false 0001585389 --12-31 0001585389 2025-04-01 2025-04-01

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

Form 8-K

 

 

Current Report

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): April 1, 2025

 

 

SmartStop Self Storage REIT, Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

Maryland   001-42584   46-1722812
(State or other jurisdiction
of incorporation)
 

(Commission

File Number)

  (IRS Employer
Identification No.)

10 Terrace Road, Ladera Ranch, California 92694

(Address of principal executive offices, including zip code)

(866) 418-5144

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

Not Applicable

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

 

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

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

 

Title of Each Class

 

Trading
Symbol(s)

 

Name of Each Exchange

on Which Registered

Common Stock, $0.001 par value   SMA   New York Stock Exchange

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

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

 

 

 


Item 1.01

Entry Into a Material Definitive Agreement.

On April 3, 2025, SmartStop Self Storage REIT, Inc. (the “Company”) closed its registered underwritten public offering (the “Offering”) of 31,050,000 shares of common stock, $0.001 par value per share (the “Common Stock”), pursuant to the Company’s registration statement on Form S-11 (File No. 333-264449), as amended to date (the “Registration Statement”), under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”). The 31,050,000 shares of Common Stock sold in the Offering is inclusive of the underwriters’ over-allotment option of 4,050,000 shares of Common Stock, which was exercised in full. In connection with the Offering, the Company entered into an Underwriting Agreement, dated April 1, 2025, by and among the Company, SmartStop OP, L.P. (the “Operating Partnership”), J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, KeyBanc Capital Markets Inc., BMO Capital Markets Corp. and Truist Securities, Inc., as representatives of the several underwriters named therein (the “Underwriting Agreement”).

The Underwriting Agreement contains customary representations, warranties, covenants and agreements by the Company and the Operating Partnership, customary conditions to closing, indemnification obligations of the Company, the Operating Partnership and the underwriters, including for liabilities under the Securities Act, certain other obligations of the parties and termination provisions.

The summary above is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Underwriting Agreement, which is filed as Exhibit 1.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Item 5.02.

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

Listing Equity Grants

As disclosed in the Registration Statement, in connection with the Offering, the Company’s board of directors (the “Board”) authorized the Company to grant various types of equity awards (collectively, the “Listing Equity Grants”) to certain directors, named executive officers and employees of the Company.

The Listing Equity Grants granted to employees, board members, and certain affiliates of the Company, including the named executive officers of the Company, include, in the aggregate, 289,410 shares of Class A restricted stock, 55,484 restricted stock units and 287,080 long-term incentive plan units in the Operating Partnership (“LTIP Units”) and will vest either (i) for smaller grants, in one installment on the six-month anniversary of the closing date of the Offering or (ii) for larger grants, ratably over four years with the first tranche vesting on the one-year anniversary of the closing date of the Offering, subject to the grantee’s continuous employment through the applicable vesting date. Of these Listing Equity Grants, the awards granted to Messrs. Barry, Robinson, Johnson, Look and Terjung represent 29,319, 29,319, 29,319, 29,319 and 29,319 LTIP Units, respectively.

The Board authorized the Company to grant 9,598 LTIP Units or 9,166 shares of Restricted Stock to each of the Company’s directors, other than the Company’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, H. Michael Schwartz. The Listing Equity Grants granted to such directors will vest on the same terms and conditions as those granted to our employees, subject to the grantee’s continuous service through the applicable vesting date.

The summary above is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the form of Restricted Stock Award and the form of LTIP Unit Award, which are filed as Exhibits 10.1 and 10.2 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and are incorporated herein by reference.

Severance Plan

In connection with the listing of the Common Stock on the New York Stock Exchange (the “Listing”), the Board adopted and approved the Amended and Restated Executive Severance and Change of Control Plan, effective as of April 1, 2025, which incorporated the prior amendment to the Executive Severance and Change of Control Plan (the “Severance Plan”) that the Board previously approved, as well as additional amendments to (i) revise certain definitions in the Severance Plan, (ii) revise the form of Letter Agreement contained in Exhibit A to the Severance Plan, and (iii) amend and restate the provisions of the Severance Plan relating to the application of Code Section 280G.


The summary above is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Amended and Restated Executive Severance and Change of Control Plan, which is filed as Exhibit 10.3 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Item 5.03

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

Articles Supplementary for Subtitle 8 Opt Out

As disclosed in the Registration Statement, on April 2, 2025, the Company filed Articles Supplementary with the State Department of Assessments and Taxation of Maryland, which prohibit the Company from unilaterally electing to be subject to Section 3-803 of Title 3, Subtitle 8 of the Maryland General Corporation Law (the “MGCL”), commonly referred to as the Maryland Unsolicited Takeovers Act (“MUTA”). As a result of the Articles Supplementary and the Board’s previously adopted resolutions, the Company is prohibited from electing to be subject to Section 3-803 of the MGCL, which would permit the Company to classify its Board without stockholder approval, and such prohibition may not be repealed unless the repeal of such prohibition is approved by the stockholders of the Company by the affirmative vote of at least a majority of the votes cast on the matter by stockholders entitled to vote generally in the election of directors.

The summary above is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Articles Supplementary, which is filed as Exhibit 3.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and is incorporated herein by reference.

Second Amended and Restated Bylaws

In connection with the Offering, the Board adopted the second amended and restated bylaws (the “Second Amended and Restated Bylaws”), effective as of April 1, 2025, to, among other things, require a majority of all votes cast at a meeting of stockholders duly called and at which a quorum is present to elect a director and to grant the stockholders of the Company the concurrent power to amend the Second Amended and Restated Bylaws. The amendments also include certain other updates consistent with the new Rule 14a-19 adopted by the Securities and Exchange Commission.

The summary above is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Second Amended and Restated Bylaws, which is filed as Exhibit 3.2 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Item 5.05

Amendments to the Registrant’s Code of Ethics, or Waiver of a Provision of the Code of Ethics.

In connection with the Listing, the Board adopted an amended Code of Ethics and Business Conduct, effective as of April 1, 2025, which contains general guidelines applicable to our executive officers, including our principal executive officer, principal financial officer and principal accounting officer, our directors and our employees. A copy of the Code of Ethics and Business Conduct is available on the Company’s website at www.smartstopselfstorage.com under About Us—Investor Relations—Governance. The information on the Company’s website does not constitute part of this Current Report on Form 8-K and is not incorporated by reference herein.

 

Item 7.01

Regulation FD Disclosure.

Stockholder Letter

On April 3, 2025, the Company issued a letter, including a list of frequently asked questions (“FAQs”), to our stockholders regarding the recent listing of its Common Stock on the New York Stock Exchange and the closing of the Offering. The stockholder letter with FAQs will be mailed to the stockholders of the Company and made available on the Company’s website in the Investor Relations section at https://investors.smartstopselfstorage.com. The information on the Company’s website does not constitute part of this Current Report on Form 8-K and is not incorporated by reference herein.

Non-Employee Director Compensation

In conjunction with the Listing, the Company approved certain changes to the compensation of the Company’s non-employee members of the Board (the “Non-Employee Directors”), which changes include (i) an increase in the annual cash retainer paid to each Non-Employee Director from $62,500 per year to $65,000 per year, (ii) an increase in the annual equity grant awarded to each Non-Employee Director from $80,000 to $100,000, and (iii) an increase in the additional annual cash compensation paid to the Board’s lead independent director from $10,000 to $15,000, with such changes to be effective as of April 2, 2025.

Distribution Change

The Company approved a distribution amount for the month ended April 30, 2025 prior to the effective date of the Offering which shall equal the result of: (i) $0.1973 per share (or $2.40 annualized) multiplied by, (ii) a fraction, (a) the numerator of which is the number of days in the month of April 2025 immediately preceding the effective date of the Offering, and (b) the denominator of which is 30 to holders of record of Class A common stock (“Class A Shares”), $0.001 par value per share, and Class T common stock (“Class T Shares”), $0.001 par value per share, as of the close of business on April 30, 2025 (the “Record Date”).

The Company also approved a distribution amount for the month ended April 30, 2025 on and after the effective date of the Offering which shall equal the result of: (i) $0.1315 per share (or $1.60 annualized) multiplied by, (ii) a fraction, (a) the numerator of which is the number of days in the month of April 2025 on and after the effective date of the Offering, and (b) the denominator of which is 30, to holders of record of Common Stock, Class A Shares and Class T Shares, as of the close of business on the Record Date.

The Company’s April 2025 distributions payable to each stockholder of record at the end of the month will be paid the following month.


Item 9.01

Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d) Exhibits.

 

Exhibit

No.

   Description
 1.1    Underwriting Agreement, dated April 1, 2025, by and among SmartStop Self Storage REIT, Inc., SmartStop OP, L.P., J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, KeyBanc Capital Markets Inc., BMO Capital Markets Corp. and Truist Securities, Inc., as representatives of the several underwriters named therein
 3.1    Articles Supplementary (Subtitle 8 Opt-Out) of SmartStop Self Storage REIT, Inc., dated April 2, 2025
 3.2    Second Amended and Restated Bylaws, dated April 1, 2025
10.1    Form of Restricted Stock Award
10.2    Form of LTIP Unit Agreement (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.17 to the Pre-Effective Amendment No. 4 to SmartStop Self Storage REIT, Inc.’s Registration Statement on Form S-11 (No. 333-264449) filed on March 24, 2025)
10.3    Amended and Restated Executive Severance and Change of Control Plan of SmartStop Self Storage REIT, Inc.
99.1    Stockholder Letter, dated April 3, 2025
104    Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document)


Signature(s)

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

 

      SMARTSTOP SELF STORAGE REIT, INC.

Date: April 3, 2025

    By:  

/s/ James R. Barry

      James R. Barry
      Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer

Exhibit 1.1

Execution Version

SmartStop Self Storage REIT, Inc.

27,000,000 Shares

Common Stock

($0.001 par value)

Underwriting Agreement

New York, New York

April 1, 2025

J.P. Morgan Securities LLC

Wells Fargo Securities, LLC

KeyBanc Capital Markets Inc.

BMO Capital Markets Corp.

Truist Securities, Inc.

As Representatives of the several Underwriters,

c/o J.P. Morgan Securities LLC

383 Madison Avenue

New York, New York 10179

c/o Wells Fargo Securities, LLC

500 West 33rd Street, 14th Floor

New York, New York 10001

c/o KeyBanc Capital Markets Inc.

127 Public Square, 7th Floor

Cleveland, Ohio 44114

c/o BMO Capital Markets Corp.

151 W. 42nd Street

New York, New York 10036

c/o Truist Securities, Inc.

3333 Peachtree Road NE, 11th Floor

Atlanta, Georgia 30326

Ladies and Gentlemen:

SmartStop Self Storage REIT, Inc., a corporation organized under the laws of Maryland (the “Company”), and SmartStop OP, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (the “Operating Partnership” and, together with the Company, the “Transaction Entities”), propose to sell to the several underwriters named in Schedule I hereto (the “Underwriters”), for whom you (the “Representatives”) are acting as representatives, 27,000,000 shares of common stock, $0.001


par value (“Common Stock”) of the Company (said shares to be issued and sold by the Company being hereinafter called the “Underwritten Securities”). The Company also proposes to grant to the Underwriters an option to purchase up to 4,050,000 additional shares of Common Stock solely to cover over-allotments, if any (the “Option Securities;” the Option Securities, together with the Underwritten Securities, being hereinafter called the “Securities”). To the extent there are no additional Underwriters listed on Schedule I other than you, the term Representatives as used herein shall mean you, as Underwriters, and the terms Representatives and Underwriters shall mean either the singular or plural as the context requires.

J.P. Morgan Securities LLC (the “Directed Share Underwriter”) has agreed to reserve a portion of the Securities to be purchased by it under this underwriting agreement (this “Agreement”), up to 10% of the Securities, for sale to (i) certain of the Company’s directors, officers, and employees; and (ii) friends and family members of certain of the Company’s directors, officers and employees; (collectively, “Participants”), as set forth in the Prospectus (as hereinafter defined) under the heading “Underwriting—Directed Share Program” (the “Directed Share Program”). The Securities to be sold by the Directed Share Underwriter and its affiliates pursuant to the Directed Share Program are referred to hereinafter as the “Directed Shares.” Any Directed Shares not orally confirmed for purchase by any Participant by the end of the business day on which this Agreement is executed will be offered to the public by the Underwriters as set forth in the Prospectus.

As used in this Agreement, the “Registration Statement” means the registration statement referred to in paragraph 1(a) hereof, including the exhibits, schedules and financial statements and any prospectus or prospectus supplement relating to the Securities that is filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder (the “Securities Act”) and deemed part of such registration statement pursuant to Rule 430A under the Securities Act (“Rule 430A”), as amended at the date and time that this Agreement is executed and delivered by the parties hereto (the “Execution Time”), and, in the event any post-effective amendment thereto or any registration statement and any amendments thereto filed pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act (a “Rule 462(b) Registration Statement”) becomes effective prior to the Closing Date (as defined in Section 3 hereof), shall also mean such registration statement as so amended or such Rule 462(b) Registration Statement, as the case may be; the “Effective Date” means each date and time that the Registration Statement, any post-effective amendment or amendments thereto or any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement became or becomes effective; the “Preliminary Prospectus” means any preliminary prospectus referred to in paragraph 1(a) hereof and any preliminary prospectus included in the Registration Statement at the Effective Date that omits information with respect to the Securities and the offering thereof permitted to be omitted from the Registration Statement when it becomes effective pursuant to Rule 430A (the “Rule 430A Information”); and the “Prospectus” means the prospectus relating to the Securities that is first filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act (“Rule 424(b)”) after the Execution Time.

As used in this Agreement, the “Disclosure Package” shall mean (i) the Preliminary Prospectus that is generally distributed to investors and used to offer the Securities, (ii) any issuer free writing prospectus, as defined in Rule 433 under the Securities Act (an “Issuer Free Writing Prospectus”), identified in Schedule II hereto, (iii) the pricing information set forth on Schedule II hereto and (iv) any other free writing prospectus, as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act (a “Free Writing Prospectus”), that the parties hereto shall hereafter expressly agree in writing to treat as part of the Disclosure Package.

 

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1. Representations and Warranties. Each of the Transaction Entities, jointly and severally, represents and warrants to, and agrees with, each Underwriter as set forth below in this Section 1.

(a) The Company has prepared and filed with the SEC a registration statement (file number 333-264449) on Form S-11, including a related preliminary prospectus, for the registration of the offering and sale of the Securities under the Securities Act. Such Registration Statement, including any amendments thereto filed prior to the Execution Time, has become effective. The Company may have filed one or more amendments thereto, including a related preliminary prospectus, each of which has previously been furnished to you. The Company will file with the SEC a Prospectus in accordance with Rule 424(b) after the Execution Time. As filed, the Prospectus shall comply in all material respects with the Securities Act and the rules thereunder and, except to the extent the Representatives shall agree in writing to a modification, shall be in all material respects in the form furnished to you prior to the Execution Time or, to the extent not completed at the Execution Time, shall contain only such specific additional information and other changes (beyond that contained in the latest Preliminary Prospectus) as the Company has advised you, prior to the Execution Time, will be included or made therein. No order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement has been issued by the SEC, and no proceeding for that purpose or pursuant to Section 8A of the Securities Act against the Company or related to the offering of the Securities has been initiated or threatened by the SEC.

(b) On the Effective Date, the Registration Statement did, and when the Prospectus is first filed in accordance with Rule 424(b) and on the Closing Date (as defined herein) and on any date on which Option Securities are purchased, if such date is not the Closing Date (a “settlement date”), the Prospectus (and any supplement thereto) will, comply in all material respects with the applicable requirements of the Securities Act and the rules thereunder; on the Effective Date, at the Execution Time and on the Closing Date, the Registration Statement did not and will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein not misleading; and on the date of any filing pursuant to Rule 424(b) and on the Closing Date and any settlement date, the Prospectus (together with any supplement thereto) will not include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided, however, that the Transaction Entities make no representations or warranties as to the information contained in or omitted from the Registration Statement or the Prospectus (or any supplement thereto) in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished in writing to the Transaction Entities by or on behalf of any Underwriter through the Representatives specifically for inclusion in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus (or any supplement thereto), it being understood and agreed that the only such information furnished by any Underwriter consists of the information described as such in Section 8 hereof.

 

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(c) (i) The Disclosure Package, (ii) each electronic road show, when taken together as a whole with the Disclosure Package, and (iii) any individual Written Testing-the-Waters Communication, when taken together as a whole with the Disclosure Package, does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. The preceding sentence does not apply to statements in or omissions from the Disclosure Package based upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Transaction Entities by any Underwriter through the Representatives specifically for use therein, it being understood and agreed that the only such information furnished by or on behalf of any Underwriter consists of the information described as such in Section 8 hereof. “Testing-the-Waters Communication” means any oral or written communication with potential investors undertaken in reliance on Rule 163B under the Securities Act.

(d) (i) At the time of filing the Registration Statement and (ii) as of the Execution Time (with such date being used as the determination date for purposes of this clause (ii)), the Company was not and is not an Ineligible Issuer (as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act (“Rule 405”)), without taking account of any determination by the SEC pursuant to Rule 405 that it is not necessary that the Company be considered an Ineligible Issuer.

(e) The Company (i) has not alone engaged in any Testing-the-Waters Communication other than Testing-the-Waters Communications with the consent of the Representatives with entities that are qualified institutional buyers within the meaning of Rule 144A under the Securities Act or institutions that are accredited investors within the meaning of Rule 501 under the Securities Act and (ii) has not authorized anyone other than the Representatives to engage in Testing-the-Waters Communications. The Company reconfirms that the Representatives have been authorized to act on its behalf in undertaking Testing-the-Waters Communications. The Company has not distributed any Written Testing-the-Waters Communications other than those listed on Schedule III hereto.

(f) Each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus does not include any information that conflicts with the information contained in the Registration Statement, including any document incorporated by reference therein that has not been superseded or modified. The foregoing sentence does not apply to statements in or omissions from any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus based upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by any Underwriter through the Representatives specifically for use therein, it being understood and agreed that the only such information furnished by or on behalf of any Underwriter consists of the information described as such in Section 8 hereof.

(g) The interactive data in the eXtensible Business Reporting Language (“XBRL”) included as an exhibit to the Registration Statement fairly presents in all material respects the information required by, and has been prepared in all material respects in accordance with, the SEC’s rules and guidelines applicable thereto.

 

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(h) Each of the Company and its subsidiaries (other than the Operating Partnership) has been duly incorporated, formed or organized, as applicable, and is validly existing as a corporation, limited partnership, limited liability company or other type of entity or organization, as applicable, in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction in which it is incorporated, formed or organized, as applicable, with full corporate, limited partnership, limited liability company or similar entity or organizational power and authority, as applicable, to own or lease, as the case may be, and to operate its properties and conduct its business as described in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, and is duly qualified to do business as a foreign corporation, limited partnership, limited liability company or other type of entity or organization, as applicable, and is in good standing under the laws of each jurisdiction which requires such qualification, except where the failure to so qualify or to be in good standing would not reasonably be expected, singly or in the aggregate, to have a material adverse effect on (i) the Transaction Entities’ performance of this Agreement or the consummation by the Transaction Entities of any of the transactions contemplated hereby or (ii) the condition (financial or otherwise), results of operations, prospects, earnings, business or Properties of the Transaction Entities and their respective subsidiaries, taken as a whole (collectively, a “Material Adverse Effect”).

(i) The Operating Partnership has been duly formed, is validly existing as a limited partnership in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its formation with full limited partnership power and authority to own or lease, as they case may be, and to operate its properties and conduct its business as described in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, and is duly qualified to do business as a foreign limited partnership and is in good standing under the laws of each jurisdiction which requires such qualification except where the failure to so qualify or to be in good standing would not reasonably be expected, singly or in the aggregate, to result in a Material Adverse Effect. The Operating Partnership is the only “significant subsidiary,” as such term is defined in Rule 1-02 of Regulation S-X, of the Company (“Regulation S-X”).

(j) The Company, as the sole general partner of the Operating Partnership, has the power and authority to cause the Operating Partnership to enter into and perform the Operating Partnership’s obligations under this Agreement.

(k) The Third Amended and Restated Limited Partnership Agreement of the Operating Partnership, dated as June 28, 2019 (as amended or supplemented from time to time, the “Operating Partnership Agreement”), is in full force and effect and, at the Closing Date (as defined herein) or any settlement date, as the case may be, the aggregate percentage interests of the Company in the Operating Partnership will be as set forth in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus (or any supplement thereto); provided that, to the extent any portion of the Underwriters’ option to purchase the Option Securities is exercised hereunder, the aggregate percentage interests of the Company in the Operating Partnership will be adjusted accordingly. At the Closing Date or any settlement date, as the case may be, the Company will contribute the proceeds from the sale of the Underwritten Securities and, to the extent any portion of the Underwriters’ option is exercised, the Option Securities, to the Operating Partnership in exchange for a number of units of limited partnership interest (“OP Units”) equal to the number of

 

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Underwritten Securities and Option Securities issued. All of the Underwritten Securities and Option Securities sold by the Company hereunder have been duly authorized, and when delivered to and paid for by the Underwriters in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable and the issuance of the Securities is not subject to any preemptive or similar rights. The Underwritten Securities and Option Securities conform in all material respects to the description thereof contained in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus. All of the OP Units issued to the Company in consideration of the contribution of the proceeds from the sale of the Underwritten Securities and the Option Securities (if any) have been duly authorized and, at the Closing Date or any settlement date, as the case may be, will be duly and validly authorized and issued, owned by the Company free and clear of all liens, encumbrances, or claims, (except for any such liens, encumbrances, or claims arising under the Operating Partnership Agreement and applicable federal and state securities laws), and none of such OP Units will be issued in violation of any preemptive rights, resale rights, rights of first offer or refusal or other similar rights. The terms of the OP Units conform in all material respects to the description thereof contained in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus. Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, (A) no OP Units are reserved for any purpose, (B) there are no outstanding securities convertible into or exchangeable for any OP Units or any other ownership interests of the Operating Partnership and (C) there are no outstanding options, rights (preemptive or otherwise) or warrants to purchase or subscribe for OP Units or any other ownership interests of the Operating Partnership.

(l) The Company has an authorized capitalization as set forth in the Registration Statement, Disclosure Package and the Prospectus and all the outstanding shares of capital stock or other equity interests, as applicable, of the Transaction Entities and their respective subsidiaries have been duly and validly authorized and issued and are fully paid and non-assessable (to the extent such concepts apply to the equity interests of such subsidiaries that are not corporations), and, except as otherwise set forth in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, all outstanding shares of capital stock or other equity interests, as applicable, of the subsidiaries are owned by the Transaction Entities either directly or through wholly owned subsidiaries free and clear of any perfected security interest or any other security interests, claims, liens or encumbrances.

(m) There is no contract or other document of a character required to be described in the Registration Statement or Prospectus, or to be filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement, which is not described or filed as required (and the Preliminary Prospectus contains in all material respects the same description of the foregoing matters contained in the Prospectus); and the statements in the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus under the headings “Prospectus Summary—Our Tax Status,” “Federal Income Tax Considerations,” “Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions”, “Description of Capital Stock”, “Certain Provisions of Maryland Law and of Our Charter and Bylaws” and “Our Operating Partnership Agreement”” insofar as such statements summarize legal matters, agreements, documents or proceedings discussed therein, are accurate and fair summaries of such legal matters, agreements, documents or proceedings in all material respects.

 

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(n) This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Transaction Entities.

(o) Each of the Transaction Entities is not and, after giving effect to the offering and sale of the Securities and the application of the proceeds thereof as described in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, will not be required to register as an “investment company” as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

(p) No consent, approval, authorization, filing with or order of any court or governmental agency or body is required in connection with the transactions contemplated herein, except such as have already been obtained or may be required under (i) the Securities Act, (ii) the Securities and Exchange Act 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder (the “Exchange Act”), (iii) the listing standards of the New York Stock Exchange (the “NYSE”), (iv) the securities laws of any state or non-U.S. jurisdiction and (v) the rules of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (“FINRA”) in connection with the purchase and distribution of the Securities by the Underwriters in the manner contemplated herein and in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.

(q) Neither the issue and sale of the Securities nor the consummation of any other of the transactions herein contemplated nor the fulfillment of the terms hereof will conflict with, result in a breach or violation of, or imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any property or assets of the Transaction Entities pursuant to, (i) the charter, bylaws, certificate of limited partnership, agreement of limited partnership, certificate of formation, limited liability company agreement or other organizational document, as applicable, of the Company or any of its subsidiaries (collectively, the “Governing Documents”), (ii) the terms of any indenture, contract, lease, mortgage, deed of trust, note agreement, loan agreement or other agreement, obligation, condition, covenant or instrument to which the Transaction Entities or any of their respective subsidiaries are a party or bound or to which their property is subject, or (iii) any statute, law, rule, regulation, judgment, order or decree applicable to the Transaction Entities or any of their subsidiaries of any court, regulatory body, administrative agency, governmental body, arbitrator or other authority having jurisdiction over the Company or any of its subsidiaries or any of its or their properties, except in the case of clauses (ii) and (iii) for such conflicts, breaches, violations, liens, charges or encumbrances that would not reasonably be expected, singly or in the aggregate, to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

(r) Except as set forth in or contemplated in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, no holders of securities of the Company have rights to the registration of such securities under the Registration Statement, other than rights which have been waived in a proper and timely manner, and the holders of outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company are not entitled to statutory preemptive or other similar contractual rights to subscribe for the Securities.

 

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(s) The consolidated historical financial statements and schedules of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries included in the Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus and the Registration Statement present fairly in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the Company as of the dates and for the periods indicated, comply as to form in all material respects with the applicable accounting requirements of the Securities Act and have been prepared in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles applied on a consistent basis throughout the periods involved (except for any normal year-end adjustments and except as otherwise noted therein). The selected financial data set forth under the caption “Summary Selected Consolidated Historical and Other Data” in the Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus and Registration Statement fairly present in all material respects, on the basis stated in the Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus and the Registration Statement, the information included therein.

(t) Except as set forth in or contemplated in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, (i) no action, suit or proceeding by or before any court or governmental agency, authority or body or any arbitrator involving the Transaction Entities or any of their respective subsidiaries or their property is pending or, to the knowledge of the Transaction Entities, threatened that would reasonably be expected, singly or in the aggregate, to result in a Material Adverse Effect and (ii) there are no contracts or other documents that are required under the Securities Act to be filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement or described in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package or the Prospectus that are not so filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement or described in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.

(u) (i) Prior to or concurrently with the Closing Date (as defined herein), the Operating Partnership will hold, directly or indirectly through another subsidiary, good and marketable title (fee or, in the case of ground leases and as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, leaseholds) to all real property described in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package or the Prospectus as owned or leased by it and the improvements located thereon (individually, a “Property,” and, collectively, the “Properties”), and the Company and its subsidiaries will have good and marketable title to all other assets, if any, owned by them, in each case, free and clear of all mortgages, deeds of trust, pledges, liens, security interests, claims, restrictions or encumbrances of any kind, except as (A) are described in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus or (B) would not be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to materially and adversely affect the value of such Property or assets and would not be expected to materially interfere with the use made and proposed to be made of such Property or assets by the Company or any subsidiary; (ii) neither the Company nor any subsidiary owns any real property other than the Properties that are described in the Registration Statement; (iii) except as would not reasonably be expected, singly or in the aggregate, to result in a Material Adverse Effect, (X) each ground lease relating to a Property under which the Company or a subsidiary is a tenant is in full force and effect; (Y) neither the Company nor any subsidiary has any knowledge of any event which, with or without the passage of time or the giving of notice, or both, would constitute a default

 

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under any such ground lease; and (Z) neither the Company nor any subsidiary has any knowledge of any claim of any sort that has been asserted by anyone adverse to the rights of the Company or any subsidiary under a ground lease or affecting or questioning the rights of the Transaction Entities to the continued possession of the leased premises under such ground lease; (iv) all liens, charges, encumbrances, claims or restrictions on any of the Properties or other assets of the Company or any subsidiary that are required to be disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus are disclosed therein; and (v) except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, no third party has any option or right of first refusal to purchase any Property or any portion thereof or interest therein which, if exercised, would reasonably be expected, singly or in the aggregate, to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

(v) Neither the Transaction Entities nor any of their respective subsidiaries are in violation or default of (i) any provision of their applicable Governing Documents, (ii) the terms of any indenture, contract, lease, mortgage, deed of trust, note agreement, loan agreement or other agreement, obligation, condition, covenant or instrument to which it is a party or bound or to which its property is subject, or (iii) any applicable statute, law, rule, regulation, judgment, order or decree of any court, regulatory body, administrative agency, governmental body, arbitrator or other authority having jurisdiction over the Transaction Entities or such subsidiary or any of their properties, as applicable, except in the case of clauses (ii) and (iii) for such violations or defaults that would not reasonably be expected, singly or in the aggregate, to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

(w) BDO USA, P.C., which has certified certain financial statements of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries and delivered its report with respect to the audited consolidated financial statements and schedules included in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, are independent public accountants with respect to the Company within the meaning of the Securities Act and the applicable published rules and regulations thereunder.

(x) Except as disclosed in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, the Transaction Entities have each filed all tax returns that are required to be filed by such Transaction Entities or have requested extensions thereof except for any such failure to file as would not reasonably be expected, singly or in the aggregate, to result in a Material Adverse Effect. Except as disclosed in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, the Transaction Entities have paid all taxes required to be paid by them and any other assessment, fine or penalty levied against them, to the extent that any of the foregoing is due and payable, except for any such assessment, fine or penalty that is currently being contested in good faith or as would not reasonably be expected, singly or in the aggregate, to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

(y) Commencing with its taxable year ended December 31, 2014, the Company has been organized and has operated in conformity with the requirements for qualification and taxation as a real estate investment trust (a “REIT”) under Sections 856 through 860 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), and its form of organization and proposed method of operation, as described in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, will enable it to continue to meet

 

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the requirements for qualification and taxation as a REIT under the Code. Each of the Company’s corporate subsidiaries that has elected, together with the Company, to be a taxable REIT subsidiary of the Company is in compliance with all requirements applicable to a “taxable REIT subsidiary” within the meaning of Section 856(l) of the Code and all applicable regulations under the Code. Each of the Company’s subsidiaries that is not a “taxable REIT subsidiary” of the Company is a disregarded entity, a partnership or a REIT for U.S. federal income tax purposes. All statements regarding the Company’s qualification and taxation as a REIT and descriptions of the Company’s organization and proposed method of operation (to the extent they relate to the Company’s qualification and taxation as a REIT) set forth in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus are accurate in all material respects.

(z) The Transaction Entities and each of their respective subsidiaries are insured by insurers of recognized financial responsibility against such losses and risks and in such amounts as are prudent and customary in the businesses in which they are engaged, including coverage of the Transaction Entities’ and each of their respective subsidiaries’ Properties, except for any such failure to be so insured as would not reasonably be expected, singly or in the aggregate, to result in a Material Adverse Effect; all policies of insurance and fidelity or surety bonds insuring the Transaction Entities or any of their respective subsidiaries or their respective businesses, assets, employees, officers and directors are in full force and effect; the Transaction Entities and their respective subsidiaries are in compliance with the terms of such policies and instruments in all material respects; and there are no material claims by the Transaction Entities or any of their respective subsidiaries under any such policy or instrument as to which any insurance company is denying liability or defending under a reservation of rights clause; neither the Transaction Entities nor any of their respective subsidiaries has been refused any material insurance coverage sought or applied for; and neither the Transaction Entities nor any of their respective subsidiaries has any reason to believe that it will not be able to renew its existing insurance coverage as and when such coverage expires or to obtain similar coverage from similar insurers as may be necessary to continue its business at a cost that would not have a Material Adverse Effect, except as set forth in or contemplated in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.

(aa) Except as described in or contemplated by the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, (i) the Company is not prohibited, directly or indirectly, from making any distributions to its stockholders, (ii) the Operating Partnership is not prohibited, directly or indirectly, from paying any distributions to the Company to the extent permitted by applicable law, from making any other distribution on the Operating Partnership’s partnership interests, or from repaying the Company for any loans or advances made by the Company to the Operating Partnership and (iii) except as prohibited by any mortgage, loan or other similar documents, no other subsidiary of either of the Transaction Entities is currently prohibited from paying any dividends or distributions directly or indirectly to the Transaction Entities, from making any other distribution on such subsidiary’s capital stock or other equity interests, from repaying, directly or indirectly, to the Transaction Entities any loans or advances to such subsidiary from the Transaction Entities or from transferring any of such subsidiary’s property or assets directly or indirectly to the Transaction Entities or any other subsidiary of the Transaction Entities.

 

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(bb) The Transaction Entities and each of their respective subsidiaries possess all material licenses, certificates, permits and other authorizations from, and have made all declarations and filings with, all governmental authorities required or necessary to own or lease, as the case may be, and to operate their respective properties and to carry on their respective businesses as now or proposed to be conducted as set forth in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus. Except as set forth in or contemplated in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, neither the Transaction Entities nor their respective subsidiaries have received any written notice of proceedings relating to the revocation or modification of any such certificate, authorization or permit which, if the subject of an unfavorable decision, ruling or finding, would reasonably be expected, singly or in the aggregate, to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

(cc) The Company and each of its consolidated subsidiaries maintain a system of internal accounting controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurance that (i) transactions are executed in accordance with management’s general or specific authorizations; (ii) transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles and to maintain asset accountability; (iii) access to assets is permitted only in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization; (iv) the recorded accountability for assets is compared with the existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to any differences; and (v) the interactive data in XBRL included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus complies in all material respects with the SEC’s published rules, regulations and guidelines applicable thereto. The Company and its consolidated subsidiaries’ internal controls over financial reporting are effective as of the end of their last fiscal quarter, and (A) the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries are not aware of any material weakness in their internal controls over financial reporting (whether or not remediated) and (B) there has been no change in the Company’s or its consolidated subsidiaries’ internal control over financial reporting during the most recent fiscal quarter that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s or its consolidated subsidiaries’ internal control over financial reporting.

(dd) The Company and its consolidated subsidiaries maintain “disclosure controls and procedures” (as such term is defined in Rule 13a-15(e) under the Exchange Act), and such disclosure controls and procedures are effective in all material respects to perform the functions for which they were established.

(ee) Neither of the Transaction Entities nor any of their respective subsidiaries has taken, directly or indirectly, any action designed to or that would constitute or that would reasonably be expected to cause or result in, under the Exchange Act or otherwise, stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security of the Company to facilitate the sale or resale of the Securities.

 

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(ff) Except as set forth in or contemplated in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, the Transaction Entities and each of their respective subsidiaries are (i) in compliance with any and all applicable foreign, federal, state and local laws and regulations relating to the protection of human health and safety, the environment or hazardous or toxic substances or wastes, pollutants or contaminants (“Environmental Laws”), (ii) have received and are in compliance with all permits, licenses or other approvals required of them under applicable Environmental Laws to conduct their respective businesses and (iii) have not received written notice of any actual or potential liability under any Environmental Law, except, in the case of clauses (i), (ii) and (iii), where such non-compliance with Environmental Laws, failure to receive required permits, licenses or other approvals, or liability would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect. Except as set forth in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, neither the Transaction Entities nor any of their respective subsidiaries has been named as a “potentially responsible party” under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980, as amended.

(gg) There are no costs or liabilities associated with Environmental Laws (including, without limitation, any capital or operating expenditures required for clean-up, closure of properties or compliance with Environmental Laws or any permit, license or approval, any related constraints on operating activities and any potential liabilities to third parties) which would, singly or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect.

(hh) None of the following events has occurred or exists: (i) a failure to fulfill the obligations, if any, under the minimum funding standards of Section 302 of the United States Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (“ERISA”), and the regulations and published interpretations thereunder with respect to a Plan, determined without regard to any waiver of such obligations or extension of any amortization period; (ii) an audit or, to the knowledge of the Transaction Entities, an investigation by the Internal Revenue Service, the U.S. Department of Labor, the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation or any other federal or state governmental agency or any foreign regulatory agency with respect to the employment or compensation of employees by the Company or any of its subsidiaries that would have a Material Adverse Effect; or (iii) any breach of any contractual obligation, or any violation of law or applicable qualification standards, with respect to the employment or compensation of employees by the Company or any of its subsidiaries that would have a Material Adverse Effect. None of the following events has occurred or is reasonably likely to occur: (i) a material increase in the aggregate amount of contributions required to be made to all Plans in the current fiscal year of the Company and its subsidiaries compared to the amount of such contributions made in the most recently completed fiscal year of the Company and its subsidiaries; (ii) a material increase in the “accumulated post-retirement benefit obligations” (within the meaning of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards 106) of the Company and its subsidiaries compared to the amount of such obligations in the most recently completed fiscal year of the Company and its subsidiaries; (iii) any event or condition giving rise to a liability under Title IV of ERISA that would have a Material Adverse Effect; or (iv) the filing of a claim by one or more employees or former employees of the Company or any of its subsidiaries related to their employment that would have a Material Adverse Effect. For purposes of this paragraph, the term “Plan” means a plan (within the meaning of Section 3(3) of ERISA) subject to Title IV of ERISA with respect to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries may have any liability.

 

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(ii) There is and has been no failure on the part of the Transaction Entities or any of their respective directors or officers, in their capacities as such, to comply in all material respects with any provision of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated in connection thereunder (the “Sarbanes-Oxley Act”), including Section 402 relating to loans and Sections 302 and 906 relating to certifications.

(jj) Neither the Transaction Entities nor any of their respective subsidiaries nor any director, officer or employee of the Transaction Entities or any of their subsidiaries nor, to the knowledge of the Transaction Entities, any agent, affiliate or other person associated with or acting on behalf of the Transaction Entities or any of their respective subsidiaries has (i) used any corporate funds for any unlawful contribution, gift, entertainment or other unlawful expense relating to political activity; (ii) made or taken an act in furtherance of an offer, promise or authorization of any direct or indirect unlawful payment or benefit to any foreign or domestic government official or employee, including of any government-owned or controlled entity or of a public international organization, or any person acting in an official capacity for or on behalf of any of the foregoing, or any political party or party official or candidate for political office; (iii) violated or is in violation of any provision of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended, or any applicable law or regulation implementing the OECD Convention on Combating Bribery of Foreign Public Officials in International Business Transactions, or committed an offence under the Bribery Act 2010 of the United Kingdom or any other applicable anti-bribery or anti-corruption law; or (iv) made, offered, agreed, requested or taken an act in furtherance of any unlawful bribe or other unlawful benefit, including, without limitation, any rebate, payoff, influence payment, kickback or other unlawful or improper payment or benefit. The Transaction Entities and their respective subsidiaries have instituted, maintain and enforce, and will continue to maintain and enforce policies and procedures designed to promote and ensure compliance with all applicable anti-bribery and anti-corruption laws. No part of the proceeds of the offering will be used, directly or indirectly, in violation of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended, or any applicable law or regulation implementing the OECD Convention on Combating Bribery of Foreign Public Officials in International Business Transactions, or committed an offence under the Bribery Act 2010 of the United Kingdom or any other applicable anti-bribery or anti-corruption law.

(kk) The operations of the Transaction Entities and their respective subsidiaries are and have been conducted at all times in compliance in all material respects with applicable financial recordkeeping and reporting requirements and the money laundering statutes and the rules and regulations thereunder and any related or similar rules, regulations or guidelines, issued, administered or enforced by any governmental agency (collectively, the “Money Laundering Laws”) and no action, suit or proceeding by or before any court or governmental agency, authority or body or any arbitrator involving the Transaction Entities or any of their respective subsidiaries with respect to the Money Laundering Laws is pending or, to the knowledge of the Transaction Entities, threatened.

 

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(ll) None of the Transaction Entities nor any of their respective subsidiaries, directors, officers, or employees, nor, to the knowledge of the Transaction Entities, any agent, affiliate or other person associated with or acting on behalf of the Transaction Entities or any of their respective subsidiaries is currently the subject or the target of any sanctions administered or enforced by the U.S. government, (including, without limitation, the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Department of the Treasury (“OFAC”) or the U.S. Department of State and including, without limitation, the designation as a “specially designated national” or “blocked person”), the United Nations Security Council (“UNSC”), the European Union, His Majesty’s Treasury (“HMT”) or other relevant sanctions authority (collectively, “Sanctions”), nor are the Transaction Entities or any of their respective subsidiaries located, organized or resident in a country or territory that is the subject or target of Sanctions, including, without limitation, the Crimea Region of Ukraine, the so-called Donetsk People’s Republic, the so-called Luhansk People’s Republic, Cuba, Iran, North Korea and Syria (each, a “Sanctioned Country”); and the Company will not directly or indirectly use the proceeds of the offering of the Securities hereunder, or lend, contribute or otherwise make available such proceeds to any subsidiary, joint venture partner or other person or entity (i) to fund or facilitate any activities of or business with any person that, at the time of such funding or facilitation, is the subject or target of Sanctions, (ii) to fund or facilitate any activities of or business in any Sanctioned Country or (iii) in any other manner that will result in a violation by any person (including any person participating in the transaction, whether as underwriter, advisor, investor or otherwise) of Sanctions. For the past ten years, the Transaction Entities and their respective subsidiaries have not knowingly engaged in and are not now knowingly engaged in any dealings or transactions with any person that at the time of the dealing or transaction is or was the subject or the target of Sanctions or with any Sanctioned Country.

(mm) Neither the Transaction Entities nor any of their respective subsidiaries has knowingly engaged in any dealings or transactions with or for the benefit of a Sanctioned Person, or with or in a Sanctioned Country, in the preceding three (3) years, nor do the Transaction Entities or any of their respective subsidiaries have any plans to engage in dealings or transactions with or for the benefit of a Sanctioned Person, or with or in a Sanctioned Country.

(nn) The Transaction Entities and their respective subsidiaries, directly or indirectly, own, possess, license or have other rights to use, on reasonable terms, all patents, patent applications, trade and service marks, trade and service mark registrations, trade names, copyrights, licenses, inventions, trade secrets, technology, know-how and other intellectual property (collectively, the “Intellectual Property”) necessary for the conduct of the Transaction Entities’ business as now conducted or as proposed in the Disclosure Package and Prospectus to be conducted, except where the failure to own or license such Intellectual Property would not reasonably be expected, singly or in the aggregate, to have a Material Adverse Effect. Except as set forth in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, (a) there are no rights of ownership of third parties to any such Intellectual

 

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Property that is owned by the Transaction Entities or their respective subsidiaries; (b) to the knowledge of the Transaction Entities, there is no material infringement by third parties of any such Intellectual Property; (c) there is no pending or, to the Transaction Entities’ knowledge, threatened action, suit, proceeding or claim by others challenging the Company’s rights in or to any such Intellectual Property; (d) there is no pending or, to the Transaction Entities’ knowledge, threatened action, suit, proceeding or claim by others challenging the validity or scope of any such Intellectual Property; (e) there is no pending or, to the Transaction Entities’ knowledge, threatened action, suit, proceeding or claim by others that the Transaction Entities infringe or otherwise violates any patent, trademark, copyright, trade secret or other proprietary rights of others which, if the subject of an unfavorable decision, ruling or finding, would reasonably be expected, singly or in the aggregate, to have a Material Adverse Effect; (f) to the knowledge of the Transaction Entities, there is no U.S. patent or published U.S. patent application which contains claims that dominate or may dominate any Intellectual Property described in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus as being owned by or licensed to the Transaction Entities or that interferes with the issued or pending claims of any such Intellectual Property; and (g) to the knowledge of the Transaction Entities, there is no prior art that may render any U.S. patent held by the Transaction Entities invalid or any U.S. patent application held by the Transaction Entities un-patentable which has not been disclosed to the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.

(oo) The Transaction Entities’ and their respective subsidiaries’ information technology assets and equipment, computers, systems, networks, hardware, software, websites, applications, and databases (collectively, “IT Systems”) are adequate for, and operate and perform in all material respects as intended in connection with the operation of the business of the Transaction Entities and their respective subsidiaries as currently conducted and, to the knowledge of the Transaction Entities and their respective subsidiaries, are free and clear of all material bugs, errors, defects, Trojan horses, time bombs, malware and other corruptants; the Transaction Entities and their respective subsidiaries have implemented and maintained reasonable controls, policies, procedures, and safeguards designed to maintain and protect their material confidential information and the integrity, continuous operation, redundancy and security of all IT Systems and data (including all personal, personally identifiable, sensitive, confidential or regulated data (“Personal Data”)) used in connection with their respective businesses, and to the knowledge of the Transaction Entities, there have been no breaches, violations, outages or unauthorized uses of or accesses to same, except for those that have been remedied without material cost or liability or the duty to notify any other person, nor are there any incidents under internal review by the Transaction Entities or, to the knowledge of the Transaction Entities, investigations relating to the same; the Transaction Entities and their respective subsidiaries are presently in compliance in all material respects with all applicable laws or statutes and all judgments, orders, rules and regulations of any court or arbitrator or governmental or regulatory authority having jurisdiction over the Transaction Entities, internal policies of the Transaction Entities and contractual obligations of the Transaction Entities relating to the privacy and security of IT Systems and Personal Data and to the protection of such IT Systems and Personal Data from unauthorized use, access, misappropriation or modification.

 

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(pp) Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, (i) the Transaction Entities do not have any material lending or other relationship with any bank or lending affiliate of any Underwriter and (ii) the Company does not intend to use any of the proceeds from the sale of the Securities hereunder to repay any outstanding debt owed to any affiliate of any Underwriter.

(qq) The statistical, industry-related and marked-related data included in each of the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus are based on or derived from sources that the Transaction Entities reasonably and in good faith believe are reliable and accurate and such data is consistent with the sources from which they are derived, in each case in all material respects.

(rr) No relationship, direct or indirect, exists between or among either of the Transaction Entities on the one hand, and the directors, officers, stockholders or other equity holders, customers or suppliers of the Transaction Entities on the other hand, which is required to be described in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package or the Prospectus which is not so described.

(ss) No labor dispute with the employees of either of the Transaction Entities exists or, to the knowledge of the Transaction Entities or any of their respective subsidiaries, is imminent, and the Transaction Entities are not aware of any existing or imminent labor disturbance by the employees of any of its material tenants, which, in either case, would have a Material Adverse Effect.

(tt) The Securities have been approved for listing on the NYSE, subject to official notice of issuance.

(uu) With respect to any equity awards, including, but not limited to, restricted stock units, restricted stock, and long-term incentive plan units (in each case, whether time-based or performance-based) (collectively, the “Stock Awards”) granted pursuant to any compensation program or plan of the Transaction Entities and their respective subsidiaries (the “Company Stock Plans”), (i) each Stock Award intended to qualify as an “incentive stock option” under Section 422 of the Code so qualifies, (ii) each grant of a Stock Award was duly authorized no later than the date on which the grant of such Stock Award was by its terms to be effective (the “Grant Date”) by all necessary corporate action, including, as applicable, approval by the board of directors of the Company (or a duly constituted and authorized committee thereof) and any required stockholder approval by the necessary number of votes or written consents, and the award agreement governing such grant (if any) was duly executed and delivered by the Transaction Entities applicable thereto, (iii) each such grant was made in accordance with the terms of the Company Stock Plans, the Exchange Act and all other applicable laws and regulatory rules or requirements, including the rules of the New York Stock Exchange and any other exchange on which Company securities are traded, and (iv) each such grant was properly accounted for in accordance with GAAP in the financial statements (including the related notes) of the Company and disclosed in the Company’s filings with the SEC in accordance with the Exchange Act and all other applicable laws. The Transaction Entities have not knowingly granted, and there is no and has been no policy or practice of the Transaction Entities of granting, Stock Awards prior to, or otherwise coordinating the grant of Stock Awards with, the release or other public announcement of material information regarding the Transaction Entities or their respective subsidiaries or their results of operations or prospects.

 

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(vv) The Company represents and warrants that (i) the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, any Preliminary Prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus and any Free Writing Prospectus comply in all material respects, and any further amendments or supplements thereto will comply in all material respects, with any applicable laws or regulations of foreign jurisdictions in which the Prospectus, any Preliminary Prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus and any Free Writing Prospectus, as amended or supplemented, if applicable, are distributed in connection with the Directed Share Program, and that (ii) no authorization, approval, consent, license, order, registration or qualification of or with any government, governmental instrumentality or court, other than such as have been obtained, is necessary under the securities laws and regulations of foreign jurisdictions in which the Directed Shares are offered outside the United States. The Company has not offered, or caused the underwriters to offer, Securities to any person pursuant to the Directed Share Program with the specific intent to unlawfully influence (i) a customer or supplier of the Company to alter the customer or supplier’s level or type of business with the Company, or (ii) a trade journalist or publication to write or publish favorable information about the Company or its products.

Any certificate signed by any officer of the Transaction Entities and delivered to the Representatives or counsel for the Underwriters in connection with the offering of the Securities shall be deemed a representation and warranty by the Transaction Entities, as to matters covered thereby, to each Underwriter.

2. Purchase and Sale.

(a) Subject to the terms and conditions and in reliance upon the representations and warranties herein set forth, the Company agrees to sell to each Underwriter, and each Underwriter agrees, severally and not jointly, to purchase from the Company, at a purchase price of $28.20 per share, the amount of the Underwritten Securities set forth opposite such Underwriter’s name in Schedule I hereto.

(b) Subject to the terms and conditions and in reliance upon the representations and warranties herein set forth, the Company hereby grants an option to the several Underwriters to purchase, severally and not jointly, up to 4,050,000 Option Securities at the same purchase price per share as the Underwriters shall pay for the Underwritten Securities, less an amount per share equal to any dividends or distributions declared by the Company and payable on the Underwritten Securities but not payable on the Option Securities. Said option may be exercised only to cover over-allotments in the sale of the Underwritten Securities by the Underwriters. Said option may be exercised in whole or in part at any time on or before the 30th day after the date of the Prospectus upon written or telegraphic notice by the Representatives to the Company setting forth the number of shares of the Option Securities as to which the several Underwriters are exercising the option and the settlement date. The number of Option Securities to be purchased by each Underwriter shall be the same percentage of the total number of shares of the Option Securities to be purchased by the several Underwriters as such Underwriter is purchasing of the Underwritten Securities, subject to such adjustments as you in your absolute discretion shall make to eliminate any fractional shares, as set forth opposite such Underwriter’s name in Schedule I hereto.

 

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3. Delivery and Payment. Delivery of and payment for the Underwritten Securities and the Option Securities (if the option provided for in Section 2(b) hereof shall have been exercised on or before the third Business Day immediately preceding the Closing Date) shall be made at 10:00 AM, New York City time, on April 3, 2025, or at such time on such later date not more than three Business Days after the foregoing date as the Representatives shall designate, which date and time may be postponed by agreement between the Representatives and the Company or as provided in Section 9 hereof (such date and time of delivery and payment for the Securities being herein called the “Closing Date”). As used herein, “Business Day” shall mean any day other than a Saturday, a Sunday or a legal holiday or a day on which banking institutions or trust companies are authorized or obligated by law to close in New York City. Delivery of the Securities shall be made to the Representatives for the respective accounts of the several Underwriters against payment by the several Underwriters through the Representatives of the purchase price thereof to or upon the order of the Company by wire transfer payable in same-day funds to an account specified by the Company. Delivery of the Underwritten Securities and the Option Securities shall be made through the facilities of The Depository Trust Company unless the Representatives shall otherwise instruct.

If the option provided for in Section 2(b) hereof is exercised after the third Business Day immediately preceding the Closing Date, the Company will deliver the Option Securities (at the expense of the Company) to the Representatives, at 383 Madison Avenue, New York, New York, on the date specified by the Representatives (which shall be within three Business Days after exercise of said option) for the respective accounts of the several Underwriters, against payment by the several Underwriters through the Representatives of the purchase price thereof to or upon the order of the Company by wire transfer payable in same-day funds to an account specified by the Company. If settlement for the Option Securities occurs after the Closing Date, the Company will deliver to the Representatives on the settlement date for the Option Securities, and the obligation of the Underwriters to purchase the Option Securities shall be conditioned upon receipt of, supplemental opinions, certificates and letters confirming as of such date the opinions, certificates and letters delivered on the Closing Date pursuant to Section 6 hereof.

4. Offering by Underwriters. It is understood that the several Underwriters propose to offer the Securities for sale to the public as set forth in the Prospectus.

5. Agreements. Each of the Transaction Entities, jointly and severally, agrees with the several Underwriters that:

(a) Prior to the termination of the offering of the Securities, the Company will not file any amendment of the Registration Statement or supplement to the Prospectus or any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement unless the Company has furnished you a copy for your review prior to filing and will not file any such proposed amendment or supplement to which you reasonably object. The Company will cause the Prospectus, properly completed, and any supplement thereto to be filed in a form approved by the

 

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Representatives with the SEC pursuant to the applicable paragraph of Rule 424(b) within the time period prescribed and will provide evidence satisfactory to the Representatives of such timely filing. The Company will promptly advise the Representatives (i) when the Prospectus, and any supplement thereto, shall have been filed (if required) with the SEC pursuant to Rule 424(b) or when any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement shall have been filed with the SEC, (ii) when, prior to termination of the offering of the Securities, any amendment to the Registration Statement shall have been filed or become effective, (iii) of any request by the SEC or its staff for any amendment of the Registration Statement, or any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement, or for any supplement to the Prospectus or for any additional information, (iv) of the issuance by the SEC of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or of any notice from the SEC objecting to its use or the institution or threatening of any proceeding for that purpose or pursuant to Section 8A of the Securities Act by the SEC and (v) of the receipt by the Company of any notification with respect to the suspension of the qualification of the Securities for sale in any jurisdiction or the institution or threatening of any proceeding for such purpose. The Company will use its reasonable best efforts to prevent the issuance of any such stop order or the occurrence of any such suspension or objection to the use of the Registration Statement and, upon such issuance, occurrence or notice of objection, to obtain as soon as possible the withdrawal of such stop order or relief from such occurrence or objection, including, if necessary, by filing an amendment to the Registration Statement or a new registration statement and using its reasonable best efforts to have such amendment or new registration statement declared effective as soon as practicable.

(b) If, at any time prior to the filing of the Prospectus pursuant to Rule 424(b), any event occurs as a result of which the Disclosure Package would include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein in the light of the circumstances under which they were made or the circumstances then prevailing not misleading, or if it shall be necessary to amend the Disclosure Package to comply with the Securities Act or the rules thereunder, the Company will (i) notify promptly the Representatives so that any use of the Disclosure Package may cease until it is amended or supplemented; (ii) amend or supplement the Disclosure Package to correct such statement or omission or effect such compliance; and (iii) supply any amendment or supplement to you in such quantities as you may reasonably request.

(c) If, at any time when a prospectus relating to the Securities is required to be delivered under the Securities Act (including in circumstances where such requirement may be satisfied pursuant to Rule 172 under the Securities Act (“Rule 172”)), any event occurs as a result of which the Prospectus as then supplemented would include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein in the light of the circumstances under which they were made or the circumstances then prevailing not misleading, or if it shall be necessary to amend the Registration Statement or supplement the Prospectus to comply with the Securities Act or the rules thereunder, the Company promptly will (i) notify the Representatives of any such event; (ii) prepare and file with the SEC, subject to the second sentence of paragraph (a) of this Section 5, an amendment or supplement which will correct such statement or omission or effect such compliance; and (iii) supply any supplemented Prospectus to you in such quantities as you may reasonably request.

 

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(d) As soon as practicable, the Company will make generally available to its security holders and to the Representatives an earnings statement or statements of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries which will satisfy the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act and Rule 158 under the Securities Act (which may be satisfied with the SEC’s Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis and Retrieval System).

(e) The Company will furnish to the Representatives and counsel for the Underwriters upon request, without charge, signed copies of the Registration Statement (including exhibits thereto) and to each other Underwriter a copy of the Registration Statement (without exhibits thereto) and, so long as delivery of a prospectus by an Underwriter or dealer may be required by the Securities Act (including in circumstances where such requirement may be satisfied pursuant to Rule 172), as many copies of each Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus and each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus and any supplement thereto as the Representatives may reasonably request. The Company will pay the expenses of printing or other production of all documents relating to the offering.

(f) The Company will use its reasonable best efforts to arrange, if necessary, for the qualification of the Securities for sale under the laws of such jurisdictions as the Representatives may reasonably designate and will use its reasonable best efforts to maintain such qualifications in effect so long as required for the distribution of the Securities; provided that in no event shall the Company be obligated to qualify to do business in any jurisdiction where it is not now so qualified or to take any action that would subject it to service of process in suits, other than those arising out of the offering or sale of the Securities, in any jurisdiction where it is not now so subject.

(g) The Company will not, without the prior written consent of the Representatives, offer, sell, contract to sell, pledge, lend or otherwise dispose of, (or enter into any transaction which is designed to, or might reasonably be expected to, result in the disposition (whether by actual disposition or effective economic disposition due to cash settlement or otherwise) by the Company or any affiliate of the Company or any person in privity with the Company or any affiliate of the Company) directly or indirectly, including the filing (or participation in the filing) of a registration statement with the SEC in respect of, or establish or increase a put equivalent position or liquidate or decrease a call equivalent position within the meaning of Section 16 of the Exchange Act, any other shares of Common Stock or any securities convertible into, or exercisable, or exchangeable for, shares of Common Stock; or publicly announce an intention to effect any such transaction, for a period of six months after the date of this Agreement (the “Restricted Period”), provided, however, that the foregoing restrictions shall not apply to (1) the Securities to be sold hereunder, including Securities offered pursuant to the Directed Share Program, (2) the issuance by the Company of shares of Common Stock upon the exercise of an outstanding equity award or exchange of a security (including OP Units, LTIP Units and Class A-1 Units) outstanding on the date hereof, or issued as described in each of the Disclosure Package and Prospectus, in each case as described in each of the Disclosure Package and Prospectus, (3) the issuance of Common Stock or securities convertible into

 

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or exercisable or exchangeable for shares of Common Stock (including OP Units, LTIP Units and Class A-1 Units) in connection with equity awards granted pursuant to the Company Stock Plans that are disclosed in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, (4) facilitating the establishment of a trading plan on behalf of a stockholder, officer or director of the Company pursuant to Rule 10b5-1 under the Exchange Act for the transfer of shares of Common Stock, provided that (A) such plan does not provide for the transfer of Common Stock during the Restricted Period and (B) to the extent a public announcement or filing under the Exchange Act, if any, is required of or voluntarily made by the Company regarding the establishment of such plan, such announcement or filing shall include a statement to the effect that no transfer of Common Stock may be made under such plan during the Restricted Period, (5) any shares of Common Stock or securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for shares of Common Stock (including OP Units, LTIP Units and Class A-1 Units), in the aggregate not to exceed 10% of the total number of shares of Common Stock issued and outstanding immediately following the completion of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement (assuming full conversion, exchange or exercise of all outstanding securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for shares of Common Stock (including OP Units and restricted stock units)), issued in connection with property acquisitions, mergers or acquisitions, joint ventures, commercial relationships or other strategic transactions, provided, however, that the recipient of such shares of Common Stock or securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for shares of Common Stock shall be required to execute a Lock-up Agreement in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representatives for the duration of the Restricted Period, (6) the filing of a registration statement or amendment thereto relating to the Company Stock Plans, any employee benefit plan, or other employee compensation plan of the Company and/or the Operating Partnership referred to in the Disclosure Package and Prospectus or (7) the cash-out redemption of odd lot or fractional shares of Common Stock. The Company further covenants with each Underwriter that, without the prior written consent of the Representatives on behalf of the Underwriters, it will not approve the conversion of any outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock or Class T Common Stock into shares of Common Stock during the Restricted Period.

(h) If the Representatives, in their sole discretion, agree to release or waive the restrictions set forth in a lock-up letter described in Section 6(m) hereof for an officer or director of the Company identified on Schedule IV and provide the Company with notice of the impending release or waiver at least three Business Days before the effective date of the release or waiver, the Company agrees to announce the impending release or waiver by a press release in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representatives through a major news service at least two Business Days before the effective date of the release or waiver.

(i) The Transaction Entities will not take, directly or indirectly, any action designed to or that would constitute or that would reasonably be expected to cause or result in, under the Exchange Act or otherwise, stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security of the Company to facilitate the sale or resale of the Securities.

 

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(j) The Transaction Entities agree to pay the costs and expenses relating to the following matters: (i) the preparation, printing or reproduction and filing with the SEC of the Registration Statement (including financial statements and exhibits thereto), each Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus and each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, and each amendment or supplement to any of them; (ii) the printing (or reproduction) and delivery (including postage, air freight charges and charges for counting and packaging) of such copies of the Registration Statement, each Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus and each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, and all amendments or supplements to any of them, as may, in each case, be reasonably requested for use in connection with the offering and sale of the Securities; (iii) the preparation, printing, authentication, issuance and delivery of certificates for the Securities, including any stamp or transfer taxes in connection with the original issuance and sale of the Securities; (iv) the printing (or reproduction) and delivery of this Agreement, any blue sky memorandum and all other agreements or documents printed (or reproduced) and delivered in connection with the offering of the Securities; (v) the registration of the Securities under the Exchange Act and the listing of the Securities on the NYSE; (vi) any registration or qualification of the Securities for offer and sale under the securities or blue sky laws of the several states (including filing fees and the reasonable fees and expenses of counsel for the Underwriters relating to such registration and qualification) in an amount not to exceed $5,000 in the aggregate; (vii) any filings required to be made with the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (“FINRA”) (including filing fees and the reasonable fees and expenses of counsel for the Underwriters relating to such filings) in an amount not to exceed $30,000 in the aggregate; (viii) the transportation and other expenses incurred by or on behalf of Company representatives in connection with presentations to prospective purchasers of the Securities provided, however, that the cost of any aircraft chartered in connection with such presentations shall be divided equally between the Transactions Entities and the Underwriters; (ix) the fees and expenses of the Transaction Entities’ accountants and the fees and expenses of counsel (including local and special counsel) for the Transaction Entities; (x) all of the fees and disbursements of counsel incurred by the Underwriters in connection with the Directed Share Program and stamp duties, similar taxes or duties or other taxes, if any, incurred by the Underwriters in connection with the Directed Share Program; and (xi) all other costs and expenses incurred by the Transaction Entities that are incident to the performance by the Transaction Entities of their obligations hereunder. Except as explicitly provided in this Section 5(j), Section 7 and Section 8, the Underwriters shall be liable and shall pay for all of their own costs, expenses and fees incurred in connection with this Agreement and the transactions contemplated herein (including certain bona fide and accountable legal fees and expenses of counsel to the Underwriters advanced by the Transaction Entities on their behalf, which will be reimbursed by the Underwriters on the Closing Date in an amount up to $592,400.63).

(k) The Company agrees that, unless it has or shall have obtained the prior written consent of the Representatives, it has not made and will not make any offer relating to the Securities that would constitute an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or that would otherwise constitute a Free Writing Prospectus required to be filed by the Company with the SEC or retained by the Company under Rule 433 under the Securities Act (“Rule 433”). Each Underwriter, severally and not jointly, agrees with the Company that, unless it has or

 

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shall have obtained, as the case may be, the prior written consent of the Company, no Underwriter has made nor will make any offer relating to the Securities that would constitute an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or that would otherwise constitute a Free Writing Prospectus required to be filed by the Company with the SEC or retained by the Company under Rule 433. Notwithstanding the two foregoing sentences, the prior written consent of the parties hereto shall be deemed to have been given in respect of the Free Writing Prospectuses included in Schedule II hereto and any electronic road show. Any such free writing prospectus consented to by the Representatives or the Company is hereinafter referred to as a “Permitted Free Writing Prospectus.” The Company agrees that (x) it has treated and will treat, as the case may be, each Permitted Free Writing Prospectus as an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus and (y) it has complied and will comply, as the case may be, with the requirements of Rule 164 under the Securities Act (“Rule 164”) and Rule 433 applicable to any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus, including in respect of timely filing with the SEC, legending and record keeping.

(l) If at any time following the distribution of any Written Testing-the-Waters Communication, any event occurs as a result of which such Written Testing-the-Waters Communication would include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein in the light of the circumstances under which they were made or the circumstances then prevailing not misleading, the Company will (i) notify promptly the Representatives so that use of the Written Testing-the-Waters Communication may cease until it is amended or supplemented; (ii) amend or supplement the Written Testing-the-Waters Communication to correct such statement or omission; and (iii) supply any amendment or supplement to the Representatives in such quantities as may be reasonably requested.

(m) The Company will use its best efforts to qualify for taxation as a REIT under the Code for its taxable year ending December 31, 2025, and the Company will use its best efforts to continue to qualify as a REIT under the Code until its board of directors determines it is no longer in the Company’s best interest to so qualify.

(n) The Company will comply with all applicable securities and other laws, rules and regulations in each jurisdiction in which the Directed Shares are offered in connection with the Directed Share Program.

6. Conditions to the Obligations of the Underwriters. The obligations of the Underwriters to purchase the Underwritten Securities and the Option Securities, as the case may be, shall be subject to the accuracy of the representations and warranties on the part of the Transaction Entities contained herein as of the Execution Time, the Closing Date and any settlement date pursuant to Section 3 hereof (including for the Option Securities), to the accuracy of the statements of the Transaction Entities made in any certificates pursuant to the provisions hereof, to the performance by the Transaction Entities of their obligations hereunder and to the following additional conditions:

 

 

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(a) The Prospectus, and any supplement thereto, have been filed in the manner and within the time period required by Rule 424(b); any material required to be filed by the Company pursuant to Rule 433(d) shall have been filed with the SEC within the applicable time periods prescribed for such filings by Rule 433; and no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or any notice objecting to its use shall have been issued by the SEC and no proceedings for that purpose or pursuant to Section 8A of the Securities Act shall have been instituted or threatened by the SEC.

(b) The Transaction Entities shall have requested and caused Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP, counsel for the Transaction Entities, to have furnished to the Representatives their corporate opinion, dated the Closing Date and addressed to the Representatives, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representatives.

(c) The Transaction Entities shall have requested and caused Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP, tax counsel for the Transaction Entities, to have furnished to the Representatives their opinion, dated the Closing Date and addressed to the Representatives, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representatives.

(d) The Transaction Entities shall have requested and caused Venable LLP, Maryland counsel for the Transaction Entities, to have furnished to the Representatives their opinion, dated the Closing Date and addressed to the Representatives, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representatives.

(e) The Representatives shall have received from Latham & Watkins LLP, counsel for the Underwriters, such opinion or opinions, dated the Closing Date and addressed to the Representatives, with respect to the issuance and sale of the Securities, the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package, the Prospectus (together with any supplement thereto) and other related matters as the Representatives may reasonably require, and the Transaction Entities shall have furnished to such counsel such documents as they reasonably request for the purpose of enabling them to pass upon such matters.

(f) The Transaction Entities shall have furnished to the Representatives a certificate of the Company, signed by the Chairman of the Board or the Chief Executive Officer and the principal financial or accounting officer of the Company, dated the Closing Date, to the effect that the signers of such certificate have carefully examined the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package, the Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto, as well as each electronic road show used in connection with the offering of the Securities, and this Agreement and that:

(i) the representations and warranties of the Company in this Agreement are true and correct on and as of the Closing Date with the same effect as if made on the Closing Date and the Company has complied with all the agreements and satisfied all the conditions on its part to be performed or satisfied at or prior to the Closing Date;

(ii) no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or any notice objecting to its use has been issued by the SEC and no proceedings for that purpose or pursuant to Section 8A of the Securities Act have been instituted or, to the Company’s knowledge, threatened by the SEC; and

 

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(iii) since the date of the most recent financial statements included in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, there has been no material adverse change in the condition (financial or otherwise), results of operations, prospects, earnings, business or Properties of the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, whether or not arising from transactions in the ordinary course of business, except as set forth in or contemplated in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.

(g) The Company shall have requested and caused BDO USA, P.C. to have furnished to the Representatives, at the Execution Time and at the Closing Date, letters, dated respectively as of the Execution Time and as of the Closing Date, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representatives, containing statements and information of the type ordinarily included in accountants’ “comfort letters” to underwriters with respect to the financial statements and certain financial information contained in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and Prospectus; provided that the letter delivered on the Closing Date shall use a “cut-off date” not earlier than the date hereof.

(h) Subsequent to the Execution Time or, if earlier, the date as of which information is given in the Registration Statement, there shall not have been (i) any material change or decrease specified in the letter or letters referred to in paragraph (g) of this Section 6 or (ii) any material adverse change, or any development involving a prospective material adverse change, in or affecting the condition (financial or otherwise), results of operations, prospects, earnings, business or Properties of the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole, whether or not arising from transactions in the ordinary course of business, except as set forth in or contemplated in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, the effect of which, in any case referred to in clause (i) or (ii) above, is, in the sole judgment of the Representatives, so material and adverse as to make it impractical or inadvisable to proceed with the offering or delivery of the Securities as contemplated by the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.

(i) The Company shall have furnished to the Representatives, at the Execution Time and at the Closing Date, a certificate of the Chief Financial Officer of the Company, satisfactory to the Underwriters, as to the accuracy of certain financial data contained in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, respectively, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representatives.

(j) Prior to the Closing Date, the Company shall have furnished to the Representatives such further information, certificates and documents as the Representatives may reasonably request.

(k) Subsequent to the Execution Time, there shall not have been any decrease in the rating of any of the Company’s debt securities by any “nationally recognized statistical rating organization” (as defined for purposes of Rule 3(a)(62) under the Exchange Act) or any notice given of any intended or potential decrease in any such rating or of a possible change in any such rating that does not indicate the direction of the possible change.

 

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(l) The Securities have been approved for listing on the NYSE, subject to official notice of issuance.

(m) At the Execution Time, the Company shall have furnished to the Representatives a “lock-up” agreement in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representatives from each officer and director of the Company identified on Schedule IV addressed to the Representatives.

If any of the conditions specified in this Section 6 shall not have been fulfilled when and as provided in this Agreement, or if any of the opinions and certificates mentioned above or elsewhere in this Agreement shall not be reasonably satisfactory in form and substance to the Representatives and counsel for the Underwriters, this Agreement and all obligations of the Underwriters hereunder may be canceled at, or at any time prior to, the Closing Date by the Representatives. Notice of such cancellation shall be given to the Company in writing or by telephone or facsimile confirmed in writing.

The documents required to be delivered by this Section 6 shall be delivered at the office of Latham & Watkins LLP, counsel for the Underwriters, at 355 South Grand Avenue, Suite 100 Los Angeles, CA 90071-1560, on the Closing Date or any settlement date with respect to the Option Securities.

7. Reimbursement of Underwriters’ Expenses. If the sale of the Securities provided for herein is not consummated because any condition to the obligations of the Underwriters set forth in Section 6 hereof is not satisfied, because of any termination pursuant to Section 10(i) hereof or because of any refusal, inability or failure on the part of the Transaction Entities to perform any agreement herein or comply with any provision hereof other than by reason of a default by any of the Underwriters, the Company will reimburse the Underwriters severally through J.P. Morgan Securities LLC on demand for all accountable and documented out-of-pocket expenses (including reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel) that shall have been actually incurred by them in connection with the proposed purchase and sale of the Securities.

8. Indemnification and Contribution.

(a) The Transaction Entities, jointly and severally, agree to indemnify and hold harmless each Underwriter, the directors, officers, employees, affiliates and agents of each Underwriter and each person who controls any Underwriter within the meaning of either Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act against any and all losses, claims, damages or liabilities, joint or several, to which they or any of them may become subject under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act or other Federal or state statutory law or regulation, at common law or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement as originally filed or in any amendment thereof, or in any Preliminary Prospectus, or the Prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or any Written Testing-the-Waters Communication or in any amendment thereof or supplement thereto, or arise out of or are based upon the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading,

 

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and agrees to reimburse each such indemnified party, as incurred, for any reasonable legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by them in connection with investigating or defending any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action; provided, however, that the Transaction Entities will not be liable in any such case to the extent that any such loss, claim, damage or liability arises out of or is based upon any such untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission made therein in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Transaction Entities by or on behalf of any Underwriter through the Representatives specifically for inclusion therein. This indemnity agreement will be in addition to any liability which the Transaction Entities may otherwise have.

(b) Each Underwriter severally and not jointly agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Transaction Entities, each of their respective directors, each of their respective officers who signs the Registration Statement, and each person who controls the Transaction Entities within the meaning of either the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, to the same extent as the foregoing indemnity from the Transaction Entities to each Underwriter, but only with reference to written information relating to such Underwriter furnished to the Transaction Entities by or on behalf of such Underwriter through the Representatives specifically for inclusion in the documents referred to in the foregoing indemnity. This indemnity agreement will be in addition to any liability which any Underwriter may otherwise have. The Transaction Entities acknowledge that the following statements set forth under the heading “Underwriting” in the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus constitute the only information furnished in writing by or on behalf of the several Underwriters for inclusion in the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or Written Testing-the-Waters Communication: (i) the sentences related to concessions and reallowances and (ii) the paragraph related to stabilization, syndicate covering transactions and penalty bids.

(c) Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under this Section 8 of notice of the commencement of any action, such indemnified party will, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against the indemnifying party under this Section 8, notify the indemnifying party in writing of the commencement thereof; but the failure so to notify the indemnifying party (i) will not relieve it from liability under paragraph (a) or (b) above unless and to the extent it did not otherwise learn of such action and such failure results in the forfeiture by the indemnifying party of substantial rights and defenses and (ii) will not, in any event, relieve the indemnifying party from any obligations to any indemnified party other than the indemnification obligation provided in paragraph (a) or (b) above. The indemnifying party shall be entitled to appoint counsel of the indemnifying party’s choice at the indemnifying party’s expense to represent the indemnified party in any action for which indemnification is sought (in which case the indemnifying party shall not thereafter be responsible for the fees and expenses of any separate counsel retained by the indemnified party or parties except as set forth below); provided, however, that such counsel shall be reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party. Notwithstanding the indemnifying party’s election to appoint counsel to represent the indemnified party in an action, the indemnified party shall have the right to employ separate counsel (including local counsel), and the indemnifying party shall bear the reasonable fees, costs and

 

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expenses of such separate counsel if (i) the use of counsel chosen by the indemnifying party to represent the indemnified party would present such counsel with a conflict of interest, (ii) the actual or potential defendants in, or targets of, any such action include both the indemnified party and the indemnifying party and the indemnified party shall have reasonably concluded that there may be legal defenses available to it and/or other indemnified parties which are different from or additional to those available to the indemnifying party, (iii) the indemnifying party shall not have employed counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party to represent the indemnified party within a reasonable time after notice of the institution of such action or (iv) the indemnifying party shall authorize the indemnified party to employ separate counsel at the expense of the indemnifying party. Except as expressly provided in this Section 8, the indemnifying party shall not be liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected without its written consent (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld). Notwithstanding the foregoing sentence, if at any time an indemnified party shall have requested an indemnifying party to reimburse the indemnified party for fees and expenses of counsel as contemplated by this Section 8(c), the indemnifying party agrees that it shall be liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected without its written consent if (i) such settlement is entered into more than 45 days after receipt by such indemnifying party of the aforesaid request, and (ii) such indemnifying party shall not have reimbursed the indemnified party in accordance with such request prior to the date of such settlement. An indemnifying party will not, without the prior written consent of the indemnified parties, settle or compromise or consent to the entry of any judgment with respect to any pending or threatened claim, action, suit or proceeding in respect of which indemnification or contribution may be sought hereunder (whether or not the indemnified parties are actual or potential parties to such claim or action) unless such settlement, compromise or consent (i) includes an unconditional release of each indemnified party from all liability arising out of such claim, action, suit or proceeding and (ii) does not include a statement as to or an admission of fault, culpability or a failure to act, by or on behalf of any indemnified party.

(d) In the event that the indemnity provided in paragraph (a) or (b) of this Section 8 is unavailable to or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party for any reason, the Transaction Entities and the Underwriters severally agree to contribute to the aggregate losses, claims, damages and liabilities (including legal or other expenses reasonably incurred in connection with investigating or defending the same) (collectively, “Losses”) to which the Transaction Entities and one or more of the Underwriters may be subject in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Transaction Entities on the one hand and by the Underwriters on the other from the offering of the Securities. If the allocation provided by the immediately preceding sentence is unavailable for any reason, the Transaction Entities and the Underwriters severally shall contribute in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only such relative benefits but also the relative fault of the Transaction Entities on the one hand and of the Underwriters on the other in connection with the statements or omissions which resulted in such Losses as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. Benefits received by the Transaction Entities shall be deemed to be equal to the total net proceeds from the offering (before deducting expenses) received by it, and benefits received by the Underwriters shall be deemed to be equal to the total underwriting discount, in each case as set forth on the cover

 

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page of the Prospectus. Relative fault shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether any untrue or any alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information provided by the Transaction Entities on the one hand or the Underwriters on the other, the intent of the parties and their relative knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such untrue statement or omission. The Transaction Entities and the Underwriters agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution were determined by pro rata allocation or any other method of allocation which does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to above. Notwithstanding the provisions of this paragraph (d), in no event shall an Underwriter be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the total underwriting discount received by such Underwriter with respect to the offering of the Securities exceeds the amount of any damages that such Underwriter has otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission. Notwithstanding the provisions of this paragraph (d), no person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. For purposes of this Section 8, each person who controls an Underwriter within the meaning of either Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act and each director, officer, employee, affiliate and agent of an Underwriter shall have the same rights to contribution as such Underwriter, and each person who controls the Transaction Entities within the meaning of either Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act, each officer of the Company who shall have signed the Registration Statement and each director of the Company shall have the same rights to contribution as the Transaction Entities, subject in each case to the applicable terms and conditions of this paragraph (d). The Underwriters’ obligations to contribute pursuant to this paragraph (d) are several in proportion to their respective purchase obligations hereunder and not joint.

(e) The Transaction Entities, jointly and severally, agree to indemnify and hold harmless the Directed Share Underwriter, its affiliates, directors and officers and each person, if any, who controls the Directed Share Underwriter within the meaning of either Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act (each a “Directed Share Underwriter Entity”) from and against any and all losses, claims, damages and liabilities (including, without limitation, any legal fees and other expenses incurred in connection with defending or investigating any suit, action or proceeding or any claim asserted, as such fees and expenses are incurred) (i) caused by any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any material prepared by or with the consent of the Company for distribution to Participants in connection with the Directed Share Program or caused by any omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; (ii) caused by the failure of any Participant to pay for and accept delivery of Directed Shares that the Participant agreed to purchase; or (iii) related to, arising out of, or in connection with the Directed Share Program, other than losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or expenses relating thereto) that are finally judicially determined to have resulted from the bad faith or gross negligence of the Directed Share Underwriter Entities.

 

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(f) In case any proceeding (including any governmental investigation) shall be instituted involving any Directed Share Underwriter Entity in respect of which indemnity may be sought pursuant to paragraph (e) above, the Directed Share Underwriter Entity seeking indemnity shall promptly notify the Transaction Entities in writing and the Transaction Entities, upon request of the Directed Share Underwriter Entity, shall retain counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Directed Share Underwriter Entity to represent the Directed Share Underwriter Entity and any others the Transaction Entities may designate in such proceeding and shall pay the reasonable fees and disbursements of such counsel related to such proceeding. In any such proceeding, any Directed Share Underwriter Entity shall have the right to retain its own counsel, but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of such Directed Share Underwriter Entity unless (i) the Transaction Entities and such Directed Share Underwriter Entity shall have mutually agreed to the retention of such counsel, (ii) the Transaction Entities have failed within a reasonable time to retain counsel reasonably satisfactory to such Directed Share Underwriter Entity, (iii) the Directed Share Underwriter Entity shall have reasonably concluded that there may be legal defenses available to it that are different from or in addition to those available to the Transaction Entities or (iv) the named parties to any such proceeding (including any impleaded parties) include both the Transaction Entities and the Directed Share Underwriter Entity and representation of both parties by the same counsel would be inappropriate due to actual or potential differing interests between them. The Transaction Entities shall not, in respect of the legal expenses of the Directed Share Underwriter Entities in connection with any proceeding or related proceedings in the same jurisdiction, be liable for the fees and expenses of more than one separate firm (in addition to any local counsel) for all Directed Share Underwriter Entities. The Transaction Entities shall not be liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected without its written consent, but if settled with such consent, the Transaction Entities agree to indemnify the Directed Share Underwriter Entities from and against any loss or liability by reason of such settlement. Notwithstanding the foregoing sentence, if at any time any Directed Share Underwriter Entity shall have requested the Transaction Entities to reimburse such Directed Share Underwriter Entity for fees and expenses of counsel as contemplated by the second and third sentences of this paragraph, the Transaction Entities agree that they shall be liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected without its written consent if (i) such settlement is entered into more than 30 days after receipt by the Transaction Entities of the aforesaid request and (ii) the Transaction Entities shall not have reimbursed such Directed Share Underwriter Entity in accordance with such request prior to the date of such settlement. The Transaction Entities shall not, without the prior written consent of the Directed Share Underwriter, effect any settlement of any pending or threatened proceeding in respect of which any Directed Share Underwriter Entity is or could have been a party and indemnity could have been sought hereunder by such Directed Share Underwriter Entity, unless (x) such settlement includes an unconditional release of the Directed Share Underwriter Entities from all liability on claims that are the subject matter of such proceeding and (y) does not include any statement as to or any admission of fault, culpability or a failure to act by or on behalf of the Directed Share Underwriter Entity.

 

30


(g) To the extent the indemnification provided for in paragraph (e) above is unavailable to a Directed Share Underwriter Entity or insufficient in respect of any losses, claims, damages or liabilities referred to therein, then the Transaction Entities in lieu of indemnifying the Directed Share Underwriter Entity thereunder, shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by the Directed Share Underwriter Entity as a result of such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (1) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Transaction Entities on the one hand and the Directed Share Underwriter Entities on the other hand from the offering of the Directed Shares or (2) if the allocation provided by clause 8(g)(1) above is not permitted by applicable law, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits referred to in clause 8(g)(1) above but also the relative fault of the Transaction Entities on the one hand and of the Directed Share Underwriter Entities on the other hand in connection with any statements or omissions that resulted in such losses, claims, damages or liabilities, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative benefits received by the Transaction Entities on the one hand and the Directed Share Underwriter Entities on the other hand in connection with the offering of the Directed Shares shall be deemed to be in the same respective proportions as the net proceeds from the offering of the Directed Shares (before deducting expenses) and the total underwriting discounts and commissions received by the Directed Share Underwriter Entities for the Directed Shares, bear to the aggregate public offering price of the Directed Shares. If the loss, claim, damage or liability is caused by an untrue or alleged untrue statement of material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact, the relative fault of the Transaction Entities on the one hand and the Directed Share Underwriter Entities on the other hand shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement or the omission or alleged omission relates to information supplied by the Transaction Entities or by the Directed Share Underwriter Entities and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission.

(h) The Transaction Entities and the Directed Share Underwriter Entities agree that it would be not just or equitable if contribution pursuant to paragraph (g) above were determined by pro rata allocation (even if the Directed Share Underwriter Entities were treated as one entity for such purpose) or by any other method of allocation that does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to in paragraph (g) above. The amount paid or payable by the Directed Share Underwriter Entities as a result of the losses, claims, damages and liabilities referred to in the immediately preceding paragraph shall be deemed to include, subject to the limitations set forth above, any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by the Directed Share Underwriter Entities in connection with investigating or defending such any action or claim. Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph (g) above, no Directed Share Underwriter Entity shall be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the total price at which the Directed Shares distributed to the public were offered to the public exceeds the amount of any damages that such Directed Share Underwriter Entity has otherwise been required to pay. No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. The remedies provided for in paragraphs (e) through (g) are not exclusive and shall not limit any rights or remedies which may otherwise be available to any indemnified party at law or in equity.

 

31


(i) The indemnity and contribution provisions contained in paragraphs (e) through (h) shall remain operative and in full force and effect regardless of (i) any termination of this Agreement, (ii) any investigation made by or on behalf of any Directed Share Underwriter Entity or the Transaction Entities, its officers or directors or any person controlling the Transaction Entities and (iii) acceptance of and payment for any of the Directed Shares.

9. Default by an Underwriter. If any one or more Underwriters shall fail to purchase and pay for any of the Securities agreed to be purchased by such Underwriter or Underwriters hereunder and such failure to purchase shall constitute a default in the performance of its or their obligations under this Agreement, the remaining Underwriters shall be obligated severally to take up and pay for (in the respective proportions which the amount of Securities set forth opposite their names in Schedule I hereto bears to the aggregate amount of Securities set forth opposite the names of all the remaining Underwriters) the Securities which the defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters agreed but failed to purchase; provided, however, that in the event that the aggregate amount of Securities which the defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters agreed but failed to purchase shall exceed 10% of the aggregate amount of Securities set forth in Schedule I hereto, the remaining Underwriters shall have the right to purchase all, but shall not be under any obligation to purchase any, of the Securities, and if such non-defaulting Underwriters do not purchase all the Securities, this Agreement will terminate without liability to any non-defaulting Underwriter or the Transaction Entities. In the event of a default by any Underwriter as set forth in this Section 9, the Closing Date shall be postponed for such period, not exceeding five Business Days, as the Representatives shall determine in order that the required changes in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus or in any other documents or arrangements may be effected. Nothing contained in this Agreement shall relieve any defaulting Underwriter of its liability, if any, to the Transaction Entities and any non-defaulting Underwriter for damages occasioned by its default hereunder.

10. Termination. This Agreement shall be subject to termination in the absolute discretion of the Representatives, by notice given to the Company prior to delivery of and payment for the Securities, if at any time prior to such delivery and payment (i) trading in the Company’s Common Stock shall have been suspended by the SEC or NYSE, (ii) trading in securities generally on the NYSE shall have been suspended or limited or minimum prices shall have been established on such exchange, (iii) a banking moratorium shall have been declared either by Federal or New York State authorities, (iv) there shall have occurred a material disruption in commercial banking or securities settlement or clearance services in the United States or (v) there shall have occurred any outbreak or escalation of hostilities, declaration by the United States of a national emergency or war, or other calamity or crisis the effect of which on financial markets is such as to make it, in the sole judgment of the Representatives, impractical or inadvisable to proceed with the offering or delivery of the Securities as contemplated by the Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus.

11. Representations and Indemnities to Survive. The respective agreements, representations, warranties, indemnities and other statements of the Transaction Entities or their officers and of the Underwriters set forth in or made pursuant to this Agreement will remain in full force and effect, regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of any Underwriter or the Transaction Entities or any of the officers, directors, employees, agents, affiliates or controlling persons referred to in Section 8 hereof, and will survive delivery of and payment for the Securities. The provisions of Sections 7 and 8 hereof shall survive the termination or cancellation of this Agreement.

 

32


12. Notices. All communications hereunder will be in writing and effective only on receipt, and, if sent to the Representatives, will be mailed, delivered or telefaxed to J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, 383 Madison Avenue, New York, New York 10179 (fax: (212) 622-8358); Attention Equity Syndicate Desk; Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, 500 West 33rd Street, New York, New York 10001, Attention: Equity Syndicate Department, facsimile number (212) 214-5918); KeyBanc Capital Markets Inc. at 127 Public Square, 7th Floor, Cleveland, Ohio 44114, Attention: Jaryd Banach, Michael Jones, John Salisbury, Nathan Flowers, emails: Jaryd.Banach@key.com; michael.c.jones@key.com; john.salisbury@key.com; nathan.flowers@key.com; phone number 1 (800) 859-1783; BMO Capital Markets Corp. at 151 W. 42nd Street, New York, New York 10036, Attention: Equity Syndicate Department, with a copy to the Legal Department at the same address, facsimile number (212) 702-1205; Truist Securities, Inc. at 3333 Peachtree Road NE, Atlanta, Georgia 30326, Attention: Equity Capital Origination or, if sent to SmartStop Self Storage REIT, Inc., will be mailed, delivered or telefaxed to 10 Terrace Road, Ladera Ranch, California 92694, Attention: Messrs. H. Michael Schwartz, James R. Barry and Nicholas M. Look, facsimile number (949) 429-6606.

13. Successors. This Agreement will inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the parties hereto and their respective successors and the officers, directors, employees, agents and controlling persons referred to in Section 8 hereof, and no other person will have any right or obligation hereunder.

14. Jurisdiction. The Transaction Entities agree that any suit, action or proceeding against the Transaction Entities brought by any Underwriter, the directors, officers, employees, affiliates and agents of any Underwriter, or by any person who controls any Underwriter, arising out of or based upon this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby may be instituted in any State or U.S. federal court in The City of New York and County of New York, and waives any objection which it may now or hereafter have to the laying of venue of any such proceeding, and irrevocably submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of such courts in any suit, action or proceeding. The Transaction Entities hereby appoint Mr. Nicholas M. Look as their authorized agent (the “Authorized Agent”) upon whom process may be served in any suit, action or proceeding arising out of or based upon this Agreement or the transactions contemplated herein that may be instituted in any State or U.S. federal court in The City of New York and County of New York, by any Underwriter, the directors, officers, employees, affiliates and agents of any Underwriter, or by any person who controls any Underwriter, and expressly accepts the non-exclusive jurisdiction of any such court in respect of any such suit, action or proceeding. The Transaction Entities hereby represent and warrant that the Authorized Agent has accepted such appointment and has agreed to act as said agent for service of process, and the Transaction Entities agree to take any and all action, including the filing of any and all documents that may be necessary to continue such appointment in full force and effect as aforesaid. Service of process upon the Authorized Agent shall be deemed, in every respect, effective service of process upon the Transaction Entities. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any action arising out of or based upon this Agreement may be instituted by any Underwriter, the directors, officers, employees, affiliates and agents of any Underwriter, or by any person who controls any Underwriter, in any court of competent jurisdiction in Maryland.

 

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15. Recognition of the U.S. Special Resolution Regimes.

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

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

As used in this Section 15, “BHC Act Affiliate” has the meaning assigned to the term “affiliate” in, and shall be interpreted in accordance with, 12 U.S.C. § 1841(k); “Covered Entity” means any of the following: (i) a “covered entity” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 252.82(b), (ii) a “covered bank” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 47.3(b) or (iii) a “covered FSI” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 382.2(b); “Default Right” has the meaning assigned to that term in, and shall be interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. §§ 252.81, 47.2 or 382.1, as applicable; and “U.S. Special Resolution Regime” means each of (i) the Federal Deposit Insurance Act and the regulations promulgated thereunder and (ii) Title II of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and the regulations promulgated thereunder.

16. No Fiduciary Duty. The Transaction Entities hereby acknowledge that (a) the purchase and sale of the Securities pursuant to this Agreement is an arm’s-length commercial transaction between the Transaction Entities, on the one hand, and the Underwriters and any affiliate through which it may be acting, on the other, (b) the Underwriters are acting as principal and not as an agent or fiduciary of the Transaction Entities and (c) the Transaction Entities’ engagement of the Underwriters in connection with the offering and the process leading up to the offering is as independent contractors and not in any other capacity. Furthermore, the Transaction Entities agree that they are solely responsible for making their own judgments in connection with the offering (irrespective of whether any of the Underwriters has advised or is currently advising the Transaction Entities on related or other matters). The Transaction Entities agree that they will not claim that the Underwriters have rendered advisory services of any nature or respect, or owe an agency, fiduciary or similar duty to the Transaction Entities, in connection with such transaction or the process leading thereto.

17. Integration. This Agreement supersedes all prior agreements and understandings (whether written or oral) between the Transaction Entities and the Underwriters, or any of them, with respect to the subject matter hereof.

 

34


18. Applicable Law. This Agreement and any claim, controversy or dispute arising under or related to this Agreement will be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York applicable to contracts made and to be performed within the State of New York.

19. Waiver of Jury Trial. The Transaction Entities and the Underwriters hereby irrevocably waive, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, any and all right to trial by jury in any legal proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby.

20. Compliance with USA Patriot Act. In accordance with the requirements of the USA Patriot Act (Title III of Pub. L. 107-56 (signed into law October 26, 2001)), the Underwriters are required to obtain, verify and record information that identifies their respective clients, including the Company, which information may include the name and address of their respective clients, as well as other information that will allow the Underwriters to properly identify their respective clients.

21. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but all such counterparts shall together constitute one and the same Agreement. Counterparts may be delivered via facsimile, electronic mail (including any electronic signature covered by the U.S. federal ESIGN Act of 2000, Uniform Electronic Transactions Act, the Electronic Signatures and Records Act or other applicable law, e.g., www.docusign.com) or other transmission method and any counterpart so delivered shall be deemed to have been duly and validly delivered and be valid and effective for all purposes.

22. Headings. The section headings used herein are for convenience only and shall not affect the construction hereof.

 

 

35


If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding of our agreement, please sign and return to us the enclosed duplicate hereof, whereupon this letter and your acceptance shall represent a binding agreement among the Transaction Entities and the several Underwriters.

 

Very truly yours,
SmartStop Self Storage REIT, Inc.
By:  

/s/ H. Michael Schwartz

  Name: H. Michael Schwartz
  Title: Chief Executive Officer
SmartStop OP, L.P.

By: SmartStop Self Storage REIT, Inc.,

its general partner

   By:  

/s/ H. Michael Schwartz

    Name: H. Michael Schwartz
    Title: Chief Executive Officer

[Signature Page to Underwriting Agreement]


The foregoing Agreement is hereby confirmed and accepted as of the date first above written.

J.P. Morgan Securities LLC

Wells Fargo Securities, LLC

KeyBanc Capital Markets Inc.

BMO Capital Markets Corp.

Truist Securities, Inc.

 

By:   J.P. Morgan Securities LLC
By:  

/s/ Samantha Carter

  Name:   Samantha Carter
  Title:   Vice President
By:   Wells Fargo Securities, LLC
By:  

/s/ Rohit Mehta

  Name:   Rohit Mehta
  Title:   Managing Director
By:   KeyBanc Capital Markets Inc.
By:  

/s/ Jaryd Banach

  Name:   Jaryd Banach
  Title:   Managing Director, Head of REGAL ECM
By:   BMO Capital Markets Corp.
By:  

/s/ Eric Benedict

  Name:   Eric Benedict
  Title:   Co-Head, Global Equity Capital Markets
By:   Truist Securities, Inc.
By:  

/s/ West Riggs

  Name:   West Riggs
  Title:   Managing Director

For themselves and the other several

Underwriters named in Schedule I to

the foregoing Agreement.

[Signature Page to Underwriting Agreement]


SCHEDULE I

 

Underwriters

   Number of
Underwritten
Securities

to be Purchased
     Number of
Option
Securities to be
Purchased
 

J.P. Morgan Securities LLC

     5,940,000        891,000  

Wells Fargo Securities, LLC

     5,940,000        891,000  

KeyBanc Capital Markets Inc.

     4,320,000        648,000  

BMO Capital Markets Corp.

     3,780,000        567,000  

Truist Securities, Inc.

     1,890,000        283,500  

Robert W. Baird & Co. Incorporated

     1,080,000        162,000  

Stifel, Nicolaus & Company, Incorporated

     1,080,000        162,000  

National Bank of Canada Financial Inc.

     675,000        101,250  

Raymond James & Associates, Inc.

     675,000        101,250  

Scotia Capital (USA) Inc.

     675,000        101,250  

BTIG, LLC

     405,000        60,750  

M&T Securities, Inc.

     405,000        60,750  

Fifth Third Securities, Inc.

     135,000        20,250  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

     27,000,000        4,050,000  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

I-1


SCHEDULE II

A. Schedule of Free Writing Prospectuses included in the Disclosure Package

Electronic roadshow dated March 24, 2025

Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, dated March 25, 2025

B. Pricing Information Annex

Public offering price per share: $30.00

Number of Underwritten Securities to be sold by the Company: 27,000,000

Number of Option Securities to be sold by the Company: 4,050,000

Underwriting Discounts and Commissions: $1.80 per Security.

 

II-1


SCHEDULE III

Schedule of Written Testing-the-Waters Communication:

Reference is made to the materials used in the testing-the-waters presentations made to potential investors by the Company, to the extent such materials are deemed to be a “written communication” within the meaning of Rule 405 of the Securities Act.


SCHEDULE IV

Officers and Directors

 

1.

H. Michael Schwartz

 

2.

Wayne Johnson

 

3.

Joe Robinson

 

4.

James R. Barry

 

5.

Michael O. Terjung

 

6.

Nicholas M. Look

 

7.

Paula Mathews

 

8.

Timothy S. Morris

 

9.

David J. Mueller

 

10.

Harold “Skip” Perry

Exhibit 3.1

SMARTSTOP SELF STORAGE REIT, INC.

ARTICLES SUPPLEMENTARY

SmartStop Self Storage REIT, Inc., a Maryland corporation (the “Corporation”), hereby certifies to the State Department of Assessments and Taxation of Maryland that:

FIRST: Under a power contained in Section 3-802(c) of the Maryland General Corporation Law (the “MGCL”), the Corporation, by resolution of its Board of Directors (the “Board of Directors”), prohibited the Corporation from electing to be subject to Section 3-803 of the MGCL as provided herein.

SECOND: The resolution referred to above provides that the Corporation is prohibited from electing to be subject to the provisions of Section 3-803 of the MGCL and that the foregoing prohibition may not be repealed unless the repeal of such prohibition is approved by the stockholders of the Corporation by the affirmative vote of at least a majority of the votes cast on the matter by stockholders entitled to vote generally in the election of directors.

THIRD: The election to prohibit the Corporation from becoming subject to Section 3-803 of the MGCL without the stockholder approval referenced above has been approved by the Board of Directors in the manner and by the vote required by law.

FOURTH: The undersigned officer acknowledges these Articles Supplementary to be the corporate act of the Corporation and, as to all matters or facts required to be verified under oath, the undersigned officer 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.

[SIGNATURES APPEAR ON NEXT PAGE]


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Corporation has caused these Articles Supplementary to be signed in its name and on its behalf by its Chief Executive Officer and attested to by its General Counsel and Secretary on this 2nd day of April, 2025.

 

ATTEST:     SMARTSTOP SELF STORAGE REIT, INC.
  /s/ Nicholas M. Look     By:   /s/ H. Michael Schwartz _________ (SEAL)
  Name: Nicholas M. Look       Name: H. Michael Schwartz
  Title: General Counsel and Secretary       Title: Chief Executive Officer

 

2

Exhibit 3.2

SMARTSTOP SELF STORAGE REIT, INC.

SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED BYLAWS

ARTICLE I

OFFICES

Section 1. PRINCIPAL OFFICE. The principal office of SmartStop Self Storage REIT, Inc. (the “Corporation”) in the State of Maryland shall be located at such place as the Board of Directors may designate from time to time.

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 is authorized to determine that a meeting 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 the stockholders for the election of directors and the transaction of any business within the powers of the Corporation shall be held on a date and at the time and place set by the Board of Directors. The purpose of each annual meeting of the stockholders shall be to elect directors of the Corporation and to transact such other business as may properly come before the meeting.

Section 3. SPECIAL MEETINGS.

(a) General. Each of the chairman of the Board of Directors, the chief executive officer, the president and the 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, the chief executive officer, the president or the 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 special meeting of stockholders upon the written request of stockholders entitled to cast not less than a majority of all votes entitled to be cast on such matter at such meeting.

(b) Stockholder-Requested Special Meetings.

(1) Any stockholder of record seeking to have stockholders request a special meeting shall, by sending written notice in proper form to the secretary of the Corporation (the “Record Date Request Notice”) at the principal executive office of the Corporation by registered mail, return receipt requested, request the Board of Directors to fix a record date to determine the stockholders entitled to request a special meeting (the “Request Record Date”). To be in proper form, the Record Date Request Notice shall (A) set forth the purpose of the meeting and the matters proposed to be acted on at it, (B) be signed by one or more stockholders of record as of the date of signature (or his, her or their agent or agents duly authorized in a writing accompanying the Record Date Request Notice), (C) bear the date of signature of each such stockholder (or such agent) and (D) set forth all information relating to each such stockholder and each matter proposed to be acted on at the special meeting that would be required to be disclosed 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 Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the


rules and regulations promulgated thereunder (the “Exchange Act”). Upon receiving the Record Date Request Notice, the Board of Directors may fix a Request Record Date. The Request Record Date shall not precede and shall not be more than 10 days after the close of business on the date on which the resolution fixing the Request Record Date is adopted by the Board of Directors. If the Board of Directors, within 10 days after the date on which a valid Record Date Request Notice is received, fails to adopt a resolution fixing the Request Record Date, the Request Record Date shall be the close of business on the 10th day after the first date on which such Record Date Request Notice is received by the secretary.

(2) In order for a stockholder to request a special meeting to act on any matter that may properly be considered at a meeting of stockholders (a “Stockholder Requested Special Meeting”), one or more written requests for a special meeting (collectively, the “Special Meeting Request”) in proper form and signed by stockholders of record (or their agents duly authorized in a writing accompanying the request) as of the Request Record Date entitled to cast not less than a majority of all of the votes entitled to be cast on such matter at such meeting (the “Special Meeting Percentage”) shall be delivered to the secretary at the principal executive office of the Corporation. To be in proper form, 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), including the text of the proposal or business (including the text of any resolutions proposed for consideration), (B) bear the date of signature of each such stockholder (or such agent) signing the Special Meeting Request, (C) set forth (i) the name and address, as they appear in the Corporation’s books, of each stockholder signing such request (or on whose behalf the Special Meeting Request is signed), (ii) the class, series and number of all shares of stock of the Corporation which are owned (beneficially or of record) by each such stockholder, (iii) the nominee holder for, and number of, shares of stock of the Corporation owned beneficially but not of record by such stockholder, (D) be sent to the secretary by registered mail, return receipt requested, and (E) be received by the secretary within 60 days after the Request Record Date. Any requesting stockholder (or agent duly authorized in writing accompanying the revocation of the Special Meeting Request) may revoke his, her or its request for a special meeting at any time by written revocation delivered to the secretary.

(3) The secretary shall inform the requesting stockholders of the reasonably estimated cost of preparing and mailing or delivering the notice of the special meeting (including the Corporation’s proxy materials). The secretary shall not be required to call a special meeting upon stockholder request and such meeting shall not be held unless, in addition to the documents required by paragraph (b)(2) of this Section 3, the secretary receives payment of such reasonably estimated cost prior to the preparation and mailing or delivery of such notice of the meeting.

(4) In the case of any special meeting called by the secretary upon the request of stockholders (a “Stockholder-Requested Meeting”), such 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 record date for such meeting (the “Meeting Record Date”); and provided further that if the Board of Directors fails to designate, within 10 days after the date that a valid Special Meeting Request is actually received by the secretary (the “Delivery 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 (as defined below), on the first preceding Business Day; and provided further that in the event that the Board of Directors fails to designate a place for a Stockholder-Requested Meeting within 10 days after the Delivery Date, then such meeting shall be held at the principal executive office of the Corporation. 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. In the case of any Stockholder-Requested Meeting, if the Board of Directors fails to fix a Meeting Record Date that is a date within 30 days after the Delivery Date, then the close of business on the 30th day after the Delivery Date shall be the Meeting Record Date. The Board of Directors may revoke the notice for any Stockholder-Requested Meeting in the event that the requesting stockholders fail to comply with the provisions of paragraph (3) of this Section 3(b). Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in these bylaws, the Board of Directors may submit its own proposal or proposals for consideration at any such special meeting.


(5) If written revocations of the Special Meeting Request have been delivered to the secretary and the result is that stockholders of record (or their agents duly authorized in writing), as of the Request Record Date, entitled to cast less than the Special Meeting Percentage have delivered, and not revoked, requests for a special meeting on the matter to the secretary: (A) if the notice of meeting has not already been sent to the stockholders of the Corporation, the secretary shall refrain from sending the notice of the meeting and shall send to all requesting stockholders who have not revoked such requests written notice of any revocation of a request for a special meeting on the matter, or (B) if the notice of meeting has been sent to the stockholders of the Corporation, and if the secretary first sends to all requesting stockholders who have not revoked requests for a special meeting on the matter written notice of any revocation of a request for the special meeting and written notice of the Corporation’s intention to revoke the notice of and to cancel the meeting or for the chairman of the meeting to adjourn the meeting without acting on the matter, (i) the secretary may revoke the notice of and cancel the meeting at any time before 10 days before the commencement of the meeting or (ii) the chairman of the meeting may call the meeting to order and adjourn the meeting without acting on the matter. Any request for a special meeting received after a revocation by the secretary of a notice of a meeting shall be considered a request for a new special meeting.

(6) The chairman of the Board of Directors, the chief executive officer, the president or the Board of Directors may appoint independent inspectors of elections to act as the agent of the Corporation for the purpose of promptly performing a ministerial review of the validity of any purported Special Meeting Request received by the secretary. For the purpose of permitting the inspectors to perform such review, no such purported Special Meeting Request shall be deemed to have been received by the secretary until the earlier of (A) five Business Days after actual receipt by the secretary of such purported request and (B) such date as the independent inspectors certify to the Corporation that the valid requests received by the secretary represent, as of the Request Record Date, stockholders of record entitled to cast not less than the Special Meeting Percentage. Nothing contained in this paragraph (6) shall in any way be construed to suggest or imply that the Corporation or any stockholder shall not be entitled to contest the validity of any request, whether during or after such five Business Day period, or to take any other action (including, without limitation, the commencement, prosecution or defense of any litigation with respect thereto, and the seeking of injunctive relief in such litigation).

(7) The secretary shall not accept, and the secretary and the Corporation shall consider ineffective, any request from any stockholder to hold a special meeting or to establish a Request Record Date or Meeting Record Date that (A) does not comply with this Section 3(b) or (B) proposes or includes an item of business to be transacted at such special meeting that is not a proper subject for stockholder action under the charter of the Corporation (the “Charter”), these Bylaws or applicable law.

(8) 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 or the State of Maryland 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 written or printed notice stating the time and place of the meeting and, in the case of a special meeting or as otherwise may be required by the Maryland General Corporation Law (the “MGCL”), the purpose for which the meeting is called. Notice shall be deemed delivered to a stockholder upon (i) presenting it to such stockholder personally, (ii) leaving it at the stockholder’s residence or usual place of business, (iii) mailing it to the stockholder, (iv) transmitting it to the stockholder by electronic mail to any electronic mail address of the stockholder or by any other electronic means, or (v) 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. 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 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.


Subject to Section 12(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 the MGCL 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 12(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 ten days prior to such date and otherwise as set forth in this section.

Section 5. ORGANIZATION AND CONDUCT. Every meeting of stockholders shall be conducted by an individual appointed by the Board of Directors to be chairman of the meeting or, in the absence of such appointment or appointed individual, by the chairman of the Board of Directors or, in the case of a vacancy in the office or absence of the chairman of the Board of Directors, by one of the following officers present at the meeting: the vice chairman of the Board of Directors, if there be one; the president; the vice presidents in their order of rank and seniority; 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 secretary’s absence, an assistant secretary, or in the absence of both the secretary and assistant secretaries, a person appointed by the Board of Directors or, in the absence of such appointment, a person appointed by the chairman of the meeting shall act as secretary. In the event that the secretary presides at a meeting of the stockholders, an assistant secretary, or in the absence of assistant secretaries, an individual appointed by the Board of Directors or the chairman of the meeting, shall record the minutes of the meeting. The order of business and all other matters of procedure at any meeting of 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 such chairman, are appropriate for the proper conduct of the meeting, including, without limitation: (a) restricting admission to the time set for the commencement of the meeting; (b) limiting attendance at the meeting to stockholders of record of the Corporation, their duly authorized proxies and other such individuals as the chairman of the meeting may determine; (c) limiting participation at the meeting on any matter to stockholders of record of the Corporation entitled to vote on such matter, their duly authorized proxies and other such individuals as the chairman of the meeting may determine; (d) limiting the time allotted to questions or comments by participants; (e) determining when the polls should be opened and closed; (f) maintaining order and security at the meeting; (g) 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; (h) concluding a meeting or recessing or adjourning the meeting, whether or not a quorum is present, to a later date and time and at a place either (i) announced at the meeting or (ii) provided at a future time through means announced at the meeting; and (i) complying with any state and local laws and regulations concerning safety and security. Unless otherwise determined by the chairman of the meeting, meetings of stockholders shall not be required to be held in accordance with the rules of parliamentary procedure.

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; but this section shall not affect any requirement under any statute, the Charter or these Bylaws for the vote necessary for the adoption of any measure. If, however, such quorum shall not be present at any meeting of the stockholders, the chairman of the meeting shall have the power to adjourn the meeting from time to time to a date not more than 120 days after the original record date without notice other than announcement at the meeting. At such adjourned meeting at which a quorum shall be present, any business may be transacted which might have been transacted at the meeting as originally notified. The date, time and place of the meeting, as reconvened, shall be either (a) announced at the meeting or (b) provided at a future time through means announced at the meeting.

The stockholders present either in person or by proxy, at a meeting which has been duly called and convened, may continue to transact business until adjournment, notwithstanding the withdrawal of enough stockholders to leave less than 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. However, directors 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 the requirements of advance notice of stockholder nominees for director set forth in Article II, Section 12 of these Bylaws, and (b) such nomination has not been withdrawn by such stockholder on or before the close of business 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. Each share may be voted for as many individuals as there are directors to be elected and for whose election the share is entitled to be voted. 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 a meeting duly called and at which a quorum is present, unless more than a majority of the votes cast is required by the MGCL, the Charter or these Bylaws. Unless otherwise provided by statute or by the Charter, each outstanding share, regardless of class, shall be entitled to 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 secretary of the Corporation before or at the meeting. No proxy shall be valid more than 11 months after its date unless otherwise provided in the proxy.

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 other fiduciary may vote stock registered in his or her name as such trustee or fiduciary, 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 or closing of the stock transfer books, the time after the record date or closing of the stock transfer books 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. On receipt of such certification, the person specified in the certification shall be regarded as, for the purposes set forth in the certification, the stockholder 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 to the inspector. Except as otherwise provided by the chairman of the meeting, the inspectors, if any, shall (i) determine the number of shares of stock represented at the meeting, in person or by proxy, and the validity and effect of proxies, (ii) receive and tabulate all votes, ballots or consents, (iii) report such tabulation to the chairman of the meeting, (iv) hear and determine all challenges and questions arising in connection with the right to vote, and (v) do such acts as are proper to conduct the


election or vote with fairness to all stockholders. Each such report shall be in writing and signed by the inspector or by a majority of them if there is more than one inspector acting at such meeting. If there is more than one inspector, the report of a majority shall be the report of the inspectors. The report of the inspector or inspectors on the number of shares represented at the meeting and the results of the voting shall be prima facie evidence thereof.

Section 11. VOTING BY BALLOT. Voting on any question or in any election may be viva voce unless the chairman of the meeting shall order that voting be by ballot.

Section 12. NOMINATIONS AND STOCKHOLDER BUSINESS.

(a) Annual Meetings of Stockholders.

(1) Nominations of persons for election to the Board of Directors and the proposal of business to be considered by the stockholders may be made at an annual meeting of stockholders (A) pursuant to the Corporation’s notice of such meeting, (B) by or at the direction of the Board of Directors, or (C) by any stockholder of the Corporation who (i) 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 provided for in this Section 12(a) and at the time of the annual meeting in question (and any postponement or adjournment thereof), (ii) is entitled to vote at such meeting in the election of each person so nominated or on any such other business, and (iii) has complied with the notice procedures set forth in this Section 12(a). Clause (C) of the immediately preceding sentence shall be the sole and exclusive means for a stockholder to make nominations or other business proposals before an annual meeting of stockholders (other than matters properly brought under, and to the extent required by, Rule 14a-8 under the Exchange Act and included in the Corporation’s notice of meeting).

(2) For nominations or other business to be properly brought at an annual meeting by a stockholder pursuant to this paragraph (a)(2) or paragraph (a)(1) of this Section 12, the stockholder must give 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 12 and shall be delivered to the secretary at the principal executive office of the Corporation not earlier than the 150th day nor later than 5:00 p.m., local time, on the 120th day prior to the first anniversary of the date of mailing of the notice for the preceding year’s annual meeting; provided, however, that in the event that the date of mailing of the notice for the annual meeting is advanced or delayed by more than 30 days from the first anniversary of the date of mailing of the notice for the preceding year’s annual meeting, notice by the stockholder to be timely must be so delivered not earlier than the 150th day prior to the date of mailing of the notice for such annual meeting and not later than 5:00 p.m., local time, on the later of the 120th day prior to the date of mailing of the notice for such annual meeting or the 10th day following the day on which disclosure of the date of mailing of the notice for such meeting is first made. 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.

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

(A) as to each person 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 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 under the Exchange Act;

(B) as to any other business that the stockholder proposes to bring before the meeting, (A) a description of such business (including the text of any proposal), 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 and (B) any other information relating to such item of business that would be required to be disclosed in a proxy statement or other filing 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) under the Exchange Act;


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

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

(ii) 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;

(iii) 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 last six months has engaged in any hedging, derivative or other transaction or series of transactions or entered into any other agreement, arrangement or understanding (including any short interest, any borrowing or lending of securities or any proxy or voting agreement), the effect or intent of which is to (a) manage risk or benefit from changes in the price of Company Securities or (b) 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

(iv) 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, 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;

(D) as to the stockholder giving the notice, any Stockholder Associated Person with an interest or ownership referred to in clauses (a)(3)(B) or (a)(3)(C) of this Section 12 and any Proposed Nominee,

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

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

(E) 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 or other business proposal;

(F) to the extent known by the stockholder giving the notice, the name and address of any other person financially supporting the Proposed Nominee or the proposal of other business;


(G) if the stockholder is proposing one or more Proposed Nominees, the information required to be included in a notice to the Corporation required by paragraph (b) of Rule 14a-19 promulgated under the Exchange Act, including a representation that such stockholder intends to solicit the holders of shares of stock of the Corporation representing at least 67% of the voting power of shares of stock entitled to vote on the election of directors in support of director nominees other than the Corporation’s nominees; and

(H) 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.

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

(A) a written representation executed by the Proposed Nominee:

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

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

(iii) 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 and the rules thereunder, 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

(B) a written representation executed by the stockholder that such stockholder will:

(i) 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;

(ii) 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;

(iii) 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 satisfied or of evaluating any nomination or other business described in the stockholder’s notice; and


(iv) appear in person or by proxy at the meeting to present each Proposed Nominee or to bring such business before the meeting, as applicable, and acknowledges that, if the stockholder does not so appear in person or by proxy at the meeting to present each Proposed Nominee 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 Proposed Nominee or any proposal related to such other business need not be counted or considered.

(5) Notwithstanding anything in this subsection (a) of this Section 12 to the contrary, in the event that the number of directors to be elected to the Board of Directors is increased and there is no public announcement naming all of the nominees for directors or specifying the size of the increased Board of Directors made by the Corporation at least 130 days prior to the first anniversary of the mailing of the notice for the preceding year’s annual meeting, a stockholder’s notice required by this Section 12 shall also be considered timely, but only with respect to nominees for any new positions created by such increase, if it shall be delivered to the secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation no later than 5:00 p.m., local time, on the 10th day following the day on which such public announcement is first made by the Corporation.

(6) For purposes of this Section 12, “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 any solicitation of proxies, (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.

(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. Nominations of persons for election to the Board of Directors may be made at a special meeting of stockholders at which directors are to be elected only (i) by or at the direction of the Board of Directors, or (ii) provided that the special meeting has been called in accordance with Section 3(b) 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 notice provided for in this Section 12 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 12. Section 3 above shall be the exclusive means for a stockholder to propose business to be brought before a special meeting of the stockholders. 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 the Corporation’s notice of meeting, if the stockholder’s notice, containing the information and representations required by Section 12(a)(3) and (4) 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. local time, on the later of the 90th day prior to such special meeting or 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. 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 12 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 may be deemed not to have been provided in accordance with this Section 12. Any such stockholder shall (A) 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 and (B) promptly update and supplement the information or representation previously provided to the Corporation pursuant to this


Section 12, if necessary so that the information or representation provided or required to be provided shall be true and correct as of the record date for the meeting and as of the date that is 10 Business Days prior to the meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof, and such update and supplement shall be delivered to the secretary at the principal executive office of the Corporation. Upon written request by the secretary or the Board of Directors, any 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, satisfactory, in the discretion of 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 12, (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) under the Exchange Act) submitted by the stockholder pursuant to this Section 12 as of an earlier date, (iii) an updated representation by each Proposed Nominee that such individual will serve as a director of the Corporation if elected and (iv) any other information requested by the Corporation as may reasonably be required to determine the eligibility of any Proposed Nominee to serve as an independent director of the Corporation or that would be material to a reasonable stockholder’s understanding of the independence, or lack thereof, of such Proposed Nominee. 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 may be deemed not to have been provided in accordance with this Section 12.

(2) Only such persons who are nominated in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Section 12 shall be eligible to serve 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 the procedures set forth in this Section 12, except as required pursuant to Rule 14a-8 under the Exchange Act or such similar rule promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) that governs the inclusion of stockholder proposals in proxy materials or consideration at a stockholders’ meeting. A stockholder proposing a Proposed Nominee shall have no right to (A) nominate a number of Proposed Nominees that exceeds the number of directors to be elected at the meeting or (B) substitute or replace any Proposed Nominee unless such substitute or replacement is nominated in accordance with this Section 12 (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 12). 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 12 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 presiding officer of the meeting shall have the power and duty to determine whether a nomination or any business proposed to be brought before the meeting was made in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Section 12, and, if any proposed nomination or business is not in compliance with this Section 12, to declare that such defective nomination or proposal, if any, be disregarded.

(3) Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 12, the Corporation shall disregard any proxy authority granted in favor of, or votes for, director nominees other than the Corporation’s nominees 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 (A) comply with Rule 14a-19 promulgated under the Exchange Act, including any failure by the Soliciting Stockholder to (i) provide the Corporation with any notices required thereunder in a timely manner or (ii) comply with the requirements of Rule 14a-19(a)(2) and Rule 14a-19(a)(3) promulgated under the Exchange Act, or (B) timely provide evidence in accordance with the following sentence that is sufficient, in the discretion of the Board of Directors, to demonstrate that such Soliciting Stockholder has met the requirements of Rule 14a-19(a)(3) promulgated under the Exchange Act. Upon request by the Corporation, such Soliciting Stockholder shall deliver to the Corporation, no later than five Business Days prior to the applicable meeting of stockholders, evidence that is sufficient, in the discretion of the Board of Directors, to demonstrate that such Soliciting Stockholder has met the requirements of Rule 14a-19(a)(3) promulgated under the Exchange Act.


(4) For purposes of this Section 12, (i) the “date of mailing of the notice” shall mean the date of the proxy statement for the solicitation of proxies for election of directors and (ii) “public announcement” shall mean disclosure in a press release reported by the Dow Jones News Service, Associated Press or comparable news service or in a document publicly filed by the Corporation with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Sections 13, 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act.

(5) Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 12, a stockholder shall also comply with all applicable requirements of state law and the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder with respect to the matters set forth in this Section 12. Nothing in this Section 12 shall be deemed to affect any rights of stockholders to request inclusion of proposals in, or the right of the Corporation to omit a proposal from, the Corporation’s proxy statement pursuant to Rule 14a-8 (or any successor provision) under the Exchange Act. Nothing in this Section 12 shall require disclosure of revocable proxies received by, 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 an effective Schedule 14A by such stockholder or Stockholder Associated Person under Section 14(a) of the Exchange Act.

(6) 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 12 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.

Section 13. EXEMPTION FROM CONTROL SHARE ACQUISITION STATUTE. Notwithstanding any other provision of the Charter, these Bylaws or any contrary provision of law, Title 3, Subtitle 7 of the MGCL, as amended from time to time, or any successor statute thereto, shall not apply to any acquisition by any person of shares of the Corporation. This Section may be repealed, in whole or in part, at any time, whether before or after an acquisition of control shares and, upon such repeal, may, to the extent provided by any successor bylaw, apply to any prior or subsequent control share acquisition.

ARTICLE III

DIRECTORS

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

Section 2. NUMBER, TENURE AND QUALIFICATIONS. At any regular meeting or at any special meeting called for that purpose, 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.

Section 3. ANNUAL AND REGULAR MEETINGS. An annual meeting of the Board of Directors shall be held immediately after and at the same place as the annual meeting of stockholders, no notice other than this Bylaw being necessary. In the event such meeting is not so held, the meeting may be held at such time and place as shall be specified in a notice given as hereinafter provided for special meetings of the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors may provide, by resolution, the time and place for the holding of regular meetings of the Board of Directors, either within or without the State of Maryland, 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 by a majority of the directors then in office. The person or persons authorized to call special meetings of the Board of Directors may fix any place as the place for holding any special meeting of the Board of Directors called by them. The Board of Directors may provide, by resolution, the time and place for the holding 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, United States mail or courier to each director at his or her business or residence address. Notice by personal delivery, telephone, electronic mail or facsimile transmission shall be given at least 24 hours prior to the meeting. Notice by United States mail shall be given at least three days prior to the meeting. Notice 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 his or her agent is personally given such notice in a telephone call to which the director or his or her agent is a party. Electronic mail notice shall be deemed to be given upon transmission of the message to the electronic mail address given to the 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 transaction of business at any meeting of the Board of Directors, provided that, if less than a majority of such directors are present at said 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 of a particular group of directors is required for action, a quorum must also include a majority of such group.

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

Section 7. VOTING. The action of the 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 less than 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 vice chairman of the Board of Directors, if any, shall act as chairman of the meeting. In the absence of both the chairman and vice chairman of the Board of Directors, the chief executive officer or in the absence of the chief executive officer, 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 his or her absence, an assistant secretary of the Corporation, or in the absence of the secretary and all assistant secretaries, a person appointed by the Chairman, shall act as secretary of the meeting.

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

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. VACANCIES. 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 (even if fewer than three directors remain). Except as may be provided by the Board of Directors in setting the terms of any class or series of preferred stock, any vacancy on the Board of Directors may be filled only by a majority of the remaining directors, even if the remaining directors do not constitute a quorum. Any director elected to fill a vacancy shall serve for the remainder of the full term of the class in which the vacancy occurred and until a successor is elected and qualifies.


Section 12. COMPENSATION. Directors, by resolution of the Board of Directors, may receive compensation per year or per month, fixed sums 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 performed or engaged 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.

Section 13. LOSS OF DEPOSITS. No director shall be liable for any loss which may occur by reason of the failure of the bank, trust company, savings and loan association, or other institution with whom moneys or stock have been deposited.

Section 14. SURETY BONDS. Unless required by law, no director shall be obligated to give any bond or surety or other security for the performance of any of his or her duties.

Section 15. RELIANCE. Each director, officer, employee and agent of the Corporation shall, in the performance of his or her duties with respect to the Corporation, be fully justified and protected with regard to any act or failure to act in reliance in good faith upon the books of account or other records of the Corporation, upon an opinion of counsel or upon reports made to the Corporation by any of its officers or employees or by the adviser, accountants, appraisers or other experts or consultants selected by the Board of Directors or officers of the Corporation, regardless of whether such counsel or expert may also be a director.

Section 16. CERTAIN RIGHTS OF DIRECTORS, OFFICERS, EMPLOYEES AND AGENTS. The directors shall have no responsibility to devote their full time to the affairs of the Corporation. Any director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation, in his or her personal capacity or in a capacity as an affiliate, employee, or agent of any other person, or otherwise, may have business interests and engage in business activities similar to, in addition to or in competition with those of or relating to the Corporation, subject to any restrictions set forth in the Charter.

Section 17. RATIFICATION. The Board of Directors or the stockholders may ratify and make binding on the Corporation any action or inaction by the Corporation or its officers to the extent that the Board of Directors or the stockholders could have originally authorized the matter. Moreover, any action or inaction questioned in any stockholders’ derivative proceeding or any other 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 stockholder, and if so ratified, shall have the same force and effect as if the questioned action or inaction had been originally duly authorized, and such ratification shall be binding upon the Corporation and its stockholders and shall constitute a bar to any claim or execution of any judgment in respect of such questioned action or inaction.

Section 18. EMERGENCY PROVISIONS. Notwithstanding any other provision in the Charter or these Bylaws, this Section 18 shall apply during the existence of any catastrophe, or other similar emergency condition, as a result of which a quorum of the Board of Directors under Article III of these Bylaws cannot readily be obtained (an “Emergency”). During any Emergency, unless otherwise provided by the Board of Directors, (a) a meeting of the Board of Directors or a committee thereof may be called by any director or officer by any means feasible under the circumstances; (b) notice of any meeting of the Board of Directors during such an Emergency may be given less than 24 hours prior to the meeting to as many directors and by such means as may be feasible at the time, including publication, television or radio; and (c) the number of directors necessary to constitute a quorum shall be one-third of the entire Board of Directors.


ARTICLE IV

COMMITTEES

Section 1. NUMBER, TENURE AND QUALIFICATIONS. The Board of Directors may designate an Audit Committee, a Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee and a Compensation Committee, and any other committee it deems appropriate and in the best interest of the Corporation. Each committee shall be composed of one or more directors, to serve at the pleasure of the Board of Directors.

Section 2. POWERS. To the extent permitted by law, the Board of Directors may delegate to committees appointed under Article IV, Section 1 any of the powers of the Board of Directors.

Section 3. MEETINGS. Notice of committee meetings shall be given in the same manner as notice for special or regular meetings of the Board of Directors, as applicable. A majority of the members of the committee shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at any meeting of the committee. The act of a majority of the committee members present at a meeting shall be the act of such committee. The Board of Directors may designate a chairman of any committee, and such chairman or, in the absence of a chairman, any two members of any committee (if there are at least two members of the committee) may fix the time and place of its meeting unless the Board shall otherwise provide. In the absence of any member of any such committee, the members thereof present at any meeting, whether or not they constitute a quorum, may appoint another director to act in the place of such absent member. Each committee shall keep minutes of its proceedings.

Section 4. MEETINGS BY REMOTE COMMUNICATION. Members of a committee of the Board of Directors may participate in a meeting by means of a conference telephone or other communications equipment if all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other at the same time. Participation in a meeting by these means shall constitute presence in person at the meeting.

Section 5. CONSENT BY COMMITTEES WITHOUT A MEETING. Any action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting of a committee of the Board of Directors may be taken without a meeting, if a consent in writing or by electronic transmission to such action is given by each member of the committee and is filed with the minutes of proceedings of such committee.

Section 6. VACANCIES. Subject to the provisions hereof, the Board of Directors shall have the power at any time to change the membership of any committee, to fill all vacancies, to designate alternate members to replace any absent or disqualified member or to dissolve any such committee.

ARTICLE V

OFFICERS

Section 1. GENERAL PROVISIONS. The officers of the Corporation shall include a president, a secretary and a treasurer and may include a chairman of the Board of Directors, a vice chairman of the Board of Directors, an executive chairman, a chief executive officer, one or more vice presidents, a chief operating officer, a chief financial officer, one or more assistant secretaries and one or more assistant treasurers. In addition, the Board of Directors may from time to time elect such other officers with such powers and duties as they shall deem necessary or desirable. The officers of the Corporation shall be elected annually by the Board of Directors, except that the executive chairman, the chief executive officer or the president may from time to time appoint one or more vice presidents, assistant secretaries and assistant treasurers or other officers. If an election of officers shall not be held at such meeting, such election shall be held as soon thereafter as may be convenient.

Each officer shall hold office until his or her successor is elected and qualifies or until his or her death, or his or her resignation or removal in the manner hereinafter provided. In its discretion, the Board of Directors may leave unfilled any office except that of president, treasurer and secretary. Any two or more offices except president and vice president may be held by the same person. Election of an officer or agent shall not of itself create contract rights between the Corporation and such officer or agent.


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

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

Section 4. CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER. The Board of Directors may designate a chief executive officer. In the absence of such designation, the chairman of the Board of Directors shall be the chief executive officer of the Corporation. The chief executive officer shall have general responsibility for implementation of the policies of the Corporation, as determined by the Board of Directors, and for the management of the business and affairs of the Corporation. He or she may execute any deed, mortgage, bond, contract or other instrument, except in cases where the execution thereof shall be expressly delegated by the Board of Directors or by these Bylaws to some other officer or agent of the Corporation or shall be required by law to be otherwise executed; and in general shall perform all duties incident to the office of chief executive officer and such other duties as may be prescribed by the Board of Directors from time to time.

Section 5. CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER. The Board of Directors may designate a chief operating officer. The chief operating officer shall have the responsibilities and duties as set forth by the Board of Directors, the executive chairman or the chief executive officer.

Section 6. CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER. The Board of Directors may designate a chief financial officer. The chief financial officer shall have the responsibilities and duties as set forth by the Board of Directors, the executive chairman or the chief executive officer.

Section 7. CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS. The Board of Directors may designate from among its members a chairman of the Board of Directors, who shall not, solely by reason of these Bylaws, be an officer of the Corporation. The chairman of the Board of Directors shall preside over the meetings of the Board of Directors. The chairman of the Board of Directors shall perform such other duties as may be assigned to him or her by the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors may designate the chairman of the Board of Directors as an executive chairman with such additional duties as may be assigned to him or her by the Board of Directors.

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

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


Section 10. SECRETARY. The secretary shall (a) keep the minutes of the proceedings of the stockholders, the Board of Directors and committees of the Board of Directors in one or more books provided for that purpose, (b) see that all notices are duly given in accordance with the provisions of these Bylaws or as required by law, (c) be custodian of the corporate records and of the seal of the Corporation, (d) keep a register of the post office address of each stockholder which shall be furnished to the secretary by such stockholder, (e) have general charge of the stock transfer books of the Corporation, and (f) in general perform such other duties as from time to time may be assigned to him by the executive chairman, the chief executive officer, the president or the Board of Directors.

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

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

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

Section 13. SALARIES. The salaries and other compensation of the officers shall be fixed from time to time by the Board of Directors and no officer shall be prevented from receiving such salary or other compensation by reason of the fact that he is also a director.

ARTICLE VI

CONTRACTS, LOANS, CHECKS AND DEPOSITS

Section 1. CONTRACTS. The Board of Directors or a committee of the Board of Directors within the scope of its delegated authority may authorize any officer or agent to enter into any contract or to execute and deliver any instrument in the name of and on behalf of the Corporation and such authority may be general or confined to specific instances. Any agreement, deed, mortgage, lease or other document shall be valid and binding upon the Corporation when duly authorized or ratified by action of the Board of Directors or such committee and executed by an authorized person.

Section 2. CHECKS AND DRAFTS. All checks, drafts or other orders for the payment of money, notes or other evidences of indebtedness issued in the name of the Corporation shall be signed by such officer or agent of the Corporation in such manner as shall from time to time be determined by the Board of Directors.

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


ARTICLE VII

STOCK

Section 1. CERTIFICATES; REQUIRED INFORMATION. In the event that the Corporation issues shares of stock represented by certificates, such certificates shall be signed by the officers of the Corporation in the manner permitted by the MGCL and contain the statements and information required by the MGCL. In the event that the Corporation issues shares of stock without certificates, the Corporation shall provide to holders of such shares a written statement of the information required by the MGCL to be included on stock certificates. There shall be no differences in the rights and obligations of stockholders based on whether or not their shares are represented by certificates.

Section 2. TRANSFERS. All transfers of shares shall be made on the books of the Corporation, by the holder of the shares, in person or by his or her attorney, in such manner as the Board of Directors or any officer of the Corporation may prescribe and, if such shares are certificated, upon surrender of certificates duly endorsed. The issuance of a new certificate upon the transfer of certificated shares is subject to the determination of the Board of Directors that such shares shall no longer be represented by certificates. Upon the transfer of any uncertificated shares, 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 share certificates.

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

Notwithstanding the foregoing, transfers of shares of any class of stock will be subject in all respects to the Charter and all of the terms and conditions contained therein.

Section 3. REPLACEMENT CERTIFICATE. Any officer of the Corporation may direct a new certificate or certificates theretofore issued by the Corporation alleged to have been lost, destroyed, stolen or mutilated, upon the making of an affidavit of that fact by the person claiming the certificate to be lost, destroyed, stolen or mutilated; provided, however, if such shares have ceased to be certificated, no new certificate shall be issued unless requested in writing by such stockholder and the Board of Directors has determined that such certificates may be issued. Unless otherwise determined by an officer of the Corporation, the owner of such lost, destroyed, stolen or mutilated certificate or certificates, or his or her legal representative, shall be required, as a condition precedent to the issuance of a new certificate or certificates, to give the Corporation a bond in such sums as it may direct as indemnity against any claim that may be made against the Corporation.

Section 4. CLOSING OF TRANSFER BOOKS OR FIXING OF 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. Such date, in any case, shall not be prior to the close of business on the day the record date is fixed and shall be not more than 90 days and, in the case of a meeting of stockholders, not less than 10 days, before the date on which the meeting or particular action requiring such determination of stockholders of record is to be held or taken.

In lieu of fixing a record date, the Board of Directors may provide that the stock transfer books shall be closed for a stated period but not longer than 20 days. If the stock transfer books are closed for the purpose of determining stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of stockholders, such books shall be closed for at least 10 days before the date of such meeting.

If no record date is fixed and the stock transfer books are not closed for the determination of stockholders, (a) the record date for the determination of stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of stockholders shall be at the close of business on the day on which the notice of meeting is mailed or the 30th day before the meeting, whichever is the closer date to the meeting, and (b) the record date for the determination of stockholders entitled to receive payment of a dividend or an allotment of any other rights shall be the close of business on the day on which the resolution of the directors, declaring the dividend or allotment of rights, is adopted, provided that the payment or allotment may not be made more than 60 days after the date on which such resolution is adopted.


When a determination of stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at any meeting of stockholders has been made as provided in this section, such determination shall apply to any adjournment or postponement thereof, except when (i) the determination has been made through the closing of the transfer books and the stated period of closing has expired, or (ii) the meeting is adjourned or postponed to a date more than 120 days after the record date fixed for the original meeting, in either case a new record date shall be determined as set forth herein.

Section 5. 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 share ledger containing the name and address of each stockholder and the number of shares of each class held by such stockholder.

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

ARTICLE VIII

ACCOUNTING 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 IX

DISTRIBUTIONS

Section 1. AUTHORIZATION. Dividends and other distributions upon the stock of the Corporation may be authorized by the Board of Directors, subject to the provisions of law and the Charter. Dividends and other distributions may be paid in cash, property or stock of the Corporation, subject to the provisions of law and the Charter.

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

ARTICLE X

INVESTMENT POLICY

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

ARTICLE XI

SEAL

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


Section 2. AFFIXING SEAL. 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.

ARTICLE XII

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 is not lawfully called or convened.

ARTICLE XIII

AMENDMENT OF BYLAWS

The Board of Directors shall have the power to adopt, alter, amend or repeal any provision of these Bylaws and to make new Bylaws. In addition, pursuant to a binding proposal submitted for approval of the stockholders at a duly called annual meeting or special meeting of stockholders by a stockholder that (a) delivers to the secretary a timely notice of such proposal that (i) satisfies the notice procedures and all other relevant provisions of Section 12 and, with respect to a special meeting, Section 3 of Article II of these Bylaws and (ii) is otherwise permitted by applicable law and (b) satisfies the ownership and other eligibility requirements Rule 14a-8 under the Exchange Act for the periods and as of the dates specified therein, the stockholders shall have the power, by the affirmative vote of a majority of all votes entitled to be cast on the matter, to adopt, alter, amend or repeal any provision of these Bylaws and to make new Bylaws, except that the stockholders shall not have the power to alter, amend or repeal this Article XIII or adopt any provision of these Bylaws inconsistent with this Article XIII without the approval of the Board of Directors.

ARTICLE XIV

EXCLUSIVE FORUM FOR CERTAIN LITIGATION

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 arising under federal securities laws, including, without limitation, (i) any derivative action or proceeding brought on behalf of the Corporation, (ii) any action asserting a claim of 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 action asserting a claim against the Corporation or any director or officer or other employee of the Corporation arising pursuant to any provision of the MGCL, the Charter or these Bylaws, or (b) any other action 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. None of the foregoing actions, claims or proceedings may be brought in any court sitting outside the State of Maryland unless the Corporation consents in writing to such court.

As adopted on this 1st day of April, 2025.

Exhibit 10.1

SMARTSTOP SELF STORAGE REIT, INC.

TIME-BASED RESTRICTED STOCK AWARD

This RESTRICTED STOCK AWARD (the “Award”) is made and entered into as of the [___] day of [___], 2025, by and between SmartStop Self Storage REIT, Inc. (the “Company”), a Maryland corporation, and [_________] (the “Participant”).

Upon and subject to the Additional Terms and Conditions attached hereto and incorporated herein by reference as part of this Award, the Company hereby awards as of the Grant Date to the Participant the shares of restricted stock (the “Restricted Stock”) described below in consideration of the Participant’s services to the Company.

 

A.

Grant Date/Effective Date: The grant date of the Restricted Stock shall be [___], 2025 (the “Grant Date”) and the effective date of the Restricted Stock shall be January 1, 20[__] (the “Effective Date”).

 

B.

Restricted Stock: [______] shares of the Company’s Common Stock, $0.001 par value per share.

 

C.

Plans (under which Award is granted): SmartStop Self Storage REIT, Inc. 2022 Long-Term Incentive Plan effective as of June 15, 2022 (as may be amended from time to time, the “Plan”).

 

D.

Vesting: The Restricted Stock shall vest and become nonforfeitable with respect to 25% of the Restricted Stock on each of the first four anniversaries of the Grant Date, subject to the Participant’s continued employment or service with the Company, SmartStop OP, L.P. (the “Partnership”), SmartStop Storage Advisors, LLC (“SmartStop Advisors”), or any other Affiliate through each applicable vesting date. If the Restricted Stock that become vested include a fraction of a share, such fractional share shall be rounded up or down to the next nearest whole number.

 

E.

Change of Control: In the event of a Change of Control, (i) with respect to a Participant that is subject to the Severance Plan, the vesting of the Restricted Stock shall be governed by the Severance Plan, as in effect at the time of such Change of Control, or, if no such Severance Plan is in place, the Severance Plan last in effect prior to such Change of Control; and (ii) with respect to a Participant that is not subject to the Severance Plan, the Restricted Stock shall vest and become nonforfeitable upon such Change of Control. For purposes of this Award, “Severance Plan” shall mean that certain Executive Severance and Change of Control Plan issued by the Company, effective as of June 27, 2019, as the same may be amended from time to time, and pursuant to which the Participant has been issued by the Company an Executive Severance Plan Letter, if the Participant is subject to such Severance Plan.

 

F.

Effect of Termination of Service: In the event of the Participant’s termination of employment or service with the Company, the Partnership, SmartStop Advisors, or any other Affiliate for any reason, (i) with respect to a Participant that is subject to the Severance Plan, the vesting of the Restricted Stock, if any, shall be governed by the Severance Plan as in effect at the time of such termination, or, if no such Severance Plan is then in place, the Severance Plan last in effect prior to such termination; and (ii) with respect to a Participant that is not subject to the Severance Plan, all unvested Restricted Stock at the time of such termination of employment or service shall be deemed to be forfeited.


G.

Tax Withholding. Participant hereby agrees to make adequate provision for foreign, federal, state and local taxes required by law to be withheld, if any, which arise in connection with the grant of the Restricted Stock. The Company shall have the right to deduct from any compensation or any other payment of any kind due to the Participant (including withholding the issuance or delivery of shares of Restricted Stock or redeeming Restricted Stock) the amount of any federal, state, local or foreign taxes required by law to be withheld as a result of the grant of the Restricted Stock, provided, however, that the value of the shares of Restricted Stock withheld or redeemed may not exceed the statutory minimum withholding amount required by law. In lieu of such deduction, the Company may require the Participant make a cash payment to the Company equal to the amount required to be withheld. If the Participant does not make such payment when requested, the Company may refuse to issue any Restricted Stock certificate under this Award until arrangements satisfactory to the Company for such payment have been made. 

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company and Participant have signed this Award as of the Grant Date set forth above.

 

   SMARTSTOP SELF STORAGE REIT, INC.   
   By:   

 

      
      H. Michael Schwartz, Chief Executive Officer   
   __________________________________   
   _________________[Participant]   

 

 

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ADDITIONAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF

SMARTSTOP SELF STORAGE REIT, INC.

TIME-BASED RESTRICTED STOCK AWARD

1. Code Section 83(b) Election. The Participant acknowledges that the Participant may not make an election under Section 83(b) of the Code without the Company’s consent. Any attempt by the Participant to make an election under Section 83(b) of the Code without the Company’s consent will result in the immediate forfeiture of this Award.

2. Issuance of Restricted Stock.

(a) The Company shall issue the Restricted Stock as of the Grant Date in one or more of the manners described below, as determined by the Company, in its sole discretion:

(i) by the issuance of share certificate(s) evidencing Restricted Stock to the Secretary of the Company or such other agent of the Company as may be designated by the Company or the Secretary (the “Share Custodian”); or

(ii) by documenting the issuance in uncertificated or book entry form on the Company’s stock records.

Evidence of the Restricted Stock either in the form of share certificate(s) or book entry, as the case may be, shall be held by the Share Custodian or the Company, as applicable, until the Restricted Stock become Vested Shares. In the Participant’s discretion and subject to the consent of the Company, the Participant may direct that the Company issue the Restricted Stock to a revocable living trust established for the exclusive benefit of the Participant or the Participant and his or her spouse, provided that the Participant shall remain responsible for the satisfaction of all duties and obligations under the Award and under the Plan, including tax obligations.

(b) In the event that the Participant forfeits any of the Restricted Stock, the Company shall cancel the issuance on its stock records and, if applicable, the Share Custodian shall promptly deliver the share certificate(s) representing the forfeited shares to the Company.

(c) Participant hereby irrevocably appoints the Share Custodian, and any successor thereto, as the true and lawful attorney-in-fact of Participant with full power and authority to execute any stock transfer power or other instrument necessary to transfer any Restricted Stock to the Company in accordance with this Award, in the name, place, and stead of the Participant, by completing an irrevocable stock power in favor of the Share Custodian in the form attached hereto as Exhibit 1. The term of such appointment shall commence on the Grant Date of this Award and shall continue until the last of the Restricted Stock are delivered to the Participant as Vested Shares or are returned to the Company as forfeited Restricted Stock.

(d) In the event the number of shares of Common Stock is increased or reduced as a result of a subdivision or combination of shares of Common Stock or the payment of a stock dividend or any other increase or decrease in the number of shares of Common Stock or other transaction such as a merger, reorganization or other change in the capital structure of the Company, the Participant agrees that any certificate representing shares of Common Stock or other securities of the Company issued as a result of any of the foregoing shall be delivered to the Share Custodian or recorded in book entry form, as applicable, and shall be subject to all of the provisions of this Award as if initially granted hereunder.

 


3. Rights of a Stockholder. Until the stock ledger entry reflecting the Restricted Stock accruing to the Participant upon vesting of the Restricted Stock is made, the Participant shall not have any rights as a stockholder.

4. Dividends. The Participant shall be entitled to dividends or other distributions paid or made on Restricted Stock; provided that the Participant has not forfeited the Restricted Stock prior to the payment date thereof. The payment of such dividends or other distributions shall be (i) calculated based on the Restricted Stock issued commencing on the Effective Date, (ii) in the same form as the applicable dividends or other distributions made on shares of the Company’s Common Stock, and (iii) paid to the Participant within 30 days following the date such dividends or other distributions are paid on shares of the Company’s Common Stock, or if any such dividends or other distributions were paid on shares of the Company’s Common Stock prior to the Grant Date, payment to the Participant for such dividends or other distributions shall be made within 30 days following the Grant Date.

5. Restrictions on Transfer of Restricted Stock.

(a) Except to the extent approved by the Company, the Participant shall not have the right to make or permit to exist any transfer or hypothecation, whether outright or as security, with or without consideration, voluntary or involuntary, of all or any part of any right, title, or interest in or to any Restricted Stock prior to the date that such Restricted Stock become Vested Shares. After Restricted Stock have become Vested Shares pursuant to this Award, there shall be no restrictions on the transfer of such Vested Shares other than those restrictions imposed by any Applicable Laws.

(b) The restrictions contained in this Section will not apply with respect to transfers of the Restricted Stock pursuant to the laws of descent and distribution governing the state in which the Participant is domiciled at the time of the Participant’s death; provided that the restrictions contained in this Section will continue to be applicable to the Restricted Stock after any such transfer; and provided further that the transferee(s) of such Restricted Stock must agree in writing to be bound by the provisions of this Award.

6. Changes in Capitalization.

(a) The number of Restricted Stock shall be proportionately adjusted from and after the record date for any nonreciprocal transaction between the Company and the holders of capital stock of the Company that causes the per share value of the shares of Common Stock underlying the Option to change (an “Equity Restructuring”), such as a stock dividend, stock split, spinoff, rights offering, or recapitalization through a large, nonrecurring cash dividend.

(b) In the case of any reclassification or change of outstanding Common Stock issuable upon vesting of the Award, or in the case of any consolidation or merger of the Company with or into another entity (other than a merger in which the Company is the surviving entity and which does not result in any reclassification or change in the then-outstanding Stock) or in the case of any sale or conveyance to another entity of the property of the Company as an entirety or substantially as an entirety, in each case that is not an Equity Restructuring, then, as a condition of such reclassification, change, consolidation, merger, sale or conveyance, the Company or such successor or purchasing entity, as the case may be, shall make lawful and adequate provision whereby the Participant shall thereafter have the right, on exercise of the Award, to receive the kind and amount of securities, property and/or cash receivable upon such reclassification, change, consolidation, merger, sale or conveyance by a holder of the number of securities issuable upon exercise of the Award immediately before such reclassification, change, consolidation, merger,

 

2


sale or conveyance. Such provision shall include adjustments that shall be as nearly equivalent as may be practicable to the adjustments provided for in Subsection (a). Notwithstanding the foregoing, if such a transaction occurs, in lieu of causing such rights to be substituted for the Award, the Committee may, upon 20 days’ prior written notice to the Participant, in its sole discretion: (i) shorten the period during which the Award is exercisable, provided it remains exercisable, to the extent it is otherwise exercisable, for at least 20 days after the date the notice is given, or (ii) cancel the Award upon payment to the Participant in cash, with respect to the Award to the extent then exercisable, of an amount which, in the sole discretion of the Committee, is determined to be equivalent to the amount, if any, by which the Fair Market Value (at the effective time of the transaction) of the consideration that the Participant would have received if the Award had been exercised before the effective time exceeds the Exercise Price. The actions described in this Subsection (b) may be taken without regard to any resulting tax consequences to the Participant. Any determination made by the Committee pursuant to this Subsection (b) will be final and binding on the Participant. Any action taken by the Committee need not treat all Participants under the Plan equally.

(c) The existence of the Plan and this Award shall not affect in any way the right or power of the Company to make or authorize any adjustment, reclassification, reorganization or other change in its capital or business structure, any merger or consolidation of the Company, any issue of debt or equity securities having preferences or priorities as to the Common Stock or the rights thereof, the dissolution or liquidation of the Company, any sale or transfer of all or any part of its business or assets, or any other corporate act or proceeding.

7. Change of Control. For purposes of this Agreement, “Change of Control” (i) with respect to a Participant that is subject to the Severance Plan, shall have the meaning set forth in the Severance Plan, and (ii) with respect to a Participant that is not subject to the Severance Plan, means the first to occur of any of the following events:

(a) the date any one person, or more than one person acting as a group, acquires the stock of the Company that, together with stock held by such person or group, constitutes more than 50 percent of the total fair market value or total voting power of the stock of the Company. However, if any one person, or more than one person acting as a group, is considered to own more than 50 percent of the total fair market value or total voting power of the stock of the Company (or such higher percentage specified in accordance with the preceding sentence), the acquisition of additional stock by the same person or persons is not considered to cause a change in the ownership of the Company (or to cause a change in the effective control of the Company). 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 Company acquires its stock in exchange for property will be treated as an acquisition of stock for purposes of this section;

(b) the date any one person, or more than one person acting as a group, acquires during the 12-month period ending on the date of the most recent acquisition by such person or persons, ownership of stock of the Company possessing 50 percent or more of the total voting power of the stock of the Company;

(c) the date a majority of members of the Board is replaced during any 12-month period by directors whose appointment or election is not endorsed by a majority of the members of the Board before the date of the appointment or election; or

 

 

3


(d) the date that any one person, or more than one person acting as a group acquires (or has acquired during the 12-month period ending on the date of the most recent acquisition by such person or persons) assets from the Company that have a total gross fair market value equal to or more than 40 percent of the total gross fair market value of all of the assets of the Company immediately before such acquisition or acquisitions. For this purpose, gross fair market value means the value of the assets of the Company, or the value of the assets being disposed of, determined without regard to any liabilities associated with such assets. There is no change in control event under this paragraph when there is a transfer to an entity that is controlled by the shareholders of the transferring corporation immediately after the transfer.

8. Compliance With Laws. The Plan, the granting and vesting of this Award under the Plan, the issuance and delivery of the Restricted Stock, and the payment of money or other consideration allowable under the Plan or this Award are subject to compliance with all applicable federal and state laws, rules and regulations (including, but not limited to, state and federal securities laws and federal margin requirements) and to such approvals by any listing, regulatory or governmental authority as may, in the opinion of counsel for the Committee, the Board or the Company, be necessary or advisable in connection therewith. Any securities delivered under the Plan shall be subject to such restrictions, and the person acquiring such securities shall, if requested by the Company, provide such assurances and representations to the Company as the Committee, the Board or the Company may deem necessary or desirable to assure compliance with all applicable legal requirements. To the extent permitted by applicable law, the Plan and this Award shall be deemed amended to the extent necessary to conform to such laws, rules and regulations. Nothing in the Plan or in this Award shall require the Company to issue any Stock with respect to the Award if, in the opinion of counsel for the Company, that issuance could constitute a violation of any Applicable Laws. As a condition to the grant or exercise of the Award, the Company may require the Participant (or, in the event of the Participant’s death, the Participant’s legal representatives, heirs, legatees or distributees) to provide written representations concerning the Participant’s (or such other person’s) intentions with regard to the retention or disposition of the Restricted Stock and written covenants as to the manner of disposal of such Stock as may be necessary or useful to ensure that the grant, exercise or disposition thereof will not violate the Securities Act, any other law or any rule of any applicable securities exchange or securities association then in effect. The Company shall not be required to register any Stock under the Securities Act or register or qualify any Stock under any state or other securities laws.

9. Legend on Stock Certificates. Certificates evidencing the Restricted Stock, if issued, may have the following legend and statements of other applicable restrictions endorsed thereon:

THE SHARES OF STOCK REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, OR ANY STATE LAWS. THE SHARES MAY NOT BE OFFERED FOR SALE, SOLD, PLEDGED, TRANSFERRED OR OTHERWISE DISPOSED OF UNTIL THE HOLDER HEREOF PROVIDES EVIDENCE SATISFACTORY TO THE ISSUER (WHICH, IN THE SOLE DISCRETION OF THE ISSUER, MAY INCLUDE AN OPINION OF COUNSEL SATISFACTORY TO THE ISSUER) THAT SUCH OFFER, SALE, PLEDGE, TRANSFER OR OTHER DISPOSITION WILL NOT VIOLATE ANY APPLICABLE FEDERAL OR STATE SECURITIES LAWS.

This legend shall not be required for any shares of Stock issued pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act. Certificates evidencing the Restricted Stock, to the extent appropriate at the time, shall also have noted conspicuously on the certificates a legend intended to give all persons full notice of the existence of any other conditions, restrictions, rights and obligations set forth in this Award and in the Plan.

 

 

4


Instead of the foregoing legend, the certificate may state that the Company will furnish a full statement about certain restrictions on transferability to a stockholder on request and without charge. Such statement shall also be sent on request and without charge to stockholders who are issued shares without a certificate.

10. Governing Laws. This Award shall be construed, administered and enforced according to the laws of the State of Maryland; provided, however, no Restricted Stock shall be issued except, in the reasonable judgment of the Company, in compliance with exemptions under applicable state securities laws of the state in which the Participant resides, and/or any other applicable securities laws.

11. Successors. This Award shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the heirs, legal representatives, successors, and permitted assigns of the parties.

12. Notice. Except as otherwise specified herein, all notices and other communications under this Award shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been given if personally delivered or if sent by registered or certified United States mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, addressed to the proposed recipient at the last known address of the recipient. Any party may designate any other address to which notices shall be sent by giving notice of the address to the other parties in the same manner as provided herein.

13. Severability. In the event that any one or more of the provisions or portion thereof contained in this Award shall for any reason be held to be invalid, illegal, or unenforceable in any respect, the same shall not invalidate or otherwise affect any other provisions of this Award, and this Award shall be construed as if the invalid, illegal or unenforceable provision or portion thereof had never been contained herein.

14. Entire Agreement. Subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan, this Award expresses the entire understanding and agreement of the parties. This Award may be executed in two or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original but all of which shall constitute one and the same instrument.

15. Violation. Except as provided in Section 5, any transfer, pledge, sale, assignment, or hypothecation of the Award or any portion thereof shall be a violation of the terms of this Award and shall be void and without effect.

16. Headings. Paragraph headings used herein are for convenience of reference only and shall not be considered in construing this Award.

17. Specific Performance. In the event of any actual or threatened default in, or breach of, any of the terms, conditions and provisions of this Award, the party or parties who are thereby aggrieved shall have the right to specific performance and injunction in addition to any and all other rights and remedies at law or in equity, and all such rights and remedies shall be cumulative.

18. No Right to Continued Employment. Neither the establishment of the Plan nor the award of Restricted Stock hereunder shall be construed as giving the Participant the right to continued employment with the Company or any Affiliate.

19. Capitalized Terms. As used in this Award, capitalized terms that are not defined herein have the meaning set forth in the Plan, except where the context does not reasonably permit.

 

5


EXHIBIT 1

IRREVOCABLE STOCK POWER

The undersigned hereby assigns and transfers to SmartStop Self Storage REIT, Inc. (the “Company”), _____________ shares of the Common Stock of the Company registered in the name of the undersigned on the stock transfer records of the Company; and the undersigned does hereby irrevocably constitute and appoint ________________________, his attorney-in-fact, to transfer the aforesaid shares on the books of the Company, with full power of substitution; and the undersigned does hereby ratify and confirm all that said attorney-in-fact lawfully shall do by virtue hereof.

 

Date:_______________________________________      Signed:__________________________________   
     Print Name:__________________________________       
IN THE PRESENCE OF:        
___________________________________________        

(Print Name)

       
___________________________________________        

(Signature)

       

 

6

Exhibit 10.3

SMARTSTOP SELF STORAGE REIT, INC.

EXECUTIVE SEVERANCE AND CHANGE OF CONTROL PLAN

AS ORIGINALLY ADOPTED ON JUNE 27, 2019 AND AMENDED AND RESTATED ON APRIL 1, 2025

ARTICLE I

PURPOSE AND PARTICIPATION

1.1 Adoption; Purpose. The Board of Directors (the “Board”) of SmartStop Self Storage REIT, Inc. (the “Company”) has adopted this Executive Severance and Change of Control Plan, as amended and restated (this “Plan”), for the purpose of providing severance and change of control protections to certain key employees of the Company and its Subsidiaries. The Plan, as set forth herein, is intended to provide severance protections to a select group of management or highly compensated employees (within the meaning of ERISA) in connection with qualifying terminations of employment.

1.2 Participation. This Plan is only for the benefit of Participants, and no other employees, personnel, consultants or independent contractors shall be eligible to participate in this Plan or to receive any rights or benefits hereunder. Participants are those employees (including new hires) designated by the Compensation Committee as Participants from time to time, subject to, and conditioned upon, such employee executing and delivering to the Company a Letter Agreement.

1.3 Contract of Employment. Nothing in this Plan shall be construed as creating an express or implied contract of employment and nothing herein shall confer upon any Participant any right with respect to continued employment with the Company or any Subsidiary or limit the right of the Company or any Subsidiary to terminate such Participant at any time.

ARTICLE II

DEFINITIONS AND INTERPRETATIONS

 

2.1

Definitions.

Capitalized terms used in this Plan but not otherwise defined herein shall have the following respective meanings:

Accrued Obligations” shall mean, with respect to a Participant, the sum of the following: (a) any accrued but unpaid Base Salary of such Participant through the Termination Date; (b) reimbursement for any unreimbursed business expenses properly incurred by such Participant in accordance with Company policy through such Participant’s Termination Date; (c) accrued and unused paid time off (PTO) or vacation; and (d) benefits due under any indemnification, insurance or other plan or arrangement to which such Participant may be entitled according to the documents governing such plans or arrangements, including coverage under COBRA to which such Participant or his or her beneficiaries may be entitled under Part 6 of Title I of ERISA and all related state and local laws.

Affiliate” means any domestic or foreign individual, partnership, corporation, limited liability company, association, joint stock company, trust, joint venture, unincorporated organization or governmental entity that, directly or indirectly, through one or more intermediaries, controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with, the Company.

 

-1-


Average Cash Bonus” shall mean a Participant’s average annual cash performance bonus based on the amount of cash performance bonus, if any, earned for the three (3) most recent years completed prior to the Termination Event, provided that, if the Participant was not eligible to receive an annual cash performance bonus for at least three (3) completed years prior to the Termination Event, then the Average Cash Bonus shall be (a) if the Participant earned a bonus for two (2) years completed prior to the Termination Event, the average annual cash performance bonus, if any, for the prior two (2) years; (b) if the Participant was eligible to receive a bonus for only one year completed prior to the Termination Event, the cash performance bonus, if any, earned for such year; and (c) if the Participant has not been employed long enough to be eligible to receive an annual bonus, then the Participant’s target annual cash performance bonus for the year in which the Termination Event occurs. In the event a Termination Event occurs following the completion of a year but prior to the payment date with respect to such year, the amount of such bonus shall be used in determining the Average Cash Bonus (i.e., disregarding any continued employment requirement through the payment date).

Base Salary” shall mean the highest annual base salary paid to a Participant at any time by the Company within the two (2) years prior to the occurrence of a Termination Event with respect to such Participant.

Cause” shall mean any of the following:

(a) the willful fraud or material dishonesty of the Participant in connection with the performance of the Participant’s duties to the Company;

(b) the deliberate or intentional failure by the Participant to substantially perform the Participant’s duties to the Company (other than the Participant’s failure resulting from the Participant’s incapacity due to physical or mental illness or any such actual or anticipated failure after the Participant’s issuance of a Termination Notice for Good Reason) after a written notice is delivered to the Participant by the Company, which demand specifically identifies the manner in which the Company believes the Participant has not substantially performed the Participant’s duties;

(c) willful misconduct by the Participant that is materially detrimental to the reputation, goodwill or business operations of the Company or any Affiliate;

(d) willful disclosure of the Company’s Confidential Information or trade secrets;

(e) a breach of any restrictive covenants contained within the Participant’s Letter Agreement; or

(f) the Participant’s conviction of, or plea of no contest to a charge of commission of, a felony or crime of moral turpitude.

For purposes of this definition, no act or failure to act will be considered “willful,” unless it is done or omitted to be done, by the Participant in bad faith or without reasonable belief that the Participant’s action or omission was in the best interests of the Company. Any act, or failure to act, based upon authority given pursuant to a resolution duly adopted by the Board or based upon the advice of counsel for the Company will be presumed to be done, or omitted to be done, by the Participant in good faith and in the best interests of the Company. In order for the Company to terminate the Participant’s employment for “Cause”, the Company shall have first given written notice of the alleged grounds purporting to constitute Cause (which notice must be given within sixty (60) days following the Board’s actual knowledge of the grounds purporting to constitute Cause) and the same shall not have been cured (if capable of cure) within 10 business days following such written notice.

 

-2-


Change of Control” means the first to occur of any of the events set forth in the following paragraphs; provided, however, that a Qualified Event shall not constitute a Change of Control:

(a) any “person,” as such term is used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act, other than the Company or an Affiliate or a Company employee benefit plan, including any trustee of such plan acting as trustee, is or becomes the “beneficial owner” (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing fifty percent (50%) or more of the combined voting power of the Company’s then outstanding securities entitled to vote;

(b) a merger, reverse merger or other business combination or consolidation of the Company or any direct or indirect subsidiary of the Company with any other corporation other than an Affiliate, other than a merger or consolidation which would result in the voting securities of the Company outstanding immediately prior thereto continuing to represent (either by remaining outstanding or by being converted into voting securities of the surviving entity) at least fifty percent (50%) of the total voting power represented by the voting securities of the Company or such surviving entity outstanding immediately after such merger, reverse merger, business combination or consolidation;

(c) during any 12-month period, individuals who, at the beginning of such period, constitute the Board together with any new director(s) (other than a director designated by a person who shall have entered into an agreement with the Company to effect a transaction described in subsections (a) or (b)) whose election by the Board or nomination for election by the Company’s stockholders was approved by a vote of at least a majority of the directors then still in office who either were directors at the beginning of the 12-month period or whose election or nomination for election was previously so approved, cease for any reason to constitute a majority thereof;

(d) a sale or disposition (other than to an Affiliate) of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets in any single transaction or series of related transactions; or

(e) the stockholders of the Company or the Board adopts a plan of liquidation.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, if a Change of Control constitutes a payment event with respect to an amount that provides for the deferral of compensation that is subject to Section 409A, then, to the extent required to avoid the imposition of additional taxes under Section 409A, the transaction or event described above shall only constitute a Change of Control if such transaction also constitutes a “change in control event” (within the meaning of Section 409A).

Change of Control Severance Payment” shall mean an amount equal to: (a) 3.0 if the Participant is the Chief Executive Officer of the Company, or 2.0 if the Participant is another officer of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries; multiplied by (b) the sum of: (i) the Participant’s Base Salary; plus (ii) the Participant’s Average Cash Bonus.

COBRA” shall mean the Consolidated Omnibus Reconciliation Act of 1985, as amended.

Code” shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and the regulations and formal guidance promulgated thereunder.

Compensation Committee” shall mean the Compensation Committee of the Board.

 

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Disability” shall mean, with respect to a Participant, the same meaning as provided in the long-term disability plan or policy maintained by the Company. If no such disability plan or policy is maintained by the Company, “Disabled” means the Participant is 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 twelve (12) months. If the Participant disputes the Company’s determination of Disability, the Participant (or his or her designated physician) and the Company (or its designated physician) shall jointly appoint a third-party physician to examine the Participant and determine whether the Participant is Disabled.

Effective Date” shall mean April 1, 2025.

ERISA” shall mean the Employment Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, and the regulations and formal guidance promulgated thereunder.

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

Good Reason” means, without the Participant’s written consent:

(a) a material diminution of the Participant’s annual Base Salary, target Annual Bonus, target annual equity-based compensation opportunity, or other annual incentive compensation opportunities, in each case, as in effect on the Effective Date and as may be increased from time to time;

(b) a material reduction in the Participant’s authority, title, duties or responsibilities;

(c) the Participant being required to relocate the Participant’s principal place of employment with the Company more than thirty (30) miles from the Participant’s principal place of employment as of the Effective Date, it being understood that the Participant may be required to travel frequently in connection with the Participant’s position as set forth herein and that prolonged periods away from the Participant’s principal residence shall not constitute Good Reason; or

(d) failure of any successor to the Company following a Change of Control to assume this Plan and the obligations hereunder.

A termination of employment by the Participant shall not be deemed to be for Good Reason unless (i) the Participant gives the Company written notice describing the event or events which are the basis for such termination within sixty (60) calendar days after the Participant knows or should have known of the occurrence of such event or events, (ii) such grounds for termination (if susceptible to correction) are not corrected by the Company within thirty (30) calendar days after the Company’s receipt of such notice (“Correction Period”), and (iii) the Participant terminates the Participant’s employment no later than thirty (30) calendar days following the Correction Period.

Letter Agreement” shall mean a letter agreement, substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A (together with any changes approved by the Compensation Committee), executed and delivered by the Company and a Participant.

Participant” shall mean an employee of the Company or any Subsidiary who both: (a) the Compensation Committee from time to time designates as a Participant in accordance with Section 1.2; and (b) has entered into a Letter Agreement with the Company.

Qualified Event” means any of the following: (a) a straight listing of the Shares on the New York Stock Exchange, NASDAQ or on any other nationally recognized stock exchange; (b) an underwritten public offering of the Shares pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended from time to time, which the Shares are approved for listing or quotation on the New York Stock Exchange, NASDAQ or on any other nationally recognized stock exchange; or (c) a reverse merger of the Company into an existing publicly held company or its acquisition subsidiary, resulting in the Shares first becoming listed on the New York Stock Exchange, NASDAQ or on any other nationally recognized stock exchange.

 

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Restrictive Covenants” shall mean, with respect to a Participant, those non-competition, non-solicitation, non-disclosure, non-disparagement and other similar restrictive covenants set forth in the Letter Agreement executed and delivered by such Participant pursuant to this Plan.

Severance Period” means a period of time following the Termination Date equal to the number of years equal to the multiple (i.e., 3.0., 2.0, 1.5 or 1.0) of the Participant’s Change of Control Severance Payment or Severance Payment, as applicable.

Shares” means shares of the common stock of the Company and any successor security or interest.

Subsidiary” means any subsidiary, affiliate or joint venture of the Company.

Termination Date” shall mean, with respect to a Participant: (a) in the case of such Participant’s death, his or her date of death; (b) in the case of such Participant’s voluntary termination, the last day of such Participant’s employment; and (c) in all other cases, the date specified in the applicable Termination Notice.

Termination Event” shall mean the termination of the employee-employer relationship between a Participant and the Company or any Subsidiary by reason of: (a) the resignation of such Participant; (b) the Company’s termination of such Participant; or (c) the death or Disability of such Participant.

Severance Payment” shall mean an amount equal to: (a) 2.0 if the Participant is the Chief Executive Officer of the Company, 1.5 if the Participant is the President, Chief Investment Officer, Chief Financial Officer, Chief Operations Officer, General Counsel or Chief Accounting Officer, or 1.0 if the Participant is another officer of the Company or its Affiliates; multiplied by (b) the sum of: (i) such Participant’s Base Salary; plus (ii) such Participant’s Average Cash Bonus.

2.2 Interpretation. In this Plan, unless a clear contrary intention appears: (a) the words “herein,” “hereof” and “hereunder” refer to this Plan as a whole and not to any particular Article, Section or other subdivision; (b) reference to any Article or Section, means such Article or Section hereof; and (c) the words “including” (and with correlative meaning “include”) means including, without limiting the generality of any description preceding such term. The Article and Section headings herein are for convenience only and shall not affect the construction hereof.

ARTICLE III

SEVERANCE; CHANGE OF CONTROL

3.1 Termination Without Cause or for Good Reason. Except as otherwise set forth in Section 3.2 and subject to Section 3.4, in the event that a Termination Event occurs with respect to a Participant by the Company or any Subsidiary without Cause (other than by reason of the death or Disability of such Participant) or by reason of a resignation by such Participant for Good Reason, such Participant shall be entitled to receive from the Company the Accrued Obligations and each of the following, subject to Section 4.2:

(a) a Severance Payment, which amount the Company shall pay to the Participant over the Severance Period in equal installments in accordance with the Company’s normal payroll practices, commencing within sixty (60) calendar days following the Termination Date; and

 

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(b) the Company shall, at the Company’s expense, for period of time ending on the earlier to occur of (i) the completion of the applicable Severance Period and (ii) the date on which the Participant becomes eligible to receive healthcare coverage from a subsequent employer (the “Benefit Continuation Period”), provide medical coverage through the Company’s group medical plans at the same levels as would have applied if the Participant’s employment had not been terminated or reimburse the cost of such medical coverage, provided that (A) such Participant completes and timely files all necessary COBRA election documentation, which will be sent to such Participant after the Termination Date, and (B) in the case of reimbursement, during any COBRA period, such Participant continues to make all required premium payments required by COBRA. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if any plan pursuant to which such benefits are provided is not, or ceases prior to the expiration of the Benefit Continuation Period to be, exempt from the application of Section 409A under Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(a)(5), or the Company is otherwise unable to continue to cover such Participant under its group health plans without penalty to the Company or the Participant under applicable law (including without limitation, Section 2716 of the Public Health Service Act) or due to unwillingness of the applicable group health plan’s insurer to allow such coverage, then, in either case, an amount equal to the COBRA premium as in effect as of such date shall thereafter be paid to such Participant in substantially equal monthly installments over the remainder of the Benefit Continuation Period; and

(c) any unvested restricted stock or other equity awards issued to the Participant under the Company’s Long-Term Incentive Plan or otherwise by the Company or its Affiliates that vests solely based on the passage of time (each, a “Time-Based Award”) shall vest and become exercisable, if applicable, as to the number of shares subject to such award that would have vested (and become exercisable) over the 12 month period following the Termination Date had the Participant remained employed; and

(d) any performance-based vesting award issued to the Participant under the Company’s Long-Term Incentive Plan or otherwise by the Company or its Affiliates (each, a “Performance-Based Award”) that remains outstanding on the Termination Date shall remain outstanding and eligible to be earned following the completion of the performance period based on the actual achievement of applicable performance goals, and to the extent earned (if at all) shall vest on a pro rata basis based on the number of days the Participant remained employed from the commencement of the performance period through the Termination Date.

3.2 Change of Control Followed by Termination Without Cause or for Good Reason. Subject to Section 3.4, in the event that a Change of Control occurs:

(a) any Time-Based Award that remains outstanding shall vest and, if applicable, become exercisable immediately prior to the Change of Control, subject to the Participant’s continued employment until immediately prior to such event; and

(b) any Performance-Based Award that remains outstanding and that is not continued, converted, assumed or replaced with a substantially similar award by the Company or a successor entity or its parent or subsidiary in connection with the Change of Control (in each case, such award being considered “Assumed”), shall vest and, if applicable, become exercisable immediately prior to the Change of Control based on actual achievement of the applicable performance goals through the date of the Change of Control, as determined in the sole discretion of the Compensation Committee; and

(c) if, during the twelve (12) month period following such Change of Control, a Termination Event occurs with respect to a Participant by reason of a Termination Event by the Company or any Subsidiary without Cause (other than by reason of the death or Disability of such Participant) or by reason of a resignation by such Participant for Good Reason, such Participant shall be entitled to receive from the Company the Accrued Obligations and each of the following, subject to Section 4.2:

i. a Change of Control Severance Payment, which amount the Company shall pay to the Participant in a lump sum (subject to Section 4.2) within sixty (60) days following the Termination Date; provided, however, that if such Change of Control does not constitute a “change in control event” for purposes of Section 409A, then the Change of Control Severance Payment shall be paid pursuant to the payment timing set forth in Section 3.1(a) over the Severance Period; and

 

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ii. the Company shall, at the Company’s expense, for the Benefit Continuation Period, provide medical coverage or a corresponding payment as described in Section 3.1(b); and

iii. any Performance-Based Award that was Assumed in connection with such Change of Control and that remains unvested on the Termination Date shall (i) to the extent such award only remains subject to time-based vesting as of the Termination Date, vest and become exercisable (if applicable) or (ii) to the extent such award remains subject to performance-based vesting as of the Termination Date, remain outstanding and eligible to be earned following the completion of the performance period based on the actual achievement of applicable performance goals, and to the extent earned (if at all) shall vest on a pro rata basis based on the number of days the Participant remained employed from the commencement of the performance period through the Termination Date.

To the extent a Participant is entitled to any payments or benefits set forth in this Section 3.2, such Participant shall not be entitled to any payments or benefits set forth in Section 3.1.

3.3 Termination Other Than Without Cause or for Good Reason. In the event that a Termination Event occurs with respect to a Participant for any reason other than as set forth in Section 3.1, Section 3.2, or such Participant’s death or Disability, the sole payment or benefit such Participant shall be entitled to receive from the Company shall be the Accrued Obligations. If such Termination Event is due to the Participant’s death or Disability (and is for reasons other than as set forth in Section 3.1 and 3.2), such Participant shall be entitled to receive from the Company the Accrued Obligations and: (a) a portion of the Participant’s annual cash performance bonus, as determined by the Compensation Committee based on actual performance for the performance period, and pro-rated for the number of days from the performance period commencement to the Termination Date, payable at its normal time (but in no event later than March 15 of the year following the year in which the Termination Date occurs); (b) all unvested Time-Based Awards shall immediately vest and, if applicable, become exercisable; and (c) any Performance-Based Awards shall remain outstanding and eligible to be earned following the completion of the performance period based on the actual achievement of applicable performance goals, and to the extent earned (if at all) shall vest on a pro rata basis based on the number of days the Participant remained employed from the commencement of the performance period through the Termination Date. For the avoidance of doubt, unless otherwise expressly set forth in the Plan or the award agreement evidencing a Time-Based Award or Performance-Based Award, or to the extent otherwise approved by the Compensation Committee in its sole discretion, the unvested portion of any Time-Based Award or Performance-Based Award, including any unpaid distributions with respect thereto, shall be forfeited as of any Termination Date described in this Section and no further amounts shall be due or owing with respect thereto.

3.4 General Release. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, a Participant shall not be entitled to receive any payments or benefits, other than the Accrued Obligations, pursuant to Section 3.1 or Section 3.2 hereof (and such Participant shall forfeit all rights to such payments) unless such Participant has executed, delivered to the Company and not revoked a general release agreement, in a form of agreement generally used by the Company for such purposes, releasing the Company and its Affiliates from any and all claims such Participant may have (the “General Release”), and such General Release has become effective no later than fifty-five (55) calendar days following the Termination Date, and such Participant shall be entitled to receive such payments and benefits only so long as such Participant has not materially

 

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breached any of the provisions of the General Release or the Restrictive Covenants without cure (if curable) of any such breach within ten (10) business days after a notice from the Company specifying the breach. If the General Release is executed and delivered and no longer subject to revocation as provided in the preceding sentence, then any cash payments due to a Participant shall be paid (subject to Section 4.2) in accordance with the provisions of Section 3.1 or Section 3.2, as applicable. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the fifty-five (55) calendar day period begins in one calendar year and ends in another calendar year and all or any portion of such payments constitute “nonqualified deferred compensation” for purposes of Section 409A, then none of such payments shall begin until such second calendar year. The General Release shall have no greater obligations or more limiting post-employment restrictions than are expressly set forth in this Plan or in the Participant’s Letter Agreement.

3.5 Termination Notices. For purposes of this Plan, any purported termination of employment of a Participant by the Company or any Subsidiary or by such Participant (other than due to such Participant’s death) shall be communicated by written notice to the other party, which notice shall specify the Termination Date (if applicable) (each, a “Termination Notice”). In the case of a termination of a Participant’s employment by the Company or a Subsidiary without Cause, the Company or such Subsidiary shall provide sixty (60) calendar days’ advance written notice to such Participant of such termination, with the last day of such Participant’s employment being the end of such sixty (60)-day notice period. At the Company’s option, it may place such Participant on a paid leave of absence for all or part of such notice period. In the case of a termination of a Participant’s employment by the Participant without Good Reason, the Participant shall provide sixty (60) calendar days advance written notice to the Company of such termination, with the last day of such Participant’s employment being the end of such sixty (60)-day notice period. The Company may elect, in its sole discretion, to have such Participant continue to provide services to the Company during some, all or none of such notice period and may elect, in its sole discretion, whether such services will be performed on or off Company premises.

3.6 No Mitigation. Except as provided in Sections 3.1(b), 3.2(b) and 5.3, the Company’s obligation to make payments and provide benefits under this Plan and otherwise to perform its obligations hereunder shall not be affected by any set-off, counterclaim, recoupment, defense or other claim, right or action which the Company may have against a Participant or others. In no event shall a Participant be obligated to seek other employment or take any other action by way of mitigation of the amounts payable to such Participant under any of the provisions of this Plan, and such amounts shall not be reduced whether or not such Participant obtains other employment.

ARTICLE IV

LIMITATIONS ON SEVERANCE AND RELATED TERMINATION BENEFITS

4.1 Parachute Payment Limitations. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Plan (or any other agreement entered into by and between a Participant and the Company or any incentive arrangement or plan offered by the Company), in the event that any amount or benefit paid or distributed to a Participant pursuant to this Plan, taken together with any amounts or benefits in the nature of compensation (within the meaning of Section 280G of the Code) otherwise paid to such Participant by the Company (collectively, the “Covered Payments”), would constitute an “excess parachute payment” as defined in Section 280G of the Code, and would thereby subject such Participant to an excise tax under Section 4999 of the Code (an “Excise Tax”), then prior to making the Covered Payments, a calculation shall be made comparing (i) the Net Benefit (as defined below) to the Participant of the Covered Payments after payment of the Excise Tax to (ii) the Net Benefit to the Participant if the Covered Payments are limited to the extent necessary to avoid being subject to the Excise Tax. Only if the amount calculated under (i) above is less than the amount under (ii) above will the Covered Payments be reduced to the minimum extent

 

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necessary to ensure that no portion of the Covered Payments is subject to the Excise Tax. For purposes of this Section 4.1, “Net Benefit” shall mean the present value of the Covered Payments net of all federal, state, local, foreign income, employment, and excise taxes. Any reduction made pursuant to this Section 4.1 shall be made in a manner determined by the Company that is consistent with the requirements of Section 409A (as defined in Section 4.2). For purposes of this Section 4.1, a “Change in Control” shall mean a “change in ownership or control” as defined for purposes of Section 280G of the Code.

4.2 Compliance with Code Section 409A.

(a) This Plan is intended to comply with Section 409A of the Code (“Section 409A”) or an exemption thereunder. This Plan shall be construed, interpreted and administered to the extent possible in a manner that does not result in the imposition on any Participant of any additional tax, penalty or interest under Section 409A. Any payments under this Plan that may be excluded from Section 409A either as separation pay due to an involuntary separation from service or as a short-term deferral shall be excluded from Section 409A to the maximum extent possible. If any payment or benefit cannot be provided or made at the time specified herein without the imposition on a Participant of any additional tax, penalty or interest under Section 409A, then such benefit or payment shall be provided in full at the earliest time thereafter when such additional tax, penalty or interest will not be imposed. For purposes of Section 409A: (i) any payments to be made under this Plan upon a termination of employment that constitute “nonqualified deferred compensation” within the meaning of Section 409A shall only be made upon a “separation from service” under Section 409A; (ii) each payment made under this Plan shall be treated as a separate payment; and (iii) the right to a series of installment payments under this Plan is to be treated as a right to a series of separate payments. In no event shall any Participant, directly or indirectly, designate the calendar year of payment.

(b) All reimbursements and in-kind benefits provided under this Plan shall be made or provided in accordance with the requirements of Section 409A, including, where applicable, the requirements that: (i) any reimbursement is for expenses incurred during a Participant’s lifetime (or during a shorter period of time specified in this Plan); (ii) the amount of expenses eligible for reimbursement, or in-kind benefits provided, during a calendar year may not affect the expenses eligible for reimbursement, or in-kind benefits to be provided, in any other calendar year; (iii) the reimbursement of an eligible expense will be made on or before the last day of the calendar year following the year in which the expense is incurred; and (iv) the right to reimbursement or in-kind benefits is not subject to liquidation or exchange for another benefit.

(c) Notwithstanding any provision in this Plan to the contrary, if, at the time of a Participant’s separation from service with the Company, the Company has securities which are publicly traded on an established securities market, such Participant is a “specified employee” (as defined in Section 409A) and it is necessary to postpone the commencement of any severance payments otherwise payable pursuant to this Plan as a result of such separation from service to prevent any accelerated or additional tax under Section 409A, then the Company will postpone the commencement of the payment of any such payments or benefits hereunder (without any reduction in such payments or benefits ultimately paid or provided to Participant) that constitute “nonqualified deferred compensation” under Section 409A until the first payroll date that occurs after the date that is six (6) months following Participant’s separation from service with the Company (as determined under Section 409A). If any payments are postponed pursuant to this Section 4.2(c), then such postponed amounts will be paid in a lump sum, without interest, to a Participant on the first payroll date that occurs after the date that is six (6) months following such Participant’s separation from service with the Company. If a Participant dies during the postponement period prior to the payment of any postponed amount, such amount shall be paid to the personal representative of such Participant’s estate within sixty (60) days after the date of Participant’s death.

 

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(d) Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company makes no representations that the payments and benefits provided under this Plan comply with Section 409A and in no event shall the Company be liable for all or any portion of any taxes, penalties, interest or other expenses that may be incurred by a Participant on account of non-compliance with Section 409A.

ARTICLE V

MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

5.1 Cumulative Benefits; Effect on Other Plans. Except as otherwise set forth herein or otherwise agreed to between the Company and a Participant, the rights and benefits provided to any Participant under this Plan are cumulative of, and are in addition to, all of the other rights and benefits provided to such Participant under any benefit plan of the Company or any agreement between such Participant and the Company or any Subsidiary. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Plan, in the event that a Participant is entitled to severance payments or benefits under any other employment agreement, severance agreement or similar agreement between a Participant and the Company: (a) such Participant’s Severance Payment or Change of Control Severance Payment, as applicable, shall be reduced (but not below $0.00) by the aggregate amount of all similar severance payments due to such Participant under such other agreement; and (b) the Benefits Continuation Period shall be reduced by any similar period under such other agreement.

5.2 Plan Unfunded; Participant’s Rights Unsecured. This Plan shall be maintained in a manner to be considered “unfunded” for purposes of ERISA. The Company shall be required to make payments only as benefits become due and payable. No person shall have any right, other than the right of an unsecured general creditor against the Company, with respect to the benefits payable hereunder, or which may be payable hereunder, to any Participant, surviving spouse or beneficiary hereunder. If the Company, acting in its sole discretion, establishes a reserve or other fund associated with this Plan, no person shall have any right to or interest in any specific amount or asset of such reserve or fund by reason of amounts which may be payable to such person under this Plan, nor shall such person have any right to receive any payment under this Plan except as and to the extent expressly provided in this Plan. The assets in any such reserve or fund shall be part of the general assets of the Company, subject to the control of the Company. The Company shall not be required to establish any special or separate fund or make any other segregation of funds or assets to assure the payment of any benefit hereunder.

5.3 Recoupment. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Plan to the contrary, Participants will be subject to recoupment policies adopted by the Company to the extent required by applicable law, including any policy adopted pursuant to the requirements of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act or other law or the listing requirements of any national securities exchange on which the Shares may be listed.

5.4 Waiver. No waiver of any provision of this Plan or any Letter Agreement shall be effective unless made in writing and signed by the waiving person or entity. The failure of any person or entity to require the performance of any term or obligation of this Plan or any Letter Agreement, or the waiver by any person or entity of any breach of this Plan or any Letter Agreement, shall not prevent any subsequent enforcement of such term or obligation or be deemed a waiver of any subsequent breach.

5.5 Amendment; Termination. The Board may amend or terminate this Plan at any time or from time to time for any reason, provided, that Sections 5.12 and 5.13 of this Plan and the Restrictive Covenants set forth in each Letter Agreement shall survive the termination of this Plan. The Company shall provide notice to Participants within fifteen (15) days of any amendment or termination of the Plan. For purposes hereof,

 

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an amendment or termination of this Plan shall not materially and adversely affect the rights of any Participant whose employment was terminated for any reason or no reason prior to the date of such amendment or termination. Notwithstanding the foregoing: (a) a Participant’s right to receive payments and benefits pursuant to the Plan upon a Termination Event shall not be adversely affected without such Participant’s written consent by an amendment or termination of the Plan made within twelve (12) months prior to such Termination Event; and (b) a Participant’s right to receive payments and benefits pursuant to this Plan in connection with a Termination Event occurring within twelve (12) months following a Change of Control shall not be adversely affected without such Participant’s consent by an amendment or termination of this Plan occurring within six (6) months before or twelve (12) months after such Change of Control. Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Plan shall terminate without further action when all of the obligations to Participants hereunder have been satisfied in full.

5.6 Administration.

(a) The Compensation Committee shall have full and final authority to make determinations with respect to the administration of this Plan, to construe and interpret its provisions and to take all other actions deemed necessary or advisable for the proper administration of this Plan, but such authority shall be subject to the provisions of this Plan; provided, however, that, to the extent permitted by applicable law, the Compensation Committee may from time to time delegate such administrative authority to a committee of one or more members of the Board or one or more officers of the Company, except that in no event shall any such administrative authority be delegated to an officer with respect to such officer’s status as a Participant. No discretionary action by the Compensation Committee shall amend or supersede the express provisions of this Plan.

(b) The Company shall indemnify and hold harmless each member of the Compensation Committee against any and all expenses and liabilities arising out of his or her administrative functions or fiduciary responsibilities, including any expenses and liabilities that are caused by or result from an act or omission constituting the negligence of such member in the performance of such functions or responsibilities to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law. Expenses against which such member shall be indemnified hereunder shall include, without limitation, the amounts of any settlement or judgment, costs, counsel fees and related charges reasonably incurred in connection with a claim asserted or a proceeding brought or settlement thereof.

5.7 Certain Corporate Transactions. In the event of a merger, consolidation or similar transaction, nothing herein shall relieve the Company from any of the obligations set forth in this Plan; provided, however, that nothing in this Section 5.7 shall prevent an acquirer of or successor to the Company from assuming the Company’s obligations hereunder (or any portion thereof) pursuant to the terms of this Plan.

5.8 Successors and Assigns. This Plan shall be binding upon, and inure to the benefit of, the Company and its successors and assigns. This Plan and all rights of each Participant shall inure to the benefit of, and be enforceable by, each such Participant and such Participant’s personal or legal representatives, executors, administrators and heirs. If any Participant should die following a Termination Event but prior to all amounts due and payable to such Participant hereunder being paid, all such amounts, unless otherwise provided herein, shall be paid in accordance with the terms of this Plan to such Participant’s beneficiary designated in writing to the Company prior to such Participant’s death (or to such Participant’s estate, if a Participant fails to make such designation). No payments, benefits or rights arising under this Plan may be assigned or pledged by any Participant, except under the laws of descent and distribution.

 

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5.9 Notices. Any notice or other communication required or permitted under this Plan shall be in writing and shall be delivered personally, by nationally-recognized overnight courier service or sent by certified, registered or express mail, postage prepaid. Any such notice shall be deemed given when so delivered personally, when delivered by nationally-recognized overnight courier service or, if mailed, five (5) days after the date of deposit in the United States mails, as follows:

(a) if to the Company, to:

SmartStop Self Storage REIT, Inc.

10 Terrace Road

Ladera Ranch, CA 92694

Attention: Chairperson, Compensation Committee of Board of Directors

Attention: Chief Executive Officer

Attention: General Counsel

(b) if to any Participant, to such Participant’s residence address on the records of the Company or to such other address as such Participant may have designated to the Company in writing for purposes hereof.

Each of the Company and a Participant, by notice given to the other in accordance with this Section 5.9, may designate another address or person for receipt of notices delivered pursuant to this Section 5.9.

5.10 Withholding. The Company shall have the right to deduct from any payment or benefit provided pursuant to this Plan all federal, state and local taxes and any other amounts which are required by applicable law to be withheld therefrom.

5.11 Severability. The provisions of this Plan and each Letter Agreement (including, for the avoidance of doubt, the Restrictive Covenants) shall be regarded as divisible and separate, and if any provision of this Plan or any Letter Agreement is, becomes or is deemed to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, then the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions of this Plan and applicable Letter Agreement shall not be affected thereby.

5.12 Claims Procedure; Arbitration.

(a) Generally, Participants are not required to present a formal claim in order to receive benefits under the Plan. If, however, any person (the “Claimant”) believes that benefits are being denied improperly, that this Plan is not being operated properly, that fiduciaries of this Plan have breached their duties, or that the Claimant’s legal rights are being violated with respect to this Plan, the Claimant must file a formal claim, in writing, with the Compensation Committee.

This requirement applies to all claims that any Claimant has with respect to this Plan, including claims against fiduciaries and former fiduciaries, except to the extent the Compensation Committee determines, in its sole discretion that it does not have the power to grant all relief reasonably being sought by the Claimant. A formal claim must be filed within one hundred twenty (120) calendar days after the date the Claimant first knew or should have known of the facts on which the claim is based, unless the Compensation Committee consents otherwise in writing. The Compensation Committee shall provide a Claimant, on request, with a copy of the claims procedures established under Section 5.12(b).

(b) The Compensation Committee has adopted procedures for considering claims (which are set forth in Exhibit B attached hereto), which it may amend or modify from time to time, as it sees fit. These procedures shall comply with all applicable legal requirements. These procedures may provide that final and binding arbitration shall be the ultimate means of contesting a denied claim (even if the Compensation Committee or its delegates have failed to follow the prescribed procedures with respect to the claim). The right to receive benefits under this Plan is contingent on a Claimant using the prescribed claims and arbitration procedures to resolve any claim.

 

-12-


5.13 Governing Law. The Plan is intended to be an unfunded “top-hat” welfare plan, within the meaning of U.S. Department of Labor Regulation Section 2520.104-24, and shall be interpreted, administered, and enforced in accordance with ERISA. It is expressly intended that ERISA preempt the application of state laws to this Plan and each Letter Agreement (including, for the avoidance of doubt, the Restrictive Covenants) to the maximum extent permitted by Section 514 of ERISA. To the extent that state law is applicable, the statutes and common laws of the State of Delaware (excluding its choice of laws principles) shall apply.

5.14 Arbitration. Subject to Section 5.12 hereof and subject to the provisions of any Letter Agreement regarding the Company’s entitlement to seek equitable relief under the Plan or such Letter Agreement:

(a) Any dispute, controversy or claim arising out of or relating to this Plan or the payments and benefits provided hereunder, as well as any dispute as to the arbitrability of a matter under this Plan (collectively, “Claims”), shall be subject to resolution by final and binding arbitration; provided, however, that nothing in this Plan shall require arbitration of any Claims which, by law, cannot be the subject of a compulsory arbitration agreement.

(b) All Claims shall be resolved exclusively by arbitration administered by JAMS under its Employment Arbitration Rules and Procedures then in effect, currently available at https://www.jamsadr.com/rules-employment-arbitration (the “JAMS Rules”). Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company and the Participant shall have the right to (i) seek a restraining order or other injunctive or equitable relief or order in aid of arbitration or to compel arbitration, from a court of competent jurisdiction, or (ii) interim injunctive or equitable relief from the arbitrator pursuant to the JAMS Rules, in each case, to prevent any violation of this Plan or a Letter Agreement. The Company and the Participant must notify the other party in writing of a request to arbitrate any Claims within the same statute of limitations period applicable to such Claims.

(c) Any arbitration proceeding brought under this Plan shall be conducted before one arbitrator in Orange County, California, or such other location to which the parties mutually agree. The arbitrator shall be selected in accordance with the JAMS Rules, provided that the arbitrator shall be an attorney with significant experience in employment matters. Each party to any dispute shall pay its own expenses, including attorneys’ fees; provided, however, that the Company shall pay all costs and fees that a Participant would not otherwise have been subject to paying if the claim had been resolved in a court of law and, to the extent required by applicable law for this arbitration provision to be enforceable, the Company shall reimburse a Participant for any reasonable travel expenses incurred by such Participant in connection with such Participant’s travel to California for any arbitration proceedings. The arbitrator will be empowered to award either party any remedy at law or in equity that the party would otherwise have been entitled to had the matter been litigated in court, including, but not limited to, general, special and punitive damages, injunctive relief, costs and attorney fees; provided, however, that the authority to award any remedy is subject to whatever limitations, if any, exist in the applicable law on such remedies. The arbitrator shall issue a decision or award in writing stating the essential findings of fact and conclusions of law, and the arbitrators shall be required to follow ERISA or, if applicable, the laws of the State of Delaware, consistent with Section 5.13.

(d) Any judgment on or enforcement of any award, including an award providing for interim or permanent injunctive relief, rendered by the arbitrator may be entered, enforced or appealed in any court having jurisdiction thereof. Any arbitration proceedings, decision or award rendered hereunder, and the validity, effect and interpretation of this arbitration provision, shall be governed by the Federal Arbitration Act, 9 U.S.C. § 1 et seq.

 

-13-


(e) It is part of the essence of this Plan that any Claims hereunder shall be resolved expeditiously and as confidentially as possible. Accordingly, all proceedings in any arbitration shall be conducted under seal and kept strictly confidential. In that regard, no party shall use, disclose or permit the disclosure of any information, evidence or documents produced by any other party in the arbitration proceedings or about the existence, contents or results of the proceedings except as necessary and appropriate for the preparation and conduct of the arbitration proceedings, or as may be required by any legal process, or as required in an action in aid of arbitration or for enforcement of or appeal from an arbitral award. Before making any disclosure permitted by the preceding sentence, the party intending to make such disclosure shall give the other party reasonable written notice of the intended disclosure and afford such other party a reasonable opportunity to protect its interests.

[Signature Page Follows]

 

-14-


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, and as conclusive evidence of the Board’s adoption of this Plan, the Company has caused this Plan to be duly executed in its name and behalf by its duly authorized officer as of the Effective Date.

 

SmartStop Self Storage REIT, Inc.,

a Maryland corporation

By:  

/s/ H. Michael Schwartz

Name:   H. Michael Schwartz
Title:   Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

 

-15-


Exhibit A

Form of Letter Agreement

LETTER AGREEMENT

Dear [   ]:

We are pleased to inform you that the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors of SmartStop Self Storage REIT, Inc. (the “Company”), has determined that, effective as of [________] (the “Participation Date”), you are eligible to participate in the Company’s Executive Severance and Change of Control Plan (the “Plan”) as a Participant thereunder, subject to your execution and delivery of this Letter Agreement to the Company and subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan and this Letter Agreement. Capitalized terms used herein and not defined herein shall have the meanings given to such terms in the Plan.

A. Plan Benefits.

The terms of the Plan are detailed in the copy of the Plan that is attached as Annex A to this Letter Agreement, and those terms are incorporated in and made a part of this Letter Agreement. As described in more detail in the Plan, the Plan entitles you to certain severance payments and benefits in the event that your employment with the Company or any Subsidiary terminates under certain circumstances. By signing this Letter Agreement, and as a condition of your eligibility for the payments and benefits set forth in the Plan, you agree to comply with the provisions of the Plan and you agree to comply with the provisions of this Letter Agreement (including, without limitation, the Restrictive Covenants set forth below) during your employment with the Company or any Subsidiary and, to the extent required by the Restrictive Covenants, after your Termination Date, regardless of the reason for such termination.

B. Restrictive Covenants

All references to the Company in this Section B, and each of its subparagraphs, refer to the Company and its Subsidiaries and other Affiliates. You acknowledge and agree that the Company has developed intellectual property, Trade Secrets and Confidential Information to assist it in its business. You further acknowledge and agree that the Company has substantial relationships with prospective or existing customers, as well as customer good will associated with its ongoing businesses. The Company employs or will employ you in a position of trust and confidence, and may provide you with extraordinary or specialized training in furtherance of your duties hereunder. You therefore acknowledge and agree that the Company has a right to protect these legitimate business interests. You expressly agree that the covenants in this Section B shall continue in effect as set forth herein regardless of whether you are then entitled to receive any further payments or benefits from the Company. It is further understood that the covenants contained in this Section B survive the termination of the Plan and bind you as long as you are employed by the Company and, in certain instances, for a period of time thereafter.

 

Page 1


For purposes of this Letter Agreement, the “Restriction Period” shall mean: (a) if you hold the title of Chief Executive Officer or President of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, eighteen (18) months following your Termination Date, (b) if you hold the title of Chief Investment Officer or Chief Accounting Officer of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, twelve (12) months following your Termination Date, and (c) if you hold any other officer title of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, nine (9) months following your Termination Date.

(1) Confidential Information.

(a) Subject to subparagraph (c), you agree at all times to hold in strictest confidence, and not to use, except for the benefit of the Company, any of the Company’s Trade Secrets or Confidential Information or to disclose to any person, firm or entity any of the Company’s Trade Secrets or Confidential Information except (i) as authorized in writing by the Company Board, (ii) as authorized by the Company’s management, pursuant to a written non-disclosure agreement, or (iii) as required by law.

(I) For purposes of this Letter Agreement, “Trade Secrets” shall mean any of information of the Company, without regard to form, including, but not limited to, technical or non-technical data, a formula, a pattern, a compilation, a program, a device, a method, a technique, a drawing, a process, financial data, financial plans, product plans, or a list of actual or potential customers or suppliers, which is not commonly known by or available to the public and which information (A) derives economic value, actual or potential, from not being generally known to, and not being readily ascertainable by proper means by, other persons who can obtain economic value from its disclosure or use; and (B) is the subject of efforts that are reasonable under the circumstances to maintain its secrecy.

(II) For purposes of this Letter Agreement, “Confidential Information” shall mean any data and information (A) relating to the business of the Company, regardless of whether the data or information constitutes a Trade Secret; (B) disclosed to you or of which he/she became aware of as a consequence of your relationship with the Company; (C) having value to the Company; (D) not generally known to competitors of the Company; and (E) which includes Trade Secrets, methods of operation, names of customers, price lists, financial information and projections, route books, personnel data, and similar information; provided, however, that Confidential Information shall not mean data or information which has been voluntarily disclosed to the public by the Company, except where such public disclosure has been made by you without authorization from the Company, which has been independently developed and disclosed by others, or which has otherwise entered the public domain through lawful means.

(b) You agree that you will not, during your employment with the Company (the “Employment Period”), knowingly improperly use or disclose any proprietary information or trade secrets of any former employer and that you will not bring onto the premises of the Company any proprietary information belonging to such employer unless consented to in writing by such employer.

(c) The Defend Trade Secrets Act (18 U.S.C. § 1833(b)) states: “An individual shall not be held criminally or civilly liable under any federal or state Trade Secret law for the disclosure of a Trade Secret that (i) is made (A) in confidence to a federal, state, or local government official, either directly or indirectly, or to an attorney; and (B) solely for the purpose of reporting or investigating a suspected violation of law; or (ii) is made in a complaint or other document filed in a lawsuit or other proceeding, if such filing is made under seal.” Accordingly, you shall have the right to disclose in confidence Trade Secrets to federal, state, and local government officials, or to an attorney, for the sole purpose of reporting or investigating a suspected violation of law. The you shall also have the right to disclose Trade Secrets in a document filed in a lawsuit or other proceeding, but only if the filing is made under seal and protected from public disclosure. Nothing in this Letter Agreement is intended to conflict with 18 U.S.C. § 1833(b) or create liability for disclosures of Trade Secrets that are expressly allowed by 18 U.S.C. § 1833(b).

 

Page 2


(2) No Competing Employment. During the Employment Period, you shall not directly, or by assisting others, engage in the business of investing in, owning, managing, advising or operating self-storage properties anywhere in the United States or Canada (the “Competitive Business”) in any capacity identical with or corresponding to the capacity or capacities in which employed by the Company, anywhere within the areas(s) where you are working and/or for which you are responsible; provided, that you may make passive investments of less than 2% in any publicly-traded entity, and provided further that you may provide services to any business or entity that has a line of business, division, subsidiary or other affiliate that is a Competitive Business if, during the Employment Period, you are not employed directly in such line of business or division or by such subsidiary or other affiliate that is a Competitive Business and is not involved directly in the management, supervision or operations of such line of business, division, subsidiary or other affiliate that is a Competitive Business. The parties acknowledge and agree that, if necessary to determine the reasonable geographic scope of this restraint, the Company may rely on appropriate documentation and evidence outside the provisions of this Letter Agreement.

(3) Non-Solicitation of Employees. During your Employment Period and for the entire Restriction Period following your Termination Date (which is defined at the start of this Section B), you shall not directly or indirectly solicit, induce, recruit, encourage, or hire (or attempt any of the foregoing actions) or otherwise cause (or attempt to cause) any employee or individual independent contractor of the Company whom you know to leave his or her employment or engagement with the Company for employment with you or with any other entity or person, or otherwise interfere with or disrupt (or attempt to disrupt) the employment or service relationship between any such individual and the Company. You will not be deemed to have violated this subparagraph if you post a general advertisement or solicitation (including a posting on a website) that is not specifically targeted to any employee or individual independent contractor of the Company, or if the Board provides unanimous prior written consent to your activities (all such requests for consent will be given good faith consideration by the Board).

(4) Non-Solicitation of Customers. During your Employment Period and for the entire Restriction Period following your Termination Date, you shall not use any Trade Secret to solicit, induce, or encourage any customer, client, investor, vendor, or other party doing business with the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates to terminate its relationship therewith or transfer its business from the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates; provided, however, that your activities entered into on behalf of SmartStop Asset Management, LLC, SmartStop OP Holdings, LLC and their affiliates, other than in a role as a Competitive Business, shall be excluded from the non-solicitation covenants set forth in this subparagraph.

(5) Returning Company Documents. You agree that at your Termination Date, you will deliver to the Company (and will not keep in your possession, recreate or deliver to anyone else) any and all records, data, notes, reports, proposals, lists, specifications, drawings, blueprints, sketches, materials, equipment, other documents or property containing Confidential Information or Trade Secrets, or reproductions of any items developed by you pursuant to your employment with the Company or otherwise belonging to the Company, its successors or assigns. You are permitted to retain any electronic devices issued to you by the Company, provided that the Company’s Information Technology department must be permitted by you to first remove any Trade Secrets and/or Confidential Information contained thereon. You are not required to return any personal items, documents, files, or materials containing personal information (except to the extent such materials also contain Trade Secrets or Confidential Information); or documents or agreements (a) of which you are a party that pertain to your compensation and/or benefits (e.g., plan summaries and documents), regardless of whether such documents or agreements contain Trade Secrets or Confidential Information or (b) that is publicly available.

 

Page 3


(6) Understanding of Covenants. By initialing below, you represent that you (a) are familiar with the foregoing confidentiality, invention assignment, non-solicitation and non-competition covenants in this Section B, (b) are fully aware of your obligations hereunder, (c) agree to the reasonableness of the length of time, scope and geographic coverage of the foregoing covenants, and (d) agree that such covenants are necessary to protect the Confidential Information and Trade Secrets, and the proprietary information, good will, stable workforce, and customer relations of the Company. You acknowledge and agree that such covenants shall be construed as agreements independent of each other and of any provision of this or any other contract between the parties hereto; and that should any part or provision of any covenant be held invalid, void or unenforceable in any court of competent jurisdiction, such invalidity, voidness or unenforceability shall not render invalid, void or unenforceable any other part or provision of this Letter Agreement. If any portion of the foregoing provisions is found to be invalid or unenforceable by a court of competent jurisdiction because its duration, the territory, the definition of activities or the definition of information covered is considered to be invalid or unreasonable in scope, the invalid or unreasonable term shall be redefined, or a new enforceable term provided, such that the intent of the Company and you in agreeing to the provisions of this Letter Agreement will not be impaired and the provision in question shall be enforceable to the fullest extent of the applicable laws. You further acknowledge and agree that the existence of any claim or cause of action by you against the Company, whether predicated upon this or any other contract, shall not constitute a defense to the enforcement by the Company of said covenants.

 

Initials of Parties:               
Company   

 

      Date   

 

  
You   

 

      Date   

 

  

(7) Remedy for Breach. You agree that a breach of any of the covenants of this Section B would cause material and irreparable harm to the Company that would be difficult or impossible to measure, and that damages or other legal remedies available to the Company for any such injury would, therefore, be an inadequate remedy for any such breach. Accordingly, you agree that if you breach any term of this Section B, the Company shall be entitled, in addition to and without limitation upon all other remedies the Company may have under this Letter Agreement, at law or otherwise, to obtain injunctive or other appropriate equitable relief, without bond or other security, to restrain any such breach. Claims for damages and equitable relief in any court shall be available to the Company in lieu of, or prior to or pending determination in any arbitration proceeding. In the event the enforceability of any of the terms of this Letter Agreement shall be challenged in court and you are not enjoined from breaching any of the protective covenants, then if a court of competent jurisdiction finds that the challenged protective covenant is enforceable, the time periods shall be deemed tolled upon the filing of the lawsuit challenging the enforceability of this Letter Agreement until the dispute is finally resolved and all periods of appeal have expired.

(8) Defense of Claims. You agree that, during the Employment Period, and for a period of five (5) years after your Termination Date, upon request from the Company, you will cooperate with the Company, or each of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates, in the defense of any claims or actions that may be made by or against the Company, or such Subsidiary or Affiliate, or their officers in connection with the business, that affect your prior areas of responsibility, except (a) if your reasonable interests are adverse to the Company or such Subsidiary or Affiliate in such claim or action or (b) if such cooperation unreasonably interferes with your then-current employment. The Company agrees that it shall reimburse the reasonable out of pocket costs and reasonable attorney fees that you actually incur in connection providing such assistance or cooperation to the Company, or one of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates in accordance with the Company’s standard policies and procedures as in effect from time to time, provided that you shall have obtained prior written approval from the Company for any travel or legal fees and expenses incurred by you in excess of $5,000 in connection with your obligations under this subparagraph. In addition, the Company shall pay you for your time spent in providing such cooperation at an hourly rate equal to your Base Salary as of your Termination Date (disregarding any reduction that constitutes Good Reason) divided by 2,080, subject to reasonable substantiation.

 

Page 4


C. Entire Agreement.

This Letter Agreement and the Plan constitute the entire agreement between you and the Company with respect to the subject matter hereof and, as of the Participation Date, shall supersede in all respects any and all prior agreements between you and the Company concerning such subject matter.

D. Acknowledgement.

By signing below, you agree to the terms and conditions set forth herein, including without limitation, the Restrictive Covenants, and acknowledge: (a) your participation in the Plan as of the Participation Date; (b) that you have received and read a copy of the Plan; (c) that you agree that any severance payments and benefits provided for in the Plan are subject to all of the terms and conditions of the Plan and you agree to such terms and conditions; (d) that the Company may amend or terminate the Plan at any time subject to the limitations set forth in the Plan; and (e) that the Restrictive Covenants shall survive and continue to apply in accordance with their terms notwithstanding any termination of the Plan in the future.

 

COMPANY:
SMARTSTOP SELF STORAGE REIT, INC.
By:  

 

Name:  

 

Title:  

 

AGREED TO AND ACCEPTED
[Name]  

 

 

Page 5


Annex A

Executive Severance and Change of Control Plan

[See Attached]

 

Page 1


Exhibit B

Detailed Claims and Arbitration Procedures

1. Claims Procedure

Initial Claims. All claims will be presented to the Compensation Committee in writing. Within ninety (90) days after receiving a claim, a claims official appointed by the Compensation Committee will consider the claim and issue his or her determination thereon in writing. The claims official may extend the determination period for up to an additional ninety (90) days by giving the Claimant written notice. The initial claim determination period can be extended further with the consent of the Claimant. Any claims that the Claimant does not pursue in good faith through the initial claims stage will be treated as having been irrevocably waived.

Claims Decisions. If the claim is granted, the benefits or relief the Claimant seeks will be provided. If the claim is wholly or partially denied, the claims official will, within ninety (90) days (or a longer period, as described above), provide the Claimant with written notice of the denial, setting forth, in a manner calculated to be understood by the Claimant: (i) the specific reason or reasons for the denial; (ii) specific references to the provisions on which the denial is based; (iii) a description of any additional material or information necessary for the Claimant to perfect the claim, together with an explanation of why the material or information is necessary; and (iv) appropriate information as to the steps to be taken if the Claimant wishes to submit his or her claim for review, including the time limits applicable to such procedures, and a statement of the Claimant’s right to bring a civil action under Section 502(a) of ERISA following an adverse decision upon review. If the Claimant can establish that the claims official has failed to respond to the claim in a timely manner, the Claimant may treat the claim as having been denied by the claims official.

Appeals of Denied Claims. Each Claimant will have the opportunity to appeal the claims official’s denial of a claim in writing to an appeals official appointed by the Compensation Committee (which may be a person, committee, or other entity). A Claimant must appeal a denied claim within sixty (60) days after receipt of written notice of denial of the claim, or within sixty (60) days after it was due if the Claimant did not receive it by its due date. The Claimant (or his or her duly authorized representative) may review pertinent documents in connection with the appeals proceeding and may present issues, comments and documents in writing relating to the claim. The review will take into account all comments, documents, records and other information submitted by the Claimant relating to the claim, without regard to whether such information was submitted or considered in the initial benefit claim determination. Any claims that the Claimant does not pursue in good faith through the appeals stage, such as by failing to file a timely appeal request, will be treated as having been irrevocably waived.

Appeals Decisions. The decision by the appeals official will be made not later than sixty (60) days after the written appeal is received by the Compensation Committee, unless special circumstances require an extension of time, in which case a decision will be rendered as soon as possible, but not later than one-hundred and twenty (120) days after the appeal was filed, unless the Claimant agrees to a further extension of time. The appeal decision will be in writing, will be set forth in a manner calculated to be understood by the Claimant, and will include specific reasons for the decision, specific references to the provisions on which the decision is based, if applicable, a statement that the Claimant is entitled to receive upon request and free of charge reasonable access to and copies of all documents, records and other information relevant to the Claimant’s claim for benefits, as well as a statement of the Claimant’s right to bring an action under Section 502(a) of ERISA. If a Claimant does not receive the appeal decision by the date it is due, the Claimant may deem his or her appeal to have been denied.

 

Page 1


Procedures. The Compensation Committee will adopt procedures by which initial claims will be considered and appeals will be resolved; different procedures may be established for different claims. All procedures will be designed to afford a Claimant full and fair consideration of his or her claim.

Arbitration of Rejected Appeals. If a Claimant has pursued a claim through the appeal stage of these claims procedures, the Claimant may contest the actual or deemed denial of that claim through arbitration, as described below and in Section 5.14 of the Plan. In no event shall any denied claim be subject to resolution by any means (such as in a court of law) other than arbitration in accordance with the following provisions.

2. Arbitration Procedure

Request for Arbitration. A Claimant must submit a request for binding arbitration to the Compensation Committee within sixty (60) days after receipt of the written denial of an appeal (or within sixty (60) days after he or she should have received the determination). The Claimant or the Compensation Committee may bring an action in any court of appropriate jurisdiction to compel arbitration in accordance with these procedures; provided, however, that nothing in this Plan shall require arbitration of any claims which, by law, cannot be the subject of a compulsory arbitration agreement.

Terms and Conditions of Arbitration. All claims shall be resolved exclusively by arbitration in accordance with Section 5.14 of the Plan.

The procedures set forth herein are intended to comply with United States Department of Labor Regulation Section 2560.503-1 and should be construed in accordance with such regulation. In no event shall the foregoing claims procedure be interpreted as expanding the rights of any Claimant beyond what is required by United States Department of Labor Regulation Section 2560.503-1.

 

Page 2

Exhibit 99.1

 

LOGO

April 3, 2025

Dear Fellow Stockholder:

Thank you for your investment in SmartStop Self Storage REIT, Inc. (“SmartStop”). I am writing to you to share an important and exciting update for SmartStop regarding SmartStop’s recently concluded underwritten public offering (the “Offering”) and related listing of its newly issued unclassified common stock (the “Listed Shares”) on the New York Stock Exchange (the “NYSE”). On April 2, 2025, the Listed Shares began trading on the NYSE under the ticker symbol (“SMA”). On April 3, 2025, SmartStop consummated the Offering, raising approximately $874.4 million in net proceeds.

SmartStop filed its initial registration statement on Form S-11 with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on April 22, 2022, with the intent to issue shares of its common stock in an underwritten public offering when the time was right. Since then, our team has worked diligently to effectively position SmartStop for future growth and success. SmartStop’s executive management team, together with its Board of Directors, believe the Offering is an important step towards providing SmartStop access to attractive capital available from the public markets in addition to providing pre-existing stockholders (Class A and Class T stockholders) liquidity when their shares automatically convert into the Listed Shares after the six-month initial lock-up period expires on October 1, 2025. Net proceeds from the Offering in the amount of $874.4 million were used to, among other things, redeem 100% of the outstanding Series A Convertible Preferred Stock, reduce outstanding debt and fund recent property acquisitions. We believe that this will strengthen SmartStop’s balance sheet and, over time, improve SmartStop’s cost of capital and enhance SmartStop’s performance through internal and strategic external growth.

Now is an exciting time for self storage real estate and our team is enthusiastic and focused on creating value for SmartStop’s stockholders through the public markets. As we enter the next chapter of SmartStop’s history, we want to express our sincere gratitude to SmartStop’s pre-existing stockholders who have supported SmartStop’s mission over the years.

Of course, we understand that legacy holders of Class A and Class T common stock will likely have questions regarding this announcement and how it impacts their holdings. Please refer to the enclosed list of “Frequently Asked Questions,” which addresses most questions received from pre-existing stockholders. Moreover, please look out for further communications from us, as we will continue to share new updates on the progress of SmartStop in the coming months.

Continued Successes,

H. Michael Schwartz

Founder, Chairman & Chief Executive Officer


LOGO

 

Frequently Asked Questions

 

1.

What is SmartStop’s stock ticker symbol on the NYSE?

SMA

 

2.

Why did SmartStop complete the Offering and list the Listed Shares on the NYSE?

SmartStop completed the Offering and listed the Listed Shares on the NYSE in order to enhance its ability to access the public capital markets, raise capital to strengthen its balance sheet and position SmartStop for further growth, while providing a liquidity option for its pre-existing stockholders.

 

3.

When did the Listed Shares start trading on the NYSE?

The Listed Shares began trading on the NYSE on April 2, 2025.

 

4.

What was the public offering price for the Listed Shares?

The public offering price for the Listed Shares was $30.00 per share. The Listed Shares are now listed and trade on the NYSE. The trading price of the Listed Shares can be expected to fluctuate over time and will depend on a number of factors, including the extent of institutional investor interest in us, the general reputation of REITs and the attractiveness of their equity securities in comparison to other equity securities (including securities issued by other real estate based companies), our financial performance and general stock and bond market conditions, as well as factors unrelated to our performance.

 

5.

Are pre-existing stockholders able to sell their shares immediately on the NYSE?

No. Pre-existing stockholders are not able to sell their shares on the NYSE until the six-month lock-up period expires on October 1, 2025. As is common for non-traded REITs that list their shares and conduct a concurrent public offering, our Board of Directors (our “Board”) and the underwriting group believed it was important to briefly delay liquidity to attempt to stabilize our public stock price during the first six months of trading activity. Note that SmartStop’s management and members of the Board will also not be permitted to sell their shares until that date as well.

Pursuant to SmartStop’s charter, upon the six-month anniversary of the listing date (October 1, 2025), each outstanding share of SmartStop’s Class A common stock and Class T common stock will automatically, and without any stockholder action, convert into one Listed Share, and thereafter be freely tradable on the NYSE. Current holders of Class A common stock and Class T common stock will not be able to sell such shares on the NYSE until such conversion occurs.


LOGO

 

6.

On October 1, 2025, which is the six-month anniversary of the initial listing of SmartStop’s common stock on the NYSE, do I need to do anything for the conversion of Class A common stock and Class T common stock to NYSE-listed common stock if I hold my shares directly?

No. However, if you currently hold your shares directly with SS&C and wish to transfer to a brokerage account once the conversion of Class A common stock and Class T common stock to the Listed Shares is completed, you will be receiving additional communication from us on how to effectuate such transfer. This will include receiving a Direct Registration Transaction Advice (DRTA), which you will be able to use to move your shares to a brokerage account for trading. We will communicate with you again as we get closer to the lock-up expiration.

 

7.

What if my common stock is held with a custodian or bank?

If your shares are held with a custodian or bank, our transfer agent, SS&C, will send you a transaction statement once the lock-up has expired and your shares convert to the Listed Shares. Some custodians and banks may proactively transfer your shares to your brokerage account, while others may need your authorization and instruction. Contact your financial advisor for assistance. We will communicate with you again as we get closer to the lock-up expiration.

 

8.

Will there be any change to my share ownership?

Yes. Shortly after listing, SmartStop will instruct its transfer agent to redeem any fractional shares you may own. This is an important step that must be completed prior to your shares being listed on the NYSE. We expect that the payment method you will receive for such fractional share redemption, if any, will be the same method as you presently receive for your distributions. We further expect that the price paid for such fractional shares will be the current public trading price as of the day we complete such redemption.

 

9.

Will there be any changes to distributions for Class A and Class T stockholders?

Yes. While any distributions must be authorized by our Board and declared by SmartStop at such times and in such amounts as our Board determines, SmartStop has adjusted the distribution rate to align with publicly traded REITs and plans to move to quarterly distributions after the six-month lock-up period concludes.

On March 21, 2025, our Board declared a monthly distribution to our Class A and Class T common stockholders of record as of April 30, 2025 at the rate equal to $0.1973 per share (or $2.40 annualized) multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of days in the month of April 2025 immediately preceding the effective date of this offering, and the denominator of which is 30 (the “Pre-Listing Distribution”). In addition, our Board declared a monthly distribution to all common stockholders of record as of April 30, 2025 at a rate equal to approximately $0.1315 per share (or $1.60 annualized) multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of days in the month of April 2025 from and after the effective date of this offering, and the denominator of which is 30 (the “Post-Listing Distribution”). Our existing Class A and Class T stockholders will be entitled to both the Pre-Listing Distribution as well as the Post-Listing Distribution, payable in May 2025. Purchasers of shares of common stock in this offering will only receive the Post-Listing Distribution on such shares, payable in May 2025.


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10.

Why is the public offering price for the Listed Shares in the Offering different from the last estimated net asset value per share?

On March 12, 2025, and as required pursuant to FINRA rules, our Board approved a revised estimated net asset value per share of $14.50 (the “Estimated Per Share NAV”). The Estimated Per Share NAV was determined after consultation with an independent third-party valuation firm and based on the estimated value of SmartStop’s assets, less the estimated value of its liabilities, divided by the number of shares of Class A Common Stock and Class T Common Stock outstanding on a fully diluted basis, in each case as of June 30, 2024. This valuation was performed in accordance with the methodology provided in practice guideline 2013-01, valuations of publicly registered non-listed REITs, issued by the Institute for Portfolio Alternatives, in addition to guidance from the SEC.

Subsequent to this, on March 20, 2025, we completed a one-for-four reverse stock split of our outstanding Class A and Class T shares (the “Reverse Split”). As a result of the Reverse Split, every four shares of our outstanding common stock were automatically changed into one issued and outstanding share of common stock, rounded to the nearest 1/1000th share. While the number of shares decreased, the total value of holdings remained the same. In connection with this, our Estimated Per Share NAV and annual distribution rate were adjusted proportionally to $58.00 and $2.40, respectively. There was also no impact on any stockholder voting rights or ownership as a result of the Reverse Split.

In contrast to the Estimated Per Share NAV, the public offering price for the Listed Shares in the Offering was determined based on current self storage fundamentals, market conditions and public company valuations. These assumptions and valuation approaches differ from those used by third-party valuation firms determining private company valuations, such as our Estimated Per Share NAV.

Further, the Estimated Per Share NAV as of June 30, 2024 does not represent the fair value of SmartStop’s assets less its liabilities according to GAAP, nor does it represent a liquidation value of SmartStop’s assets and liabilities or the amount its shares of common stock would trade at on a national securities exchange, such as NYSE. The current NYSE trading price is a dynamic and real-time reflection of market clearing prices between a willing seller and willing buyer of SmartStop’s shares.

Please note that it is common for the market capitalization of a company to be different from the NAV or book value of a company’s underlying assets (market capitalization is the total value of a company’s outstanding stock, calculated by multiplying the price of a share of SmartStop’s stock and the total number of shares outstanding).


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11.

Did SmartStop’s management or Board receive any fees for the listing or sell any shares of common stock?

No. None of our directors or executive officers received any listing fee or disposition fee in connection with the Offering or listing our shares on the NYSE. As of today, the directors and executive officers of the company collectively own approximately 5.7% of all outstanding shares of common stock and OP units. Further, directors and executive officers signed lock-up agreements with the underwriters such that they cannot sell or otherwise dispose of any of their common stock or any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for shares of SmartStop’s common stock until at least October 1, 2025, subject to certain exceptions, without the prior written consent of the representatives on behalf of the underwriters of the Offering.

 

12.

Has SmartStop’s distribution reinvestment plan (the “DRP”) and share redemption program (the “SRP”) been impacted by the listing on the NYSE and the Offering?

The DRP and SRP remain suspended at this time for investors who own shares of either Class A common stock or Class T common stock. We plan to terminate the DRP and SRP in the near future.

 

13.

Where can I find additional information and details regarding the listing on the NYSE, the Offering, SmartStop and its properties, strategy, management team, etc.?

A copy of the final prospectus for the Offering can be found on our website at https://investors.smartstopselfstorage.com, as well as on the SEC’s website www.sec.gov (click Filings, then Company Filing Search, then enter “SMA” or “SmartStop Self Storage REIT” in the Company and Person Lookup field). Other information is also available at those websites, including our Forms 10-K, 10-Q, 8-K (including Supplemental Information) and ownership disclosures.

 

14.

Who do I contact if I have questions?

SmartStop’s Investor Services team can be reached at (833) 404-4110 or by email to ir@smartstop.com. You can also visit the Investor Relations page on SmartStop’s website at https://investors.smartstopselfstorage.com.