assumed by the buyers. Such intercompany ground leases were previously eliminated in consolidation and treated as a sale leaseback when the shopping centers were sold. The leased back land pertains to land underlying convenience assets that were retained by Curbline Predecessor. Upon sale of the shopping centers, Curbline Predecessor recognized below-market ground lease assets of approximately $13.7 million.

 

F-29


Table of Contents
     December 31, 2023  
     Asset      Accumulated
Amortization
     Net  

Intangible assets, net:

        

In-place leases

   $ 46,839      $ (20,277    $ 26,562  

Above-market leases

     3,458        (1,706      1,752  

Lease origination costs

     8,548        (2,678      5,870  

Tenant relationships

     651        (505      146  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total intangible assets, net

   $ 59,496      $ (25,166    $ 34,330  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 
     Liability      Accumulated
Amortization
     Net  

Below-market leases, net

   $ 25,893      $ (4,650    $ 21,243  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

6. Commitments and Contingencies

Legal Matters

Curbline Predecessor and its subsidiaries are subject to various legal proceedings, which, taken together, are not expected to have a material adverse effect on Curbline Predecessor. Curbline Predecessor is also subject to a variety of legal actions for personal injury or property damage arising in the ordinary course of its business, most of which are covered by insurance. While the resolution of all matters cannot be predicted with certainty, management believes that the final outcome of such legal proceedings and claims will not have a material adverse effect on Curbline Predecessor’s liquidity, financial position or results of operations.

Commitments and Guaranties

In conjunction with the redevelopment of various convenience retail properties, Curbline Predecessor had entered into commitments with general contractors aggregating approximately $0.7 million for its properties as of June 30, 2024. These obligations, composed principally of construction contracts, are generally due within 12 to 24 months, as the related construction costs are incurred, and are expected to be financed through operating cash flow. These contracts typically can be changed or terminated without penalty.

Curbline Predecessor routinely enters into contracts for the maintenance of its properties. These contracts typically can be canceled upon 30 to 60 days’ notice without penalty. At June 30, 2024, Curbline Predecessor had purchase order obligations, typically payable within one year, aggregating approximately $0.6 million related to the maintenance of its properties and general and administrative expenses.

7. Subsequent Events

In connection with the preparation of these combined financial statements, subsequent events were evaluated through August 16, 2024, the date these combined financial statements were available to be issued.

From July 1, 2024 through August 16, 2024, Curbline Predecessor acquired two convenience retail properties for an aggregate price of $26.7 million.

Events Subsequent to Original Issuance of Combined Financial Statements

In connection with the reissuance of the combined financial statements, subsequent events were evaluated through September 3, 2024, the date the combined financial statements were available to be reissued.

From August 17, 2024 though September 3, 2024, Curbline Predecessor acquired two convenience retail properties for an aggregate purchase price of $61.2 million.

 

F-30

Exhibit 99.2

SITE CENTERS CORP.

 

LOGO

Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Materials

You are receiving this communication because you hold common shares in SITE Centers Corp. (“SITE Centers”). SITE Centers is making available informational materials regarding its spin-off of Curbline Properties Corp. (“Curbline”) for your review. These materials consist of the Curbline Information Statement.

This notice provides instructions on how to access the Curbline Information Statement, which is for informational purposes only. This notice is not a form for voting and presents only an overview of the materials SITE Centers is making available to you. SITE Centers is not asking you for a proxy and you are asked not to send a proxy.

We encourage you to access and review the Curbline Information Statement, which contains important information and is available, free of charge, on the Internet at www.proxydocs.com/SITC.

If you want to receive a paper copy of the Curbline Information Statement, you must request one. There is no charge to you for requesting a copy. Please make your request for a copy as instructed on the reverse side of this notice.

THIS NOTICE WILL ENABLE YOU TO ACCESS

MATERIALS FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY


Materials Available to VIEW or RECEIVE:

Curbline Properties Corp. Information Statement

How to View Online:

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1) BY TELEPHONE:

   1-877-225-5337

2) BY E-MAIL:

   IR@sitecenters.com

3) BY MAIL:

   SITE Centers Corp.
   Attention: Investor Relations
   3300 Enterprise Parkway
   Beachwood, Ohio 44122

 

 *

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