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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): July 1, 2022 (July 1, 2022)
 
NexPoint Diversified Real Estate Trust
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
 
         
Delaware
 
001-32921
 
80-0139099
(State or other jurisdiction
 
(Commission File Number)
 
(IRS Employer
of incorporation)
     
Identification No.)
 
300 Crescent Court, Suite 700
Dallas, Texas 75201
(Address of principal executive offices, including zip code)
 
214-276-6300
 
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)
 
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 Shares, $0.001 par value
 
NXDT
 
New York Stock Exchange
         
5.50% Series A Cumulative Preferred Shares, par value $0.001 per share
($25.00 liquidation preference per share)
 
NXDT-PA
 
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 July 1, 2022 (the “Deregistration Date”), the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) issued an order pursuant to Section 8(f) of the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “1940 Act”) declaring that NexPoint Diversified Real Estate Trust, a Delaware statutory trust (the “Company,” “we” or “our”) has ceased to be an investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940 Act, as amended (the “Deregistration Order”). The issuance of the Deregistration Order enables us to proceed with full implementation of our new business mandate to operate as a diversified real estate investment trust (“REIT”) that focuses primarily on investing in various commercial real estate property types and across the capital structure, including but not limited to: equity, mortgage debt, mezzanine debt and preferred equity (the “Business Change”).
 
Advisory Agreement
 
In connection with the Business Change and effective on the Deregistration Date, we terminated our investment advisory agreement (the “Former Advisory Agreement”) with NexPoint Advisors, L.P. (“NexPoint”) and entered into a new advisory agreement (the “Advisory Agreement”) with NexPoint Real Estate Advisors X, L.P. (the “Adviser”), a subsidiary of NexPoint. We also terminated the investment advisory agreements (the “Subsidiary Advisory Agreements”) between NexPoint and our wholly owned subsidiaries, NexPoint Real Estate Opportunities, LLC and NexPoint Real Estate Capital, LLC, effective on the Deregistration Date. A description of the Advisory Agreement follows:
 
Duties of the Adviser
 
Pursuant to the Advisory Agreement, subject to the overall supervision of our Board of Trustees, the Adviser manages our day-to-day operations, and provides investment management services to us.
 
Advisory Fee and Administrative Fee
 
As consideration for the Adviser’s services under the Advisory Agreement, we pay our Adviser an annual fee (the “Advisory Fee”) of 1.00% of Managed Assets (as defined below) and annual fee (the “Administrative Fee” and, together with the Advisory Fee, the “Fees”) of 0.20% of the Company’s Managed Assets, in each case paid monthly, in cash or at the election of the Adviser in shares of our common stock, subject to certain limitations.
 
Under the Advisory Agreement, “Managed Assets” means an amount equal to the total assets of the Company, including any form of leverage, minus all accrued expenses incurred in the normal course of operations, but not excluding any liabilities or obligations attributable to leverage obtained through (i) indebtedness of any type (including, without limitation, borrowing to purchase or develop real estate or other investments, borrowing through a credit facility, or the issuance of debt securities), (ii) the issuance of preferred stock or other preference securities, (iii) the reinvestment of collateral received for securities loaned in accordance with the Company’s investment objectives and policies, and/or (iv) any other means. In the event the Company holds collateralized mortgage-backed securities (“CMBS”) where the Company holds the controlling tranche of the securitization and is required to consolidate under generally accepted accounting principles all assets and liabilities of a specific CMBS trust, the consolidated assets and liabilities of the consolidated trust will be netted to calculate the allowable amount to be included as Managed Assets. In addition, in the event the Company consolidates another Person it does not wholly own as a result of owning a controlling interest in such Person or otherwise, Managed Assets will be calculated without giving effect to such consolidation and instead such Person’s assets, leverage, expenses, liabilities and obligations will, on a pro rata basis consistent with the Company’s percentage ownership, be considered those of the Company for purposes of calculation of Managed Assets. The Adviser computes Managed Assets as of the end of each fiscal quarter and then computes each installment of the Fees as promptly as possible after the end of the month with respect to which such installment is payable.
 
As of the Deregistration Date, no Fees have been paid to the Adviser pursuant to the Advisory Agreement.
 
 

 
Reimbursement of Expenses; Expense Cap
 
We are required to pay directly or reimburse the Adviser for all of the documented “operating expenses” (all out-of-pocket expenses of the Adviser in performing services for us, including but not limited to the expenses incurred by the Adviser in connection with any provision by the Adviser of legal, accounting, financial, due diligence, investor relations or other services performed by the Adviser that outside professionals or outside consultants would otherwise perform and our pro rata share of rent, telephone, utilities, office furniture, equipment, machinery or other office, internal and overhead expenses of the Adviser required for our operations) and any and all expenses (other than underwriters’ discounts) paid or to be paid by us in connection with an offering of our securities, including, without limitation, our legal, accounting, printing, mailing and filing fees and other documented offering expenses (collectively, “Offering Expenses”), paid or incurred by the Adviser or its affiliates in connection with the services it provides to us pursuant to the Advisory Agreement. Direct payment of operating expenses by us together with reimbursement of operating expenses to the Adviser, plus compensation expenses relating to equity awards granted under our long-term incentive plan and all other corporate general and administrative expenses of the Company, including the Fees payable under the Advisory Agreement, may not exceed 1.5% of Managed Assets (the “Expense Cap”), calculated as of the end of each quarter, for the twelve-month period following the Company’s receipt of the Deregistration Order; provided, however, that this limitation will not apply to Offering Expenses, legal, accounting, financial, due diligence and other service fees incurred in connection with extraordinary litigation and mergers and acquisitions or other events outside the ordinary course of our business or any out-of-pocket acquisition or due diligence expenses incurred in connection with the acquisition or disposition of certain real estate-related investments; provided, further, in the event the Company consolidates another entity that it does not wholly own as a result of owning a controlling interest in such entity or otherwise, expenses will be calculated without giving effect to such consolidation and instead such entity’s expenses will, on a pro rata basis consistent with the Company’s percentage ownership, be considered those of the Company for purposes of calculation of expenses. The Adviser may, at its discretion and at any time, waive its right to reimbursement for eligible out-of-pocket expenses paid on the Company’s behalf. Once waived, these expenses are considered permanently waived and become non-recoupable in the future.
 
Term of the Advisory Agreement
 
The Advisory Agreement has an initial term of three years and is automatically renewed thereafter for successive additional one-year terms unless earlier terminated. We have the right to terminate the Advisory Agreement on 30 days’ written notice for cause (as defined in the Advisory Agreement). The Advisory Agreement can be terminated by us or the Adviser without cause with 180 days’ written notice to the other party. The Adviser may also terminate the agreement with 30 days’ written notice if we have materially breached the agreement and such breach has continued for 30 days. In addition, the Advisory Agreement shall terminate in the event of an assignment (as defined in Section 202(a)(1) of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940) of the Advisory Agreement (an “Advisers Act Assignment”). A termination fee will be payable to the Adviser by us upon termination of the Advisory Agreement for any reason, including non-renewal, other than a termination by us for cause or a termination due to an Advisers Act Assignment. The termination fee will be equal to three times the Fees earned by the Adviser during the twelve month period immediately preceding the most recently completed calendar quarter prior to the effective termination date; provided, however, if the Advisory Agreement is terminated prior to the one year anniversary of the date of the Advisory Agreement, the Fees earned during such period will be annualized for purposes of calculating the Fee.
 
Liability and Indemnification of Manager
 
Under the terms of the Advisory Agreement, the Adviser will indemnify and hold harmless the Company and its subsidiaries, including the Company’s Operating Partnership (defined below), from all claims, liabilities, damages, losses, costs and expenses, including amounts paid in satisfaction of judgments, in compromises and settlements, as fines and penalties and legal or other costs and expenses of investigating or defending against any claim or alleged claim, of any nature whatsoever, known or unknown, liquidated or unliquidated, that are incurred by reason of the Adviser’s bad faith, fraud, willful misfeasance, intentional misconduct, gross negligence or reckless disregard of its duties; provided, however, that the Adviser will not be held responsible for any action of our Board of Trustees in following or declining to follow any written advice or written recommendation given by the Adviser. However, the aggregate maximum amount that the Adviser may be liable to us pursuant to the Advisory Agreement will, to the extent not prohibited by law, never exceed the amount of the Advisory Fees received by the Adviser under the Advisory Agreement prior to the date that the acts or omissions giving rise to a claim for indemnification or liability have occurred. In addition, the Adviser will not be liable for special, exemplary, punitive, indirect, or consequential loss, or damage of any kind whatsoever, including without limitation lost profits. The limitations described in the preceding two sentences will not apply, however, to the extent such damages are determined in a final binding non-appealable court or arbitration proceeding to result from the bad faith, fraud, willful misfeasance, intentional misconduct, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the Adviser’s duties.
 
 

 
Other Activities of Manager and its Affiliates
 
The Adviser and its affiliates expect to engage in other business ventures, and as a result, their resources will not be dedicated exclusively to our business. However, pursuant to the Advisory Agreement, the Adviser is required to devote sufficient resources to our administration to discharge its obligations under the Advisory Agreement.
 
The foregoing description of the Advisory Agreement is not complete and is subject to and qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Advisory Agreement, a copy of which is filed as Exhibit 10.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and is incorporated herein by reference.
 
Item 1.02
Termination of a Material Definitive Agreement.
 
Effective on the Deregistration Date, we terminated the Former Advisory Agreement and the Subsidiary Advisory Agreements pursuant to which NexPoint provided investment advisory services to us and certain of our subsidiaries. In addition, effective on the Deregistration Date, we terminated our administration services agreement with NexPoint (the “Administration Services Agreement”) pursuant to which NexPoint previously performed administrative functions for us in connection with our operation as a closed-end investment company. Going forward, we expect our Adviser to perform advisory services and administrative functions for us in connection with the Business Change pursuant to the Advisory Agreement.
 
Former Advisory Agreement
 
In exchange for the investment advisory services provided by NexPoint under the Former Advisory Agreement, the Company paid the Adviser a fee for investment management services (the “Former Advisory Fee”), payable monthly, in an amount equal to 1.00% of the average weekly value of an amount (the “Former Managed Assets”) equal to the total assets of the Company, including any form of investment leverage, minus all accrued expenses incurred in the normal course of operations, but not excluding any liabilities or obligations attributable to investment leverage obtained through (i) indebtedness of any type (including, without limitation, borrowing through a credit facility or the issuance of debt securities), (ii) the issuance of preferred stock or other similar preference securities, (iii) the reinvestment of collateral received for securities loaned in accordance with the Company’s investment objectives and policies, and/or (iv) any other means. The Adviser was permitted to waive a portion of its fees.
 
For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021, the Company incurred a Former Advisory Fee of $8.7 million, paid entirely in cash. From January 1, 2022 through May 31, 2022, the Company incurred a Former Advisory Fee of $4.1 million, paid entirely in cash.
 
Administration Services Agreement
 
In exchange for the administration services provided by NexPoint under the Administration Services Agreement, the Company paid to NexPoint an annual fee (the “Administration Services Fee”), payable monthly, in an amount equal to 0.20% of the average weekly value of the Former Managed Assets.
 
For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021, the Company incurred an Administration Services Fee of $1.8 million, paid entirely in cash. From January 1, 2022 through May 31, 2022, the Company incurred an Administration Services Fee of $0.9 million, paid entirely in cash.
 
Item 3.03.
Material Modifications to Rights of Security Holders.
 
The information contained under “Item 5.03. Amendments to Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws; Change in Fiscal Year” is incorporated herein by reference.
 
 

 
Item 4.01
Changes in Registrants Certifying Accountant.
 
Effective on the Deregistration Date, the Audit Committee of our Board of Trustees approved the engagement of KPMG LLP (“KPMG”) as our independent registered public accounting firm for our fiscal year 2022 and the dismissal of Cohen & Company, Ltd. (“Cohen”) as our independent registered public accounting firm.
 
During the fiscal years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, and the subsequent interim period through the Deregistration Date, we did not, nor did anyone on our behalf, consult with KPMG with respect to (a) the application of accounting principles to a specified transaction, either completed or proposed, or the type of audit opinion that might be rendered on our financial statements, and no written report or oral advice was provided to us that KPMG concluded was an important factor considered by us in reaching a decision as to any accounting, auditing or financial reporting issue or (b) any matter that was either the subject of a disagreement, as defined in Item 304(a)(1)(iv) of Regulation S-K promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933 (the “Securities Act”), and the related instructions, or a reportable event, as described in Item 304(a)(1)(v) of Regulation S-K.
 
The reports of Cohen on our financial statements for each of the two years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, did not contain an adverse opinion or a disclaimer of opinion, nor were they qualified or modified as to uncertainty, audit scope or accounting principles. For the fiscal years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, and the subsequent interim period through the Deregistration Date, there were no “disagreements” (as that term is defined in Item 304(a)(1)(iv) of Regulation S-K and related instructions) between us and Cohen on any matter of accounting principles or practices, financial statement disclosure or auditing scope or procedures which, if not resolved to the satisfaction of Cohen, would have caused Cohen to make reference to the subject matter of the disagreement in their report. During the fiscal years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020 and the subsequent interim period through the Deregistration Date, there were no “reportable events” (as that term is defined in Item 304(a)(1)(v) of Regulation S-K).
 
We provided Cohen with a copy of the disclosures contained in this Current Report on Form 8-K and requested that Cohen furnish us with a letter addressed to the SEC stating whether it agrees with the statements contained herein. A copy of Cohen’s letter, dated July 1, 2022, is filed as Exhibit 16.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K.
 
Item 5.02
Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.
 
In connection with the Business Change, we also announced changes to our Board of Trustees and executive officers, effective on the Deregistration Date. The Board of Trustees appointed Brian Mitts as our Chief Financial Officer, Executive VP-Finance, Treasurer and Assistant Secretary, Matt McGraner as our Executive VP, Chief Investment Officer and Secretary and D.C. Sauter as our General Counsel. James Dondero will continue to serve as President and Dustin Norris will continue to serve as Executive Vice President. Frank Waterhouse resigned from his position as Treasurer, Principal Accounting Officer and Principal Financial Officer, Will Mabry resigned from his position as Assistant Treasurer, Rahim Ibrahim resigned from his position as Assistant Secretary, and Stephanie Vitiello resigned from her position as Secretary, Chief Compliance Officer, and Anti-Money Laundering Officer, effective as of the Deregistration Date.
 
In addition, John Honis, Bryan A. Ward, Ethan Powell and Dr. Bob Froehlich resigned as Trustees of the Company, effective as of the Deregistration Date. Mr. Powell also resigned in his capacity as Chairman of the Board of Trustees, effective as of the Deregistration Date. The resignations of the foregoing Trustees were not a result of any disagreement with the Company on any matter relating to the Company’s operations, policies or practices. The Board of Trustees also increased the number of members comprising the Board of Trustees by one and declassified the Board of Trustees as of the Deregistration Date. Also on the Deregistration Date, the Board of Trustees appointed Mr. Mitts, Mr. Dondero, Scott Kavanaugh and Dr. Arthur Laffer to the Board of the Trustees and Mr. Dondero as Chairman of the Board of Trustees, each of whom will serve for a term that will expire at the next annual meeting of shareholders or until their successor has been elected and qualified. Beginning with the annual meeting of the Company’s shareholders to be held in 2023, all Trustees will be elected to serve for terms that will expire at the next annual meeting of shareholders or until their successor has been elected and qualified. Each of Mr. Kavanaugh and Dr. Laffer has been named to the Company’s Audit Committee, Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee and Compensation Committee.
 
 

 
Mr. Mitts, age 51, has served as our Chief Financial Officer, Executive VP-Finance, Treasurer and Assistant Secretary and as a member of our Board of Trustees since the Deregistration Date. Mr. Mitts co-founded NexPoint Real Estate Advisors, L.P. (“NREA”), which is an affiliate of our Adviser, as well as NexPoint Residential Trust, Inc. (“NXRT”), a publicly traded multi-family REIT, and other real estate businesses with Mr. McGraner and Mr. Dondero. Currently, Mr. Mitts leads our Adviser’s financial reporting and accounting teams and is integral in financing and capital allocation decisions. Prior to co-founding NREA and NXRT, Mr. Mitts was Chief Operations Officer of Highland Funds Asset Management, L.P., the external advisor of open-end and closed-end funds where he managed the operations of these funds and helped develop new products. Mr. Mitts was also a co-founder of NexPoint. He has worked for NREA or its affiliates since 2007. He has also served as the Chief Financial Officer, Executive VP-Finance, Secretary and Treasurer of NexPoint Real Estate Finance, Inc. (“NREF”), a publicly traded commercial mortgage REIT, since February 2020 and as a member of the board of directors of NREF since June 2019; as the Chief Financial Officer, Executive Vice President-Finance and Treasurer of NXRT since March 2015, additionally as Secretary of NXRT since February 2019, and as a member of the board of directors of NXRT since September 2014; as Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer and Assistant Secretary of VineBrook Homes Trust, Inc. (“VineBrook”), a single-family rental REIT registered with the SEC under Section 12(g) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, since November 2018, additionally as Interim President of VineBrook since September 2021, and as a member of the board of directors of VineBrook since July 2018; as the Chief Financial Officer, Executive VP-Finance, Treasurer and Corporate Secretary of NexPoint Hospitality Trust, Inc. (“NHT”), a publicly traded hospitality REIT listed on the TSX Venture Exchange, since December 2018; and as Chief Financial Officer, Secretary and Treasurer of NexPoint Storage Partners, Inc., a private self-storage lending REIT, since November 2020. In addition, Mr. Mitts served as President and Treasurer of NREF from June 2019 to February 2020, President and Treasurer of NXRT from September 2014 to March 2015, and President and Treasurer of VineBrook from July 2018 to October 2018.
 
Matt McGraner, age 38, has served as our Executive VP, Chief Investment Officer and Secretary since the Deregistration Date. He has also served as the Executive VP and Chief Investment Officer of NREF since February 2020; as Executive VP and Chief Investment Officer of NXRT since March 2015; as Executive VP, Chief Investment Officer and Secretary of VineBrook since February 2019; and as President and a member of the board of directors of NexPoint Storage Partners, Inc. since November 2020. Mr. McGraner has also served as Chief Investment Officer of NHT since December 2018 and as a Managing Director at NexPoint since 2016. Mr. McGraner served as Secretary of NREF from June 2019 to February 2020; as Secretary of NXRT from September 2014 to March 2015; and as Chief Executive Officer, President and Secretary of VineBrook from October 2018 to February 2019. With over ten years of real estate, private equity and legal experience, his primary responsibilities are to lead the operations of the real estate platform at NexPoint, as well as source and execute investments, manage risk and develop potential business opportunities, including fundraising, private investments and joint ventures. Mr. McGraner is also a licensed attorney and was formerly an associate at Jones Day from 2011 to 2013, with a practice primarily focused on private equity, real estate and mergers and acquisitions. While at Jones Day, Mr. McGraner led the acquisition and financing of over $200 million of real estate investments and advised on $16.3 billion of mergers and acquisitions and private equity transactions. Since 2013, Mr. McGraner has led the acquisition and financing of approximately $11.8 billion of real estate investments.
 
Except as set forth below, none of Mr. Dondero, Mr. Mitts, Mr. Kavanaugh, Dr. Laffer and Mr. McGraner has a direct or indirect material interest in any transaction required to be disclosed pursuant to Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K. 
 
Trustees who are officers of the Company do not receive compensation for their service as Trustees.
 
We provide the following compensation for non-management Trustees:
 
 
each non-management Trustee receives an annual Trustee’s fee payable in cash equal to $20,000;
 
the chair of our Audit Committee receives an additional annual fee payable in cash equal to $15,000;
 
the chair of our Compensation Committee receives an additional annual fee payable in cash equal to $7,500;
 
the chair of our Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee receives an additional annual fee payable in cash equal to $7,500; and
 
the lead independent trustee receives an additional annual fee payable in cash equal to $10,000.
 
 

 
We also reimburse Trustees for all expenses incurred in attending meetings of the Board of Trustees or committees thereof.
 
Because the Advisory Agreement provides that our Adviser is responsible for managing our affairs, our executive officers do not receive any cash compensation from us or any of our subsidiaries for serving as our executive officers. Additionally, we do not have any agreements with any of our named executive officers with respect to their cash compensation and do not intend to directly pay any cash compensation to them. We do not determine the cash compensation payable by the Adviser to our executive officers. The Adviser and its affiliates determine the salaries, bonuses and other wages earned by our named executive officers from our Adviser and its affiliates. The Adviser and its affiliates also determine whether and to what extent our executive officers will be provided with employee benefit plans.
 
Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions
 
Advisory Agreement
 
The Company is externally advised by the Adviser pursuant to the Advisory Agreement. The Adviser is an affiliate of NexPoint, an investment adviser registered with the SEC that was founded by Mr. Dondero. Mr. Dondero serves as President of NexPoint, which is owned by a trust of which Mr. Dondero is the primary beneficiary and has a general partner owned by Mr. Dondero. The description of the Advisory Agreement under “Item 1.01. Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement” is incorporated herein by reference. The description of the Advisory Agreement is not complete and is subject to and qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Advisory Agreement, a copy of which is filed as Exhibit 10.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and is incorporated herein by reference.
 
Former Advisory Agreement
 
The Company was formerly a party to the Former Advisory Agreement and the Subsidiary Advisory Agreements pursuant to which NexPoint provided investment advisory services to the Company and certain of its subsidiaries. The description of the Former Advisory Agreement and the Subsidiary Advisory Agreements under “Item 1.02. Termination of a Material Definitive Agreement” is incorporated herein by reference.
 
Administration Services Agreement
 
The Company was formerly a party to the Administration Services Agreement pursuant to which NexPoint previously performed administrative functions for us in connection with our operation as a closed-end investment company. The description of the Administration Services Agreement under “Item 1.02. Termination of a Material Definitive Agreement” is incorporated herein by reference.
 
Subsidiary Investment Management Agreement
 
An indirect wholly owned subsidiary of the Company (the “DAC”) is party to an agreement (the “DAC IMA”) with NexAnnuity Asset Management, L.P. (“NexAnnuity”) pursuant to which NexAnnuity provides investment management services to the DAC. Mr. Dondero serves as President of NexAnnuity, which is indirectly owned by a trust of which Mr. Dondero is the primary beneficiary.
 
In exchange for its services, the DAC IMA provides that NexAnnuity will receive a management fee (the “DAC Management Fee”) paid monthly in an amount equal to 1.00% of the average weekly value of an amount equal to the total assets of the DAC, including any form of leverage, minus all accrued expenses incurred in the normal course of operations, but not excluding any liabilities or obligations attributable to investment leverage obtained through (i) indebtedness of any type (including, without limitation, borrowing through a credit facility or the issuance of debt securities), (ii) the issuance of preferred stock or other preference securities, (iii) the reinvestment of collateral received for securities loaned in accordance with the investment objective, investment guidelines and policies under the DAC IMA, and/or (iv) any other means, plus any value added tax or any other applicable tax, if any, thereon. NexAnnuity may waive all or a portion of the DAC Management Fee.
 
 

 
For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021, the DAC incurred a DAC Management Fee of approximately $0.4 million, paid entirely in cash. From January 1, 2022 through May 31, 2022, the Company incurred a DAC Management Fee of $0.3 million, paid entirely in cash.
 
--12-31
Item 5.03.
Amendments to Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws; Change in Fiscal Year.
 
In connection with the Business Change, the Board of Trustees authorized and adopted the Restated Certificate of Trust (the “Certificate of Trust”) and amended and restated the Agreement and Declaration of Trust (the “Declaration of Trust”) and the Bylaws (the “Bylaws”), to among other things, declassify the Board of Trustees, reflect our new name and provide for a trustee with a principal place of business in Delaware. The Certificate of Trust, Declaration of Trust and the Bylaws are effective on the Deregistration Date.
 
The foregoing summary of the Certificate of Trust, Declaration of Trust and Bylaws is qualified in its entirety by reference to the text of each of the same, which are attached hereto as Exhibit 3.1, Exhibit 3.2 and Exhibit 3.3, respectively, to this Current Report on Form 8-K and are incorporated herein by reference.
 
Item 5.05
Amendments to the Registrants Code of Ethics, or Waiver of a Provision of the Code of Ethics.
 
Effective on the Deregistration Date, the Company adopted a new code of business conduct and ethics that applies to the Company’s officers, employees and members of the Board of Trustees, which satisfies the requirements included in Item 406(b) of Regulation S-K. The code of business conduct and ethics is available on our website nxdt.nexpoint.com in the Governance section. A copy of the code of business conduct and ethics is also available upon written request to our Corporate Secretary at c/o NexPoint Diversified Real Estate Trust, 300 Crescent Court, Suite 700, Dallas, Texas 75201, Attn: Corporate Secretary. We will post information regarding any amendment to, or waiver from, our code of business conduct and ethics on our website in the Governance section.
 
Item 8.01.
Other Events.
 
Business Change
 
The information relating to our receipt of the Deregistration Order under “Item 1.01. Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement” is incorporated herein by reference.
 
On the Deregistration Date, the Company formed a wholly owned subsidiary, NexPoint Diversified Real Estate Trust Operating Partnership, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (the “Operating Partnership”), to be the operating partnership through which the Company’s operations as a REIT will be conducted. A copy of the Operating Partnership’s limited partnership agreement is attached hereto as Exhibit 10.2.
 
The Company intends to elect to be treated as an equity REIT for U.S. federal income tax purposes commencing with its taxable year ended December 31, 2021 and intends to continue to be treated as an equity REIT for U.S. federal income tax purposes for the taxable year ending December 31, 2022 and for future taxable years.
 
The Company will file reports under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 for its 2022 fiscal year as a smaller reporting company and a non-accelerated filer.
 
Termination of Dividend Reinvestment Plan
 
Effective on the Deregistration Date, the Company terminated its Dividend Reinvestment Plan. The Company’s transfer agent and unaffiliated brokers are expected to have unaffiliated reinvestment plans available for participation by the Company’s shareholders.
 
 

 
Item 9.01.
Financial Statements and Exhibits.
 
(d) Exhibits
 
     
Exhibit
Number
 
Description
   
3.1
 
3.2
 
3.3
 
10.1
 
10.2
 
16.1
 
104
 
Cover Page Interactive Data File (Embedded within the Inline XBRL document)
 
 
Cautionary Notice Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
 
This report contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 that are based on management’s current expectations, assumptions and beliefs. Forward-looking statements can often be identified by words such as “enable,” “proceed”, “focus,” “will,” “intend,” “expect” and similar expressions, and variations or negatives of these words. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the Company’s ability to fully implement the Business Change, including the Company’s transition to a REIT, the Company’s intention to elect to be treated as an equity REIT for U.S. federal income tax purposes and the availability of unaffiliated reinvestment plans. They are not guarantees of future results and forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in any forward-looking statement. Actual results may vary materially from those contained in forward-looking statements based on a number of factors including, without limitation, (1) risks related to the real estate industry, including (a) changes in general economic and market conditions; (b) changes in the value of real estate properties; (c) risks related to local economic conditions, overbuilding and increased competition; (d) increases in property taxes and operating expenses; (e) changes in zoning laws; (f) casualty and condemnation losses; (g) variations in rental income, neighborhood values or the appeal of property to tenants; (h) the availability of financing; (i) changes in interest rates and leverage and (j) recessions or general economic downturn where properties are located and (2) risks related to non-diversification and other focused strategies, including that a significant amount of the Company’s investments could be invested in the instruments of only a few companies or other issuers or that at any particular point in time one investment strategy could be more heavily weighted than the others. Readers should not place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements and are encouraged to review the Company’s filings with the SEC for a more complete discussion of risks and other factors that could affect any forward-looking statement. The statements made herein speak only as of the date of this report and except as required by law, the Company does not undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements.
 
 

 
 
SIGNATURE
 
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the Registrant has duly caused this Current Report on Form 8-K to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
 
NexPoint Diversified Real Estate Trust
By:
/s/ Brian Mitts
Name:
Brian Mitts
Title:
Chief Financial Officer, Executive VP-Finance, Treasurer and Assistant Secretary
 
Date:  July 1, 2022
 
 

Exhibit 3.1

 

RESTATED CERTIFICATE OF TRUST

 

OF

 

NEXPOINT DIVERSIFIED REAL ESTATE TRUST

 

Pursuant to Title 12, Section 3810(c) of the Delaware Statutory Trust Act (the “DSTA”), the undersigned Trustee, desiring to amend and restate the Certificate of Trust (the “Certificate”) of NexPoint Diversified Real Estate Trust, originally formed under the name Highland Credit Strategies Fund by filing the original Certificate with the Secretary of State of Delaware on March 10, 2006, executed the following Restated Certificate of Trust:

 

1.

The name of the statutory trust is NexPoint Diversified Real Estate Trust (the “Trust”).

 

2.

The name and business address of a trustee meeting the requirements of Section 3807 of the DSTA is The Corporation Trust Company, 1209 Orange Street, Wilmington, DE 19801.

 

3.

This Restated Certificate of Trust shall be effective upon filing.

 

4.

The Trust is no longer registered as an investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940.

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have executed this Restated Certificate of Trust this 1st day of July, 2022.

 

 

 

TRUSTEE:

 

     
  Not in his individual capacity but solely as a trustee  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Ed Constantino

 

 

Name:

Ed Constantino

 

 

 

 

Exhibit 3.2

 Execution Version

NEXPOINT DIVERSIFIED REAL ESTATE TRUST

 

AGREEMENT AND DECLARATION OF TRUST

 

As of July 1, 2022

 

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

ARTICLE I

The Trust
    Page

1.1

Name

1

1.2

Definitions

1

ARTICLE II

Trustees

2.1

Number and Qualification

3

2.2

Term and Election

3

2.3

Resignation and Removal

3

2.4

Vacancies

4

2.5

Meetings

4

2.6

Officers

5

ARTICLE III

Powers and Duties of Trustees

3.1

General

5

3.2

Investments

5

3.3

Legal Title

5

3.4

Issuance and Repurchase of Shares

5

3.5

Borrow Money or Utilize Leverage

6

3.6

Delegation; Committees

6

3.7

Collection and Payment

6

3.8

Expenses

6

3.9

Bylaws

6

3.10

Miscellaneous Powers

7

3.11

Further Powers

7

ARTICLE IV

Advisory, Management and Distribution Arrangements

4.1

Advisory and Management Arrangements

7

4.2

Distribution Arrangements

8

4.3

Parties to Contract

8

ARTICLE V

Limitations of Liability and Indemnification

5.1

No Personal Liability of Shareholders, Trustees, etc.

9

5.2

Mandatory Indemnification

9

5.3

No Bond Required of Trustees

10

5.4

No Duty of Investigation; No Notice in Trust Instruments, etc.

10

5.5

Reliance on Experts, etc.

10

ARTICLE VI

Shares of Beneficial Interest

6.1

Beneficial Interest

10

6.2

Other Securities

11

6.3

Rights of Shareholders

11

6.4

Trust Only

11

6.5

Issuance of Shares

11

6.6

Register of Shares

11

6.7

Transfer Agent and Registrar

11

 

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6.8

Transfer of Shares

12

6.9

Notices

12

ARTICLE VII

Custodians

7.1

Appointment and Duties

13

7.2

Central Certificate System

13

ARTICLE VIII

Redemption

8.1

Redemptions

13

8.2

Disclosure of Holding

13

ARTICLE IX

Determination of Net Asset Value Net Income and Distributions

9.1

Net Asset Value

13

9.2

Distributions to Shareholders

13

9.3

Power to Modify Foregoing Procedures

14

ARTICLE X

Shareholders

10.1

Meetings of Shareholders

14

10.2

Voting

14

10.3

Notice of Meeting and Record Date

15

10.4

Quorum and Required Vote

15

10.5

Proxies, etc.

15

10.6

Reports

16

10.7

Inspection of Records

16

10.8

Shareholder Action by Written Consent

16

ARTICLE XI

Duration; Termination of Trust; Amendment; Mergers, Etc.

11.1

Duration

16

11.2

Termination

16

11.3

Amendment Procedure

17

11.4

Merger, Consolidation and Sale of Assets

18

11.5

Subsidiaries

18

11.6

Conversion

18

11.7

Certain Transactions

19

ARTICLE XII

Restrictions on Transfer and Ownership of Shares

12.1

Definitions

20

12.2

Shares

23

12.3

Transfer of Shares in Charitable Trust

27

12.4

NYSE Transactions

29

12.5

Enforcement

29

 

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12.6

Non-Waiver

29

12.7

Severability

29

ARTICLE XIII

Delaware Trustee

13.1

Appointment

29

13.2

Concerning the Delaware Trustee

30

13.3

Compensation and Reimbursement of Expenses; Indemnity

32

13.4

Amendments

32

ARTICLE XIV

Miscellaneous

14.1

Filing

32

14.2

Resident Agent

32

14.3

Governing Law

33

14.4

Counterparts

32

14.5

Reliance by Third Parties

33

14.6

Provisions in Conflict with Law or Regulation

33

 

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NEXPOINT DIVERSIFIED REAL ESTATE TRUST

 

AGREEMENT AND DECLARATION OF TRUST

 

AGREEMENT AND DECLARATION OF TRUST, made as of July 1, 2022, by the Trustees hereunder.

 

WHEREAS, this Trust has been formed to carry on business as set forth more particularly hereinafter;

 

WHEREAS, this Trust is authorized to issue an unlimited number of its shares of beneficial interest all in accordance with the provisions hereinafter set forth;

 

WHEREAS, the Trustees have agreed to manage all property coming into their hands as Trustees of a Delaware statutory trust in accordance with the provisions hereinafter set forth; and

 

WHEREAS, the parties hereto intend that the Trust created by the Declaration and the Certificate of Trust shall constitute a statutory trust under the Delaware Statutory Trust Act and that this Declaration shall constitute the governing instrument of such statutory trust.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, the Trustees hereby declare that they will hold all cash, securities, and other assets which they may from time to time acquire in any manner as Trustees hereunder IN TRUST to manage and dispose of the same upon the following terms and conditions for the benefit of the holders from time to time of shares of beneficial interest in this Trust as hereinafter set forth.

 

ARTICLE I
 

THE TRUST

 

1.1    Name. This Trust shall be known as the “NexPoint Diversified Real Estate Trust” and the Trustees shall conduct the business of the Trust under that name or any other name or names as they may from time to time determine.

 

1.2    Definitions. As used in this Declaration, the following terms shall have the following meanings:

 

1940 Act” shall mean the Investment Company Act of 1940 and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder and exemptions granted therefrom, as amended from time to time.

 

Affiliated Person” shall, for so long as the Trust shall remain registered as an investment company under the 1940 Act, have the meanings given to it in the 1940 Act.

 

Assignment” shall, for so long as the Trust shall remain registered as an investment company under the 1940 Act, have the meanings given to it in the 1940 Act.

 

Board of Trustees” shall mean the Trustees collectively.

 

Bylaws” shall mean the Bylaws of the Trust as amended from time to time by the Trustees, which Bylaws are expressly herein incorporated by reference as part of the “governing instrument” within the meaning of the DSTA.

 

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Certificate of Trust” shall mean the Certificate of Trust filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on March 10, 2006, as amended and/or restated from time to time.

 

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

 

Commission” shall mean the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

Declaration” shall mean the Agreement and Declaration of Trust, initially made as of March 10, 2006, as amended, supplemented or amended and restated from time to time.

 

Delaware Statutory Trust Act” or “DSTA” shall mean the provisions of the Delaware Statutory Trust Act, 12 Del. C. § 3801, et seq., as such Act may be amended from time to time.

 

Delaware Trustee” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 13.1 of this Declaration.

 

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

 

Fundamental Policies” shall, for so long as the Trust shall remain registered as an investment company under the 1940 Act, mean the investment policies and restrictions as set forth from time to time in any Registration Statement of the Trust filed with the Commission and designated as fundamental policies therein, as they may be amended from time to time in accordance with the requirements of the 1940 Act.

 

Indemnified DE Trustee Expenses” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 13.3 of this Declaration.

 

Indemnified DE Trustee Parties” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 13.3 of this Declaration.

 

Interested Person” shall, for so long as the Trust shall remain registered as an investment company under the 1940 Act, have the meanings given to it in the 1940 Act.

 

Majority Shareholder Vote” shall, for so long as the Trust shall remain registered as an investment company under the 1940 Act, mean a vote of “a majority of the outstanding voting securities” (as such term is defined in the 1940 Act) of the Trust with each class and series of Shares voting together as a single class, except to the extent otherwise required by the 1940 Act or this Declaration with respect to any one or more classes or series of Shares, in which case the applicable proportion of such classes or series of Shares voting as a separate class or series, as case may be, also will be required.

 

Person” shall mean and include individuals, corporations, partnerships, trusts, limited liability companies, associations, joint ventures and other entities, whether or not legal entities, and governments and agencies and political subdivisions thereof.

 

Principal Underwriter” shall, for so long as the Trust shall remain registered as an investment company under the 1940 Act, have the meanings given to it in the 1940 Act.

 

Prospectus” shall mean the Prospectus of the Trust, if any, as in effect from time to time under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

 

Shareholders” shall mean as of any particular time the holders of record of outstanding Shares of the Trust, at such time.

 

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Shares” shall mean the transferable units of beneficial interest into which the beneficial interest in the Trust shall be divided from time to time and includes fractions of Shares as well as whole Shares. In addition, Shares also means any preferred shares or preferred units of beneficial interest which may be issued from time to time, as described herein. All references to Shares shall be deemed to be Shares of any or all series or classes as the context may require.

 

Trust” shall mean the trust established by this Declaration, as amended from time to time, inclusive of each such amendment.

 

Trust Property” shall mean as of any particular time any and all property, real or personal, tangible or intangible, which at such time is owned or held by or for the account of the Trust or the Trustees in such capacity.

 

Trustees” shall mean the signatories to this Declaration (but for purposes of this Declaration shall not be deemed to include the Delaware Trustee), so long as they shall continue in office in accordance with the terms hereof, and all other persons who at the time in question have been duly elected or appointed and have qualified as trustees in accordance with the provisions hereof and are then in office.

 

ARTICLE II

TRUSTEES

 

2.1    Number and Qualification. The number of Trustees shall be determined by a written instrument signed by a majority of the Trustees then in office. Except as otherwise provided from time to time by a majority of the Trustees, the number of Trustees shall be no less than two or more than eleven. No reduction in the number of Trustees shall have the effect of removing any Trustee from office prior to the expiration of his term. An individual nominated as a Trustee shall not be under legal disability and shall have such other qualifications, satisfy such other requirements and be subject to such other limitations as may be determined from time to time by a majority of the Trustees. Trustees need not own Shares and may succeed themselves in office.

 

2.2    Term and Election. Beginning at the annual meeting of Shareholders to be held in 2023, the Trustees shall be elected at an annual meeting of the Shareholders or special meeting in lieu thereof called for that purpose by a majority of the Trustees then in office or, if no such Trustee then exists, by the President, for terms that will expire at the next annual meeting of Shareholders or until their successors shall have been elected and qualified; provided that the term of office of a Trustee shall terminate and a vacancy shall occur in the event of the death, resignation, removal, bankruptcy, adjudicated incompetence or other incapacity to perform the duties of the office of a Trustee.

 

2.3    Resignation and Removal. Any of the Trustees may resign their trust (without need for prior or subsequent accounting) by an instrument in writing signed by such Trustee and delivered or mailed to the Trustees or the Chairman, if any, the President or the Secretary and such resignation shall be effective upon such delivery, or at a later date according to the terms of the instrument. Any of the Trustees may be removed (provided the aggregate number of Trustees after such removal shall not be less than the minimum number required by Section 2.1 hereof), with or without cause, by the affirmative vote of a majority of the remaining Trustees. Upon the resignation or removal of a Trustee, each such resigning or removed Trustee shall execute and deliver such documents as the remaining Trustees shall require for the purpose of conveying to the Trust or the remaining Trustees any Trust Property held in the name of such resigning or removed Trustee. Upon the incapacity or death of any Trustee, such Trustee’s legal representative shall execute and deliver on such Trustee’s behalf such documents as the remaining Trustees shall require as provided in the preceding sentence.

 

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2.4    Vacancies. Whenever a vacancy in the Board of Trustees shall occur, the remaining Trustees may fill such vacancy by appointing an individual having the qualifications applicable to Trustees by a written instrument signed by a majority of the Trustees then in office or may leave such vacancy unfilled or may reduce the number of Trustees; provided the aggregate number of Trustees after such reduction shall not be less than the minimum number required by Section 2.1 hereof; provided, further, that if the Shareholders of any class or series of Shares are entitled separately to elect one or more Trustees, a majority of the remaining Trustees or the sole remaining Trustee elected by that class or series may fill any vacancy among the number of Trustees elected by that class or series. Any vacancy created by an increase in Trustees may be filled by the appointment of an individual having the qualifications applicable to Trustees made by a written instrument signed by a majority of the Trustees then in office. No vacancy shall operate to annul this Declaration or to revoke any existing agency created pursuant to the terms of this Declaration. Whenever a vacancy in the number of Trustees shall occur, until such vacancy is filled as provided herein, the Trustees in office, regardless of their number, shall have all the powers granted to the Trustees and shall discharge all the duties imposed upon the Trustees by this Declaration. Each Trustee appointed in accordance with this Section 2.4 shall hold office until the next annual meeting of Shareholders or until his or her successor shall have been elected and qualified; provided that the term of office of such Trustee shall terminate and a vacancy shall occur in the event of the death, resignation, removal, bankruptcy, adjudicated incompetence or other incapacity to perform the duties of the office of a Trustee.

 

2.5    Meetings. Meetings of the Trustees shall be held from time to time upon the call of the Chairman, if any, or the President or any two Trustees. Regular meetings of the Trustees may be held without call or notice at a time and place fixed by the Bylaws or by resolution of the Trustees. Notice of any other meeting shall be given by the Secretary and shall be delivered to the Trustees orally as soon as practicable before the meeting, but may be waived in writing by any Trustee either before or after such meeting. The attendance of a Trustee at a meeting shall constitute a waiver of notice of such meeting except where a Trustee attends a meeting for the express purpose of objecting to the transaction of any business on the ground that the meeting has not been properly called or convened. Any time there is more than one Trustee, a quorum for all meetings of the Trustees shall be determined from time to time by a majority of the Trustees then in office. Unless provided otherwise in this Declaration or the Bylaws and, for so long as the Trust shall remain registered as an investment company under the 1940 Act, except as required under the 1940 Act, any action of the Trustees may be taken at a meeting by vote of a majority of the Trustees present (a quorum being present) or without a meeting by written consent of a majority of the Trustees.

 

Any committee of the Trustees, including an executive committee, if any, may act with or without a meeting. A quorum for all meetings of any such committee shall be such number as the applicable committee charter may provide. Unless provided otherwise in this Declaration, the Bylaws or the applicable committee charter, any action of any such committee may be taken at a meeting by vote of a majority of the members present (a quorum being present) or without a meeting by written consent of all of the members.

 

For so long as the Trust shall remain registered as an investment company under the 1940 Act, with respect to actions of the Trustees and any committee of the Trustees, Trustees who are Interested Persons in any action to be taken may be counted for quorum purposes under this Section and shall be entitled to vote to the extent not prohibited by the 1940 Act.

 

All or any one or more Trustees may participate in a meeting of the Trustees or any committee thereof by means of a conference telephone or similar communications equipment by means of which all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other; participation in a meeting pursuant to any such communications system shall constitute presence in person at such meeting, subject, for so long as the Trust shall remain registered as an investment company under the 1940 Act, to the requirements of the 1940 Act with respect to attendance in person.

 

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2.6    Officers. The Trustees shall elect a President, a Secretary and a Treasurer and may elect a Chairman who shall serve at the pleasure of the Trustees or until their successors are elected. The Trustees may elect or appoint or may authorize the Chairman, if any, or President to appoint such other officers or agents with such powers as the Trustees may deem to be advisable. A Chairman shall, and the President, Secretary and Treasurer may, but need not, be a Trustee.

 

ARTICLE III

POWERS AND DUTIES OF TRUSTEES

 

3.1    General. Trustees shall act in good faith in the manner they reasonably believe to be in the best interest of the Trust as a whole. The Trustees shall have exclusive and absolute control over the Trust Property and over the business of the Trust to the same extent as if the Trustees were the sole owners of the Trust Property and business in their own right, but with such powers of delegation as may be permitted by this Declaration. The Trustees may perform such acts as in their sole discretion are proper for conducting the business of the Trust. The enumeration of any specific power herein shall not be construed as limiting the aforesaid power. Such powers of the Trustees may be exercised without order of or resort to any court.

 

3.2    Investments. The Trustees shall have power, subject, for so long as the Trust shall remain registered as an investment company under the 1940 Act, to the Fundamental Policies in effect from time to time with respect to the Trust, to:

 

(a)    manage, conduct, operate and carry on any lawful business activity;

 

(b)    subscribe for, invest in, reinvest in, purchase or otherwise acquire, hold, pledge, sell, assign, transfer, exchange, distribute or otherwise deal in or dispose of any and all sorts of property, tangible or intangible, including but not limited to interests in real estate and securities of any type whatsoever, whether equity or non-equity, of any issuer, evidences of indebtedness of any person and any other rights, interests, instruments or property of any sort and to exercise any and all rights, powers and privileges of ownership or interest in respect of any and all such investments of every kind and description, including, without limitation, the right to consent and otherwise act with respect thereto, with power to designate one or more Persons to exercise any of said rights, powers and privileges in respect of any of said investments. The Trustees shall not be limited by any law limiting the investments which may be made by fiduciaries.

 

3.3    Legal Title. Legal title to all the Trust Property shall be vested in the Trustees as joint tenants except that the Trustees shall have power to cause legal title to any Trust Property to be held by or in the name of one or more of the Trustees, or in the name of the Trust, or in the name of any other Person as nominee, custodian or pledgee, on such terms as the Trustees may determine; provided that the interest of the Trust therein is appropriately protected.

 

The right, title and interest of the Trustees in the Trust Property shall vest automatically in each person who may hereafter become a Trustee upon his due election and qualification. Upon the ceasing of any person to be a Trustee for any reason, such person shall automatically cease to have any right, title or interest in any of the Trust Property, and the right, title and interest of such Trustee in the Trust Property shall vest automatically in the remaining Trustees. Such vesting and cessation of title shall be effective whether or not conveyancing documents have been executed and delivered.

 

3.4    Issuance and Repurchase of Shares. The Trustees shall have the power to issue, sell, repurchase, redeem, retire, cancel, acquire, hold, resell, reissue, dispose of, transfer, and otherwise deal in, Shares, including Shares in fractional denominations, and, subject to the more detailed provisions set forth in ARTICLE VIII and ARTICLE IX, to apply to any such repurchase, redemption, retirement, cancellation or acquisition of Shares any funds or property whether capital or surplus or otherwise, to the full extent now or hereafter permitted under the DSTA.

 

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3.5    Borrow Money or Utilize Leverage. Subject to the Fundamental Policies in effect from time to time with respect to the Trust, the Trustees shall have the power to borrow money or otherwise obtain credit or utilize leverage to the maximum extent permitted by law or regulation as such may be needed from time to time and to secure the same by mortgaging, pledging or otherwise subjecting as security the assets of the Trust, including the lending of portfolio securities, and to endorse, guarantee, or undertake the performance of any obligation, contract or engagement of any other person, firm, association or corporation.

 

3.6    Delegation; Committees. The Trustees shall have the power, consistent with their continuing exclusive authority over the management of the Trust and the Trust Property, to delegate from time to time to such of their number or to officers, employees or agents of the Trust the doing of such things, including any matters set forth in this Declaration, and the execution of such instruments either in the name of the Trust or the names of the Trustees or otherwise as the Trustees may deem expedient. The Trustees may designate one or more committees which shall have all or such lesser portion of the authority of the entire Board of Trustees as the Trustees shall determine from time to time except, for so long as the Trust shall remain registered as an investment company under the 1940 Act, to the extent action by the entire Board of Trustees or particular Trustees is required by the 1940 Act.

 

3.7    Collection and Payment. The Trustees shall have power to collect all property due to the Trust; to pay all claims, including taxes, against the Trust Property or the Trust, the Trustees or any officer, employee or agent of the Trust; to prosecute, defend, compromise or abandon any claims relating to the Trust Property or the Trust, or the Trustees or any officer, employee or agent of the Trust; to foreclose any security interest securing any obligations, by virtue of which any property is owed to the Trust; and to enter into releases, agreements and other instruments. The Shareholders shall have no power to vote as to whether or not a court action, legal proceeding or claim should or should not be brought or maintained derivatively or as a class action on behalf of the Trust or the Shareholders.

 

3.8    Expenses. The Trustees shall have power to incur and pay out of the assets or income of the Trust any expenses which in the opinion of the Trustees are necessary or incidental to carry out any of the purposes of this Declaration, and the business of the Trust, and to pay reasonable compensation from the funds of the Trust to themselves as Trustees. The Trustees shall fix the compensation of all officers, employees and Trustees. The Trustees may pay themselves such compensation for special services, including legal, underwriting, syndicating and brokerage services, as they in good faith may deem reasonable and reimbursement for expenses reasonably incurred by themselves on behalf of the Trust. The Trustees shall have the power, as frequently as they may determine, to cause each Shareholder to pay directly, in advance or arrears, for charges of distribution, of the custodian or transfer, Shareholder servicing or similar agent, a pro rata amount as defined from time to time by the Trustees, by setting off such charges due from such Shareholder from declared but unpaid dividends or distributions owed such Shareholder and/or by reducing the number of shares in the account of such Shareholder by that number of full and/or fractional Shares which represents the outstanding amount of such charges due from such Shareholder.

 

3.9    Bylaws. The Trustees shall have the exclusive authority to adopt and from time to time amend or repeal Bylaws for the conduct of the business of the Trust.

 

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3.10    Miscellaneous Powers. The Trustees shall have the power to: (a) employ or contract with such Persons as the Trustees may deem desirable for the transaction of the business of the Trust; (b) enter into joint ventures, partnerships and any other combinations or associations; (c) purchase, and pay for out of Trust Property, insurance policies insuring the Shareholders, Trustees, officers, employees, agents, investment advisors, distributors, selected dealers or independent contractors of the Trust against all claims arising by reason of holding any such position or by reason of any action taken or omitted by any such Person in such capacity, whether or not constituting negligence, or whether or not the Trust would have the power to indemnify such Person against such liability; (d) establish pension, profit-sharing, share purchase, and other retirement, incentive and benefit plans for any Trustees, officers, employees and agents of the Trust; (e) make donations, irrespective of benefit to the Trust, for charitable, religious, educational, scientific, civic or similar purposes; (f) to the full extent permitted by law, indemnify any Person with whom the Trust has dealings, including, without limitation, any advisor, administrator, manager, transfer agent, custodian, distributor or selected dealer, or any other person as the Trustees may see fit to such extent as the Trustees shall determine; (g) guarantee indebtedness or contractual obligations of others; (h) determine and change the fiscal year of the Trust and the method in which its accounts shall be kept; (i) notwithstanding the Fundamental Policies of the Trust, convert the Trust to a master-feeder structure; provided, however, for so long as the Trust shall remain registered as an investment company under the 1940 Act, the Trust obtains the approval of shareholders holding at least a majority of the Trust’s Shares present at a meeting of Shareholders at which a quorum is present; and (j) adopt a seal for the Trust but the absence of such seal shall not impair the validity of any instrument executed on behalf of the Trust.

 

3.11    Further Powers. The Trustees shall have the power to conduct the business of the Trust and carry on its operations in any and all of its branches and maintain offices both within and without the State of Delaware, in any and all states of the United States of America, in the District of Columbia, in any foreign country and in any and all commonwealths, municipalities, territories, dependencies, colonies, possessions, agencies or instrumentalities of the United States of America and of foreign governments, and to do all such other things and execute all such instruments as they deem necessary, proper or desirable in order to promote the interests of the Trust although such things are not herein specifically mentioned. Any determination as to what is in the interests of the Trust made by the Trustees in good faith shall be conclusive. In construing the provisions of this Declaration, the presumption shall be in favor of a grant of power to the Trustees. The Trustees will not be required to obtain any court order to deal with the Trust Property.

 

ARTICLE IV

ADVISORY, MANAGEMENT AND DISTRIBUTION ARRANGEMENTS

 

4.1    Advisory and Management Arrangements. Subject, for so long as the Trust shall remain registered as an investment company under the 1940 Act, to the requirements of the 1940 Act, the Trustees may in their discretion from time to time enter into advisory, administration or management contracts (including, in each case, one or more sub-advisory, sub-administration or sub-management contracts) whereby the other party to any such contract shall undertake to furnish such advisory, administrative and management services with respect to the Trust as the Trustees shall from time to time consider desirable and all upon such terms and conditions as the Trustees may in their discretion determine. Notwithstanding any provisions of this Declaration, the Trustees may authorize any advisor, administrator or manager (subject to such general or specific instructions as the Trustees may from time to time adopt) to exercise any of the powers of the Trustees, including to effect investment transactions with respect to the assets on behalf of the Trust to the full extent of the power of the Trustees to effect such transactions or may authorize any officer, employee or Trustee to effect such transactions pursuant to recommendations of any such advisor, administrator or manager (and all without further action by the Trustees). Any such investment transaction shall be deemed to have been authorized by all of the Trustees.

 

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4.2    Distribution Arrangements. Subject, for so long as the Trust shall remain registered as an investment company under the 1940 Act, to the requirements of the 1940 Act, the Trustees may retain underwriters and/or placement agents to sell Shares and other securities of the Trust. The Trustees may in their discretion from time to time enter into one or more contracts, providing for the sale of securities of the Trust, whereby the Trust may either agree to sell such securities to the other party to the contract or appoint such other party its sales agent for such securities. In either case, the contract shall be on such terms and conditions as the Trustees may in their discretion determine not inconsistent with the provisions of this ARTICLE IV or the Bylaws; and such contract may also provide for the repurchase or sale of securities of the Trust by such other party as principal or as agent of the Trust and may provide that such other party may enter into selected dealer agreements with registered securities dealers and brokers and servicing and similar agreements with persons who are not registered securities dealers to further the purposes of the distribution or repurchase of the securities of the Trust.

 

4.3    Parties to Contract. Any contract of the character described in Sections 4.1 and 4.2 of this ARTICLE IV or in ARTICLE VII hereof or otherwise may be entered into with any Person, although one or more of the Trustees, officers or employees of the Trust may be an officer, director, trustee, shareholder, or member of such other party to the contract, and no such contract shall be invalidated or rendered voidable by reason of the existence of any such relationship, nor shall any Person holding such relationship be liable merely by reason of such relationship for any loss or expense to the Trust under or by reason of said contract or accountable for any profit realized directly or indirectly therefrom; provided that the contract when entered into was reasonable and fair and not in violation of this Declaration or the Bylaws. The same Person may be the other party to contracts entered into pursuant to Sections 4.1 and 4.2 above or ARTICLE VII hereof or otherwise, and any individual may be financially interested or otherwise affiliated with Persons who are parties to any or all of the contracts mentioned in this Section 4.3.

 

ARTICLE V

LIMITATIONS OF LIABILITY AND INDEMNIFICATION

 

5.1    No Personal Liability of Shareholders, Trustees, etc. No Shareholder of the Trust shall be subject in such capacity to any personal liability whatsoever to any Person in connection with Trust Property or the acts, obligations or affairs of the Trust. Shareholders shall have the limitation of personal liability provided under the DSTA. No Trustee or officer of the Trust shall be subject in such capacity to any personal liability whatsoever to any Person, save only, for so long as the Trust shall remain registered as an investment company under the 1940 Act, liability to the Trust or its Shareholders arising from bad faith, willful misfeasance, gross negligence or reckless disregard for his duty to such Person; and, subject to the foregoing exception, all such Persons shall look solely to the Trust Property for satisfaction of claims of any nature arising in connection with the affairs of the Trust. If any Shareholder, Trustee or officer, as such, of the Trust, is made a party to any suit or proceeding to enforce any such liability subject to the foregoing exception, he shall not, on account thereof, be held to any personal liability. Any repeal or modification of this Section 5.1 shall not adversely affect any right or protection of a Trustee or officer of the Trust existing at the time of such repeal or modification with respect to acts or omissions occurring prior to such repeal or modification.

 

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5.2    Mandatory Indemnification. (a) Subject to any limitations or requirements contained in the Bylaws, the Trust hereby agrees to indemnify each person who at any time serves as a Trustee or officer of the Trust (each such person being an “indemnitee”) against any liabilities and expenses, including amounts paid in satisfaction of judgments, in compromise or as fines and penalties, and reasonable counsel fees reasonably incurred by such indemnitee in connection with the defense or disposition of any action, suit or other proceeding, whether civil or criminal, before any court or administrative or investigative body in which he may be or may have been involved as a party or otherwise or with which he may be or may have been threatened, while acting in any capacity set forth in this ARTICLE V by reason of his having acted in any such capacity, except with respect to any matter as to which he shall not have acted in good faith in the reasonable belief that his action was in the best interest of the Trust or, in the case of any criminal proceeding, as to which he shall have had reasonable cause to believe that the conduct was unlawful; provided, however, that, for so long as the Trust shall remain registered as an investment company under the 1940 Act, no indemnitee shall be indemnified hereunder against any liability to any person or any expense of such indemnitee arising by reason of (i) willful misfeasance, (ii) bad faith, (iii) gross negligence, or (iv) reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of his position (the conduct referred to in such clauses (i) through (iv) being sometimes referred to herein as “disabling conduct”). Notwithstanding the foregoing, with respect to any action, suit or other proceeding voluntarily prosecuted by any indemnitee as plaintiff, indemnification shall be mandatory only if the prosecution of such action, suit or other proceeding by such indemnitee (1) was authorized by a majority of the Trustees or (2) was instituted by the indemnitee to enforce his or her rights to indemnification hereunder in a case in which the indemnitee is found to be entitled to such indemnification. The rights to indemnification set forth in this Declaration shall continue as to a person who has ceased to be a Trustee or officer of the Trust and shall inure to the benefit of his or her heirs, executors and personal and legal representatives. No amendment or restatement of this Declaration or repeal of any of its provisions shall limit or eliminate any of the benefits provided to any person who at any time is or was a Trustee or officer of the Trust or otherwise entitled to indemnification hereunder in respect of any act or omission that occurred prior to such amendment, restatement or repeal.

 

(b)         Notwithstanding the foregoing, for so long as the Trust shall remain registered as an investment company under the 1940 Act, no indemnification shall be made hereunder unless there has been a determination (i) by a final decision on the merits by a court or other body of competent jurisdiction before whom the issue of entitlement to indemnification hereunder was brought that such indemnitee is entitled to indemnification hereunder or, (ii) in the absence of such a decision, by (1) a majority vote of a quorum of those Trustees who are neither “interested persons” of the Trust (as defined in Section 2(a)(19) of the 1940 Act) nor parties to the proceeding (“Disinterested Non-Party Trustees”), that the indemnitee is entitled to indemnification hereunder, or (2) if such quorum is not obtainable or even if obtainable, if such majority so directs, independent legal counsel in a written opinion concludes that the indemnitee should be entitled to indemnification hereunder. All determinations to make advance payments in connection with the expense of defending any proceeding shall be authorized and made in accordance with the immediately succeeding paragraph (c) below.

 

(c)         The Trust shall make advance payments in connection with the expenses of defending any action with respect to which indemnification might be sought hereunder if the Trust receives a written affirmation by the indemnitee of the indemnitee’s good faith belief that the standards of conduct necessary for indemnification have been met and a written undertaking to reimburse the Trust unless it is subsequently determined that the indemnitee is entitled to such indemnification and if a majority of the Trustees determine that the applicable standards of conduct necessary for indemnification appear to have been met. In addition, at least one of the following conditions must be met: (i) the indemnitee shall provide adequate security for his undertaking, (ii) the Trust shall be insured against losses arising by reason of any lawful advances, or (iii) a majority of a quorum of Trustees not party to the action (or, for so long as the Trust shall remain registered as an investment company under the 1940 Act, the Disinterested Non-Party Trustees), or if a majority vote of such quorum so direct, independent legal counsel in a written opinion, shall conclude, based on a review of readily available facts (as opposed to a full trial-type inquiry), that there is substantial reason to believe that the indemnitee ultimately will be found entitled to indemnification.

 

(d)         The rights accruing to any indemnitee under these provisions shall not exclude any other right which any person may have or hereafter acquire under this Declaration, the Bylaws of the Trust, any statute, agreement, vote of Shareholders or Trustees (provided that, for so long as the Trust shall remain registered as an investment company under the 1940 Act, such vote includes the vote of a majority of the Trustees who are not “interested persons,” as defined in Section 2(a)(19) of the 1940 Act) or any other right to which he or she may be lawfully entitled.

 

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(e)         Subject to (1), for so long as the Trust shall remain registered as an investment company under the 1940 Act, any limitations provided by the 1940 Act and (2) this Declaration, the Trust shall have the power and authority to indemnify and provide for the advance payment of expenses to employees, agents and other Persons providing services to the Trust or serving in any capacity at the request of the Trust to the full extent permitted by law and may indemnify or provide for the advance payment of expenses for such Persons; provided that such indemnification has been approved by a majority of the Trustees.

 

5.3    No Bond Required of Trustees. No Trustee shall, as such, be obligated to give any bond or other security for the performance of any of his duties hereunder.

 

5.4    No Duty of Investigation; No Notice in Trust Instruments, etc. No purchaser, lender, transfer agent or other person dealing with the Trustees or with any officer, employee or agent of the Trust shall be bound to make any inquiry concerning the validity of any transaction purporting to be made by the Trustees or by said officer, employee or agent or be liable for the application of money or property paid, loaned, or delivered to or on the order of the Trustees or of said officer, employee or agent. Every obligation, contract, undertaking, instrument, certificate, Share, other security of the Trust, and every other act or thing whatsoever executed in connection with the Trust shall be conclusively taken to have been executed or done by the executors thereof only in their capacity as Trustees under this Declaration or in their capacity as officers, employees or agents of the Trust. The Trustees may maintain insurance for the protection of the Trust Property, the Shareholders, Trustees, officers, employees and agents in such amount as the Trustees shall deem adequate to cover possible tort liability, and such other insurance as the Trustees in their sole judgment shall deem advisable or is required by the 1940 Act.

 

5.5    Reliance on Experts, etc. Each Trustee and officer or employee of the Trust shall, in the performance of its duties, be fully and completely justified and protected with regard to any act or any failure to act resulting from reliance in good faith upon the books of account or other records of the Trust, upon an opinion of counsel, or upon reports made to the Trust by any of the Trust’s officers or employees or by any advisor, administrator, manager, distributor, selected dealer, accountant, appraiser or other expert or consultant selected with reasonable care by the Trustees, officers or employees of the Trust, regardless of whether such counsel or expert may also be a Trustee.

 

ARTICLE VI

SHARES OF BENEFICIAL INTEREST

 

6.1    Beneficial Interest. The interest of the beneficiaries hereunder shall be divided into an unlimited number of transferable shares of beneficial interest, par value $.001 per share. All Shares issued in accordance with the terms hereof, including, without limitation, Shares issued in connection with a dividend in Shares or a split of Shares, shall be fully paid and, except as provided in the last sentence of Section 3.8, nonassessable when the consideration determined by the Trustees (if any) therefor shall have been received by the Trust.

 

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6.2    Other Securities. The Trustees may, subject, for so long as the Trust shall remain registered as an investment company under the 1940 Act, to the Fundamental Policies and the requirements of the 1940 Act, authorize and issue such other securities of the Trust as they determine to be necessary, desirable or appropriate, having such terms, rights, preferences, privileges, limitations and restrictions as the Trustees see fit, including multiple classes of common shares, preferred interests, debt securities or other senior securities. To the extent that the Trustees authorize and issue additional shares of any class or series, they are hereby authorized and empowered to amend or supplement this Declaration as they deem necessary or appropriate, including to comply with the requirements of any applicable law or requirements imposed by the rating agencies or other Persons, all without the approval of Shareholders. Any such supplement or amendment shall be filed as is necessary. The Trustees are also authorized to take such actions and retain such persons as they see fit to offer and sell such securities.

 

6.3    Rights of Shareholders. The Shares shall be personal property giving only the rights in this Declaration specifically set forth. The ownership of the Trust Property of every description and the right to conduct any business herein before described are vested exclusively in the Trustees, and the Shareholders shall have no interest therein other than the beneficial interest conferred by their Shares, and they shall have no right to call for any partition or division of any property, profits, rights or interests of the Trust nor can they be called upon to share or assume any losses of the Trust or, subject to the right of the Trustees to charge certain expenses directly to Shareholders, as provided in the last sentence of Section 3.8, suffer an assessment of any kind by virtue of their ownership of Shares. The Shares shall not entitle the holder to preference, preemptive, appraisal, conversion or exchange rights (except as specified in this Section 6.3, in Section 11.4 or as specified by the Trustees when creating any class or series of Shares).

 

6.4    Trust Only. It is the intention of the Trustees to create only the relationship of Trustee and beneficiary between the Trustees and each Shareholder from time to time. It is not the intention of the Trustees to create a general partnership, limited partnership, joint stock association, corporation, bailment or any form of legal relationship other than a trust. Nothing in this Declaration shall be construed to make the Shareholders, either by themselves or with the Trustees, partners or members of a joint stock association.

 

6.5    Issuance of Shares. The Trustees, in their discretion, may from time to time without vote of the Shareholders issue Shares including preferred shares that may have been established pursuant to Section 6.2, in addition to the then issued and outstanding Shares and Shares held in the treasury, to such party or parties and for such amount and type of consideration, including cash or property, at such time or times, and on such terms as the Trustees may determine, and may in such manner acquire other assets (including the acquisition of assets subject to, and in connection with the assumption of, liabilities) and businesses. The Trustees may from time to time divide or combine the Shares into a greater or lesser number without thereby changing the proportionate beneficial interest in such Shares. Issuances and redemptions of Shares may be made in whole Shares and/or l/l,000ths of a Share or multiples thereof as the Trustees may determine.

 

6.6    Register of Shares. A register shall be kept at the offices of the Trust or any transfer agent duly appointed by the Trustees under the direction of the Trustees which shall contain the names and addresses of the Shareholders and the number of Shares held by them respectively and a record of all transfers thereof. Separate registers shall be established and maintained for each class or series of Shares. Each such register shall be conclusive as to who are the holders of the Shares of the applicable class or series of Shares and who shall be entitled to receive dividends or distributions or otherwise to exercise or enjoy the rights of Shareholders. No Shareholder shall be entitled to receive payment of any dividend or distribution, nor to have notice given to him as herein provided, until he has given his address to a transfer agent or such other officer or agent of the Trustees as shall keep the register for entry thereon. It is not contemplated that certificates will be issued for the Shares; however, the Trustees, in their discretion, may authorize the issuance of share certificates and promulgate appropriate fees therefore and rules and regulations as to their use.

 

6.7    Transfer Agent and Registrar. The Trustees shall have power to employ a transfer agent or transfer agents, and a registrar or registrars, with respect to the Shares. The transfer agent or transfer agents may keep the applicable register and record therein, the original issues and transfers, if any, of the said Shares. Any such transfer agents and/or registrars shall perform the duties usually performed by transfer agents and registrars of certificates of stock in a corporation, as modified by the Trustees.

 

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6.8    Transfer of Shares. Shares shall be transferable on the records of the Trust only by the record holder thereof or by its agent thereto duly authorized in writing, upon delivery to the Trustees or a transfer agent of the Trust of a duly executed instrument of transfer, together with such evidence of the genuineness of each such execution and authorization and of other matters (including compliance with any securities laws and contractual restrictions) as may reasonably be required. Upon such delivery the transfer shall be recorded on the applicable register of the Trust. Until such record is made, the Shareholder of record shall be deemed to be the holder of such Shares for all purposes hereof and neither the Trustees nor any transfer agent or registrar nor any officer, employee or agent of the Trust shall be affected by any notice of the proposed transfer.

 

Any person becoming entitled to any Shares in consequence of the death, bankruptcy, or incompetence of any Shareholder, or otherwise by operation of law, shall be recorded on the applicable register of Shares as the holder of such Shares upon production of the proper evidence thereof to the Trustees or a transfer agent of the Trust, but until such record is made, the Shareholder of record shall be deemed to be the holder of such for all purposes hereof, and neither the Trustees nor any transfer agent or registrar nor any officer or agent of the Trust shall be affected by any notice of such death, bankruptcy or incompetence, or other operation of law.

 

6.9    Notices. Any and all notices to which any Shareholder hereunder may be entitled and any and all communications shall be deemed duly served or given (1) if mailed, postage prepaid, addressed to any Shareholder of record at his last known address as recorded on the applicable register of the Trust; (2) by press release or posting on the Trust’s publicly available website together in either case with the filing of a Form 8-K; or (3) such other method as the Trustees may determine.

 

ARTICLE VII

CUSTODIANS

 

7.1    Appointment and Duties. The Trustees shall at all times employ a custodian or custodians, for so long as the Trust shall remain registered as an investment company under the 1940 Act, meeting the qualifications for custodians for portfolio securities of investment companies contained in the 1940 Act, as custodian with respect to the assets of the Trust. Any custodian shall have authority as agent of the Trust as determined by the custodian agreement or agreements, but subject to such restrictions, limitations and other requirements, if any, as may be contained in the Bylaws of the Trust and, for so long as the Trust shall remain registered as an investment company under the 1940 Act, the 1940 Act, including without limitation authority:

 

(1)         to hold the securities owned by the Trust and deliver the same upon written order;

 

(2)         to receive any receipt for any moneys due to the Trust and deposit the same in its own banking department (if a bank) or elsewhere as the Trustees may direct;

 

(3)         to disburse such funds upon orders or vouchers;

 

(4)         if authorized by the Trustees, to keep the books and accounts of the Trust and furnish clerical and accounting services; and

 

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(5)         if authorized to do so by the Trustees, to compute the net income or net asset value of the Trust; all upon such basis of compensation as may be agreed upon between the Trustees and the custodian.

 

The Trustees may also authorize each custodian to employ one or more sub-custodians from time to time to perform such of the acts and services of the custodian and upon such terms and conditions, as may be agreed upon between the custodian and such sub-custodian and approved by the Trustees; provided that, for so long as the Trust shall remain registered as an investment company under the 1940 Act, in every case such sub-custodian shall meet the qualifications for custodians contained in the 1940 Act.

 

7.2    Central Certificate System. Subject to such rules, regulations and orders as the Commission may adopt, the Trustees may direct the custodian to deposit all or any part of the securities owned by the Trust in a system for the central handling of securities established by a national securities exchange or a national securities association registered with the Commission under the Exchange Act, or such other Person as may be permitted by the Commission, or otherwise, for so long as the Trust shall remain registered as an investment company under the 1940 Act, in accordance with the 1940 Act, pursuant to which system all securities of any particular class of any issuer deposited within the system are treated as fungible and may be transferred or pledged by bookkeeping entry without physical delivery of such securities; provided that all such deposits shall be subject to withdrawal only upon the order of the Trust.

 

ARTICLE VIII

REDEMPTION

 

8.1    Redemptions. Except as otherwise provided by a majority of Trustees, the Shares of the Trust are not redeemable by the holders.

 

8.2    Disclosure of Holding. The holders of Shares or other securities of the Trust shall upon demand disclose to the Trustees in writing such information with respect to direct and indirect ownership of Shares or other securities of the Trust as the Trustees deem necessary to comply with the provisions of the Code or other applicable laws or regulations, or to comply with the requirements of any other taxing or regulatory authority or as the Trustees may otherwise determine is necessary or desirable.

 

ARTICLE IX

DETERMINATION OF NET ASSET VALUE NET INCOME AND DISTRIBUTIONS

 

9.1    Net Asset Value. For so long as the Trust shall remain registered as an investment company under the 1940 Act, the net asset value of each outstanding Share of the Trust shall be determined at such time or times on such days as the Trustees may determine, in accordance with the 1940 Act. The method of determination of net asset value shall be determined by the Trustees and shall be as set forth in the Prospectus or as may otherwise be determined by the Trustees. The power and duty to make the net asset value calculations may be delegated by the Trustees and shall be as generally set forth in the Prospectus or as may otherwise be determined by the Trustees.

 

9.2    Distributions to Shareholders. (a) The Trustees shall from time to time distribute ratably among the Shareholders of any class of Shares, or any series of any such class, in accordance with the number of outstanding full and fractional Shares of such class or any series of such class, such proportion of the net profits, surplus (including paid-in surplus), capital, or assets held by the Trustees as they may deem proper or as may otherwise be determined in accordance with this Declaration. Any such distribution may be made in cash or property (including without limitation any type of obligations of the Trust or any assets thereof) or Shares of any class or series or any combination thereof, and the Trustees may distribute ratably among the Shareholders of any class of shares or series of any such class, in accordance with the number of outstanding full and fractional Shares of such class or any series of such class, additional Shares of any class or series in such manner, at such times, and on such terms as the Trustees may deem proper or as may otherwise be determined in accordance with this Declaration.

 

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(b)         Distributions pursuant to this Section 9.2 may be among the Shareholders of record of the applicable class or series of Shares at the time of declaring a distribution or among the Shareholders of record at such later date as the Trustees shall determine and specify.

 

(c)         The Trustees may always retain from the net profits such amount as they may deem necessary to pay the debts or expenses of the Trust or to meet obligations of the Trust, or as they otherwise may deem desirable to use in the conduct of its affairs or to retain for future requirements or extensions of the business.

 

(d)         Inasmuch as the computation of net income and gains for Federal income tax purposes may vary from the computation thereof on the books, the above provisions shall be interpreted to give the Trustees the power in their discretion to distribute for any fiscal year as ordinary dividends and as capital gains distributions, respectively, additional amounts sufficient to enable the Trust to avoid or reduce liability for taxes.

 

9.3    Power to Modify Foregoing Procedures. Notwithstanding any of the foregoing provisions of this ARTICLE IX, the Trustees may prescribe, in their absolute discretion except, for so long as the Trust shall remain registered as an investment company under the 1940 Act, as may be required by the 1940 Act, such other bases and times for determining the per share asset value of the Trust’s Shares or net income, or the declaration and payment of dividends and distributions as they may deem necessary or desirable for any reason, including to enable the Trust to comply with any provision of the 1940 Act, or any securities exchange or association registered under the Exchange Act, or any order of exemption issued by the Commission, all as in effect now or hereafter amended or modified.

 

ARTICLE X

SHAREHOLDERS

 

10.1    Meetings of Shareholders. The Trust shall, to the extent required by applicable law, rules or regulations, hold annual meetings of the Shareholders. A special meeting of Shareholders may be called at any time by a majority of the Trustees or the President and shall be called by any Trustee for any proper purpose upon written request of Shareholders of the Trust holding in the aggregate not less than 51% of the outstanding Shares of the Trust or class or series of Shares having voting rights on the matter, such request specifying the purpose or purposes for which such meeting is to be called. Any shareholder meeting, including a special meeting, shall be held within or without the State of Delaware on such day and at such time as the Trustees shall designate.

 

10.2    Voting. Shareholders shall have no power to vote on any matter except matters on which a vote of Shareholders is required by this Section 10.2, Section 11.2(a), Section 11.3, Section 11.4, Section 11.6 and Section 11.7 of this Declaration or by resolution of the Trustees. This Declaration expressly provides that no matter for which voting is required by the Statutory Trust Act in the absence of the contrary provision in the Declaration shall require any vote. Except as otherwise provided herein, any matter required to be submitted to Shareholders and affecting one or more classes or series of Shares shall require approval by the required vote of all the affected classes and series of Shares voting together as a single class; provided, however, that as to any matter with respect to which a separate vote of any class or series of Shares is provided for by resolution of the Trustees, such requirement as to a separate vote by that class or series of Shares shall apply in addition to a vote of all the affected classes and series voting together as a single class. Shareholders of a particular class or series of Shares shall not be entitled to vote on any matter that affects only one or more other classes or series of Shares. There shall be no cumulative voting in the election or removal of Trustees.

 

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10.3    Notice of Meeting and Record Date. Notice of all meetings of Shareholders, stating the time, place and purposes of the meeting, shall be given by the Trustees by mail to each Shareholder of record entitled to vote thereat at its registered address, mailed at least 10 days and not more than 120 days before the meeting or otherwise in compliance with applicable law. Only the business stated in the notice of the meeting shall be considered at such meeting. Any postponed or adjourned meeting may be held as postponed or adjourned one or more times without further notice not later than 120 days after the original meeting date. For the purposes of determining the Shareholders who are entitled to notice of and to vote at any meeting the Trustees may, without closing the transfer books, fix a date not more than 120 nor less than 10 days prior to the date of such meeting of Shareholders as a record date for the determination of the Persons to be treated as Shareholders of record for such purposes.

 

10.4    Quorum and Required Vote. (a) Subject to such greater or lesser amount determined by the Trustees as to any or all matters, the holders of a majority of the Shares entitled to vote on any matter at a meeting present in person or by proxy shall constitute a quorum at such meeting of the Shareholders for purposes of conducting business on such matter. The absence from any meeting, in person or by proxy, of a quorum of Shareholders for action upon any given matter shall not prevent action at such meeting upon any other matter or matters which may properly come before the meeting, if there shall be present thereat, in person or by proxy, a quorum of Shareholders in respect of such other matters.

 

(b)         Subject to any provision of this Declaration or a resolution of the Trustees specifying a greater or a lesser vote requirement for the transaction of any item of business at any meeting of Shareholders, (i) with respect to the election of Trustees, the affirmative vote of a plurality of the Shares represented in person or by proxy at any meeting at which a quorum is present shall be the act of the shareholders with respect to such matters, (ii) with respect to all other matters, the affirmative vote of a majority of the Shares present in person or represented by proxy and entitled to vote on the subject matter shall be the act of the Shareholders with respect to such matter, and (iii) where a separate vote of one or more classes or series of Shares is required on any matter, the affirmative vote of a majority of the Shares of such class or series of Shares present in person or represented by proxy at the meeting shall be the act of the Shareholders of such class or series with respect to such matter. Any purported vote of any Shareholders which purported vote does not meet the requirements of applicable state or federal law may be disregarded as invalid if so determined by the Trustees or the chairman of any meeting of shareholders. In such event, such shares shall nevertheless be counted for purposes of determining whether a quorum is present.

 

10.5    Proxies, etc. At any meeting of Shareholders, any holder of Shares entitled to vote thereat may vote by properly executed proxy; provided that no proxy shall be voted at any meeting unless it shall have been placed on file with the Secretary, or with such other officer or agent of the Trust as the Secretary may direct, for verification prior to the time at which such vote shall be taken. Pursuant to a resolution of a majority of the Trustees, proxies may be solicited in the name of one or more Trustees or one or more of the officers or employees of the Trust. No proxy shall be valid after the expiration of 11 months from the date thereof, unless otherwise provided in the proxy. Only Shareholders of record shall be entitled to vote. Each full Share shall be entitled to one vote and fractional Shares shall be entitled to a vote of such fraction. When any Share is held jointly by several persons, any one of them may vote at any meeting in person or by proxy in respect of such Share, but if more than one of them shall be present at such meeting in person or by proxy, and such joint owners or their proxies so present disagree as to any vote to be cast, such vote shall not be received in respect of such Share. A proxy purporting to be executed by or on behalf of a Shareholder shall be deemed valid unless challenged at or prior to its exercise. If the holder of any such Share is a minor or a person of unsound mind, and subject to guardianship or to the legal control of any other person as regards the charge or management of such Share, he may vote by his guardian or such other person appointed or having such control, and such vote may be given in person or by proxy.

 

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10.6    Reports. The Trustees shall cause to be prepared at least annually and more frequently to the extent and in the form required by law, regulation or any exchange on which Trust Shares are listed a report of operations containing a balance sheet and statement of income and undistributed income of the Trust prepared in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles and an opinion of an independent public accountant on such financial statements. Copies of such reports shall be mailed to all Shareholders of record within the time required by applicable federal law or stock exchange requirements, and in any event within a reasonable period preceding any annual meeting of Shareholders. The Trustees shall, in addition, furnish to the Shareholders to the extent required by law, interim reports containing an unaudited balance sheet of the Trust as of the end of such period and an unaudited statement of income and surplus for the period from the beginning of the current fiscal year to the end of such period.

 

10.7    Inspection of Records. Shareholders shall have the right to inspect the records of the Trust, including, without limitation, Shareholder lists, documents, accounts and books of the Trust only to the extent inalienably granted under the DSTA; all other such rights whether or not provided in the DSTA are expressly precluded. All Shareholders’ requests to inspect the records of the Trust shall be submitted by Shareholders to the Trustees in writing. Upon receipt of such requests, the Trustees may in their discretion establish procedures for any permitted inspections. To preserve the integrity of the Trust’s records, the Trustees may provide certified copies of Trust records rather than originals. The Trustees shall not be required to create records or obtain records from third parties to satisfy Shareholders’ requests. The Trustees may require Shareholders to pay in advance or otherwise indemnify the Trust for the costs and expenses of Shareholders’ inspection of records. Nothing in this Section 10.7 is intended nor shall be construed to permit Shareholders to inspect the records of the Trust except as may be required by the DSTA or permitted by the Trustees in their discretion.

 

10.8    Shareholder Action by Written Consent. Except as otherwise provided by a majority of the Trustees then in office, shareholder action may only be taken at a duly called and held meeting of Shareholders called for such purpose, and not by written consent.

 

ARTICLE XI

DURATION; TERMINATION OF TRUST; AMENDMENT; MERGERS, ETC.

 

11.1    Duration. Subject to possible termination in accordance with the provisions of Section 11.2 hereof, the Trust created hereby shall have perpetual existence.

 

11.2    Termination. (a) The Trust may be dissolved, only upon approval of not less than 80% of the Trustees. Upon the dissolution of the Trust:

 

(i)    The Trust shall carry on no business except for the purpose of winding up its affairs.

 

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(ii)    The Trustees shall proceed to wind up the affairs of the Trust and all of the powers of the Trustees under this Declaration shall continue until the affairs of the Trust shall have been wound up, including the power to fulfill or discharge the contracts of the Trust, collect its assets, sell, convey, assign, exchange, merge where the Trust is not the survivor, transfer or otherwise dispose of all or any part of the remaining Trust Property to one or more Persons at public or private sale for consideration which may consist in whole or in part in cash, securities or other property of any kind, discharge or pay its liabilities, and do all other acts appropriate to liquidate its business; provided that any sale, conveyance, assignment, exchange, merger in which the Trust is not the survivor, transfer or other disposition of all or substantially all the Trust Property of the Trust (measured at the time that such termination was originally approved by 80% of the Trustees as set forth in this Section 11.2(a)) shall require approval of the principal terms of the transaction and the nature and amount of the consideration by Shareholders with the same vote as set forth under Section 11.3(b) of this Declaration.

 

(iii)    After paying or adequately providing for the payment of all liabilities, and upon receipt of such releases, indemnities and refunding agreements, as they deem necessary for their protection, the Trustees may distribute the remaining Trust Property, in cash or in kind or partly each, among the Shareholders according to their respective rights.

 

(b)         After the winding up and termination of the Trust and distribution to the Shareholders as herein provided, a majority of the Trustees shall execute and lodge among the records of the Trust an instrument in writing setting forth the fact of such termination and shall execute and file a Certificate of Cancellation with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware. Upon termination of the Trust, the Trustees shall thereupon be discharged from all further liabilities and duties hereunder, and the rights and interests of all Shareholders shall thereupon cease.

 

11.3    Amendment Procedure. (a) This Declaration may only be amended if such amendment is approved by a majority of the Trustees. Except as provided in Section 11.3(b), the Trustees may amend this Declaration without any vote of Shareholders of any class or series to divide the Shares of the Trust into one or more classes or additional classes, or one or more series of any such class or classes, to determine the rights, powers, preferences, limitations and restrictions of any class or series of Shares, to change the name of the Trust or any class or series of Shares, to make any change that does not adversely affect the relative rights or preferences of any individual Shareholder as compared to the rights and preferences of other Shareholders of the same class and series of Shares, as they may deem necessary or appropriate.

 

(b)         No amendment may be made to Section 5.1, Section 5.2, Section 10.2 Section 11.2(a), this Section 11.3, Section 11.4, Section 11.6 or Section 11.7 of this Declaration and no amendment may be made to this Declaration which would change any rights with respect to any Shares of the Trust by reducing any stated amount payable thereon in preference over all other classes or series of Shares upon liquidation of the Trust or by eliminating any voting rights pertaining thereto set forth in Section 10.2 of this Declaration (provided that nothing in this Section 11.3(b) shall limit the ability of the Trustees to authorize, and to cause the Trust to issue, other securities pursuant to Section 6.2), except after a majority of the Trustees have approved a resolution therefor, by the affirmative vote of the holders of not less than seventy-five percent (75%) of the Shares of each affected class or series outstanding, voting as separate classes or series, unless such amendment has been approved by 80% of the Trustees, in which case approval of Shareholders as set forth in Section 10.4 shall be required. Nothing contained in this Declaration shall permit the amendment of this Declaration to impair the exemption from personal liability of the Shareholders, Trustees, officers, employees and agents of the Trust or to permit assessments upon holders of then outstanding Shares.

 

(c)         To the extent that Shareholders are entitled to vote on any matter that in the judgement of the Board of Trustees would prevent, impede or make less efficient or more costly the implementation of the proposals adopted by Shareholders at the special meeting of Shareholders held on August 28, 2020 or the realization of the benefits sought thereby, notwithstanding any other provision of the Declaration, such matter shall, unless otherwise determined by the vote of at least 80% of the Board of Trustees, require the affirmative vote of not less than 75% of the outstanding Shares.

 

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(d)         An amendment duly adopted by the requisite vote of the Board of Trustees and, if required, the Shareholders as aforesaid, shall become effective at the time of such adoption or at such other time as may be designated by the Board of Trustees or Shareholders, as the case may be. A certification in recordable form signed by a majority of the Trustees setting forth an amendment and reciting that it was duly adopted by the Trustees and, if required, the Shareholders as aforesaid, or a copy of the Declaration, as amended, in recordable form, and executed by a majority of the Trustees, shall be conclusive evidence of such amendment when lodged among the records of the Trust or at such other time designated by the Board.

 

11.4    Merger, Consolidation and Sale of Assets. Except as provided in Section 11.7, the Trust may merge or consolidate with any other corporation, association, trust or other organization or may sell, lease or exchange all or substantially all of the Trust Property or the property, including its good will, upon such terms and conditions and for such consideration when and as authorized by two-thirds of the Trustees; provided that any merger or consolidation in which the Trust is not the surviving entity, or sale, lease or exchange of all or substantially all of the Trust Property of the Trust (measured at the time that such transaction was originally approved by two-thirds of the Trustees as set forth in this Section 11.4) shall require approval by Shareholders as set forth under Section 11.3(b) of this Declaration and any such merger, consolidation, sale, lease or exchange shall be determined for all purposes to have been accomplished under and pursuant to the laws of the State of Delaware.

 

11.5    Subsidiaries. Without approval by Shareholders, the Trustees may cause to be organized or assist in organizing one or more corporations, trusts, partnerships, associations or other organizations to take over all of the Trust Property or to carry on any business in which the Trust shall directly or indirectly have any interest, and to sell, convey and transfer all or a portion of the Trust Property to any such corporation, trust, limited liability company, association or organization in exchange for the shares or securities thereof, or otherwise, and to lend money to, subscribe for the shares or securities of, and enter into any contracts with any such corporation, trust, limited liability company, partnership, association or organization, or any corporation, partnership, trust, limited liability company, association or organization in which the Trust holds or is about to acquire shares or any other interests.

 

11.6    Conversion. Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Declaration or the Bylaws of the Trust, for so long as the Trust shall remain registered as an investment company under the 1940 Act, a favorable vote of a majority of the Trustees then in office followed by the favorable vote of the holders of not less than seventy-five percent (75%) of the Shares of each affected class or series outstanding, voting as separate classes or series, shall be required to approve, adopt or authorize an amendment to this Declaration that makes the Shares a “redeemable security” as that term is defined in the 1940 Act, unless such amendment has been approved by 80% of the Trustees, in which case approval by a Majority Shareholder Vote shall be required. Upon the adoption of a proposal to convert the Trust from a “closed- end company” to an “open-end company” as those terms are defined by the 1940 Act and the necessary amendments to this Declaration to permit such a conversion of the Trust’s outstanding Shares entitled to vote, the Trust shall, upon complying with any requirements of the 1940 Act and state law, become an “open-end” investment company. Such affirmative vote or consent shall be in addition to the vote or consent of the holders of the Shares otherwise required by law, or any agreement between the Trust and any national securities exchange.

 

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11.7    Certain Transactions. (a) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Declaration and subject to the exceptions provided in paragraph (d) of this Section 11.7, the types of transactions described in paragraph (c) of this Section 11.7 shall require the affirmative vote or consent of a majority of the Trustees then in office followed by the affirmative vote of the holders of not less than seventy-five percent (75%) of the Shares of each affected class or series outstanding, voting as separate classes or series, when a Principal Shareholder (as defined in paragraph (b) of this Section 11.7) is a party to the transaction. Such affirmative vote or consent shall be in addition to the vote or consent of the holders of Shares otherwise required by law or by the terms of any class or series of preferred stock, whether now or hereafter authorized, or any agreement between the Trust and any national securities exchange.

 

(b)         The term “Principal Shareholder” shall mean any corporation, Person or other entity which is the beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, of five percent (5%) or more of the outstanding Shares of all outstanding classes or series and shall include any affiliate or associate, as such terms are defined in clause (ii) below, of a Principal Shareholder. For the purposes of this Section 11.7, in addition to the Shares which a corporation, Person or other entity beneficially owns directly, (a) any corporation, Person or other entity shall be deemed to be the beneficial owner of any Shares (i) which it has the right to acquire pursuant to any agreement or upon exercise of conversion rights or warrants, or otherwise (but excluding share options granted by the Trust) or (ii) which are beneficially owned, directly or indirectly (including Shares deemed owned through application of clause (i) above), by any other corporation, Person or entity with which its “affiliate” or “associate” (as defined below) has any agreement, arrangement or understanding for the purpose of acquiring, holding, voting or disposing of Shares, or which is its “affiliate” or “associate” as those terms are defined in Rule 12b-2 of the General Rules and Regulations under the Exchange Act, and (b) the outstanding Shares shall include Shares deemed owned through application of clauses (i) and (ii) above but shall not include any other Shares which may be issuable pursuant to any agreement, or upon exercise of conversion rights or warrants, or otherwise.

 

(c)         This Section 11.7 shall apply to the following transactions:

 

(i)    The merger or consolidation of the Trust or any subsidiary of the Trust with or into any Principal Shareholder.

 

(ii)    The issuance of any securities of the Trust to any Principal Shareholder for cash (other than pursuant to any automatic dividend reinvestment plan).

 

(iii)    The sale, lease or exchange of all or any substantial part of the assets of the Trust to any Principal Shareholder (except assets having an aggregate fair market value of less than 2% of the total assets of the Trust, aggregating for the purpose of such computation all assets sold, leased or exchanged in any series of similar transactions within a twelve-month period.)

 

(iv)    The sale, lease or exchange to the Trust or any subsidiary thereof, in exchange for securities of the Trust, of any assets of any Principal Shareholder (except assets having an aggregate fair market value of less than 2% of the total assets of the Trust, aggregating for the purposes of such computation all assets sold, leased or exchanged in any series of similar transactions within a twelve-month period).

 

(d)         The provisions of this Section 11.7 shall not be applicable to (i) any of the transactions described in paragraph (c) of this Section 11.7 if 80% of the Trustees shall by resolution have approved a memorandum of understanding with such Principal Shareholder with respect to and substantially consistent with such transaction, in which case approval by Shareholders as set forth in Section 10.4 of this Declaration shall be the only vote of Shareholders required by this Section 11.7, or (ii) any such transaction with any entity of which a majority of the outstanding shares of all classes and series of a stock normally entitled to vote in elections of directors is owned of record or beneficially by the Trust and its subsidiaries.

 

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(e)         The Board of Trustees shall have the power and duty to determine for the purposes of this Section 11.7 on the basis of information known to the Trust whether (i) a corporation, person or entity beneficially owns five percent (5%) or more of the outstanding Shares of any class or series, (ii) a corporation, person or entity is an “affiliate” or “associate” (as defined above) of another, (iii) the assets being acquired or leased to or by the Trust or any subsidiary thereof constitute a substantial part of the assets of the Trust and have an aggregate fair market value of less than 2% of the total assets of the Trust, and (iv) the memorandum of understanding referred to in paragraph (d) hereof is substantially consistent with the transaction covered thereby. Any such determination shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes of this Section 11.7.

 

ARTICLE XII

RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFER AND OWNERSHIP OF SHARES

 

REIT Qualification. If the Trust elects to qualify for federal income tax treatment as a REIT (as defined below in Section 12.1), the Board of Trustees shall use its reasonable best efforts to take such actions as are necessary or appropriate to preserve the status of the Trust as a REIT; however, if the Board of Trustees determines that it is no longer in the best interests of the Trust to attempt to, or continue to, qualify as a REIT, the Board of Trustees may revoke or otherwise terminate the Trust’s REIT election pursuant to Section 856(g) of the Code. The Board of Trustees, in its sole and absolute discretion, also may (a) determine that compliance with any restriction or limitation on stock ownership and transfers set forth in this Article XII is no longer required for REIT qualification and (b) make any other determination or take any other action pursuant to this Declaration or the Bylaws.

 

Excess Inclusion Income. To the extent that NXDT has incurred or the Board of Trustees determines that NXDT will incur any tax pursuant to Section 860E(e)(6) of the Code as the result of any “excess inclusion” income (within the meaning of Section 860E of the Code) of NXDT that is allocable to a stockholder that is a “disqualified organization” (as defined in Section 860E(e)(5) of the Code), the Board of Trustees may, in its sole discretion, cause NXDT to allocate such tax solely to the stock held by such disqualified organization in the manner described in Treasury Regulation Section 1.860E-2(b)(4), by reducing from one or more distributions paid to such stockholder the tax incurred by NXDT pursuant to Section 860E(e)(6) as a result of such stockholder’s stock ownership.

 

12.1    Definitions. For the purpose of this Article XII, the following terms shall have the following meanings:

 

Aggregate Share Ownership Limit. The term “Aggregate Share Ownership Limit” shall mean 9.8 percent (in value or in number of shares, whichever is more restrictive) of the aggregate of the outstanding Shares of any class or series, or such other percentage determined by the Board of Trustees in accordance with Section 12.2.8 of the Declaration. The value and number of the outstanding Shares shall be determined by the Board of Trustees, which determination shall be conclusive for all purposes hereof. For the purposes of determining the percentage ownership of Shares by any Person, Shares that may be acquired upon conversion, exchange or exercise of any securities of NXDT directly or constructively held by such Person, but not Shares issuable with respect to the conversion, exchange or exercise of securities for NXDT held by other Persons, shall be deemed to be outstanding prior to conversion, exchange or exercise.

 

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Beneficial Ownership. The term “Beneficial Ownership” shall mean ownership of Shares by a Person, whether the interest in the Shares is held directly or indirectly (including by a nominee), and shall include interests that would be treated as owned through the application of Section 544 of the Code, as modified by Section 856(h)(1)(B) and 856(h)(3) of the Code. The terms “Beneficial Owner,” “Beneficially Owns” and “Beneficially Owned” shall have the correlative meanings.

 

Business Day. The term “Business Day” shall mean any day, other than a Saturday or Sunday, that is neither a legal holiday nor a day on which banking institutions in Texas or New York are authorized or required by law, regulation or executive order to close.

 

Charitable Beneficiary. The term “Charitable Beneficiary” shall mean one or more beneficiaries of the Charitable Trust as determined pursuant to Section 12.3.6, provided that each such organization must be described in Section 501(c)(3) of the Code and contributions to each such organization must be eligible for deduction under each of Sections 170(b)(1)(A), 2055 and 2522 of the Code.

 

Charitable Trust. The term “Charitable Trust” shall mean any trust provided for in Section 12.3.1.

 

Charitable Trustee. The term “Charitable Trustee” shall mean the Person unaffiliated with NXDT and a Prohibited Owner that is appointed by NXDT to serve as trustee of the Charitable Trust.

 

Common Share Ownership Limit. The term “Common Share Ownership Limit” shall mean 9.8 percent (in value or in number of shares, whichever is more restrictive) of the aggregate of the outstanding common shares of beneficial interest of NXDT, par value $0.001 per share (“Common Shares”), or such other percentage determined by the Board of Trustees in accordance with Section 12.2.8 of the Declaration. The value and number of the outstanding Common Shares shall be determined by the Board of Trustees, which determination shall be conclusive for all purposes hereof. For purposes of determining the percentage ownership of Common Shares by any Person, shares of Common Shares that may be acquired upon conversion, exchange or exercise of any securities of NXDT directly or constructively held by such Person, but not shares of Common Shares issuable with respect to the conversion, exchange or exercise of securities for NXDT held by other Persons, shall be deemed to be outstanding prior to conversion, exchange or exercise.

 

Constructive Ownership. The term “Constructive Ownership” shall mean ownership of Shares by a Person, whether the interest in the Shares is held directly or indirectly (including by a nominee), and shall include interests that would be treated as owned through the application of Section 318(a) of the Code, as modified by Section 856(d)(5) of the Code. The terms “Constructive Owner,” “Constructively Owns” and “Constructively Owned” shall have the correlative meanings.

 

Excepted Holder. The term “Excepted Holder” shall mean a Person for whom an Excepted Holder Limit is created by this Article XII or by the Board of Trustees pursuant to Section 12.2.7.

 

Excepted Holder Limit. The term “Excepted Holder Limit” shall mean, provided that the affected Excepted Holder agrees to comply with the requirements established by this Article XII or by the Board of Trustees pursuant to Section 12.2.7 and subject to adjustment pursuant to Section 12.2.8, the percentage limit established by the Board of Trustees pursuant to Section 12.2.7.

 

Initial Date. The term “Initial Date” shall mean the date on which the Shareholders approve the conversion of the NXDT from an investment company registered under the 1940 Act to a REIT.

 

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Market Price. The term “Market Price” on any date shall mean, with respect to any class or series of outstanding Shares, the Closing Price for such Shares on such date. The “Closing Price” on any date shall mean the last sale price for such Shares, regular way, or, in case no such sale takes place on such day, the average of the closing bid and asked prices, regular way, for such Shares, in either case as reported in the principal consolidated transaction reporting system with respect to securities listed or admitted to trading on the NYSE or, if such Shares is not listed or admitted to trading on the NYSE, as reported on the principal consolidated transaction reporting system with respect to securities listed on the principal national securities exchange on which such Shares is listed or admitted to trading or, if such Shares is not listed or admitted to trading on any national securities exchange, the last quoted price, or, if not so quoted, the average of the high bid and low asked prices in the over-the-counter market, as reported by the principal automated quotation system that may then be in use or, if such Shares is not quoted by any such system, the average of the closing bid and asked prices as furnished by a professional market maker making a market in such Shares selected by the Board of Trustees or, in the event that no trading price is available for such Shares, the fair market value of the Shares, as determined by the Board of Trustees.

 

NXDT. The term “NXDT” shall mean the Trust, as defined in Section 1.2 of this Declaration.

 

NYSE. The term “NYSE” shall mean The New York Stock Exchange.

 

Person. The term “Person” shall mean an individual, corporation, partnership, limited liability company, estate, trust (including a trust qualified under Sections 401(a) or 501(c)(17) of the Code), a portion of a trust permanently set aside for or to be used exclusively for the purposes described in Section 642(c) of the Code, association, private foundation within the meaning of Section 509(a) of the Code, joint stock company or other entity and also includes a group as that term is used for purposes of Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act, and a group to which an Excepted Holder Limit applies.

 

Prohibited Owner. The term “Prohibited Owner” shall mean, with respect to any purported Transfer (or other event), any Person who, but for the provisions of this Article XII, would Beneficially Own or Constructively Own Shares in violation of Section 12.2.1, and if appropriate in the context, shall also mean any Person who would have been the record owner of the shares that the Prohibited Owner would have so owned.

 

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

 

Restriction Termination Date. The term “Restriction Termination Date” shall mean the first day after the Initial Date on which the Board of Trustees determines that compliance with the restrictions and limitations on Beneficial Ownership, Constructive Ownership and Transfers set forth herein are no longer in the best interests of NXDT.

 

Transfer. The term “Transfer” shall mean any issuance, sale, transfer, gift, assignment, devise or other disposition, as well as any other event or circumstance that causes any Person to acquire or possess, or change its level of, Beneficial Ownership or Constructive Ownership, or any agreement to take any such actions or cause any such events, of Shares or the right to vote or receive dividends on Shares, including (a) the granting or exercise of any option (or any disposition of any option), (b) any disposition of any securities or rights convertible into or exchangeable for Shares or any interest in Shares or any exercise of any such conversion or exchange right, (c) Transfers of interests in other entities that result in changes in Beneficial Ownership or Constructive Ownership of Shares and (d) changes in the relative values of Shares; in each case, whether voluntary or involuntary, whether owned of record, Constructively Owned or Beneficially Owned and whether by operation of law or otherwise. The terms “Transferring” and “Transferred” shall have the correlative meanings.

 

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12.2    Shares.

 

12.2.1    Ownership Limitations. During the period commencing on the Initial Date and prior to the Restriction Termination Date, but subject to Section 12.4 of this Article XII:

 

(a)    Basic Restrictions.

 

(i)    (1) No Person, other than an Excepted Holder, shall Beneficially Own or Constructively Own Shares in excess of the Aggregate Share Ownership Limit, (2) no Person, other than an Excepted Holder, shall Beneficially Own or Constructively Own Shares in excess of the Common Share Ownership Limit and (3) no Excepted Holder shall Beneficially Own or Constructively Own Shares in excess of the Excepted Holder Limit for such Excepted Holder.

 

(ii)    No Person shall Beneficially Own or Constructively Own Shares to the extent that such Beneficial Ownership or Constructive Ownership of Shares would result in NXDT being “closely held” within the meaning of Section 856(h) of the Code (without regard to whether the ownership interest is held during the last half of a taxable year), or otherwise failing to qualify as a REIT (including, but not limited to, Beneficial Ownership or Constructive Ownership that would result in NXDT (or any subsidiary REIT thereof, as applicable) owning (actually or Constructively) an interest in a tenant that is described in Section 856(d)(2)(B) of the Code if the income derived by NXDT (or such subsidiary) from such tenant would cause NXDT (or such subsidiary) to fail to satisfy any of the gross income requirements of Section 856(c) of the Code, taking into account any other income of NXDT (or such subsidiary) that would not constitute qualifying income under such requirements).

 

(iii)    Any Transfer of Shares that, if effective, would result in the Shares being beneficially owned by less than 100 Persons (determined under the principles of Section 856(a)(5) of the Code) shall be void ab initio, and the intended transferee shall acquire no rights in such Shares.

 

(iv)    No Person shall Beneficially Own or Constructively Own Shares to the extent that such Beneficial Ownership or Constructive Ownership of Shares would result in NXDT failing to qualify as a “domestically controlled qualified investment entity” within the meaning of Section 897(h)(4)(B) of the Code.

 

(b)    Transfer in Charitable Trust. If any Transfer of Shares (whether or not such Transfer is the result of a transaction entered into through the facilities of the NYSE or any other national securities exchange or automated inter-dealer quotation system) occurs which, if effective, would result in any Person Beneficially Owning or Constructively Owning Shares in violation of Section 12.2.1(a)(i), (ii), (iii) or (iv),

 

(i)    then that number of shares of the Shares the Beneficial Ownership or Constructive Ownership of which otherwise would cause such Person to violate Section 12.2.1(a)(i), (ii), (iii) or (iv) (rounded up to the nearest whole share) shall be automatically transferred to a Charitable Trust for the benefit of a Charitable Beneficiary, as described in Section 12.3, effective as of the close of business on the Business Day prior to the date of such Transfer, and such Person shall acquire no rights in such shares; or

 

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(ii)    if the transfer to the Charitable Trust described in clause (i) of this sentence would not be effective for any reason to prevent the violation of Section 12.2.1(a)(i), (ii), (iii) or (iv), then the Transfer of that number of Shares that otherwise would cause any Person to violate Section 12.2.1(a)(i), (ii), (iii) or (iv) shall be void ab initio, and the intended transferee shall acquire no rights in such Shares.

 

(iii)    To the extent that, upon a transfer of Shares pursuant to this Section 12.2.1(b), a violation of any provision of this Article XII would nonetheless be continuing (for example where the ownership of Shares by a single Charitable Trust would violate the 100 shareholder requirement applicable to REITs), then Shares shall be transferred to that number of Charitable Trusts, each having a distinct Charitable Trustee and a Charitable Beneficiary or Charitable Beneficiaries that are distinct from those of each other Trust, such that there is no violation of any provision of this Article XII.

 

(iv)    In determining which Shares are to be transferred to a Charitable Trust in accordance with this Section 12.2.1(b), Shares shall be so transferred to a Charitable Trust in such manner that minimizes the aggregate value of the Shares that are transferred to the Charitable Trust (except to the extent that the Board of Trustees determines that the Shares transferred to the Charitable Trust shall be those directly or indirectly held or Beneficially Owned or Constructively Owned by a Person or Persons that caused or contributed to the application of this Section 12.2.1(b)), and to the extent not inconsistent therewith, on a pro rata basis.

 

12.2.2    Remedies for Breach. If the Board of Trustees shall at any time determine that a Transfer or other event has taken place that results in a violation of Section 12.2.1 or that a Person intends to acquire or has attempted to acquire Beneficial Ownership or Constructive Ownership of any Shares in violation of Section 12.2.1 (whether or not such violation is intended), the Board of Trustees shall take such action as it deems advisable to refuse to give effect to or to prevent such Transfer or other event, including, without limitation, causing NXDT to redeem Shares, refusing to give effect to such Transfer on the books of NXDT or instituting proceedings to enjoin such Transfer or other event; provided, however, that any Transfer or attempted Transfer or other event in violation of Section 12.2.1 shall automatically result in the transfer to the Charitable Trust described above, and, where applicable, such Transfer (or other event) shall be void ab initio as provided above irrespective of any action (or non-action) by the Board of Trustees.

 

12.2.3    Notice of Restricted Transfer. Any Person who acquires or attempts or intends to acquire Beneficial Ownership or Constructive Ownership of Shares that will or may violate Section 12.2.1(a) or any Person who would have owned Shares that resulted in a transfer to the Charitable Trust pursuant to the provisions of Section 12.2.1(b) shall immediately give written notice to NXDT of such event or, in the case of such a proposed or attempted transaction, give at least 15 days prior written notice, and shall provide to NXDT such other information as NXDT may request in order to determine the effect, if any, of such Transfer on NXDT’s status as a REIT.

 

12.2.4    Owners Required To Provide Information. From the Initial Date and prior to the Restriction Termination Date:

 

(a)    every owner of five percent or more (or such lower percentage as required by the Code or the Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder) in number or value of the outstanding Shares, within 30 days after the end of each taxable year, shall give written notice to NXDT stating the name and address of such owner, the number of Shares Beneficially Owned and a description of the manner in which such shares are held. Each such owner shall provide to NXDT such additional information as NXDT may request in order to determine the effect, if any, of such Beneficial Ownership on NXDT’s status as a REIT and to ensure compliance with the Aggregate Share Ownership Limit and the Common Share Ownership Limit and the other restrictions set forth herein; and

 

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(b)    each Person who is a Beneficial Owner or Constructive Owner of Shares and each Person (including the Shareholder of record) who is holding Shares for a Beneficial Owner or Constructive Owner shall provide to NXDT such information as NXDT may request in good faith in order to determine NXDT’s status as a REIT and to comply with the requirements of any taxing authority or governmental authority or to determine such compliance.

 

12.2.5    Remedies Not Limited. Nothing contained in this Section 12.2 shall limit the authority of the Board of Trustees to take such other action as it deems necessary or advisable to protect NXDT in preserving NXDT’s status as a REIT.

 

12.2.6    Ambiguity. In the case of an ambiguity in the application of any of the provisions of this Article XII, the Board of Trustees shall have the power to determine the application of the provisions of this Article XII with respect to any situation based on the facts known to it. In the event this Article XII requires an action by the Board of Trustees and the Declaration fails to provide specific guidance with respect to such action, the Board of Trustees shall have the power to determine the action to be taken so long as such action is not contrary to the provisions of this Article XII. Absent a decision to the contrary by the Board of Trustees (which the Board of Trustees may make in its sole and absolute discretion), if a Person would have (but for the remedies set forth in this Article XII) acquired Beneficial or Constructive Ownership of Shares in violation of this Article XII, such remedies (as applicable) shall apply first to the Shares that, but for such remedies, would have been actually owned by such Person, and second to Shares which, but for such remedies, would have been Beneficially Owned or Constructively Owned (but not actually owned) by such Person, pro rata among the Persons who actually own such Shares based upon the relative number of the Shares held by each such Person.

 

12.2.7    Exceptions.

 

(a)    Subject to Section 12.2.1(a)(ii), (iii) and (iv), the Board of Trustees may exempt (prospectively or retroactively) a Person from the Aggregate Share Ownership Limit or the Common Share Ownership Limit, as the case may be, and may establish or increase an Excepted Holder Limit for such Person if NXDT obtains such representations and undertakings from such Person as are reasonably necessary for the Board of Trustees to determine that:

 

(i)    no Person’s Beneficial or Constructive Ownership of Shares will violate Section 12.2.1(a)(ii), (iii) or (iv); and

 

(ii)    such Person does not and will not own, actually or Constructively, an interest in a tenant of NXDT (or a tenant of any entity owned or controlled by NXDT, including a subsidiary REIT) that would cause NXDT (or such subsidiary REIT) to own, actually or Constructively, more than a 9.9% interest (as set forth in Section 856(d)(2)(B) of the Code) in such tenant (for this purpose, a tenant shall not be treated as a tenant of NXDT if NXDT (or an entity owned or controlled by NXDT, including such subsidiary REIT) derives (and is expected to continue to derive) a sufficiently small amount of revenue from such tenant such that, in the judgment of the Board of Trustees, rent from such tenant would not adversely affect NXDT’s (or such subsidiary REIT’s) ability to qualify as a REIT).

 

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Any violation or attempted violation of any such representations or undertakings (or other action which is contrary to the restrictions contained in this Article XII) will result in such Shares being automatically transferred to a Charitable Trust in accordance with Sections 12.2.1(b) and 12.3.

 

(b)    Prior to granting any exception pursuant to Section 12.2.7(a), the Board of Trustees may require a ruling from the Internal Revenue Service, or an opinion of counsel, in either case in form and substance satisfactory to the Board of Trustees as it may deem necessary or advisable in order to determine or ensure NXDT’s status as a REIT. Notwithstanding the receipt of any ruling or opinion, the Board of Trustees may impose such conditions or restrictions as it deems appropriate in connection with granting such exception.

 

(c)    Subject to Section 12.2.1(a)(ii), an underwriter or placement agent that participates in a public offering or a private placement of Shares (or securities convertible into or exchangeable for Shares) may Beneficially Own or Constructively Own Shares (or securities convertible into or exchangeable for Shares) in excess of the Aggregate Share Ownership Limit, the Common Share Ownership Limit, or both such limits, but only to the extent necessary to facilitate such public offering or private placement.

 

(d)    The Board of Trustees may only reduce the Excepted Holder Limit for an Excepted Holder: (1) with the written consent of such Excepted Holder at any time, or (2) pursuant to the terms and conditions of the agreements and undertakings entered into with such Excepted Holder in connection with the establishment of the Excepted Holder Limit for that Excepted Holder. No Excepted Holder Limit shall be reduced to a percentage that is less than the Aggregate Share Ownership Limit or the Common Share Ownership Limit, as the case may be.

 

12.2.8    Increase or Decrease in Common Share Ownership or Aggregate Share Ownership Limits. Subject to Section 12.2.1(a)(ii) and this Section 12.2.8, the Board of Trustees may from time to time increase or decrease the Common Share Ownership Limit or the Aggregate Share Ownership Limit for one or more Persons and increase or decrease the Common Share Ownership Limit or the Aggregate Share Ownership Limit for all other Persons. No decreased Common Share Ownership Limit or Aggregate Share Ownership Limit will be effective for any Person whose percentage of ownership of Shares is in excess of such decreased Common Share Ownership Limit or Aggregate Share Ownership Limit, as applicable, until such time as such Person’s percentage of ownership of Shares equals or falls below the decreased Common Share Ownership Limit or Aggregate Share Ownership Limit, as applicable; provided, however, any further acquisition of Shares by any such Person (other than a Person for whom an exemption has been granted pursuant to Section 12.2.7(a) or an Excepted Holder) in excess of the Shares owned by such person on the date the decreased Common Share Ownership Limit or Aggregate Share Ownership Limit, as applicable, became effective will be in violation of the Common Share Ownership Limit or Aggregate Share Ownership Limit. No increase to the Common Share Ownership Limit or Aggregate Share Ownership Limit may be approved if the new Common Share Ownership Limit and/or Aggregate Share Ownership Limit would allow five or fewer Persons to Beneficially Own, in the aggregate more than 49.8% in value of the outstanding Shares.

 

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12.2.9    Legend. Each certificate for Shares, if certificated, or the notice in lieu of a certificate shall bear substantially the following legend:

 

The shares represented by this certificate are subject to restrictions on Beneficial Ownership and Constructive Ownership and Transfer for the purpose, among others, of NXDT’s maintenance of its status as a “real estate investment trust” under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”). Subject to certain further restrictions and except as expressly provided in NXDT’s Declaration, (i) no Person may Beneficially Own or Constructively Own shares of NXDT’s Common Shares in excess of the Common Share Ownership Limit, unless such Person is an Excepted Holder (in which case the Excepted Holder Limit shall be applicable); (ii) no Person may Beneficially Own or Constructively Own Shares of NXDT in excess of the Aggregate Share Ownership Limit, unless such Person is an Excepted Holder (in which case the Excepted Holder Limit shall be applicable); (iii) no Person may Beneficially Own or Constructively Own Shares that would result in NXDT being “closely held” under Section 856(h) of the Code or otherwise cause NXDT to fail to qualify as a REIT; (iv) no Person may Transfer Shares if such Transfer would result in the Shares of NXDT being owned by fewer than 100 Persons; and (v) no Person may Beneficially Own or Constructively Own Shares that could result in NXDT failing to qualify as a “domestically controlled qualified investment entity” under Section 897(h)(4)(B) of the Code. Any Person who Beneficially Owns or Constructively Owns or attempts or intends to Beneficially Own or Constructively Own Shares which causes or will cause a Person to Beneficially Own or Constructively Own Shares in excess or in violation of the above limitations must immediately notify NXDT. If any of the restrictions on transfer or ownership provided in (i), (ii), (iii) or (v) above are violated, the Shares in excess or in violation of the above limitations will be automatically transferred to a Charitable Trustee of a Charitable Trust for the benefit of one or more Charitable Beneficiaries. In addition, NXDT may redeem shares upon the terms and conditions specified by the Board of Trustees in its sole discretion if the Board of Trustees determines that ownership or a Transfer or other event may violate the restrictions described above. Furthermore, if the ownership restriction provided in (iv) above would be violated, or upon the occurrence of certain events, attempted Transfers in violation of the restrictions described above may be void ab initio. All capitalized terms in this legend have the meanings given to them in the Declaration, as the same may be amended from time to time, a copy of which, including the restrictions on transfer and ownership, will be furnished to each holder of Shares of NXDT on request and without charge. Requests for such a copy may be directed to the Secretary of NXDT at its principal office.

 

Instead of the foregoing legend, the certificate or notice may state that NXDT will furnish a full statement about certain restrictions on ownership and transferability to a Shareholder on request and without charge.

 

12.3    Transfer of Shares in Charitable Trust.

 

12.3.1    Ownership in Charitable Trust. Upon any purported Transfer or other event described in Section 12.2.1(b) that would result in a transfer of Shares to a Charitable Trust, such Shares shall be deemed to have been transferred to the Charitable Trustee as trustee of a Charitable Trust for the exclusive benefit of one or more Charitable Beneficiaries. Such transfer to the Charitable Trustee shall be deemed to be effective as of the close of business on the Business Day prior to the purported Transfer or other event that results in the transfer to the Charitable Trust pursuant to Section 12.2.1(b). The Charitable Trustee shall be appointed by NXDT and shall be a Person unaffiliated with NXDT and any Prohibited Owner. Each Charitable Beneficiary shall be designated by NXDT as provided in Section 12.3.6.

 

12.3.2    Status of Shares Held by the Charitable Trustee. Shares held by the Charitable Trustee shall be issued and outstanding Shares of NXDT. The Prohibited Owner shall have no rights in the shares held by the Charitable Trustee. The Prohibited Owner shall not benefit economically from ownership of any shares held in trust by the Charitable Trustee, shall have no rights to dividends or other distributions and shall not possess any rights to vote or other rights attributable to the shares held in the Charitable Trust.

 

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12.3.3    Dividend and Voting Rights. The Charitable Trustee shall have all voting rights and rights to dividends or other distributions with respect to Shares held in the Charitable Trust, which rights shall be exercised for the exclusive benefit of the Charitable Beneficiary. Any dividend or other distribution paid prior to the discovery by NXDT that the Shares have been transferred to the Charitable Trustee shall be paid by the recipient of such dividend or distribution to the Charitable Trustee upon demand, and any dividend or other distribution authorized but unpaid shall be paid when due to the Charitable Trustee. Any dividend or distribution so paid to the Charitable Trustee shall be held in trust for the Charitable Beneficiary. The Prohibited Owner shall have no voting rights with respect to Shares held in the Charitable Trust and, subject to Delaware law, effective as of the date that the Shares have been transferred to the Charitable Trust, the Charitable Trustee shall have the authority (at the Charitable Trustee’s sole discretion) (i) to rescind as void any vote cast by a Prohibited Owner prior to the discovery by NXDT that the Shares have been transferred to the Charitable Trust and (ii) to recast such vote in accordance with the desires of the Charitable Trustee acting for the benefit of the Charitable Beneficiary; provided, however, that if NXDT has already taken irreversible corporate action, then the Charitable Trustee shall not have the authority to rescind and recast such vote. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Article XII, until NXDT has received notification that Shares have been transferred into a Charitable Trust, NXDT shall be entitled to rely on its share transfer and other Shareholder records for purposes of preparing lists of Shareholders entitled to vote at meetings, determining the validity and authority of proxies and otherwise conducting votes and determining the other rights of Shareholders.

 

12.3.4    Sale of Shares by Charitable Trustee. Within 20 days of receiving notice from NXDT that Shares have been transferred to the Charitable Trust, the Charitable Trustee of the Charitable Trust shall sell the shares held in the Charitable Trust to a person, designated by the Charitable Trustee, whose ownership of the shares will not violate the ownership limitations set forth in Section 12.2.1(a). Upon such sale, the interest of the Charitable Beneficiary in the shares sold shall terminate and the Charitable Trustee shall distribute the net proceeds of the sale to the Prohibited Owner and to the Charitable Beneficiary as provided in this Section 12.3.4. The Prohibited Owner shall receive the lesser of (1) the price paid by the Prohibited Owner for the shares or, if the Prohibited Owner did not give value for the shares in connection with the event causing the shares to be held in the Charitable Trust (e.g., in the case of a gift, devise or other such transaction), the Market Price of the shares on the day of the event causing the shares to be held in the Charitable Trust and (2) the price per share received by the Charitable Trustee (net of any commissions and other expenses of sale) from the sale or other disposition of the shares held in the Charitable Trust. The Charitable Trustee may reduce the amount payable to the Prohibited Owner by the amount of dividends and distributions which have been paid to the Prohibited Owner and are owed by the Prohibited Owner to the Charitable Trustee pursuant to Section 12.3.3 of this Article XII. Any net sales proceeds in excess of the amount payable to the Prohibited Owner shall be immediately paid to the Charitable Beneficiary. If, prior to the discovery by NXDT that Shares have been transferred to the Charitable Trustee, such shares are sold by a Prohibited Owner, then (i) such shares shall be deemed to have been sold on behalf of the Charitable Trust and (ii) to the extent that the Prohibited Owner received an amount for, or in respect of, such shares that exceeds the amount that such Prohibited Owner was entitled to receive pursuant to this Section 12.3.4, such excess shall be paid to the Charitable Trustee upon demand.

 

12.3.5    Purchase Right in Shares Transferred to the Charitable Trustee. Shares transferred to the Charitable Trustee shall be deemed to have been offered for sale to NXDT, or its designee, at a price per share equal to the lesser of (i) the price per share in the transaction that resulted in such transfer to the Charitable Trust (or, in the case of a devise or gift, the Market Price at the time of such devise or gift) and (ii) the Market Price on the date NXDT, or its designee, accepts such offer. NXDT may reduce the amount payable to the Prohibited Owner by the amount of dividends and distributions which have been paid to the Prohibited Owner and are owed by the Prohibited Owner to the Charitable Trustee pursuant to Section 12.3.3 of this Article XII. NXDT may pay the amount of such reduction to the Charitable Trustee for the benefit of the Charitable Beneficiary. NXDT shall have the right to accept such offer until the Charitable Trustee has sold the shares held in the Charitable Trust pursuant to Section 12.3.4. Upon such a sale to NXDT, the interest of the Charitable Beneficiary in the shares sold shall terminate and the Charitable Trustee shall distribute the net proceeds of the sale to the Prohibited Owner.

 

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12.3.6    Designation of Charitable Beneficiaries. By written notice to the Charitable Trustee, NXDT shall designate one or more nonprofit organizations to be the Charitable Beneficiary or Charitable Beneficiaries of the interest in the Charitable Trust such that (i) the Shares held in the Charitable Trust would not violate the restrictions set forth in Section 12.2.1(a) in the hands of such Charitable Beneficiary or Charitable Beneficiaries and (ii) each such organization must be described in Section 501(c)(3) of the Code and contributions to each such organization must be eligible for deduction under each of Sections 170(b)(1)(A), 2055 and 2522 of the Code. Neither the failure of NXDT to make such designation nor the failure of NXDT to appoint the Charitable Trustee before the automatic transfer provided in Section 12.2.1(b) shall make such transfer ineffective, provided that NXDT thereafter makes such designation and appointment.

 

12.4    NYSE Transactions. Nothing in this Article XII shall preclude the settlement of any transaction entered into through the facilities of the NYSE or any other national securities exchange or automated inter-dealer quotation system. The fact that the settlement of any transaction occurs shall not negate the effect of any other provision of this Article XII and any transferee in such a transaction shall be subject to all of the provisions and limitations set forth in this Article XII.

 

12.5    Enforcement. NXDT is authorized specifically to seek equitable relief, including injunctive relief, to enforce the provisions of this Article XII.

 

12.6    Non-Waiver. No delay or failure on the part of NXDT or the Board of Trustees in exercising any right hereunder shall operate as a waiver of any right of NXDT or the Board of Trustees, as the case may be, except to the extent specifically waived in writing.

 

12.7    Severability. If any provision of this Article XII or any application of any such provision is determined to be invalid by any federal or state court having jurisdiction over the issues, the validity of the remaining provisions shall not be affected and other applications of such provisions shall be affected only to the extent necessary to comply with the determination of such court.

 

ARTICLE XIII

DELAWARE TRUSTEE

 

13.1    Appointment. Pursuant to Section 3807 of the DSTA, the trustee of the Trust in the State of Delaware shall be The Corporation Trust Company (including any successor trustee appointed in accordance with Section 13.2.7 of this Declaration, the “Delaware Trustee”). The address of the principal office of The Corporation Trust Company is 1209 Orange Street, Wilmington, Delaware 19801. Any reference to “Trustees” or “Board of Trustees” in this Declaration and the Bylaws of the Trust shall not be deemed to include or refer to the Delaware Trustee.

 

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13.2    Concerning the Delaware Trustee.

 

13.2.1    Purpose of Appointment. The Delaware Trustee is appointed to serve as the trustee of the Trust in the State of Delaware for the sole purpose of satisfying the requirements of Section 3807(a) of the DSTA that the Trust have at least one trustee with a principal place of business in the State of Delaware. It is understood and agreed by the parties hereto that the Delaware Trustee shall have none of the duties, rights, obligations or liabilities of any other Person, including, without limitation, the Board of Trustees or any Trustee, shall have only the duties, rights, obligations and liabilities specifically provided for in this Declaration and the DSTA, and shall have no implied duties (including fiduciary duties), rights, obligations or liabilities with respect to the business and affairs of the Trust. The Delaware Trustee shall satisfy the requirements of Section 3807(a) of the DSTA. The Trust shall have at least one other trustee other than the Delaware Trustee to perform all obligations and duties other than fulfilling the Trust’s obligations pursuant to Section 3807(a) of the DSTA.

 

13.2.2    Duties. The duties of the Delaware Trustee shall be limited to (i) accepting legal process served on the Trust in the State of Delaware and (ii) the execution of any certificates required to be filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware which the Delaware Trustee is required to execute under Section 3811 of the DSTA. Except for the purpose of the foregoing sentence, the Delaware Trustee shall not be deemed a Trustee, shall not be a member of the Board of Trustees and shall have no management responsibilities or owe any fiduciary duties to the Trust or its shareholders. To the extent that, at law or in equity, the Delaware Trustee has duties (including fiduciary duties) and liabilities relating thereto to the Trust or its shareholders, it is hereby understood and agreed by the other parties hereto that such duties and liabilities are replaced by the duties and liabilities of the Delaware Trustee expressly set forth in this Declaration. The Delaware Trustee shall not participate in any decisions relating to, or possess any authority independently to manage or control. The Delaware Trustee shall have no liability for the acts or omissions of any other person, including, without limitation, the Trust, Trustees or the Board of Trustees.

 

13.2.3    Removal. The Delaware Trustee may be removed by the Board of Trustees upon thirty (30) days’ prior written notice to the Delaware Trustee. The Delaware Trustee may resign at any time upon thirty (30) days’ prior written notice to the Board of Trustees and, if at any time the Delaware Trustee shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of Section 13.2.1, it shall resign immediately, by giving written notice thereof to the Board of Trustees. If the Delaware Trustee shall resign or be removed, the Board of Trustees shall promptly appoint a successor Delaware Trustee. No resignation or removal of the Delaware Trustee shall become effective except upon the appointment of a successor Delaware Trustee appointed by the Board of Trustees or a court of competent jurisdiction. If no successor Delaware Trustee has been appointed within such thirty (30) day period, the Delaware Trustee may, at the expense of the Trust, petition a court of competent jurisdiction to appoint a successor Delaware Trustee.

 

13.2.4    Merger. Any Person into which the Delaware Trustee may be merged or with which it may be consolidated, or any Person resulting from any merger or consolidation to which the Delaware Trustee shall be a party, or any Person which succeeds to all or substantially all of the corporate trust business of the Delaware Trustee, shall be the successor Delaware Trustee under this Declaration without the execution, delivery or filing of any paper or instrument or further act to be done on the part of the parties hereto, except as may be required by applicable law.

 

13.2.5    Liability Generally. The Delaware Trustee shall be entitled to all of the same rights, protections, indemnities and immunities under this Declaration and with respect to the Trust as the Board of Trustees. No amendment or waiver of any provision of this Declaration which adversely affects the Delaware Trustee shall be effective against it without its prior written consent. The Delaware Trustee shall not be liable for supervising or monitoring the performance and the duties and obligations of any other Person, including, without limitation, the Trustees, the Trust’s administrator or investment adviser or the Trust under this Declaration or any related document.

 

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13.2.6    Personal Liability. The Delaware Trustee shall not be personally liable under any circumstances, except for its own willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard for its duties imposed hereunder. In particular, but not by way of limitation: (i) the Delaware Trustee shall not be personally liable for any error of judgment made by a responsible officer or other authorized officer of the Delaware Trustee in good faith; (ii) no provision of this Declaration shall require the Delaware Trustee to expend or risk its personal funds or otherwise incur any financial liability in the performance of its rights or powers hereunder, if the Delaware Trustee shall have reasonable grounds for believing that the payment of such funds or adequate indemnity against such risk or liability is not reasonably assured or provided to it; (iii) under no circumstances shall the Delaware Trustee, in its individual capacity or in its capacity as Delaware Trustee, or any member, partner, shareholder, director, officer, employee, agent, affiliate or advisor of the Delaware Trustee or their respective affiliates be personally liable for any representation, warranty, covenant, agreement, liability or indebtedness of the Trust; (iv) the Delaware Trustee shall not be personally responsible for or in respect of, and the Delaware Trustee makes no representations as to, the title to, or value or condition of, the property of the Trust or any part thereof, nor as to the validity or sufficiency of this Declaration or for the due execution hereof by any other party hereto; (v) the Delaware Trustee may conclusively rely and shall be fully protected and shall incur no liability to anyone in acting or refraining from acting upon any signature, instrument, notice, resolution, request, consent, order, certificate, report, opinion, bond or other document or paper reasonably believed by it to be genuine and reasonably believed by it to be signed by the proper party or parties. The Delaware Trustee may accept a certified copy of a resolution of the Board of Trustees or other governing body of any corporate party as conclusive evidence that such resolution has been duly adopted by such body and that the same is in full force and effect. As to any fact or matter the manner of ascertainment of which is not specifically prescribed herein or whenever the Delaware Trustee shall deem it desirable that a fact or matter be proved or established prior to taking, suffering or omitting any action hereunder (including direction by the Board of Trustees with respect to such action), the Delaware Trustee may for all purposes hereof rely on a certificate or resolution, signed by a Trustee or an officer of the Trust as to such fact or matter, and such certificate shall constitute full protection to the Delaware Trustee for any action taken or omitted to be taken by it in good faith in reliance thereon; (vi) in the exercise or administration of the Trust hereunder, the Delaware Trustee (A) may act directly or through agents or attorneys pursuant to agreements entered into with any of them, and the Delaware Trustee shall not be liable for the default or misconduct of such agents or attorneys if such agents or attorneys shall have been selected by the Delaware Trustee in good faith and (B) may consult with counsel, accountants and other skilled persons to be selected by it in good faith and employed by it, and it shall not be liable for anything done, suffered or omitted in good faith by it in accordance with the advice or opinion of any such counsel, accountants or other skilled persons; (vii) in accepting and performing its express duties hereunder the Delaware Trustee acts solely as Delaware Trustee hereunder and not in its individual capacity, and all persons having any claim against the Delaware Trustee by reason of the transactions contemplated by this Declaration shall look only to the Trust for payment or satisfaction thereof; (viii) in no event shall any assets of the Trust be held or titled in the name of the Delaware Trustee; (ix) the Delaware Trustee shall neither be responsible for, nor chargeable with, knowledge of the terms and conditions of any other agreement, instrument or document other than this Declaration, whether or not an original or a copy of such document has been provided to the Delaware Trustee, and shall have no duty to know or inquire as to the performance or nonperformance of any provision of any other agreement, instrument or document; (x) neither the Delaware Trustee nor any of its directors, officers, employees, agents or affiliates shall be responsible for nor have any duty to monitor the performance or any action of the Trust, any Trustee or any other Person, nor shall they have any liability in connection with the malfeasance or nonfeasance by any such Person. The Delaware Trustee may assume performance by all such Persons of their respective obligations, and shall have no enforcement or notification obligations relating to breaches of representations or warranties of any other Person; and (xi) the Delaware Trustee shall incur no liability if, by reason of any provision of any present or future law or regulation thereunder, or by any force majeure event, including but not limited to natural disaster, act of war or terrorism, pandemic or other circumstances beyond its reasonable control, the Delaware Trustee shall be prevented or forbidden from doing or performing any act or thing which the terms of this Declaration provide shall or may be done or performed, or by reason of any exercise of, or failure to exercise, any discretion provided for in this Declaration.

 

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13.2.7    Successors. In the event of the appointment of a successor Delaware Trustee, such successor, at the expense of the Trust, shall cause an amendment to the Certificate of Trust of the Trust to be filed with the Secretary of State of Delaware in accordance with Section 3810 of the DSTA, indicating the change of the Delaware Trustee’s identity.

 

13.3    Compensation and Reimbursement of Expenses; Indemnity. The Trust hereby agrees to (i) compensate the Delaware Trustee in accordance with a separate fee agreement with the Delaware Trustee, (ii) reimburse the Delaware Trustee for all reasonable expenses, disbursements and advances incurred or made by the Delaware Trustee in accordance with any of the provisions of this Declaration (including reasonable fees and expenses of counsel and experts) and (ii) indemnify, defend and hold harmless the Delaware Trustee, and any of its officers, directors, employees and agents (the “Indemnified DE Trustee Parties”) from and against any and all claims, actions, suits, demands, assessments, judgments, losses, liabilities, damages, costs, taxes, and expenses (including the reasonable fees and expenses of counsel), taxes and penalties of any kind and nature whatsoever (collectively, “Indemnified DE Trustee Expenses”), to the extent that such Indemnified DE Trustee Expenses arise out of or are imposed upon or asserted at any time against such Indemnified DE Trustee Parties with respect to the performance of any duties contemplated by this Declaration, the creation, operation or termination of the Trust or the transactions contemplated hereby; provided, however, that the Trust shall not be required to indemnify any Indemnified DE Trustee Parties for any Indemnified DE Trustee Expenses which are a result of the willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence, or reckless disregard for the duties of such Indemnified DE Trustee Parties. To the fullest extent permitted by law, Indemnified DE Trustee Expenses to be incurred by any Indemnified DE Trustee Parties shall, from time to time, be advanced by, or on behalf of, the Trust prior to the final disposition of any matter upon receipt by the Trust of an undertaking by, or on behalf of, such Indemnified DE Trustee Parties to repay such amount if it shall be determined that the Indemnified DE Trustee Parties are not entitled to be indemnified under this Declaration. The obligations of the Trust under this Section 13.3 shall survive the termination of this Declaration and the resignation or removal of the Delaware Trustee.

 

13.4    Amendments. Notwithstanding Section 11.3 hereof, any amendment to this Declaration that adversely affects the Delaware Trustee shall require its consent, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld. Nothing contained in this Declaration shall permit the amendment of this Declaration to impair the exemption from personal liability of the Delaware Trustee.

 

ARTICLE XIV

MISCELLANEOUS

 

14.1    Filing. This Declaration and any amendment or supplement hereto shall be filed in such places as may be required or as the Trustees deem appropriate. Each amendment or supplement shall be accompanied by a certificate signed and acknowledged by a Trustee stating that such action was duly taken in a manner provided herein, and shall, upon insertion in the Trust’s minute book, be conclusive evidence of all amendments contained therein. A restated Declaration, containing the original Declaration and all amendments and supplements theretofore made, may be executed from time to time by a majority of the Trustees and shall, upon insertion in the Trust’s minute book, be conclusive evidence of all amendments and supplements contained therein and may thereafter be referred to in lieu of the original Declaration and the various amendments and supplements thereto.

 

14.2    Resident Agent. The Trust shall maintain a resident agent in the State of Delaware, which agent shall initially be The Corporation Trust Company, 1209 Orange Street, Wilmington, Delaware 19801 The Trustees may designate a successor resident agent; provided, however, that such appointment shall not become effective until written notice thereof is delivered to the office of the Secretary of the State.

 

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14.3    Governing Law. This Declaration is executed by the Trustees and delivered in the State of Delaware and with reference to the laws thereof, and the rights of all parties and the validity and construction of every provision hereof shall be subject to and construed according to the DSTA.

 

14.4    Counterparts. This Declaration may be simultaneously executed in several counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, and such counterparts, together, shall constitute one and the same instrument, which shall be sufficiently evidenced by any such original counterpart.

 

14.5    Reliance by Third Parties. Any certificate executed by an individual who, according to the records of the Trust, or of any recording office in which this Declaration may be recorded, appears to be a Trustee hereunder, certifying to: (a) the number or identity of Trustees or Shareholders, (b) the name of the Trust, (c) the due authorization of the execution of any instrument or writing, (d) the form of any vote passed at a meeting of Trustees or Shareholders, (e) the fact that the number of Trustees or Shareholders present at any meeting or executing any written instrument satisfies the requirements of this Declaration, (f)the form of any Bylaws adopted by or the identity of any officers elected by the Trustees, or (g) the existence of any fact or facts which in any manner relate to the affairs of the Trust, shall be conclusive evidence as to the matters so certified in favor of any person dealing with the Trustees and their successors.

 

14.6    Provisions in Conflict with Law or Regulation. (a) The provisions of this Declaration are severable, and if the Trustees shall determine, with the advice of counsel, that any of such provisions is in conflict with the provisions of the Code or with other applicable laws and regulations, the conflicting provision shall, to the maximum extent possible, be interpreted to give as much effect as possible to the intent of the Declaration taken as a whole; provided, however, that such determination shall not affect any of the remaining provisions of this Declaration or render invalid or improper any action taken or omitted prior to such determination.

 

(b)         If any provision of this Declaration shall be held invalid or unenforceable in any jurisdiction, such invalidity or unenforceability shall attach only to such provision in such jurisdiction and shall not in any manner affect such provision in any other jurisdiction or any other provision of this Declaration in any jurisdiction.

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have caused this Agreement and Declaration of Trust to be executed as of July 1, 2022.

 

 

/s/ Edward Constantino  
Edward Constantino  
   
   
   
/s/ Ethan Powell  
Ethan Powell  

         

 

 

 

The Corporation Trust Company,

as Delaware Trustee

 

By: /s/ Jennifer A. Schwartz________

Name: Jennifer A. Schwartz

Title: Assistant Vice President

 

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Exhibit 3.3

 

 

NEXPOINT DIVERSIFIED REAL ESTATE TRUST

 
 

BYLAWS
Dated as of July 1, 2022

 

 

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

 

 

  Page

DEFINITIONS

1

   

ARTICLE I Shareholder Meetings

1

   

1.1 Chairman

1

1.2 Proxies; Voting

1

1.3 Fixing Record Dates

1

1.4 Inspectors of Election

2

1.5 Records at Shareholder Meetings

2

1.6 Business to be Conducted at Shareholder Meetings

2

1.7 Advance Notice of Shareholder Business

2

1.8 Nomination of Trustees

5

1.9 Adjournments

8

   

ARTICLE II Trustees

9

   

2.1 Annual and Regular Meetings

9

2.2 Chairman; Records

9

   

ARTICLE III Officers

9

   

3.1 Officers of the Trust

9

3.2 Election and Tenure

9

3.3 Removal of Officers

9

3.4 Bonds and Surety

9

3.5 President and Vice Presidents

10

3.6 Secretary

10

3.7 Treasurer

10

3.8 Other Officers and Duties

10

   

ARTICLE IV Miscellaneous

10

   

4.1 Depositories

10

4.2 Signatures

10

4.3 Seal

11

   

ARTICLE V Stock Transfers

11

   

5.1 Transfer Agents, Registrars and the Like

11

5.2 Transfer of Shares

11

5.3 Registered Shareholders

11

   

ARTICLE VI Amendment of Bylaws

11

   

6.1 Amendment and Repeal of Bylaws

11

 

 

 

 

NEXPOINT DIVERSIFIED REAL ESTATE TRUST
BYLAWS

 

These Bylaws (“Bylaws”) are made and adopted pursuant to Section 3.9 of the Agreement and Declaration of Trust establishing NexPoint Diversified Real Estate Trust in effect as of the date hereof, as from time to time amended (hereinafter called the “Declaration”). All words and terms capitalized in these Bylaws and not otherwise defined below shall have the meaning or meanings set forth for such words or terms in the Declaration.

 

Definitions

 

Proposed Nominee” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 1.8 of these Bylaws

 

Proposed Nominee Associated Person” of any Proposed Nominee shall mean (A) any Person acting in concert with such Proposed Nominee, (B) any direct or indirect beneficial owner of Shares owned of record or beneficially by such Proposed Nominee or Person acting in concert with the Proposed Nominee and (C) any Person controlling, controlled by or under common control with such Proposed Nominee or a Proposed Nominee Associated Person.

 

Shareholder Associated Person” of any beneficial or record Shareholder shall mean (A) any Person acting in concert with such Shareholder, (B) any direct or indirect beneficial owner of Shares owned of record or beneficially by such Shareholder or any Person acting in concert with such Shareholder, (C) any Person controlling, controlled by or under common control with such Shareholder or a Shareholder Associated Person and (D) any member of the immediate family of such Shareholder or Shareholder Associated Person.

 

ARTICLE I
Shareholder Meetings

 

1.1    Chairman. The Chairman, if any, shall act as chairman at all meetings of the Shareholders; in the Chairman’s absence, the Trustee or Trustees present at each meeting may elect a temporary chairman for the meeting, who may be one of themselves.

 

1.2    Proxies; Voting. Shareholders may vote either in person or by duly executed proxy and each full share represented at the meeting shall have one vote, all as provided in Article 10 of the Declaration.

 

1.3    Fixing Record Dates. For the purpose of determining the Shareholders who are entitled to notice of or to vote or act at any meeting, including any adjournment thereof, or who are entitled to participate in any dividends, or for any other proper purpose, the Trustees may from time to time, without closing the transfer books, fix a record date in the manner provided in Section 10.3 of the Declaration. If the Trustees do not prior to any meeting of Shareholders so fix a record date or close the transfer books, then the date of mailing notice of the meeting or the date upon which the dividend resolution is adopted, as the case may be, shall be the record date.

 

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1.4    Inspectors of Election. In advance of any meeting of Shareholders, the Trustees may appoint Inspectors of Election to act at the meeting or any adjournment thereof. If Inspectors of Election are not so appointed, the Chairman, if any, of any meeting of Shareholders may, and on the request of any Shareholder or Shareholder proxy shall, appoint Inspectors of Election of the meeting. The number of Inspectors of Election shall be either one or three. If appointed at the meeting on the request of one or more Shareholders or proxies, a majority of Shares present shall determine whether one or three Inspectors of Election are to be appointed, but failure to allow such determination by the Shareholders shall not affect the validity of the appointment of Inspectors of Election. In case any person appointed as Inspector of Election fails to appear or fails or refuses to act, the vacancy may be filled by appointment made by the Trustees in advance of the convening of the meeting or at the meeting by the person acting as chairman. The Inspectors of Election shall determine the number of Shares outstanding, the Shares represented at the meeting, the existence of a quorum, the authenticity, validity and effect of proxies, shall receive votes, ballots or consents, shall hear and determine all challenges and questions in any way arising in connection with the right to vote, shall count and tabulate all votes or consents, determine the results, and do such other acts as may be proper to conduct the election or vote with fairness to all Shareholders. If there are three Inspectors of Election, the decision, act or certificate of a majority is effective in all respects as the decision, act or certificate of all. On request of the Chairman, if any, of the meeting, or of any Shareholder or Shareholder proxy, the Inspectors of Election shall make a report in writing of any challenge or question or matter determined by them and shall execute a certificate of any facts found by them.

 

1.5    Records at Shareholder Meetings. At each meeting of the Shareholders, there shall be made available for inspection at a convenient time and place during normal business hours, if requested by Shareholders, the minutes of the last previous Annual or Special Meeting of Shareholders of the Trust and a list of the Shareholders of the Trust, as of the record date of the meeting or the date of closing of transfer books, as the case may be. Such list of Shareholders shall contain the name and the address of each Shareholder in alphabetical order and the number of Shares owned by such Shareholder. Shareholders shall have such other rights and procedures of inspection of the books and records of the Trust as are granted to shareholders of a Delaware business corporation.

 

1.6    Business to be Conducted at Shareholder Meetings.

 

(a)    With respect to an annual meeting of Shareholders held pursuant to Section 10.1 of the Declaration, the notice of annual meeting provided to Shareholders under Section 10.3 of the Declaration shall state the purpose or purposes for which such meeting is to be held and shall include a statement that such purposes include: “The transaction of such other proper business as may properly come before the annual meeting.”

 

(b)    With respect to a special meeting of Shareholders called by a majority of the Trustees, the President or Shareholders pursuant to Section 10.1 of the Declaration, the notice of special meeting provided to Shareholders under Section 10.3 of the Declaration shall state the purpose or purposes for which such meeting is to be held and shall not provide for the transaction of any business other than the particular purpose specified in the notice of the special meeting. Only the business stated in the notice of a special meeting may be conducted at such special meeting.

 

1.7    Advance Notice of Shareholder Business.

 

(a)    In order for business to be properly brought before the annual meeting by any Shareholder of record of the Trust, such Shareholder must:

 

(i)    be a Shareholder of record on the date such Shareholder gives the notice provided for in this Section 1.7 and on the record date for the determination of Shareholders entitled to notice of and to vote at such annual meeting;

 

(ii)    have held beneficially and “at risk” (within the meaning of Section 1.7(d)(ii)(B)(5)), continuously through the period between the dates referred to in Section 1.7(a)(i) above and for at least one year prior to the date such Shareholder gives the notice provided for in this Section 1.7, at least $5,000 in market value of the Trust’s Shares;

 

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(iii)    provide proof sufficient to the Trustees that the Shareholder making a proposal under this Section 1.7 has met the requirements stated in Section 1.7(a)(ii) above; and

 

(iv)    comply with the notice procedures set forth in this Section 1.7.

 

(b)    In addition to any other applicable requirements, for business to be properly brought before an annual meeting by a Shareholder, (i) the proposal must relate to a matter on which Shareholders are entitled to vote under the Declaration and (ii) the Shareholder of record making such proposal must have given timely notice thereof in proper written form to the Secretary of the Trust.

 

(c)    To be timely, a record Shareholder’s notice to the Secretary must be delivered to or be mailed and received at the principal executive offices of the Trust not less than one hundred and twenty (120) days nor more than one hundred and fifty (150) days prior to the anniversary date of the immediately preceding annual meeting of Shareholders; provided, however, that in the event that the annual meeting is called for a date that is not within twenty-five (25) days before or after such anniversary date, notice by the Shareholder of record in order to be timely must be so received not later than the close of business on the tenth (10th) day following the day on which such notice of the date of the annual meeting was mailed or such public disclosure of the date of the annual meeting was made, whichever first occurs. In no event shall the adjournment or postponement of an annual meeting, or the public announcement of such an adjournment or postponement, commence a new time period (or extend any time period) for the giving of a record Shareholder’s notice as described above.

 

(d)    To be in proper written form, a record Shareholder’s notice to the Secretary must set forth the following information:

 

(i)    as to each matter such Shareholder of record proposes to bring before the annual meeting, a brief description of the business desired to be brought before the annual meeting and the reasons for conducting such business at the annual meeting, and

 

(ii)    as to the record Shareholder giving notice and the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the proposal is being made,

 

(A)    the name and address of such person and of any Shareholder Associated Person;

 

(B)     (1) the class or series and number of all Shares which are owned beneficially or of record by such person and any Shareholder Associated Person;

 

(2)    the name of each nominee holder of Shares owned beneficially but not of record by such person or any Shareholder Associated Person, and the number of such Shares held by each such nominee holder,

 

(3)    whether and the extent to which any derivative instrument, swap, option, warrant, short interest, hedge or profit interest or other transaction has been entered into by or on behalf of such person, or any Shareholder Associated Person, with respect to Shares,

 

(4)    whether and the extent to which any other transaction, agreement, arrangement or understanding (including any short position or any borrowing or lending of Shares) has been made by or on behalf of such person, or any Shareholder Associated Person, the effect or intent of any of the foregoing being to mitigate loss to, or to manage risk or benefit of share price changes for, such person, or any Shareholder Associated Person, or to increase or decrease the voting power or pecuniary or economic interest of such person, or any Shareholder Associated Person, with respect to Shares;

 

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(5)    Shares corresponding to any derivative instrument, swap, option, short interest, hedge, profit interest, transaction agreement, arrangement or understanding (including any pledging or lending of shares) made or entered into by or on behalf of a person the effect or intent of which was or is to mitigate loss to or manage risk of beneficial share price or value changes, shall not be considered to be held “at risk;”

 

(C)    a description of all agreements, arrangements, or understandings (whether written or oral) between or among such person, or any Shareholder Associated Person, and any other Person or Persons (including their names) in connection with the proposal of such business and any material interest of such person or any Shareholder Associated Person, in such business, including any anticipated benefit therefrom to such person, or any Shareholder Associated Person;

 

(D)    a representation that the Shareholder of record giving notice intends (1) to continue to hold the requisite Shares beneficially and “at risk” (within the meaning of Section 1.7(d)(ii)(B)(5)) through the date of the annual meeting and (2) to appear in person or by proxy at the annual meeting to bring such business before the meeting; and

 

(E)    information relating to such person or any Shareholder Associated Person that would be required to be disclosed in a proxy statement or other filing required to be made in connection with the solicitation of proxies by such person with respect to the proposed business to be brought by such person before the annual meeting pursuant to Section 14 of the Exchange Act.

 

(e)    A Shareholder of record providing notice of business proposed to be brought before an annual meeting shall further update and supplement such notice, if necessary, so that the information provided or required to be provided in such notice pursuant to this Section 1.7 shall be true and correct as of the record date for determining the Shareholders entitled to receive notice of the annual meeting and such update and supplement shall be delivered to or be mailed and received by the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Trust not later than five business days after the record date for determining the Shareholders entitled to receive notice of the annual meeting.

 

(f)    A Shareholder of record providing notice of business proposed to be brought before an annual meeting shall provide any additional information as may be requested by the Trustees for the purposes of verifying that the requirements of this Section 1.7 have been met.

 

(g)    No business (other than nominations for election to the Board of Trustees, which must comply with the provisions of Section 1.8) sought by Shareholders to be brought before an annual meeting of Shareholders shall be conducted at the annual meeting of Shareholders except business brought before the annual meeting in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Section 1.7. If the Chairman of an annual meeting determines that business was not properly brought before the annual meeting in accordance with the foregoing procedures, the Chairman shall declare to the meeting that the business was not properly brought before the meeting and such business shall not be transacted.

 

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(h)    Nothing contained in this Section 1.7 shall be deemed to affect any rights of Shareholders to request inclusion of proposals in the Trust’s proxy statement pursuant to Rule 14a-8 under the Exchange Act (or any successor provision of law).

 

1.8    Nomination of Trustees.

 

(a)    Only persons who are nominated in accordance with the following procedures shall be eligible for election as Trustees of the Trust. Nominations of persons for election to the Board of Trustees may be made only at any annual meeting of Shareholders, or at any special meeting in lieu of the annual meeting of Shareholders:

 

(i)    by or at the direction of the Board of Trustees (or any duly authorized committee thereof), or

 

(ii)    by any Shareholder of record, or group of Shareholders of record, of the Trust:

 

(A)    who is a Shareholder or are Shareholders of record on the date such Shareholder(s) give the notice provided for in this Section 1.8 and on the record date for the determination of Shareholders entitled to notice of and to vote at such annual meeting or special meeting in lieu of an annual meeting

 

(B)    who has held beneficially and “at risk” (within the meaning of Section 1.7(d)(ii)(B)(5)), continuously through the period between the dates referred to in Section 1.8(a)(ii)(A) above and for at least one year prior to the date such Shareholder gives the notice provided for in this Section 1.8, at least $5,000 in market value of the Trust’s Shares;

 

(C)    who has provided proof sufficient to the Trustees that the Shareholder making a proposal under this Section 1.8 has met the requirements stated in Section 1.8(a)(ii)(A) above; and

 

(D)    who complies with the notice procedures set forth in this Section 1.8.

 

(b)    In addition to any other applicable requirements, for a nomination to be made by a Shareholder of record, or group of Shareholders of record, such Shareholder must have given timely notice thereof in proper written form to the Secretary of the Trust.

 

(c)    To be timely, a record Shareholder’s notice to the Secretary must be delivered to or be mailed and received at the principal executive offices of the Trust:

 

(i)    in the case of an annual meeting, not less than one hundred and twenty (120) days nor more than one hundred and fifty (150) days prior to the anniversary date of the immediately preceding annual meeting of Shareholders; provided, however, that in the event that the annual meeting is called for a date that is not within twenty-five (25) days before or after such anniversary date, notice by the Shareholder of record in order to be timely must be so received not later than the close of business on the tenth (10th) day following the day on which such notice of the date of the annual meeting was mailed or such public disclosure of the date of the annual meeting was made, whichever first occurs;

 

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(ii)    in the case of a special meeting of Shareholders in lieu of an annual meeting, not later than the close of business on the tenth (10th) day following the day on which notice of the date of the special meeting was mailed or public disclosure of the date of the special meeting was made, whichever first occurs; and

 

(iii)    in no event shall the adjournment or postponement of an annual meeting or such a special meeting in lieu of an annual meeting, or the public announcement of such an adjournment or postponement, commence a new time period (or extend any time period) for the giving of a Shareholder’s notice as described above.

 

(d)    To be in proper written form, a record Shareholder’s notice to the Secretary must set forth the following information:

 

(i)    as to each person whom the Shareholder of record proposes to nominate for election as a trustee (a “Proposed Nominee”) and any Proposed Nominee Associated Person:

 

(A)    the name, age, business address and residence address of such Proposed Nominee and of any Proposed Nominee Associated Person;

 

(B)    the principal occupation or employment of such Proposed Nominee;

 

(C)     (1) the class or series and number of all Shares which are owned beneficially or of record, directly or indirectly, by such Proposed Nominee and any Proposed Nominee Associated Person, and the name and address of the record holder(s) of such Shares (if different than the beneficial owner(s)) as they appear on the records of the Trust,

 

(2)    the name of each nominee holder of Shares owned beneficially but not of record by such Proposed Nominee or any Proposed Nominee Associated Person, and the number of such Shares held by each such nominee holder,

 

(3)    whether and the extent to which any derivative instrument, swap, option, warrant, short interest, hedge or profit interest or other transaction has been entered into by or on behalf of such Proposed Nominee, or any Proposed Nominee Associated Person, with respect to Shares,

 

(4)    whether and the extent to which any other transaction, agreement, arrangement or understanding (including any short position or any borrowing or lending of Shares) has been made by or on behalf of such Proposed Nominee, or any Proposed Nominee Associated Person, the effect or intent of any of the foregoing being to mitigate loss to, or to manage risk or benefit of share price changes for, such Proposed Nominee, or any Proposed Nominee Associated Person, or to increase or decrease the voting power or pecuniary or economic interest of such Proposed Nominee, or any Proposed Nominee Associated Person, with respect to the Shares;

 

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(5)    For so long as the Trust shall remain registered as an investment company under the 1940 Act, a representation as to whether such Proposed Nominee is an “interested person,” as defined under Section 2(a)(19) of the 1940 Act and sufficient information about the Proposed Nominee to permit counsel to the Trust to confirm such representation, including information with respect to each relationship set forth in Section 2(a)(19) of the 1940 Act which may cause such Proposed Nominee to be an interested person of the Trust or a representation that no such relationship exists;

 

(6)    information to establish to the satisfaction of the Board of Trustees that the Proposed Nominee satisfies the trustee qualifications then in effect; and

 

(D)    any other information relating to such Proposed Nominee or Proposed Nominee Associated Person that would be required to be disclosed in a proxy statement or other filings required to be made in connection with solicitations of proxies for election of Trustees in an election contest pursuant to Section 14 of the Exchange Act (even if an election contest is not involved); and

 

(ii)    as to the Shareholder of record giving the notice, and the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the nomination is being made,

 

(A)    the name and record address of such person and of any Shareholder Associated Person;

 

(B)     (1) the class or series and number of all Shares which are owned beneficially or of record by such person and any Shareholder Associated Person,

 

(2)    the name of each nominee holder of Shares of the Trust owned beneficially but not of record by such person or any Shareholder Associated Person, and the number of Shares held by each such nominee holder,

 

(3)    whether and the extent to which any derivative instrument, swap, option, warrant, short interest, hedge or profit interest or other transaction has been entered into by or on behalf of such person, or any Shareholder Associated Person, with respect to Shares of the Trust, and

 

(4)    whether and the extent to which any other transaction, agreement, arrangement or understanding (including any short position or any borrowing or lending of Shares) has been made by or on behalf of such person, or any Shareholder Associated Person, the effect or intent of any of the foregoing being to mitigate loss to, or to manage risk or benefit of share price changes for, such person, or any Shareholder Associated Person, or to increase or decrease the voting power or pecuniary or economic interest of such person, or any Shareholder Associated Person, with respect to Shares;

 

(C)    a description of all agreements, arrangements, or understandings (whether written or oral) between such person, or any Shareholder Associated Person, and any proposed nominee or any other person or persons (including their names) pursuant to which the nomination(s) are being made by such person, and any material interest of such person, or any Shareholder Associated Person, in such nomination, including any anticipated benefit therefrom to such person, or any Shareholder Associated Person;

 

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(D)    a representation that the Shareholder, or group of Shareholders, giving notice intends (1) to continue to hold the requisite Shares beneficially and “at risk” (within the meaning of Section 1.7(d)(ii)(B)(5)) through the date of the annual meeting and (2) to appear in person or by proxy at the annual meeting or special meeting in lieu of an annual meeting to nominate the persons named in its notice;

 

(E)    any other information relating to such person that would be required to be disclosed in a proxy statement or other filings required to be made in connection with the solicitation of proxies for election of Trustees in an election contest pursuant to Section 14 of the Exchange Act (even if an election contest is not involved).

 

(iii)    Such notice must be accompanied by a written consent of each Proposed Nominee to being named as a nominee and to serve as a trustee if elected.

 

(e)    A Shareholder of record, or group of Shareholders of record, providing notice of any nomination proposed to be made at an annual meeting or special meeting in lieu of an annual meeting shall further update and supplement such notice, if necessary, so that:

 

(i)    the information provided or required to be provided in such notice pursuant to this Section 1.8 shall be true and correct as of the record date for determining the Shareholders entitled to receive notice of the annual meeting or special meeting in lieu of an annual meeting, and such update and supplement shall be delivered to or be mailed and received by the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Trust not later than five (5) business days after the record date for determining the Shareholders entitled to receive notice of such annual meeting or special meeting in lieu of an annual meeting; and

 

(ii)    any subsequent information reasonably requested by the Board of Trustees to determine that the Proposed Nominee has met the trustee qualifications then in effect is provided, and such update and supplement shall be delivered to or be mailed and received by the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Trust not later than five (5) business days after the request by the Board of Trustees for subsequent information regarding trustee qualifications has been delivered to or mailed and received by such Shareholder of record, or group of Shareholders of record, providing notice of any nomination.

 

(f)    No person shall be eligible for election as a trustee of the Trust unless nominated in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Section 1.8. If the Chairman of the meeting determines that a nomination was not made in accordance with the foregoing procedures, the Chairman shall declare to the meeting that the nomination was defective and such defective nomination shall be disregarded.

 

1.9    Adjournments. The Chairman of any meeting of the Shareholders may adjourn the meeting from time to time to reconvene at the same or some other place, and notice need not be given of any such adjourned meeting if the time and place, if any, thereof and the means of remote communications, if any, by which Shareholders and proxyholders may be deemed to be present in person and vote at such adjourned meeting are announced at the meeting at which the adjournment is taken. At the adjourned meeting, the Trust may transact any business which might have been transacted at the original meeting. If after the adjournment a new record date is fixed for the adjourned meeting, notice of the adjourned meeting in accordance with the requirements of Section 10.3 of the Declaration shall be given to each Shareholder of record entitled to vote at the meeting and each other Shareholder entitled to notice of the meeting.

 

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ARTICLE II

TRUSTEES

 

2.1    Annual and Regular Meetings. Meetings of the Trustees shall be held from time to time upon the call of the Chairman, if any, the President, the Secretary or any two Trustees. Regular meetings of the Trustees may be held without call or notice and shall generally be held quarterly. Neither the business to be transacted at, nor the purpose of, any meeting of the Board of Trustees need be stated in the notice or waiver of notice of such meeting, and no notice need be given of action proposed to be taken by unanimous written consent.

 

2.2    Chairman; Records. The Chairman, if any, shall act as chairman at all meetings of the Trustees; in absence of a chairman, the Trustees present shall elect one of their number to act as temporary chairman. The results of all actions taken at a meeting of the Trustees, or by unanimous written consent of the Trustees, shall be recorded by the person appointed by the Board of Trustees as the meeting secretary.

 

ARTICLE III

OFFICERS

 

3.1    Officers of the Trust. The officers of the Trust shall consist of a President, a Secretary, a Treasurer and such other officers or assistant officers as may be elected or authorized by the Trustees. Any two or more of the offices may be held by the same Person, except that the same person may not be both President and Secretary. No other officer of the Trust need be a Trustee.

 

3.2    Election and Tenure. At the initial organization meeting, the Trustees shall elect the Chairman, if any, President, Secretary, Treasurer and such other officers as the Trustees shall deem necessary or appropriate in order to carry out the business of the Trust. Such officers shall serve at the pleasure of the Trustees or until their successors have been duly elected and qualified. The Trustees may fill any vacancy in office or add any additional officers at any time.

 

3.3    Removal of Officers. Any officer may be removed at any time, with or without cause, by action of a majority of the Trustees. This provision shall not prevent the making of a contract of employment for a definite term with any officer and shall have no effect upon any cause of action which any officer may have as a result of removal in breach of a contract of employment. Any officer may resign at any time by notice in writing signed by such officer and delivered or mailed to the Chairman, if any, President, or Secretary, and such resignation shall take effect immediately upon receipt by the Chairman, if any, President, or Secretary, or at a later date according to the terms of such notice in writing.

 

3.4    Bonds and Surety. Any officer may be required by the Trustees to be bonded for the faithful performance of such officer’s duties in such amount and with such sureties as the Trustees may determine.

 

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3.5    President and Vice Presidents. The President shall be the chief executive officer of the Trust and, subject to the control of the Trustees, shall have general supervision, direction and control of the business of the Trust and of its employees and shall exercise such general powers of management as are usually vested in the office of President of a corporation. Subject to direction of the Trustees, the President shall have power in the name and on behalf of the Trust to execute any and all loans, documents, contracts, agreements, deeds, mortgages, registration statements, applications, requests, filings and other instruments in writing, and to employ and discharge employees and agents of the Trust. Unless otherwise directed by the Trustees, the President shall have full authority and power, on behalf of all of the Trustees, to attend and to act and to vote, on behalf of the Trust at any meetings of business organizations in which the Trust holds an interest, or to confer such powers upon any other persons, by executing any proxies duly authorizing such persons. The President shall have such further authorities and duties as the Trustees shall from time to time determine. In the absence or disability of the President, the Vice-Presidents in order of their rank as fixed by the Trustees or, if more than one and not ranked, the Vice-President designated by the Trustees, shall perform all of the duties of the President, and when so acting shall have all the powers of and be subject to all of the restrictions upon the President. Subject to the direction of the Trustees, and of the President, each Vice-President shall have the power in the name and on behalf of the Trust to execute any and all instruments in writing, and, in addition, shall have such other duties and powers as shall be designated from time to time by the Trustees or by the President.

 

3.6    Secretary. The Secretary shall maintain the minutes of all meetings of, and record all votes of, Shareholders and Trustees. The Secretary shall be custodian of the seal of the Trust, if any, and the Secretary (and any other person so authorized by the Trustees) shall affix the seal, or if permitted, facsimile thereof, to any instrument executed by the Trust which would be sealed by a Delaware business corporation executing the same or a similar instrument and shall attest the seal and the signature or signatures of the officer or officers executing such instrument on behalf of the Trust. The Secretary shall also perform any other duties commonly incident to such office in a Delaware business corporation, and shall have such other authorities and duties as the Trustees shall from time to time determine.

 

3.7    Treasurer. Except as otherwise directed by the Trustees, the Treasurer shall have the general supervision of the monies, funds, securities, notes receivable and other valuable papers and documents of the Trust, and shall have and exercise under the supervision of the Trustees and of the President all powers and duties normally incident to the office. The Treasurer may endorse for deposit or collection all notes, checks and other instruments payable to the Trust or to its order. The Treasurer shall deposit all funds of the Trust in such depositories as the Trustees shall designate. The Treasurer shall be responsible for such disbursement of the funds of the Trust as may be ordered by the Trustees or the President. The Treasurer shall keep accurate account of the books of the Trust’s transactions which shall be the property of the Trust, and which together with all other property of the Trust in the Treasurer’s possession, shall be subject at all times to the inspection and control of the Trustees. Unless the Trustees shall otherwise determine, the Treasurer shall be the principal accounting officer of the Trust and shall also be the principal financial officer of the Trust. The Treasurer shall have such other duties and authorities as the Trustees shall from time to time determine. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein contained, the Trustees may authorize any adviser, administrator, manager or transfer agent to maintain bank accounts and deposit and disburse funds of any series of the Trust on behalf of such series.

 

3.8    Other Officers and Duties. The Trustees may elect such other officers and assistant officers as they shall from time to time determine to be necessary or desirable in order to conduct the business of the Trust. Assistant officers shall act generally in the absence of the officer whom they assist and shall assist that officer in the duties of the office. Each officer, employee and agent of the Trust shall have such other duties and authority as may be conferred upon such person by the Trustees or delegated to such person by the President.

 

ARTICLE IV

MISCELLANEOUS

 

4.1    Depositories. In accordance with Section 7.1 of the Declaration, the funds of the Trust shall be deposited in such custodians as the Trustees shall designate and shall be drawn out on checks, drafts or other orders signed by such officer, officers, agent or agents (including the adviser, administrator or manager), as the Trustees may from time to time authorize.

 

4.2    Signatures. All contracts and other instruments shall be executed on behalf of the Trust by its properly authorized officers, agent or agents, as provided in the Declaration or Bylaws or as the Trustees may from time to time by resolution provide.

 

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4.3    Seal. The Trust is not required to have any seal, and the adoption or use of a seal shall be purely ornamental and be of no legal effect. The seal, if any, of the Trust may be affixed to any instrument, and the seal and its attestation may be lithographed, engraved or otherwise printed on any document with the same force and effect as if it had been imprinted and affixed manually in the same manner and with the same force and effect as if done by a Delaware business corporation. The presence or absence of a seal shall have no effect on the validity, enforceability or binding nature of any document or instrument that is otherwise duly authorized, executed and delivered.

 

ARTICLE V

STOCK TRANSFERS

 

5.1    Transfer Agents, Registrars and the Like. As provided in Section 6.7 of the Declaration, the Trustees shall have authority to employ and compensate such transfer agents and registrars with respect to the Shares of the Trust as the Trustees shall deem necessary or desirable. In addition, the Trustees shall have power to employ and compensate such dividend disbursing agents, warrant agents and agents for the reinvestment of dividends as they shall deem necessary or desirable. Any of such agents shall have such power and authority as is delegated to any of them by the Trustees.

 

5.2    Transfer of Shares. The Shares of the Trust shall be transferable on the books of the Trust only upon delivery to the Trustees or a transfer agent of the Trust of proper documentation as provided in Section 6.8 of the Declaration. The Trust, or its transfer agents, shall be authorized to refuse any transfer unless and until presentation of such evidence as may be reasonably required to show that the requested transfer is proper.

 

5.3    Registered Shareholders. The Trust may deem and treat the holder of record of any Shares as the absolute owner thereof for all purposes and shall not be required to take any notice of any right or claim of right of any other person.

 

ARTICLE VI
AMENDMENT OF BYLAWS

 

6.1    Amendment and Repeal of Bylaws. In accordance with Section 3.9 of the Declaration, the Trustees shall have the exclusive power to amend or repeal the Bylaws or adopt new Bylaws at any time. Action by the Trustees with respect to the Bylaws shall be taken by an affirmative vote of a majority of the Trustees. The Trustees shall in no event adopt Bylaws which are in conflict with the Declaration, and any apparent inconsistency shall be construed in favor of the related provisions in the Declaration.

 

 

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Exhibit 10.1

 Execution Version

ADVISORY AGREEMENT

 

BY AND AMONG

 

NEXPOINT DIVERSIFIED REAL ESTATE TRUST

 

AND

 

NEXPOINT REAL ESTATE ADVISORS X, L.P.

 

 

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

Page

 

1

Definitions

1

2

Appointment

4

3

Duties of the Adviser

4

4

Authority of the Adviser

7

5

No Partnership or Joint Venture

7

6

Bank Accounts

8

7

Records; Access; Confidentiality

8

8

Limitations on Activities

8

9

Compensation

8

10

Expenses

9

11

Other Services

9

12

Other Activities of the Adviser

10

13

Term and Termination

10

14

Payments and Duties Upon Termination

11

15

Limitation of Liability, Exculpation and Indemnification by the Company

11

16

Indemnification by the Adviser

12

17

Representations and Warranties

13

18

Notices

14

19

Modification

15

20

Severability

15

21

Governing Law; Waiver of Jury Trial

15

22

Entire Agreement

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23

No Waiver

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24

Pronouns and Plurals

15

25

Headings

15

26

Execution in Counterparts

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27

Change in Adviser’s Membership

15

 

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ADVISORY AGREEMENT

 

THIS ADVISORY AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”), dated as of July 1, 2022, is entered into by and among NexPoint Diversified Real Estate Trust, a Delaware statutory trust (the “Company”) and NexPoint Real Estate Advisors X, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (the “Adviser”).

 

RECITALS

 

A.         The Company is a Delaware statutory trust created in accordance with the Delaware Statutory Trust Act and intends to elect to qualify as a REIT for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

 

B.         The Company desires to avail itself of the experience, sources of information, advice, assistance and certain facilities of the Adviser and its Affiliates and to have the Adviser undertake the duties and responsibilities set forth in this Agreement, on behalf of, and subject to the supervision of the Board of Trustees of the Company, all as provided in this Agreement.

 

C.         The Adviser is willing to render such services, subject to the supervision of the Board of Trustees of the Company, on the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement.

 

D.         The Board of Trustees has approved this Agreement.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and of the mutual covenants and agreements contained herein, the parties hereto, intending to be legally bound, hereby agree as follows:

 

1.

Definitions. As used in this Agreement, the following terms have the definitions set forth below:

 

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

 

Advisers Act Assignment” means the “assignment” of the Agreement, as the term “assignment” in defined in Section 202(a)(1) and used in Section 205(a)(2) of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940.

 

Advisory Fee” means an annual fee, payable monthly, in an amount equal to 1.00% of the Company’s Managed Assets, determined in accordance with Section 9.

 

Administrative Fee” means an annual fee, payable monthly, in an amount equal to 0.20 % of the Company’s Managed Assets, determined in accordance with Section 9.

 

Affiliate” or “Affiliated” means with respect to any Person, (i) any Person directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by or under common control with such other Person; (ii) any executive officer, director, trustee or general partner of such other Person; and (iii) any legal entity for which such Person acts as an executive officer, director, trustee or general partner. For purposes of this definition, the terms “controls,” “is controlled by,” or “is under common control with” shall mean the possession, direct or indirect, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of an entity, whether through ownership or voting rights, by contract or otherwise.

 

Automatic Renewal Term” has the meaning set forth in Section 13(a).

 

Board of Trustees” or “Board” means the Board of Trustees of the Company.

 

Bylaws” means the bylaws of the Company, as amended and as the same are in effect from time to time.

 

Cash on Hand” means the Company’s cash on hand, exclusive of the proceeds of any debt financing incurred or to be incurred in connection with the relevant Investment.

 

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Cause Event” means (a) a final judgment by any court or governmental body of competent jurisdiction not stayed or vacated within 30 days that the Adviser, any of its agents or any of its assignees has committed a felony or a material violation of applicable securities laws that has a material adverse effect on the business of the Company or the ability of the Adviser to perform its duties under the terms of this Agreement, (b) an order for relief in an involuntary bankruptcy case relating to the Adviser or the Adviser authorizing or filing a voluntary bankruptcy petition, (c) the dissolution of the Adviser, or (d) a determination that the Adviser has (i) committed fraud against the Company, (ii) misappropriated or embezzled funds of the Company, (iii) acted in a manner constituting bad faith, willful misconduct, gross negligence or reckless disregard in the performance of its duties under this Agreement, (iv) failed to act, where such failure to act constituted bad faith, willful misconduct, gross negligence or reckless disregard in the performance of its duties under this Agreement, or (v) defaulted in the performance or observance of any material term, condition or covenant contained in this Agreement and such default shall have continued for a period of 30 days after the Company had given written notice to the Adviser of such default; provided, however, that if any of the actions or omissions described in this clause (d) are caused by an employee and/or officer of the Adviser or one of its Affiliates and the Adviser takes all necessary action against such person and cures the damage caused by such actions or omissions within 30 days of such determination, then such event shall not constitute a Cause Event.

 

CMBS” means collateralized mortgage backed securities.

 

Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time, or any successor statute thereto. Reference to any provision of the Code shall mean such provision as in effect from time to time, as the same may be amended and any successor provision thereto, as interpreted by any applicable regulations as in effect from time to time.

 

Common Shares” means common shares of beneficial interest, par value $0.001 per share, of the Company.

 

Covered Person” has the meaning set forth in Section 15(a).

 

Declaration of Trust” means the Amended and Restated Agreement and Declaration of Trust of the Company, as hereafter amended from time to time.

 

Deregistration Order” means the order issued by the SEC under the 1940 Act, effective July 1, 2022, declaring that the Company has ceased to be an “investment company,” as that term is defined in the 1940 Act.

 

Effective Termination Date” has the meaning set forth in Section 14(a).

 

Election Notice” has the meaning set forth in Section 9(a).

 

Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

 

Expenses” has the meaning set forth in Section 10(a).

 

Fees” has the meaning set forth in Section 9(a).

 

GAAP” means generally accepted accounting principles in the U.S.

 

Governing Instruments” means, with regard to any entity, the articles of incorporation or certificate of incorporation and bylaws in the case of a corporation, the certificate of limited partnership (if applicable) and the partnership agreement in the case of a general or limited partnership, the certificate of formation and operating agreement in the case of a limited liability company, the trust instrument in the case of a trust, or similar governing documents, in each case as amended.

 

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Independent Trustee” means a Trustee who qualifies as an “independent director” under the NYSE listing rules.

 

Initial Term” has the meaning set forth in Section 13(a).

 

Investment Guidelines” means the investment guidelines and other investment parameters for Investments, financing activities and other operations as adopted by the Board, as may be amended, restated, modified, supplemented or waived by the Board of Trustees from time to time.

 

Investments” means any investments by the Company in Real Estate Assets or any other asset.

 

Joint Ventures” means any joint venture or partnership arrangements (other than between the Company and its operating partnership) in which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a co-venturer, member or partner, which are established to own Investments.

 

Loans” means any indebtedness or obligations in respect of borrowed money or evidenced by bonds, notes, debentures, deeds of trust, letters of credit or similar instruments, including mortgages, mezzanine loans and bridge loans.

 

LTIP Expenses” means any compensation expenses under any long term incentive plan adopted by the Company and approved by Shareholders.

 

Managed Assets” means an amount equal to the total assets of the Company, including any form of leverage, minus all accrued expenses incurred in the normal course of operations, but not excluding any liabilities or obligations attributable to leverage obtained through (i) indebtedness of any type (including, without limitation, borrowing to purchase or develop real estate or other investments, borrowing through a credit facility, or the issuance of debt securities), (ii) the issuance of preferred stock or other preference securities, (iii) the reinvestment of collateral received for securities loaned in accordance with the Company’s investment objectives and policies, and/or (iv) any other means. In the event the Company holds CMBS where the Company holds the controlling tranche of the securitization and is required to consolidate under GAAP all assets and liabilities of a specific CMBS trust, the consolidated assets and liabilities of the consolidated trust will be netted to calculate the allowable amount to be included as Managed Assets. In addition, in the event the Company consolidates another Person it does not wholly own as a result of owning a controlling interest in such Person or otherwise, Managed Assets will be calculated without giving effect to such consolidation and instead such Person’s assets, leverage, expenses, liabilities and obligations will, on a pro rata basis consistent with the Company’s percentage ownership, be considered those of the Company for purposes of calculation of Managed Assets.

 

NexPoint” means NexPoint Advisors, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership.

 

NYSE” means the New York Stock Exchange.

 

Offering” means any public or private offering of equity or debt securities of the Company that is consummated subsequent to the date of this Agreement, excluding Shares offered under any employee benefit plan of the Company.

 

Offering Expenses” means any and all expenses (other than underwriting discounts and commissions) paid or to be paid by the Company in connection with an Offering, including, without limitation, the Company’s legal, accounting, printing, mailing and filing fees and other documented offering expenses.

 

Operating Expenses” means all out-of-pocket expenses of the Adviser in performing services for the Company, including but not limited to the expenses incurred by the Adviser in connection with any provision by the Adviser of legal, accounting, financial, due diligence, investor relations and other services performed by the Adviser that outside professionals or outside consultants would otherwise perform. Operating Expenses also include the Company’s pro rata share of rent, telephone, utilities, office furniture, equipment, machinery and other office, internal and overhead expenses of the Adviser required for the Company’s operations. Operating Expenses do not include expenses for the advisory services described in this agreement or administrative services described on Exhibit A to this Agreement.

 

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Person” means an individual, corporation, partnership, joint venture, association, company (whether of limited liability or otherwise), trust, bank or other entity, or government or any agency or political subdivision of a government.

 

Preferred Shares” means 5.50% Series A Cumulative Preferred Shares, par value $0.001, of the Company.

 

Real Estate Assets” means any investment by the Company (including, without limitation, reserves for capital expenditures) in Real Estate either directly, through a direct or indirect subsidiary of the Company or through a Joint Venture.

 

Real Estate” means assets owned from time to time by the Company, either directly, through a direct or indirect subsidiary of the Company or through a Joint Venture, which consists of (a) land only, (b) land, including the buildings located thereon, (c) buildings only, (d) real estate-related securities (including preferred stock), Loans and other real estate-related financings, or (e) such investments the Board or the Adviser designate as Real Estate to the extent such investments could be classified as Real Estate related.

 

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

 

SEC” means the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

 

Shares” means the Common Shares and the Preferred Shares.

 

Shareholders” means the registered holders of the Shares.

 

Termination Fee” means a termination fee equal to three times the Fees earned by the Adviser during the twelve month period immediately preceding the most recently completed calendar quarter prior to the Effective Termination Date; provided, however, if this Agreement is terminated prior to the one year anniversary of the date of this Agreement, the Fees earned during such period will be annualized for purposes of calculating the Fees.

 

Trustee” means a member of the Board of Trustees.

 

VWAP” means volume-weighted average price.

 

2.         Appointment. The Company hereby appoints the Adviser to serve as their advisor to perform the services set forth herein on the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement, and the Adviser hereby accepts such appointment. Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, the Adviser hereby agrees to use its commercially reasonable efforts to perform each of the duties set forth herein. The appointment of the Adviser shall be exclusive to the Adviser, except to the extent that the Adviser elects, in its sole and absolute discretion, subject to the terms of this Agreement, to cause the duties of the Adviser as set forth herein to be provided by third parties and/or its Affiliates.

 

3.          Duties of the Adviser. The Adviser, in its capacity as manager of the assets and the day-to-day operations of the Company, at all times will be subject to the supervision of the Board of Trustees and will have only such functions and authority as the Board of Trustees may delegate to it including, without limitation, the functions and authority identified herein and delegated to the Adviser hereby. The Adviser will be responsible for the day-to-day operations of the Company and will perform (or cause to be performed through one or more of its Affiliates or subsidiaries) such services and activities relating to the assets and operations of the Company as may be appropriate, including, without limitation:

 

(a)    serve as the Company’s investment and financial advisor;

 

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(b)    provide the daily management for the Company and perform and supervise the various administrative functions necessary for the day-to-day management of the operations of the Company, including the administrative services described on Exhibit A to this Agreement;

 

(c)    investigate, select, and, on behalf of the Company, engage and conduct business with such Persons as the Adviser deems necessary to the proper performance of its obligations hereunder, including, but not limited to, consultants, accountants, correspondents, lenders, technical advisors, attorneys, brokers, underwriters, corporate fiduciaries, escrow agents, depositaries, custodians, agents for collection, insurers, insurance agents, banks, builders, developers, property owners, real estate management companies, real estate operating companies, securities investment advisors, mortgagors, the registrar and the transfer agent and any and all agents for any of the foregoing, including Affiliates of the Adviser, and Persons acting in any other capacity deemed by the Adviser necessary or desirable for the performance of any of the foregoing services, including, but not limited to, entering into contracts in the name of the Company with any of the foregoing;

 

(d)    consult with the officers and Trustees of the Company and assist the Trustees in the formulation and implementation of the Company’s financial policies, and, as necessary, furnish the Board with advice and recommendations with respect to the making of investments consistent with the investment objectives and policies of the Company and in connection with any borrowings proposed to be undertaken by the Company;

 

(e)    subject to the provisions of Section 4 hereof, (i) participate in formulating an investment strategy and asset allocation framework, (ii) locate, analyze and select potential Investments, (iii) structure and negotiate the terms and conditions of transactions pursuant to which acquisitions and dispositions of Investments will be made and execute any related documents or agreements; (iv) research, identify, review and recommend acquisitions and dispositions of Investments to the Board and make Investments on behalf of the Company in compliance with the investment objectives and policies of the Company; (v) negotiate the terms of and arrange for financing and refinancing and make other changes in the assets or capital structure of, and dispose of, reinvest the proceeds from the sale of, invest in, or otherwise deal with, Investments and execute any related documents or agreements; (vi) negotiate and enter into agreements relating to Real Estate Assets and, to the extent necessary, perform all other operational functions for the maintenance and administration of such Real Estate Assets; (vii) actively oversee and manage Investments for purposes of meeting the Company’s investment objectives and reviewing and analyzing financial information for each of the Investments and the overall portfolio; (viii) select Joint Venture partners, structure, negotiate and execute corresponding agreements and oversee and monitor these relationships; (ix) engage, oversee, supervise and evaluate property managers who perform services for the Company; (x) engage, oversee, supervise and evaluate Persons with whom the Adviser contracts to perform certain of the services required to be performed under this Agreement; (xi) manage accounting and other record-keeping functions for the Company, including reviewing and analyzing the capital and operating budgets for the Real Estate Assets and generating an annual budget for the Company; and (xii) recommend various liquidity events to the Board when appropriate;

 

(f)    upon request, but no less than quarterly, provide the Board with periodic reports regarding prospective investments;

 

(g)    negotiate the terms of and make investments in, and dispositions of, Investments within the discretionary limits and authority as granted by the Board and execute any related documents or agreements;

 

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(h)    within the discretionary limits and authority as granted by the Board, negotiate on behalf of the Company with banks or other lenders for Loans to be made to the Company, and negotiate with investment banking firms and broker-dealers or negotiate private sales of Shares or obtain Loans for the Company and execute any related documents or agreements, but in no event in such a manner so that the Adviser shall be acting as broker-dealer or underwriter; provided, further, that any fees and costs payable to third parties incurred by the Adviser in connection with the foregoing shall be the responsibility of the Company;

 

(i)    at least quarterly, and at any other time reasonably requested by the Board, obtain reports (which may, but are not required to, be prepared by the Adviser or its Affiliates), where appropriate, concerning the value of Investments or contemplated Investments of the Company;

 

(j)    at least quarterly, and at any other time reasonably requested by the Board, make reports to the Board of its performance of services to the Company under this Agreement (including reports with respect to potential conflicts of interest involving the Adviser or any of its Affiliates), the composition and characteristics of the Company’s portfolio, and compliance with the Company’s Investment Guidelines and other policies approved from time to time by the Board;

 

(k)    provide the Company with all necessary cash management services;

 

(l)    deliver to, or maintain on behalf of, the Company copies of all appraisals obtained in connection with the investments in any Real Estate Assets as may be required to be obtained by the Board;

 

(m)    notify the Board of all proposed transactions outside of the Adviser’s delegated authority and obtain Board approval of same before they are completed;

 

(n)    negotiate and effect any tenancy-in-common (TIC) or other interests in Investments as may be approved by the Board and execute any related documents or agreements;

 

(o)    perform investor-relations and Shareholder communications functions for the Company;

 

(p)    render such services as may be reasonably determined by the Board of Trustees consistent with the terms and conditions herein;

 

(q)    maintain the Company’s accounting and other records and assist the Company in filing all reports required to be filed by it with the SEC, the Internal Revenue Service and other regulatory agencies;

 

(r)    do all things necessary to assure its ability to render the services described in this Agreement and execute any related documents or agreements;

 

(s)    advise the Company regarding the maintenance of the Company’s qualification as a REIT and monitor the Company’s compliance with the various REIT qualification requirements and other rules set forth in the Code and any applicable Treasury Regulations promulgated under the Code, as amended from time to time, and use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause the Company to qualify as a REIT and to maintain its qualification as a REIT for U.S. federal income tax purposes;

 

(t)    advise the Company regarding the maintenance of their exemptions from the status of an investment company required to register under the 1940 Act, and monitor compliance with the requirements for maintaining such exemptions and using commercially reasonable efforts to cause them to maintain such exemptions from such status;

 

(u)    assist the Company in qualifying to do business in all applicable jurisdictions in which the Company or their subsidiaries do business, and ensure that the Company and its subsidiaries obtain and maintain all applicable licenses;

 

(v)    assist the Company in complying with all regulatory requirements applicable to them with respect to their business activities, including preparing or causing to be prepared all financial statements required under applicable regulations and contractual undertakings and all reports and documents, if any, required under the Exchange Act, the Securities Act or by the NYSE;

 

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(w)    if requested by the Company, provide, or cause another qualified third party to provide, such internal audit, compliance and control services as may be required for the Company and its subsidiaries to comply with applicable law (including the Securities Act and the Exchange Act), regulation (including SEC regulations) and the rules and requirements of the NYSE or such other securities exchange on which the Shares are listed, and as otherwise requested by the Board;

 

(x)    handle and resolve on behalf of the Company (including its subsidiaries) all routine claims, disputes or controversies, including all routine litigation, arbitration, settlement or other proceedings or negotiations, in which the Company or its subsidiaries may be involved (other than with the Adviser or its Affiliates) or to which they may become subject, subject to such limitations or parameters as may be imposed from time to time by the Board; and

 

(y)    use commercially reasonable efforts to cause the Company and its subsidiaries to comply with all applicable laws.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Adviser may delegate any of the foregoing duties to any Person so long as the Adviser remains responsible for the performance of the duties set forth in this Section 3; provided, however, that the delegation by the Adviser of any of the foregoing duties to another Person shall not result in an increased Advisory Fee or Administrative Fee or in additional expenses payable hereunder.

 

4.

Authority of the Adviser.

 

(a)    Pursuant to the terms of this Agreement (including the restrictions included in this Section 4 and in Section 8), and subject to the continuing and exclusive authority of the Board over the management of the Company, the Company, acting on the authority of the Board of Trustees, hereby delegates to the Adviser the authority to perform the services described in Section 3.

 

(b)    Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Adviser shall obtain the prior approval of the Board, any particular Trustees specified by the Board or any committee of the Board, as the case may be, in connection with (i) any Investment for which the portion of the consideration paid out of the Company’s Cash on Hand equals or exceeds $50,000,000, (ii) any investment that is inconsistent with the Company’s Investment Guidelines adopted by the Board from time to time, (iii) any engagement of Affiliated service providers on behalf of the Company, which engagement terms will be negotiated on an arm’s length basis, or (iv) any financing or refinancing entered into by the Company, either directly, through a direct or indirect subsidiary of the Company or through a Joint Venture, that equals or exceeds $100,000,000.

 

(c)    If a transaction requires approval by the Independent Trustees, the Adviser will deliver to the Independent Trustees all documents and other information required by them to properly evaluate the proposed transaction.

 

(d)    For the period and on the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement, the Company and each of its subsidiaries hereby constitutes, appoints and authorizes the Adviser as its true and lawful agent and attorney-in-fact, in its name, place and stead, to negotiate, execute, deliver and enter into agreements, instruments and authorizations on their behalf, on such terms and conditions as the Adviser, acting in its sole and absolute discretion, deems necessary or appropriate (subject to any limitations imposed by the Board). This power of attorney is deemed to be coupled with an interest.

 

5.

No Partnership or Joint Venture. The parties to this Agreement are not partners or joint venturers with each other and nothing herein shall be construed to make them partners or joint venturers or impose any liability as such on either of them.

 

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6.            Bank Accounts. The Adviser may establish and maintain one or more bank accounts in its own name for the account of the Company or in the name of the Company and may collect and deposit into any such account or accounts, and disburse from any such account or accounts, any money on behalf of the Company, consistent with the authority granted under Section 4 and in such other circumstances as the Board may approve, provided that no funds shall be commingled with the funds of the Adviser; and the Adviser shall upon request render appropriate accountings of such collections and payments to the Board and to the auditors of the Company.

 

7.            Records; Access; Confidentiality. The Adviser shall maintain appropriate books of accounts and records of all its activities hereunder and make such records available for inspection by the Trustees and by counsel, auditors and authorized agents of the Company, at any time and from time to time. The Adviser shall at all reasonable times have access to the books and records of the Company. The Adviser shall keep confidential any and all information obtained in connection with the services rendered under this Agreement and shall not disclose any such information (or use the same except in furtherance of its duties under this Agreement) to unaffiliated third parties except (a) with the prior written consent of the Board, (b) to legal counsel, accountants or other professional advisors or consultants engaged by the Company, (c) to appraisers, financing sources and others in the ordinary course of the Company’s business, (d) to governmental officials having jurisdiction over the Company (including its subsidiaries), (e) in connection with any governmental or regulatory filings of the Company or of its subsidiaries, or disclosure or presentations to Company investors, (f) as required by law or legal process to which the Adviser or any Person to whom disclosure is permitted hereunder is a party, or (g) to the extent such information is otherwise publicly available through the actions of a Person other than the Adviser not resulting from the Adviser’s violation of this Section 7. The confidentiality provisions of this Section 7 shall survive for a period of one year after the expiration or earlier termination of this Agreement.

 

8.          Limitations on Activities. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Adviser shall not intentionally or with gross negligence, reckless disregard or bad faith take any action that, would (a) adversely affect the maintenance of the Company’s qualification as a REIT under the Code, unless the Board has determined that the maintenance of the Company’s REIT qualification is not in the best interests of the Company and its Shareholders, (b) subject the Company to regulation under the 1940 Act, (c) be contrary to or inconsistent with the Company’s Investment Guidelines or (d) violate any law, rule, regulation or statement of policy of any governmental body or agency having jurisdiction over the Company or its Shares, or otherwise not be permitted by the Declaration of Trust or Bylaws, except if such action shall be ordered by the Board, in which case the Adviser shall notify promptly the Board of the Adviser’s judgment of the potential impact of such action and shall refrain from taking such action until it receives further clarification or instructions from the Board. In such event, the Adviser shall have no liability for acting in accordance with the specific instructions of the Board so given.

 

9.

Compensation.

 

(a)    During the term hereof, as the same may be extended from time to time, the Company shall pay the Adviser the Advisory Fee and Administrative Fee (together ”Fees”). The Adviser shall compute the Managed Assets of the Company as of the end of each fiscal quarter and then compute each installment of the Fees as promptly as possible after the end of the month with respect to which such installment is payable. The accrued fees will be payable monthly as promptly as possible after the end of each month during which this Agreement is in effect. A copy of the computations made by the Adviser to calculate such installment shall thereafter, for informational purposes only, promptly be delivered to the Board. The Fees shall be paid in cash unless the Adviser elects, in its sole discretion, to receive all or a portion of the Fees in Common Shares; provided, that (i) such election to receive all or a portion of the Fees in Common Shares shall be made by notice to the Board (the “Election Notice”) at the time the Adviser delivers to the Board the computation of the Fees for such month and (ii) the Adviser’s ability to receive Common Shares in payment of all or a portion of the Fees shall be subject to Section 9(c). To the extent that the Adviser elects to receive Common Shares in payment of all or a portion of the Fees for any particular month, the number of Common Shares payable to the Adviser for such month shall equal (i) the dollar amount of the portion of the monthly installment of the Fees payable in Common Shares (as set forth in the Election Notice) divided by (ii) the VWAP per Share for the 10 trading days prior to the end of the month for which the Fees will be paid. The Fees shall be payable independent of the performance of the Company or the Investments.

 

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(b)    The Adviser may waive a portion of its Fees. If this Agreement becomes effective subsequent to the first day of a month or shall terminate before the last day of a month, compensation for such month shall be computed in a manner consistent with the calculation of the fees payable on a monthly basis.

 

(c)    The Adviser’s ability to receive Common Shares in payment of all or a portion of the Fees due to the Adviser under this Agreement shall be subject to the following: (i) the ownership of such Common Shares by the Adviser shall not violate the limit on ownership of Common Shares set forth in the Declaration of Trust or otherwise raise a material risk to the status of the Company as a REIT, after giving effect to any exception from such limit that the Board may grant to the Adviser or its Affiliates; and (ii) the Company’s issuance of such Common Shares to the Adviser shall comply with all applicable restrictions under the U.S. federal securities laws and the rules of the NYSE.

 

(d)    The Company agrees to provide reasonable registration rights to the Adviser and its Affiliates in a form of registration rights agreement to be mutually agreed.

 

10.

Expenses.

 

(a)    In addition to the compensation paid to the Adviser pursuant to Section 9, the Company shall pay directly or reimburse the Adviser for all of the documented Operating Expenses and Offering Expenses (together, “Expenses”) paid or incurred by the Adviser or its Affiliates in connection with the services it provides to the Company pursuant to this Agreement. Any Expenses payable by the Company or reimbursable to the Adviser pursuant to this Agreement shall not be in amounts greater than those which would be payable to outside professionals or consultants engaged to perform such services pursuant to agreements negotiated on an arm’s length basis. The Adviser may, at its discretion and at any time, waive its right to reimbursement for eligible out-of-pocket expenses paid on the Company’s behalf. Once waived, these expenses are considered permanently waived and become non-recoupable in the future. Operating Expenses directly paid by the Company together with the reimbursement of Operating Expenses to the Adviser, plus LTIP Expenses and all other corporate general and administrative expenses of the Company, including the Fees payable under Section 9, may not exceed 1.5% of Managed Assets, calculated as of the end of each quarter, for the twelve-month period following the Company’s receipt of the Deregistration Order, provided, however, that this limitation will not apply to Offering Expenses, legal, accounting, financial, due diligence and other service fees incurred in connection with extraordinary litigation and mergers and acquisitions or other events outside the Company’s ordinary course of business or any out-of-pocket acquisition or due diligence expenses incurred in connection with the acquisition or disposition of Real Estate Assets; provided, further, in the event the Company consolidates another Person that it does not wholly own as a result of owning a controlling interest in such Person or otherwise, expenses will be calculated without giving effect to such consolidation and instead such Person’s expenses will, on a pro rata basis consistent with the Company’s percentage ownership, be considered those of the Company for purposes of calculation of expenses.

 

(b)    The Adviser shall prepare a statement documenting all Expenses incurred during each month, and shall deliver such statement to the Company within 15 business days after the end of each month. Expenses incurred by the Adviser on behalf of the Company and payable pursuant to this Section 10 shall be reimbursed no later than the 15th business day immediately following the date of delivery of such statement of Expenses to the Company.

 

(c)    The Adviser may, at its discretion and at any time, waive its right to reimbursement for eligible out-of-pocket expenses paid on the Company’s behalf. Once waived, these expenses are considered permanently waived and become non-recoupable in the future.

 

11.         Other Services. Should the Board request that the Adviser or any director, officer or employee thereof render services for the Company other than set forth in Section 3, such services shall be separately compensated at such customary rates and in such customary amounts as are agreed upon by the Adviser and the Board, including a majority of the Independent Trustees, subject to the limitations contained in the Declaration of Trust, and shall not be deemed to be services pursuant to the terms of this Agreement.

 

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12.        Other Activities of the Adviser. Except as set forth in this Section 12, nothing herein contained shall prevent the Adviser or any of its Affiliates from engaging in or earning fees from other activities, including, without limitation, the rendering of advice to other Persons (including other REITs) and the management of other programs advised, sponsored or organized by NexPoint or its Affiliates; nor shall this Agreement limit or restrict the right of any director, officer, member, partner, employee, or stockholder of the Adviser or its Affiliates to engage in or earn fees from any other business or to render services of any kind to any other partnership, corporation, firm, individual, trust or association and earn fees for rendering such services; provided, however, that the Adviser must devote sufficient resources to the Company’s business to discharge its obligations to the Company under this Agreement. The Adviser may, with respect to any investment in which the Company is a participant, also render advice and service to each and every other participant therein, and earn fees for rendering such advice and service. Specifically, it is contemplated that the Company may enter into Joint Ventures or other similar co-investment arrangements with certain Persons, and pursuant to the agreements governing such Joint Ventures or arrangements, the Adviser may be engaged to provide advice and service to such Persons, in which case the Adviser will earn fees for rendering such advice and service.

 

The Board acknowledges that the Adviser and its Affiliates are subject to various conflicts of interest. The Adviser shall report to the Board the existence of any condition or circumstance, existing or anticipated, of which it has knowledge, which creates or is reasonably likely to create a conflict of interest between the Adviser’s obligations to the Company and its obligations to or its interest in any other partnership, corporation, firm, individual, trust or association. In addition, the Adviser shall notify the Company of any change in the membership of the Adviser within a reasonable time after such change.

 

13.

Term and Termination.

 

(a)    Duration. This Agreement shall become effective on the date first set forth above. Unless terminated as herein provided, this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect until the date that is three years after the effective date of this Agreement (the “Initial Term”). Subsequent to the Initial Term, this Agreement shall be deemed to be automatically renewed for successive additional one-year periods (each, an “Automatic Renewal Term”), unless the Company or the Adviser elects not to renew this Agreement in accordance with Section 13(c) below.

 

(b)    Amendment. No provision of this Agreement may be amended, waived, discharged or terminated orally, but only by an instrument in writing meeting the requirements of Section 19. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a provision of this Agreement may be waived by an instrument in writing signed by the party against which enforcement of the waiver is sought. Any amendment of this Agreement shall be approved by either (i) the Company’s Board of Trustees or (ii) a vote of the Company’s shareholders.

 

(c)    Termination. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement to the contrary, (i) upon written notice given 180 days’ prior to the expiration of the Initial Term or any Automatic Renewal Term to the Adviser, the Company may, without cause, in connection with the expiration of the Initial Term or the then-current Automatic Renewal Term, decline to renew this Agreement, whereupon this Agreement shall not be renewed and extended and this Agreement shall terminate effective on the anniversary date of this Agreement next following the delivery of such notice, (ii) no later than 180 days prior to the expiration of the Initial Term or the then-current Automatic Renewal Term, the Adviser may, without cause, deliver written notice to the Company informing it of the Adviser’s intention to decline to renew this Agreement, whereupon this Agreement shall not be renewed and extended and this Agreement shall terminate effective on the anniversary date of this Agreement next following the delivery of such notice, (iii) the Company may terminate this Agreement upon the occurrence of a Cause Event by giving written notice to the Adviser of the occurrence of a Cause Event, whereupon this Agreement shall terminate 30 days after delivery of such written notice, (iv) the Adviser may terminate this Agreement by giving written notice to the Company in the event that the Company shall default in the performance or observance of any material term, condition or covenant contained in this Agreement and such default shall have continued for a period of 30 days before the Adviser had given written notice to the Company of such default, whereupon this Agreement shall terminate 30 days after delivery of such written notice, and (v) the Agreement shall terminate in the event of an Advisers Act Assignment and shall be of no further force or effect without the express written consent of the Company.

 

10

 

14.

Payments and Duties Upon Termination.

 

(a)    Amounts Owed. The Company shall pay the Adviser the Termination Fee before or on the last day of the Initial Term, the Automatic Renewal Term or the end of the 30-day period, as the case may be (the “Effective Termination Date”) upon termination of this Agreement, provided that the Company is not required to pay the Adviser the Termination Fee if this Agreement is terminated by the Company as a result of a Cause Event or is terminated due to an Advisers Act Assignment.

 

(b)    Advisers Duties. The Adviser shall promptly upon termination of this Agreement:

 

(i)    pay over to the Company all money collected and held for the account of the Company pursuant to this Agreement, after deducting any accrued compensation and reimbursement for its expenses to which it is then entitled;

 

(ii)    deliver to the Board a full accounting, including a statement showing all payments collected by it and a statement of all money held by it, covering the period following the date of the last accounting furnished to the Board;

 

(iii)    deliver to the Board all assets, including all Investments, and documents of the Company then in the custody of the Adviser; and

 

(iv)    reasonably cooperate with the Company, at the Company’s expense, to provide an orderly management transition.

 

15.

Limitation of Liability, Exculpation and Indemnification by the Company.

 

(a)    Whether or not expressly provided in this Agreement, every provision of this Agreement relating to the conduct or affecting the liability of or affording protection to the Adviser or any of its respective Affiliates and their respective partners, members, officers, directors, employees and agents (including parties acting as agents for the execution of transactions) (each, a “Covered Person” and collectively, “Covered Persons”) shall be subject to the provisions of this Section.

 

(b)    To the fullest extent permitted by law, no Covered Person shall be liable to the Company (including but not limited to (i) any act or omission by any Covered Person in connection with the conduct of the business of the Company, that is determined by such Covered Person in good faith to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company, (ii) any act or omission by any Covered Person based on the suggestions of any professional advisor of the Company whom such Covered Person believes is authorized to make such suggestions on behalf of the Company, (iii) any act or omission by the Company, or (iv) any mistake, negligence, misconduct or bad faith of any broker or other agent of the Company selected by the Covered Person with reasonable care), unless any act or omission by such Covered Person constitutes bad faith, fraud, willful misfeasance, intentional misconduct, gross negligence or reckless disregard of its duties (as determined by a non-appealable judgment of a court or arbitration proceeding of competent jurisdiction).

 

(c)    A Covered Person may consult with legal counsel or accountants selected by such Covered Person and any act or omission by such Covered Person on behalf of the Company or in furtherance of the business of the Company in good faith in reliance on and in accordance with the advice of such counsel or accountants shall be full justification for the act or omission, and such Covered Person shall be fully protected in so acting or omitting to act if the counsel or accountants were selected with reasonable care.

 

11

 

(d)    To the fullest extent permitted by law, the Company shall indemnify and save harmless Covered Persons, from and against any and all claims, liabilities, damages, losses, costs and expenses, including amounts paid in satisfaction of judgments, in compromises and settlements, as fines and penalties and legal or other costs and expenses of investigating or defending against any claim or alleged claim, of any nature whatsoever, known or unknown, liquidated or unliquidated, that are incurred by any Covered Person and arise out of or in connection with the business or investments of the Company, or the performance by the Covered Person of its responsibilities hereunder, provided that the Covered Person shall not be entitled to indemnification hereunder to the extent the Covered Person’s conduct constitutes bad faith, fraud, willful misfeasance, intentional misconduct, gross negligence or reckless disregard of its duties (as determined by a non-appealable judgment of a court or arbitration proceeding of competent jurisdiction). The termination of any proceeding by settlement, judgment, order or upon a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent shall not, of itself, create a presumption that the Covered Person’s conduct constituted bad faith, fraud, willful misfeasance, intentional misconduct, gross negligence or reckless disregard of its duties (as determined by a non-appealable judgment of a court or arbitration proceeding of competent jurisdiction).

 

(e)    Expenses incurred by a Covered Person in defense or settlement of any claim that shall be subject to a right of indemnification hereunder, shall be advanced by the Company prior to the final disposition thereof upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of the Covered Person to repay the amount advanced to the extent that it shall be determined ultimately that the Covered Person is not entitled to be indemnified hereunder.

 

(f)    The right of any Covered Person to the indemnification provided herein shall be cumulative of, and in addition to, any and all rights to which the Covered Person may otherwise be entitled by contract or as a matter of law or equity and shall be extended to the Covered Person’s successors, assigns and legal representatives.

 

(g)    The provisions of this Section are expressly intended to confer benefits upon Covered Persons and such provisions shall remain operative and in full force and effect regardless of the expiration or any termination of this Agreement.

 

(h)    No Covered Person shall be liable hereunder for any settlement of any action or claim effected without its written consent thereto.

 

16.

Indemnification by the Adviser.

 

(a)    The Adviser shall indemnify and hold harmless the Company and its subsidiaries from all claims, liabilities, damages, losses, costs and expenses, including amounts paid in satisfaction of judgments, in compromises and settlements, as fines and penalties and legal or other costs and expenses of investigating or defending against any claim or alleged claim, of any nature whatsoever, known or unknown, liquidated or unliquidated, that are incurred by reason of the Adviser’s bad faith, fraud, willful misfeasance, intentional misconduct, gross negligence or reckless disregard of its duties; provided, however, that the Adviser shall not be held responsible for any action of the Board in following or declining to follow any written advice or written recommendation given by the Adviser.

 

(b)    Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, the aggregate maximum amount that the Adviser may be liable to the Company pursuant to this Agreement shall, to the extent not prohibited by law, never exceed the amount of the Advisory Fees received by the Adviser under this Agreement prior to the date that the acts or omissions giving rise to a claim for indemnification or liability shall have occurred. In no event shall the Adviser be liable for special, exemplary, punitive, indirect, or consequential loss, or damage of any kind whatsoever, including without limitation lost profits. The foregoing limitations shall not apply to the extent such damages are determined in a final binding non-appealable court or arbitration proceeding to result from the bad faith, fraud, willful misfeasance, intentional misconduct, gross negligence or reckless disregard of its duties as the Adviser.

 

(c)    The provisions of this Section are expressly intended to confer benefits upon the Company and its subsidiaries and such provisions shall remain operative and in full force and effect regardless of the expiration or any termination of this Agreement.

 

12

 

17.

Representations and Warranties.

 

(a)    The Company hereby makes the following representations and warranties to the Adviser, all of which shall survive the execution and delivery of this Agreement:

 

(i)    The Company is a statutory trust duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware and is qualified to do business and is in good standing in Delaware. The Company has all power and authority required to execute and deliver this Agreement and to perform all its duties and obligations hereunder. The Company has the power and authority and the legal right to own and operate its assets, to lease any property it may operate as lessee and to conduct the business in which it is now engaged and is duly qualified as a foreign trust and in good standing under the laws of each jurisdiction where its ownership or lease of property or the conduct of its business requires such qualification, except for failures to be so qualified, authorized or licensed that could not in the aggregate have a material adverse effect on the business operations, assets or financial condition of the Company and its subsidiaries, if any, taken as a whole.

 

(ii)    The execution, delivery, and performance of this Agreement by the Company have been duly authorized by all necessary action on the part of the Company. No consent of any other Person that has not already been obtained, including stockholders and creditors of the Company, and no license, permit, approval or authorization of, exemption by, notice or report to, or registration, filing or declaration with, any governmental authority is required by the Company in connection with this Agreement or the execution, delivery, performance, validity or enforceability of this Agreement and all obligations required hereunder.

 

(iii)    This Agreement has been, and each instrument or document required hereunder will be, executed and delivered by a duly authorized officer of the Company, and this Agreement constitutes, and each instrument or document required hereunder when executed and delivered hereunder will constitute, a legal, valid, and binding instrument, agreement or document of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms, except as limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership and similar laws from time to time in effect and general principles of equity, including, without limitation, those relating to the availability of specific performance.

 

(iv)    The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the documents or instruments required hereunder will not violate any provision of any existing law or regulation binding on the Company, or any order, judgment, award or decree of any court, arbitrator or governmental authority binding on the Company, or the Governing Instruments of, or any securities issued by the Company or of any mortgage, indenture, lease, contract or other agreement, instrument or undertaking to which the Company is a party or by which the Company or any of its assets may be bound, the violation of which would have a material adverse effect on the business operations, assets or financial condition of the Company and its subsidiaries, if any, taken as a whole, and will not result in, or require, the creation or imposition of any lien on any of the property, assets or revenues of the Company pursuant to the provisions of any such mortgage, indenture, lease, contract or other agreement, instrument or undertaking.

 

(b)    The Adviser hereby makes the following representations and warranties to the Company, all of which shall survive the execution and delivery of this Agreement:

 

(i)    The Adviser is a limited partnership duly formed, validly existing, and in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware and is qualified to do business and is in good standing in Delaware. The Adviser has all power and authority required to execute and deliver this Agreement and to perform all its duties and obligations hereunder, subject only to its qualifying to do business and obtaining all requisite permits and licenses required as a result of or relating to the nature or location of any of the assets or properties of the Company (which it shall do promptly after being required to do so). The Adviser has the limited partnership power and authority and the legal right to conduct the business in which it is now engaged and is duly qualified as a foreign partnership and in good standing under the laws of each jurisdiction where its ownership or lease of property or the conduct of its business requires such qualification, except for failures to be so qualified, authorized or licensed that could not in the aggregate have a material adverse effect on the business operations, assets or financial condition of the Adviser.

 

13

 

(ii)    The execution, delivery, and performance of this Agreement by the Adviser have been duly authorized by all necessary action on the part of the Adviser. No consent of any other Person, including partners and creditors of the Adviser, and no license, permit, approval or authorization of, exemption by, notice or report to, or registration, filing or declaration with, any governmental authority is required by the Adviser in connection with this Agreement or the execution, delivery, performance, validity or enforceability of this Agreement and all obligations required hereunder.

 

(iii)    This Agreement has been, and each instrument or document required hereunder will be, executed and delivered by a duly authorized officer of the Adviser, and this Agreement constitutes, and each instrument or document required hereunder when executed and delivered hereunder will constitute, a legal, valid, and binding instrument, agreement or document of the Adviser enforceable against the Adviser in accordance with its terms, except as limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership and similar laws from time to time in effect and general principles of equity, including, without limitation, those relating to the availability of specific performance.

 

(iv)    The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the documents or instruments required hereunder will not violate any provision of any existing law or regulation binding on the Adviser, or any order, judgment, award or decree of any court, arbitrator or governmental authority binding on the Adviser, or the Governing Instruments of, or any securities issued by the Adviser or of any mortgage, indenture, lease, contract or other agreement, instrument or undertaking to which the Adviser is a party or by which the Adviser or any of its assets may be bound, the violation of which would have a material adverse effect on the business operations, assets or financial condition of the Adviser, and will not result in, or require, the creation or imposition of any lien on any of its property, assets or revenues pursuant to the provisions of any such mortgage, indenture, lease, contract or other agreement, instrument or undertaking.

 

18.         Notices. Any notice, report or other communication required or permitted to be given hereunder shall be in writing unless some other method of giving such notice, report or other communication is required by the Declaration of Trust, the Bylaws, or accepted by the party to whom it is given, and shall be given by being delivered by hand, by courier or overnight carrier or by registered or certified mail to the addresses set forth below:

 

To the Company: NexPoint Diversified Real Estate Trust
  300 Crescent Court
  Suite 700
  Dallas, Texas 75201
  Attention: Brian Mitts
with a copy to: Winston & Strawn LLP
  2121 N. Pearl Street, Suite 900
  Dallas, Texas 75201
  Attention: Charles T. Haag
   
To the Adviser: NexPoint Real Estate Advisors X, L.P.
  300 Crescent Court
  Suite 700
  Dallas, Texas 75201
  Attention: Brian Mitts
with a copy to:  Winston & Strawn LLP
  2121 N. Pearl Street, Suite 900
  Dallas, Texas 75201
  Attention: Charles T. Haag

      

14

 

Any party may at any time give notice in writing to the other parties of a change in its address for the purposes of this Section 18.

 

19.          Modification. This Agreement shall not be amended, supplemented, modified, terminated or discharged, in whole or in part, except by an instrument in writing signed by the parties hereto, or their respective successors or assignees.

 

20.          Severability. The provisions of this Agreement are independent of and severable from each other, and no provision shall be affected or rendered invalid or unenforceable by virtue of the fact that for any reason any other or others of them may be invalid or unenforceable in whole or in part.

 

21.        Governing Law; Waiver of Jury Trial. THE PROVISIONS OF THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE CONSTRUED AND INTERPRETED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK AS AT THE TIME IN EFFECT, WITHOUT REGARD TO THE PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICTS OF LAWS THEREOF. THE PARTIES TO THIS AGREEMENT HEREBY SUBMIT TO THE NON-EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OF THE COURTS OF NEW YORK, INCLUDING ANY APPELLATE COURTS THEREOF. THE PARTIES ACKNOWLEDGE AND AGREE THAT ANY CONTROVERSY WHICH MAY ARISE UNDER THIS AGREEMENT IS LIKELY TO INVOLVE COMPLICATED AND DIFFICULT ISSUES, AND, THEREFORE, EACH PARTY HEREBY IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVES TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY RIGHT SUCH PARTY MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN RESPECT TO ANY ACTION DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF, UNDER OR IN CONNECTION WITH OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED BY THIS AGREEMENT.

 

22.         Entire Agreement. This Agreement contains the entire agreement and understanding among the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof, and supersedes all prior and contemporaneous agreements, understandings, inducements and conditions, express or implied, oral or written, of any nature whatsoever with respect to the subject matter hereof. The express terms hereof control and supersede any course of performance or usage of the trade inconsistent with any of the terms hereof.

 

23.         No Waiver. Neither the failure nor any delay on the part of a party to exercise any right, remedy, power or privilege under this Agreement shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial exercise of any right, remedy, power or privilege preclude any other or further exercise of the same or of any other right, remedy, power or privilege, nor shall any waiver of any right, remedy, power or privilege with respect to any occurrence be construed as a waiver of such right, remedy, power or privilege with respect to any other occurrence. No waiver shall be effective unless it is in writing and is signed by the party asserted to have granted such waiver.

 

24.          Pronouns and Plurals. Whenever the context may require, any pronoun used in this Agreement shall include the corresponding masculine, feminine or neuter forms, and the singular form of nouns, pronouns and verbs shall include the plural and vice versa.

 

25.          Headings. The titles of Sections and Subsections contained in this Agreement are for convenience only, and they neither form a part of this Agreement nor are they to be used in the construction or interpretation hereof.

 

26.         Execution in Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original as against any party whose signature appears thereon, and all of which shall together constitute one and the same instrument. This Agreement shall become binding when one or more counterparts hereof, individually or taken together, shall bear the signatures of all of the parties reflected hereon as the signatories.

 

27.          Change in Advisers Membership. The Adviser shall advise the Company of any change of its membership within a reasonable time after such change.

 

15

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have executed this Agreement as of the date first written above.

 

 

NEXPOINT DIVERSIFIED REAL ESTATE TRUST

 

 

By: /s/ Dustin Norris  
  Name:          Dustin Norris  
  Title:            Executive Vice President  
     
     
NEXPOINT REAL ESTATE ADVISORS X, L.P.  
     
     
By: /s/ Brian Mitts  
  Name:           Brian Mitts  
  Title:             Chief Financial Officer, EVP-Finance,  
    Secretary and Treasurer  

          

 

[Signature Page to Advisory Agreement]


 

EXHIBIT A

 

Description of Administration Services.

 

Adviser will perform the following administration services as necessary:

 

(i)

Prepare monthly transaction listings;

 

(ii)

Supply various normal and customary portfolio and Company statistical data as requested on an ongoing basis;

 

(iii)

Prepare for execution and file the Company’s Federal and state tax returns; prepare a fiscal tax provision in coordination with the annual audit; prepare an excise tax provision; and prepare all relevant 1099 calculations;

 

(iv)

Coordinate contractual relationships and communications between the Company and its contractual service providers;

 

(v)

Coordinate printing of the Company’s annual shareholder reports;

 

(vi)

Prepare income and capital gain distributions;

 

(vii)

Prepare the quarterly and annual financial statements;

 

(viii)

Monitor the Company’s compliance with the Code and SEC reporting requirements;

 

(ix)

Prepare, coordinate with the Company’s counsel and coordinate the filing with the SEC: quarterly reports on Form 10-Q; annual reports on Form 10-K, and current reports on Form 8-K, in each case based upon information provided by the Company; assist in the preparation of Forms 3, 4 and 5 pursuant to Section 16 of the Exchange Act for the officers and trustees of the Company, such filings to be based on information provided by those persons;

 

(x)

Assist in the preparation of notices of meetings of shareholders, coordinate preparation of proxy statements, including obtaining information required to be disclosed by applicable regulations and the engagement of proxy solicitors on behalf of the Company;

 

(xi)

Assist in obtaining trustees’ and officers’ errors and omissions insurance policies for the Company, including evaluation of insurance carriers, recommending appropriate coverage levels and evaluating the costs thereof, as such policies are approved by the Company’s Board of Trustees;

 

(xii)

Draft agendas and resolutions for quarterly and special board meetings;

 

(xiii)

Coordinate the preparation, assembly and posting of board materials;

 

(xiv)

Attend board meetings and draft minutes thereof;

 

(xv)

Maintain the Company’s calendar to assure compliance with various filing and board approval deadlines;

 

(xvi)

Assist the Company in the handling of SEC examinations and responses thereto;

 

(xvii)

If the chief executive officer or chief financial officer of the Company is required to provide a certification as part of the Company’s Form 10-Q or Form 10-K filing pursuant to regulations promulgated by the SEC, Adviser will provide (to such person or entity as agreed between the Company and Adviser) a sub-certification in support of certain matters set forth in the aforementioned certification, such sub-certification to be in such form and relating to such matters as agreed between the Company and Adviser from time to time. Adviser shall be required to provide the sub-certification only during the term of the Agreement and only if it receives such cooperation as it may request to perform its investigations with respect to the sub-certification. For clarity, the sub-certification is not itself a certification under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 or under any other regulatory requirement;

 

 

 

(xviii)

Prepare and coordinate the Company’s state notice filings;

 

(xix)

Furnish the Company office space in the offices of Adviser, or in such other place or places as may be agreed from time to time, and all necessary office facilities, simple business equipment, supplies, utilities and telephone service for managing the affairs of the Company;

 

(xx)

Perform clerical, bookkeeping and other administrative services not provided by the Company’s other service providers;

 

(xxi)

Determine or oversee the determination of the Company’s Managed Assets in accordance with the Company’s policies as adopted from time to time by the Board of Trustees;

 

(xxii)

Oversee the maintenance by the Company’s custodian and transfer agent and dividend disbursing agent of certain books and records of the Company and maintain (or oversee maintenance by such other persons as approved by the Board of Trustees) such other books and records required by law or for the proper operation of the Company;

 

(xxiii)

Prepare such information and reports as may be required by any stock exchange or exchanges on which the Company’s Shares are listed;

 

(xxiv)

Determine the amounts available for distribution as dividends and distributions to be paid by the Company to its shareholders; calculate, analyze and prepare a detailed income analysis and forecast future earnings for presentation to the Board of Trustees; prepare and arrange for dividend notices to shareholders, as applicable, and provide the Company’s dividend disbursing agent and custodian with such information as is required for such parties to effect the payment of dividends and distributions and to implement the Company’s dividend reinvestment plan, if any;

 

(xxv)

Serve as liaison between the Company and each of its service providers;

 

(xxvi)

Assist in monitoring and tracking the daily cash flows of the individual assets of the Company, as well as security position data of portfolio investments; assist in resolving any identified discrepancies with the appropriate third party, including the Company’s custodian, administrative agents and other service providers, through various means including researching available data via agent notices, financial news and data services, and other sources;

 

(xxvii)

Monitor compliance with leverage tests under the Company’s credit facility, if any, and communicate with leverage providers and rating agencies;

 

(xxviii)

Coordinate negotiation and renewal of credit agreements for presentation to the Board of Trustees;

 

(xxix)

Coordinate negotiations of agreements with counterparties and the Company’s custodian for derivatives and similar transactions, as applicable;

 

(xxx)

Provide assistance with the closing of Real Estate Asset purchases and dispositions;

 

(xxxi)

Coordinate and oversee the provision of legal services to the Company;

 

 

 

(xxxii)

Cooperate with the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm in connection with audits and reviews of the Company’s financial statements, including interviews and other meetings, as necessary;

 

(xxxiii)

Provide Secretary and any Assistant Secretaries, Treasurer and any Assistant Treasurers and other officers for the Company as requested or required by Delaware law;

 

(xxxiv)

Develop or assist in developing guidelines and procedures to improve overall compliance by the Company;

 

(xxxv)

Determine and monitor expense accruals for the Company;

 

(xxxvi)

Authorize expenditures and approve bills for payment on behalf of the Company;

 

(xxxvii)

Monitor the number of Shares of the Company registered and assist in the registration of additional Shares, as necessary;

 

(xxxviii)

Exercise or procure the exercise of any rights of the Company with respect to any class action proceedings or other legal action concerning investments of the Company;

 

(xxxix)

Prepare such reports as the Board of Trustees of the Company may request from time to time; and

 

(xl)

Perform such additional administrative duties relating to the administration of the Company as may subsequently be agreed upon in writing between the Company and Adviser.

 

 

Exhibit 10.2

 Execution Version

 

 

 

 

LIMITED PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT

OF

NEXPOINT DIVERSIFIED REAL ESTATE TRUST OPERATING PARTNERSHIP, L.P.

a Delaware limited partnership

 

 

 

 

THE SECURITIES EVIDENCED HEREBY HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”), OR THE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATE AND MAY NOT BE SOLD, TRANSFERRED OR OTHERWISE DISPOSED OF IN THE ABSENCE OF SUCH REGISTRATION, UNLESS THE TRANSFEROR DELIVERS TO THE PARTNERSHIP AN OPINION OF COUNSEL, IN FORM AND SUBSTANCE SATISFACTORY TO THE PARTNERSHIP, TO THE EFFECT THAT THE PROPOSED SALE, TRANSFER OR OTHER DISPOSITION MAY BE EFFECTED WITHOUT REGISTRATION UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT AND UNDER APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES OR “BLUE SKY” LAWS.

 

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

 

  Page
   

ARTICLE 1. DEFINED TERMS

1

   

ARTICLE 2. ORGANIZATIONAL MATTERS

13

Section 2.1. Formation

14

Section 2.2. Name

14

Section 2.3. Registered Office and Agent; Principal Office

14

Section 2.4. Power of Attorney

14

Section 2.5. Term

15

Section 2.6. Admission of Partners

15

   

ARTICLE 3. PURPOSE

16

Section 3.1. Purpose and Business

16

Section 3.2. Powers

16

Section 3.3. Representations and Warranties by the Parties

16

Section 3.4. Not Publicly Traded

18

   

ARTICLE 4. CAPITAL CONTRIBUTIONS

19

Section 4.1. Capital Contributions of the Partners

19

Section 4.2. Issuances of Additional Partnership Interests

19

Section 4.3. Additional Funds

20

Section 4.4. Preemptive Rights

20

Section 4.5. No Interest

20

Section 4.6. LTIP Units

20

Section 4.7. Conversion of LTIP Units

23

   

ARTICLE 5. DISTRIBUTIONS

24

Section 5.1. Requirement and Characterization of Distributions

24

Section 5.2. Amounts Withheld

24

Section 5.3. Distributions Upon Liquidation

24

Section 5.4. Restricted Distributions

25

Section 5.5. Compliance with REIT Requirements

25

   

ARTICLE 6. ALLOCATIONS

25

Section 6.1. Allocations For Capital Account Purposes

25

   

ARTICLE 7. MANAGEMENT AND OPERATIONS OF BUSINESS

26

Section 7.1. Management

26

Section 7.2. Certificate of Limited Partnership

30

Section 7.3. Restrictions on General Partner Authority

30

Section 7.4. Reimbursement of the General Partner and the Company

30

Section 7.5. Outside Activities of the General Partner

31

Section 7.6. Contracts with Affiliates

32

Section 7.7. Indemnification

33

Section 7.8. Liability of the General Partner

34

Section 7.9. Other Matters Concerning the General Partner

35

Section 7.10. Title to Partnership Assets

36

Section 7.11. Reliance by Third Parties

36

 

I

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

(continued)

 

  Page

ARTICLE 8. RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS OF LIMITED PARTNERS

37

Section 8.1. Limitation of Liability

37

Section 8.2. Management of Business

37

Section 8.3. Outside Activities of Limited Partners

37

Section 8.4. Return of Capital

38

Section 8.5. Rights of Limited Partners Relating to the Partnership

38

Section 8.6. Redemption Right

39

   

ARTICLE 9. BOOKS, RECORDS, ACCOUNTING AND REPORTS

41

Section 9.1. Records and Accounting

41

Section 9.2. Fiscal Year

41

Section 9.3. Reports

41

   

ARTICLE 10.   TAX MATTERS

42

Section 10.1. Preparation of Tax Returns

42

Section 10.2. Tax Elections

42

Section 10.3. Partnership Representative

42

Section 10.4. Withholding

43

   

ARTICLE 11. TRANSFERS AND WITHDRAWALS

44

Section 11.1. Transfer

44

Section 11.2. Transfer of General Partner Interest

45

Section 11.3. Limited Partners’ Rights to Transfer

45

Section 11.4. Substituted Limited Partners

47

Section 11.5. Assignees

47

Section 11.6. Drag-Along Rights

48

Section 11.7. General Provisions

49

   

ARTICLE 12. ADMISSION OF PARTNERS

50

Section 12.1. Admission of Successor General Partner

50

Section 12.2. Admission of Additional Limited Partners

50

Section 12.3. Amendment of Agreement and Certificate of Limited Partnership

51

   

ARTICLE 13. DISSOLUTION, LIQUIDATION AND TERMINATION

51

Section 13.1. Dissolution

52

Section 13.2. Winding Up

52

Section 13.3. Deficit Capital Account Restoration Obligation

53

Section 13.4. Deemed Contribution and Distribution

54

Section 13.5. Rights of Limited Partners

54

Section 13.6. Notice of Dissolution

54

Section 13.7. Termination of Partnership and Cancellation of Certificate of Limited Partnership

54

Section 13.8. Reasonable Time for Winding Up

54

Section 13.9. Waiver of Partition

55

 

II

 

ARTICLE 14. AMENDMENT OF PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT; MEETINGS

55

Section 14.1. Amendment of Partnership Agreement

55

Section 14.2. Meetings of the Partners

55

   

ARTICLE 15. GENERAL PROVISIONS

56

Section 15.1. Addresses and Notice

56

Section 15.2. Titles and Captions

56

Section 15.3. Pronouns and Plurals

57

Section 15.4. Further Action

57

Section 15.5. Binding Effect

57

Section 15.6. Creditors

57

Section 15.7. Waiver

57

Section 15.8. Counterparts

57

Section 15.9. Applicable Law; Consent to Jurisdiction; Waiver of Jury Trial

58

Section 15.10. Invalidity of Provisions

58

Section 15.11. Entire Agreement

58

Section 15.12. Legal Counsel Relationships

59

 

 

Exhibit A – Capital Account Maintenance A-1
Exhibit B – Special Allocation Rules B-1
Exhibit C – Notice of Redemption   C-1
Exhibit D – Constructive Ownership Definition D-1
Exhibit E – Schedule of Partner’s Ownership with Respect to Tenants  E-1
Exhibit F – Notice of Election by Partner to Convert LTIP Units into Common Units F-1

Exhibit G – Notice of Election by Partnership to Force Conversion of LTIP Units into Common Units

G-1

 

III

 

 

LIMITED PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT
OF
NEXPOINT DIVERSIFIED REAL ESTATE TRUST

 

OPERATING PARTNERSHIP, L.P.

 

THIS LIMITED PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT OF NEXPOINT DIVERSIFIED REAL ESTATE TRUST OPERATING PARTNERSHIP, L.P. (as now or hereafter amended, restated, modified, supplemented, or replaced, this “Agreement”), dated as of July 1, 2022, is entered into by and among NexPoint Diversified Real Estate Trust OP GP, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “General Partner”), the Persons (as defined below) who are admitted from time to time as limited partners in accordance with this Agreement and who have not subsequently withdrawn (the “Limited Partners”), such Persons being identified on the books and records of the Partnership.

 

WHEREAS, the General Partner and the Limited Partners desire to: (a) enter into this Limited Partnership Agreement of NexPoint Diversified Real Estate Trust Operating Partnership, L.P. (the “Partnership”); (b) effect the admission of the General Partner as the general partner of the Partnership; (c) effect the admission of the Limited Partners as Limited Partners of the Partnership; (d) form the Partnership on the terms set forth herein; and (f) operate the Partnership under the name NexPoint Diversified Real Estate Trust Operating Partnership, L.P.

 

NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants herein contained, and other valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto hereby agree as follows:

 

ARTICLE 1.

DEFINED TERMS

 

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

 

704(c) Value” of any Contributed Property means the fair market value of such property or other consideration at the time of contribution, as determined by the General Partner using such reasonable method of valuation as it may adopt. Subject to Exhibit A, the General Partner shall use such method as it deems reasonable and appropriate to allocate the aggregate of the 704(c) Values of Contributed Properties in a single or integrated transaction among the separate properties on a basis proportional to their respective fair market values.

 

Act” means the Delaware Revised Uniform Limited Partnership Act, 6 Del. C. §17-101, et seq., as it may be amended from time to time, and any successor to such statute.

 

Additional Funds” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.3(A).

 

1

 

Additional Limited Partner” means a Person admitted to the Partnership as a Limited Partner pursuant to Section 12.2 and who is shown as such on the books and records of the Partnership.

 

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

 

Adjusted Capital Account Deficit” means, with respect to any Partner, the deficit balance, if any, in such Partner’s Adjusted Capital Account as of the end of the relevant Partnership taxable year.

 

Adjusted Property” means any property, the Carrying Value of which has been adjusted pursuant to Exhibit A.

 

Adjustment Event” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.6(A)(1).

 

Affiliate” means, with respect to any Person, any Person directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by or under common control with such Person. For purposes of this definition, “control” when used with respect to any Person means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of such Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise, and the terms “controlling” and “controlled” have meanings correlative to the foregoing.

 

Agreed Value” means (i) in the case of any Contributed Property as of the time of its contribution to the Partnership, the 704(c) Value of such property, reduced by any liabilities either assumed by the Partnership upon such contribution or to which such property is subject when contributed, and (ii) in the case of any property distributed to a Partner by the Partnership, the Partnership’s Carrying Value of such property at the time such property is distributed, reduced by any indebtedness either assumed by such Partner upon such distribution or to which such property is subject at the time of distribution as determined under Section 752 of the Code and the Regulations thereunder.

 

Agreement” has the meaning set forth in the recitals hereto.

 

Aggregate Consideration” has the meaning set forth in Section 11.6(C).

 

Approved Sale” means a Sale of the Partnership which is approved by the Partners holding, collectively, more than 50% of the issued and outstanding Partnership Interests.

 

2

 

Approving Partners” has the meaning set forth in Section 11.6(A).

 

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

 

Available Cash” means, with respect to any period for which such calculation is being made, all cash balances of the Partnership net of the Partnership’s working capital needs, anticipated capital expenditures, operating expenses, debt service requirements and other necessary reserves including with respect to contingencies or commitments, each as determined by the General Partner.

 

Bankruptcy Event” shall mean, with respect to any Person, such Person (a) is insolvent, or is generally unable to pay its debts as they become due, or admits in writing its inability to pay its debts as they become due, or makes a general assignment for the benefit of its creditors or (b) becomes the subject of a bankruptcy or insolvency proceeding, or has had a receiver, conservator, trustee, administrator, custodian, assignee for the benefit of creditors or similar person charged with the reorganization or liquidation of its business appointed for it, or has taken any action in furtherance of, or indicating its consent to, approval of, or acquiescence in, any such proceeding or appointment.

 

Board of Trustees” means the Board of Trustees of the Company.

 

Book-Tax Disparities” means, with respect to any item of Contributed Property or Adjusted Property, as of the date of any determination, the difference between the Carrying Value of such Contributed Property or Adjusted Property and the adjusted basis thereof for federal income tax purposes as of such date. A Partner’s share of the Partnership’s Book-Tax Disparities in all of its Contributed Property and Adjusted Property will be reflected by the difference between such Partner’s Capital Account balance as maintained pursuant to Exhibit A and the hypothetical balance of such Partner’s Capital Account computed as if it had been maintained strictly in accordance with federal income tax accounting principles.

 

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

 

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

 

Capital Account” means the Capital Account maintained for a Partner pursuant to Exhibit A.

 

3

 

Capital Contribution” means, with respect to any Partner, any cash, cash equivalents or the Agreed Value of Contributed Property which such Partner contributes or is deemed to contribute to the Partnership.

 

Capital LTIP Unit” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.6(A).

 

Carrying Value” means (i) with respect to a Contributed Property or Adjusted Property, the 704(c) Value of such property, reduced (but not below zero) by all Depreciation with respect to such property charged to the Partners’ Capital Accounts following the contribution of or adjustment with respect to such property; and (ii) with respect to any other Partnership property, the adjusted basis of such property for federal income tax purposes, all as of the time of determination. The Carrying Value of any property shall be adjusted from time to time in accordance with Exhibit A, and to reflect changes, additions or other adjustments to the Carrying Value for dispositions and acquisitions of Partnership properties, as deemed appropriate by the General Partner.

 

Cash Amount” means an amount of cash equal to the Value on the Valuation Date of the REIT Shares Amount.

 

Certificate” means the Certificate of Limited Partnership of the Partnership as filed in the office of the Delaware Secretary of State on July 1, 2022, as amended, restated and/or supplemented from time to time in accordance with the terms hereof and the Act.

 

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

 

Common Units” means the Partnership Units, other than LTIP Units or any other class or series of units of Limited Partner Interest issued in the future and designated as preferred or otherwise different from the Common Units, such difference including, but not limited to, with respect to the payment of distributions, including distributions upon liquidation.

 

Company” means NexPoint Diversified Real Estate Trust, a Delaware statutory trust.

 

Company Common Unit Economic Balance” means (i) the Economic Capital Account Balance of the Company but only to the extent attributable to the Company’s ownership of Common Units and computed on a hypothetical basis after taking into account all allocations through the date on which any allocation is made under Section 1(H) of Exhibit B divided by (ii) the number of the Company’s Common Units.

 

Constructive Ownership” or “Constructively Own” means ownership under the constructive ownership rules described in Exhibit D.

 

4

 

Contributed Property” means each property or other asset, in such form as may be permitted by the Act (but excluding cash), contributed or deemed contributed to the Partnership. Once the Carrying Value of a Contributed Property is adjusted pursuant to Exhibit A, such property shall no longer constitute a Contributed Property for purposes of Exhibit A, but shall be deemed an Adjusted Property for such purposes.

 

Conversion Date” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.7(B).

 

Conversion Factor” means 1.0, subject to adjustment as follows: (i) in case the Company shall (A) make a distribution on the outstanding REIT Shares in REIT Shares, (B) subdivide or reclassify the outstanding REIT Shares into a greater number of REIT Shares, or (C) combine or reclassify the outstanding REIT Shares into a smaller number of REIT Shares, the Conversion Factor in effect at the opening of business on the day following the date fixed for the determination of shareholders entitled to receive such distribution or subject to such subdivision, combination or reclassification shall be proportionately adjusted so that a holder of Partnership Units shall be entitled to receive, upon exchange thereof, the number of REIT Shares which the holder would have owned at the opening of business on the day following the date fixed for such determination had such Partnership Units been exchanged immediately prior to such determination; (ii) in case the Partnership shall subdivide or reclassify the outstanding Partnership Units into a greater number of Partnership Units, the Conversion Factor in effect at the opening of business on the day following the date fixed for the determination of Partnership Unit holders subject to such subdivision or reclassification shall be proportionately adjusted so that a holder of Partnership Units shall be entitled to receive, upon exchange thereof, the number of REIT Shares which the holder would have owned at the opening of business on the day following the date fixed for such determination had such Partnership Units been exchanged immediately prior to such determination; (iii) in case the Company (A) shall issue rights or warrants to all holders of REIT Shares entitling them to subscribe for or purchase REIT Shares at a price per share less than the daily market price per REIT Share on the date fixed for the determination of shareholders entitled to receive such rights or warrants, (B) shall not issue similar rights or warrants to all holders of Partnership Units entitling them to subscribe for or purchase REIT Shares or Partnership Units at a comparable price (determined, in the case of Partnership Units, by reference to the Conversion Factor), and (C) cannot issue such rights or warrants to a Redeeming Partner as otherwise required by the definition of “REIT Shares Amount” set forth in this Article 1, then the Conversion Factor in effect at the opening of business on the day following the date fixed for such determination shall be increased by multiplying such Conversion Factor by a fraction of which the numerator shall be the number of REIT Shares outstanding at the close of business on the date fixed for such determination plus the number of REIT Shares so offered for subscription or purchase, and of which the denominator shall be the number of REIT Shares outstanding at the close of business on the date fixed for such determination plus the number of REIT Shares which the aggregate offering price of the total number of REIT Shares so offered for subscription would purchase at such daily market price per share, such increase to the Conversion Factor to become effective immediately after the opening of business on the day following the date fixed for such determination; and (iv) in case the Company shall, by distribution or otherwise, distribute to all holders of its REIT Shares, (A) capital shares of any class other than its REIT Shares, (B) evidence of its indebtedness or (C) assets (excluding any rights or warrants referred to in clause (iii) above, any cash distribution lawfully paid under the laws of the state of organization of the Company, and any distribution referred to in clause (i) above) and shall not cause a corresponding distribution to be made to all holders of Partnership Units, the Conversion Factor shall be adjusted so that the same shall equal the ratio determined by multiplying the Conversion Factor in effect immediately prior to the close of business on the date fixed for the determination of shareholders entitled to receive such distribution by a fraction of which the numerator shall be the daily market price per REIT Share on the date fixed for such determination, and of which the denominator shall be such daily market price per REIT Share less the fair market value (as determined by the Board of Trustees, whose determination shall be conclusive and described in a resolution of the Board of Trustees certified by the Secretary of the Company and delivered to the holders of the Partnership Units) of the portion of the capital shares or evidences of indebtedness or assets so distributed applicable to one REIT Share, such adjustment to become effective immediately prior to the opening of business on the day following the date fixed for the determination of shareholders entitled to receive such distribution.

 

5

 

Conversion Notice” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.7(B).

 

Conversion Right” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.7(A).

 

Covered Person” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.8(A).

 

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

 

Declaration” means the Amended and Restated Agreement and Declaration of Trust of the Company entered into August 28, 2020, as amended, restated and/or supplemented from time to time.

 

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

 

Depreciation” means, for each taxable year, an amount equal to the federal income tax depreciation, amortization, or other cost recovery deduction allowable with respect to an asset for such year, except that if the Carrying Value of an asset differs from its adjusted basis for federal income tax purposes at the beginning of such year or other period, Depreciation shall be an amount which bears the same ratio to such beginning Carrying Value as the federal income tax depreciation, amortization, or other cost recovery deduction for such year bears to such beginning adjusted tax basis; provided, however, that if the federal income tax depreciation, amortization, or other cost recovery deduction for such year is zero, Depreciation shall be determined with reference to such beginning Carrying Value using any reasonable method selected by the General Partner.

 

6

 

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

 

Eligible LTIP Unit” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.7(A).

 

Equity Incentive Plan” means any equity incentive or compensation plan adopted now or in the future by the Company and/or the Partnership.

 

ERISA” means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended and in effect from time to time, as interpreted by the applicable regulations thereunder. Any reference herein to a specific section or Title of ERISA shall be deemed to include a reference to any corresponding provision of future law.

 

Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

 

flow through entity” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.3(D)(3).

 

Forced Conversion” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.7(C).

 

Forced Conversion Notice” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.7(C).

 

GAAP” means U.S. generally accepted accounting principles, applied on a consistent basis.

 

General Partner” has the meaning set forth in the recitals hereto or any Person who becomes an additional or a successor general partner of the Partnership.

 

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

 

7

 

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

 

Indemnitee” means (i) any Person made a party to a proceeding by reason of (A) his or its status as the General Partner, or as a trustee, director, officer, shareholder, partner, member, employee, representative or agent of the General Partner or as an officer, employee, representative or agent of the Partnership or as the Partnership Representative, or (B) his, her or its liabilities, pursuant to a loan guarantee or otherwise, for any indebtedness of the Partnership or any Subsidiary of the Partnership (including, without limitation, any indebtedness which the Partnership or any Subsidiary of the Partnership has assumed or taken assets subject to); and (ii) such other Persons (including Affiliates of the General Partner or the Partnership) as the General Partner may designate from time to time (whether before or after the event giving rise to potential liability), in its sole and absolute discretion.

 

Limited Partner” has the meaning set forth in the recitals hereto, including any Substituted Limited Partner or Additional Limited Partner, in such Person’s capacity as a limited partner of the Partnership. For purposes of this Agreement and the Act, the Limited Partners shall constitute a single class or group of limited partners.

 

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

 

Liquidating Event” has the meaning set forth in Section 13.1.

 

8

 

Liquidating Gains” means any net gain realized in connection with the actual or hypothetical sale of all or substantially all of the assets of the Partnership (including upon the occurrence of any event of liquidation of the Partnership), including but not limited to the net gain realized in connection with an adjustment to the Carrying Value of Partnership assets under Section 1.D of Exhibit A attached hereto.

 

Liquidating Losses” means any net loss realized in connection with the actual or hypothetical sale of all or substantially all of the assets of the Partnership (including upon the occurrence of any event of liquidation of the Partnership), including but not limited to the net loss realized in connection with an adjustment to the Carrying Value of Partnership assets under Section 1.D of Exhibit A attached hereto.

 

Liquidator” has the meaning set forth in Section 13.2.

 

LTIP Unitholder” means a Partner that holds LTIP Units.

 

LTIP Units” means a Partnership Unit which is designated as an LTIP Unit and which has the rights, preferences and other privileges designated in Section 4.6 and elsewhere in this Agreement in respect of holders of LTIP Units.

 

Net Income” means, for any taxable period, the excess, if any, of the Partnership’s items of income and gain for such taxable period over the Partnership’s items of loss and deduction for such taxable period. The items included in the calculation of Net Income shall be determined in accordance with U.S. federal income tax accounting principles, subject to the specific adjustments provided for in Section 1.B of Exhibit A.

 

Net Loss” means, for any taxable period, the excess, if any, of the Partnership’s items of loss and deduction for such taxable period over the Partnership’s items of income and gain for such taxable period. The items included in the calculation of Net Loss shall be determined in accordance with federal income tax accounting principles, subject to the specific adjustments provided for in Section 1.B of Exhibit A.

 

Non-Approving Partners” has the meaning set forth in Section 11.6(A).

 

Nonrecourse Deductions” has the meaning set forth in Regulations Section 1.704-2(b)(1), and the amount of Nonrecourse Deductions for a Partnership taxable year shall be determined in accordance with the rules of Regulations Section 1.704-2(c).

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

9

 

Partner Minimum Gain” means an amount, with respect to each Partner Nonrecourse Debt, equal to the Partnership Minimum Gain that would result if such Partner Nonrecourse Debt were treated as a Nonrecourse Liability, determined in accordance with Regulations Section 1.704-2(i)(3).

 

Partner Nonrecourse Debt” has the meaning set forth in Regulations Section 1.704-2(b)(4).

 

Partner Nonrecourse Deductions” has the meaning set forth in Regulations Section 1.704-2(i)(2), and the amount of Partner Nonrecourse Deductions with respect to a Partner Nonrecourse Debt for a Partnership taxable year shall be determined in accordance with the rules of Regulations Section 1.704-2(i)(2).

 

Partnership” has the meaning set forth in the recitals hereto, and any successor thereto.

 

Partnership Interest” means an ownership interest in the Partnership held by either a Partner or LTIP Units, to the extent the General Partner has awarded LTIP Units pursuant to an Equity Incentive Plan, and includes any and all benefits to which the holder of such a partnership interest may be entitled as provided in this Agreement, together with all obligations of such Person to comply with the terms and provisions of this Agreement. A Partnership Interest may be (but is not required to be) expressed as a number of Partnership Units.

 

Partnership Minimum Gain” has the meaning set forth in Regulations Section 1.704-2(b)(2), and the amount of Partnership Minimum Gain, as well as any net increase or decrease in a Partnership Minimum Gain, for a Partnership taxable year shall be determined in accordance with the rules of Regulations Section 1.704-2(d).

 

Partnership Record Date” means the record date established by the General Partner for the distribution of Available Cash pursuant to Section 5.1, which record date shall be the same as the record date established by the Company for a distribution to its shareholders of some or all of its portion of such distribution.

 

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

 

Partnership Unit” means a fractional, undivided share of the Partnership Interests of all Partners issued pursuant to Sections 4.1 and 4.2 and includes Common Units, LTIP Units and any other classes or series of Partnership Units established after the date hereof. The number of Partnership Units outstanding and the Percentage Interest in the Partnership represented by such Partnership Units are identified on the books and records of the Partnership

 

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

 

Percentage Interest” means, as to a Partner, its interest in the Partnership as determined by dividing the Partnership Units owned by such Partner by the total number of Partnership Units then outstanding and as specified in the books and records of the Partnership.

 

10

 

Person” means an individual or a real estate investment trust, corporation, partnership, limited liability company, trust, estate, unincorporated organization, association or other entity.

 

Profits LTIP Unit” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.6(A).

 

Qualified REIT Subsidiary” means a qualified REIT subsidiary of the Company within the meaning of Section 856(i)(2) of the Code.

 

Recapture Income” means any gain recognized by the Partnership upon the disposition of any property or asset of the Partnership, which gain is characterized as ordinary income because it represents the recapture of deductions previously taken with respect to such property or asset.

 

Redeeming Partner” has the meaning set forth in Section 8.6(A).

 

Redemption Right” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 8.6(A).

 

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

 

REIT” means a real estate investment trust under Section 856 of the Code.

 

REIT Shares” means shares of transferable units of beneficial interest, $0.001 par value per share, of the Company.

 

REIT Shares Amount” means a number of REIT Shares equal to the product of the number of Partnership Units offered for redemption by a Redeeming Partner, multiplied by the Conversion Factor; provided, that in the event the Company issues to all holders of REIT Shares rights, options, warrants or convertible or exchangeable securities entitling the shareholders to subscribe for or purchase REIT Shares, or any other securities or property (collectively, the “rights”), and the Company can issue such rights to the Redeeming Partner, then the REIT Shares Amount shall also include such rights that a holder of that number of REIT Shares would be entitled to receive.

 

Residual Gain” or “Residual Loss” means any item of gain or loss, as the case may be, of the Partnership recognized for federal income tax purposes resulting from a sale, exchange or other disposition of Contributed Property or Adjusted Property, to the extent such item of gain or loss is not allocated pursuant to Section 2(B)(1)(a) or 2(B)(2)(a) of Exhibit B to eliminate Book-Tax Disparities.

 

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Sale of the Partnership” means (a) a sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Partnership or a related series of transactions that taken together, result in the sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Partnership, (b) a transaction or series of related transactions in which a Person, or group of related Persons, acquires more than 50% of the outstanding Partnership Units, or (c) the merger or consolidation of the Partnership with or into another Person that is not (i) an Affiliate of the Partnership or (ii) a Partner, in each case in clauses (b) and (c) above, under circumstances in which the holders of a majority of Partnership Units, immediately prior to such transaction, own less than a majority in voting power of the surviving or resulting Person immediately following such transaction.

 

Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

 

Specified Redemption Date” means the 10th Business Day after receipt by the Partnership of a Notice of Redemption; provided, that if the Company combines its outstanding REIT Shares, no Specified Redemption Date shall occur after the record date of such combination of REIT Shares and prior to the effective date of such combination.

 

Subsidiary” means, with respect to any Person, any real estate investment trust, corporation, partnership, limited liability company or other entity of which (a) a majority of (i) the voting power of the voting equity securities; or (ii) the outstanding equity interests, is owned, directly or indirectly, by such Person or (b) such Person acts as the general partner, sole member or sole manager.

 

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

 

Target Balance” has the meaning set forth in Section 1(H)(1) of Exhibit B attached hereto.

 

Tenant” means any tenant from which the Company derives rent either directly or indirectly through partnerships or limited liability companies, including the Partnership.

 

Trading Days” means days on which the primary trading market for REIT Shares, if any, is open for trading.

 

Transaction” has the meaning set forth in Section 15.12.

 

transfer”, when used in Article 11, has the meaning set forth in Section 11.1(A).

 

Unrealized Gain” attributable to any item of Partnership property means, as of any date of determination, the excess, if any, of (i) the fair market value of such property (as determined under Exhibit A) as of such date; over (ii) the Carrying Value of such property (prior to any adjustment to be made pursuant to Exhibit A) as of such date.

 

Unrealized Loss” attributable to any item of Partnership property means, as of any date of determination, the excess, if any, of (i) the Carrying Value of such property (prior to any adjustment to be made pursuant to Exhibit A) as of such date; over (ii) the fair market value of such property (as determined under Exhibit A) as of such date.

 

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Unvested LTIP Units” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.6(C)(1).

 

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

 

Value” means, with respect to a REIT Share, the greater of (i) the Company’s most recent net asset value as determined by the Board of Trustees and (ii) if the REIT Shares are listed or admitted to trading on any national securities exchange, the volume weighted average price for the 10 consecutive Trading Days immediately preceding the Valuation Date. If the REIT Shares are not listed or admitted to trading on any national securities exchange, the volume weighted average price with respect to a REIT Share will be the volume weighted average price on such day or, if no sale takes place on such day, the average of the closing bid and asked prices on such day, as reported by a reliable quotation source designated by the General Partner or if no such closing bid and asked prices are available, the average of the reported high bid and low asked prices on such day, as reported by a reliable quotation source designated by the General Partner, or if there shall be no bid and asked prices on such day, the average of the high bid and low asked prices, as so reported, on the most recent day (not more than 10 days prior to the date in question) for which prices have been so reported; provided, that if there are no bid and asked prices reported during the 10 days prior to the date in question, the Value of the REIT Shares shall be determined by the General Partner acting in good faith on the basis of such quotations and other information as it considers, in its reasonable judgment, appropriate. In the event the REIT Shares Amount includes rights that a holder of REIT Shares would be entitled to receive, then the Value of such rights shall be determined by the General Partner acting in good faith on the basis of such quotations and other information as it considers, in its reasonable judgment, appropriate.

 

Vested LTIP Units” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.6(C)(1).

 

Vesting Agreement” means each or any, as the context implies, agreement or instrument entered into by a holder of LTIP Units upon acceptance of an award of LTIP Units under an Equity Incentive Plan.

 

ARTICLE 2.

ORGANIZATIONAL MATTERS

 

Section 2.1.     Formation

 

The Partners hereby form the Partnership as a limited partnership under and pursuant to the Act. Except as expressly provided herein to the contrary, the rights and obligations of the Partners and the administration and termination of the Partnership shall be governed by the Act. The Partnership Interest of each Partner shall be personal property for all purposes.

 

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Section 2.2.     Name

 

The name of the Partnership heretofore formed and continued hereby shall be NexPoint Diversified Real Estate Trust Operating Partnership, L.P. The Partnership’s business may be conducted under any other name or names deemed advisable by the General Partner, including the name of the General Partner or any Affiliate thereof. The words “Limited Partnership,” “L.P.,” “Ltd.” or similar words or letters shall be included in the Partnership’s name where necessary for the purposes of complying with the laws of any jurisdiction that so requires. The General Partner in its sole and absolute discretion may change the name of the Partnership at any time and from time to time and shall notify the Limited Partners of such change in the next regular communication to the Limited Partners.

 

Section 2.3.     Registered Office and Agent; Principal Office

 

The address of the registered office of the Partnership in the State of Delaware is 1209 Orange Street, Wilmington, New Castle County, Delaware, 19801 and the registered agent for service of process on the Partnership in the State of Delaware shall be The Corporation Trust Company. The principal office of the Partnership shall be 300 Crescent Court, Suite 700, Dallas, Texas 75201 or such other place as the General Partner may from time to time designate by notice to the Limited Partners. The Partnership may maintain offices at such other place or places within or outside the State of Delaware as the General Partner deems advisable.

 

Section 2.4.     Power of Attorney

 

A.    Each Limited Partner and each Assignee hereby constitutes and appoints the General Partner, any Liquidator, and authorized officers and attorneys-in-fact of each, and each of those acting singly, in each case with full power of substitution, as its true and lawful agent and attorney-in-fact, with full power and authority in its name, place and stead to execute, swear to, acknowledge, deliver, file and record in the appropriate public offices (a) all certificates, documents and other instruments (including, without limitation, this Agreement and the Certificate and all amendments or restatements thereof) that the General Partner or the Liquidator deems appropriate or necessary to form, qualify or continue the existence or qualification of the Partnership as a limited partnership (or a partnership in which the Limited Partners have limited liability) in the State of Delaware and in all other jurisdictions in which the Partnership may or plans to conduct business or own property; (b) all instruments that the General Partner deems appropriate or necessary to reflect any amendment, change, modification or restatement of this Agreement in accordance with its terms; (c) all conveyances and other instruments or documents that the General Partner or the Liquidator deems appropriate or necessary to reflect the dissolution and winding up of the Partnership pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, including, without limitation, a certificate of cancellation; (d) all instruments relating to the admission, withdrawal, removal or substitution of any Partner pursuant to Articles 11, 12 or 13 or the Capital Contribution of any Partner; and (e) all conveyances and other instruments or documents that the General Partner or the Liquidator deems appropriate or necessary to reflect the distribution or exchange of assets of the Partnership pursuant to the terms of this Agreement. Nothing contained herein shall be construed as authorizing the General Partner or any Liquidator to amend this Agreement except in accordance with Article 14 or as may be otherwise expressly provided for in this Agreement.

 

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

 

Section 2.5.     Term

 

The term of the Partnership commenced on the date that the Certificate was filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware and shall continue until dissolved pursuant to the provisions of Article 13 or as otherwise provided by law.

 

Section 2.6.     Admission of Partners

 

On the date hereof, and upon its execution and delivery of a counterpart to this Agreement, (a) each of the Limited Partners is upon its delivery to the Partnership of its initial Capital Contribution, such initial Capital Contribution specified on the books and records of the Partnership pursuant to Section 4.1, hereby admitted to the Partnership as a limited partner of the Partnership, and (b) the General Partner is hereby admitted to the Partnership as general partner of the Partnership. Each Limited Partner being admitted to the Partnership from time to time after the date hereof shall be deemed admitted to the Partnership as a limited partner of the Partnership upon such Limited Partner’s execution and delivery of a counterpart to this Agreement or equivalent thereof, including but not limited to a power of attorney granted to the General Partner, and delivery to the Partnership of its initial Capital Contribution, such initial Capital Contribution specified on the books and records of the Partnership pursuant to Section 4.1. Each General Partner being admitted to the Partnership from time to time after the date hereof shall be deemed admitted to the partnership as a general partner of the Partnership in accordance with Section 11.2 following such General Partner’s execution and delivery of a counterparty to this Agreement or equivalent thereof and such other documentation reasonably required by the Board of Trustees.

 

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ARTICLE 3.

PURPOSE

 

Section 3.1.     Purpose and Business

 

The purpose and nature of the business to be conducted by the Partnership is (i) to conduct any business that may be lawfully conducted by a limited partnership formed pursuant to the Act; provided, however, that such business shall be limited to and conducted in such a manner as to permit the Company at all times to qualify as a REIT, unless the Company ceases to qualify as a REIT for reasons other than as a result of the conduct of the business of the Partnership or voluntarily revokes its election to be a REIT; (ii) to enter into any partnership, joint venture or other similar arrangement to engage in any of the foregoing or to own interests in any entity engaged in any of the foregoing; and (iii) to do anything necessary, convenient or incidental to the foregoing. In connection with the foregoing, and without limiting the Company’s right, in its sole discretion, to cease qualifying as a REIT, the Partners acknowledge that the Company’s current status as a REIT inures to the benefit of all of the Partners and not solely to the General Partner, the Company or their Affiliates.

 

Section 3.2.     Powers

 

The Partnership shall be empowered to do any and all acts and things necessary, appropriate, proper, advisable, incidental to or convenient for the furtherance and accomplishment of the purposes and business described herein and for the protection and benefit of the Partnership, and shall have, without limitation, any and all of the powers that may be exercised on behalf of the Partnership by the General Partner pursuant to and according to the terms of this Agreement; provided, however, that the Partnership may not, without the General Partner’s consent take, or refrain from taking, any action which, in the judgment of the General Partner (i) could adversely affect the ability of the Company to qualify and to continue to qualify as a REIT; (ii) could subject the Company to any additional taxes under Section 857 or Section 4981 of the Code or any other related or successor provision of the Code; or (iii) could violate any law or regulation of any governmental body or agency having jurisdiction over the Company, its securities or the Partnership, unless such action (or inaction) under clause (i), clause (ii) or clause (iii) above shall have been specifically consented to by the Company in writing.

 

Section 3.3.     Representations and Warranties by the Parties

 

A.    Each Partner that is an individual represents and warrants to each other Partner that (i) such Partner has the legal capacity to enter into this Agreement and perform such Partner’s obligations hereunder, (ii) the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement to be performed by such Partner will not result in a breach or violation of, or a default under, any agreement by which such Partner or any of such Partner’s property is or are bound, or any statute, regulation, order or other law to which such Partner is subject, (iii) such Partner is a “United States person” within the meaning of Section 7701(a)(30) of the Code, and (iv) this Agreement is binding upon, and enforceable against, such Partner in accordance with its terms.

 

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B.    Each Partner that is not an individual represents and warrants to each other Partner that (i) its execution and delivery of this Agreement and all transactions contemplated by this Agreement to be performed by it have been duly authorized by all necessary action, including without limitation, that of its general partner(s), committee(s), trustee(s), beneficiaries, director(s) and/or shareholder(s), as the case may be, as required, (ii) the consummation of such transactions shall not result in a breach or violation of, or a default under, its certificate of limited partnership, partnership agreement, trust agreement, limited liability company operating agreement, declaration of trust, charter or bylaws, as the case may be, any agreement by which such Partner or any of such Partner’s properties or any of its partners, beneficiaries, trustees or shareholders, as the case may be, is or are bound, or any statute, regulation, order or other law to which such Partner or any of its partners, trustees, beneficiaries or shareholders, as the case may be, is or are subject, (iii) such Partner is a “United States person” within the meaning of Section 7701(a)(30) of the Code and (iv) this Agreement is binding upon, and enforceable against, such Partner in accordance with its terms.

 

C.    Each Partner represents, warrants and agrees that it has acquired and continues to hold its interest in the Partnership for its own account for investment only and not for the purpose of, or with a view toward, the resale or distribution of all or any part thereof, nor with a view toward selling or otherwise distributing such interest or any part thereof at any particular time or under any predetermined circumstances. Each Partner further represents and warrants that it is a sophisticated investor, able and accustomed to handling sophisticated financial matters for itself, particularly real estate investments, and that it has a sufficiently high net worth that it does not anticipate a need for the funds it has invested in the Partnership in what it understands to be a highly speculative and illiquid investment.

 

D.    Each Partner further represents, warrants, covenants and agrees as follows:

 

(1)    Except as provided in Exhibit E hereto, at any time such Partner actually or Constructively Owns a 25% or greater capital interest or profits interest in the Partnership, it does not and will not, without the prior written consent of the General Partner, actually own or Constructively Own (a) with respect to any Tenant that is a corporation, any stock of such Tenant, and (b) with respect to any Tenant that is not a corporation, any interest in either the assets or net profits of such Tenant.

 

(2)    Upon request of the General Partner, it will promptly disclose to the General Partner the amount of REIT Shares or other capital shares of the Company that it actually owns or Constructively Owns.

 

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(3)    Without the consent of the General Partner, which may be given or withheld in its sole discretion, no Partner shall take any action that would cause the Partnership at any time to have more than 100 partners (including as partners those Persons indirectly owning an interest in the Partnership through a partnership, limited liability company, S corporation or grantor trust (such entity, a “flow through entity”), but only if substantially all of the value of such person’s interest in the flow through entity is attributable to the flow through entity’s interest (direct or indirect) in the Partnership).

 

E.    The representations and warranties contained in this Section 3.3 shall survive the execution and delivery of this Agreement by each Partner and the dissolution and winding up of the Partnership.

 

F.    Each Partner hereby acknowledges that no representations as to potential profit, cash flows, funds from operations or yield, if any, in respect of the Partnership or the Company have been made by any Partner or any employee or representative or Affiliate of any Partner, and that projections and any other information, including, without limitation, financial and descriptive information and documentation, which may have been in any manner submitted to such Partner shall not constitute any representation or warranty of any kind or nature, express or implied.

 

G.    Each Partner understands that if, for any reason, (a) the representations, warranties or agreements set forth in this Section 3.3 are violated, or (b) the Partnership’s actual or Constructive Ownership of REIT Shares or other capital shares of the Company violates the limitations set forth in the Declaration, if any, then, as applicable, (x) some or all of the Redemption Rights of the Partners may become non-exercisable, and (y) some or all of the REIT Shares owned by the Partners may be automatically transferred to a trust for the benefit of a charitable beneficiary, as provided in the Declaration.

 

Section 3.4.     Not Publicly Traded

 

The Partners intend for the Partnership to be treated as a partnership for United States federal income tax purposes and no election to the contrary shall be made. The General Partner, on behalf of the Partnership, shall use its best efforts not to take any action which would result in the Partnership being a publicly traded partnership within the meaning of either Section 469(k)(2) or 7704(b) of the Code. Subject to this Section 3.4, it is expressly acknowledged and agreed by the Partners that the General Partner may, in its sole and absolute discretion, waive or otherwise modify the application with respect to any Partner(s) or Assignee(s) of any provision herein restricting, prohibiting or otherwise relating to (i) the transfer of a Limited Partner Interest or the Partnership Units evidencing the same, (ii) the admission of any Limited Partners and (iii) the Redemption Rights of such Partners, and that such waivers or modifications may be made by the General Partner at any time or from time to time, including, without limitation, concurrently with the issuance of any Partnership Units pursuant to the terms of this Agreement.

 

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ARTICLE 4.

CAPITAL CONTRIBUTIONS

 

Section 4.1.     Capital Contributions of the Partners

 

At the time of their respective execution of this Agreement by delivery of a counterpart signature page to the same or an equivalent thereof, the Partners shall make or shall have made Capital Contributions. The Partners shall own Partnership Units of the class or series and in the amounts and shall have a Percentage Interest in the Partnership in each case as set forth on the books and records of the Partnership. The Percentage Interest shall be adjusted from time to time by the General Partner to the extent necessary to reflect accurately exchanges, redemptions, additional Capital Contributions, the issuance of additional Partnership Units (pursuant to any merger or otherwise), or similar events having an effect on any Partner’s Percentage Interest. Except as provided in Section 4.2, Section 4.3, and Section 10.4, the Partners shall have no obligation to make any additional Capital Contributions or loans to the Partnership. Each Limited Partner that contributes any Contributed Property shall promptly provide the General Partner and the Board of Trustees, upon either of their request, with any information regarding such Contributed Property, including for Partnership tax return reporting purposes.

 

Section 4.2.     Issuances of Additional Partnership Interests

 

The General Partner is hereby authorized, without the need for any vote or approval of any Partner or any other Person who may hold Partnership Units or Partnership Interests, to cause the Partnership from time to time to issue to any existing Partner (including the General Partner and the Company) or to any other Person, and to admit such Person as a limited partner in the Partnership, Partnership Units (including, without limitation, Common Units and preferred Partnership Units) or other Partnership Interests, in each case in exchange for the contribution by such Person of property or other assets, in one or more classes, or one or more series of any of such classes, or otherwise with such designations, preferences, redemption and conversion rights and relative, participating, optional or other special rights, powers and duties, including rights, powers and duties senior to Limited Partner Interests, all as shall be determined by the General Partner in its sole and absolute discretion subject to Delaware law, including, without limitation, (i) the allocations of items of Partnership income, gain, loss, deduction and credit to each such class or series of Partnership Interests; (ii) the right of each such class or series of Partnership Interests to share in Partnership distributions; and (iii) the rights of each such class or series of Partnership Interests upon dissolution and liquidation of the Partnership. The issuance and terms of any LTIP Units shall be in accordance with Section 4.6.

 

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Section 4.3.     Additional Funds

 

A.    The General Partner may from time to time, determine that the Partnership requires additional funds (“Additional Funds”) for the acquisition of additional assets, for the redemption of Partnership Units or for such other purposes as the General Partner may determine in its sole and absolute discretion. Additional Funds may be obtained by the Partnership, at the election of the General Partner, in any manner provided in, and in accordance with, the terms of this Section 4.3, without the approval of any Limited Partner.

 

B.    The General Partner, on behalf of the Partnership, may obtain any Additional Funds by accepting Capital Contributions from any Partners or other Persons. In connection with any such Capital Contribution, the General Partner is hereby authorized to cause the Partnership from time to time to issue additional Partnership Units (as set forth in Section 4.2 above) in consideration therefor, and the Percentage Interests of the Partners shall be adjusted to reflect the issuance of such additional Partnership Units.

 

C.    The General Partner, on behalf of the Partnership, may obtain any Additional Funds by causing the Partnership to incur Debt upon such terms as the General Partner determines appropriate, including making such Debt convertible, redeemable or exchangeable for Partnership Units or REIT Shares; provided, however, that the Partnership shall not incur any such Debt if such Debt is recourse to any Partner (unless the Partner otherwise agrees).

 

D.    The General Partner, on behalf of the Partnership, may obtain any Additional Funds by causing the Partnership to incur Debt with the Company; provided, however, that the Partnership shall not incur any such Debt if (a) a breach, violation or default of such Debt would be deemed to occur by virtue of the transfer of any Partnership Interest, or (b) such Debt is recourse to any Partner (unless the Partner otherwise agrees).

 

Section 4.4.     Preemptive Rights

 

No Person shall have any preemptive, preferential or other similar right with respect to (i) additional Capital Contributions or loans to the Partnership; or (ii) the issuance or sale of any Partnership Units or other Partnership Interests.

 

Section 4.5.     No Interest

 

No Partner shall be entitled to interest on its Capital Contribution or on such Partner’s Capital Account unless determined by the General Partner.

 

Section 4.6.     LTIP Units

 

A.    Issuance of LTIP Units. The General Partner may from time to time issue LTIP Units to Persons who provide services to the Partnership, the General Partner or the Company, for such consideration as the General Partner may determine to be appropriate, and admit such Persons as Limited Partners. LTIP Units may be issued as either capital interests for federal income tax purposes (each, a “Capital LTIP Unit”) or profits interests for federal income tax purposes (each, a “Profits LTIP Unit”). Subject to the following provisions of this Section 4.6 and the provisions of Section 4.7, or as otherwise provided in this Agreement with respect to Profits LTIP Units, LTIP Units shall be treated as Common Units, with all of the rights, privileges and obligations attendant thereto. For purposes of computing the Partners’ Percentage Interests, holders of LTIP Units shall be treated as Common Unit holders and LTIP Units shall be treated as Common Units. In particular, the Partnership shall maintain at all times a one-to-one correspondence between LTIP Units and Common Units for conversion, distribution and other purposes, including, without limitation, complying with the following procedures:

 

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(1)    If an Adjustment Event (as defined below) occurs, then the General Partner shall make a corresponding adjustment to the LTIP Units to maintain a one-for-one conversion and economic equivalence (subject to the economic differences between Profits LTIP Units and Common Units) ratio between Common Units and LTIP Units. The following shall be “Adjustment Events”: (A) the Partnership makes a distribution on all outstanding Common Units in Partnership Units, (B) the Partnership subdivides the outstanding Common Units into a greater number of units or combines the outstanding Common Units into a smaller number of units, or (C) the Partnership issues any Partnership Units in exchange for its outstanding Common Units by way of a reclassification or recapitalization of its Common Units. If more than one Adjustment Event occurs, the adjustment to the LTIP Units need be made only once using a single formula that takes into account each Adjustment Event as if all Adjustment Events occurred simultaneously. For the avoidance of doubt, the following shall not be Adjustment Events: (x) the issuance of Partnership Units in a financing, reorganization, acquisition (through the acquisition of equity interests or assets), merger, or other similar business combination, (y) the issuance of Partnership Units pursuant to any employee benefit or compensation plan or distribution reinvestment plan or (z) the issuance of any Partnership Units to the General Partner in respect of a Capital Contribution to the Partnership. If the Partnership takes an action affecting the Common Units other than actions specifically described above as “Adjustment Events” and in the opinion of the General Partner such action would require an adjustment to the LTIP Units to maintain the one-to-one correspondence described above, the General Partner shall have the right to make such adjustment to the LTIP Units, to the extent permitted by law and by any Equity Incentive Plan, in such manner and at such time as the General Partner, in its sole discretion, may determine to be appropriate under the circumstances. If an adjustment is made to the LTIP Units, as herein provided, the Partnership shall promptly file in the books and records of the Partnership an officer’s certificate setting forth such adjustment and a brief statement of the facts requiring such adjustment, which certificate shall be conclusive evidence of the correctness of such adjustment absent manifest error. Promptly after filing of such certificate, the Partnership shall mail a notice to each LTIP Unitholder setting forth the adjustment to his or her LTIP Units and the effective date of such adjustment; and

 

(2)    The LTIP Unitholders shall, when, as and if authorized and declared by the General Partner out of assets legally available for that purpose, be entitled to receive distributions in an amount per LTIP Unit equal to the distributions per Common Unit, paid to holders of Common Units on such Partnership Record Date established by the General Partner with respect to such distribution.

 

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B.    Priority. Subject to the provisions of this Section 4.6 and the provisions of Section 4.7 and Section 5.1, the LTIP Units shall rank pari passu with the Common Units as to the payment of regular and special periodic or other distributions and distribution of assets upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up. As to the payment of distributions and as to distribution of assets upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up, any class or series of Partnership Units which by its terms specifies that it shall rank junior to, on parity with, or senior to the Common Units shall also rank junior to, on parity with, or senior to, as the case may be, the LTIP Units. Subject to the terms of any Vesting Agreement, an LTIP Unitholder shall be entitled to transfer his or her LTIP Units to the same extent, and subject to the same restrictions as holders of Common Units are entitled to transfer their Common Units pursuant to Article 11.

 

C.    Special Provisions. LTIP Units shall be subject to the following special provisions:

 

(1)    Vesting Agreements. LTIP Units may be issued subject to vesting, forfeiture and additional restrictions on transfer pursuant to the terms of a Vesting Agreement. The terms of any Vesting Agreement may be modified by the General Partner, from time to time, subject to any restrictions on amendment imposed by the relevant Vesting Agreement or by the Equity Incentive Plan, if applicable. LTIP Units that have vested under the terms of a Vesting Agreement are referred to as “Vested LTIP Units”; all other LTIP Units shall be treated as “Unvested LTIP Units.”

 

(2)    Forfeiture. Unless otherwise specified in the Vesting Agreement, upon the occurrence of an event specified in a Vesting Agreement that results in either the right of the Partnership to repurchase the LTIP Units at a specified purchase price or in the forfeiture of the LTIP Units, then if the Partnership exercises such right to repurchase or cause the forfeiture of LTIP Units in accordance with the applicable Vesting Agreement, the relevant LTIP Units shall immediately, and without any further action, be treated as cancelled and no longer outstanding for any purpose. Unless otherwise specified in the Vesting Agreement, no consideration or other payment shall be due with respect to any LTIP Units that have been forfeited, other than any distributions declared with respect to a Partnership Record Date prior to the effective date of the forfeiture.

 

(3)    Redemption. The Redemption Right provided to the holders of Common Unit under Section 8.6 shall not apply with respect to Vested LTIP Units unless and until they are converted to Common Units as provided in Section 4.7.

 

D.    Voting. Solely with respect to Vested LTIP Units, LTIP Unitholders shall have the same voting rights as the Limited Partners, with the LTIP Units voting as a single class with the Common Units and having one vote per LTIP Unit.

 

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Section 4.7.     Conversion of LTIP Units

 

A.    Conversion Right. An LTIP Unitholder shall have the right (the “Conversion Right”), at his or her option, at any time to convert all or a portion of his or her Vested LTIP Units into Common Units; provided, however, that a holder may not exercise the Conversion Right for less than 1,000 Vested LTIP Units or, if such holder holds less than 1,000 Vested LTIP Units, all of the Vested LTIP Units held by such holder; provided, further, that a holder of a Profits LTIP Unit may not exercise the Conversion Right with respect to such Profits LTIP Unit prior to the date on which the Book-Up Target for such Profits LTIP Unit becomes zero (an LTIP Unit eligible for conversion pursuant to this Section 4.7(a), an “Eligible LTIP Unit”). LTIP Unitholders shall not have the right to convert Unvested LTIP Units into Common Units until they become Vested LTIP Units; provided, however, that when an LTIP Unitholder is notified of the expected occurrence of an event that will cause his or her Unvested LTIP Units to become Vested LTIP Units, such LTIP Unitholder may give the Partnership a Conversion Notice conditioned upon and effective as of the time of vesting and such Conversion Notice, unless subsequently revoked by the LTIP Unitholder, shall be accepted by the Partnership subject to such condition. The General Partner has the right at any time to cause a conversion of Vested LTIP Units into Common Units. In all cases, the conversion of any LTIP Units into Common Units shall be subject to the conditions and procedures set forth in this Section 4.7.

 

B.    Exercise by an LTIP Unitholder. A holder of Eligible LTIP Units may convert such Eligible LTIP Units into an equal number of fully paid and non-assessable Common Units, giving effect to all adjustments (if any) made pursuant to Section 4.6. In order to exercise his or her Conversion Right, an LTIP Unitholder shall deliver a notice (a “Conversion Notice”) in the form attached as Exhibit F to this Agreement to the Partnership (with a copy to the General Partner) not less than ten nor more than 60 days prior to a date (the “Conversion Date”) specified in such Conversion Notice. A Conversion Notice shall be provided in the manner provided in Section 15.1. Each LTIP Unitholder covenants and agrees with the Partnership that all Eligible LTIP Units to be converted pursuant to this Section 4.7(B) shall be free and clear of all liens and encumbrances. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, a holder of Eligible LTIP Units may deliver a Notice of Redemption pursuant to Section 8.6 relating to those Common Units that will be issued to such holder upon conversion of such Eligible LTIP Units into Common Units in advance of the Conversion Date; provided, however, that the redemption of such Common Units by the Partnership shall in no event take place until after the Conversion Date.

 

C.    Forced Conversion. The General Partner, on behalf of the Partnership, may cause any number of Eligible LTIP Units held by an LTIP Unitholder to be converted (a “Forced Conversion”) into an equal number of Common Units, giving effect to all adjustments (if any) made pursuant to Section 4.6; provided, however, that the General Partner, on behalf of the Partnership, may not cause Forced Conversion of any LTIP Units that would not at the time be eligible for conversion at the option of such LTIP Unitholder pursuant to Section 4.7(B). In order to exercise its right of Forced Conversion, the General Partner on behalf of the Partnership, shall deliver a notice (a “Forced Conversion Notice”) in the form attached as Exhibit G to this Agreement to the applicable LTIP Unitholder not less than ten nor more than 60 days prior to the Conversion Date specified in such Forced Conversion Notice. A Forced Conversion Notice shall be provided in the manner provided in Section 15.1.

 

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D.    Completion of Conversion. A conversion of Eligible LTIP Units for which the holder thereof has given a Conversion Notice or the General Partner, on behalf of the Partnership, has given a Forced Conversion Notice shall occur automatically after the close of business on the applicable Conversion Date without any action on the part of such LTIP Unitholder, as of which time such LTIP Unitholder shall be credited on the books and records of the Partnership with the issuance as of the opening of business on the next day of the number of Common Units issuable upon such conversion. After the conversion of Eligible LTIP Units as aforesaid, the Partnership shall deliver to such LTIP Unitholder, upon his or her written request, a certificate of the General Partner certifying the number of Common Units and remaining LTIP Units, if any, held by such person immediately after such conversion.

 

ARTICLE 5.

DISTRIBUTIONS

 

Section 5.1.     Requirement and Characterization of Distributions

 

The General Partner shall distribute at least quarterly, or more frequently if required by this Agreement, a portion of Available Cash generated by the Partnership during such quarter or shorter period, such portion as determined by the General Partner, to the Partners that are Partners on the Partnership Record Date with respect to such quarter or shorter period in accordance with their Percentage Interests; provided, that in no event may a Partner receive a distribution of Available Cash with respect to a Partnership Unit if such Partner is entitled to receive a distribution out of such Available Cash with respect to a REIT Share for which such Partnership Unit has been exchanged, and any such distribution shall be made to the Company. In accordance with Section 4.6(A), LTIP Unitholders shall be entitled to receive distributions pursuant to this Section 5.1 in an amount per LTIP Unit equal to distributions made per Common Unit.

 

Section 5.2.     Amounts Withheld

 

All amounts withheld pursuant to the Code or any provisions of any state, local or non-U.S. tax law and Section 10.4 with respect to any allocation, payment or distribution to any Partner or Assignee shall be treated as amounts distributed to such Partner or Assignee pursuant to Section 5.1 for all purposes under this Agreement.

 

Section 5.3.     Distributions Upon Liquidation

 

Proceeds from a Sale of the Partnership and any other cash received or reductions in reserves made after commencement of the liquidation of the Partnership shall be distributed to the Partners in accordance with Section 13.2.

 

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Section 5.4.     Restricted Distributions

 

Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary contained in this Agreement, the Partnership, and the General Partner on behalf of the Partnership, shall not make a distribution to any Partner on account of its interest in the Partnership if such distribution would violate Section 17-607 of the Act or other applicable law.

 

Section 5.5.     Compliance with REIT Requirements

 

The General Partner shall make such reasonable efforts consistent with the Company’s qualification as a REIT, to cause the Partnership to distribute sufficient amounts to enable the Company, for so long as the Company has determined to qualify as a REIT, to pay stockholder dividends that will (a) satisfy the requirements for qualifying as a REIT under the Code and Regulations (the “REIT Requirements”) and (b) except to the extent otherwise determined by the Company, eliminate any federal income or excise tax liability of the Company.

 

ARTICLE 6.

ALLOCATIONS

 

Section 6.1.     Allocations For Capital Account Purposes

 

A.    After giving effect to the special allocations set forth in Section 1 of Exhibit B attached hereto for the applicable taxable year or other allocation period, and subject to Section 4 of Exhibit A attached hereto, Net Income for each taxable year or other allocation period shall be allocated to the Partners’ Capital Accounts in the following order of priority:

 

(1)    First, to the General Partner until the cumulative Net Income allocated to the General Partner under this Section 6.1(A)(1) equals the cumulative Net Loss allocated to the General Partner under Section 6.1(B)(2);

 

(2)    Second, to the holders of Common Units and LTIP Units until the cumulative Net Income allocated to such holders under this Section 6.1(A)(2) equals the cumulative Net Loss allocated to such holders under Section 6.1(B)(1) (pro rata in accordance with the excess of such Net Loss over such Net Income for each such holder); and

 

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

 

B.    After giving effect to the special allocations set forth in Section 1 of Exhibit B attached hereto for the applicable taxable year or other allocation period, and subject to Section 4 of Exhibit A attached hereto, Net Loss for each taxable year or other allocation period shall be allocated to the Partners’ Capital Accounts in the following order of priority.

 

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(1)    First, to the holders of Common Units and LTIP Units with positive balances in their Economic Capital Account Balances in accordance with such balances until such Economic Capital Account Balances are reduced to zero; and

 

(2)    Thereafter, to the General Partner.

 

For purposes of determining allocations of Net Loss pursuant to Section 6.1(B)(1), a holder of a Profits LTIP Unit shall be treated as having a separate Economic Capital Account Balance, and for this purpose a separate Capital Account with an appropriate share of Partnership Minimum Gain and Partner Minimum Gain shall be maintained, for each tranche of Profits LTIP Units with a different issuance date that it holds and a separate Capital Account for its Common Units or Capital LTIP Units, if applicable, and the Economic Capital Account Balance of each holder of Common Units or Capital LTIP Units shall not include any Economic Capital Account Balance attributable to other series or classes of Partnership Units.

 

ARTICLE 7.

MANAGEMENT AND OPERATIONS OF BUSINESS

 

Section 7.1.     Management

 

A.    Except as otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement, all management powers over the business and affairs of the Partnership are and shall be exclusively vested in the General Partner, and no Limited Partner shall have any right to participate in or exercise control or management power over the business and affairs of the Partnership. The General Partner may not be removed by the Limited Partners. In addition to the powers now or hereafter granted to a general partner of a limited partnership under applicable law or which are granted to the General Partner under any other provision of this Agreement, the General Partner, subject to the terms of this Agreement, shall have full power and authority to do all things deemed necessary, desirable or convenient by it to conduct the business of the Partnership, to exercise all powers set forth in Section 3.2 and to effectuate the purposes set forth in Section 3.1, including, without limitation:

 

(1)    the making of any expenditures, the lending or borrowing of money (including, without limitation, making prepayments on loans and borrowing money to permit the Partnership to make distributions to its Partners in such amounts as will permit the Company (so long as the Company desires to maintain its qualification as a REIT) to avoid the payment of any U.S. federal income tax (including, for this purpose, any excise tax pursuant to Section 4981 of the Code) and to make distributions to its shareholders in amounts sufficient to permit the Company to maintain its REIT status), the assumption or guarantee of, or other contracting for, indebtedness and other liabilities, the issuance of evidence of indebtedness (including the securing of the same by deed, mortgage, deed of trust or other lien or encumbrance on the Partnership’s assets or any assets of its Subsidiaries) and the incurring of any obligations it deems necessary for the conduct of the activities of the Partnership;

 

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(2)    the making of tax, regulatory and other filings or elections, or rendering of periodic or other reports to governmental or other agencies having jurisdiction over the business or assets of the Partnership;

 

(3)    the acquisition, disposition, mortgage, pledge, encumbrance, hypothecation or exchange of any assets of the Partnership (including the exercise or grant of any conversion, option, privilege, or subscription right or other right available in connection with any assets at any time held by the Partnership) or the merger or other combination of the Partnership with or into another entity (all of the foregoing subject to any prior approval only to the extent required by Section 7.3);

 

(4)    the mortgage, pledge, encumbrance or hypothecation of any assets of the Partnership, the use of the assets of the Partnership (including, without limitation, cash on hand) for any purpose consistent with the terms of this Agreement and on any terms that it sees fit, including, without limitation, the financing of the conduct of the operations of the Partnership, the Company or any of the Partnership’s or the Company’s Subsidiaries, the lending of funds to other Persons (including, without limitation, the Subsidiaries of the Partnership and/or the Company) and the repayment of obligations of the Partnership and its Subsidiaries and any other Person in which it has an equity investment, and the making of capital contributions to its Subsidiaries;

 

(5)    the management, operation, leasing, landscaping, repair, alteration, demolition, disposition or improvement of any real property or improvements owned by the Partnership or any Subsidiary or the Partnership;

 

(6)    the negotiation, execution, delivery and performance of any contracts (including leases), conveyances or other instruments that the General Partner considers useful or necessary or convenient to the conduct of the Partnership’s operations or the implementation of the General Partner’s powers under this Agreement, including, without limitation, contracting with consultants, accountants, legal counsel, other professional advisors and other agents and the payment of their expenses and compensation out of the Partnership’s assets;

 

(7)    the distribution of Partnership cash or other Partnership assets in accordance with this Agreement;

 

(8)    holding, managing, investing and reinvesting cash and other assets of the Partnership;

 

(9)    the collection and receipt of revenues and income of the Partnership;

 

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(10)    the amending, restating and/or supplementing of this Agreement or the Certificate;

 

(11)    the establishment of one or more divisions of the Partnership, the selection and dismissal of employees of the Partnership (including, without limitation, employees who may be designated as officers with titles such as “president,” “vice president,” “secretary” and “treasurer” of the Partnership), and agents, outside attorneys, accountants, consultants and contractors of the Partnership, and the determination of their compensation and other terms of employment or hiring;

 

(12)    the maintenance of such insurance for the benefit of the Partnership and the Partners as it deems necessary or appropriate;

 

(13)    the formation of, or acquisition of an interest in, and the contribution of property to, any further limited or general partnerships, limited liability companies, real estate investment trusts, corporations, entities that are treated as REITs, “taxable REIT subsidiaries” or as foreign corporations for federal income tax purposes, joint ventures or other relationships that it deems desirable (including, without limitation, the acquisition of interests in, and the contributions of property or the making of loans to, its or the Company’s Subsidiaries and any other Person in which it has an equity investment from time to time or the incurrence of indebtedness on behalf of such Persons or the guarantee of obligations of such Persons and the making of any tax, regulatory or other filing or election with respect to any of the foregoing Persons); provided, that as long as the Company has determined to continue to qualify as a REIT, the Partnership may not engage in any such formation, acquisition or contribution that would cause the Company to fail to qualify as a REIT;

 

(14)    the control of any matters affecting the rights and obligations of the Partnership, including the settlement, compromise, submission to arbitration or any other form of dispute resolution, or abandonment of, any claim, cause of action, liability, Debt or damages, due or owing to or from the Partnership, the commencement or defense of suits, legal proceedings, administrative proceedings, arbitrations or other forms of dispute resolution, and the representation of the Partnership in all suits or legal proceedings, administrative proceedings, arbitrations or other forms of dispute resolution, the incurrence of legal expense, and the indemnification of any Person against liabilities and contingencies to the extent permitted by law;

 

(15)    the undertaking of any action in connection with the Partnership’s direct or indirect investment in any Subsidiary or any other Person (including, without limitation, the contribution or loan of funds by the Partnership to such Persons);

 

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(16)    the determination of the fair market value of any Partnership property distributed in kind using such reasonable method of valuation as the General Partner may adopt;

 

(17)    the enforcement of any rights against any Partner pursuant to representations, warranties, covenants and indemnities relating to such Partner’s contribution of property or assets to the Partnership;

 

(18)    the exercise, directly or indirectly, through any attorney-in-fact acting under a general or limited power of attorney, of any right, including the right to vote, appurtenant to any asset or investment held by the Partnership;

 

(19)    the exercise of any of the powers of the General Partner enumerated in this Agreement on behalf of or in connection with any Subsidiary of the Partnership or any other Person in which the Partnership has a direct or indirect interest, or jointly with any such Subsidiary or other Person;

 

(20)    the exercise of any of the powers of the General Partner enumerated in this Agreement on behalf of any Person in which the Partnership does not have an interest pursuant to contractual or other arrangements with such Person;

 

(21)    the making, execution, delivery and performance of any and all deeds, leases, notes, mortgages, deeds of trust, security agreements, conveyances, contracts, guarantees, warranties, indemnities, waivers, releases or legal instruments or agreements in writing necessary, appropriate or convenient, in the judgment of the General Partner, for the accomplishment of any of the powers of the General Partner enumerated in this Agreement;

 

(22)    the issuance of additional Partnership Units and other partnership interests to any Partners or other Persons; and

 

(23)    the taking of any action necessary or appropriate to enable the Company to qualify as a REIT.

 

B.    Each of the Limited Partners agrees that the General Partner is authorized to execute, deliver and perform the above-mentioned agreements and transactions on behalf of the Partnership, and otherwise to exercise any power of the General Partner under this Agreement or the Act, without any further act, approval or vote of the Partners, notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement (except as provided in Section 7.3), the Act or any applicable law, rule or regulation, to the fullest extent permitted under the Act or other applicable law, rule or regulation. The execution, delivery or performance by the General Partner or the Partnership of any agreement authorized or permitted under this Agreement shall not constitute a breach by the General Partner of any duty that the General Partner may owe the Partnership or the Limited Partners or any other Persons under this Agreement or of any duty stated or implied by law or equity.

 

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C.    At all times from and after the date hereof, the General Partner may cause the Partnership to establish and maintain at any and all times working capital accounts and other cash or similar balances in such amounts as the General Partner, in its sole and absolute discretion, deems appropriate and reasonable from time to time.

 

D.    In exercising its authority under this Agreement, the General Partner may, but shall be under no obligation to, take into account the tax consequences to any Partner of any action taken by it. The General Partner and the Partnership shall not be liable to a Limited Partner under any circumstances as a result of an income tax or other tax liability incurred by such Limited Partner as a result of an action (or inaction) by the General Partner taken pursuant to its authority under this Agreement and in accordance with the terms of Section 7.3.

 

Section 7.2.     Certificate of Limited Partnership

 

The General Partner has filed the Certificate with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware as required by the Act. The General Partner shall use all reasonable efforts to cause to be filed such other certificates or documents as may be reasonable and necessary or appropriate for the formation, continuation, qualification and operation of a limited partnership (or a partnership in which the limited partners have limited liability) in the State of Delaware and any other state, or the District of Columbia, in which the Partnership may elect to do business or own property. To the extent that such action is determined by the General Partner to be reasonable and necessary or appropriate or convenient, the General Partner shall file amendments to and restatements of the Certificate and do all of the things to maintain the Partnership as a limited partnership (or a partnership in which the limited partners have limited liability) under the laws of the State of Delaware and each other state, or the District of Columbia, in which the Partnership may elect to do business or own property. Subject to the terms of Section 8.5(A)(2), the General Partner shall not be required, before or after filing, to deliver or mail a copy of the Certificate or any amendment thereto or restatement thereof to any Limited Partner.

 

Section 7.3.     Restrictions on General Partner Authority

 

The General Partner may not take any action in contravention of an express prohibition or limitation of this Agreement without the written consent of Limited Partners holding a majority of the Percentage Interests held by Limited Partners, or such other percentage of the Limited Partners as may be specifically provided for under a provision of this Agreement.

 

Section 7.4.     Reimbursement of the General Partner and the Company

 

A.    Except as provided in this Section 7.4 and elsewhere in this Agreement (including the provisions of Articles 5 and 6 regarding distributions, payments, and allocations to which it may be entitled), the General Partner shall not be compensated for its services as general partner of the Partnership.

 

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B.    The Partnership shall be responsible for and shall pay all expenses relating to the Partnership’s and the General Partner’s organization and the ownership of each of their assets and operations. The General Partner and its Affiliates shall be reimbursed on a monthly basis, or such other basis as the General Partner may determine in its sole and absolute discretion, for all expenditures that each incurs relating to the ownership and operation of, or for the benefit of, the Partnership; provided, that the amount of any such reimbursement shall be reduced by any interest earned by the General Partner with respect to bank accounts or other instruments or accounts held by it on behalf of the Partnership; and provided, further, that the General Partner and its Affiliates shall not be reimbursed for any (i) trustees’/directors’ fees, (ii) income tax liabilities or (iii) filing or similar fees in connection with maintaining the General Partner’s or any such Affiliate’s continued existence that are incurred by the General Partner or an Affiliate, but the Partners acknowledge that all other expenses of the General Partner and its Affiliates are deemed to be for the benefit of the Partnership. Such reimbursement shall be in addition to any reimbursement made as a result of indemnification pursuant to Section 7.7. Included among the expenditures for which the General Partner shall be entitled to reimbursement hereunder shall be any payments of debt service made by the General Partner, in its capacity as General Partner, as guarantor or otherwise, with respect to indebtedness encumbering any property held by the Partnership.

 

C.    In the event that the Company shall elect to purchase from its shareholders REIT Shares for the purpose of delivering such REIT Shares to satisfy an obligation under any distribution reinvestment program adopted by the Company, any employee share purchase plan adopted by the Company, or any similar obligation or arrangement undertaken by the Company in the future, the purchase price paid by the Company for such REIT Shares and any other expenses incurred by the Company in connection with such purchase shall be considered expenses of the Partnership and shall be reimbursed to the Company, subject to the condition that: (i) if such REIT Shares subsequently are sold by the Company, the Company shall pay to the Partnership any proceeds received by the Company for such REIT Shares (which sales proceeds shall include the amount of distributions reinvested under any distribution reinvestment or similar program; provided, that a transfer of REIT Shares for Partnership Units pursuant to Section 8.6 would not be considered a sale for such purposes); and (ii) if such REIT Shares are not retransferred by the Company within 30 days after the purchase thereof, the General Partner shall cause the Partnership to cancel a number of Partnership Units held by the Company equal to the product obtained by multiplying the Conversion Factor by the number of such REIT Shares (in which case such reimbursement shall be treated as a distribution in redemption of Partnership Units held by the Company).

 

Section 7.5.     Outside Activities of the General Partner

 

The General Partner and any Affiliates of the General Partner shall only conduct the activities contemplated by this Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the General Partner and any Affiliates of the General Partner may (a) acquire Limited Partner Interests and shall be entitled to exercise all rights of a Limited Partner relating to such Limited Partner Interests and (b) acquire less than 5% of the equity securities of any Person, which securities are listed on any national securities exchange and the General Partner or such Affiliate has no other business relationship, direct or indirect, with the issuer of such securities. For the avoidance of doubt, family members of Affiliates of the General Partner are permitted to own real estate for commercial purposes.

 

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Section 7.6.     Contracts with Affiliates

 

A.    The Partnership may lend or contribute funds or other assets to, and borrow funds from, its or the Company’s Subsidiaries or other Persons in which it or the Company has an equity or other interests and such Persons may borrow funds from, and lend or contribute funds or assets to, the Partnership, on terms and conditions established by the General Partner, in its sole and absolute discretion. The foregoing authority shall not create any right or benefit in favor of any Subsidiary or any other Person.

 

B.    Except as provided in Section 7.5, the Partnership may transfer assets to joint ventures, other partnerships, limited liability companies, real estate investment trusts, corporations or other business entities in which it is or thereby becomes a participant upon such terms and subject to such conditions consistent with this Agreement and applicable law as the General Partner deems appropriate, in its sole and absolute discretion.

 

C.    Except as expressly permitted by this Agreement, neither the General Partner nor any of its Affiliates shall sell, transfer or convey any property to, or purchase any property from, the Partnership, directly or indirectly, except pursuant to transactions that are determined by the General Partner in good faith to be fair and reasonable.

 

D.    The General Partner, in its sole and absolute discretion, may propose and adopt, on behalf of the Partnership, employee benefit plans, share option plans, and similar plans funded by the Partnership for the benefit of employees of the General Partner, the Company, the Partnership, Subsidiaries of the Partnership or any Affiliate of any of them in respect of services performed, directly or indirectly, for the benefit of the Partnership, the Company, the General Partner or any Subsidiaries of the Partnership.

 

E.    The General Partner, in its sole and absolute discretion, shall cause the Partnership to contribute the proceeds from any offerings of REIT Shares that the Company contributes to the Partnership in exchange for Partnership Units to the Partnership’s Subsidiaries at the discretion of the General Partner, in its sole and absolute discrestion.

 

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Section 7.7.     Indemnification

 

A.    To the fullest extent permitted by Delaware law, the Partnership shall indemnify each Indemnitee from and against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities, joint or several, expenses (including, without limitation, attorneys’ fees and other legal fees and expenses), judgments, fines, settlements, and other amounts arising from any and all claims, demands, actions, suits or proceedings, civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, that relate to the operations of the Partnership or the Company as set forth in this Agreement, in which such Indemnitee may be involved, or is threatened to be involved, as a party or otherwise, except to the extent such Indemnitee acted in bad faith, or with gross negligence or willful misconduct. Without limitation, the foregoing indemnity shall extend to any liability of any Indemnitee, pursuant to a loan guaranty or otherwise for any indebtedness of the Partnership or any Subsidiary of the Partnership (including without limitation, any indebtedness which the Partnership or any Subsidiary of the Partnership has assumed or taken subject to), and the General Partner is hereby authorized and empowered, on behalf of the Partnership, to enter into one or more indemnity agreements consistent with the provisions of this Section 7.7 in favor of any Indemnitee having or potentially having liability for any such indebtedness. Any indemnification pursuant to this Section 7.7 shall be made only out of the assets of the Partnership, and neither the General Partner nor any Limited Partner shall have any obligation to contribute to the capital of the Partnership, or otherwise provide funds, to enable the Partnership to fund its obligations under this Section 7.7.

 

B.    Reasonable expenses incurred by an Indemnitee who is a party to a proceeding shall be paid or reimbursed by the Partnership in advance of the final disposition of the proceeding, upon receipt by the Partnership of an undertaking by or on behalf of the Indemnitee to repay such amount if it shall be determined that the Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified as authorized in Section 7.7(A).

 

C.    The indemnification provided by this Section 7.7 shall be in addition to any other rights to which an Indemnitee or any other Person may be entitled under any agreement, pursuant to any vote of the Partners, as a matter of law or otherwise, and shall continue as to an Indemnitee who has ceased to serve in such capacity unless otherwise provided in a written agreement pursuant to which such Indemnitees are indemnified.

 

D.    The Partnership may, but shall not be obligated to, purchase and maintain insurance, on behalf of the Indemnitees and such other Persons as the General Partner shall determine, against any liability that may be asserted against or expenses that may be incurred by such Person in connection with the Partnership’s activities, regardless of whether the Partnership would have the power to indemnify such Person against such liability under the provisions of this Agreement.

 

E.    For purposes of this Section 7.7, the Partnership shall be deemed to have requested an Indemnitee to serve as fiduciary of an employee benefit plan whenever the performance by it of its duties to the Partnership also imposes duties on, or otherwise involves services by, it to the plan or participants or beneficiaries of the plan; excise taxes assessed on an Indemnitee with respect to an employee benefit plan pursuant to applicable law shall constitute fines within the meaning of this Section 7.7; and actions taken or omitted by the Indemnitee with respect to an employee benefit plan in the performance of its duties for a purpose reasonably believed by it to be in the interest of the participants and beneficiaries of the plan shall be deemed to be for a purpose which is not opposed to the best interests of the Partnership.

 

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F.    In no event may an Indemnitee subject any of the Partners to personal liability by reason of the indemnification provisions set forth in this Agreement.

 

G.    An Indemnitee shall not be denied indemnification in whole or in part under this Section 7.7 because the Indemnitee had an interest in the transaction with respect to which the indemnification applies if the transaction was otherwise permitted by the terms of this Agreement.

 

H.    The provisions of this Section 7.7 are for the benefit of the Indemnitees, their heirs, successors, assigns and administrators and shall not be deemed to create any rights for the benefit of any other Persons. Any amendment, modification or repeal of this Section 7.7 or any provision hereof shall be prospective only and shall not in any way affect the Partnership’s liability to any Indemnitee under this Section 7.7, as in effect immediately prior to such amendment, modification, or repeal with respect to claims arising from or relating to matters occurring, in whole or in part, prior to such amendment, modification or repeal, regardless of when such claims may arise or be asserted.

 

Section 7.8.     Liability of the General Partner

 

A.    Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in this Agreement, none of the General Partner, its Affiliates, or any of their respective officers, trustees, directors, shareholders, partners, members, employees, representatives or agents or any officer, employee, representative or agent of the Partnership and its Affiliates (individually, a “Covered Person” and collectively, the “Covered Persons”) shall be liable for monetary damages to the Partnership, any Partners or any Assignees for losses sustained or liabilities incurred as a result of errors in judgment or of any act or omission if the Covered Person’s conduct did not constitute bad faith, gross negligence or willful misconduct.

 

B.    The Limited Partners expressly acknowledge that the General Partner is acting on behalf of the Partnership, the Limited Partners and the shareholders of the Company collectively, that the General Partner is under no obligation to consider the separate interests of the Limited Partners (except as otherwise provided herein) in deciding whether to cause the Partnership to take (or decline to take) any actions. In the event of a conflict between the interests of the shareholders of the Company on the one hand and the Limited Partners on the other, the General Partner shall endeavor in good faith to resolve the conflict in a manner not adverse to either the shareholders of Company or the Limited Partners; provided, however, that any such conflict that the General Partner, in its sole and absolute discretion, determines cannot be resolved in a manner not adverse to either the shareholders of the Company or the Limited Partners shall be resolved in favor of the shareholders of the Company. The General Partner shall not be liable for monetary damages for losses sustained, liabilities incurred, or benefits not derived by Limited Partners in connection with such decisions; provided, that the General Partner has acted in good faith.

 

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C.    Subject to its obligations and duties as General Partner set forth in Section 7.1(A), the General Partner may exercise any of the powers granted to it by this Agreement and perform any of the duties imposed upon it hereunder either directly or by or through its employees and agents.

 

D.    Any amendment, modification or repeal of this Section 7.8 or any provision hereof shall be prospective only and shall not in any way affect the limitations on the Covered Person’s liability to the Partnership and the Limited Partners under this Section 7.8 as in effect immediately prior to such amendment, modification or repeal with respect to claims arising from or relating to matters occurring, in whole or in part, prior to such amendment, modification or repeal, regardless of when such claims may arise or be asserted.

 

E.    To the extent that, at law or in equity, a Covered Person has duties (including fiduciary duties) and liabilities relating thereto to the Partnership or to the Partners, any Covered Person acting under this Agreement or otherwise shall not be liable to the Partnership or to any Partner for its good faith reliance on the provisions of this Agreement. The provisions of this Agreement, to the extent that they restrict the duties and liabilities of a Covered Person otherwise existing at law or in equity, are agreed by the Partners to replace such other duties and liabilities of such Covered Person.

 

F.    Whenever in this Agreement the General Partner is permitted or required to make a decision (i) in its “sole discretion” or “discretion,” or under a similar grant of authority or latitude, the General Partner shall be entitled to consider such interests and factors as it desires and may consider its own interests and shall have no duty or obligation to give any consideration to any interest of or factors affecting the Partnership or the Limited Partners, or (ii) in its “good faith” or under another express standard, the General Partner shall act under such express standard and shall not be subject to any other or different standards imposed by this Agreement or by law or any other agreement contemplated herein.

 

Section 7.9.     Other Matters Concerning the General Partner

 

A.    The General Partner may rely and shall be protected in acting, or refraining from acting, upon any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, consent, order, bond, debenture, or other paper or document believed by it in good faith to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper party or parties.

 

B.    The General Partner may consult with legal counsel, accountants, appraisers, management consultants, investment bankers, architects, engineers, environmental consultants and other consultants and advisers selected by it and any act taken or omitted to be taken in reliance upon the opinion of such Persons as to matters which the General Partner reasonably believes to be within such Person’s professional or expert competence shall be conclusively presumed to have been done or omitted in good faith and in accordance with such opinion.

 

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C.    The General Partner shall have the right, in respect of any of its powers or obligations hereunder, to act through any of its duly authorized officers and duly appointed attorneys-in-fact. Each such attorney shall, to the extent provided by the General Partner in the power of attorney, have full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and duty which is permitted or required to be done by the General Partner hereunder.

 

D.    Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Agreement or the Act, any action of the General Partner on behalf of the Partnership or any decision of the General Partner to refrain from acting on behalf of the Partnership, undertaken in the good faith belief that such action or omission is necessary or advisable in order (i) to protect the ability of the Company to continue to qualify as a REIT; (ii) for the Company to otherwise satisfy the REIT Requirements; or (iii) to avoid the Company incurring any taxes under Section 337(d), 857, 1374 or 4981 of the Code, is expressly authorized under this Agreement and is deemed approved by all of the Limited Partners.

 

Section 7.10.     Title to Partnership Assets

 

Title to Partnership assets, whether real, personal or mixed and whether tangible or intangible, shall be deemed to be owned by the Partnership as an entity, and no Partner, individually or collectively, shall have any ownership interest in such Partnership assets or any portion thereof.

 

Section 7.11.     Reliance by Third Parties

 

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, any Person dealing with the Partnership shall be entitled to assume that the General Partner has full power and authority, without consent or approval of any other Partner or Person (unless set forth herein), to encumber, sell or otherwise use in any manner any and all assets of the Partnership and to enter into any contracts on behalf of the Partnership, and take any and all actions on behalf of the Partnership and such Person shall be entitled to deal with the General Partner as if the General Partner were the Partnership’s sole party in interest, both legally and beneficially. Each Limited Partner hereby waives any and all defenses or other remedies which may be available against such Person to contest, negate or disaffirm any action of the General Partner in connection with any such dealing. In no event shall any Person dealing with the General Partner or its representatives be obligated to ascertain that the terms of this Agreement have been complied with or to inquire into the necessity or expedience of any act or action of the General Partner or its representatives. Each and every certificate, document or other instrument executed on behalf of the Partnership by the General Partner or its representatives shall be conclusive evidence in favor of any and every Person relying thereon or claiming thereunder that (i) at the time of the execution and delivery of such certificate, document or instrument, this Agreement was in full force and effect; (ii) the Person executing and delivering such certificate, document or instrument was duly authorized and empowered to do so for and on behalf of the Partnership; and (iii) such certificate, document or instrument was duly executed and delivered in accordance with the terms and provisions of this Agreement and is binding upon the Partnership.

 

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ARTICLE 8.

RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS OF LIMITED PARTNERS

 

Section 8.1.     Limitation of Liability

 

Each Limited Partner acting in its capacity as such shall have no liability under this Agreement except for liability resulting from: (a) an act or omission on the part of such Limited Partner that was committed in bad faith or was the result of active and deliberate dishonesty; (b) in the case of any criminal proceeding, an act or omission that such Limited Partner had reasonable cause to believe was unlawful; (c) any transaction for which such Limited Partner actually received an improper personal benefit in money, property or services in violation or breach of any provision of this Agreement; or (d) as expressly provided in this Agreement or under the Act.

 

Section 8.2.     Management of Business

 

No Limited Partner or Assignee (other than the General Partner, any of its Affiliates or any officer, trustee, director, member, employee or agent of the General Partner, the Partnership or any of their Affiliates, in their capacity as such) shall take part in the operation, management or control (within the meaning of the Act) of the Partnership’s business, transact any business in the Partnership’s name or have the power to sign documents for or otherwise bind the Partnership. The transaction of any such business by the General Partner, any of its Affiliates or any officer, trustee, director, member, employee or agent of the General Partner, the Partnership or any of their Affiliates, in their capacity as such, shall not affect, impair or eliminate the limitations on the liability of the Limited Partners or Assignees under this Agreement.

 

Section 8.3.     Outside Activities of Limited Partners

 

Subject to any agreements entered into by a Limited Partner or its Affiliates with the Partnership or any of its Subsidiaries, any Limited Partner (other than the Company) and any officer, trustee, director, member, employee, agent, trustee, Affiliate or shareholder of any such Limited Partner shall be entitled to and may have business interests and engage in business activities in addition to those relating to the Partnership, including business interests and activities that are in direct competition with the Partnership or that are enhanced by the activities of the Partnership. Neither the Partnership nor any Partners shall have any rights by virtue of this Agreement in any business ventures of any Limited Partner or Assignee. None of the Limited Partners (other than the Company) nor any other Person shall have any rights by virtue of this Agreement or the Partnership relationship established hereby in any business ventures of any other Person and such Person shall have no obligation pursuant to this Agreement to offer any interest in any such business ventures to the Partnership, any Limited Partner or any such other Person, even if such opportunity is of a character which, if presented to the Partnership, any Limited Partner or such other Person, could be taken by such Person.

 

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Section 8.4.     Return of Capital

 

Except pursuant to the right of redemption set forth in Section 8.6, no Limited Partner shall be entitled to the withdrawal or return of its Capital Contribution, except to the extent of distributions made pursuant to this Agreement or upon termination of the Partnership as provided herein. Except to the extent provided by Exhibit B or as otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement, no Limited Partner or Assignee shall have priority over any other Limited Partner or Assignee, either as to the return of Capital Contributions or as to profits, losses or distributions.

 

Section 8.5.     Rights of Limited Partners Relating to the Partnership

 

A.    In addition to the other rights provided by this Agreement or by the Act, and except as limited by Section 8.5(C), each Limited Partner shall have the right, for a purpose reasonably related to such Limited Partner’s interest as a limited partner in the Partnership, upon written demand with a statement of the purpose of such demand and at such Limited Partner’s own expense (including such copying and administrative charges as the General Partner may establish from time to time):

 

(1)    to obtain a copy of the Partnership’s federal, state and local income tax returns for each Partnership Year;

 

(2)    to obtain a copy of this Agreement and the Certificate and all amendments thereto, together with executed copies of all powers of attorney pursuant to which this Agreement, the Certificate and all amendments thereto have been executed; and

 

(3)    to obtain true and full information regarding the amount of cash and a description and statement of any other property or services contributed by each Partner and which each Partner has agreed to contribute in the future, and the date on which each became a Partner.

 

B.    The Partnership shall notify each Limited Partner, upon request, of the then current Conversion Factor.

 

C.    Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section 8.5, the General Partner may keep confidential from the Limited Partners, for such period of time as the General Partner determines in its sole and absolute discretion to be reasonable, any information that (i) the General Partner reasonably believes to be in the nature of trade secrets or other information, the disclosure of which the General Partner in good faith believes is not in the best interests of the Partnership or could damage the Partnership or its business; or (ii) the Partnership is required by law or by agreements with an unaffiliated third party to keep confidential.

 

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Upon written request by any Limited Partner, the General Partner shall cause the ownership of Partnership Interests by such Limited Partner to be evidenced by a certificate in such form as the General Partner may determine with respect to any class of Partnership Interests issued from time to time under this Agreement. The General Partner may direct a new certificate or certificates to be issued in place of any certificate or certificates theretofore issued by the Partnership 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. Unless otherwise determined by the General Partner, 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 Partnership a bond in such sum as the General Partner may direct as indemnity against any claim that may be made against the Partnership.

 

Section 8.6.     Redemption Right

 

A.    Subject to Sections 8.6(B) and 8.6(C) and at any time on or after such date as expressly provided for in any agreement entered into between the Partnership and any Limited Partner, each holder of a Common Unit (if other than the General Partner), including a holder of any LTIP Units that are converted into Common Units, shall have the right (the “Redemption Right”) to require the Partnership to redeem on a Specified Redemption Date all or a portion of the Partnership Units (provided that such Partnership Units constitute Common Units) held by such holder at a redemption price equal to and in the form of the Cash Amount to be paid by the Partnership; provided that the Partnership Units shall have been outstanding for at least one year; provided, further, that the General Partner, in its sole and absolute discretion, may allow a holder to exercise its Redemption Right prior to the Common Units being outstanding for one year in its discretion. The Redemption Right shall be exercised pursuant to a Notice of Redemption delivered to the Partnership (with a copy to the General Partner) by the holder who is exercising the redemption right (the “Redeeming Partner”); provided, however, that the Partnership shall not be obligated to satisfy such Redemption Right if the Company elects to purchase the Partnership Units subject to the Notice of Redemption pursuant to Section 8.6(B). A holder under this Section 8.6(A) may not exercise the Redemption Right for less than 1,000 Partnership Units at any one time or, if such holder holds less than 1,000 Partnership Units, all of the Partnership Units held by such Partner. The Redeeming Partner shall have no right, with respect to any Partnership Units so redeemed, to receive any distributions paid on or after the Specified Redemption Date. The Assignee of any holder herein may exercise the rights of such Limited Partner pursuant to this Section 8.6(A), and such Limited Partner shall be deemed to have assigned such rights to such Assignee and shall be bound by the exercise of such rights by such Assignee. In connection with any exercise of such rights by an Assignee on behalf of a holder in this Section 8.6(A), the Cash Amount shall be paid by the Partnership directly to such Assignee and not to such holder. Any Partnership Units redeemed by the Partnership pursuant to this Section 8.6(A) shall be cancelled upon such redemption.

 

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B.    Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 8.6(A), a Limited Partner that exercises the Redemption Right shall be deemed to have offered to sell the Partnership Units described in the Notice of Redemption to the Company, and the Company may, in its sole and absolute discretion, elect to purchase directly and acquire such Partnership Units by paying to the Redeeming Partner either the Cash Amount or the REIT Shares Amount, as elected by the Company in its sole and absolute discretion, on the Specified Redemption Date, whereupon the Company shall acquire the Partnership Units offered for redemption by the Redeeming Partner and shall be treated for all purposes of this Agreement as the owner of such Partnership Units. If the Company shall elect to exercise its right to purchase Partnership Units under this Section 8.6(B) with respect to a Notice of Redemption, it shall so notify the Redeeming Partner within five Business Days after the receipt by it of such Notice of Redemption. Unless the Company (in its sole and absolute discretion) shall exercise its right to purchase Partnership Units from the Redeeming Partner pursuant to this Section 8.6(B), the Company shall not have any obligation to the Redeeming Partner or the Partnership with respect to the Redeeming Partner’s exercise of the Redemption Right. In the event the Company shall exercise its right to purchase Partnership Units with respect to the exercise of a Redemption Right in the manner described in the first sentence of this Section 8.6(B), the Partnership shall have no obligation to pay any amount to the Redeeming Partner with respect to such Redeeming Partner’s exercise of such Redemption Right, and each of the Redeeming Partner, the Partnership and the Company shall treat the transaction between the Company and the Redeeming Partner, for federal income tax purposes, as a sale of the Redeeming Partner’s Partnership Units to the Company. Each Redeeming Partner agrees to execute such documents as the Company may reasonably require in connection with the issuance of REIT Shares upon exercise of the Redemption Right. In case of any reclassification of the REIT Shares (including, but not limited to, any reclassification upon a consolidation or merger in which the Company is the continuing trust) into securities other than REIT Shares, for purposes of this Section 8.6(B), the Company (or its successor) may thereafter exercise its right to purchase Partnership Units for the kind and amount of shares of such securities receivable upon such reclassification by a holder of the number of REIT Shares for which such Partnership Units could be purchased pursuant to this Section immediately prior to such reclassification.

 

C.    Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 8.6(A) and Section 8.6(B), a Partner shall not be entitled to exercise the Redemption Right pursuant to Section 8.6(A) to the extent that the delivery of REIT Shares to such Partner on the Specified Redemption Date by the Company pursuant to Section 8.6(B) (regardless of whether or not the Company would in fact exercise its rights under Section 8.6(B)) would (i) be prohibited, as determined in the sole discretion of the Company, under the Declaration or (ii) cause the acquisition of REIT Shares by such Partner to be “integrated” with any other distribution of REIT Shares for purposes of complying with the Securities Act.

 

D.    Each Partner covenants and agrees that all Partnership Units delivered for redemption shall be delivered to the Partnership free and clear of all liens; and, notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, the Partnership shall be under no obligation to acquire Partnership Units which are or may be subject to any liens. Each Partner further agrees that, if any state or local property transfer tax is payable as a result of the transfer of its Partnership Units to the Partnership, such Partner shall assume and pay such transfer tax.

 

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ARTICLE 9.

BOOKS, RECORDS, ACCOUNTING AND REPORTS

 

Section 9.1.     Records and Accounting

 

The General Partner shall keep or cause to be kept at the principal office of the Partnership those records and documents required to be maintained by the Act and other books and records deemed by the General Partner to be appropriate with respect to the Partnership’s business, including, without limitation, all books and records necessary to provide to the Limited Partners any information, lists and copies of documents required to be provided pursuant to Section 9.3. The books of the Partnership shall be maintained, for financial and tax reporting purposes, on an accrual basis in accordance with GAAP, or such other basis as the General Partner determines to be necessary or appropriate.

 

Section 9.2.     Fiscal Year

 

The fiscal year of the Partnership shall be the calendar year.

 

Section 9.3.     Reports

 

A.    As soon as practicable, but in no event later than 105 days after the close of each Partnership Year, the General Partner shall cause to be mailed to each Limited Partner as of the close of the Partnership Year, an annual report containing financial statements of the Partnership, or of the Company if such statements are prepared solely on a consolidated basis with the Company, for such Partnership Year, presented in accordance with GAAP, such statements to be audited by a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants selected by the Company; provided, that if such financial statements of the Company are available on the Securities and Exchange Commission’s website, then this obligation shall be satisfied.

 

B.    As soon as practicable, but in no event later than 105 days after the close of each calendar quarter (except the last calendar quarter of each year), the General Partner shall cause to be mailed to each Limited Partner as of the last day of the calendar quarter, a report containing unaudited financial statements of the Partnership, or of the Company, if such statements are prepared solely on a consolidated basis with the Company, and such other information as may be required by applicable law or regulation, or as the General Partner determines to be appropriate; provided that if such financial statements of the Company are available on the Securities and Exchange Commission’s website, then this obligation shall be satisfied.

 

C.    The Partnership shall also cause to be promptly prepared such reports and/or information as are necessary for the Company to determine its qualification as a REIT and its compliance with the requirements for REITs pursuant to the Code and Regulations.

 

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ARTICLE 10.

TAX MATTERS

 

Section 10.1.     Preparation of Tax Returns

 

The General Partner shall arrange for the preparation and timely filing of all returns of Partnership income, gains, deductions, losses and other items required of the Partnership for federal and state income tax purposes and shall furnish by July 31 of the year immediately following each taxable year, or as soon as reasonably practicable thereafter, the tax information reasonably required by Limited Partners for federal and state income tax reporting purposes.

 

Section 10.2.     Tax Elections

 

Except as otherwise provided herein, the General Partner shall, in its sole and absolute discretion, determine whether to make any available election pursuant to the Code. Notwithstanding the above, in making any such tax election the General Partner may, but shall be under no obligation to, take into account the tax consequences to the Limited Partners resulting from any such election.

 

The General Partner can elect to use any method permitted by Section 704(c) of the Code and the Regulations thereunder to take into account any variation between the adjusted basis of any property contributed (or deemed contributed) to the Partnership by any Partner after the date hereof and such property’s initial Carrying Value. The General Partner shall have the right to seek to revoke any tax election it makes (including, without limitation, an election under Section 754 of the Code) upon the General Partner’s determination, in its sole and absolute discretion, that such revocation is in the best interests of the Partners.

 

Section 10.3.     Partnership Representative

 

A.    The General Partner, or such Person as may alternatively be designated by the General Partner, in its sole and absolute discretion, shall be the “partnership representative” (within the meaning of Section 6223 of the Code) (the “Partnership Representative”). The taking of any action and the incurring of any expense by the Partnership Representative in connection with any such proceeding, except to the extent required by law, is a matter of the Partnership Representative, in its sole and absolute discretion, and the provisions relating to indemnification provisions set forth in Section 7.7 of this Agreement shall be fully applicable to the Partnership Representative in its capacity as such. Each Partner hereby agrees to cooperate with, and to take all reasonable actions requested by the Partnership Representative and the Partnership, to avoid or reduce any tax imposed under Section 6225 of the Code, including (i) taking such actions as may be required to effect the General Partner’s designation as the Partnership Representative, and on behalf of the Partnership, the General Partner’s (or its designee’s) appointment of any “designated individual,” (ii) providing any information or taking such other actions as may be reasonably requested by the Partnership Representative in order to determine whether any “imputed underpayment” (within the meaning of Section 6225 of the Code) may be modified pursuant to Section 6225(c) of the Code, (iii) providing any information or taking such other actions as may be reasonably requested by the Partnership Representative in connection with any election made by the Partnership Representative pursuant to Section 6226 of the Code, and (iv) upon the request of the Partnership Representative, filing any amended U.S. federal income tax return or comply with the alternative procedure described in Section 6225(c)(2)(B) of the Code, and paying any tax due in connection with such tax return in accordance with Section 6225(c)(2) of the Code or any corresponding provision of applicable state or local law. The provisions of this Section 10.3 and a Partner’s obligation to comply with this Section 10.3 shall survive any liquidation and dissolution of the Partnership and the transfer, assignment or liquidation of such Partner’s Partnership Interest (including for the avoidance of doubt through exercise of the Redemption Right).

 

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B.    The Partnership Representative shall receive no compensation for its services. All third party costs and expenses incurred by the Partnership Representative in performing its duties as such (including legal and accounting fees and expenses) shall be borne by the Partnership. Nothing herein shall be construed to restrict the Partnership from engaging an accounting and/or law firm to assist the Partnership Representative in discharging its duties hereunder, so long as the compensation paid by the Partnership for such services is reasonable.

 

Section 10.4.     Withholding

 

Each Limited Partner hereby authorizes the Partnership to withhold from, or pay on behalf of or with respect to, such Limited Partner any amount of federal, state, local, or foreign taxes that the General Partner determines that the Partnership is required to withhold or pay with respect to any amount distributable or allocable to such Limited Partner pursuant to this Agreement (or with respect to the grant of LTIP Units), including, without limitation, any taxes required to be withheld or paid by the Partnership pursuant to Section 1441, 1442, 1445, or 1446 of the Code, and any taxes paid by the Partnership with respect to an imputed underpayment. Any amount paid on behalf of or with respect to a Limited Partner shall constitute a loan by the Partnership to such Limited Partner, which loan shall be repaid by such Limited Partner within 15 days after notice from the General Partner that such payment must be made unless (i) the Partnership withholds such payment from a distribution which would otherwise be made to the Limited Partner, or (ii) the General Partner determines, in its sole and absolute discretion, that such payment may be satisfied out of the available funds of the Partnership which would, but for such payment, be distributed to the Limited Partner. Any amounts withheld pursuant to the foregoing clause (i) or (ii) shall be treated as having been distributed (or paid) to such Limited Partner. In the event that a Limited Partner fails to pay any amounts owed to the Partnership pursuant to this Section 10.4 when due, the General Partner may, in its sole and absolute discretion, elect to make the payment to the Partnership on behalf of such defaulting Limited Partner, and in such event shall be deemed to have loaned such amount to such defaulting Limited Partner and shall succeed to all rights and remedies of the Partnership as against such defaulting Limited Partner. Without limitation, in such event the General Partner shall have the right to receive distributions that would otherwise be distributable to such defaulting Limited Partner until such time as such loan, together with all interest thereon, has been paid in full, and any such distributions so received by the General Partner shall be treated as having been distributed to the defaulting Limited Partner and immediately paid by the defaulting Limited Partner to the General Partner in repayment of such loan. Any amounts payable by a Limited Partner hereunder shall bear interest at the lesser of (A) the base rate on corporate loans at large United States money center commercial banks, as published from time to time in The Wall Street Journal, plus four percentage points, or (B) the maximum lawful rate of interest on such obligation, such interest to accrue from the date such amount is due (i.e., 15 days after demand) until such amount is paid in full. Each Limited Partner shall take such actions as the Partnership or the General Partner shall request in order to perfect or enforce the security interest created hereunder. Upon a Limited Partner’s complete withdrawal from the Partnership, such Limited Partner shall be required to restore funds to the Partnership to the extent that the cumulative amount of taxes withheld from or paid on behalf of, or with respect to, such Limited Partner exceeds the sum of such amounts (i) repaid to the Partnership by such Limited Partner, (ii) withheld from distributions to such Limited Partner and (iii) paid by the General Partner on behalf of such Limited Partner.

 

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ARTICLE 11.

TRANSFERS AND WITHDRAWALS

 

Section 11.1.     Transfer

 

A.    The term “transfer,” when used in this Article 11 with respect to a Partnership Unit, shall be deemed to refer to a transaction by which the General Partner purports to assign all or any part of its General Partner Interest to another Person or by which a Limited Partner purports to assign all or any part of its Limited Partner Interest to another Person, and includes a sale, assignment, gift, pledge, encumbrance, hypothecation, mortgage, exchange or any other disposition by law or otherwise. The term “transfer” when used in this Article 11 does not include (i) any redemption of Partnership Interests by the Partnership from a Limited Partner, (ii) any acquisition of Partnership Units from a Limited Partner by the Company pursuant to Section 8.6, or (iii) any distribution of Partnership Units by a Limited Partner to its beneficial owners.

 

B.    No Partnership Interest shall be transferred, in whole or in part, except in accordance with the terms and conditions set forth in this Article 11. Any transfer or purported transfer of a Partnership Interest not made in accordance with this Article 11 shall be null and void.

 

C.    Notwithstanding the other provisions of this Article 11, the Partnership Interests of the Company may be transferred, in whole or in part, at any time or from time to time, to any Person that is, at the time of such transfer, a Qualified REIT Subsidiary. Upon any transfer permitted by this Section 11.1(C), the Company shall be relieved of all its obligations under this Agreement. The provisions of Sections 11.2(B), 11.3, 11.4(A) and 11.5 shall not apply to any transfer permitted by this Section 11.1(C).

 

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Section 11.2.     Transfer of General Partner Interest

 

A.    The General Partner may not transfer any of its General Partner Interest or withdraw as General Partner except as provided in Section 11.2(B) or Section 11.2(C).

 

B.    Except as set forth in Section 11.2(C), the General Partner shall not withdraw from the Partnership and shall not transfer all or any portion of its General Partner Interests in the Partnership (whether by sale, disposition, statutory merger or consolidation, liquidation or otherwise) unless Limited Partners holding a majority of the Percentage Interests of the Limited Partners consent to such transfer or withdrawal. Upon any transfer of the General Partner’s Partnership Interest pursuant to the consent of the Limited Partners and otherwise in accordance with the provisions of this Section 11.2(B), the transferee shall become a successor General Partner for all purposes herein, and shall be vested with the powers and rights of the transferor General Partner, and shall be liable for all obligations and responsible for all duties of the General Partner, once such transferee has executed such instruments as may be necessary to effectuate such admission and to confirm the agreement of such transferee to be bound by all the terms and provisions of this Agreement with respect to the Partnership Interest so acquired. It is a condition to any transfer by the General Partner otherwise permitted hereunder that the transferee assumes, by operation of law or express agreement, all of the obligations of the transferor General Partner under this Agreement with respect to such transferred Partnership Interest; provided, such transfer shall not relieve the transferor General Partner of its obligations under this Agreement without the consent of the Limited Partners. In the event that the General Partner withdraws from the Partnership, in violation of this Agreement or otherwise, the remaining Partners may agree in writing to continue the business of the Partnership by selecting a successor General Partner in accordance with the Act.

 

C.    In the event a Bankruptcy Event occurs with respect to the General Partner, the General Partner shall automatically withdraw from the Partnership, in its role as the General Partner, without any action on the part of the General Partner or any other Person, and shall transfer all of its General Partner Interest in the Partnership to the successor general partner selected by the Limited Partners.

 

Section 11.3.     Limited Partners Rights to Transfer

 

A.    Except as provided in Section 11.3(B), no Limited Partner shall transfer all or any portion of its Partnership Interest to any transferee without the written consent of the General Partner, which consent may be withheld in its sole and absolute discretion; provided, however, that if a Limited Partner is subject to Incapacity, such Incapacitated Limited Partner may transfer all or any portion of its Partnership Interest.

 

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B.    Notwithstanding any other provision of this Article 11, a Limited Partner may transfer all or any portion of its Partnership Interest to any of its Affiliates and such transferee shall be admitted as a Substituted Limited Partner, all without obtaining the consent of the General Partner, unless such Affiliate does not qualify as an “accredited investor” as such term is defined in Rule 501(a) of Regulation D.

 

C.    If a Limited Partner is subject to Incapacity, the executor, administrator, trustee, committee, guardian, conservator or receiver of such Limited Partner’s estate shall have all of the rights of a Limited Partner, but not more rights than those enjoyed by other Limited Partners, for the purpose of settling or managing the estate and such power as the Incapacitated Limited Partner possessed to transfer all or any part of his or its interest in the Partnership. The Incapacity of a Limited Partner, in and of itself, shall not dissolve or terminate the Partnership.

 

D.    Without limiting the generality of Section 11.3(B), the General Partner may prohibit any transfer by a Limited Partner of its Partnership Interest if, in the opinion of legal counsel to the Partnership or the Company, such transfer would require filing of a registration statement under the Securities Act or would otherwise violate any federal or state securities laws or regulations applicable to the Partnership or the Partnership Units.

 

E.    No transfer by a Limited Partner of its Partnership Units may be made to any Person if (i) in the opinion of legal counsel for the Partnership or the Company it could result in the Partnership being treated as an association taxable as a corporation or a publicly traded partnership within the meaning of either Section 469(k)(2) or Section 7704(b) of the Code; (ii) such transfer could be treated as effectuated through an “established securities market” or a “secondary market (or the substantial equivalent thereof)” within the meaning of Section 7704 of the Code; (iii) such transfer could cause the Partnership to become, with respect to any employee benefit plan subject to Title I of ERISA or to Section 4975 of the Code, a “party-in-interest” (as defined in Section 3(14) of ERISA) or a “disqualified person” (as defined in Section 4975(c) of the Code); (iv) such transfer could, in the opinion of legal counsel for the Partnership or the Company, cause any portion of the assets of the Partnership to constitute assets of any employee benefit plan pursuant to Department of Labor Regulations Section 2510.3-101; or (v) such transfer could subject the Partnership to be regulated under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended, or the fiduciary responsibility provisions of ERISA.

 

F.    No transfer of any Partnership Units may be made to a lender to the Partnership or any Person who is related (within the meaning of Section 1.752-4(b) of the Regulations) to any lender to the Partnership whose loan constitutes a Nonrecourse Liability, without the consent of the General Partner, in its sole and absolute discretion.

 

G.    The General Partner shall keep a register for the Partnership on which the transfer, pledge or release of Partnership Units shall be shown and pursuant to which entries shall be made to effect all transfers, pledges or releases as required by the applicable sections of Article 8 of the Uniform Commercial Code, as amended, in effect in the State of Delaware. The General Partner shall (i) place proper entries in such register clearly showing each transfer and each pledge and grant of security interest and the transfer and assignment pursuant thereto, such entries to be endorsed by the General Partner, and (ii) maintain the register and make the register available for inspection by all of the Partners and their pledgees at all times during the term of this Agreement. Nothing herein shall be deemed a consent to any pledge or transfer otherwise prohibited under this Agreement.

 

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Section 11.4.     Substituted Limited Partners

 

A.    No Limited Partner shall have the right to substitute a transferee as a Limited Partner in his or its place except upon consent of the General Partner, which consent may be given or withheld by the General Partner in its sole and absolute discretion. Following such consent of the General Partner, the transferee of the interest of such Limited Partner shall be admitted pursuant to this Section 11.4 as a Substituted Limited Partner. The General Partner’s failure or refusal to permit a transferee of any such interests to become a Substituted Limited Partner shall not give rise to any cause of action against the Partnership or any Partner. A Person shall be admitted to the Partnership as a Substituted Limited Partner only upon the aforementioned consent of the General Partner and the furnishing to the General Partner of (i) evidence of acceptance in form satisfactory to the General Partner of all of the terms and conditions of this Agreement, including, without limitation, the power of attorney granted in Section 2.4 and (ii) such other documents to effect such Person’s admission as a Substituted Limited Partner. The admission of any Person as a Substituted Limited Partner shall become effective on the date upon which the name of such Person is recorded on the books and records of the Partnership, following the consent of the General Partner to such admission.

 

B.    A transferee who has been admitted as a Substituted Limited Partner in accordance with this Article 11 shall have all the rights and powers and be subject to all the restrictions and liabilities of a Limited Partner under this Agreement.

 

C.    Upon the admission of a Substituted Limited Partner, the General Partner shall update the books and records of the Partnership to reflect the name, address, number of Partnership Units and Percentage Interest (as applicable) of such Substituted Limited Partner and to eliminate or adjust, if necessary, the name, address and interest of the predecessor of such Substituted Limited Partner.

 

Section 11.5.     Assignees

 

If the General Partner, in its sole and absolute discretion, does not consent to the admission of any permitted transferee as a Substituted Limited Partner, as described in Section 11.4, such transferee shall be considered an Assignee for purposes of this Agreement. An Assignee shall be deemed to have had assigned to it, and shall be entitled to receive distributions from the Partnership and the share of Net Income, Net Losses, Recapture Income, and any other items, gain, loss, deduction and credit of the Partnership attributable to the Partnership Interest assigned to such transferee, but shall not be deemed to be a holder of a Partnership Interest for any other purpose under this Agreement, and shall not be entitled to vote such Partnership Interest in any matter presented to the Limited Partners for a vote (such Partnership Interest being deemed to have been voted on such matter in the same proportion as all other Partnership Interest held by Limited Partners are voted). In the event any such transferee desires to make a further assignment of any such Partnership Interest, such transferee shall be subject to all of the provisions of this Article 11 to the same extent and in the same manner as any Limited Partner desiring to make an assignment of his or its Partnership Interest.

 

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Section 11.6.     Drag-Along Rights

 

A.    In the event of an Approved Sale, the Partners who approved the Approved Sale (the “Approving Partners”) have the right to require each other Partner (the “Non-Approving Partners”) to transfer all Partnership Units then held by such Non-Approving Partner, free and clear of all liens, security interests or other restrictions of any kind, in accordance with this Section 11.6.

 

B.    In the event of an Approved Sale, the General Partner shall notify each Non-Approving Partner no more than ten Business Days after the execution and delivery by all of the parties thereto of the definitive agreement entered into with respect to the Approved Sale and, in any event, no later than 20 Business Days prior to the closing date of such Approved Sale, and each Non-Approving Partner will, subject to satisfaction of the conditions in Section 11.6(C), (i) if such transaction requires approval by the Partners, with respect to all Partnership Units that such Partner owns or over which such Partner otherwise exercises voting power, to vote (in person, by proxy or by action by written consent, as applicable) all such Partnership Units in favor of, and adopt, such Approved Sale, and to vote in opposition to any and all other proposals that could reasonably be expected to delay or impair the ability of the Partnership to consummate such Sale of the Partnership, (ii) refrain from exercising any dissenter’s rights or rights of appraisal under applicable law at any time with respect to such Approved Sale, and (iii) if the Approved Sale is structured as a sale of Partnership Units, each Non-Approving Partner will agree to sell the same proportion of Partnership Units beneficially held by such Partner as is being sold by the Approving Partners to the Person(s) to whom the Approving Partners propose to sell their Partnership Units, on the same terms and conditions as the Approving Partners.

 

C.    The obligations of the Partners pursuant to this Section 11.6 with respect to an Approved Sale are subject to the following conditions: (i) the aggregate consideration payable upon consummation of such Approved Sale to all of the Partners (the “Aggregate Consideration”) shall be allocated among the Partners as set forth in Section 5.3, (ii) upon the consummation of the Approved Sale, all of the Partners shall receive the same form of consideration per Partnership Unit of the same class or other equity interest, as allocated pursuant to subsection (i) hereof (except that a member of management may, with such Partner’s consent, receive securities pursuant to a management “rollover” which are not offered to all Partners), and (iii) that any indemnification, escrow, holdback and adjustment obligations undertaken by any Partner shall be pro rata among the Partners in proportion to the consideration to be received by the Partners in such Approved Sale; provided that indemnification obligations that relate solely to a particular Partner, such as indemnification with respect to representations and warranties made by a Partner with respect to such Partner (or such Partner’s ownership of Partnership Units) or covenants made by such Partner, shall be borne only by such Partner and shall not be deemed to reduce the Aggregate Consideration.

 

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D.    Subject to the foregoing, each Partner hereby agrees to execute and deliver all related documentation and take such other action in support of the Sale of the Partnership as shall reasonably be requested by the General Partner or the Approving Partners in order to carry out the terms and provision of this Section 11.6 , including without limitation executing and delivering instruments of conveyance and transfer, and any purchase agreement, merger agreement, indemnity agreement, escrow agreement, consent, waiver, governmental filing, share certificates duly endorsed for transfer (free and clear of impermissible liens, claims and encumbrances) and any similar or related documents. Subject to the satisfaction of the conditions in Section 11.6(C), for purposes each Partner (and their respective spouses, if residing in a community property state) hereby appoint the General Partner as their agent and attorney-in-fact to execute any and all documents related in connection with an Approved Sale (including documents granting customary indemnities to a buyer of assets or securities consistent with this Agreement) on their behalf and expressly bind themselves to such document by the General Partner’s execution of such document without further action on their part.

 

Section 11.7.     General Provisions

 

A.    No Limited Partner may withdraw from the Partnership other than as a result of a permitted transfer of all of such Limited Partner’s Partnership Interest in accordance with this Article 11, pursuant to redemption of all of its Partnership Units, or the acquisition thereof by the Company, under Section 8.6.

 

B.    Any Limited Partner who shall transfer all of its Partnership Interest in a transfer permitted pursuant to this Article 11 shall cease to be a Limited Partner upon the admission of all Assignees of such Partnership Interest as Substituted Limited Partners. Similarly, any Limited Partner who shall transfer all of its Partnership Units pursuant to a redemption of all of its Partnership Units, or the acquisition thereof by the Company under Section 8.6 shall cease to be a Limited Partner.

 

C.    Transfers pursuant to this Article 11 may only be made on the first day of a fiscal quarter of the Partnership, unless the General Partner otherwise agrees.

 

D.    If any Partnership Interest is transferred or assigned during any quarterly segment of the Partnership’s fiscal year in compliance with the provisions of this Article 11 or redeemed or transferred pursuant to Section 8.6 on any day other than the first day of a Partnership Year, then Net Income, Net Losses, each item thereof and all other items attributable to such interest for such Partnership Year shall be divided and allocated between the transferor Partner and the transferee Partner by taking into account their varying interests during the Partnership Year in accordance with Section 706(d) of the Code, using the interim closing of the books method. All distributions of Available Cash attributable to such Partnership Interest with respect to which the Partnership Record Date is before the date of such transfer, assignment, or redemption shall be made to the transferor Partner or the Redeeming Partner, as the case may be, and in the case of a transfer or assignment other than a redemption, all distributions of Available Cash thereafter attributable to such Partnership Interest shall be made to the transferee Partner.

 

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ARTICLE 12.

ADMISSION OF PARTNERS

 

Section 12.1.     Admission of Successor General Partner

 

A successor to all of the General Partner Interest pursuant to Section 11.2 who is proposed to be admitted as a successor General Partner shall be admitted to the Partnership as the General Partner, effective immediately prior to such transfer. Any such transferee shall carry on the business of the Partnership without dissolution. In each case, the admission shall be subject to the successor General Partner executing and delivering to the Partnership an acceptance of all of the terms and conditions of this Agreement and such other documents or instruments as may be required to effect the admission. In the case of such admission on any day other than the first day of a Partnership Year, all items attributable to the General Partner Interest for such Partnership Year shall be allocated between the transferring General Partner and such successor as provided in Section 11.6(D).

 

Section 12.2.     Admission of Additional Limited Partners

 

A.    A Person who makes a Capital Contribution to the Partnership in accordance with this Agreement shall be admitted to the Partnership as an Additional Limited Partner only upon furnishing to the General Partner (i) evidence of acceptance in form satisfactory to the General Partner of all of the terms and conditions of this Agreement, including, without limitation, the power of attorney granted in Section 2.4 and (ii) such other documents or instruments as may be required in the discretion of the General Partner in order to effect such Person’s admission as an Additional Limited Partner.

 

B.    Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 12.2, no Person shall be admitted as an Additional Limited Partner without the consent of the General Partner, which consent may be given or withheld in the General Partner’s sole and absolute discretion. The admission of any Person as an Additional Limited Partner shall become effective on the date upon which the name of such Person is recorded on the books and records of the Partnership, following the consent of the General Partner to such admission.

 

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C.    If any Additional Limited Partner is admitted to the Partnership on any day other than the first day of a Partnership Year, then Net Income, Net Losses, each item thereof and all other items allocable among Partners and Assignees for such Partnership Year shall be allocated among such Additional Limited Partner and all other Partners and Assignees by taking into account their varying interests during the Partnership Year in accordance with Section 706(d) of the Code, using the interim closing of the books method. All distributions of Available Cash with respect to which the Partnership Record Date is before the date of such admission shall be made solely to Partners and Assignees, other than such Additional Limited Partner, and all distributions of Available Cash thereafter shall be made to all of the Partners and Assignees, including such Additional Limited Partner.

 

Section 12.3.     Amendment of Agreement and Certificate of Limited Partnership

 

For the admission to the Partnership of any Partner, the General Partner shall take all steps necessary and appropriate under the Act to amend the records of the Partnership and, if necessary, to prepare as soon as practical an amendment of this Agreement and, if required by law, shall prepare and file an amendment to the Certificate and may for this purpose exercise the power of attorney granted pursuant to Section 2.4.

 

ARTICLE 13.

DISSOLUTION, LIQUIDATION AND TERMINATION

 

Section 13.1.     Dissolution

 

The Partnership shall not be dissolved by the admission of Substituted Limited Partners or Additional Limited Partners or by the admission of a successor General Partner in accordance with the terms of this Agreement. Upon the withdrawal of the General Partner, any successor General Partner shall continue the business of the Partnership without dissolution. The Partnership shall dissolve, and its affairs shall be wound up, only upon the first to occur of any of the following (“Liquidating Events”):

 

A.    an election to dissolve the Partnership made by the General Partner with the consent of Partners holding a majority of the Percentage Interests of the Limited Partners;

 

B.    entry of a decree of judicial dissolution of the Partnership pursuant to the provisions of the Act;

 

C.    at any time that there are no limited partners of the Partnership unless the business of the Partnership is continued in accordance with the Act;

 

D.    the sale of all or substantially all of the assets and properties of the Partnership; or

 

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E.    any other event sufficient under the Act to cause the dissolution of the Partnership.

 

Section 13.2.     Winding Up

 

A.    Upon the occurrence of a Liquidating Event, the Partnership shall continue solely for the purposes of winding up its affairs in an orderly manner, liquidating its assets, and satisfying the claims of its creditors and Partners. No Partner shall take any action that is inconsistent with, or not necessary to or appropriate for, the winding up of the Partnership’s business and affairs. The General Partner, or, in the event there is no remaining General Partner, any Person elected by a majority of the Percentage Interests of the Limited Partners (the General Partner or such other Person being referred to herein as the “Liquidator”), shall be responsible for overseeing the winding up and dissolution of the Partnership and shall take full account of the Partnership’s liabilities and property and the Partnership property shall be liquidated as promptly as is consistent with obtaining the fair value thereof, and the proceeds therefrom (which may, to the extent determined by the Liquidator, include REIT Shares of the Company) shall be applied and distributed in the following order:

 

(1)    First, in satisfaction of all of the Partnership’s Debts and liabilities to creditors other than the Partners (whether by payment or the making of reasonable provision for payment thereof);

 

(2)    Second, to the payment and discharge of all of the Partnership’s Debts and liabilities to the General Partner (whether by payment or the making of reasonable provision for payment thereof), including, but not limited to, amounts due as reimbursements under Section 7.4;

 

(3)    Third, to the payment and discharge of all of the Partnership’s Debts and liabilities to the other Partners; and

 

(4)    The balance, if any, to the Partners in accordance with their Capital Accounts, after giving effect to all contributions, distributions, and allocations for all periods.

 

The General Partner shall not receive any additional compensation for any services performed pursuant to this Article 13.

 

B.    Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 13.2(A) which require liquidation of the assets of the Partnership, but subject to the order of priorities set forth therein, if prior to or upon dissolution of the Partnership the Liquidator determines that an immediate sale of part or all of the Partnership’s assets would be impractical or would cause undue loss to the Partners, the Liquidator may, in its sole and absolute discretion, defer for a reasonable time the liquidation of any assets except those necessary to satisfy liabilities of the Partnership (including to those Partners as creditors) and/or distribute to the Partners, in lieu of cash, as tenants in common and in accordance with the provisions of Section 13.2(A), undivided interests in such Partnership assets as the Liquidator deems not suitable for liquidation. Any such distributions in kind shall be made only if, in the good faith judgment of the Liquidator such distributions in kind are in the best interest of the Partners, and shall be subject to such conditions relating to the disposition and management of such properties as the Liquidator deems reasonable and equitable and to any agreements governing the operation of such properties at such time. The Liquidator shall determine the fair market value of any property distributed in kind using such reasonable method of valuation as it may adopt.

 

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C.    In the discretion of the Liquidator a pro rata portion of the distributions that would otherwise be made to the Partners pursuant to this Article 13 may be:

 

(1)    distributed to a trust established for the benefit of the General Partner and Limited Partners for the purposes of liquidating Partnership assets, collecting amounts owed to the Partnership, and paying any contingent or unforeseen liabilities or obligations of the Partnership or the General Partner arising out of or in connection with the Partnership. The assets of any such trust shall be distributed to the General Partner and Limited Partners from time to time, in the reasonable discretion of the Liquidator in the same proportions as the amount distributed to such trust by the Partnership would otherwise have been distributed to the General Partner and Limited Partners pursuant to this Agreement; or

 

(2)    withheld or escrowed to provide a reasonable reserve for Partnership liabilities (contingent or otherwise) and to reflect the unrealized portion of any installment obligations owed to the Partnership; provided, that such withheld or escrowed amounts shall be distributed to the General Partner and Limited Partners in the manner and order of priority set forth in Section 13.2(A) as soon as practicable.

 

Section 13.3.     Deficit Capital Account Restoration Obligation

 

In the event the Partnership or the General Partner’s interest therein (including its interest if any as a Limited Partner) is “liquidated” within the meaning of Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(g), distributions shall be made pursuant to this Article 13 to the General Partner and Limited Partners who have positive Capital Accounts in compliance with Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(b)(3). If any Partner has a deficit balance in its Capital Account (after giving effect to all contributions, distributions and allocations for all taxable years, including the year during which such liquidation occurs), such Partner, if such Partner is a Limited Partner, shall have no obligation to make any contribution to the capital of the Partnership with respect to such deficit, and such deficit shall not be considered a Debt owed to the Partnership or to any other Person for any purpose whatsoever, except to the extent otherwise expressly agreed to by such Limited Partner and the Partnership; provided, however, that such Partner, if such Partner is the General Partner, shall contribute to the capital of the Partnership the amount necessary to restore such deficit balance to zero in compliance with Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(b)(3).

 

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Section 13.4.     Deemed Contribution and Distribution

 

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Article 13, in the event the Partnership is “liquidated” within the meaning of Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(g), but no Liquidating Event has occurred, the Partnership’s property shall not be liquidated, the Partnership’s liabilities shall not be paid or discharged, and the Partnership’s affairs shall not be wound up. Instead, for federal income tax purposes and for purposes of maintaining Capital Accounts pursuant to Exhibit A hereto, the Partnership shall be deemed to have contributed all Partnership property and liabilities to a new limited partnership in exchange for an interest in such new limited partnership and, immediately thereafter, the Partnership will be deemed to liquidate by distributing interests in the new limited partnership to the Partners.

 

Section 13.5.     Rights of Limited Partners

 

Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, each Limited Partner shall look solely to the assets of the Partnership for the return of its Capital Contributions and shall have no right or power to demand or receive property other than cash from the Partnership. Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, no Limited Partner shall have priority over any other Partner as to the return of its Capital Contributions, distributions, or allocations.

 

Section 13.6.     Notice of Dissolution

 

In the event a Liquidating Event occurs, or an event occurs that would result in a dissolution of the Partnership, the General Partner shall, within 30 days thereafter, provide written notice thereof to each of the Partners.

 

Section 13.7.     Termination of Partnership and Cancellation of Certificate of Limited Partnership

 

Upon the completion of the winding up of the Partnership and liquidation of its assets, as provided in Section 13.2, the Partnership shall be terminated by filing a certificate of cancellation with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware, canceling all qualifications of the Partnership as a foreign limited partnership in jurisdictions other than the State of Delaware and taking such other actions as may be necessary to terminate the Partnership.

 

Section 13.8.     Reasonable Time for Winding Up

 

A reasonable time shall be allowed for the orderly winding-up of the business and affairs of the Partnership and the liquidation of its assets pursuant to Section 13.2, in order to minimize any losses otherwise attendant upon such winding up, and the provisions of this Agreement shall remain in effect among the Partners during the period of liquidation.

 

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Section 13.9.     Waiver of Partition

 

No Partner nor any successor-in-interest to a Partner shall have the right while this Agreement remains in effect to have any property of the Partnership partitioned, or to file a complaint or institute any proceeding at law or in equity to have such property of the Partnership partitioned, and each Partner, on behalf of itself and its successors and assigns hereby waives any such right. It is the intention of the Partners that the rights of the parties hereto and their successors-in-interest to Partnership property, as among themselves, shall be governed by the terms of this Agreement, and that the rights of the Partners and their respective successors-in-interest shall be subject to the limitations and restrictions as set forth in this Agreement.

 

ARTICLE 14.

AMENDMENT OF PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT; MEETINGS

 

Section 14.1.     Amendment of Partnership Agreement

 

A.    A proposed amendment shall be adopted and be effective as an amendment hereto if it is approved by the General Partner.

 

B.    Notwithstanding Section 14.1(A), this Agreement shall not be amended without the consent of each Partner materially adversely affected if such amendment would (i) convert a Limited Partner Interest in the Partnership into a General Partner Interest; (ii) modify the limited liability of a Limited Partner in a manner materially adverse to such Limited Partner; (iii) alter rights of such Partner to receive distributions pursuant to Article 5 or Article 13, or the allocations specified in Article 6 (except as permitted pursuant to Section 4.2) in a manner materially adverse to such Partner; or (vi) amend this Section 14.1(B); provided, however, that the consent of each Partner materially adversely affected shall not be required for any amendment or action that affects all Partners holding the same class or series of Partnership Units on a uniform or pro rata basis. Any amendment consented to by any Partner shall be effective as to that Partner, notwithstanding the absence of such consent by any other Partner.

 

Section 14.2.     Meetings of the Partners

 

A.    Meetings of the Partners may be called by the General Partner and shall be called upon the receipt by the General Partner of a written request by the Limited Partners (other than the Company) holding 20% or more of the Partnership Interests. The request shall state the nature of the business to be transacted. Notice of any such meeting shall be given to all Partners not less than seven days nor more than 30 days prior to the date of such meeting. Partners may vote in person or by proxy at such meeting. Except as otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement, the consent of holders of a majority of the Percentage Interests held by Limited Partners shall control.

 

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B.    Any action required or permitted to be taken at a meeting of the Partners may be taken without a meeting if a written consent setting forth the action so taken is signed by a majority of the Percentage Interests of the Partners (or such other percentage as is expressly required by this Agreement). Such consent may be in one instrument or in several instruments, and shall have the same force and effect as a vote of a majority of the Percentage Interests of the Partners (or such other percentage as is expressly required by this Agreement). Such consent shall be filed with the General Partner. An action so taken shall be deemed to have been taken at a meeting held on the effective date so certified.

 

C.    Each Limited Partner may authorize any Person or Persons to act for him by proxy on all matters in which a Limited Partner is entitled to participate, including waiving notice of any meeting, or voting or participating at a meeting. Every proxy must be signed by the Limited Partner or his or its attorney-in-fact. No proxy shall be valid after the expiration of 11 months from the date thereof unless otherwise provided in the proxy. Every proxy shall be revocable at the pleasure of the Limited Partner executing it, such revocation to be effective upon the Partnership’s receipt of written notice of such revocation from the Limited Partner executing such proxy.

 

D.    Each meeting of the Partners shall be conducted by the General Partner or such other Person as the General Partner may appoint pursuant to such rules for the conduct of the meeting as the General Partner or such other Person deems appropriate. Without limitation, meetings of Partners may be conducted in the same manner as meetings of the shareholders of the Company and may be held at the same time, and as part of, meetings of the shareholders of the Company.

 

ARTICLE 15.

GENERAL PROVISIONS

 

Section 15.1.     Addresses and Notice

 

Any notice, demand, request or report required or permitted to be given or made to a Partner or Assignee under this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed given or made when delivered in person or when sent by first class United States mail or by other means of written communication to such Partner or Assignee at the address provided by or on behalf of such Partner or Assignee or such other address of which such Partner shall notify the General Partner in writing.

 

Section 15.2.     Titles and Captions

 

All article or section titles or captions in this Agreement are for convenience only. They shall not be deemed part of this Agreement and in no way define, limit, extend or describe the scope or intent of any provisions hereof. Except as specifically provided otherwise, references to “Articles” and “Sections” are to Articles and Sections of this Agreement.

 

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Section 15.3.     Pronouns and Plurals

 

Whenever the context may require, any pronoun used in this Agreement shall include the corresponding masculine, feminine or neutral forms, and the singular form of nouns, pronouns and verbs shall include the plural and vice versa.

 

Section 15.4.     Further Action

 

The parties shall execute and deliver all documents, provide all information and take or refrain from taking action as may be necessary or appropriate to achieve the purposes of this Agreement.

 

Section 15.5.     Binding Effect

 

This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their heirs, executors, administrators, successors, legal representatives and permitted assigns.

 

Section 15.6.     Creditors

 

The provisions of this Agreement are solely for the purpose of defining the interests of the Partners, inter se; and no other Person (i.e., a party who is not a signatory hereto or a permitted successor to such signatory hereto) shall have any right, power, title or interest by way of subrogation or otherwise, in and to the rights, powers, title and provisions of this Agreement; provided, that Indemnitees are intended third-party beneficiaries of Section 7.7. No creditor or other third party having dealings with the Partnership shall have the right to enforce the right or obligation of any Partner to make Capital Contributions or loans to the Partnership or to pursue any other right or remedy hereunder or at law or in equity. None of the rights or obligations of the Partners herein set forth to make Capital Contributions or loans to the Partnership shall be deemed an asset of the Partnership for any purpose by any creditor or other third party, nor may any such rights or obligations be sold, transferred or assigned by the Partnership or pledged or encumbered by the Partnership to secure any Debt or other obligation of the Partnership or any of the Partners.

 

Section 15.7.     Waiver

 

No failure by any party to insist upon the strict performance of any covenant, duty, agreement or condition of this Agreement or to exercise any right or remedy consequent upon a breach thereof shall constitute a waiver of any such breach or any other covenant, duty, agreement or condition.

 

Section 15.8.     Counterparts

 

This Agreement may be executed in counterparts, all of which together shall constitute one agreement binding on all of the parties hereto, notwithstanding that all such parties are not signatories to the original or the same counterpart. Each party shall become bound by this Agreement immediately upon affixing his or its signature hereto.

 

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Section 15.9.     Applicable Law

 

This Agreement shall be construed and enforced in accordance with and governed by the laws of the State of Delaware, without regard to the principles of conflict of laws. In the event of a conflict between any provision of this Agreement and any non-mandatory provision of the Act, the provisions of this Agreement shall control and take precedence.

 

Section 15.10.     Invalidity of Provisions; Consent to Jurisdiction; Waiver of Jury Trial

 

A.    If any provision of this Agreement is or becomes invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions contained herein shall not be affected thereby.

 

B.    EACH PARTNER AND ASSIGNEE HEREBY (I) SUBMITS TO THE EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OF ANY STATE OR FEDERAL COURT SITTING IN THE STATE OF DELAWARE (COLLECTIVELY, THE DELAWARE COURTS), WITH RESPECT TO ANY DISPUTE ARISING OUT OF THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY TRANSACTION CONTEMPLATED HEREBY TO THE EXTENT SUCH COURTS WOULD HAVE SUBJECT MATTER JURISDICTION WITH RESPECT TO SUCH DISPUTE, (II) TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, AND AGREES NOT TO ASSERT BY WAY OF MOTION, DEFENSE, OR OTHERWISE, IN ANY SUCH ACTION, ANY CLAIM THAT IT IS NOT SUBJECT PERSONALLY TO THE JURISDICTION OF ANY OF THE DELAWARE COURTS, THAT ITS PROPERTY IS EXEMPT OR IMMUNE FROM ATTACHMENT OR EXECUTION, THAT THE ACTION IS BROUGHT IN AN INCONVENIENT FORUM, OR THAT THE VENUE OF THE ACTION IS IMPROPER, (III) TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, AGREES THAT NOTICE OR THE SERVICE OF PROCESS IN ANY ACTION, SUIT OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY SHALL BE PROPERLY SERVED OR DELIVERED IF DELIVERED TO SUCH PARTNER OR ASSIGNEE AT SUCH PARTNERS OR ASSIGNEES LAST KNOWN ADDRESS AS SET FORTH IN THE PARTNERSHIPS BOOKS AND RECORDS, AND (IV) TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ANY AND ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATED TO THIS AGREEMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY.

 

Section 15.11.     Entire Agreement

 

This Agreement contains the entire understanding and agreement among the Partners with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes any other prior written or oral understandings or agreements among them with respect thereto.

 

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Section 15.12.     Legal Counsel Relationships

 

The Partners acknowledge and agree that Winston & Strawn LLP has only represented the Company in connection with this Agreement and the other transactions related hereto (the “Transactions”). Each Limited Partner, other than the Company, is relying solely on his or its own tax and legal advisors, and not Winston & Strawn LLP, with respect to the tax and other legal aspects of his, her or its investment in the Partnership. Further, except for Winston & Strawn LLP’s representation of the Company with respect to the Transactions, or as may otherwise expressly be agreed in writing by Winston & Strawn LLP, in no event shall an attorney-client relationship exist between Winston & Strawn LLP on the one hand and any other Limited Partner and/or their Affiliates, on the other hand. The Limited Partners further agree and consent that Winston & Strawn LLP shall be permitted to render legal advice and to provide legal services to any Limited Partner or the Partnership from time to time, and each Limited Partner covenants and agrees that such representation of a Limited Partner or the Partnership by such firm from time to time shall not disqualify such firm from providing legal advice and legal services to their respective client Limited Partners or Affiliates in matters related or unrelated to this Agreement.

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as of the date first written above.

 

 

GENERAL PARTNER:

 

     
  NexPoint Diversified Real Estate Trust OP GP, LLC  
     

 

By: NexPoint Diversified Real Estate Trust, its sole member

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Dustin Norris

 

 

Name:

Dustin Norris

 

 

Title: 

Executive Vice President

 

 

 

 

[Signature Page to Limited Partnership Agreement of
NexPoint Diversified Real Estate Trust Operating Partnership, L.P.]


 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as of the date first written above.

 

 

LIMITED PARTNER

 

     
     
  NexPoint Diversified Real Estate Trust  

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Dustin Norris

 

 

Name:

Dustin Norris

 

 

Title:

Executive Vice President

 

 

 

 

[Signature Page to Limited Partnership Agreement of
NexPoint Diversified Real Estate Trust Operating Partnership, L.P.]

 

 

EXHIBIT A

CAPITAL ACCOUNT MAINTENANCE

 

1.

Capital Accounts of the Partners

 

A.    The Partnership shall maintain for each Partner (and, to the extent necessary to effectuate the provisions of this Agreement, for each Partner’s interest in a specific class or series (or specified group of classes and/or series)) a separate Capital Account in accordance with the rules of Regulations Section 1.704-l(b)(2)(iv). Such Capital Account shall be increased by (i) the amount of all Capital Contributions and any other deemed contributions made by such Partner to the Partnership pursuant to the Agreement; and (ii) all items of Partnership income and gain (including income and gain exempt from tax) computed in accordance with Section 1.B and allocated to such Partner pursuant to Section 6.1(A) of the Agreement and Exhibit B of the Agreement, and decreased by (x) the amount of cash or Agreed Value of all actual and deemed distributions of cash or property made to such Partner pursuant to the Agreement, and (y) all items of Partnership deduction and loss computed in accordance with Section 1.B and allocated to such Partner pursuant to Section 6.1.B of the Agreement and Exhibit B of the Agreement.

 

B.    For purposes of computing the amount of any item of income, gain, deduction or loss (including “Net Income” or “Net Loss”) to be reflected in the Partners’ Capital Accounts, unless otherwise specified in the Agreement, the determination, recognition and classification of any such item shall be the same as its determination, recognition and classification for federal income tax purposes determined in accordance with Section 703(a) of the Code (for this purpose all items of income, gain, loss or deduction required to be stated separately pursuant to Section 703(a)(1) of the Code shall be included in taxable income or loss), with the following adjustments:

 

(1)    Except as otherwise provided in Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(m), the computation of all items of income, gain, loss and deduction shall be made without regard to any election under Section 754 of the Code which may be made by the Partnership; provided, that the amounts of any adjustments to the adjusted bases of the assets of the Partnership made pursuant to Section 734 of the Code as a result of the distribution of property by the Partnership to a Partner (to the extent that such adjustments have not previously been reflected in the Partners’ Capital Accounts) shall be reflected in the Capital Accounts of the Partners in the manner and subject to the limitations prescribed in Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(m)(4).

 

(2)    The computation of all items of income, gain, and deduction shall be made without regard to the fact that items described in Sections 705(a)(1)(B) or 705(a)(2)(B) of the Code are not includable in gross income or are neither currently deductible nor capitalized for federal income tax purposes.

 

A-1

 

(3)    Any income, gain or loss attributable to the taxable disposition of any Partnership property shall be determined as if the adjusted basis of such property as of such date of disposition were equal in amount to the Partnership’s Carrying Value with respect to such property as of such date.

 

(4)    In lieu of the depreciation, amortization, and other cost recovery deductions taken into account in computing such taxable income or loss, there shall be taken into account Depreciation for such fiscal year.

 

(5)    In the event the Carrying Value of any Partnership asset is adjusted pursuant to Section 1.D, the amount of any such adjustment shall be taken into account as gain or loss from the disposition of such asset.

 

(6)    Any income of the Partnership that is exempt from federal income tax and not otherwise taken into account in computing Net Income or Net Loss pursuant to this definition shall be added to such taxable income or loss.

 

(7)    Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section 1.B, any items that are specially allocated pursuant to Exhibit B of the Agreement shall not be taken into account for purposes of computing Net Income or Net Loss.

 

The amounts of the items of Partnership income, gain, loss or deduction available to be specially allocated pursuant to Exhibit B of the Agreement shall be determined by applying rules analogous to those set forth in Sections 1.B(1) through 1.B(5) above.

 

C.    Generally, a transferee (including an Assignee) of a Partnership Unit shall succeed to a pro rata portion of the Capital Account of the transferor.

 

D.   (1) Consistent with the provisions of Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(f), and as provided in Section 1.D(2), the Carrying Value of all Partnership assets shall be adjusted upward or downward to reflect any Unrealized Gain or Unrealized Loss attributable to such Partnership property, as of the times of the adjustments provided in Section 1.D(2), as if such Unrealized Gain or Unrealized Loss had been recognized on an actual sale of each such property and allocated pursuant to Section 6.1 of the Agreement.

 

(2)    Such adjustments shall be made as of the following times: (a) immediately prior to the acquisition of an additional interest in the Partnership by any new or existing Partner in exchange for more than a de minimis Capital Contribution; (b) immediately prior to the distribution by the Partnership to a Partner of more than a de minimis amount of property as consideration for an interest in the Partnership; (c) in connection with the grant of an interest in the Partnership (other than a de minimis interest), as consideration for the provision of services to or for the benefit of the Partnership by an existing Partner acting in a partner capacity or by a new partner acting in a partner capacity or in anticipation of being a partner; (d) the issuance of any LTIP Units; and (e) immediately prior to the liquidation of the Partnership within the meaning of Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(g); provided, however, that adjustments pursuant to clauses (a), (b) (c) and (d) above shall be made only if the General Partner determines that such adjustments are necessary or appropriate to reflect the relative economic interests of the Partners in the Partnership.

 

A-2

 

(3)    In accordance with Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(e), the Carrying Value of Partnership assets distributed in kind shall be adjusted upward or downward to reflect any Unrealized Gain or Unrealized Loss attributable to such Partnership property, as of the time any such asset is distributed.

 

(4)    The Carrying Value of Partnership assets shall be increased (or decreased) to reflect any adjustments to the adjusted basis of such assets pursuant to Section 734(b) or Section 743(b) of the Code, but only to the extent that such adjustments are taken into account in determining Capital Accounts pursuant to Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(m) and Section 1.B(1) or Section 1.F of Exhibit B of the Agreement; provided, however, that Carrying Values shall not be adjusted pursuant to this Section 1.D(4) to the extent that an adjustment pursuant to Section 1.D(2) is required in connection with a transaction that would otherwise result in an adjustment pursuant to this Section 1.D(4).

 

(5)    In determining Unrealized Gain or Unrealized Loss for purposes of this Exhibit A, the aggregate cash amount and fair market value of all Partnership assets (including cash or cash equivalents) shall be determined by the General Partner using such reasonable method of valuation as it may adopt, or in the case of a liquidating distribution pursuant to Article 13 of the Agreement, shall be determined and allocated by the Liquidator using such reasonable method of valuation as it may adopt. The General Partner, or the Liquidator, as the case may be, shall allocate such aggregate value among the assets of the Partnership (in such manner as it determines in its sole and absolute discretion to arrive at a fair market value for individual properties).

 

If the Carrying Value of an asset has been determined or adjusted pursuant to Section 1.B(2) or Section 1.B(4) of this Exhibit A, such Carrying Value shall thereafter be adjusted by the Depreciation taken into account with respect to such asset, for purposes of computing Net Income and Net Loss.

 

E.    The initial Capital Account attributable to a Capital LTIP Unit shall equal the Capital Account attributable to a Common Unit determined immediately following the adjustment to the Carrying Value of Partnership assets pursuant to Section 1.D of this Exhibit A in connection with the issuance of such Capital LTIP Unit. The initial Capital Account attributable to a Profits LTIP Unit shall equal zero.

 

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F.    The provisions of the Agreement (including this Exhibit A and other Exhibits to the Agreement) relating to the maintenance of Capital Accounts are intended to comply with Regulations Section 1.704-l(b), and shall be interpreted and applied in a manner consistent with such Regulations. In the event the General Partner shall determine that it is prudent to modify (i) the manner in which the Capital Accounts, or any debits or credits thereto (including, without limitation, debits or credits relating to liabilities which are secured by contributed or distributed property or which are assumed by the Partnership, the General Partner, or the Limited Partners) are computed; or (ii) the manner in which items are allocated among the Partners for federal income tax purposes, in order to comply with such Regulations or to comply with Section 704(c) of the Code, the General Partner may make such modification without regard to Article 14 of the Agreement; provided, that it is not likely to have a material effect on the amounts distributable to any Person pursuant to Article 13 of the Agreement upon the dissolution of the Partnership. The General Partner also shall (i) make any adjustments that are necessary or appropriate to maintain equality between the Capital Accounts of the Partners and the amount of Partnership capital reflected on the Partnership’s balance sheet, as computed for book purposes, in accordance with Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(q); and (ii) make any appropriate modifications in the event unanticipated events might otherwise cause the Agreement not to comply with Regulations Section 1.704-1(b). In addition, the General Partner may adopt and employ such methods and procedures for (i) the maintenance of book and tax capital accounts; (ii) the determination and allocation of adjustments under Sections 704(c), 734 and 743 of the Code; (iii) the determination of Net Income, Net Loss, taxable income, taxable loss and items thereof under the Agreement and pursuant to the Code; (iv) the adoption of reasonable conventions and methods for the valuation of assets and the determination of tax basis; (v) the allocation of asset value and tax basis; and (vi) conventions for the determination of cost recovery, depreciation and amortization deductions, as it determines in its sole discretion are necessary or appropriate to execute the provisions of the Agreement, to comply with federal and state tax laws, and are in the best interest of the Partners.

 

2.

No Interest

 

No interest shall be paid by the Partnership on Capital Contributions or on balances in Partners’ Capital Accounts.

 

3.

No Withdrawal

 

No Partner shall be entitled to withdraw any part of his or its Capital Contribution or his or its Capital Account or to receive any distribution from the Partnership, except as provided in Articles 4, 5, 7 and 13 of the Agreement.

 

4.

Special Allocations in Connection with a Liquidating Event

 

The Partners intend that the allocation of Net Income, Net Loss and other items of income, gain, loss, deduction and credit required to be allocated to the Capital Accounts of the Partners pursuant to the Agreement will result in final Capital Account balances that will permit the amount each Partner is entitled to receive upon “liquidation” of the Partnership (within the meaning of Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(g) of the Treasury Regulations) to equal the amount such Partner would have received if such amount was distributable pro rata in accordance with the Partners’ respective Percentage Interests (other than a holder of Profits LTIP Units with respect to Profits LTIP Units for which the Target Balance has not been achieved without regard to this Section 4 of this Exhibit A). Accordingly, notwithstanding the provisions of Section 6.1(a) and Section 6.1(b) of the Agreement, in the taxable year of the event precipitating a Liquidating Event and thereafter, appropriate adjustments to allocations of Net Income and Net Losses (and items thereof) to the Partners shall be made to achieve such result to the maximum extent possible; provided, however, in no event shall the balance of the Capital Account balance of a holder of Profits LTIP Units (to the extent attributable to such Profits LTIP Units) for which the Target Balance has not been achieved without regard to this Section 4 of this Exhibit A be increased to an amount excess of the balance that would result without regard to this Section 4 of this Exhibit A.

 

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EXHIBIT B

SPECIAL ALLOCATION RULES; OTHER TAX MATTERS

 

 

1.

Special Allocation Rules

 

Notwithstanding any other provision of the Agreement or this Exhibit B, the following special allocations shall be made:

 

A.    Minimum Gain Chargeback. Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 6.1 of the Agreement or any other provisions of this Exhibit B, if there is a net decrease in Partnership Minimum Gain during any Partnership taxable year, then, subject to the exceptions set forth in Regulations Sections 1.704-2(f)(2)-(5), each Partner shall be specially allocated items of Partnership income and gain for such year (and, if necessary, subsequent years) in an amount equal to such Partner’s share of the net decrease in Partnership Minimum Gain, as determined under Regulations Section 1.704-2(g). Allocations pursuant to the previous sentence shall be made in proportion to the respective amounts required to be allocated to each Partner pursuant thereto. The items to be so allocated shall be determined in accordance with Regulations Section 1.704-2(f)(6). This Section 1.A is intended to comply with the minimum gain chargeback requirements in Regulations Section 1.704-2(f) and shall be interpreted consistently therewith. Solely for purposes of this Section 1.A, each Partner’s Adjusted Capital Account Deficit shall be determined prior to any other allocations pursuant to Section 6.1 of the Agreement with respect to such Partnership taxable year and without regard to any decrease of Partner Minimum Gain during such Partnership taxable year.

 

B.    Partner Minimum Gain Chargeback. Notwithstanding any other provision of Section 6.1 of the Agreement or any other provisions of this Exhibit B (except Section 1.A), if there is a net decrease in Partner Minimum Gain attributable to a Partner Nonrecourse Debt during any Partnership taxable year, then, subject to the exceptions referred to in Regulations Section 1.704-2(i)(4), each Partner who has a share of the Partner Minimum Gain attributable to such Partner Nonrecourse Debt, determined in accordance with Regulations Section 1.704-2(i)(5), shall be specially allocated items of Partnership income and gain for such year (and, if necessary, subsequent years) in an amount equal to such Partner’s share of the net decrease in Partner Minimum Gain attributable to such Partner Nonrecourse Debt, determined in accordance with Regulations Section 1.704-2(i)(5). Allocations pursuant to the previous sentence shall be made in proportion to the respective amounts required to be allocated to each Partner pursuant thereto. The items to be so allocated shall be determined in accordance with Regulations Section 1.704-2(i)(4). This Section 1.B is intended to comply with the minimum gain chargeback requirement in such section of the Regulations and shall be interpreted consistently therewith. Solely for purposes of this Section 1.B, each Partner’s Adjusted Capital Account Deficit shall be determined prior to any other allocations pursuant to Section 6.1 of the Agreement or this Exhibit with respect to such Partnership taxable year, other than allocations pursuant to Section 1.A.

 

B-1

 

C.    Qualified Income Offset. In the event any Partner unexpectedly receives any adjustments, allocations or distributions described in Regulations Sections 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d)(4), 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d)(5), or 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d)(6), and after giving effect to the allocations required under Sections 1.A and 1.B such Partner has an Adjusted Capital Account Deficit, items of Partnership income and gain (consisting of a pro rata portion of each item of Partnership income, including gross income and gain for the Partnership taxable year) shall be specially allocated to such Partner in an amount and manner sufficient to eliminate, to the extent required by the Regulations, its Adjusted Capital Account Deficit created by such adjustments, allocations or distributions as quickly as possible; provided, that an allocation pursuant to this Section 1.C shall be made only if and to the extent that such Partner would have an Adjusted Capital Account Deficit after all other allocations provided for in Section 6.1 of the Agreement or any other provisions of this Exhibit B have been tentatively made as if this Section 1.C were not in this Agreement. This Section 1.C is intended to constitute a qualified income offset under Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d) and shall be interpreted consistently therewith.

 

D.    Nonrecourse Deductions. Nonrecourse Deductions for any Partnership taxable year shall be allocated to the Partners in accordance with their respective Percentage Interests. If the General Partner determines in its good faith discretion that the Partnership’s Nonrecourse Deductions must be allocated in a different ratio to satisfy the safe harbor requirements of the Regulations promulgated under Section 704(b) of the Code, the General Partner is authorized, upon notice to the Limited Partners, to revise the prescribed ratio to the numerically closest ratio for such Partnership taxable year which would satisfy such requirements.

 

E.    Partner Nonrecourse Deductions. Any Partner Nonrecourse Deductions for any Partnership taxable year shall be specially allocated to the Partner who bears the economic risk of loss with respect to the Partner Nonrecourse Debt to which such Partner Nonrecourse Deductions are attributable in accordance with Regulations Section 1.704-2(i).

 

F.    Code Section 754 Adjustments. To the extent an adjustment to the adjusted tax basis of any Partnership asset pursuant to Section 734(b) or 743(b) of the Code is required, pursuant to Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(m), to be taken into account in determining Capital Accounts, the amount of such adjustment to the Capital Accounts shall be treated as an item of gain (if the adjustment increases the basis of the asset) or loss (if the adjustment decreases such basis), and such item of gain or loss shall be specially allocated to the Partners in a manner consistent with the manner in which their Capital Accounts are required to be adjusted pursuant to such section of the Regulations.

 

G.    Curative Allocations. The allocations set forth in Section 1.A through 1.F of this Exhibit B (the “Regulatory Allocations”) are intended to comply with certain requirements of the Regulations under Section 704(b) of the Code. The Regulatory Allocations may not be consistent with the manner in which the Partners intend to divide Partnership distributions. Accordingly, the General Partner is hereby authorized to divide other allocations of income, gain, deduction and loss among the Partners so as to prevent the Regulatory Allocations from distorting the manner in which Partnership distributions will be divided among the Partners. In general, the Partners anticipate that, if necessary, this will be accomplished by specially allocating other items of income, gain, loss and deduction among the Partners so that the net amount of the Regulatory Allocations and such special allocations to each person is zero. However, the General Partner will have discretion to accomplish this result in any reasonable manner; provided, however, that no allocation pursuant to this Section 1.G shall cause the Partnership to fail to comply with the requirements of Regulations Sections 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d), -2(e) or -2(i).

 

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H.    Profits LTIP Unit Allocations. After giving effect to the special allocations set forth in Section 1.A and Section 1.B of this Exhibit B, and the allocations of Net Income under Section 6.1(a)(1) and Section 6.1(a)(2) (including, for the avoidance of doubt, Liquidating Gains that are a component of Net Income) of the Agreement, and subject to the other provisions of this Exhibit B, but before allocations are made under Section 6.1(a)(3) of the Agreement:

 

(1)    Any remaining Liquidating Gains shall first be allocated among the Partners so as to cause, as nearly as possible, the Economic Capital Account Balances of the Profits LTIP Unit holders, to the extent attributable to their ownership of Profits LTIP Units, to be equal to (i) the Company Common Unit Economic Balance, multiplied by (ii) the number of their Profits LTIP Units (with respect to each Profits LTIP Unit holder, the “Target Balance”); provided that no such Liquidating Gains will be allocated with respect to any particular Profits LTIP Unit unless and to the extent that such Liquidating Gains, when aggregated with other Liquidating Gains realized since the issuance of such Profits LTIP Unit, exceed Liquidating Losses realized since the issuance of such Profits LTIP Unit. Any such allocations shall be made among the Partners in proportion to the aggregate amounts required to be allocated to each Partner under this Section 1.H.1 of this Exhibit B.

 

(2)    After giving effect to the special allocations set forth above, if, due to distributions with respect to Common Units in which the Profits LTIP Units do not participate, forfeitures or otherwise, the Economic Capital Account Balance of any present or former holder of Profits LTIP Units attributable to such holder’s Profits LTIP Units, exceeds the Target Balance, then Liquidating Losses shall be allocated to such holder, or Liquidating Gains shall be allocated to the other Partners, to reduce or eliminate the disparity; provided, however, that if Liquidating Losses or Liquidating Gains are insufficient to completely eliminate all such disparities, such losses or gains shall be allocated among Partners in a manner reasonably determined by the General Partner.

 

B-3

 

(3)    The parties agree that the intent of this Section 1.H of this Exhibit B is

 

 

(a)

to the extent possible to make the Economic Capital Account Balance associated with each Profits LTIP Unit economically equivalent to the Company Common Unit Economic Balance and (ii) to allow conversion of a Profits LTIP Unit (assuming prior vesting) into a Common Unit when sufficient Liquidating Gains have been allocated to such Profits LTIP Unit pursuant to Section 1.H.1 of this Exhibit B so that either its initial Book-Up Target has been reduced to zero or the parity described in the definition of Target Balance has been achieved. The General Partner shall be permitted to interpret this Section 1.H of this Exhibit B or to amend this Agreement to the extent necessary and consistent with this intention.

 

 

(b)

In the event that Liquidating Gains or Liquidating Losses are allocated under this Section 1.H of this Exhibit B, Net Income allocable under Section 6.1(a)(3) of the Agreement and any Net Loss shall be recomputed without regard to the Liquidating Gains or Liquidating Losses so allocated.

 

I.    Forfeiture Allocations

 

(1)    Subject to Section 1.I(2) of this Exhibit B, if any holder forfeits (or has repurchased at less than fair market value) all or a portion of such holder’s Partnership Units, the Partnership shall make forfeiture allocations to such holder in the manner and to the extent required by proposed Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(4)(xii) (as such proposed Regulations may be amended or modified, including upon the issuance of temporary or final Treasury Regulations).

 

(2)    If a Profits LTIP Unit holder forfeits any Profits LTIP Units to which Liquidating Gain has previously be allocated pursuant to Section 1.H of this Exhibit B, (i) the portion of such holders Capital Account attributable to such Liquidating Gain allocated to such forfeited Profits LTIP Units shall be re-allocated to such holder’s remaining Profits LTIP Units that were outstanding on the date of the initial allocation of such Liquidating Gain to the extent necessary to cause such holders Economic Capital Account Balance attributable to each such Profits LTIP Unit to equal the Company Common Unit Economic Balance, and (ii) forfeiture allocations shall be made pursuant to Section 1.I(1) of this Exhibit B with respect to the amount of any such Liquidating Gain not re-allocated pursuant to clause (i) above (and the Capital Account attributable to the forfeited Profits LTIP Units that is not so reallocated or reduced to zero through forfeiture allocations shall be reduced to zero).

 

2.

Allocations for Tax Purposes

 

A.    Except as otherwise provided in this Section 2, for federal income tax purposes, each item of income, gain, loss and deduction shall be allocated among the Partners in the same manner as its correlative item of “book” income, gain, loss or deduction is allocated pursuant to Section 6.1 of the Agreement and Section 1 of this Exhibit B.

 

B-4

 

B.    In an attempt to eliminate Book-Tax Disparities attributable to a Contributed Property or Adjusted Property, items of income, gain, loss, and deduction shall be allocated for federal income tax purposes among the Partners as follows:

 

(1)       (a)       In the case of a Contributed Property, such items attributable thereto shall be allocated among the Partners, consistent with the principles of Section 704(c) of the Code and the Regulations thereunder, and with the procedures and methods described in Section 10.2 of the Agreement, to take into account the variation between the 704(c) Value of such property and its adjusted basis at the time of contribution; and

 

 

(b)

any item of Residual Gain or Residual Loss attributable to a Contributed Property shall be allocated among the Partners in the same manner as its correlative item of “book” gain or loss is allocated pursuant to Section 6.1 of the Agreement and Section 1 of this Exhibit B.

 

(2)       (a)       In the case of an Adjusted Property, such items shall

 

(1)    first, be allocated among the Partners in a manner consistent with the principles of Section 704(c) of the Code and the Regulations thereunder to take into account the Unrealized Gain or Unrealized Loss attributable to such property and the allocations thereof pursuant to this Exhibit B; and

 

(2)    second, in the event such property was originally a Contributed Property, be allocated among the Partners in a manner consistent with Section 2.B(1) of this Exhibit B; and

 

 

(b)

any item of Residual Gain or Residual Loss attributable to an Adjusted Property shall be allocated among the Partners in the same manner as its correlative item of “book” gain or loss is allocated pursuant to Section 6.1 of the Agreement and Section 1 of this Exhibit B.

 

C.    To the extent that the Treasury Regulations promulgated pursuant to Section 704(c) of the Code permit the Partnership to utilize alternative methods to eliminate the disparities between the Carrying Value of property and its adjusted basis, the General Partner shall have the authority to elect the method to be used by the Partnership and such election shall be binding on all Partners.

 

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3.

No Withdrawal

 

No Partner shall be entitled to withdraw any part of its Capital Contribution or its Capital Account or to receive any distribution from the Partnership, except as provided in Articles 4, 5, 8 and 13 of the Agreement.

 

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EXHIBIT C

NOTICE OF REDEMPTION

 

 

The undersigned Limited Partner hereby irrevocably requests NexPoint Diversified Real Estate Trust Operating Partnership, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (the “Partnership”), to redeem                       Partnership Units in the Partnership in accordance with the terms of the Limited Partnership Agreement of the Partnership and the Redemption Right referred to therein; and the undersigned Limited Partner irrevocably (i) surrenders such Partnership Units and all right, title and interest therein; and (ii) directs that the Cash Amount or REIT Shares Amount (as determined by the Company) deliverable upon exercise of the Redemption Right be delivered to the address specified below, and if REIT Shares are to be delivered, such REIT Shares be registered or placed in the name(s) and at the address(es) specified below. The undersigned hereby represents, warrants, and certifies that the undersigned (a) has marketable and unencumbered title to such Partnership Units, free and clear of the rights or interests of any other person or entity; (b) has the full right, power, and authority to request such redemption and surrender such Partnership Units as provided herein; and (c) has obtained the consent or approval of all persons or entities, if any, having the right to consent or approve such redemption and surrender of Units. The undersigned Limited Partner further agrees that, in the event that any state or local property tax is payable as a result of the transfer of its Partnership Units to the Partnership or the Company, the undersigned Limited Partner shall assume and pay such transfer tax.

 

Dated:      
       
Name of Limited Partner:        
      Please Print
       
       
      (Signature of Limited Partner)
       
       
      (Street Address)
       
       
      (City) (State) (Zip Code)
       
      Signature Guaranteed by:
       
       
       
If REIT Shares are to be issued, issue to:    
       
Name:      

 

Please insert social security or identifying number:    

            

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EXHIBIT D

CONSTRUCTIVE OWNERSHIP DEFINITION

 

The term “Constructively Owns” means ownership determined through the application of the constructive ownership rules of Section 318 of the Code, as modified by Section 856(d)(5) of the Code. Generally, as of the date first set forth above, these rules provide the following:

 

a. an individual is considered as owning the Ownership Interest that is owned, actually or constructively, by or for his spouse, his children, his grandchildren, and his parents;

 

b. an Ownership Interest that is owned, actually or constructively, by or for a partnership, limited liability company or estate is considered as owned proportionately by its partners or beneficiaries;

 

c. an Ownership Interest that is owned, actually or constructively, by or for a trust is considered as owned by its beneficiaries in proportion to the actuarial interest of such beneficiaries (provided, however, that in the case of a “grantor trust” the Ownership Interest will be considered as owned by the grantors);

 

d. if ten (10) percent or more in value of the stock in a corporation is owned, actually or constructively, by or for any person, such person shall be considered as owning the Ownership Interest that is owned, actually or constructively, by or for such corporation in that proportion which the value of the stock which such person so owns bears to the value of all the stock in such corporation;

 

e. an Ownership Interest that is owned, actually or constructively, by or for a partner or member which actually or constructively owns a 25% or greater capital interest or profits interest in a partnership or limited liability company, or by or to or for a beneficiary of an estate or trust shall be considered as owned by the partnership, limited liability company, estate, or trust (or, in the case of a grantor trust, the grantors);

 

f. if ten (10) percent or more in value of the stock in a corporation is owned, actually or constructively, by or for any person, such corporation shall be considered as owning the Ownership Interest that is owned, actually or constructively, by or for such person;

 

g. if any person has an option to acquire an Ownership Interest (including an option to acquire an option or any one of a series of such options), such Ownership Interest shall be considered as owned by such person;

 

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h. an Ownership Interest that is constructively owned by a person by reason of the application of the rules described in paragraphs (a) through (g) above shall, for purposes of applying paragraphs (a) through (g), be considered as actually owned by such person; provided, however, that (i) an Ownership Interest constructively owned by an individual by reason of paragraph (a) shall not be considered as owned by him for purposes of again applying paragraph (a) in order to make another person the constructive owner of such Ownership Interest, (ii) an Ownership Interest constructively owned by a partnership, estate, trust, or corporation by reason of the application of paragraphs (e) or (f) shall not be considered as owned by it for purposes of applying paragraphs (b), (c), or (d) in order to make another person the constructive owner of such Ownership Interest, (iii) if an Ownership Interest may be considered as owned by an individual under paragraph (a) or (g), it shall be considered as owned by him under paragraph (g), and (iv) for purposes of the above described rules, an S corporation shall be treated as a partnership and any shareholder of the S corporation shall be treated as a partner of such partnership except that this rule shall not apply for purposes of determining whether stock in the S corporation is constructively owned by any person.

 

i. For purposes of the above summary of the constructive ownership rules, the term “Ownership Interest” means the ownership of stock with respect to a corporation and, with respect to any other type of entity, the ownership of an interest in either its assets or net profits.

 

D-2

 

EXHIBIT E

SCHEDULE OF PARTNERS’ OWNERSHIP
WITH RESPECT TO TENANTS

 

NONE

 

E-1

 

EXHIBIT F

NOTICE OF ELECTION BY PARTNER TO CONVERT

LTIP UNITS INTO COMMON UNITS

 

The undersigned holder of LTIP Units hereby irrevocably (i) elects to convert __________ LTIP Units in NexPoint Diversified Real Estate Trust Operating Partnership, L.P. (the “Partnership”) into Common Units in accordance with the terms of the Agreement of Limited Partnership of the Partnership, as amended and/or restated from time to time, and (ii) directs that any cash in lieu of Common Units that may be deliverable upon such conversion be delivered to the address specified below. The undersigned hereby represents, warrants, and certifies that the undersigned (a) has title to such LTIP Units, free and clear of the rights or interests of any other person or entity other than the Partnership, (b) has the full right, power, and authority to cause the conversion of such LTIP Units as provided herein, and (c) has obtained the consent to or approval of all persons or entities, if any, having the right to consent or approve such conversion.

 

Dated:      
       
Name of Limited Partner:        
      Please Print
       
       
      (Signature of Limited Partner)
       
       
      (Street Address)
       
       
      (City) (State) (Zip Code)
       
      Signature Guaranteed by:
       
       

 

F-1

 

EXHIBIT G

NOTICE OF ELECTION BY PARTNERSHIP TO FORCE CONVERSION OF

LTIP UNITS INTO COMMON UNITS

 

NexPoint Diversified Real Estate Trust Operating Partnership, L.P. (the “Partnership”) hereby irrevocably elects to cause the number of LTIP Units held by the holder of LTIP Units set forth below to be converted into Common Units in accordance with the terms of the Agreement of Limited Partnership of the Partnership, as amended and/or restated from time to time.

 

Name of Holder:

 

___________________________

 

Date of this Notice:

 

___________________________

 

Number of LTIP Units to be Converted:

 

___________________________

 

Please Print Exact Name as Registered

with Partnership:

 

___________________________

 

G-1

Exhibit 16.1

 

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July 1, 2022 

 

Securities and Exchange Commission

100 F Street, N.E.

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

Ladies and Gentlemen,

 

We have read the statements made by NexPoint Diversified Real Estate Trust under Section 4.01 of its Form 8-K to be filed on July 1, 2022, and we agree with the statements concerning our firm.

 

Very truly yours,

 

/s/ Cohen & Company, Ltd.

 

Cohen & Company, Ltd.

 

 

 

 

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