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As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on January 11, 2022

Registration No. 333-252212

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

AMENDMENT NO. 1 TO
FORM S-11
FOR REGISTRATION UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
OF SECURITIES OF CERTAIN REAL ESTATE COMPANIES

Ares Real Estate Income Trust Inc.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)

518 Seventeenth Street, 17th Floor
Denver, Colorado 80202
(303) 228-2200
(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of the registrant’s principal executive offices)

Jeffrey W. Taylor

Managing Director, Co-President
Ares Real Estate Income Trust Inc.
518 Seventeenth Street, 17th Floor
Denver, Colorado 80202
(303) 228-2200
(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)

Copies to:
Robert H. Bergdolt, Esq.
Christopher R. Stambaugh, Esq.
DLA Piper LLP (US)
4141 Parklake Avenue, Suite 300
Raleigh, North Carolina 27612-2350
(919) 786-2000

Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public: As soon as practicable after the registration statement becomes effective.

If any of the Securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act, check the following box: x

If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. o

If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. o

If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(d) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. o

If delivery of this prospectus is expected to be made pursuant to Rule 434, check the following box. o

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

Large accelerated filer

Accelerated filer

Non-accelerated filer

Smaller reporting company

Emerging growth company

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act. o

CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

Pursuant to Rule 415(a)(6) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the securities registered pursuant to this Registration Statement will include unsold securities previously registered for sale pursuant to the registrant's registration statement on Form S-11 (File No. 333-222630) initially filed by the registrant on January 19, 2018 and declared effective on September 5, 2018 (the "Prior Registration Statement"). The Prior Registration Statement registered shares of the registrant's common stock with a maximum aggregate offering price of $3 billion for sale pursuant to the registrant's primary offering and the registrant's distribution reinvestment plan. As of December 1, 2022, approximately $2.38 billion in shares of common stock remain unsold on the Prior Registration Statement. The registrant will identify in a pre-effective amendment to this Registration Statement the amount of shares of common stock to be carried forward to this Registration Statement from the Prior Registration Statement and any new shares of common stock to be registered. For purposes of calculating the registration fees due in connection with the filing of this Registration Statement, the registrant has assumed that $2.141 billion of unsold shares of common stock originally registered for sale pursuant to the Prior Registration Statement will be carried forward to this Registration Statement. Pursuant to Rule 415(a)(6) the registration fees in the amount of $266,554.50 previously paid with respect to such unsold securities will continue to apply to such unsold securities. Thus, $510,867 in filing fees are due in connections with this Registration Statement, $43,640 of which were paid with the initial filing. Pursuant to Rule 415(a)(6), the offering of unsold securities under the Prior Registration Statement will be deemed terminated as of the date of effectiveness of this Registration Statement.

Title of each Class of

Securities to be Registered

Proposed Maximum

Aggregate Offering Price(1)

Amount of

Registration Fee(2)

Primary Offering, Class T, Class S, Class D and Class I Common Stock, $0.01 par value per share

$6,000,000,000

$595,560

Distribution Reinvestment Plan, Class T, Class S, Class D and Class I Common Stock, $0.01 par value per share

$1,500,000,000

$148,890

Total, Class T, Class S, Class D and Class I Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share

$7,500,000,000

$744,450

(1) The Registrant reserves the right to reallocate the shares of common stock being offered between the primary offering and the distribution reinvestment plan. Estimated solely for the purpose of determining the registration fee pursuant to Rule 457(o) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

(2) Calculated pursuant to Rule 457(o) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, based on the then-current rate of $109.10 per million in effect at the time of the initial filing of the Registration Statement with respect to the $3 billion in shares included in the Registration Statement at that time, and based on the current rate of $92.70 per million with respect to the additional $4.5 billion in shares added now.

As discussed above, pursuant to Rule 415(a)(6) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the registrant has assumed for purposes of this filing that $2.141 billion of the securities registered pursuant to this Registration Statement are unsold securities that have been previously registered. The registrant paid filing fees of $266,554.50 with respect to such unsold securities in connection with such previous registration. The registration fees previously paid with respect to such unsold securities will continue to be applied to such unsold securities in this Registration Statement. Thus, $510,867 in filing fees are due in connections with this Registration Statement, $43,640 of which were paid with the initial filing, based on a proposed maximum offering price of $7.5 billion after taking into account the previously registered unsold securities.

The Registrant hereby amends this registration statement on such date or dates as may be necessary to delay its effective date until the Registrant shall file a further amendment that specifically states that this registration statement shall thereafter become effective in accordance with Section 8(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 or until the registration statement shall become effective on such date as the Securities and Exchange Commission, acting pursuant to said Section 8(a), may determine.


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The information in this prospectus is not complete and may be changed. We may not sell these securities until the registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission is declared effective. This prospectus is not an offer to sell these securities and is not soliciting an offer to buy these securities in any state where the offer or sale is not permitted.

SUBJECT TO COMPLETION PRELIMINARY PROSPECTUS

DATED JANUARY 11, 2022

$7,500,000,000 Maximum Offering of Common Stock

A PICTURE CONTAINING SHAPE

DESCRIPTION AUTOMATICALLY GENERATED

Ares Real Estate Income Trust Inc.

Ares Real Estate Income Trust Inc. is an externally managed net asset value (“NAV”)-based perpetual life real estate investment trust, or REIT, that is primarily focused on investing in and operating a diverse portfolio of real property. As of September 30, 2021, we had total investments with an estimated fair value of approximately $2.9 billion (calculated in accordance with our valuation procedures). As of September 30, 2021, our real property portfolio consisted of 61 properties, totaling approximately 12.6 million square feet located in 28 markets throughout the United States. We are managed by Ares Commercial Real Estate Management LLC, or the “Advisor,” a subsidiary of Ares Management Corporation (“Ares”). Our objective is to bring the Ares leading institutional-quality real assets investment platform to income-focused investors, with significant diversification across asset classes, geographies and sectors. We are not a mutual fund and do not intend to register as an investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

We are offering on a continuous basis up to $7,500,000,000 of shares of our common stock, consisting of up to $6,000,000,000 of shares in our primary offering and up to $1,500,000,000 of shares pursuant to our distribution reinvestment plan. We are currently offering to sell any combination of four classes of shares of our common stock, Class T shares, Class S shares, Class D shares and Class I shares. The share classes have different upfront selling commissions and dealer manager fees, and different ongoing distribution fees. We also have outstanding Class E shares, which are not being offered in this offering. As of December 1, 2021, we had outstanding 169,664,194 shares, comprised of 16,425,269 Class T shares, 35,756,737 Class S shares, 6,748,922 Class D shares, 54,405,525 Class I shares and 56,327,741 Class E shares.

The per share purchase price will vary and will generally equal our most recently disclosed net asset value (“NAV”) per share, as determined monthly, plus applicable upfront selling commissions and dealer manager fees. We may offer shares at a price that we believe reflects the NAV per share of such stock more appropriately than the most recently disclosed monthly NAV per share in cases where we believe there has been a material change (positive or negative) to our NAV per share relative to the most recently disclosed monthly NAV per share. Subject to certain exceptions, you must initially invest at least $2,500 in shares of our Class T, Class S and Class D of common stock and $1,000,000 in shares of our Class I common stock. This is a best efforts offering, which means that Ares Wealth Management Solutions, LLC, or the “Dealer Manager,” the underwriter of this offering and an entity related to the Advisor, will use its best efforts but is not required to sell any specific amount of shares.

Although we do not intend to list our shares of common stock for trading on an exchange or other trading market, in an effort to provide our stockholders with liquidity in respect of their investment in our shares, we have adopted a share redemption program whereby, subject to certain limitations, stockholders may request on a monthly basis that we redeem all or any portion of their shares. We may choose to redeem all, some or none of the shares that have been requested to be redeemed at the end of any particular month, in our discretion, not to exceed any limitations in the share redemption program. Subject to reduction for early redemption, the redemption price per share for each class of common stock would be equal to the then-current offering price before applicable selling commissions and dealer manager fees (the “transaction price”), as determined monthly, for such class.

Investing in shares of our common stock involves a high degree of risk. You should purchase shares only if you can afford a complete loss of your investment. See “Risk Factors” beginning on page 41. These risks include, among others:

There is no public trading market for shares of our common stock, and we do not anticipate that there will be a public trading market for our shares, so redemption of shares by us will likely be the only way to dispose of your shares. Our share redemption program will provide stockholders with the opportunity to request that we redeem their shares on a monthly basis, but we are not obligated to redeem any shares and may choose to redeem only some, or even none, of the shares that have been requested to be redeemed in any particular month, in our discretion. In addition, redemptions will be subject to available liquidity and other significant restrictions. Further, our board of directors may modify or suspend our share redemption program if in its reasonable judgment it deems a suspension to be in our best interest and the best interest of our stockholders. As a result, our shares should be considered as having only limited liquidity and at times may be illiquid.
A portion of the proceeds received in this offering is expected to be used to satisfy redemption requests, including requests from our existing stockholders which may be significant. Using the proceeds from this offering for redemptions will reduce the net proceeds available to retire debt or acquire additional properties, which may result in reduced liquidity and profitability or restrict our ability to grow our NAV.
The purchase and redemption price for shares of our common stock will generally be based on our most recently disclosed monthly NAV of each class of common stock (subject to material changes as described above) and will not be based on any public trading market. In addition to being a month old when share purchases and redemptions take place, our NAV does not currently represent our enterprise value and may not accurately reflect the actual prices at which our assets could be liquidated on any given day, the value a third party would pay for all or substantially all of our shares, or the price that our shares would trade at on a national stock exchange. Furthermore, our board of directors may amend our NAV procedures from time to time.
Some of our executive officers, directors and other key personnel are also officers, directors, managers, and/or key personnel of the Advisor, our Dealer Manager, and/or other entities related to the Ares real estate group (“AREG”), which we refer to as our “Sponsor.” As a result, they face conflicts of interest, including but not limited to conflicts arising from time constraints, allocation of investment and leasing opportunities and the fact that the fees the Advisor will receive for services rendered to us are based on our NAV, the procedures for which the Advisor assists our board of directors in developing, overseeing, implementing and coordinating.
If we fail to maintain our status as a REIT, it would adversely affect our results of operations and our ability to make distributions to our stockholders.
The amount of distributions we may make is uncertain. We have paid and may pay distributions from sources other than cash flow from operations, including, without limitation, the sale of assets, borrowings or offering proceeds. The use of these sources for distributions would decrease the amount of cash we have available for new investments, share redemptions and other corporate purposes, and could reduce your overall return.

Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities regulator has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this prospectus is truthful or complete. In addition, the Attorney General of the State of New York has not passed on or endorsed the merits of this offering or determined if this prospectus is truthful or complete. Securities regulators have not passed upon whether this offering can be sold in compliance with existing or future suitability or conduct standards including the “Regulation Best Interest” standard to any or all purchasers. Any representation to the contrary is unlawful. The use of forecasts in this offering is prohibited. Any representation to the contrary and any predictions, written or oral, as to the amount or certainty of any present or future cash benefit or tax consequence which may flow from an investment in our common stock is not permitted.

    

Per Share(1)

    

Total Maximum
Primary
Offering(2)

    

Total Maximum
Distribution
Reinvestment Plan(2)

    

Total Maximum

Gross offering proceeds(3)(4)

$

6,000,000,000

$

1,500,000,000

$

7,500,000,000

Public offering price, Class T shares

$

8.3491

Public offering price, Class S shares

$

8.3491

Public offering price, Class D shares

$

8.0668

Public offering price, Class I shares

$

8.0668

Upfront selling commissions and dealer manager fees(3)(4)

(101,449,000)

(101,449,000)

Proceeds to us, before expenses(4)

$

5,898,551,000

$

1,500,000,000

$

7,398,551,000

(1) The price per share presented is based on the NAV as of November 30, 2021. Shares of each class will be issued at a price per share generally equal to the most recently disclosed monthly NAV per share for such class, plus applicable upfront selling commissions and dealer manager fees.
(2) We reserve the right to reallocate the offering amount between the primary offering and our distribution reinvestment plan.
(3) Table is based on certain assumptions regarding the amount of primary offering gross proceeds that come from sales of each class. The number of shares of each class sold and the relative proportions in which the classes of shares are sold are uncertain and may differ significantly from these assumptions. In addition to upfront selling commissions and dealer manager fees reflected in this table, subject to Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc., or “FINRA”, limitations on underwriting compensation, we pay our Dealer Manager certain ongoing distribution fees. See “Plan of Distribution.”
(4) The per share amount represents an average of all shares under the primary offering and distribution reinvestment plan based on the foregoing assumptions and the sale of the total maximum offering. There will be additional items of value paid by us in connection with this offering, which are viewed by FINRA as underwriting compensation. Payment of this additional underwriting compensation will reduce the proceeds to us, before expenses. See “Plan of Distribution.”

The date of this prospectus is January 11, 2022


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HOW TO SUBSCRIBE

Investors who meet the suitability standards described herein may purchase shares of our common stock. See “Suitability Standards” below, for the suitability standards. Investors seeking to purchase shares of our common stock must proceed as follows:

Read this entire prospectus and any appendices and supplements accompanying this prospectus.
Complete the execution copy of the applicable subscription agreement. Specimen copies of the subscription agreements, including instructions for completing them, are included in this prospectus as Appendix A.
Deliver a check or submit an ACH or wire transfer for the full purchase price of the shares of our common stock being subscribed for along with the completed subscription agreement to the soliciting broker-dealer. Your check should be made payable, or wire transfer directed, to “Ares Real Estate Income Trust Inc.” and the completed subscription agreement, along with the check or wire transfer, should be delivered to Ares Real Estate Income Trust Inc., PO Box 219079, Kansas City, Missouri 64121-9079 or sent overnight to Ares Real Estate Income Trust Inc., c/o DST Systems, Inc., 430 West 7th Street, Suite 219079, Kansas City, Missouri 64105. After you have satisfied the applicable minimum purchase requirement of $2,500 for Class T, Class S or Class D shares, or of $1,000,000 (unless waived by us) for Class I shares, additional purchases must be in increments of $500, except for purchases made pursuant to our distribution reinvestment plan.
By executing the subscription agreement and paying the total purchase price for the shares of our common stock subscribed for, each investor attests that he meets the suitability standards as stated in the subscription agreement and agrees to be bound by all of its terms.

Certain participating broker-dealers may require supplementary disclosure materials or additional forms or documentation. You should consult with your financial advisor when purchasing shares. Subscriptions will be effective only upon our acceptance, and we reserve the right to reject any subscription in whole or in part. See “Plan of Distribution” for additional information regarding subscriptions for shares of our common stock in this offering.

A sale of the shares to a subscriber may not be completed until at least five business days after the subscriber receives our final prospectus. Subscriptions to purchase our common stock may be made on an ongoing basis, but investors may only purchase our common stock pursuant to accepted subscription orders as of the first calendar day of each month (based on the most recently disclosed transaction price), and to be accepted, a subscription request must be made with a completed and executed subscription agreement in good order and payment of the full purchase price of our common stock being subscribed at least five business days prior to the first calendar day of the month (unless waived by the Dealer Manager or otherwise agreed to between the Dealer Manager and the applicable participating broker-dealer).

For example, if you wish to subscribe for shares of our common stock in October, your subscription request must be received in good order at least five business days before November 1. Generally, the offering price will equal the NAV per share of the applicable class as of the last calendar day of September, plus applicable upfront selling commissions and dealer manager fees. If accepted, your subscription will be effective on the first calendar day of November.

Completed subscription requests will not be accepted by us before the later of (i) two business days before the first calendar day of each month and (ii) three business days after we make the transaction price (including any subsequent revised transaction price in the circumstances described below) publicly available by posting it on our website at www.blackcreekgroup.com/investment-solutions/AREIT and filing a prospectus supplement with the Commission (or in certain cases after we have delivered notice of such price directly to subscribers as discussed below). Subscribers are not committed to purchase shares at the time their subscription orders are submitted and any subscription may be canceled at any time before the time it has been accepted as described in the previous sentence. As a result, you will have a minimum of three business days after the transaction price for that month has been disclosed to withdraw your request before you are committed to purchase the shares. Generally, you will not be provided with direct notice of

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the transaction price when it becomes available. Therefore, if you wish to know the transaction price prior to your subscription being accepted you must check our website or our filings with the Commission prior to the time your subscription is accepted.

However, if the transaction price is not made available on or before the eighth business day before the first calendar day of the month (which is six business days before the earliest date we may accept subscriptions), or a previously disclosed transaction price for that month is changed, then we will provide notice of such transaction price (and the first day on which we may accept subscriptions) directly to subscribing investors when such transaction price is made available. In such cases, you will have at least three business days from delivery of such notice before your subscription is accepted.

If for any reason we reject the subscription, or if the subscription request is canceled before it is accepted or withdrawn as described above, we will return the subscription funds, without interest (unless we reject your subscription because we fail to achieve the minimum offering) or deduction, within ten business days after such rejection, cancellation or withdrawal.

An approved fiduciary must process and forward to us subscriptions made through individual retirement accounts, or “IRAs,” Keogh plans and 401(k) plans. In the case of investments through IRAs, Keogh plans and 401(k) plans, we will send the confirmation and notice of our acceptance to the fiduciary. Shares of our common stock purchased by a fiduciary or custodial account will be registered in the name of the fiduciary account and not in the name of the beneficiary. If you place an order to buy shares and your payment is not received and collected, your purchase may be canceled and you could be liable for any losses or fees we have incurred.

You have the option of placing a transfer on death (TOD), designation on your shares purchased in this offering. A TOD designation transfers the ownership of the shares to your designated beneficiary upon your death. This designation may only be made by individuals, not entities, who are the sole or joint owners with right to survivorship of the shares. If you would like to place a TOD designation on your shares, you must check the TOD box on the subscription agreement and you must complete and return our TOD form, which you may obtain from your financial advisor, in order to effect the designation.

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SUITABILITY STANDARDS

The shares of common stock we are offering are suitable only for a person of adequate financial means, who desires a long-term investment and who will not need immediate liquidity from their investment. We do not expect to have a public market for shares of our common stock, which means that it may be difficult for you to sell your shares. On a limited basis, you may be able to have your shares redeemed through our share redemption program. You should not buy shares of our common stock if you need to sell them immediately or if you will need to sell them quickly in the future.

The Sponsor, the Dealer Manager and each participating broker-dealer shall make every reasonable effort to determine that the purchase of shares of our common stock is a suitable and appropriate investment for each investor based on information concerning the investor’s financial situation and investment objectives. In consideration of these factors, we have established suitability standards that require that a purchaser of shares of our common stock in this offering have either:

a net worth (excluding the value of an investor’s home, home furnishings and automobiles) of at least $250,000; or
a gross annual income of at least $70,000 and a net worth (excluding the value of an investor’s home, home furnishings and automobiles) of at least $70,000.

The minimum purchase amount is $2,500 for Class T, Class S or Class D shares, and $1,000,000 (unless waived by us) for Class I shares, except as described below. In order to satisfy the minimum purchase requirements for retirement plans, unless otherwise prohibited by state law, a husband and wife may jointly contribute funds from their separate IRAs, provided that each such contribution is made in increments of $500. You should note that an investment in shares of our common stock will not, in itself, create a retirement plan and that, in order to create a retirement plan, you must comply with all applicable provisions of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, which we refer to as the “Code.”

Purchases of shares of our common stock pursuant to our distribution reinvestment plan may be in amounts less than set forth above and are not required to be made in increments of $500.

Several states have established suitability standards different from those we have outlined above. Shares of our common stock will be sold only to investors in these states who meet the special suitability standards set forth below.

Alabama—In addition to our suitability requirements, Alabama investors must represent that they have a liquid net worth of at least 10 times their investment in us and our affiliates.

Idaho—In addition to our suitability requirements, Idaho investors (i) must have either $85,000 annual income and a net worth of $85,000, or a liquid net worth of $300,000, and (ii) must limit their investment in us to 10% of the investor’s liquid net worth.

Iowa—In addition to our suitability requirements, Iowa investors must have either (i) a net worth (excluding the value of an investor’s home, home furnishings and automobiles) of at least $350,000 or (ii) a gross annual income of at least $100,000 and a net worth (excluding the value of an investor’s home, home furnishings and automobiles) of at least $100,000. Additionally, Iowa investors must limit their aggregate investment in this offering and in the securities of other non-publicly traded real estate investment trusts to 10% of such investor’s liquid net worth. Investors who are accredited investors as defined in 17 C.F.R. § 230.501 of Regulation D under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, are not subject to the foregoing 10% investment concentration limit.

Kansas—In addition to our suitability requirements, the Kansas Securities Commissioner recommends that Kansas investors not invest, in the aggregate, more than 10% of their liquid net worth in this and other non-traded real estate investment trusts.

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Kentucky—In addition to our suitability requirements, Kentucky investors may not invest more than 10% of their liquid net worth in shares of our common stock or the shares of affiliated non-publicly traded real estate investment trusts.

Maine—In addition to our suitability requirements, the Maine Office of Securities recommends that an investor’s aggregate investment in this offering and similar direct participation investments not exceed 10% of the investor’s liquid net worth.

Massachusetts—In addition to our suitability requirements, Massachusetts investors may not invest more than 10% of their liquid net worth in us and other direct participation programs.

Missouri—In addition to our suitability requirements, Missouri investors must limit their investment in us to 10% of their liquid net worth.

Nebraska—In addition to our suitability requirements, Nebraska investors must limit their aggregate investment in this offering and in the securities of other non-publicly traded real estate investment trusts (REITs) to 10% of such investor’s net worth (exclusive of home, home furnishings, and automobiles). An investment by a Nebraska investor who is an accredited investor within the meaning of the Federal securities laws is not subject to the foregoing limitations.

New Jersey—In addition to our suitability requirements, New Jersey investors must have either (i) a minimum liquid net worth of at least $100,000 and a minimum annual gross income of not less than $85,000, or (ii) a minimum liquid net worth of $350,000. For these purposes, “liquid net worth” is defined as that portion of net worth (total assets exclusive of home, home furnishings, and automobiles, minus total liability) that consists of cash, cash equivalent and readily marketable securities. In addition, a New Jersey investor’s investment in us, our affiliates, and other non-publicly traded direct investment programs (including real estate investment trusts, business development companies, oil and gas programs, equipment leasing programs and commodity pools, but excluding unregistered, federally and state exempt private offerings) may not exceed ten percent (10%) of his or her liquid net worth.

New Mexico—In addition to our suitability requirements, New Mexico investors may not invest more than 10% of their liquid net worth in us, our affiliates and other non-traded real estate investment trusts.

North Dakota—In addition to our suitability requirements, North Dakota investors must have a net worth of at least 10 times their investment in us.

Ohio—In addition to our suitability requirements, Ohio investors may not invest more than 10% of their liquid net worth in us, our affiliates and other non-traded real estate investment programs. “Liquid net worth” is defined as that portion of net worth (total assets exclusive of primary residence, home furnishings, and automobiles, minus total liabilities) comprised of cash, cash equivalents, and readily marketable securities.

Oregon—In addition to our suitability requirements, Oregon investors must have a net worth of at least 10 times their investment in us and other Ares real estate programs.

Pennsylvania—In addition to our suitability requirements, Pennsylvania investors may not invest more than 10% of their net worth (exclusive of home, home furnishings and automobiles) in us.

Puerto Rico—In addition to our suitability requirements, Puerto Rico investors may not invest more than 10% of their liquid net worth in us, our affiliates, and in other non-traded REITs. For these purposes, “liquid net worth” is defined as that portion of net worth (total assets exclusive of primary residence, home furnishings, and automobiles minus total liabilities) consisting of cash, cash equivalents, and readily marketable securities.

Tennessee—In addition to our suitability requirements, Tennessee investors must have either (i) a net worth (excluding the value of an investor’s home, home furnishings and automobiles) of at least $500,000 or (ii) a gross annual income of at least $100,000 and a net worth (excluding the value of an investor’s home, home furnishings and automobiles) of at least $100,000. Additionally, Tennessee investors may not invest more than 10% of their liquid net

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worth in us. In addition, it is recommended that a Tennessee investor’s aggregate investment in direct participation program investments not exceed 10% of their liquid net worth.

Vermont—Accredited investors in Vermont, as defined in 17 C.F.R. § 230.501, may invest freely in this offering. Non-accredited Vermont investors may not purchase an amount in this offering that exceeds 10% of their liquid net worth. For these purposes, “liquid net worth” is defined as an investor’s total assets (not including home, home furnishings, or automobiles) minus total liabilities.

For the purposes of these suitability standards, unless noted otherwise, “liquid net worth” is defined as that portion of net worth that consists of cash, cash equivalents and readily marketable securities.

In the case of sales to fiduciary accounts, these suitability standards must be met either by the fiduciary account, by the person who directly or indirectly supplied the funds for the purchase of the shares of our common stock or by the beneficiary of the account. These suitability standards are intended to help ensure that, given the long-term nature of an investment in shares of our common stock, our investment objectives and the relative illiquidity of shares of our common stock, shares of our common stock are an appropriate investment for those of you who become stockholders. Each participating broker-dealer must make every reasonable effort to determine that the purchase of shares of our common stock is a suitable and appropriate investment for each stockholder based on information provided by the stockholder. Each participating broker-dealer is required to maintain for six years records of the information used to determine that an investment in shares of our common stock is suitable and appropriate for a stockholder.

Determination of Suitability

In determining suitability, the Sponsor, the Dealer Manager and participating broker-dealers who sell shares on our behalf may rely on, among other things, relevant information provided by the prospective investors. Each prospective investor should be aware that participating broker-dealers are responsible for determining suitability and will be relying on the information provided by prospective investors in making this determination. In making this determination, participating broker-dealers have a responsibility to ascertain that each prospective investor:

meets the minimum income and net worth standards set forth under the “Suitability Standards” section of this prospectus;
can reasonably benefit from an investment in our shares based on the prospective investor’s investment objectives and overall portfolio structure;
is able to bear the economic risk of the investment based on the prospective investor’s net worth and overall financial situation; and
has apparent understanding of:
the fundamental risks of an investment in the shares;
the risk that the prospective investor may lose his or her entire investment;
the lack of liquidity of the shares;
the restrictions on transferability of the shares;
the tax consequences of an investment in the shares; and
the background of the Advisor.

Participating broker-dealers are responsible for making the determinations set forth above based upon information relating to each prospective investor concerning his age, investment objectives, investment experience,

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income, net worth, financial situation and other investments of the prospective investor, as well as other pertinent factors. Each participating broker-dealer is required to maintain records of the information used to determine that an investment in shares is suitable and appropriate for an investor. These records are required to be maintained for a period of at least six years.

Regulation Best Interest

On June 5, 2019, the Securities and Exchange Commission adopted Regulation Best Interest, which establishes a new standard of conduct for broker-dealers and natural persons who are associated persons of a broker-dealer under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, that may be interpreted as a higher standard than suitability. Broker-dealers must comply with Regulation Best Interest as of June 30, 2020. Regulation Best Interest includes the general obligation that broker-dealers shall act in the “best interest” of retail customers in making any recommendation of any securities transaction or investment strategy, without putting the financial or other interests of the broker-dealer ahead of the retail customer. When making such a recommendation, a broker-dealer and its associated persons must act in such customer’s best interest at the time the recommendation is made, without placing their financial or other interest ahead of the retail customer’s interests, and should consider reasonable alternatives in determining whether the broker dealer and its associated persons have a reasonable basis for making the recommendation. Listed entities may be reasonable alternatives to an investment in us, and may feature characteristics like lower cost, less complexity, and lesser or different risks than an investment in us; investments in listed securities often involve nominal or zero commissions at the time of initial purchase. The general obligation can be satisfied by the broker-dealer’s compliance with four specified component obligations: (i) provide certain required disclosure before or at the time of the recommendation, about the recommendation and the relationship between the broker-dealer and the retail customer; (ii) exercise reasonable diligence, care, and skill in making the recommendation; (iii) establish, maintain, and enforce written policies and procedures reasonably designed to address conflicts of interest; and (iv) establish, maintain, and enforce written policies and procedures reasonably designed to achieve compliance with Regulation Best Interest. Like existing suitability obligations, the component obligations of Regulation Best Interest contain a quantitative standard. Such quantitative standard may be more or less restrictive pursuant to Regulation Best Interest than under the suitability standard. In addition, to Regulation Best Interest, certain states, including Massachusetts, have adopted or may adopt state-level standards that seek to further enhance the broker-dealer standard of conduct to a fiduciary standard for all broker-dealer recommendations made to retail customers in their states. In comparison to the standards of Regulation Best Interest, the Massachusetts fiduciary standard, for example, requires broker-dealers to adhere to the duties of utmost care and loyalty to customers. The Massachusetts standard requires a broker-dealer to make recommendations without regard to the financial or any other interest of any party other than the retail customer, and that broker-dealers must make all reasonably practicable efforts to avoid conflicts of interest, eliminate conflicts that cannot reasonably be avoided, and mitigate conflicts that cannot reasonably be avoided or eliminated. In addition to Regulation Best Interest and state fiduciary standards of care, broker-dealers are required to provide retail investors a brief customer relationship summary, or Form CRS, that summarizes for the investor key information about the broker-dealer. Form CRS is different from this prospectus, which contains information regarding this offering and our company. The impact of Regulation Best Interest and state fiduciary standards on broker-dealers cannot be determined at this time as little administrative or case law exists under Regulation Best Interest and state fiduciary standards as of the date of this prospectus and the full scope of their applicability is uncertain.

The potential impacts on the Company’s offering related to Regulation Best Interest and state fiduciary standards are yet to be determined. Ares Wealth Management Solutions, LLC (“AWMS”) is registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission as a broker-dealer. As part of the rulemaking package, AWMS filed Form CRS with FINRA in June 2020. AWMS’s primary business is the wholesale distribution of real estate investment trusts and private placements of real estate related securities offered by its affiliated companies (collectively, “Ares”). Sales of our common stock to retail customers are generally conducted on a wholesale basis through participating broker-dealers, investment advisers and banks. In addition, AWMS may sell to institutional investors and, on a limited basis, open accounts for employees of its affiliates and certain of their household family members and certain other retail investors. AWMS does not sell securities directly to the general public and does not provide recommendations to any retail investor. Regulation Best Interest applies to participating broker-dealers that recommend the purchase of shares of our common stock to retail investors.

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IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS

Please carefully read the information in this prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplements, which we refer to collectively as the prospectus. You should rely only on the information contained in this prospectus and incorporated herein by reference. We have not authorized anyone to provide you with different information. This prospectus may only be used where it is legal to sell these securities. You should not assume that the information contained in this prospectus is accurate as of any date later than the date hereof or such other dates as are stated herein or as of the respective dates of any documents or other information incorporated herein by reference.

In addition to this prospectus, we may utilize certain sales material in connection with the offering of shares of our common stock, although only when accompanied by or preceded by the delivery of this prospectus. In certain jurisdictions, some or all of such sales material may not be available. This material may include information relating to this offering, the past performance of the Advisor and its affiliates, property brochures and articles and publications concerning real estate. In addition, the sales material may contain certain quotes from various publications without obtaining the consent of the author or the publication for use of the quoted material in the sales material.

The offering of shares of our common stock is made only by means of this prospectus. Although the information contained in such sales material will not conflict with any of the information contained in this prospectus, such material does not purport to be complete, and should not be considered a part of this prospectus or the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, or as incorporated by reference in this prospectus or said registration statement or as forming the basis of the offering of the shares of our common stock.

This prospectus is part of a registration statement that we filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, which we refer to as the “Commission,” using a continuous offering process. Periodically, as we make material investments or have other material developments, we will provide a prospectus supplement that may add, update or change information contained in this prospectus, including the information incorporated by reference. Any statement that we make in this prospectus, including statements made in the information incorporated by reference, will be modified or superseded by any inconsistent statement made by us in a subsequent prospectus supplement. The registration statement we filed with the Commission includes exhibits that provide more detailed descriptions of the matters discussed in this prospectus. You should read this prospectus, including the information incorporated by reference, and the related exhibits filed with the Commission and any prospectus supplement, together with additional information described below under “Additional Information.” In this prospectus, we use the term “day” to refer to a calendar day, and we use the term “business day” to refer to each day that the New York Stock Exchange is open for trading.

We will endeavor to take all reasonable actions to avoid interruptions in the continuous offering of our shares of common stock. There can be no assurance, for example, that we will not need to suspend our continuous offering while the Commission and, where required, state securities regulators, review such filings for additional offerings of our stock until such filings are declared effective, if at all.

Pursuant to this prospectus, we will offer to the public all of the shares that we have registered. We intend to conduct a continuous offering that will not have a predetermined duration, subject to continued compliance with the rules and regulations of the Commission and applicable state laws. From time to time, we intend to file new registration statements on Form S-11 with the Commission to register additional shares of common stock so that we may continuously offer shares of common stock pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act. In certain states, the registration of our offering may continue for only one year following the initial clearance by applicable state authorities, after which we intend to renew the offering period for additional one-year periods (or longer, if permitted by the laws of each particular state). We reserve the right to terminate this offering at any time.

Our NAV per share, which commencing on the date of this prospectus will be updated as of the last calendar day of each month, will be (1) posted on our website, www.blackcreekgroup.com/investment-solutions/AREIT, and (2) made available on our toll-free, automated telephone line, (888) 310-9352. In addition, on a monthly basis, we will disclose in a prospectus or prospectus supplement the principal valuation components of our NAV. In order to avoid interruptions in the continuous offering of our shares of common stock, we will file an amendment to the registration statement with the Commission on or before such time as the most recent offering price per share for any of the classes of our shares being offered by this prospectus represents a 20% change from the per share price set forth in the registration statement filed with the Commission, as amended from time to time. There can be no assurance, however, that our continuous offering will not be suspended while the Commission reviews any such amendment, until it is declared effective, if at all.

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CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS

Statements included or incorporated by reference in this prospectus that are not historical facts (including any statements concerning investment objectives, other plans and objectives of management for future operations or economic performance or assumptions or forecasts related thereto) are forward looking statements. These statements are only predictions. We caution that forward looking statements are not guarantees. Actual events or our investments and results of operations could differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward looking statements. Forward looking statements are typically identified by the use of terms such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “expect,” “could,” “intend,” “plan,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “believe,” “continue,” “predict,” “potential” or the negative of such terms and other comparable terminology.

The forward looking statements included or incorporated by reference herein are based upon our current expectations, plans, estimates, assumptions and beliefs that involve numerous risks and uncertainties. Assumptions relating to the foregoing involve judgments with respect to, among other things, future economic, competitive and market conditions and future business decisions, all of which are difficult or impossible to predict accurately and many of which are beyond our control. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in such forward looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, our actual results and performance could differ materially from those set forth in the forward looking statements. Factors which could have a material adverse effect on our operations and future prospects include, but are not limited to:

the impact of macroeconomic trends, such as the unemployment rate, availability of credit, and the COVID-19 pandemic, which may have a negative effect on the following, among other things:
the fundamentals of our business, including overall market occupancy, space utilization for our tenants, who we refer to as customers from time-to-time herein, and rental rates;
the financial condition of our customers, some of which are retail, financial, legal and other professional firms, our lenders, and institutions that hold our cash balances and short-term investments, which may expose us to increased risks of breach or default by these parties;
customers’ ability to pay rent on their leases or our ability to re-lease space that is or becomes vacant; and
the value of our real estate assets, which may limit our ability to dispose of assets at attractive prices or obtain or maintain debt financing secured by our properties or on an unsecured basis;
general risks affecting the real estate industry (including, without limitation, the inability to enter into or renew leases, dependence on customers’ financial condition and competition from other developers, owners and operators of real estate);
our ability to effectively raise and deploy proceeds from our ongoing public offering;
risks associated with the demand for liquidity under our share redemption program and our ability to meet such demand;
risks associated with the availability and terms of debt and equity financing and the use of debt to fund acquisitions and developments, including the risk associated with interest rates impacting the cost and/or availability of financing;
the business opportunities that may be presented to and pursued by us, changes in laws or regulations (including changes to laws governing the taxation of REITs);
conflicts of interest arising out of our relationships with the Sponsor, the Advisor, and their affiliates;

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changes in accounting principles, policies and guidelines applicable to REITs;
environmental, regulatory and/or safety requirements; and
the availability and cost of comprehensive insurance, including coverage for terrorist acts.

Any of the assumptions underlying forward looking statements could be inaccurate. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward looking statements included or incorporated by reference in this prospectus. All forward looking statements are made as of the date of this prospectus and the risk that actual results will differ materially from the expectations expressed in this prospectus will increase with the passage of time. Except as otherwise required by the federal securities laws, we undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward looking statements after the date of this prospectus, whether as a result of new information, future events, changed circumstances or any other reason. In light of the significant uncertainties inherent in the forward looking statements included or incorporated by reference in this prospectus, including, without limitation, the risks described under “Risk Factors,” the inclusion of such forward looking statements should not be regarded as a representation by us or any other person that the objectives and plans set forth in this prospectus will be achieved.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

    

Page

PROSPECTUS SUMMARY

1

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ABOUT THIS OFFERING

28

RISK FACTORS

36

ESTIMATED USE OF PROCEEDS

82

INVESTMENT STRATEGY, OBJECTIVES AND POLICIES

84

INVESTMENTS IN REAL PROPERTIES AND REAL ESTATE RELATED DEBT AND SECURITIES

94

MANAGEMENT

98

THE ADVISOR AND THE ADVISORY AGREEMENT

109

THE OPERATING PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT

126

CONFLICTS OF INTEREST

130

SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT

136

NET ASSET VALUE CALCULATION AND VALUATION PROCEDURES

137

SELECTED INFORMATION REGARDING OUR OPERATIONS

147

DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK

150

MATERIAL U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS

166

ERISA CONSIDERATIONS

185

PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

188

SUPPLEMENTAL SALES MATERIAL

196

QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

196

LEGAL MATTERS

196

EXPERTS

197

INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN INFORMATION BY REFERENCE

197

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

198

APPENDIX A: FORM OF SUBSCRIPTION AGREEMENT

A-1

APPENDIX B: FIFTH AMENDED AND RESTATED DISTRIBUTION REINVESTMENT PLAN

B-1

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PROSPECTUS SUMMARY

This prospectus summary summarizes information contained elsewhere in this prospectus. You should read the entire prospectus carefully, including the “Risk Factors” section. As used herein, “the Company,” “AREIT,” “we,” “our” and “us” refer to Ares Real Estate Income Trust Inc. and its operating partnership, AREIT Operating Partnership LP and related subsidiaries, except where the context otherwise requires.

Ares Real Estate Income Trust Inc.

We are a NAV-based perpetual life REIT primarily focused on investing in and operating a diverse portfolio of real property and investing in other real estate-related assets. As of September 30, 2021, our real property portfolio consisted of 61 properties, totaling approximately 12.6 million square feet located in 28 markets throughout the United States. We currently focus our investment activities primarily across the major U.S. property sectors (industrial, residential (which includes multi-family and other types of rental housing such as manufactured, student, and single family rental housing), office (which includes medical office and life science laboratories) and retail). To a lesser extent, we intend to strategically invest in geographies outside of the U.S., which may include Canada, the United Kingdom, Europe and other foreign jurisdictions, and in other sectors such as triple net lease, real estate debt (which may include mortgages and subordinated interests) and infrastructure, to create a diversified blend of current income and long-term value appreciation. Our objective is to bring the Ares leading institutional-quality real assets investment platform to income-focused investors, with significant diversification across real estate and real estate-related asset classes, geographies and sectors. We intend to allocate capital dynamically between sectors and strategies so as to achieve outperformance through strategic diversification rather than outsized risk. We expect real estate debt, non-US jurisdictions and/or infrastructure assets to comprise up to 30% of our assets. Currently, infrastructure is not expected to comprise more than 10% of our assets with a focus on real estate related infrastructure and renewable energy sources. While we will not limit our investment opportunities to stay within these allocations, we may adjust our expectations based on market conditions and opportunities. As of September 30, 2021, we had total investments with an estimated fair value of approximately $2.9 billion (calculated in accordance with our valuation procedures). Here and throughout this prospectus, when we refer to the “fair value” of our real properties, we are referring to the fair value calculated in accordance with our valuation procedures.

We were formed as a Maryland corporation on April 11, 2005. We believe we have operated in such a manner as to qualify as a real estate investment trust, or “REIT,” for federal income tax purposes. We intend to operate as a perpetual-life REIT, which means that we intend to offer shares continuously through ongoing primary offerings and through our distribution reinvestment plan.

Our main office is located at 518 Seventeenth Street, 17th Floor, Denver, Colorado 80202 and our main telephone number is (303) 228-2200.

Ares Management Corporation Overview

Ares Management Corporation (NYSE: ARES) is a leading global alternative investment manager with approximately $282.0 billion of assets under management (“AUM”) as of September 30, 2021, and approximately 2,000 employees in over 30 offices in more than 10 countries.

On July 1, 2021, Ares closed on the acquisition of Black Creek Group’s U.S. real estate investment advisory and distribution business, including our former advisor, Black Creek Diversified Property Advisors LLC (the “Transaction”). On the same date, Black Creek Diversified Property Advisors LLC assigned the advisory agreement for us to Ares Commercial Real Estate Management LLC, our current “Advisor.” Ares did not acquire our former sponsor, Black Creek Diversified Property Advisors Group LLC, and we now consider AREG to be our “Sponsor.”

Ares was built upon the fundamental principle that each of its investment groups benefits from being part of the broader platform. Ares believes the synergies resulting from collaboration across the Ares platform provide its professionals with more informed decision making as a result of shared industry expertise, management relationships, market insights, access to significant deal flow and a broader opportunity set, and the ability to assess relative value. Since its inception in 1997, Ares has adhered to a disciplined investment philosophy that focuses on delivering attractive

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risk-adjusted investment returns through market cycles. Ares believes it creates value for its stakeholders not only through our investment performance, but also by expanding its product offerings, enhancing its distribution channels, increasing its global presence, investing in its non-investment functions, securing strategic partnerships and completing strategic acquisitions and portfolio purchases.

Ares’ investment groups and AUM are described below(1):

A PICTURE CONTAINING TABLE

DESCRIPTION AUTOMATICALLY GENERATED


(1) As of September 30, 2021, AUM amounts include funds managed by Ivy Hill Asset Management, L.P., a wholly owned portfolio company of Ares Capital Corporation and a registered investment advisor.

Real Estate Group

AREG manages $36.5 billion of AUM as of September 30, 2021, across comprehensive equity and debt strategies, focusing on activities categorized as core, value-add, and opportunistic. Real Estate equity strategies involve high-quality properties and locations and de-risked developments with an opportunity to create value through repositioning, lease-up, re-tenanting, redevelopment, and/or complex recapitalizations. The group targets assets located in liquid markets with diversified economies in order to deliver compelling, risk-adjusted returns through a combination of asset selectivity and disciplined portfolio management. The U.S. core investment activities focus on the acquisition of assets secured by long-term cash flows and durable tenancy diversified across geographies and end-user industries. The core strategy encompasses industrial, residential, office, necessity-based retail, and other property types across major metropolitan economies. The value-add investment activities focus on acquiring underperforming, income-producing, institutional-quality assets that can be improved through select value creation initiatives across the U.S. and Europe. The opportunistic activities focus on capitalizing on distressed and special situations, repositioning underperforming assets and undertaking select development and redevelopment projects across the U.S. and Europe. Additionally, AREG has specialized operating and investment capabilities specifically in the industrial sector through its vertically integrated operating platform. The group’s debt strategies leverage AREG’s diverse sources of capital to directly originate and invest in a wide range of financing opportunities in the U.S. In addition to managing private commingled funds and SMAs, the Real Estate Group also makes debt investments through ACRE, a publicly traded commercial mortgage REIT.

Private Equity Group

Ares’ Private Equity Group manages 32.7 billion of AUM as of September 30, 2021 and broadly categorizes its investment activities into three strategies: Corporate Private Equity, Special Opportunities and Infrastructure and Power. In the Corporate Private Equity strategy, the group targets four principal transactions types: prudently leveraged control buyouts, growth equity, rescue/deleveraging capital and distressed buyouts/discounted debt accumulation together with the broad resources of potential investment opportunities. This flexible capital approach, together with the broad resources of the Ares platform, widens our universe of potential investment opportunities and allows us to remain active in different markets and to be highly selective in making investments across various market environments. In Special Opportunities strategy, the group employs a flexible capital strategy to target non-control positions across a broad

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spectrum of stressed, distressed and opportunistic situations. The Infrastructure and Power strategy targets a value-added approach that seeks to source and structure essential infrastructure assets with strong downside protection and potential for capital appreciation throughout the climate infrastructure, natural gas generation, and energy transportation sectors.

Credit Group

Ares’ Credit Group has $181.2 billion of AUM as of September 30, 2021, and manages credit strategies across the liquid and illiquid spectrum, including syndicated loans, high yield bonds, multi-asset credit, alternative credit investments and direct lending. The syndicated loans strategy focuses on evaluating individual credit opportunities related primarily to non-investment grade senior secured loans and primarily targets first lien secured debt, with a secondary focus on second lien secured loans and subordinated and other unsecured loans. The high yield bond strategy seeks to deliver a diversified portfolio of liquid, traded non-investment grade corporate bonds, including secured, unsecured and subordinated debt instruments. Multi-asset credit is a “go anywhere” strategy designed to offer investors a flexible solution to global credit investing by allowing us to tactically allocate between multiple asset classes in various market conditions. The alternative credit strategy seeks to capitalize on asset-focused investment opportunities that fall outside of traditional, well-defined markets such as corporate debt, real estate and private equity. The alternative credit strategy emphasizes downside protection and capital preservation through a focus on investments that tend to share the following key attributes: asset security, covenants, structural protections and cash flow velocity. The direct lending strategy is one of the largest self-originating direct lenders to the U.S. and European markets and has a multi-channel origination strategy designed to address a broad set of investment opportunities in the middle market. The direct lending team maintains a flexible investment strategy with the capability to invest in first lien senior secured loans (including “unitranche” loans which are loans that combine senior and subordinated debt, generally in a first lien position), second lien senior secured loans, subordinated debt, preferred equity and non-control equity co-investments in private middle market companies. U.S. direct lending activities are managed through a publicly traded business development company, ARCC, as well as through private commingled funds and SMAs.

Secondary Solutions Group

Ares’ Secondary Solutions Group was formed during the second quarter of 2021 in connection with the Landmark Acquisition and has $20.7 billion of AUM as of September 30, 2021. The Secondary Solutions Group invests in secondary markets across a range of alternative asset class strategies, including private equity, real estate and infrastructure. The group acquires interests across a range of partnership vehicles, including funds, multi-asset portfolios and single asset joint ventures. Each strategy focuses on recapitalizing and restructuring the funds, including transactions that can address pending fund maturity, strategy change or the need for additional equity capital. The private equity secondaries strategy targets opportunities in non-competitive channels and makes investments in durable, performing assets with attractive capital structures. In the real estate secondaries strategy, the group seeks broad diversification by property sector and geography and to drive investment results through underwriting, transaction structuring and portfolio construction. In the infrastructure secondaries strategy, the group focuses on achieving diversification through a portfolio that provides inflation protection and exposure to uncorrelated assets.

Strategic Initiatives

The Strategic Initiative segment has $10.8 billion of AUM as of September 30, 2021. It represents an all other category that includes operating segments and strategic investments that seek to expand the Ares’ reach and its scale in new and existing global markets including Ares SSG, Ares Insurance Solutions (“AIS”) and Ares Acquisition Corporation (“AAC”).

Benefits of Our Relationship with Ares

We believe our competitive strength lies in our affiliation with Ares, one of the most trusted alternative investment managers, with over $282 billion of assets under management as of September 30, 2021 and approximately 1,820 direct institutional clients including the some of the largest institutional investors in the world. AREIT provides income-focused investors with the opportunity to access an institutional quality, scaled alternative asset manager with approximately 2,060 employees across more than 30 global offices, direct access to sourcing capabilities of over 195

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Ares real estate investment professionals in the U.S. and Europe, and an in-house research team tracking approximately 60 industries coupled with the experience and in-place infrastructure for managing public investment vehicles.

Ares operates its increasingly diversified and global firm as an integrated investment platform with a collaborative culture that emphasizes sharing of knowledge and experience. We believe the exchange of information enhances our ability to analyze investments, deploy capital and improve the performance of our funds and portfolio companies. Within this framework, Ares has established deep and sophisticated independent research capabilities and insights from active investments in over 3,000 companies and approximately 470 real estate properties.

The local market presence of Ares’ investment professionals and their ability to effectively cross-source for other investment groups generates a robust pipeline of high-quality investment opportunities across the platform. Ares has over 745 investment professionals across its Real Estate, Private Equity, Credit, Secondary Solutions and Strategic Initiatives Groups that operate out of more than 30 offices globally. This broad presence and penetration into local markets and local deal flow is a key element to the future success of AREIT. At its core, Ares is a value-oriented, fundamental, bottom-up, credit-focused investment firm. Ares employs a rigorous, in-depth, and repeatable research process that is designed to identify attractive risk-adjusted return opportunities within our investable universe and avoid defaults. Ares’ disciplined approach is consistent across the Ares platform and is focused on identifying sustainable business franchises with leading and defensible market positions, strong and properly incentivized management teams, solid liquidity and free cash flow generation, appropriate capital structures, and significant asset coverage.

Offering of Class T, Class S, Class D and Class I Shares of Common Stock

We are offering Class T, Class S, Class D and Class I shares in this offering. The differences in our share classes relate to upfront selling commissions, upfront dealer manager fees and ongoing distribution fees. The table below summarizes the fees we expect to generally be payable to the Dealer Manager with respect to the Class T , Class S, Class D and Class I shares in our ongoing offering and does not include the other fees and expenses payable to the Advisor and its affiliates, which are allocable based on the respective NAV of our classes. The upfront selling commission and dealer manager fee are each a percentage of the transaction price, which will generally be the most recently disclosed monthly NAV per share for such class, of the shares sold in the primary offering. No upfront selling commissions or dealer manager fees are paid with respect to any shares sold under our distribution reinvestment plan. Subject to FINRA limitations on underwriting compensation and certain other limitations, the ongoing distribution fee for each class is an annual amount equal to the percentage of our aggregate NAV for such share class set forth below.

    

Class T

    

Class S

    

Class D

    

Class I

Upfront Selling Commission

up to 3.00%*

up to 3.50%

None

None

Upfront Dealer Manager Fee

up to 1.50%*

None

None

None

Ongoing Distribution Fee

0.85%

0.85%

0.25%

None


*

The sum of upfront selling commissions and upfront dealer manager fees on Class T shares may not exceed 3.50% of the transaction price.

The ongoing distribution fees listed above are allocated on a class-specific basis and borne by all holders of the applicable class. These class-specific fees may differ for each class, even when the NAV of each class is the same. We normally expect that the allocation of ongoing distribution fees on a class-specific basis will result in different amounts of distributions being paid with respect to each class of shares. However, if no distributions are authorized for a certain period, or if they are authorized in an amount less than the allocation of class-specific fees with respect to such period, then pursuant to our valuation procedures, the class-specific fee allocations may lower the net asset value of a share class. Therefore, as a result of the different ongoing fees allocable to each share class, each share class, including the Class E shares, could have a different NAV per share. If the NAV of our classes are different, then changes to our assets and liabilities that are allocable based on NAV may also be different for each class. See “Net Asset Value Calculation and Valuation Procedures” and “Description of Capital Stock—Distributions” for more information.

We will cease paying the distribution fees with respect to individual Class T, Class S and Class D shares when they are no longer outstanding, including as a result of conversion to Class I shares. Each Class T, Class S or Class D share held within a stockholder’s account shall automatically and without any action on the part of the holder thereof

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convert into a number of Class I shares at the Applicable Conversion Rate (as defined below) on the earliest of (a) a listing of any shares of our common stock on a national securities exchange, (b) our merger or consolidation with or into another entity, or the sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of our assets and (c) the end of the month in which the Dealer Manager in conjunction with our transfer agent determines that the total upfront selling commissions, upfront dealer manager fees and ongoing distribution fees paid with respect to all shares of such class held by such stockholder within such account (including shares purchased through a distribution reinvestment plan or received as stock dividends) equals or exceeds 8.75% (or a lower limit set forth in any applicable agreement between the Dealer Manager and a participating broker-dealer, provided that the Dealer Manager advises our transfer agent of the lower limit in writing) of the aggregate purchase price of all shares of such class held by such stockholder within such account and purchased in a primary offering (i.e., an offering other than a distribution reinvestment plan).

In addition, after termination of a primary offering registered under the Securities Act, each Class T, Class S or Class D share sold in that primary offering, each Class T, Class S or Class D share sold under a distribution reinvestment plan pursuant to the same registration statement that was used for that primary offering, and each Class T, Class S or Class D share received as a stock dividend with respect to such shares sold in such primary offering or distribution reinvestment plan, shall automatically and without any action on the part of the holder thereof convert into a number of Class I shares at the Applicable Conversion Rate, at the end of the month in which we, with the assistance of the Dealer Manager, determine that all underwriting compensation paid or incurred with respect to the offerings covered by that registered statement from all sources, determined pursuant to the rules and guidance of FINRA, would be in excess of 10% of the aggregate purchase price of all shares sold for our account through that primary offering.

As used above, the “Applicable Conversion Rate” means (a) with respect to Class T shares, a ratio whereby the numerator is the most recently disclosed monthly Class T NAV per share and the denominator is the most recently disclosed monthly Class I NAV per share, (b) with respect to Class S shares, a ratio whereby the numerator is the most recently disclosed monthly Class S NAV per share and the denominator is the most recently disclosed monthly Class I NAV per share, and (c) with respect to Class D shares, a ratio whereby the numerator is the most recently disclosed monthly Class D NAV per share and the denominator is the most recently disclosed monthly Class I NAV per share. For each class of shares, the NAV per share shall be calculated as described in the most recent valuation procedures approved by our board of directors. Because we currently expect to allocate ongoing distribution fee expenses to our Class T, Class S and Class D shares through their distributions, and not through their NAV per share, we currently expect the Applicable Conversion Rate to remain 1:1 for our Class T, Class S and Class D shares.

Assuming a constant net asset value per share and assuming applicable distribution fees are paid until the 8.75% of primary offering gross proceeds limit described in “Plan of Distribution—Distribution Fees—Class T, Class S and Class D Shares” is reached, we expect that a one-time $10,000 investment in shares of each class would be subject to the following upfront selling commissions, dealer manager fees and distribution fees:

    

Upfront Selling
Commissions

    

Dealer
Manager
Fees

    

Annual
Distribution
Fees

    

Maximum
 Distribution Fees Over
Life of Investment
(Length of Time)

    

Total
(Length of Time)

Class T

$

300

$

50

$

85

$

556 (7 years)

$

906 (7 years)

Class S

$

350

$

$

85

$

556 (7 years)

$

906 (7 years)

Class D

$

$

$

25

$

875 (35 years)

$

875 (35 years)

Class I

$

$

$

$

$

Our Class T shares, Class S shares, Class D shares and Class I shares are available for different categories of investors. Class T and Class S shares are available to the general public. Class D shares are generally available for purchase in this offering only (1) through fee-based programs, also known as wrap accounts, that provide access to Class D shares, (2) through participating broker-dealers that have alternative fee arrangements with their clients to provide access to Class D shares, (3) through investment advisers that are registered under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 or applicable state law and direct clients to trade with a broker-dealer that offers Class D shares, (4) through bank trust departments or any other organization or person authorized to act in a fiduciary capacity for its clients or customers or (5) other categories of investors that we name in an amendment or supplement to this prospectus. Class I shares are available for purchase in this offering only (1) through fee-based programs, also known as wrap accounts, that provide access to Class I shares, (2) by institutional accounts as defined by FINRA Rule 4512(c), (3) through

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bank-sponsored collective trusts and bank-sponsored common trusts, (4) by retirement plans (including a trustee or custodian under any deferred compensation or pension or profit sharing plan or payroll deduction IRA established for the benefit of the employees of any company), foundations or endowments, (5) through certain financial intermediaries that are not otherwise registered with or as a broker-dealer and that direct clients to trade with a broker-dealer that offers Class I shares, (6) through investment advisers registered under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 or applicable state law that are also registered with or as a broker-dealer, whose broker-dealer does not receive any compensation from us or the Dealer Manager, (7) by our executive officers and directors and their immediate family members, as well as officers and employees of the Advisor or affiliates of the Advisor and their immediate family members, and, if approved by our board of directors, joint venture partners, consultants and other service providers, (8) by participating broker-dealers, including their registered representatives and immediate family members, (9) through bank trust departments or any other organization or person authorized to act as a fiduciary for its clients or customers and (10) by any other categories of purchasers that we name in an amendment or supplement to this prospectus. Before making your investment decision, please consult with your investment adviser regarding your account type and the classes of common stock you may be eligible to purchase.

Certain participating broker-dealers may offer volume discounts, which would reduce upfront selling commissions and would therefore increase the length of time required for selling commissions, dealer manager fees and distribution fees to reach the 8.75% (or a lower limit set forth in any applicable agreement between the Dealer Manager and a participating broker-dealer, provided that the Dealer Manager advises our transfer agent of the lower limit in writing) of primary offering gross proceeds limit described in “Plan of Distribution—Distribution Fees—Class T, Class S and Class D Shares.” See “Plan of Distribution—Underwriting Compensation—Upfront Selling Commissions and Dealer Manager Fees.”

If you are eligible to purchase all four classes of shares, then in most cases you should consider Class I shares because Class I shares have no upfront selling commissions, dealer manager fees or distribution fees. Such fees are applicable to the other share classes and will reduce the NAV or distributions of the other share classes. If you are eligible to purchase Class T, Class S and Class D shares but not Class I shares, in most cases you should consider Class D shares because Class D shares have no upfront selling commissions or dealer manager fees and lower annual distribution fees. Investors should also inquire with their broker-dealer or financial representative about what additional fees may be charged with respect to the share class under consideration or with respect to the type of account in which the shares will be held, as that is also an important consideration when selecting a share class.

Transaction Price

Each class of shares will be sold at the then-current transaction price, which will generally be the most recently disclosed monthly NAV per share for such class, plus applicable upfront selling commissions and dealer manager fees. Although the offering price for shares of our common stock will generally be based on the most recently disclosed monthly NAV per share, the NAV per share of such stock as of the date on which your purchase is settled may be significantly different. We may offer shares at a price that we believe reflects the NAV per share of such stock more appropriately than the most recently disclosed monthly NAV per share, including by updating a previously disclosed transaction price, in cases where we believe there has been a material change (positive or negative) to our NAV per share relative to the most recently disclosed monthly NAV per share. Each class of shares may have a different NAV per share because distribution fees differ with respect to each class.

Our UPREIT Structure

An “Umbrella Partnership Real Estate Investment Trust,” which we refer to as an “UPREIT,” is a REIT that holds all or substantially all of its assets through a partnership in which the REIT holds an interest. We use this structure because a sale of property directly to the REIT in exchange for cash or REIT shares or a combination of cash and REIT shares, is generally a taxable transaction to the selling property owner. In an UPREIT structure, a seller of a property who desires to defer taxable gain on the disposition of his property may transfer the property to the partnership in exchange for units in the partnership and defer taxation of gain until the seller later sells the units in the partnership or exchanges them, normally on a one-for-one basis, for REIT shares. If the REIT shares are publicly traded, the former property or securities owner will achieve liquidity for his investment. We believe that using an UPREIT structure gives

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us an advantage in acquiring desired properties from persons who may not otherwise sell their properties because of unfavorable tax results.

Our Operating Partnership

We own all of our interests in our investments through our operating partnership, AREIT Operating Partnership LP, a Delaware limited partnership (the “Operating Partnership”), or its subsidiaries. We are the sole general partner of our Operating Partnership. In addition, we have contributed 100% of the proceeds received from our public offerings of common stock to our Operating Partnership in exchange for partnership units (“OP Units”) representing our interest as a limited partner of the Operating Partnership. Our Operating Partnership has classes of OP Units that correspond to our five classes of common stock: Class E OP Units (which are further separated into Series 1 and Series 2), Class T OP Units (which are further separated into Series 1 and Series 2), Class S OP Units (which are further separated into Series 1 and Series 2), Class D OP Units, and Class I OP Units. The OP Units of each class are economically equivalent to the same respective class of our common stock. We sometimes refer to our outstanding shares, along with the OP Units held by third parties, collectively as “Fund Interests” because they all represent interests held by investors in our Operating Partnership, through which we own all of our investments and conduct all of our operations. We sometimes refer to the NAV of all of the Fund Interests as the “Aggregate Fund NAV.” In addition, the Advisor owns partnership units in the Operating Partnership constituting a separate series of partnership interests with special distribution rights, or the “Special Units.” As described below, at the election of the Advisor, the performance component of the advisory fee payable to the Advisor may be paid instead to the Advisor or its designees as a performance participation allocation with respect to the Special Units.

As of September 30, 2021, we held an 88.4% limited partnership interest in the Operating Partnership. As of September 30, 2021, our Operating Partnership had outstanding OP Units held by third-party investors representing approximately an 11.6% limited partnership interest. These units were issued by the Operating Partnership in connection with its exercise of options to acquire certain fractional interests in real estate that were previously sold to such investors pursuant to private placements previously conducted by the Operating Partnership. The holders of OP Units (other than us) generally have the right to cause the Operating Partnership to redeem all or a portion of their OP Units for, at our sole discretion, shares of our common stock, cash, or a combination of both. As discussed further below under “Investment Strategy, Objectives and Policies—DST Program,” we, through the Operating Partnership, launched a similar program of private placements in March 2016.

Net Asset Value Calculation and Valuation Procedures

Our board of directors, including a majority of our independent directors, has adopted valuation procedures, as amended from time to time, that contain a comprehensive set of methodologies to be used in connection with the calculation of our NAV. Our NAV is calculated monthly based on the net asset values of our investments, the addition of any other assets and the deduction of any other liabilities. With the approval of our board of directors, including a majority of our independent directors, we have engaged Altus Group U.S. Inc., “Altus Group” or our “Independent Valuation Advisor”, a valuation firm, with respect to providing monthly real property appraisals, reviewing annual third-party real property appraisals, and helping us administer the real property valuation and review process. Estimates of the fair values of certain of our other assets, debt, and other liabilities are determined by our Advisor or other suitable pricing sources.

Our NAV per share is calculated as of the last calendar day of each month for each of our outstanding classes of stock, and is available generally within 15 calendar days after the end of the applicable month. Our NAV per share is calculated by ALPS Fund Services Inc., “ALPS” or “NAV Accountant,” a third-party firm approved by our board of directors, including a majority of our independent directors. Our board of directors, including a majority of our independent directors, may replace ALPS or any other party involved in our valuation procedures with another party, including our Advisor, if it is deemed appropriate to do so.

As a public company, we are required to issue financial statements generally based on historical cost in accordance with GAAP. To calculate our NAV for the purpose of establishing a purchase and redemption price for our shares, we have adopted policies and procedures, which adjust the values of certain of our assets and liabilities from historical cost to fair value. NAV is not a measure used under GAAP and the valuations of and certain adjustments made

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to our assets and liabilities used in the determination of NAV differs from GAAP. As a result, our NAV should not be considered equivalent to stockholders’ equity or any other GAAP measure. See "Net Asset Value Calculation and Valuation Procedures" for more details regarding our NAV per share calculations.

Estimated Use of Proceeds

After paying upfront selling commissions and dealer manager fees and organization and offering expenses, and assuming that we sell the maximum offering, we estimate net proceeds from this offering in an amount equal to $7.4 billion, or approximately 98.3%, of the gross proceeds from this offering, to be available to us. Upfront selling commissions and dealer manager fees, which are effectively paid by purchasers of shares in the primary offering at the time of purchase, because the purchase price of such shares is equal to the transaction price, which generally equals the most recently disclosed monthly NAV per share, plus the upfront selling commissions and dealer manager fees, have no effect on the NAV of any class. Accordingly, if we fund additional underwriting compensation (as described below) and issuer organization and offering expenses entirely out of cash flow from operations (which would not reduce the net offering proceeds), then as a percentage of the NAV of the shares sold (measured as of the date of sale), approximately 98.6% of the proceeds will be available to us. We expect to use the net proceeds of this offering to make investments in accordance with our investment strategy and policies, to provide liquidity to our stockholders and for general corporate purposes (which may include repayment of our debt or any other corporate purposes we deem appropriate). We may use the proceeds of this offering to fund stockholder distributions, although we do not currently intend to do so. The specific amounts of the net proceeds that are used for such purposes, and the priority of such uses, will depend on the amount of proceeds raised in this offering, the timing of our receipt of such proceeds and the best uses of the proceeds at such time. The foregoing figures are estimates based on numerous assumptions. The actual percentage of net proceeds available to use will depend on a number of factors, including the amount of capital we raise and the actual offering costs. For example, if we raise less than the maximum offering amount, we would expect the percentage of net offering proceeds available to us to be less (and may be substantially less) than that set forth above because many offering costs are fixed and do not depend on the amount of capital raised in the offering. See “Estimated Use of Proceeds.”

Investment Objectives and Strategy

Our primary investment objectives are:

providing current income to our stockholders in the form of consistent cash distributions;
preserving and protecting our stockholders’ capital investments;
realizing capital appreciation in our share price from active investment management and asset management; and
providing portfolio diversification in the form of multi-asset class investing in direct real estate.

There is no assurance that we will attain our investment objectives. Our charter places numerous limitations on us with respect to the manner in which we may invest our funds. In most cases these limitations cannot be changed unless our charter is amended, which may require the approval of our stockholders.

We are primarily focused on investing in and operating a diverse portfolio of real property and investing in other real estate-related assets. We currently focus our investment activities primarily across the major U.S. property sectors (industrial, residential, office and retail). To a lesser extent, we intend to strategically invest in geographies outside of the U.S., which may include Canada, the United Kingdom, Europe and other foreign jurisdictions, and in other sectors such as triple net lease, real estate debt (which may include mortgages and subordinated interests) and infrastructure, to create a diversified blend of current income and long-term value appreciation. Our objective is to bring the Ares leading institutional-quality real assets investment platform to income-focused investors, with significant diversification across real estate and real estate-related asset classes, geographies and sectors. We intend to allocate capital dynamically between sectors and strategies so as to achieve outperformance through strategic diversification rather than outsized risk. We expect real estate debt, non-US jurisdictions and/or infrastructure assets to comprise up to 30% of our assets. Currently, infrastructure is not expected to comprise more than 10% of our assets with a focus on real

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estate related infrastructure and renewable energy sources. While we will not limit our investment opportunities to stay within these allocations, we may adjust our expectations based on market conditions and opportunities.

We believe that the real estate market is cyclical, with demand for property types peaking at different times. Although we do not invest for the short term, we are active portfolio managers and will seek to take advantage of opportunities to acquire or dispose of assets strategically at different points in the cycle. One reason we focus on multiple property types and markets is to increase our ability to take advantage of these market cycles. We believe that the broader the opportunity set in which to invest our capital, the more selective we can be in choosing strategic and accretive investments, which we believe may result in attractive total returns for you. Seeing more of the overall real estate market also may allow us to be consistent and meaningful investors throughout different cycles. When we believe one market and/or sector is overvalued, we patiently wait and focus on another market and/or sector that we believe is overlooked or has stronger fundamentals of relative value. We also believe that value generally is based on the investment’s ability to produce cash flow. We generally focus on select, targeted markets that exhibit characteristics of being supply-constrained with strong demand from customers seeking quality space.

Our near-term investment strategy is likely to prioritize new investments in the industrial and residential sectors due to relatively attractive fundamental conditions. We also intend to continue to hold an allocation of properties in the office and retail sectors, the latter of which is largely grocery-anchored. To a lesser extent we may invest in other property sectors and geographies, infrastructure and real estate debt.

We generally employ a long-term hold strategy for strategic investments within our portfolio of real estate assets. The majority of our current portfolio consists of primarily “core” or “core-plus” properties that have significant operating histories and are substantially leased whereby a significant portion of the total investment return is expected to be derived from current income. In addition, we have invested in a relatively smaller proportion of “value added” opportunities that have arisen in circumstances where we have determined that a property may be situationally undervalued or where re-development, re-leasing and/or improved asset management may increase cash flows, and where the total investment return is generally expected to have a relatively larger component derived from capital appreciation.

Leverage

We use financial leverage to provide additional funds to support our investment activities. We calculate our leverage for reporting purposes as the outstanding principal balance of our borrowings less cash and cash equivalents divided by the fair value of our real property and debt-related investments not associated with the DST Program (determined in accordance with our valuation procedures). For purposes of determining the fair value of our real property, we include the fair value of the properties that are part of the DST Program due to the master lease structure, including our purchase option. Based on this methodology, our leverage was 31.1% as of September 30, 2021, as compared to 36.6% as of December 31, 2020. There are other methods of calculating our overall leverage ratio that may differ from this methodology, such as the methodology used in determining our compliance with corporate borrowing covenants. Our current leverage target is between 40-60%. Although we will generally work to maintain our targeted leverage ratio, there are no assurances that we will maintain the targeted range disclosed above or achieve any other leverage ratio that we may target in the future. Our board of directors may from time to time modify our borrowing policy in light of then-current economic conditions, the relative costs of debt and equity capital, the fair values of our properties, general conditions in the market for debt and equity securities, growth and acquisition opportunities or other factors. Our charter restricts the amount of indebtedness that we may incur to 300% of our net assets, which approximates 75% of the cost of our investments, but does not restrict the amount of indebtedness we may incur with respect to any single investment. Notwithstanding the foregoing, our aggregate indebtedness may exceed the limit set forth in our charter, but only if such excess is approved by a majority of our independent directors. See “Investment Strategy, Objectives and Policies—Borrowing Policies” for more details regarding our borrowing policies.

DST Program

In March 2016, we, through the Operating Partnership, initiated a program to raise capital in private placements exempt from registration under Section 506(b) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the “Securities Act”

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through the sale of beneficial interests in specific Delaware statutory trusts holding real properties, including properties currently indirectly owned by the Operating Partnership (the “DST Program”).

Under the DST Program, each private placement will offer interests in one or more real properties placed into one or more Delaware statutory trust(s) by the Operating Partnership or its affiliates (“DST Properties”). We anticipate that these interests may serve as replacement properties for investors seeking to complete like-kind exchange transactions under Section 1031 of the Code. Additionally, underlying interests of properties that are sold to investors pursuant to such private placements will be leased-back by an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of the Operating Partnership on a long term basis of up to 29 years. The lease agreements are expected to be fully guaranteed by the Operating Partnership. Additionally, the Operating Partnership will retain a fair market value purchase option giving it the right, but not the obligation, to acquire the beneficial interests in the Delaware statutory trusts from the investors at a later time in exchange for OP Units (the “FMV Option”).

Similar to our prior private placement offerings, we expect that the DST Program will give us the opportunity to expand and diversify our capital raising strategies by offering what we believe to be an attractive and unique investment product for investors that may be seeking replacement properties to complete like-kind exchange transactions under Section 1031 of the Code. We expect to use the net proceeds of these private placements to make investments in accordance with our investment strategy and policies, to provide liquidity to our investors and for general corporate purposes (which may include repayment of our debt or any other corporate purposes we deem appropriate). The specific amounts of the net proceeds that are used for such purposes, and the priority of such uses, will depend on the amount and timing of receipts of such proceeds and what we deem to be the best use of such proceeds at such time.

In connection with the DST Program, Ares Diversified Real Estate Exchange LLC (“ADREX”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of our taxable REIT subsidiary that is wholly-owned by the Operating Partnership, has entered into a dealer manager agreement with our Dealer Manager, which has since been amended and restated. Pursuant to the amended and restated dealer manager agreement, the Dealer Manager agreed to conduct the private placements of up to $1.0 billion of interests. ADREX Manager LLC (the “DST Manager”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of our Operating Partnership, acts, directly or through a wholly-owned subsidiary, as the manager of each Delaware statutory trust holding a DST Property, but has assigned all of its rights and obligations as manager (including fees and reimbursements received) to BC Exchange Advisor LLC (“DST Advisor”), an affiliate of the Advisor. As of September 30, 2021, we have sold $734.1 million of gross interests under the DST Program.

As part of the DST Program, a subsidiary of ours will provide loans (“DST Program Loans”) of no more than 50% of the purchase price to certain DST Program investors who acquire interests in Delaware statutory trusts. DST Program Loans will be secured by the DST Program interests (“DST Interests”) acquired using the DST Program Loan, and will be non-recourse to the borrowing DST Program investor subject to commercially customary recourse carveouts.

Summary Risk Factors

An investment in shares of our common stock involves significant risks, including among others:

There is no public trading market for shares of our common stock, and it will therefore be difficult for you to sell your shares.
There are limits on the ownership, transferability and redemption of shares of our common stock which significantly limit the liquidity of an investment in shares of our common stock.
Since there is no public trading market for shares of our common stock, redemption of shares by us will likely be the only way to dispose of your shares. Our share redemption program provides stockholders with the opportunity to request that we redeem their shares on a monthly basis, but we are not obligated to redeem any shares and may choose to redeem only some, or even none, of the shares that have been requested to be redeemed in any particular month, in our discretion. In addition, redemptions will be subject to available liquidity, the 2% and 5% limits (defined below) and other significant restrictions. Further, our board of directors may modify or suspend our share redemption program if in its reasonable judgment it deems a suspension to be in our best interest and the best

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interest of our stockholders. As a result, our shares should be considered as having only limited liquidity and at times may be illiquid. See “Description of Capital Stock—Share Redemption Program” for more information.
A portion of the proceeds received in this offering is expected to be used to satisfy redemption requests, including requests from our existing stockholders which may be significant. Using the proceeds from this offering for redemptions will reduce the net proceeds available to retire debt or acquire additional properties, which may result in reduced liquidity and profitability or restrict our ability to grow our NAV.
In connection with this offering, we incur fees and expenses which will decrease the amount of cash we have available for operations and new investments. In the future we may conduct other offerings of common stock (whether existing or new classes), preferred stock, debt securities or of interests in our Operating Partnership. We may also amend the terms of this offering. We may structure or amend such offerings to attract institutional investors or other sources of capital. The costs of this offering and future offerings may negatively impact our ability to pay distributions and your overall return.
The purchase and redemption price for shares of our common stock will generally be based on our most recently disclosed monthly NAV (subject to material changes as described above) and will not be based on any public trading market. We generally expect our transaction price to be equal to our NAV as of a date approximately one month prior to the dates when share purchases and redemptions take place. For example, if you wish to subscribe for shares of our common stock in October, your subscription request must be received in good order at least five business days before November 1. Generally, the offering price would equal the NAV per share of the applicable class as of the last calendar day of September, plus applicable upfront selling commissions and dealer manager fees. If accepted, your subscription would be effective on the first calendar day of November. Conversely, if you wish to submit your shares for redemption in October, your redemption request and required documentation must be received in good order by 4:00 p.m. (Eastern time) on the second to last business day of October. If accepted, your shares would be redeemed as of the last calendar day of October and, generally, the redemption price would equal the NAV per share of the applicable class as of the last calendar day of September, subject to reduction for early redemption. In each of these cases, the NAV that is ultimately determined as of the last day of October may be higher or lower than the NAV as of the last day of September used for determining the transaction price. Therefore, the price at which you purchase shares may be higher than the current NAV per share at the time of sale and the price at which you redeem shares may be lower than the current NAV per share at the time of redemption.
In addition to being a month old when share purchases and redemptions take place, our NAV does not currently represent our enterprise value and may not accurately reflect the actual prices at which our assets could be liquidated on any given day, the value a third party would pay for all or substantially all of our shares, or the price that our shares would trade at on a national stock exchange. Our management’s assessment of the market values of our properties may also differ from the appraised values of our properties. Further, it is possible that the annual appraisals of our properties may not be spread evenly throughout the year, and rapidly changing market conditions or material events may not be fully reflected in our monthly NAV. The resulting potential disparity in our NAV may inure to the benefit of redeeming stockholders or non-redeeming stockholders and new purchasers of our common stock, depending on whether our published NAV per share for such class is overstated or understated.
Some of our executive officers, directors and other key personnel are also officers, directors, managers, and/or key personnel of the Advisor, our Dealer Manager and/or other entities related to our Sponsor. As a result, they face conflicts of interest, including but not limited to conflicts arising from time constraints, allocation of investment and leasing opportunities and the fact that the fees the Advisor receives for services rendered to us are based on our NAV, the procedures for which the Advisor assists our board of directors in developing, overseeing, implementing and coordinating.

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We are subject to risks generally incident to the ownership of real property, including changes in global, national, regional or local economic, demographic, political, real estate or capital market conditions and other factors particular to the locations of our respective real property investments. We are unable to predict future changes in these market conditions. For example, an economic downturn or rise in interest rates could make it more difficult for us to lease properties or dispose of them. In addition, rising interest rates could make alternative interest-bearing and other investments more attractive and, therefore, potentially lower the relative value of our existing real estate investments.
Our use of leverage increases the risk of loss on our investments and places certain restrictions upon us which may limit us from realizing the most optimal value for such investments.
If we fail to maintain our status as a REIT, it would adversely affect our results of operations and our ability to make distributions to our stockholders.
You will not have the opportunity to evaluate future investments we will make with the proceeds raised in this offering prior to purchasing shares of our common stock.
The amount of distributions we may make is uncertain. We may pay distributions from sources other than cash flow from operations, including, without limitation, the sale of assets, borrowings or offering proceeds. The use of these sources for distributions would decrease the amount of cash we have available for new investments, repayment of debt, share redemptions and other corporate purposes, and could potentially reduce your overall return and adversely impact and dilute the value of your investment in shares of our common stock.
Our NAV per share may suddenly change if the valuations of our properties materially change from prior valuations or the actual operating results materially differ from what we originally budgeted. For example, we regularly face lease expirations across our portfolio, and as we move further away from lease commencement toward the end of a lease term, the valuation of the underlying property generally will be expected to drop depending on the likelihood of a renewal or a new lease on similar terms.
The current outbreak of the novel coronavirus, or COVID-19, has caused severe disruptions in the U.S. and global economy and may have an adverse impact on our financial condition and results of operations. This impact could be materially adverse to the extent the current COVID-19 outbreak, or future pandemics, cause customers to be unable to pay their rent or reduce the demand for commercial real estate. The current outbreak of COVID-19 and resulting impacts on the U.S. economy and financial markets has created extreme uncertainty and volatility with respect to the current and future values of real estate, and therefore our NAV per share, as well as the market value of our debt (including associated interest rate hedges). As a result, our NAV per share may not reflect the actual realizable value of our underlying properties at any given time or the market value of our debt (including associated interest rate hedges).

Summary of Compensation to the Advisor and its Affiliates

The Advisor and its affiliates receive fees and reimbursements for services related to this offering and for the investment and management of our assets, subject to the review and approval of our independent directors. In addition, the Advisor owns partnership units in the Operating Partnership constituting a separate series of partnership interests with special distribution rights, or the “Special Units.” As described below, at the election of the Advisor, the performance component of the advisory fee payable to the Advisor may be paid instead to the Advisor or its designees as a performance participation allocation with respect to the Special Units.

Set forth below is a summary of the fees and expenses we expect to pay these entities in connection with this offering or the operation of the Company. The estimated amount that we may pay with respect to such fees and expenses is also set forth below, assuming the maximum gross proceeds from the primary offering and distribution reinvestment plan. See “The Advisor and the Advisory Agreement—Summary of Fees, Commissions and Reimbursements” for a

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more detailed explanation of the fees and expenses payable to the Advisor and its affiliates. See “The Operating Partnership Agreement” for a more detailed description of the Special Units.

The upfront selling commissions and dealer manager fees listed below are effectively paid by purchasers of shares in the primary offering at the time of purchase, because the purchase price of such shares is equal to the transaction price, which generally equals the most recently disclosed monthly NAV per share, plus the upfront selling commissions and dealer manager fees, and therefore have no effect on the NAV of any class. The distribution fee listed below is allocated on a class-specific basis and may differ for each class, even when the NAV of each class is the same. Such class-specific fees are generally expected to affect distributions of the applicable classes rather than the NAV per share of such classes. The other fees and expenses below are not class-specific. Accordingly, they are allocated among all holders of Fund Interests ratably according to the NAV of their units or shares.

Type of
Compensation and
Recipient

    

Description and Method of Computation

    

Estimated Amount

Upfront Selling Commissions and Dealer Manager Fees—the Dealer Manager

The Dealer Manager will be entitled to receive upfront selling commissions of up to 3.0%, and dealer manager fees of up to 1.5%, of the transaction price of each Class T share sold in the primary offering; provided, however, that the sum of upfront selling commissions and upfront dealer manager fees will not exceed 3.5% of the transaction price. The Dealer Manager will be entitled to receive upfront selling commissions of up to 3.5% of the transaction price of each Class S share sold in the primary offering. The Dealer Manager anticipates that all or a portion of the upfront selling commissions and dealer manager fees will be retained by, or reallowed (paid) to, participating broker-dealers.

No upfront selling commissions or dealer manager fees will be paid with respect to purchases of Class D shares, Class I shares or shares of any class sold pursuant to our distribution reinvestment plan.

The amount of upfront selling commissions and dealer manager fees will depend on the number of shares sold, the class of shares sold and the transaction price of each share sold in the primary offering.

Upfront selling commissions will equal approximately $96.6 million and upfront dealer manager fees will equal approximately $4.8 million if we sell the maximum amount in our primary offering, assuming payment of the full upfront selling commissions and dealer manager fees (with a split for Class T shares of 3.0% and 0.5%, respectively), that 1/6 of the gross proceeds are from the sale of each of Class T and Class S shares, that the transaction prices of each of our Class T and Class S shares remain constant throughout the offering, and that there is no reallocation of shares between our primary offering and our distribution reinvestment plan.

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Type of
Compensation and
Recipient

    

Description and Method of Computation

    

Estimated Amount

Distribution Fees—the Dealer Manager

Subject to FINRA limitations on underwriting compensation, we will pay the Dealer Manager distribution fees:

·         with respect to our outstanding Class T shares, equal to 0.85% per annum of the aggregate NAV of our outstanding Class T shares, consisting of an advisor distribution fee and a dealer distribution fee; we expect generally that the advisor distribution fee will equal 0.65% per annum and the dealer distribution fee will equal 0.20% per annum, of the aggregate NAV for each Class T share; however, with respect to certain Class T shares, the advisor distribution fee and the dealer distribution fee may be other amounts, provided that the sum of such fees will always equal 0.85% per annum of the NAV of such shares;

·         with respect to our outstanding Class S shares, equal to 0.85% per annum of the aggregate NAV of our outstanding Class S shares; and

·         with respect to our outstanding Class D shares, equal to 0.25% per annum of the aggregate NAV of our outstanding Class D shares.

We will not pay a distribution fee with respect to our outstanding Class E or Class I shares.

Actual amounts depend upon the number of shares of each class outstanding, our monthly NAV, and when shares are outstanding, and, therefore, cannot be determined at this time. The distribution fee with respect to shares sold in this offering will equal $34.1 million per annum if we sell the maximum offering amount, assuming 1/6 of gross proceeds in our primary offering and distribution reinvestment plan offering come from sales of Class T shares, 1/6 of gross proceeds in our primary offering and distribution reinvestment plan offering come from sales of Class S shares, 1/3 of gross proceeds in our primary offering and distribution reinvestment plan offering come from sales of Class D shares and 1/3 of gross proceeds in our primary offering and distribution reinvestment plan offering come from sales of Class I shares, that there is no reallocation of shares between our primary offering and our distribution reinvestment plan, and that the NAV per share remains the same throughout this offering.

The distribution fees will be paid monthly in arrears. The Dealer Manager will reallow (pay) or advance all or a portion of the distribution fees to participating broker-dealers and servicing broker-dealers, and will rebate distribution fees to us to the extent a participating broker-dealer or servicing broker-dealer is not eligible to receive it unless the Dealer Manager has not recouped the total amount of distribution fees it advanced or the Dealer Manager is serving as the broker of record with respect to such shares. The distribution fees are calculated based on the NAV of all our outstanding Class T, Class S and Class D shares, including shares issued under our distribution reinvestment plan. In calculating our distribution fees, we will use our most recently disclosed monthly NAV before giving effect to the monthly distribution fee or distributions on our shares.

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Type of
Compensation and
Recipient

    

Description and Method of Computation

    

Estimated Amount

We will cease paying the distribution fees with respect to individual Class T, Class S and Class D shares when they are no longer outstanding, including as a result of conversion to Class I shares. Each Class T, Class S or Class D share held within a stockholder’s account shall automatically and without any action on the part of the holder thereof convert into a number of Class I shares at the Applicable Conversion Rate (as defined below) on the earliest of (a) a listing of any shares of our common stock on a national securities exchange, (b) our merger or consolidation with or into another entity, or the sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of our assets and (c) the end of the month in which the Dealer Manager in conjunction with our transfer agent determines that the total upfront selling commissions, upfront dealer manager fees and ongoing distribution fees paid with respect to all shares of such class held by such stockholder within such account (including shares purchased through a distribution reinvestment plan or received as stock dividends) equals or exceeds 8.75% (or a lower limit set forth in any applicable agreement between the Dealer Manager and a participating broker-dealer, provided that the Dealer Manager advises our transfer agent of the lower limit in writing) of the aggregate purchase price of all shares of such class held by such stockholder within such account and purchased in a primary offering (i.e., an offering other than a distribution reinvestment plan).

In addition, after termination of a primary offering registered under the Securities Act, each Class T, Class S or Class D share sold in that primary offering, each Class T, Class S or Class D share sold under a distribution reinvestment plan pursuant to the same registration statement that was used for that primary offering, and each Class T, Class S or Class D share received as a stock dividend with respect to such shares sold in such primary offering or distribution reinvestment plan, shall automatically and without any action on the part of the holder thereof convert into a number of Class I shares at the Applicable Conversion Rate, at the end of the month in which we, with the assistance of the Dealer Manager, determine that all underwriting compensation paid or incurred with respect to the offerings covered by that registered statement from all sources, determined pursuant to the rules and guidance of FINRA, would be in excess of 10% of the aggregate purchase price of all shares sold for our account through that primary offering.

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Type of
Compensation and
Recipient

    

Description and Method of Computation

    

Estimated Amount

As used above, the “Applicable Conversion Rate” means (a) with respect to Class T shares, a ratio whereby the numerator is the most recently disclosed monthly Class T NAV per share and the denominator is the most recently disclosed monthly Class I NAV per share, (b) with respect to Class S shares, a ratio whereby the numerator is the most recently disclosed monthly Class S NAV per share and the denominator is the most recently disclosed monthly Class I NAV per share, and (c) with respect to Class D shares, a ratio whereby the numerator is the most recently disclosed monthly Class D NAV per share and the denominator is the most recently disclosed monthly Class I NAV per share. For each class of shares, the NAV per share shall be calculated as described in the most recent valuation procedures approved by our board of directors. Because we currently expect to allocate ongoing distribution fee expenses to our Class T, Class S and Class D shares through their distributions, and not through their NAV per share, we currently expect the Applicable Conversion Rate to remain 1:1 for our Class T, Class S and Class D shares.

Additional Underwriting Compensation—the Dealer Manager or the Advisor

We pay directly, or reimburse the Advisor and the Dealer Manager if they pay on our behalf, certain additional items of underwriting compensation described in “Plan of Distribution—Underwriting Compensation,” including legal fees of the Dealer Manager, costs reimbursement for registered representatives of participating broker-dealers to attend educational conferences sponsored by us or the Dealer Manager, attendance fees for registered persons associated with the Dealer Manager to attend seminars conducted by participating broker-dealers, reimbursement of broker-dealers for technology costs and expenses associated with the facilitation of the marketing of our shares and ownership of our shares by their participating customers, and promotional items. In addition to this additional underwriting compensation, the Advisor may also pay the Dealer Manager additional amounts to fund certain of the Dealer Manager’s costs and expenses related to the distribution of this offering, which will not be reimbursed by us, as described in “Plan of Distribution—Underwriting Compensation—Other Compensation.” Also, the Dealer Manager may pay supplemental fees or commissions to participating broker-dealers and servicing broker-dealers with respect to shares sold in the primary offering, which will not be reimbursed by us, as described in “Plan of Distribution—Underwriting Compensation—Supplemental Fees and Commissions.”

We estimate our additional underwriting compensation expenses to be approximately $1.3 million if we sell the maximum offering amount.

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Type of
Compensation and
Recipient

    

Description and Method of Computation

    

Estimated Amount

Issuer Organization and Offering Expense Reimbursement—the Advisor or its affiliates, including the Dealer Manager

We also pay directly, or reimburse the Advisor and the Dealer Manager if they pay on our behalf, any issuer organization and offering expenses (meaning organization and offering expenses other than underwriting compensation) as and when incurred. After the termination of the primary offering and again after termination of the offering under our distribution reinvestment plan, the Advisor has agreed to reimburse us to the extent that total cumulative organization and offering expenses (including underwriting compensation) that we incur exceed 15% of our gross proceeds from the applicable offering.

We estimate our issuer organization and offering expenses (which excludes underwriting compensation expenses, including selling commissions, the dealer manager fee, the distribution fee, supplemental fees and commissions, the additional underwriting compensation described above and certain other amounts described in “Plan of Distribution—Underwriting Compensation-Other Compensation”) to be approximately $24.3 million if we sell the maximum offering amount.

Advisory Fee—Fixed Component and Expense Reimbursement—the Advisor

In consideration for the asset management services it provides on our behalf, we pay the Advisor an advisory fee with a fixed component, payable monthly in arrears, that accrues monthly in an amount equal to 1/12th of 1.10% of (a) the applicable monthly NAV per Fund Interest times the weighted-average number of Fund Interests for such month and (b) the consideration received by us or our affiliates for selling interests in DST Properties to third party investors, net of up-front fees and expense reimbursements payable out of gross sale proceeds from the sale of such interests. In calculating the fixed component of our advisory fee, we use our NAV before giving effect to monthly accruals for the fixed and performance components of the advisory fee, distribution fees payable to our Dealer Manager, or distributions payable on our outstanding shares or OP Units held by third parties.

Actual amounts depend upon our Aggregate Fund NAV, the changes in NAV and actual expenses incurred and, therefore, cannot be determined at this time.

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Type of
Compensation and
Recipient

    

Description and Method of Computation

    

Estimated Amount

Subject to certain limitations, we reimburse the Advisor or its affiliates for all of the costs they incur in connection with the services they provide to us under the Advisory Agreement, including, without limitation, the salaries and other compensation of its personnel based on the percentage of such personnel’s time spent on our affairs. Pursuant to the terms of our Advisory Agreement, we reimburse our Advisor and its affiliates for personnel (and related employment) costs and overhead (including, but not limited to, allocated rent paid, equipment, utilities, insurance, travel and entertainment, and other costs) incurred by the Advisor or its affiliates in performing the services under the Advisory Agreement, including, but not limited to, total compensation, benefits and other overhead of all employees involved in the performance of such services; provided, that we will not reimburse the Advisor or its affiliates for services for which the Advisor or its affiliates are entitled to compensation in the form of a separate fee, or for compensation of our named executive officers, unless the named executive officer provides services related to shareholder operations. See “The Advisor and the Advisory Agreement—The Advisory Agreement” for more details.

Advisory Fee—Performance Component—the Advisor

In consideration for the asset management services the Advisor provides on our behalf, we also pay the Advisor, in its capacity as holder of the Special Units, a performance based amount in the form of an allocation and distribution as an additional component of the advisory fee. This amount will be paid to the Advisor, so long as the Advisory Agreement has not been terminated, as a performance participation interest with respect to the Special Units or, at the election of the Advisor, all or a portion of this amount will be paid instead to the Advisor as a fee. If the Advisor elects to have the Performance Component paid as a fee, the Advisor has the discretion to make this election with respect to all or any portion of the performance component of the advisory fee for a particular year. This performance component of the advisory fee is calculated on the basis of the overall investment return provided to holders of Fund Interests (i.e., our outstanding shares and OP Units held by third parties) in any calendar year such that the Advisor will receive the lesser of (1) 12.5% of (a) the annual total return amount less (b) any loss carryforward, and (2) the amount equal to (x) the annual total return amount, less (y) any loss carryforward, less (z) the amount needed to achieve an annual total return amount equal to 5% of the NAV per Fund Interest at the beginning of such year (the “Hurdle Amount”). The foregoing calculations are calculated on a per Fund Interest basis and multiplied by the weighted average Fund Interests outstanding during the year. In no event will the performance component of the advisory fee be less than zero.

Actual amounts depend upon our Aggregate Fund NAV, the distributions we pay and the changes in NAV and, therefore, cannot be calculated at this time.

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Type of
Compensation and
Recipient

    

Description and Method of Computation

    

Estimated Amount

Accordingly, if the annual total return amount exceeds the Hurdle Amount plus the amount of any loss carryforward, then the Advisor will earn a performance component equal to 100% of such excess, but limited to 12.5% of the annual total return amount that is in excess of the loss carryforward.

The “annual total return amount” referred to above means all distributions paid or accrued per Fund Interest plus any change in NAV per Fund Interest since the end of the prior calendar year, adjusted to exclude the negative impact on annual total return resulting from our payment or obligation to pay, or distribute, as applicable, the performance component of the advisory fee as well as ongoing distribution fees (i.e., our ongoing class-specific fees).

The “loss carryforward” referred to above will track any negative annual total return amounts from prior years and offset the positive annual total return amount for purposes of the calculation of the performance component of the advisory fee. The loss carryforward is zero as of the date of this prospectus.

Additionally, the Advisor will provide us with a waiver of a portion of its fees generally equal to the amount of the performance component that would have been payable with respect to the Class E shares and the Series 1 Class E OP Units held by third parties until the NAV of such shares or units exceeds $10.00 a share or unit, the benefit of which will be shared among all holders of Fund Interests.

If the Advisor does not elect on or before the first day of a calendar year to have the performance component of the advisory fee paid as a fee to the Advisor, then it will be paid as a distribution on the performance participation interest to the Advisor, as the holder of the Special Units. In such case, the performance component of the advisory fee will be payable in cash or Class I OP Units, at the election of the Advisor. If the Advisor elects to receive such distributions in Class I OP Units, the number of Class I OP Units to be issued to the Advisor will be determined by dividing an amount equal to the value of the performance component of the advisory fee by the NAV per Class I OP Unit as of the date of the distribution.

The Advisor may request the Operating Partnership to repurchase such OP Units from the Advisor at a later date.

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Type of
Compensation and
Recipient

    

Description and Method of Computation

    

Estimated Amount

Any such repurchase requests will not be subject to any holding period, early redemption deduction, volume limitations or other restrictions that apply to other holders of OP Units under the limited partnership agreement of the Operating Partnership (the “Operating Partnership Agreement”) or to our stockholders under our share redemption program; provided, however, that in the event the Advisor holds OP Units paid or distributed with respect to the annual performance allocation or fee due under the Operating Partnership Agreement and/or Advisory Agreement from any prior calendar year (which, for the avoidance of doubt, does not include any OP Units awarded in the then-current year for the prior year’s performance, if any), and requests the Operating Partnership to redeem all or a portion of such OP Units (the “Partnership Unit Balance”), the Operating Partnership will be required to redeem such Partnership Unit Balance only if we, based on reasonable projections, (i) have determined that, after redeeming such Partnership Unit Balance, we expect to have liquidity (from any available source) equal to or in excess of the NAV of the maximum amount of our shares which can be redeemed under our then current share redemption program for the next ninety days (the “Minimum Liquidity Requirement”) and (ii) at the time of the redemption request, 100% of all properly submitted redemption requests in the share redemption program as of the most recent quarter end and the most recent month end (the “Redemption Period”) have been honored (collectively, with the Minimum Liquidity Requirement, the “Redemption Requirements”). In the event that we deem that the Redemption Requirements have not been met, then the Advisor may only redeem its Partnership Unit Balance up to the lesser of (A) whichever is the lower pro rata basis within the Redemption Period provided to our common stockholders requesting redemption of shares under the share redemption program, or (B) an amount that causes the Minimum Liquidity Requirement to still be met. If there was no pro rata redemption under the share redemption program during the Redemption Period, the Advisor may only redeem an amount that causes the Minimum Liquidity Requirement to still be met.

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Type of
Compensation and
Recipient

    

Description and Method of Computation

    

Estimated Amount

The above OP Unit redemption restriction shall not apply in the event that we terminate the Advisory Agreement. The Operating Partnership will redeem any OP Units of the Advisor for cash unless our board of directors determines that any such redemption for cash would be prohibited by applicable law or the Operating Partnership Agreement, in which case such OP Units will be redeemed for our common shares.

In the event the performance component of the advisory fee is paid in cash to the Advisor as an allocation and distribution in its capacity as holder of the Special Units, such amount will not be deductible by the Operating Partnership although it will reduce the cash available for distribution to holders of common OP Units and we believe that taxable income allocated to the Advisor as holder of the Special Units should reduce the amount of taxable income allocable to the holders of common OP Units for the taxable period of the allocation. In addition, in the event the Operating Partnership commences a liquidation of its assets during any calendar year, the Advisor will be distributed the performance participation allocation as its liquidation distribution, or the Advisor will receive payment of the performance component of the advisory fee, as applicable, prior to the distribution of the remaining liquidation proceeds to the holders of OP Units.

The Special Units do not receive Operating Partnership distributions or allocations except as described above. Holders of Special Units do not share in distributions paid to holders of common OP Units and are not allocated income or losses of the Operating Partnership except to the extent of taxable income allocated to them in their capacity as holders of the Special Units.

For a more comprehensive description of the performance component and related calculations, including an example of a calculation of the performance component, see “The Advisor and the Advisory Agreement—Summary of Fees, Commissions and Reimbursements” and “The Advisor and the Advisory Agreement—Performance Component Calculation Example” and “The Operating Partnership Agreement.”

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Type of
Compensation and
Recipient

    

Description and Method of Computation

    

Estimated Amount

Fees from Other Services—Affiliates of the Advisor

We retain certain of the Advisor’s affiliates, from time to time, for services relating to our investments or our operations, which may include property management services, leasing services, corporate services, statutory services, transaction support services (including but not limited to coordinating with brokers, lawyers, accountants and other advisors, assembling relevant information, conducting financial and market analyses, and coordinating closing procedures), construction and development management, and loan management and servicing, and within one or more such categories, providing services in respect of asset and/or investment administration, accounting, technology, tax preparation, finance (including but not limited to budget preparation and preparation and maintenance of corporate models), treasury, operational coordination, risk management, insurance placement, human resources, legal and compliance, valuation and reporting-related services, as well as services related to mortgage servicing, group purchasing, healthcare, consulting/brokerage, capital markets/credit origination, property, title and/or other types of insurance, management consulting and other similar operational matters. Any fees paid to the Advisor’s affiliates for any such services will not reduce the advisory fees. Any such arrangements will be at market rates or reimbursement of costs incurred by the affiliate in providing the services.

Actual amounts depend on whether affiliates of the Advisor are actually engaged to perform such services.

In lieu of cash, the Advisor may elect to receive the payment of its fees and the reimbursement of its expenses in shares of our common stock or OP Units, in any class of its choice. Any such shares or OP Units will be valued at the NAV per share or OP Unit applicable to such shares or OP Units on the issue date. Such shares shall not be subject to any early redemption deduction under our share redemption program.

Conflicts of Interest

The Advisor and certain of its affiliates are subject to conflicts of interest in connection with the management of our business affairs, including the following:

The directors, officers and other employees of the Advisor or its affiliates must allocate their time between advising us and managing other investment projects and business activities in which they may be involved.
The compensation payable by us to the Advisor and its affiliates may not be on terms that would result from arm’s-length negotiations, is payable whether or not our stockholders receive distributions, and is based on our NAV, the procedures for which the Advisor assists our board of directors in developing, overseeing, implementing and coordinating.
We cannot guarantee that the terms of any joint venture proposed by the Advisor to be entered into with entities affiliated with the Advisor or entities sponsored or advised by affiliates of our Sponsor will be equally beneficial to us as those that would result from arm’s-length negotiations.
We compete with entities or programs sponsored or advised by affiliates of the Sponsor for opportunities to acquire, finance or sell investments. As a result of this competition, certain investment opportunities may not be available to us. Our board of directors has delegated to the Conflicts

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Resolution Committee the responsibility to consider and resolve any such conflicts. The Conflicts Resolution Committee consists entirely of independent directors.
Regardless of the quality of the assets acquired, the services provided to us or whether we make distributions to our stockholders, the Advisor and its affiliates receive certain fees and reimbursements in connection with transactions involving the management and sale of our investments.
The Dealer Manager is an affiliate of our Advisor. As a result, we do not have the benefit of an independent dealer manager and you do not have the benefit of an independent third-party review of this offering to the same extent as if we and the Dealer Manager were unaffiliated with our Advisor.

Our Board

We operate under the direction of our board of directors, the members of which are accountable to us and our stockholders as fiduciaries. The board of directors is responsible for the management and control of our affairs. We currently have seven members on our board, four of whom are independent of us, the Advisor and our respective affiliates. Our directors are elected annually by the stockholders. Our board of directors has established an Audit Committee and a Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee. In addition, our board of directors has delegated the responsibility to consider and resolve all conflicts that may arise between us and other entities or programs sponsored or advised by affiliates of the Sponsor to a conflicts resolution committee (the “Conflicts Resolution Committee”). Our board of directors also adopted a delegation of authority policy and, pursuant to such policy, has delegated the authority for certain actions to the Advisor’s investment and management committee for our company (the “AREIT Advisors Committee”) and/or certain individuals at the Advisor who are senior members of the AREIT Advisors Committee.

The Advisor

Ares Commercial Real Estate Management LLC, our Advisor, was formed as a Delaware limited liability company in 2011 and is a subsidiary of Ares. The Advisor is a registered investment advisor under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended. Subject to our board of directors’ oversight, we rely on the Advisor to manage our day-to-day activities and to implement our investment strategy. In addition, subject to the oversight, review and approval of our board of directors, the Advisor undertakes to, among other things, research, identify, review and make investments in and dispositions of real property and real estate-related investments on our behalf consistent with our investment policies and objectives. The Advisor performs its duties and responsibilities under an advisory agreement with us (the “Advisory Agreement”) as a fiduciary of ours and our stockholders. The term of the Advisory Agreement is for one year, subject to renewals by our board of directors for an unlimited number of successive one-year periods. The current term of the Advisory Agreement expires on April 30, 2022. Our officers and our three interested directors are all employees of the Advisor or its affiliates. The names and biographical information of our directors and officers are contained under “Management—Directors and Executive Officers.”

Our Dealer Manager

Ares Wealth Management Solutions, LLC, which we refer to as the Dealer Manager, is distributing the shares of our common stock offered hereby on a “best efforts” basis. The Dealer Manager is an entity related to the Advisor and is a member of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc., or “FINRA.” The Dealer Manager will coordinate our distribution effort and manage our relationships with participating broker-dealers and financial advisors and provide assistance in connection with compliance matters relating to marketing this offering. Separately, the Dealer Manager has also been engaged by us to conduct the private placements of our DST Program.

Other Affiliates of the Advisor and Related Entities

In addition to our Advisor and our Dealer Manager, other affiliates of the Advisor are involved in this offering and our operations. The DST Manager, a wholly owned subsidiary of our Operating Partnership, acts, directly or through a wholly-owned subsidiary, as the manager of each Delaware statutory trust holding a DST Property, but has assigned all of its rights and obligations as manager (including fees and reimbursements received) to BC Exchange Advisor LLC, an affiliate of the Advisor.

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Our Joint Ventures

A component of our investment strategy may include entering into joint venture agreements with partners in connection with certain property acquisitions and debt-related investments. With respect to these agreements, we may make varying levels of contributions in such ventures, including, without limitation, contributions of existing assets, and may take varying levels of management, control and decision rights. These agreements may allow us or our joint venture partners to be entitled to profit participation upon the sale of a property.

In addition, our joint venture partners and co-owners of our properties may be paid and receive fees, promotes, and expense reimbursements for providing services with respect to the property or properties owned through the applicable joint venture or co-ownership arrangement. We will pay our proportionate share of any such fees, promotes and expense reimbursements, which will reduce our returns on those investments. These fees, promotes and expense reimbursements may be similar to and relate to services similar to those earned and provided by the Advisor, however it is generally expected that any such services will relate to the specific property or properties that are the subject of the applicable joint venture or co-ownership arrangement. Any fees, promotes or expense reimbursements that we pay to our joint venture partners and co-owners of our properties will not offset or reduce the fees, promotes or reimbursements otherwise payable to the Advisor.

While our joint venture partners and co-owners have been third parties, we may in the future enter into joint ventures, co-investment or other arrangements with affiliates of the Sponsor or entities sponsored or advised by affiliates of the Sponsor to acquire, develop and/or manage property, debt and other investments. Such investments may raise potential conflicts of interest between us and such other investment vehicles managed by our Advisor or its affiliates, including determining which of such entities should enter into any particular joint venture, co-investment or other arrangement agreement. Joint venture, co-investment or other arrangement partners affiliated with the Advisor or sponsored or advised by affiliates of the Sponsor may have economic or business interests or goals which are or that may become inconsistent with our business interests or goals. In addition, should any such joint venture, co-investment or other arrangement be consummated, the Advisor and its affiliates may face a conflict in structuring the terms of the relationship between our interests and the interests of other parties, in managing the joint venture, co-investment or other arrangement, and in resolving any conflicts or exercising any rights in connection with the joint venture, co-investment or other arrangement. Since the Advisor will make various decisions on our behalf, agreements and transactions between us and the Advisor’s affiliates or entities sponsored or advised by affiliates of the Sponsor will not have the benefit of arm’s-length negotiations of the type normally conducted between unrelated parties. Furthermore, when such other investment vehicles managed by our Advisor or its affiliates have interests or requirements that do not align with our interests, including differing liquidity needs or desired investment horizons, conflicts may arise in the manner in which any voting or control rights are exercised with respect to the relevant investment, potentially resulting in an adverse impact on us. We may enter into joint ventures with affiliates of the Sponsor or entities sponsored or advised by affiliates of the Sponsor for the acquisition of investments, but only if (i) a majority of our directors not otherwise interested in the transaction, including a majority of the independent directors, approve the transaction as being fair and reasonable to us and (ii) the investment by us and such affiliate are on terms and conditions that are no less favorable than those that would be available to unaffiliated parties.

With respect to any joint venture, we may enter into an advisory or sub-advisory agreement with an affiliate of the Advisor. We may also enter into arrangements with the Advisor in which the Advisor receives fees (directly or indirectly, including through a subsidiary of ours) from the joint venture entity or from the joint venture partner. Fees received from joint venture entities or partners and paid, directly or indirectly (including without limitation, through us or our subsidiaries), to the Advisor may be more or less than similar fees that we pay to the Advisor pursuant to the Advisory Agreement. In addition, the Advisor may, with respect to any investment in which we are a participant, also render advice and service to others in that investment, and earn fees for rendering such advice and service. Specifically, it is contemplated that we may enter into joint venture or other similar co-investment arrangements with certain individuals, corporations, partnerships, trusts, joint ventures, limited liability companies or other entities, with respect to which the Advisor or one of its affiliates may be engaged to provide advice and service to such individuals, corporations, partnerships, trusts, joint ventures, limited liability companies or other entities. The Advisor or its affiliate will earn fees for rendering such advice and service pursuant to the agreements governing such joint ventures or arrangements.

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Our Subsidiaries

We primarily own interests in our real properties through DCTRT Real Estate Holdco LLC or wholly owned subsidiaries thereof, and all of our real estate-related debt and securities through DCTRT Securities Holdco LLC or wholly owned subsidiaries thereof. Both DCTRT Real Estate Holdco LLC and DCTRT Securities Holdco LLC are direct wholly owned subsidiaries of the Operating Partnership.

Structure Chart

The chart below shows the relationships among Ares, the Advisor, the Dealer Manager and other of our Advisor’s affiliates.

DIAGRAM

DESCRIPTION AUTOMATICALLY GENERATED

Distribution Policy

We currently are, and expect that in the future we will continue to be, organized and operate in a manner intended to qualify as a REIT for U.S. federal income tax purposes. In order to qualify as a REIT, we are required to distribute at least 90% of our annual taxable income to our stockholders. Our board of directors intends to authorize a monthly distribution of a certain dollar amount per share of our common stock using monthly record dates. Your distributions will accrue on the first record date after you become a record owner of our common stock, subject to our board of directors declaring a distribution for record owners as of such date. We accrue the amount of declared distributions as a liability on the record date, and such liability is accounted for in determining the NAV. We reserve the right to adjust the periods during which distributions accrue and are paid. See “Selected Information Regarding Our Operations—Distribution Information” and “Description of Capital Stock—Distributions.”

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Distribution Reinvestment Plan

You may choose to enroll as a participant in our distribution reinvestment plan by completing the subscription agreement, the enrollment form or by other written notice to the plan administrator. Participation in the plan will begin with the next distribution made after acceptance of your written notice. As a participant, the cash distributions attributable to the class of shares that you own will automatically be reinvested in additional shares of the same class. The cash distributions you receive will be reinvested in shares of our common stock at the transaction price in effect on the distribution date. However, our board of directors may determine, in its sole discretion, to have any distributions paid in cash without notice to participants, without suspending the plan and without affecting the future operation of the plan with respect to participants. Our board of directors may amend, suspend or terminate the distribution reinvestment plan in its discretion at any time upon 10 days’ notice to you. We may provide notice by including such information (a) in a Current Report on Form 8-K or in our annual or quarterly reports, all publicly filed with the Commission or (b) in a separate mailing to the participants. Following any termination of the distribution reinvestment plan, all subsequent distributions to stockholders would be made in cash.

Share Redemption Program

While stockholders may request on a monthly basis that we redeem all or any portion of their shares pursuant to our share redemption program, we are not obligated to redeem any shares and may choose to redeem only some, or even none, of the shares that have been requested to be redeemed in any particular month, in our discretion. In addition, our ability to fulfill redemption requests is subject to a number of limitations. As a result, share redemptions may not be available each month. Under our share redemption program, to the extent we choose to redeem shares in any particular month, we will only redeem shares as of the last calendar day of that month (each such date, a “Redemption Date”). Shares redeemed on the Redemption Date remain outstanding on the Redemption Date and are no longer outstanding on the day following the Redemption Date. Redemptions will be made at the transaction price in effect on the Redemption Date, except that shares that have not been outstanding for at least one year will be redeemed at 95% of the transaction price (an “Early Redemption Deduction”). The Early Redemption Deduction may be waived in certain circumstances including: (i) in the case of redemption requests arising from the death or qualified disability of the holder; (ii) in the event that a stockholder’s shares are redeemed because the stockholder has failed to maintain the $2,000 minimum account balance or (iii) with respect to shares purchased through our distribution reinvestment plan. To have your shares redeemed, your redemption request and required documentation must be received in good order by 4:00 p.m. (Eastern time) on the second to last business day of the applicable month. Settlements of share redemptions will be made within three business days of the Redemption Date. An investor may withdraw its redemption request by notifying the transfer agent before 4:00 p.m. (Eastern time) on the last business day of the applicable month.

The total amount of aggregate redemptions of Class T, Class S, Class D, Class I, and Class E shares (based on the price at which the shares are redeemed) will be limited during each calendar month to 2% of the aggregate NAV of all classes as of the last calendar day of the previous quarter and in each calendar quarter will be limited to 5% of the aggregate NAV of all classes of shares as of the last calendar day of the previous calendar quarter; provided, however, that every month and quarter each class of our common stock will be allocated capacity within such aggregate limit to allow stockholders in such class to either (a) redeem shares (based on the price at which the shares are redeemed) equal to at least 2% of the aggregate NAV of such share class as of the last calendar day of the previous quarter, or, if more limiting, (b) redeem shares (based on the price at which the shares are redeemed) over the course of a given quarter equal to at least 5% of the aggregate NAV of such share class as of the last calendar day of the previous quarter (collectively referred to herein as the “2% and 5% limits”), which in the second and third months of a quarter could be less than 2% of the NAV of such share class. In the event that we determine to redeem some but not all of the shares submitted for redemption during any month, shares redeemed at the end of the month will be redeemed on a pro rata basis. Even if the class-specific allocations are exceeded for a class, the program may offer such class additional capacity under the aggregate program limits. Redemptions and pro rata treatment, if necessary, will first be applied within the class-specific allocated capacity and then applied on an aggregate basis to the extent there is remaining capacity. All unsatisfied redemption requests must be resubmitted after the start of the next month or quarter, or upon the recommencement of the share redemption program, as applicable.

For both the aggregate and class-specific allocations described above, (i) provided that the share redemption program has been operating and not suspended for the first month of a given quarter and that all properly submitted

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redemption requests were satisfied, any unused capacity for that month will carry over to the second month and (ii) provided that the share redemption program has been operating and not suspended for the first two months of a given quarter and that all properly submitted redemption requests were satisfied, any unused capacity for those two months will carry over to the third month. In no event will such carry-over capacity permit the redemption of shares with aggregate value (based on the redemption price per share for the month the redemption is effected) in excess of 5% of the combined NAV of all classes of shares as of the last calendar day of the previous calendar quarter (provided that for these purposes redemptions may be measured on a net basis as described in the paragraph below).

We currently measure the foregoing redemption allocations and limitations based on net redemptions during a month or quarter, as applicable. The term “net redemptions” means, during the applicable period, the excess of our share redemptions (capital outflows) over the proceeds from the sale of our shares (capital inflows). Net redemptions for the class-specific allocations will be based only on the capital inflows and outflows of that class, while net redemptions for the overall program limits would be based on capital inflows and outflows of all classes. Thus, for any given calendar quarter, the maximum amount of redemptions during that quarter will be equal to (1) 5% of the combined NAV of all classes of shares as of the last calendar day of the previous calendar quarter, plus (2) proceeds from sales of new shares in this offering (including purchases pursuant to our distribution reinvestment plan) and the Class E distribution reinvestment plan offering since the beginning of the current calendar quarter. The same would apply for a given month, except that redemptions in a month would be subject to the 2% limit described above (subject to potential carry-over capacity), and netting would be measured on a monthly basis. With respect to future periods, our board of directors may choose whether the allocations and limitations will be applied to “gross redemptions,” i.e., without netting against capital inflows, rather than to net redemptions. If redemptions for a given month or quarter are measured on a gross basis rather than on a net basis, the redemption limitations could limit the amount of shares redeemed in a given month or quarter despite our receiving a net capital inflow for that month or quarter. In order for our board of directors to change the application of the allocations and limitations from net redemptions to gross redemptions or vice versa, we will provide notice to stockholders in a prospectus supplement or special or periodic report filed by us, as well as in a press release or on our website, at least 10 days before the first business day of the quarter for which the new test will apply. The determination to measure redemptions on a gross basis, or vice versa, will only be made for an entire quarter, and not particular months within a quarter.

Although the vast majority of our assets consist of properties that cannot generally be readily liquidated on short notice without impacting our ability to realize full value upon their disposition, we intend to maintain a number of sources of liquidity including (i) cash equivalents (e.g. money market funds), other short-term investments, U.S. government securities, agency securities and liquid real estate-related securities and (ii) one or more borrowing facilities. We may fund redemptions from any available source of funds, including operating cash flows, borrowings, proceeds from this offering and/or sales of our assets.

Should redemption requests, in our judgment, place an undue burden on our liquidity, adversely affect our operations or risk having an adverse impact on the company as a whole, or should we otherwise determine that investing our liquid assets in real properties or other illiquid investments rather than redeeming our shares is in the best interests of the company as a whole, then we may choose to redeem fewer shares than have been requested to be redeemed, or none at all. Further, our board of directors may modify or suspend our share redemption program if in its reasonable judgment it deems a suspension to be in our best interest and the best interest of our stockholders. If the transaction price for the applicable month is not made available by the tenth business day prior to the last business day of the month (or is changed after such date), then no redemption requests will be accepted for such month and stockholders who wish to have their shares redeemed the following month must resubmit their redemption requests. See “Description of Capital Stock—Share Redemption Program—Redemption Limitations.”

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QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ABOUT THIS OFFERING

Set forth below are some of the more frequently asked questions and answers relating to our structure, our management, our business and an offering of this type.

Questions and Answers Relating to our Structure, Management and Business

Q:WHAT IS A “REIT”?

A:In general, a REIT is a company that:

Offers the benefits of a diversified real property portfolio under professional management;
Is required to make distributions to investors of at least 90% of its taxable income for each year;
Prevents the federal “double taxation” treatment of income that generally results from investments in a corporation because a REIT is not generally subject to federal corporate income taxes on the portion of its net income that is distributed to the REIT’s stockholders; and
Combines the capital of many investors to acquire or provide financing for real estate assets.

Q:WHO IS ARES?

A:

Ares Management Corporation (NYSE: ARES) is a leading global alternative investment manager with $226.8 billion of assets under management (“AUM”), including approximately $19.6 billion of AUM pro forma for the acquisition of Landmark Partners LLC, which closed on June 2, 2021, and over 1,600 employees in over 25 offices in more than 10 countries.

On July 1, 2021, Ares closed on the acquisition of Black Creek Group’s U.S. real estate investment advisory and distribution business, including our former advisor, Black Creek Diversified Property Advisors LLC. Black Creek Group was an experienced real estate investment management firm that, through its affiliates and sponsored funds and companies, had acquired and/or developed more than $24.9 billion of real estate assets through June 30, 2021. Over its more than 25-year history, Black Creek Group had sponsored 24 investment platforms, including 18 institutional and six retail funds, and managed a diverse spectrum of commercial real estate—including office, retail, residential and industrial. Black Creek Group sponsored companies offered a range of investment solutions for both institutional and wealth management channels.

Q:WHAT IS YOUR RATIONALE FOR PURSUING A DIVERSIFIED PORTFOLIO OF REAL PROPERTY?

A:

We believe that the real estate market is cyclical, with different demand for property types at different times. Although we do not invest for the short term, we are active portfolio managers and we will seek to take advantage of opportunities to acquire or dispose of assets presented to us by real estate markets. One reason we focus on multiple property types and markets is to increase our ability to take advantage of these market cycles. We believe that the more opportunities we see in which to invest our capital, the more selective we can be in choosing strategic and accretive investments, which we believe may result in attractive total returns for our stockholders. Seeing more opportunities also may allow us to be consistent and meaningful investors throughout different cycles. When we believe one market and/or sector is overvalued, we patiently wait and focus on another market and/or sector that we believe is overlooked or has stronger fundamentals of relative value.

Q:WHAT IS THE EXPERIENCE OF THE AREIT ADVISORS COMMITTEE?

A:

The members of the AREIT Advisors Committee include, in alphabetical order, William S. Benjamin, Michael J. Blum, Rajat Dhanda, Jay W. Glaubach, Andrew E. Holm, Howard C. Huang, Andrea L. Karp, Lainie P. Minnick, Gregory M. Moran, James R. Mulvihill, Taylor M. Paul, Scott W. Recknor, David A. Roth, Scott A. Seager, Jeffrey W. Taylor, and Joshua J. Widoff. The members of the AREIT Advisors Committee collectively have substantial experience in various aspects of acquiring, owning, managing, financing and operating commercial real estate across diverse property types, as well as significant experience in the asset allocation and investment management of real estate, debt and other investments. Please see “Management” and “The Advisor and the Advisory Agreement” for biographical information about these individuals.

Q:

WHAT IS THE LIQUIDITY EVENT HISTORY OF OTHER PUBLIC PROGRAMS SPONSORED BY YOUR ADVISOR?

A:

Certain affiliates of Black Creek Group (with respect to which, the U.S. real estate investment advisory and distribution business was acquired by Ares on July 1, 2021), directly or indirectly through affiliated entities, have sponsored five other public REITs: (i) Keystone Property Trust (New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”): KTR) (formerly known as American Real Estate Investment Corp. and which we refer to herein as “KTR”), which was acquired by ProLogis Trust (NYSE: PLD) in August 2004, (ii) DCT

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Industrial Trust Inc. (formerly known as Dividend Capital Trust Inc. and which we refer to herein as “DCT Industrial”) (NYSE: DCT), (iii) Industrial Income Trust Inc., or “IIT”, (iv) BCI IV and (v) Industrial Property Trust Inc., or “IPT.”

Certain affiliates of Ares, directly or indirectly through affiliated entities, have sponsored Ares Commercial Real Estate Corporation (NYSE: ACRE) or “ACRE.”

KTR’s and ACRE’s common shares were listed on the American Stock Exchange and New York Stock Exchange, respectively, at the time of their initial public offerings. The following summary sets forth additional details with respect to the liquidity event history of the other four REITs.

DCT Industrial initially sold shares of its common stock to investors from February 2003 through January 2006 at share prices that ranged from $10.00 to $10.50 per share in various public offerings. DCT Industrial intended to effect a liquidity event within ten years of its first sale of common stock, which occurred in February 2003. DCT Industrial’s liquidity event occurred in December 2006, when DCT Industrial completed a listing on the NYSE at an offering price of $12.25 per share.

IIT sold shares of its common stock to investors from December 2009 through April 2012 at a share price of $10.00 per share in its initial public offering. IIT sold shares of its common stock pursuant to a follow-on offering from April 2012 through July 2013 at a share price of $10.40 per share. IIT announced an estimated NAV per share of its common stock of $11.04 as of December 31, 2014. On November 4, 2015, IIT completed its merger with and into Western Logistics II LLC, or “WL II”, an affiliate of Global Logistics Properties Limited, or “GLP”, in an all cash transaction valued at approximately $4.55 billion, subject to certain transaction costs. In connection with the closing, stockholders of IIT were paid a cash distribution of $10.56 per share as well as a distribution of units of beneficial interest in the liquidating trust described below. Academy Partners Ltd. Liability Company, or “Academy Partners”, is the former owner of the name “Industrial Income Trust Inc.”, “Industrial Income Trust” and “IIT”, which we refer to collectively as the “Trademarks” and GLP (or its affiliate), which is unrelated to Academy Partners and its Black Creek Group LLC affiliates, is the present owner and source of services provided under the Trademarks. Concurrently with the closing of the merger, IIT transferred 11 properties that were under development or in the lease-up stage to a liquidating trust, the beneficial interests in which were distributed to then-current IIT stockholders, with one unit being distributed for each share held. In August 2017, the liquidating trust sold one of the excluded properties. In December 2017, the liquidating trust sold the 10 remaining real estate properties to BCIF. The properties sold constituted all of the real property owned by the liquidating trust. The aggregate purchase price received by the liquidating trust for all the properties was $250.7 million, before giving effect to customary real estate prorations. The liquidating trust distributed $0.5509 net per unit of beneficial interest to unitholders on December 20, 2017, bringing the total value of the consideration received by IIT’s former stockholders in connection with the merger to $11.11 per share.

IPT commenced its initial public offering of shares of its common stock in July 2013, originally at a share price of $10.00 per share. Its primary offering closed on June 30, 2017, and its distribution reinvestment plan was suspended beginning with the third quarter of 2019 in connection with the transaction described below. IPT announced an estimated NAV per share of $9.24, $9.74, $11.11 and $12.33 as of June 30, 2015, November 30, 2016, November 30, 2017 and November 30, 2018, respectively. On January 8, 2020, IPT completed the sale of substantially all of their assets to affiliates of Prologis, L.P. in exchange for total aggregate consideration of approximately $4.0 billion (including approximately $744.9 million of mortgage notes paid off by the Prologis, L.P.). Under the terms of this agreement, IPT’s minority ownership interests in its two unconsolidated joint venture partnerships—Build-to-Core Industrial Partnership I LP (“BTC I”) and BTC II—were excluded from the transaction. Each holder of common stock received a special distribution in an amount equal to $12.54 per share of common stock, without interest and less applicable withholdings and taxes. The special distribution paid to holders of Class T Shares was also net of up to the aggregate amount of remaining distribution fees attributable to each Class T Share. On July 15, 2020, BCI IV acquired IPT’s minority ownership interests in BTC I and BTC II for $301 million. The interests sold constituted all of the assets owned by IPT. On July 24, 2020, the final distribution of $1.1815 per share was approved to be paid to holders of record of shares of beneficial interest, which represented the final liquidating distribution of the IPT shareholders’ interest in IPT. Following this sale and final distribution, IPT wound up its business and the Board of Trustees approved the termination of the existence of the company.

BCI IV commenced its initial public offering of shares of its common stock in February 2016, originally at a share price of $10.00 per Class A share and $9.42 per Class T share. BCI IV subsequently changed the designation of Class A shares to Class I shares and began offering shares of its common stock in any combination of Class T shares, Class W shares and Class I shares at the “transaction price,” plus applicable selling commissions and dealer manager fees. The “transaction price” generally is equal to the NAV per share most recently disclosed by BCI IV, which was $11.82 for each class of shares as of December 1, 2021. BCI IV’s original offering documents indicated an intention to consider alternatives to effect a liquidity event for its stockholders beginning seven to 10 years following the investment of substantially all of the net proceeds from BCI IV’s offerings. In February 2021 BCI IV’s offering documents revised this by stating that it currently does not have a fixed time frame in which it intends to consider a liquidity event, that it is not obligated by its charter or otherwise to effect a liquidity event at any time and that there can be no assurance that it will ever pursue a liquidity event. BCI IV stated that it believes that its structure as a non-exchange traded REIT that may continue to raise capital through a series of offerings with no targeted liquidity window enhances the potential to achieve its investment objectives by allowing it to acquire and manage its investment portfolio in a more flexible manner.

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Q:WHO CHOOSES WHICH INVESTMENTS TO MAKE?

A:

The Advisor selects real properties, debt-related investments and other investments based on specific investment objectives and criteria, and is subject to the direction, oversight and investment approval of our board of directors.

Q:WHAT IS A PERPETUAL-LIFE REIT?

A:

We use the term “perpetual-life REIT” to describe an investment vehicle of indefinite duration focused on real estate properties and other real estate-related assets, the shares of common stock of which are generally intended to be sold and redeemed by the issuer on a continuous basis. Public and private pension plan sponsors, endowments, foundations and other institutional investors have historically availed themselves of similarly structured perpetual-life vehicles as one option for allocating a portion of their portfolio to direct investments in real estate.

Q:

HOW IS AN INVESTMENT IN SHARES OF OUR COMMON STOCK DIFFERENT FROM PUBLICLY TRADED REITs?

A:

While investing in REITs whose shares are listed on a national securities exchange is one alternative for investing in real estate, shares of listed REITs generally fluctuate in value with both the real estate market and with the stock market as a whole. We do not intend to list our shares for trading on a national securities exchange and, as such, an investment in shares of our common stock generally differs from listed REITs in the following ways:

The monthly NAV per share for each class of our common stock is based directly on the value of our assets and liabilities, while shares of listed REITs are priced by the public trading market, which generally causes a listed REIT’s stock price to fluctuate based on factors such as supply (number of sellers) and demand (number of buyers) of shares, based on shifting preferences among various sectors of the economy as well as other market forces, and such stock price may deviate from the net asset value of such listed REIT.
Most listed REITs focus on selected property types or geographic markets, whereas we have the flexibility to, and intend to, diversify across multiple properties types and geographic markets. We are active portfolio managers and we will seek to take advantage of opportunities to acquire or dispose of assets presented to us by real estate markets. We are not tied to specific allocation targets and we may not always have significant holdings, or any holdings at all, in any particular category.
Industry benchmarks that track the value of direct investments in real estate properties as an asset class have demonstrated a low correlation with the benchmarks for traditional asset classes, such as publicly traded stocks and bonds, whereas in recent periods, listed REITs have demonstrated a high correlation with other publicly traded stocks.
An investment in our shares has limited or no liquidity and our share redemption program may be modified, suspended or terminated. In contrast, an investment in a listed REIT is a liquid investment, as shares can be sold on an exchange at any time.
Listed REITs are often self-managed, whereas our investment operations are managed by our Advisor.
Unlike the offering of a listed REIT, this offering has been registered in every state in which we are offering and selling shares. As a result, we include certain limits in our governing documents that are not typically provided for in the charter of a listed REIT. For example, our charter limits the fees we may pay to the Advisor and its affiliates, limits our ability to make certain investments, limits the aggregate amount we may borrow, requires our independent directors to approve certain actions and restricts the scope of indemnification of our directors, the Advisor and its affiliates. A listed REIT does not typically provide for these restrictions within its charter. A listed REIT is, however, subject to the governance requirements of the exchange on which its stock is traded, including requirements relating to its board of directors, audit committee, independent director oversight of executive compensation and the director nomination process, code of conduct, shareholder meetings, related party transactions, shareholder approvals, and voting rights. Although we expect to follow some of these same governance guidelines, there is no requirement that we do so.

Questions and Answers Relating to this Offering

Q:HOW DOES A “BEST EFFORTS” OFFERING WORK?

A:

When shares of common stock are offered to the public on a “best efforts” basis, the broker-dealers participating in this offering are only required to use their best efforts to sell the shares of our common stock. Broker-dealers do not have a firm commitment or obligation to purchase any of the shares of our common stock.

Q:WHO CAN BUY SHARES OF COMMON STOCK IN THIS OFFERING?

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A:

In general, you may buy shares of our common stock pursuant to this prospectus provided that you have either (1) a net worth of at least $70,000 and an annual gross income of at least $70,000 or (2) a net worth of at least $250,000. For this purpose, net worth does not include your home, home furnishings and personal automobiles. Generally, you must initially invest at least $2,500 for Class T, Class S or Class D shares and $1,000,000 (unless waived by us) for Class I shares. After you have satisfied the applicable minimum purchase requirement, additional purchases must be in increments of $500, except for purchases made pursuant to our distribution reinvestment plan. These minimum net worth may be higher in certain states, so you should carefully read the more detailed description under “Suitability Standards” above.

Q:

WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE CLASS T, CLASS S, CLASS D AND CLASS I SHARES OF COMMON STOCK BEING OFFERED?

A:

The differences among the currently offered share classes relate to upfront selling commissions, dealer manager fees and ongoing distribution fees. No upfront selling commissions or dealer manager fees are paid with respect to Class D shares, and no upfront selling commissions, dealer manager fees or distribution fees are paid with respect to Class I shares. No selling commissions or dealer manager fees are paid with respect to any shares sold under our distribution reinvestment plan. See “Description of Capital Stock” and “Plan of Distribution” for a discussion of the differences between our Class T, Class S, Class D and Class I shares.

Assuming a constant net asset value per share and assuming applicable distribution fees are paid until the 8.75% of primary offering gross proceeds limit described in “Plan of Distribution—Distribution Fees—Class T, Class S and Class D Shares” is reached, we expect that a one-time $10,000 investment in shares of each class would be subject to the following upfront selling commissions, dealer manager fees and distribution fees:

    

Upfront
Selling
Commissions

    

Dealer
Manager
Fees

    

Annual
Distribution
Fees

    

Maximum
Distribution
Fees Over
Life of
Investment
(Length of Time)

    

Total
(Length of Time)

Class T

$

300

$

50

$

85

$

556 (7 years)

$

906 (7 years)

Class S

$

350

$

$

85

$

556 (7 years)

$

906 (7 years)

Class D

$

$

$

25

$

875 (35 years)

$

875 (35 years)

Class I

$

$

$

$

$

The ongoing distribution fees listed above are allocated on a class-specific basis and borne by all holders of the applicable class. These class-specific fees may differ for each class, even when the NAV of each class is the same. We normally expect that the allocation of ongoing distribution fees on a class-specific basis will result in different amounts of distributions being paid with respect to each class of shares. However, if no distributions are authorized for a certain period, or if they are authorized in an amount less than the allocation of class-specific fees with respect to such period, then pursuant to our valuation procedures, the class-specific fee allocations may lower the net asset value of a share class. Therefore, as a result of the different ongoing fees allocable to each share class, each share class, including the Class E shares, could have a different NAV per share. If the NAV of our classes are different, then changes to our assets and liabilities that are allocable based on NAV may also be different for each class. See “Net Asset Value Calculation and Valuation Procedures” and “Description of Capital Stock—Distributions” for more information.

Our Class T shares, Class S shares, Class D shares and Class I shares are available for different categories of investors. Class T and Class S shares are available to the general public. Class D shares are generally available for purchase in this offering only (1) through fee-based programs, also known as wrap accounts, that provide access to Class D shares, (2) through participating broker-dealers that have alternative fee arrangements with their clients to provide access to Class D shares, (3) through investment advisers that are registered under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 or applicable state law and direct clients to trade with a broker-dealer that offers Class D shares, (4) through bank trust departments or any other organization or person authorized to act in a fiduciary capacity for its clients or customers or (5) other categories of investors that we name in an amendment or supplement to this prospectus. Class I shares are available for purchase in this offering only (1) through fee-based programs, also known as wrap accounts, that provide access to Class I shares, (2) by institutional accounts as defined by FINRA Rule 4512(c), (3) through bank-sponsored collective trusts and bank-sponsored common trusts, (4) by retirement plans (including a trustee or custodian under any deferred compensation or pension or profit sharing plan or payroll deduction IRA established for the benefit of the employees of any company), foundations or endowments, (5) through certain financial intermediaries that are not otherwise registered with or as a broker-dealer and that direct clients to trade with a broker-dealer that offers Class I shares, (6) through investment advisers registered under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 or applicable state law that are also registered with or as a broker-dealer, whose broker-dealer does not receive any compensation from us or the Dealer Manager, (7) by our executive officers and directors and their immediate family members, as well as officers and employees of the Advisor or affiliates of the Advisor and their immediate family members, and, if approved by our board of directors, joint venture partners, consultants and other service providers, (8) by participating broker-dealers, including their registered representatives and immediate family members, (9) through bank trust departments or any other organization or person authorized to act as a

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fiduciary for its clients or customers and (10) by any other categories of purchasers that we name in an amendment or supplement to this prospectus. Before making your investment decision, please consult with your investment adviser regarding your account type and the classes of common stock you may be eligible to purchase.

Certain participating broker-dealers may offer volume discounts, which would reduce upfront selling commissions and would therefore increase the length of time required for selling commissions, dealer manager fees and distribution fees to reach the 8.75% (or a lower limit set forth in any applicable agreement between the Dealer Manager and a participating broker-dealer, provided that the Dealer Manager advises our transfer agent of the lower limit in writing) of primary offering gross proceeds limit described in “Plan of Distribution—Distribution Fees—Class T, Class S and Class D Shares.” See “Plan of Distribution—Underwriting Compensation—Upfront Selling Commissions and Dealer Manager Fees.”

If you are eligible to purchase all four classes of shares, then in most cases you should consider Class I shares because Class I shares have no upfront selling commissions, dealer manager fees or distribution fees. Such fees are applicable to the other share classes and will reduce the NAV or distributions of the other share classes. If you are eligible to purchase Class T, Class S and Class D shares but not Class I shares, in most cases you should consider Class D shares because Class D shares have no upfront selling commissions or dealer manager fees and lower annual distribution fees. Investors should also inquire with their broker-dealer or financial representative about what additional fees may be charged with respect to the share class under consideration or with respect to the type of account in which the shares will be held, as that is also an important consideration when selecting a share class.

Q:WHAT IS THE PURCHASE PRICE FOR EACH SHARE?

A:

Each class of shares will be sold at the then-current transaction price, which will generally be the most recently disclosed monthly NAV per share for such class, plus applicable upfront selling commissions and dealer manager fees. Although the offering price for shares of our common stock will generally be based on the most recently disclosed monthly NAV per share, the NAV per share of such stock as of the date on which your purchase is settled may be significantly different. We may offer shares at a price that we believe reflects the NAV per share of such stock more appropriately than the most recently disclosed monthly NAV per share, including by updating a previously disclosed transaction price, in cases where we believe there has been a material change (positive or negative) to our NAV per share relative to the most recently disclosed monthly NAV per share. Each class of shares may have a different NAV per share because distribution fees differ with respect to each class.

Q:ARE THERE ANY RISKS INVOLVED IN AN INVESTMENT IN YOUR SHARES?

A:

Investing in our shares involves a high degree of risk. You should carefully review the “Risk Factors” section of this prospectus beginning on page 41, which contains a detailed discussion of the material risks that you should consider before you invest in our common stock. Some of the more significant risks relating to an investment in our shares include:

There is no public trading market for shares of our common stock, and we do not anticipate that there will be a public trading market for our shares, so redemption of shares by us will likely be the only way to dispose of your shares. Our share redemption program will provide stockholders with the opportunity to request that we redeem their shares on a monthly basis, but we are not obligated to redeem any shares and may choose to redeem only some, or even none, of the shares that have been requested to be redeemed in any particular month, in our discretion. In addition, redemptions will be subject to available liquidity and other significant restrictions. Further, our board of directors may modify or suspend our share redemption program if in its reasonable judgment it deems a suspension to be in our best interest and the best interest of our stockholders. As a result, our shares should be considered as having only limited liquidity and at times may be illiquid.
A portion of the proceeds received in this offering is expected to be used to satisfy redemption requests, including requests from our existing stockholders which may be significant. Using the proceeds from this offering for redemptions will reduce the net proceeds available to retire debt or acquire additional properties, which may result in reduced liquidity and profitability or restrict our ability to grow our NAV.
The purchase and redemption price for shares of our common stock will generally be based on our most recently disclosed monthly NAV of each class of common stock (subject to material changes as described above) and will not be based on any public trading market. In addition to being a month old when share purchases and redemptions take place, our NAV does not currently represent our enterprise value and may not accurately reflect the actual prices at which our assets could be liquidated on any given day, the value a third party would pay for all or substantially all of our shares, or the price that our shares would trade at on a national stock exchange. Furthermore, our board of directors may amend our NAV procedures from time to time.
Some of our executive officers, directors and other key personnel are also officers, directors, managers, and/or key personnel of the Advisor, our Dealer Manager, and/or other entities related to our Sponsor. As a result, they face conflicts of interest, including but not limited to conflicts arising from time constraints, allocation of investment and leasing opportunities and the

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fact that the fees the Advisor will receive for services rendered to us are based on our NAV, the procedures for which the Advisor assists our board of directors in developing, overseeing, implementing and coordinating.
If we fail to maintain our status as a REIT, it would adversely affect our results of operations and our ability to make distributions to our stockholders.
The amount of distributions we may make is uncertain. We may pay distributions from sources other than cash flow from operations, including, without limitation, the sale of assets, borrowings or offering proceeds. The use of these sources for distributions would decrease the amount of cash we have available for new investments, share redemptions and other corporate purposes, and could reduce your overall return.

Q:

HOW DO YOU COMMUNICATE THE MONTHLY NAV PER SHARE AND TRANSACTION PRICE PER SHARE?

A:

As promptly as practicable we will (i) post our NAV per share and our transaction price per share for such month for each share class on our website, www.blackcreekgroup.com/investment-solutions/AREIT, and (ii) make our NAV per share and our transaction price per share for each share class available on our toll-free, automated telephone line, (888) 310-9352. Our transaction price per share will generally be the most recently disclosed monthly NAV per share for such class. Our NAV per share will be available generally within 15 calendar days after the end of the applicable month. In addition, we will disclose in a prospectus or prospectus supplement filed with the Commission the principal valuation components of our monthly NAV calculations.

Q:WILL I BE CHARGED SELLING COMMISSIONS OR OTHER UPFRONT FEES?

A:

If you purchase Class T or Class S shares in the primary offering, yes, subject to exceptions for certain categories of purchasers. Class T shares sold in the primary offering will generally be subject to selling commissions of up to 3.0%, and dealer manager fees of up to 1.5%, of the transaction price of each Class T share; provided, however, that the sum of upfront selling commissions and upfront dealer manager fees will not exceed 3.5% of the transaction price. Class S shares sold in the primary offering will generally be subject to selling commissions of up to 3.5% of the transaction price per Class S share. The actual selling commission and dealer manager fee expressed as a percentage of the transaction price per share may be higher or lower due to rounding. Discounts are also available for certain volume purchases in the primary offering. See “Plan of Distribution—Underwriting Compensation—Upfront Selling Commissions and Dealer Manager Fees.”

Investors currently do not pay upfront selling commissions or dealer manager fees on Class D shares or Class I shares sold in our primary offering, when purchasing shares of any class pursuant to our distribution reinvestment plan, or when purchasing Class T shares or Class S shares sold through fee-based programs, also known as wrap accounts, or through investment advisers registered under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 or applicable state law.

Q:WHAT IS THE TERM OR EXPECTED LIFE OF THIS OFFERING?

A:

Pursuant to this prospectus, we will offer to the public all of the shares that we have registered. We intend to conduct a continuous offering that will not have a predetermined duration, subject to continued compliance with the rules and regulations of the Commission and applicable state laws. From time to time, we intend to file new registration statements on Form S-11 with the Commission to register additional shares of common stock so that we may continuously offer shares of common stock pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act. In certain states, the registration of our offering may continue for only one year following the initial clearance by applicable state authorities, after which we intend to renew the offering period for additional one-year periods (or longer, if permitted by the laws of each particular state). We reserve the right to terminate this offering at any time.

Q:HOW DO I SUBSCRIBE FOR SHARES OF COMMON STOCK?

A:

Investors may only purchase our common stock pursuant to accepted subscription orders as of the first calendar day of each month (based on the most recently disclosed transaction price), and to be accepted, a subscription request must be received in good order at least five business days prior to the first calendar day of the month (unless waived by the Dealer Manager). The purchase price per share of each class will be equal to the then-current transaction price, which will generally be our most recently disclosed monthly NAV per share for such class, plus applicable upfront selling commissions and dealer manager fees. We may offer shares at a price that we believe reflects the NAV per share of such stock more appropriately than the most recently disclosed monthly NAV per share, including by updating a previously disclosed transaction price, in cases where we believe there has been a material change (positive or negative) to our NAV per share relative to the most recently disclosed monthly NAV per share. See “How to Subscribe” for more details.

For example, if you wish to subscribe for shares of our common stock in October, your subscription request must be received in good order at least five business days before November 1. Generally, the offering price will equal the NAV per share of the applicable class as of the last calendar day of September, plus applicable upfront selling commissions and dealer manager fees. If

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accepted, your subscription will be effective on the first calendar day of November. If you choose to purchase shares of our common stock in this offering, you are required to complete a subscription agreement in the applicable form for a specific number of shares of our common stock. You must pay for shares of our common stock at the time you subscribe. Certain participating broker-dealers may require supplementary disclosure materials or additional forms or documentation. You should consult with your financial advisor when purchasing shares. See “Plan of Distribution—Purchase of Shares.”

Q:MAY I WITHDRAW MY SUBSCRIPTION REQUEST ONCE I HAVE MADE IT?

A:

Yes. Subscribers are not committed to purchase shares at the time their subscription orders are submitted and any subscription may be canceled at any time before the time it has been accepted. You may withdraw your purchase request by notifying the transfer agent, through your financial intermediary or directly on our toll-free, automated telephone line, (888) 310-9352.

Q:WHEN WILL MY SUBSCRIPTION BE ACCEPTED?

A:

Completed subscription requests will not be accepted by us before the later of (i) two business days before the first calendar day of each month and (ii) three business days after we make the transaction price (including any subsequent revised transaction price) publicly available by posting it on our website at www.blackcreekgroup.com/investment-solutions/AREIT and filing a prospectus supplement with the Commission (or in certain cases after we have delivered notice of such price directly to you as discussed above). As a result, you will have a minimum of three business days after the transaction price for that month has been disclosed to withdraw your request before you are committed to purchase the shares.

Q:WILL THE DISTRIBUTIONS I RECEIVE BE TAXABLE?

A:

Distributions that you receive, including distributions that are reinvested pursuant to our distribution reinvestment plan, will generally be taxed as ordinary dividend income to the extent they are paid out of our current or accumulated earnings and profits. However, if we recognize a long-term capital gain upon the sale of one of our assets, a portion of our distributions may be designated and treated in your hands as a long-term capital gain. In addition, we expect that some portion of your distributions may not be subject to tax in the year received due to the fact that depreciation expense reduces earnings and profits but does not reduce cash available for distribution. Amounts distributed to you in excess of our earnings and profits will reduce the tax basis of your investment and will not be taxable to the extent thereof on a current basis, and distributions in excess of tax basis will be taxable as an amount realized from the sale of your shares of common stock. This, in effect, would defer a portion of your tax until your investment is sold or we are liquidated, at which time you may be taxed at capital gains rates. However, because each investor’s tax considerations are different, we suggest that you consult with your tax advisor.

Q:MAY I REINVEST MY CASH DISTRIBUTIONS IN ADDITIONAL SHARES?

A:

Yes. You may choose to enroll as a participant in our distribution reinvestment plan by completing the subscription agreement, the enrollment form or by other written notice to the plan administrator. Participation in the plan will begin with the next distribution made after acceptance of your written notice. As a participant, the cash distributions attributable to the class of shares that you own will automatically be reinvested in additional shares of the same class. The cash distributions you receive will be reinvested in shares of our common stock at the transaction price in effect on the distribution date. However, our board of directors may determine, in its sole discretion, to have any distributions paid in cash without notice to participants, without suspending the plan and without affecting the future operation of the plan with respect to participants. Our board of directors may amend, suspend or terminate the distribution reinvestment plan in its discretion at any time upon 10 days’ notice to you. We may provide notice by including such information (a) in a Current Report on Form 8-K or in our annual or quarterly reports, all publicly filed with the Commission or (b) in a separate mailing to the participants. Following any termination of the distribution reinvestment plan, all subsequent distributions to stockholders would be made in cash. See “Description of Capital Stock—Distribution Reinvestment Plan” for more information regarding the reinvestment of distributions you may receive from us. For the complete terms of the distribution reinvestment plan, see Appendix B to this prospectus.

Q:CAN I REQUEST THAT MY SHARES BE REDEEMED?

A:

Yes. While stockholders may request on a monthly basis that we redeem all or any portion of their shares pursuant to our share redemption program, we are not obligated to redeem any shares and may choose to redeem only some, or even none, of the shares that have been requested to be redeemed in any particular month, in our discretion. In addition, our ability to fulfill redemption requests is subject to a number of limitations. As a result, share redemptions may not be available each month. Under our share redemption program, to the extent we choose to redeem shares in any particular month, we will only redeem shares as of the last calendar day of that month (each such date, a “Redemption Date”). Shares redeemed on the Redemption Date remain outstanding on the Redemption Date and are no longer outstanding on the day following the Redemption Date. Redemptions will be made at the transaction price in effect on the Redemption Date, except that shares that have not been outstanding for at least one year will be redeemed at 95% of the transaction price (an “Early Redemption Deduction”). The Early Redemption Deduction may be

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waived in certain circumstances including: (i) in the case of redemption requests arising from the death or qualified disability of the holder; (ii) in the event that a stockholder’s shares are redeemed because the stockholder has failed to maintain the $2,000 minimum account balance or (iii) with respect to shares purchased through our distribution reinvestment plan. To have your shares redeemed, your redemption request and required documentation must be received in good order by 4:00 p.m. (Eastern time) on the second to last business day of the applicable month. Settlements of share redemptions will be made within three business days of the Redemption Date. An investor may withdraw its redemption request by notifying the transfer agent before 4:00 p.m. (Eastern time) on the last business day of the applicable month.

The redemptions of Class E, Class T, Class S, Class D, and Class I shares will be subject to the 2% and 5% limits (subject to potential carry-over capacity). In the event that we determine to redeem some but not all of the shares submitted for redemption during any month, shares redeemed at the end of the month will be redeemed on a pro rata basis. Redemptions and pro rata treatment, if necessary, will first be applied within the class-specific allocated capacity and then applied on an aggregate basis to the extent there is remaining capacity. All unsatisfied redemption requests must be resubmitted after the start of the next month or quarter, or upon the recommencement of the share redemption program, as applicable.

Although the vast majority of our assets consist of properties that cannot generally be readily liquidated on short notice without impacting our ability to realize full value upon their disposition, we intend to maintain a number of sources of liquidity including (i) cash equivalents (e.g. money market funds), other short-term investments, U.S. government securities, agency securities and liquid real estate-related securities and (ii) one or more borrowing facilities. We may fund redemptions from any available source of funds, including operating cash flows, borrowings, proceeds from this offering and/or sales of our assets.

Should redemption requests, in our judgment, place an undue burden on our liquidity, adversely affect our operations or risk having an adverse impact on the company as a whole, or should we otherwise determine that investing our liquid assets in real properties or other illiquid investments rather than redeeming our shares is in the best interests of the company as a whole, then we may choose to redeem fewer shares than have been requested to be redeemed, or none at all. Further, our board of directors may modify or suspend our share redemption program if in its reasonable judgment it deems a suspension to be in our best interest and the best interest of our stockholders. If the transaction price for the applicable month is not made available by the tenth business day prior to the last business day of the month (or is changed after such date), then no redemption requests will be accepted for such month and stockholders who wish to have their shares redeemed the following month must resubmit their redemption requests. See “Description of Capital Stock—Share Redemption Program—Redemption Limitations.”

Q:WHEN WILL I GET MY DETAILED TAX INFORMATION?

A:

Stockholder tax information is reported on Form 1099. We intend to mail your Form 1099 tax information, if required, by January 31 of each year.

Q:WHERE CAN I FIND UPDATED INFORMATION REGARDING THE COMPANY?

A:

You may find updated information on our Internet website, www.blackcreekgroup.com/investment-solutions/AREIT. Information contained in our website does not constitute part of this prospectus. In addition, we are subject to the informational reporting requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, which we refer to as the “Exchange Act,” which requires us to file reports, proxy statements and other information with the Commission. See “Additional Information” for a description of how you may read and copy the registration statement, the related exhibits and the reports, proxy statements and other information we file with the Commission.

Q:WHO CAN HELP ANSWER MY QUESTIONS?

A:

If you have more questions about this offering or if you would like additional copies of this prospectus, you should contact your registered representative or the Dealer Manager:

Ares Wealth Management Solutions, LLC

518 Seventeenth Street, 17th Floor

Denver, Colorado 80202

Telephone: (303) 228-2200

Fax: (303) 228-2201

Attn: Casey Galligan, Co-Chief Executive Officer

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RISK FACTORS

Your purchase of shares of our common stock involves a number of risks. In addition to other risks discussed in this prospectus, you should specifically consider the following risks before you decide to buy shares of our common stock.

Risks Related to Investing in Shares of Our Common Stock

There is no public trading market for the shares of our common stock and we do not anticipate that there will be a public trading market for our shares; therefore, your ability to dispose of your shares will likely be limited to redemption by us. If you do sell your shares to us, you may receive less than the price you paid.

There is no public market for the shares of our common stock and we currently have no obligation or plans to apply for listing on any public securities market. Therefore, redemption of the shares of our common stock by us will likely be the only way for you to dispose of your shares. We will redeem shares at a price equal to the transaction price on the last calendar day of the applicable month (which will generally be equal to our most recently disclosed monthly NAV per share), and not based on the price at which you initially purchased your shares. We may redeem your shares if you fail to maintain a minimum balance of $2,000 of shares, even if your failure to meet the minimum balance is caused solely by a decline in our NAV. Subject to limited exceptions, shares that have not been outstanding for at least one year will be redeemed at 95% of the transaction price, which will inure indirectly to the benefit of our remaining stockholders. As a result of this and the fact that our NAV will fluctuate, you may receive less than the price you paid for your shares upon redemption by us pursuant to our share redemption program. See “Description of Capital Stock—Share Redemption Program.”

Our ability to redeem your shares may be limited, and our board of directors may modify or suspend our share redemption program at any time.

We may redeem fewer shares than have been requested in any particular month to be redeemed under our share redemption program, or none at all, in our discretion at any time. We may redeem fewer shares due to lack of readily available funds because of adverse market conditions beyond our control, the need to maintain liquidity for our operations or because we have determined that investing in real property or other illiquid investments is a better use of our capital than redeeming our shares. In addition, the total amount of aggregate redemptions of Class E, Class T, Class S, Class D, and Class I shares (based on the price at which the shares are redeemed) will be limited during each calendar month to 2% of the aggregate NAV of all classes as of the last calendar day of the previous quarter and in each calendar quarter will be limited to 5% of the aggregate NAV of all classes of shares as of the last calendar day of the previous calendar quarter; provided, however, that every month and quarter each class of our common stock will be allocated capacity within such aggregate limit to allow stockholders in such class to either (a) redeem shares (based on the price at which the shares are redeemed) equal to at least 2% of the aggregate NAV of such share class as of the last calendar day of the previous quarter, or, if more limiting, (b) redeem shares (based on the price at which the shares are redeemed) over the course of a given quarter equal to at least 5% of the aggregate NAV of such share class as of the last calendar day of the previous quarter (collectively, referred to herein as the “2% and 5% limits”), which in the second and third months of a quarter could be less than 2% of the NAV of such share class and could even be zero. In addition, for both the aggregate and class-specific allocations described above, (i) provided that the share redemption program has been operating and not suspended for the first month of a given quarter and that all properly submitted redemption requests were satisfied, any unused capacity for that month will carry over to the second month and (ii) provided that the share redemption program has been operating and not suspended for the first two months of a given quarter and that all properly submitted redemption requests were satisfied, any unused capacity for those two months will carry over to the third month. In no event will such carry-over capacity permit the redemption of shares with aggregate value (based on the redemption price per share for the month the redemption is effected) in excess of 5% of the combined NAV of all classes of shares as of the last calendar day of the previous calendar quarter (provided that for these purposes redemptions may be measured on a net basis as described in the paragraph below).

We currently measure the foregoing redemption allocations and limitations based on net redemptions during a month or quarter, as applicable. The term “net redemptions” means, during the applicable period, the excess of our share redemptions (capital outflows) over the proceeds from the sale of our shares (capital inflows). With respect to future periods, our board of directors may choose whether the allocations and limitations will be applied to “gross redemptions,” i.e., without netting against capital inflows, rather than to net redemptions, which could limit the amount of shares redeemed in a given month or quarter despite our receiving a net capital inflow for that month or quarter.

The vast majority of our assets will consist of properties which cannot generally be readily liquidated on short notice without impacting our ability to realize full value upon their disposition. Therefore, we may not always have a sufficient amount of cash to immediately satisfy redemption requests. Our board of directors may modify or suspend our share redemption program. As a result, your ability to have your shares redeemed by us may be limited, and our shares should be considered as having only limited liquidity and at times may be illiquid. See “Description of Capital Stock—Share Redemption Program” for more information.

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Our capacity to redeem shares may be further limited if we experience a concentration of investors.

The current limitations of our share redemption program are based, in part, on the number of outstanding shares. Thus, the ability of a single investor, or of a group of investors acting similarly, to redeem all of their shares may be limited if they own a large percentage of our shares. Similarly, if a single investor, or a group of investors acting in concert or independently, owns a large percentage of our shares, a significant redemption request by such investor or investors could significantly further limit our ability to satisfy redemption requests of other investors of such classes. Such concentrations could arise in a variety of circumstances, especially while we have relatively few outstanding Class T, Class S, Class D and Class I shares. For example, we could sell a large number of our shares to one or more institutional investors, either in a public offering or in a private placement. In addition, we may issue a significant number of our shares in connection with an acquisition of another company or a portfolio of properties to a single investor or a group of investors that may request redemption at similar times following the acquisition. As of December 1, 2021, we had outstanding 169,664,194 shares, comprised of 16,425,269 Class T shares, 35,756,737 Class S shares, 6,748,922 Class D shares, 54,405,525 Class I shares and 56,327,741 Class E shares.

Purchases and redemptions of our common shares will not be made based on the current NAV per share of our common stock.

The purchase and redemption price for shares of our common stock will generally be based on our most recently disclosed monthly NAV (subject to material changes) and will not be based on any public trading market. We generally expect our transaction price to be equal to our NAV as of a date approximately one month prior to the dates when share purchases and redemptions take place. For example, if you wish to subscribe for shares of our common stock in October, your subscription request must be received in good order at least five business days before November 1. Generally, the offering price would equal the NAV per share of the applicable class as of the last calendar day of September, plus applicable upfront selling commissions and dealer manager fees. If accepted, your subscription would be effective on the first calendar day of November. Conversely, if you wish to submit your shares for redemption in October, your redemption request and required documentation must be received in good order by 4:00 p.m. (Eastern time) on the second to last business day of October. If accepted, your shares would be redeemed as of the last calendar day of October and, generally, the redemption price would equal the NAV per share of the applicable class as of the last calendar day of September, subject to reduction for early redemption. In each of these cases, the NAV that is ultimately determined as of the last day of October may be higher or lower than the NAV as of the last day of September used for determining the transaction price. Therefore, the price at which you purchase shares may be higher than the current NAV per share at the time of sale and the price at which you redeem shares may be lower than the current NAV per share at the time of redemption.

Economic events that may cause our stockholders to request that we redeem their shares may materially adversely affect our cash flow and our results of operations and financial condition.

Economic events affecting the U.S. economy, such as the general negative performance of the real estate sector, could cause our stockholders to seek to sell their shares to us pursuant to our share redemption program at a time when such events are adversely affecting the performance of our assets. Even if we decide to satisfy all resulting redemption requests, our cash flow could be materially adversely affected. In addition, if we determine to sell assets to satisfy redemption requests, we may not be able to realize the return on such assets that we may have been able to achieve had we sold at a more favorable time, and our results of operations and financial condition, including, without limitation, breadth of our portfolio by property type and location, could be materially adversely affected.

A portion of the proceeds raised in this offering is expected to be used to satisfy redemption requests, and such portion of the proceeds may be substantial.

We currently expect to use a portion of the proceeds from this offering to satisfy redemption requests, in particular redemption requests from our Class E stockholders who comprise a significant portion of our stockholders, have generally held their shares for a number of years and have demonstrated significant demand for liquidity in recent years. We have redeemed approximately $50.1 million of shares of our common stock during the nine months ended September 30, 2021. Using the proceeds from this offering for redemptions will reduce the net proceeds available to retire debt or acquire additional properties, which may result in reduced liquidity and profitability or restrict our ability to grow our NAV.

We have experienced periods in the past in which redemption demand exceeded redemption capacity, and we could experience such situations again in the future.

We commenced our initial public offering in January 2006 and commenced operations later that year. At that time, we only offered Class E shares of common stock (referred to at that time simply as our shares of “common stock”), and our share redemption program for Class E stockholders (which was more restrictive than our current share redemption program) was subject to limitations that included a maximum number of redemptions during any calendar year of 5% of the weighted-average number of shares outstanding during the prior calendar year. Beginning in the first quarter of 2009 through the third quarter of 2016, redemption requests from Class E stockholders exceeded the redemption limits set forth in the Class E share redemption program and associated offering materials, and we conducted a number of self-tender offers to supplement this liquidity. As a result, we redeemed only a portion of the shares from investors who sought redemption during that period, either through the redemption program or self-tender offers, and the stockholders were required

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to resubmit redemption requests periodically in order to renew their requests to either have their shares redeemed pursuant to the share redemption program or purchased pursuant to a tender offer.

Although all properly submitted redemption requests and/or tenders in our self-tender offers have been satisfied beginning with the fourth quarter of 2016, in the future we could experience situations like that described above in which redemption demand exceeds capacity. Our current share redemption program has different limitations than our share redemption program did during that time, but it remains true that our ability to redeem the stockholder shares may be limited, and our board of directors may modify or suspend our share redemption program at any time. Furthermore, we may redeem fewer shares than have been requested in any particular month to be redeemed under our share redemption program, or none at all, in our discretion at any time. If a redemption request under our share redemption program is unsatisfied, it must be resubmitted after the start of the next month or quarter, or upon the recommencement of the share redemption program, as applicable.

Historical returns may be presented over limited timeframes and are inherently limited in their applicability to the future.

In our prospectus, in our annual report, and in other investor communications, we disclose certain historical NAV and total return information. This information may be presented on a class-by-class basis or on a weighted-average basis across all our classes. The information may go back one month, one quarter, or longer periods. While we believe this historical information is useful, investors should understand that any historical return presentation is inherently limited in its applicability to the future, for a variety of reasons. We may have performed better in certain past time periods than others, and we cannot predict the future performance of our company specifically or the broader economy and real estate markets more generally. Furthermore, from time to time we make changes to our portfolio, our investment focus, or structural aspects of our company that may make past returns less comparable. Over time, we have made changes to the fees and reimbursements we pay to the Advisor (in connection with managing our operations) and the dealer manager for our public offerings, the Dealer Manager, and participating broker-dealers (in connection with our public offerings). Our share classes have different upfront fees and different class-specific fees that make their returns different from those of other classes and from average returns that may be shown. In some cases, we have changed the names of our share classes and the fees that affect their returns. Over time, we have also made changes to the frequency with which, and the methodologies with which, we estimate the value of our shares.

In particular, it was not until July 2012 that we converted to a perpetual-life “NAV REIT” that offers multiple classes of shares, moved to a fee structure similar to what we have now, and began providing regular NAV computations and disclosures similar to those we provide now. For this reason, our historical return disclosures typically do not go further back than September 30, 2012, which is the first quarter-end date as an NAV REIT and which we refer to as our “NAV inception.” Nevertheless, investors should be aware that we commenced operations in the first quarter of 2006, and from 2006 to 2009 raised capital through the sale of Class E shares of common stock (referred to at that time simply as our shares of “common stock”) at a fixed price of $10.00 per share. Prior to NAV inception in 2012, we had a materially different structure both in terms of the commissions charged in connection with sales of shares and the fees and reimbursements we paid to the Advisor and the Dealer Manager. As a result of both this different structure and the effects of the financial crisis, the performance returns for individual Class E stockholders that acquired shares in our offerings from 2006 to 2009 is lower than those for our other stockholders.

You will not have the opportunity to evaluate future investments we will make with the proceeds raised in this offering prior to purchasing shares of our common stock.

We have not identified future investments that we will make with the proceeds of this offering. As a result, you will not be able to evaluate the economic merits, transaction terms or other financial or operational data concerning our future investments prior to purchasing shares of our common stock. You must rely on the Advisor and our board of directors to implement our investment policies, to evaluate our investment opportunities and to structure the terms of our investments. Because you cannot evaluate all of the investments we will make in advance of purchasing shares of our common stock, this additional risk may hinder your ability to achieve your own personal investment objectives related to portfolio diversification, risk-adjusted investment returns and other objectives.

We may raise significantly less than the maximum offering amount in this public offering.

In this offering, we are offering on a continuous basis up to $7,500,000,000 of shares of our common stock. However, we may raise significantly less than this amount. Our ability to raise capital may be impacted by a variety of factors, including market demand, relative attractiveness of alternative investments, and the willingness of key distribution partners to continue to sell our shares on their respective platforms. The less capital we raise, the less capital we will have available to make investments in accordance with our investment strategy and policies, to provide liquidity to our stockholders and for general corporate purposes (which may include repayment of our debt or any other corporate purposes we deem appropriate).

Furthermore, the estimated use of proceeds figures presented in the section of this prospectus entitled “Estimated Use of Proceeds” are estimates based on numerous assumptions. The actual percentage of net proceeds available to use will depend on a number of factors, including the amount of capital we raise and the actual offering costs. For example, if we raise less than the maximum offering amount, we would expect the percentage of net offering proceeds available to us to be less (and may be substantially less) than that set

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forth in the section of this prospectus entitled “Estimated Use of Proceeds” because many offering costs are fixed and do not depend on the amount of capital raised in the offering.

Even if we are able to raise substantial funds in this offering, investors in our common stock are subject to the risk that our offering, business and operating plans may change.

Although we intend to operate as a perpetual-life REIT with an ongoing offering and share redemption program, this is not a requirement of our charter. Even if we are able to raise substantial funds in this offering, if circumstances change such that our board of directors believes it is in the best interest of our stockholders to terminate this offering or to terminate our share redemption program, we may do so without stockholder approval. Our board of directors may also change our investment objectives, borrowing policies or other corporate policies without stockholder approval. In addition, we may change the way our fees and expenses are incurred and allocated to different classes of stockholders if the tax rules applicable to REITs change such that we could do so without adverse tax consequences. Our board of directors may decide that certain significant transactions that require stockholder approval such as dissolution, merger into another entity, consolidation or the sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of our assets, are in the best interests of our stockholders. Holders of all classes of our common stock have equal voting rights with respect to such matters and will vote as a single group rather than on a class-by-class basis. Accordingly, investors in our common stock are subject to the risk that our offering, business and operating plans may change.

Compliance with the SEC’s Regulation Best Interest by participating broker-dealers may negatively impact our ability to raise capital in this offering, which would harm our ability to achieve our investment objectives.

Commencing June 30, 2020, broker-dealers are required to comply with Regulation Best Interest, which, among other requirements, establishes a new standard of conduct for broker-dealers and their associated persons when making a recommendation of any securities transaction or investment strategy involving securities to a retail customer. When making such a recommendation, a broker-dealer and its associated persons must act in such customer’s best interest at the time the recommendation is made, without placing their financial or other interest ahead of the retail customer’s interests, and should consider reasonable alternatives in determining whether the broker dealer and its associated persons have a reasonable basis for making the recommendation. Listed entities may be reasonable alternatives to an investment in us, and may feature characteristics like lower cost, less complexity, and lesser or different risks than an investment in us; investments in listed securities often involve nominal or zero commissions at the time of initial purchase. The impact of Regulation Best Interest on participating broker-dealers cannot be determined at this time, and it may negatively impact whether participating broker-dealers and their associated persons recommend this offering to certain retail customers. If Regulation Best Interest reduces our ability to raise capital in this offering, it would harm our ability to further expand and diversify our portfolio of investments, as well as our ability to achieve our investment objectives.

Valuations and appraisals of our properties, real estate-related assets and real estate-related liabilities are estimates of value and may not necessarily correspond to realizable value.

The valuation methodologies used to value our properties and certain real estate-related assets involve subjective judgments regarding such factors as comparable sales, rental revenue and operating expense data, known contingencies, the capitalization or discount rate, and projections of future rent and expenses based on appropriate analysis. As a result, valuations and appraisals of our properties, real estate-related assets and real estate-related liabilities are only estimates of current market value. Ultimate realization of the value of an asset or liability depends to a great extent on economic and other conditions beyond our control and the control of the Independent Valuation Advisor and other parties involved in the valuation of our assets and liabilities. Further, these valuations may not necessarily represent the price at which an asset or liability would sell, because market prices of assets and liabilities are best determined by negotiation between a willing buyer and seller. Valuations used for determining our NAV also are generally made without consideration of the expenses that would be incurred by us in connection with disposing of assets and liabilities. Therefore, the valuations of our properties, our investments in real estate-related assets and our liabilities may not correspond to the timely realizable value upon a sale of those assets and liabilities. In addition to being a month old when share purchases and redemptions take place, our NAV does not currently represent enterprise value and may not accurately reflect the actual prices at which our assets could be liquidated on any given day, the value a third party would pay for all or substantially all of our shares, or the price that our shares would trade at on a national stock exchange. There will be no retroactive adjustment in the valuation of such assets or liabilities, the price of our shares of common stock, the price we paid to redeem shares of our common stock or NAV-based fees we paid to the Advisor and the Dealer Manager to the extent such valuations prove to not accurately reflect the true estimate of value and are not a precise measure of realizable value. Because the price you will pay for shares of our common stock in this offering, and the price at which your shares may be redeemed by us pursuant to our share redemption program, are generally based on our estimated NAV per share, you may pay more than realizable value or receive less than realizable value for your investment.

In order to disclose a monthly NAV, we are reliant on the parties that we engage for that purpose, in particular the Independent Valuation Advisor and the other appraisers that we hire to value and appraise our real property portfolio.

In order to disclose a monthly NAV, our board of directors, including a majority of our independent directors, has adopted valuation procedures that contain a comprehensive set of methodologies to be used in connection with the calculation of our NAV and

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caused us to engage independent third parties such as the Independent Valuation Advisor, to appraise our real property portfolio on a monthly basis, and independent appraisal firms, to provide periodic appraisals with respect to our properties. We have also engaged a firm to act as the NAV Accountant and may engage other independent third parties or our Advisor to value other assets or liabilities. Although our board of directors, with the assistance of the Advisor, oversees all of these parties and the reasonableness of their work product, we will not independently verify our NAV or the components thereof, such as the appraised values of our properties. Our management’s assessment of the market values of our properties may also differ from the appraised values of our properties as determined by the Independent Valuation Advisor. If the parties engaged by us to determine our monthly NAV are unable or unwilling to perform their obligations to us, our NAV could be inaccurate or unavailable, and we could decide to suspend this offering and our share redemption program.

Our NAV is not subject to GAAP, will not be independently audited and will involve subjective judgments by the Independent Valuation Advisor and other parties involved in valuing our assets and liabilities.

Our valuation procedures and our NAV are not subject to GAAP and will not be subject to independent audit. Our NAV may differ from equity (net assets) reflected on our audited financial statements, even if we are required to adopt a fair value basis of accounting for GAAP financial statement purposes. Additionally, we are dependent on our Advisor to be reasonably aware of material events specific to our properties (such as customer disputes, damage, litigation and environmental issues) that may cause the value of a property to change materially and to promptly notify the Independent Valuation Advisor so that the information may be reflected in our real property portfolio valuation. In addition, the implementation and coordination of our valuation procedures include certain subjective judgments of our Advisor, such as whether the Independent Valuation Advisor should be notified of events specific to our properties that could affect their valuations, as well as of the Independent Valuation Advisor and other parties we engage, as to whether adjustments to asset and liability valuations are appropriate. Accordingly, you must rely entirely on our board of directors to adopt appropriate valuation procedures and on the Independent Valuation Advisor and other parties we engage in order to arrive at our NAV, which may not correspond to realizable value upon a sale of our assets.

No rule or regulation requires that we calculate our NAV in a certain way, and our board of directors, including a majority of our independent directors, may adopt changes to the valuation procedures.

There are no existing rules or regulatory bodies that specifically govern the manner in which we calculate our NAV. As a result, it is important that you pay particular attention to the specific methodologies and assumptions we use to calculate our NAV. Other public REITs may use different methodologies or assumptions to determine their NAV. In addition, each year our board of directors, including a majority of our independent directors, will review the appropriateness of our valuation procedures and may, at any time, adopt changes to the valuation procedures. If we acquire real property assets as a portfolio, we may pay a premium over the amount that we would pay for the assets individually. Our board of directors may change these or other aspects of our valuation procedures, which changes may have an adverse effect on our NAV and the price at which you may sell shares to us under our share redemption program. See “Net Asset Value Calculation and Valuation Procedures” for more details regarding our valuation methodologies, assumptions and procedures.

Our NAV per share may suddenly change if the valuations of our properties materially change from prior valuations.

Property valuation changes can occur for a variety of reasons, such as local real estate market conditions, rotation of different third-party appraisal firms, the financial condition of our customers, or lease expirations. For example, we regularly face lease expirations across our portfolio, and as we move further away from lease commencement toward the end of a lease term, the valuation of the underlying property may decline depending on the likelihood of a renewal or the likelihood of the execution of a new lease on similar terms, or on terms that are less favorable than what were previously assumed. Such a valuation drop can be particularly significant when closer to a lease expiration, especially for single customer buildings or where an individual customer occupies a large portion of a building and the determination is made that the customer will not renew, or is expected to renew based on terms that are less favorable than what were previously assumed. We are at the greatest risk of these valuation changes during periods in which we have a large number of lease expirations as well as when the lease of a significant customer is closer to expiration. Similarly, if a customer will have an option in the future to purchase one of our properties from us at a price that is less than the current valuation of the property, then if the value of the property exceeds the option price, the valuation will be expected to decline and begin to approach the purchase price as the date of the option approaches. In addition, actual operating results could change unexpectedly. For example, if operating expenses suddenly increase or revenues decrease, such change may in turn cause a sudden increase or decrease in the NAV per share amounts.

New acquisitions may be valued for purposes of our NAV at less than what we pay for them, which would dilute our NAV, or at more than what we pay for them, which would be accretive to our NAV.

Pursuant to our valuation procedures, the acquisition price of a newly acquired property will serve as the basis for the initial monthly appraisal performed by the Independent Valuation Advisor. The price we pay to acquire a property will provide a meaningful data point to the Independent Valuation Advisor in its determination of the initial fair market value of the property; however, the Independent Valuation Advisor may conclude that the price we paid to acquire a property is higher or lower than the current estimate of fair market value of the property, which shall be used for purposes of determining our NAV. This is true whether the acquisition is funded with cash, equity or a combination thereof. Properties that we acquire will not join the cycle for annual appraisals performed by third-party appraisal

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firms until the following calendar year. When we obtain the first appraisal performed by a third-party appraisal firm on a property, it may not appraise at a value equal to the purchase price or the property value previously determined by the Independent Valuation Advisor, which could negatively affect our NAV. Large portfolio acquisitions, in particular, may require a “portfolio premium” to be paid by us in order to be a competitive bidder, and this “portfolio premium” may not be taken into consideration in calculating our NAV. We may make acquisitions (with cash or equity) of any size without stockholder approval, and such acquisitions may be dilutive or accretive to our NAV. In addition, acquisition expenses we incur in connection with new acquisitions will negatively impact our NAV.

The NAV per share that we publish may not necessarily reflect changes in our NAV that are not immediately quantifiable.

From time to time, we may experience events with respect to our investments that may have a material impact on our NAV. For example, and not by way of limitation, changes in governmental rules, regulations and fiscal policies, environmental legislation, acts of God, terrorism, social unrest, civil disturbances and major disturbances in financial markets may cause the value of a property to change materially. Similarly, negotiations, disputes and litigation that involve us and other parties may ultimately have a positive or negative impact on our NAV. The NAV per share of each class of our common stock as published for any given month may not reflect such extraordinary events to the extent that their financial impact is not immediately quantifiable. As a result, the NAV per share that we publish may not necessarily reflect changes in our NAV that are not immediately quantifiable, and the NAV per share of each class published after the announcement of a material event may differ significantly from our actual NAV per share for such class until such time as the financial impact is quantified and our NAV is appropriately adjusted in accordance with our valuation procedures. The resulting potential disparity in our NAV may inure to the benefit of redeeming stockholders or non-redeeming stockholders and new purchasers of our common stock, depending on whether our published NAV per share for such class is overstated or understated.

The realizable value of specific properties may change before the value is adjusted by the Independent Valuation Advisor and reflected in the calculation of our NAV.

Our valuation procedures generally provide that the Independent Valuation Advisor will adjust a real property’s valuation, as necessary, based on known events that have a material impact on the most recent value (adjustments for non-material events may also be made). We are dependent on our Advisor to be reasonably aware of material events specific to our properties (such as lease expirations, customer disputes, damage, litigation and environmental issues, as well as positive events such as new lease agreements) that may cause the value of a property to change materially and to promptly notify the Independent Valuation Advisor so that the information may be reflected in our real property portfolio valuation. Events may transpire that, for a period of time, are unknown to us or the Independent Valuation Advisor that may affect the value of a property, and until such information becomes known and is processed, the value of such asset may differ from the value used to determine our NAV. In addition, although we may have information that suggests a change in value of a property may have occurred, there may be a delay in the resulting change in value being reflected in our NAV until such information is appropriately reviewed, verified and processed. For example, we may receive an unsolicited offer from an unrelated third party to purchase one of our assets at a price that is materially different than the price included in our NAV. Or, we may be aware of a new lease, lease expiry, or a potential contract for capital expenditure. Where possible, adjustments generally are made based on events evidenced by proper final documentation. It is possible that an adjustment to the valuation of a property may occur prior to final documentation if the Independent Valuation Advisor determines that events warrant adjustments to certain assumptions that materially affect value. However, to the extent that an event has not yet become final based on proper documentation, its impact on the value of the applicable property may not be reflected (or may be only partially reflected) in the calculation of our NAV.

Our NAV and the NAV of your shares may be diluted in connection with this and future securities offerings.

In connection with this offering, we incur fees and expenses, which will decrease the amount of cash we have available for operations and new investments. In addition, because the prices of shares sold in this offering are based on our NAV, this offering may be dilutive if our NAV procedures do not fully capture the value of our shares and/or we do not utilize the proceeds accretively.

In the future we may conduct other offerings of common stock (whether existing or new classes), preferred stock, debt securities or of interests in our Operating Partnership. We may also amend the terms of this offering. We may structure or amend such offerings to attract institutional investors or other sources of capital. The costs of this offering and future offerings may negatively impact our ability to pay distributions and your overall return.

Because we generally do not mark to market our property-level mortgages and corporate-level credit facilities that are intended to be held to maturity, or our associated interest rate hedges that are intended to be held to maturity, the realizable value of our company or our assets that are encumbered by debt may be higher or lower than the value used in the calculation of our NAV.

In accordance with our valuation procedures, our property-level mortgages and corporate-level credit facilities that are intended to be held to maturity (which for fixed rate debt not subject to interest rate hedges may be the date near maturity at which time the debt will be eligible for prepayment at par for purposes herein), including those subject to interest rates hedges, are valued at par (i.e. at their respective outstanding balances). Because we often utilize interest rate hedges to stabilize interest payments (i.e. to fix all-in interest rates through interest rate swaps or to limit interest rate exposure through interest rate caps) on individual loans, each loan and associated interest rate hedge is treated as one financial instrument, which is valued at par if intended to be held to maturity. As a result, the realizable

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value of our company or our assets that are encumbered by debt used in the calculation of our NAV may be higher or lower than the value that would be derived if such debt instruments were marked to market. For example, if we decide to sell one or more assets, we may re-classify those assets as held-for-sale, which could then have a positive or negative impact on our calculation of NAV to the extent any associated debt is definitively intended to be prepaid. In some cases, such difference may be significant. This policy of valuing at par applies regardless of whether any given interest rate hedge is considered an asset or liability for GAAP purposes. We currently estimate the fair value of our debt (inclusive of associated interest rate hedges) that was intended to be held to maturity as of September 30, 2021 was $19.0 million higher than par for such debt in aggregate, meaning that if we used the fair value of our debt rather than par (and treated the associated hedge as part of the same financial instrument), our NAV would be lower by approximately $19.0 million, or $0.10 per share, as of September 30, 2021. As of September 30, 2021, we classified all of our debt as intended to be held to maturity.

You do not have the benefit of an independent due diligence review in connection with this offering which increases the risk of your investment.

Because the Advisor and the Dealer Manager are related, investors do not have the benefit of an independent due diligence review and investigation of the type normally performed by an unrelated, independent underwriter in connection with a securities offering. In addition, DLA Piper LLP (US) has acted as counsel to us, the Advisor and the Dealer Manager in connection with this offering and, therefore, investors do not have the benefit of a due diligence review that might otherwise be performed by independent counsel. Under applicable legal ethics rules, DLA Piper LLP (US) may be precluded from representing us due to a conflict of interest between us and the Dealer Manager. If any situation arises in which our interests are in conflict with those of the Dealer Manager or its related parties, we would be required to retain additional counsel and may incur additional fees and expenses. The lack of an independent due diligence review and investigation increases the risk of your investment.

Our investors may be at a greater risk of loss than the Advisor and members of our management team.

We have taken certain actions to increase the stock ownership in our Company by our management team, the Advisor and our directors over the past couple of years, including the implementation of certain stock-based awards. The current level of ownership by management may be less than the management teams of other public real estate companies and, as a result, our investors may be at a greater risk of loss than the Advisor and other members of our management, especially as compared to these other companies in which stock ownership by management and directors may be significantly greater.

The availability and timing of cash distributions to you is uncertain.

Our board of directors intends to authorize a monthly distribution of a certain dollar amount per share of our common stock using monthly record dates. However, the payment of class-specific fees results in different amounts of distributions being paid with respect to each class of shares. In addition, the expenses incurred in our operations reduce the amount of cash available for distribution to our stockholders. Distributions may also be negatively impacted by the failure to deploy our net proceeds on an expeditious basis, the inability to find suitable investments that are not dilutive to our distributions, the poor performance of our investments (including vacancy or decline in rental rates), an increase in expenses for any reason (including expending funds for redemptions) and due to numerous other factors. Any request by the holders of our OP Units to redeem some or all of their OP Units for cash may also impact the amount of cash available for distribution to our stockholders. In addition, our board of directors, in its discretion, may retain any portion of such funds for working capital. We cannot assure you that sufficient cash will be available to make distributions to our stockholders or that the amount of distributions will not either decrease or fail to increase over time. From time to time, we may adjust our distribution level and we may make such an adjustment at any time.

We have paid and may continue to pay distributions from sources other than our cash flow from operations, including, without limitation, the sale of assets, borrowings or offering proceeds, and we have no limits on the amounts we may pay from such sources.

Our total distributions declared for the nine months ended September 30, 2021, and the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018 were $47.4 million, 57.8 million, $55.3 million and $52.5 million, respectively, which includes $17.2 million, $21.3 million, $20.7 million and $19.1 million, respectively, of distributions reinvested in our shares pursuant to our distribution reinvestment plan. Our cash flow from operations for the nine months ended September 30, 2021 and the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018 was $38.8 million, $41.1 million, $49.3 million and $67.5 million, respectively. Accordingly, in certain years, total distributions were not fully funded by cash flow from operations. In such cases, the shortfalls were funded from proceeds from our distribution reinvestment plan or borrowings. In addition, for years in which total distributions were fully funded from our operations, in some cases our distributions were not fully funded from our operations for individual quarters. In such cases, the shortfalls were funded from proceeds from our distribution reinvestment plan or borrowings.  In the future, we may continue to fund our monthly regular distributions from sources other than cash flow from operations. Our long-term strategy is to fund the payment of regular distributions to you entirely from our operations, but there may be quarters or even years when that is not the case. It will be up to the board of directors to determine the distribution level taking many factors into consideration beyond just cash flow from operations. If we are unsuccessful in investing the capital we raise from our public offerings or decide to invest our capital in lower yielding assets, we may be required to fund our distributions to you from a combination of our operating, investing and financing activities, which include net proceeds of our public offerings, dispositions and borrowings (including borrowings secured by our assets), or to reduce the level of our distributions. Using certain of these sources may

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result in a liability to us, which would require a future repayment. The use of these sources for distributions and the ultimate repayment of any liabilities incurred could adversely impact our ability to pay distributions in future periods, decrease the amount of cash we have available for new investments, repayment of debt, share redemptions and other corporate purposes, and potentially reduce your overall return and adversely impact and dilute the value of their investment in shares of our common stock. We may pay distributions from sources other than cash flow from operations, including, without limitation, the sale of assets, borrowings or offering proceeds. Our ability to pay distributions solely from cash flows from operations has been impacted by the expiration of certain large leases in our portfolio, current yield environment for industrial and residential assets and disposition of real properties resulting in lower leverage currently. All distributions result in a decrease to our NAV while cash flow generated from our operations results in an increase to NAV. We generally seek to fund our distributions solely from our cash flow from operations, however we also focus on total stockholder return as a metric for evaluating our distribution level in the event that it is not being fully covered by cash flow from operations . Any cash flow from operations in excess of our distributions results in a net increase to NAV (ignoring other factors). Conversely, if and when our distributions exceed our cash flow from operations, the net effect would be and has been a decrease to NAV (ignoring other factors). We have not established a limit on the amount of our distributions that may be paid from any of these sources.

If we raise substantial offering proceeds in a short period of time, we may not be able to invest all of the net offering proceeds promptly, which may cause our distributions and the long-term returns to our investors to be lower than they otherwise would.

We could suffer from delays in locating suitable investments. The more money we raise in this offering, the more difficult it will be to invest the net offering proceeds promptly. Therefore, the large size of this offering increases the risk of delays in investing our net offering proceeds. Our reliance on the Advisor to locate suitable investments for us at times when the management of the Advisor is simultaneously seeking to locate suitable investments for other entities sponsored or advised by affiliates of the Sponsor could also delay the investment of the proceeds of this offering. Delays we encounter in the selection, acquisition and development of income-producing properties would likely negatively affect our NAV, limit our ability to pay distributions to you and reduce your overall returns.

The performance component of the advisory fee is calculated on the basis of the overall investment return provided to holders of Fund Interests over a calendar year, so it may not be consistent with the return on your shares.

The performance component of the advisory fee is calculated on the basis of the overall investment return provided to holders of Fund Interests (i.e., our outstanding shares and OP Units held by third parties) in any calendar year such that the Advisor will receive the lesser of (1) 12.5% of (a) the annual total return amount less (b) any loss carryforward, and (2) the amount equal to (x) the annual total return amount, less (y) any loss carryforward, less (z) the amount needed to achieve an annual total return amount equal to 5% of the NAV per Fund Interest at the beginning of such year (the “Hurdle Amount”). The foregoing calculations are calculated on a per Fund Interest basis and multiplied by the weighted average Fund Interests outstanding during the year. The “annual total return amount” referred to above means all distributions paid or accrued per Fund Interest plus any change in NAV per Fund Interest since the end of the prior calendar year, adjusted to exclude the negative impact on annual total return resulting from our payment or obligation to pay, or distribute, as applicable, the performance component of the advisory fee as well as ongoing distribution fees (i.e., our ongoing class-specific fees). The “loss carryforward” referred to above will track any negative annual total return amounts from prior years and offset the positive annual total return amount for purposes of the calculation of the performance component of the advisory fee. The loss carryforward is zero as of the date of this prospectus. Therefore, payment of the performance component of the advisory fee (1) is contingent upon the annual total return to the holders of Fund Interests exceeding the 5% return, (2) will vary in amount based on our actual performance and (3) cannot cause the overall return to the holders of Fund Interests for the year to be reduced below 5%.

Additionally, the Advisor will provide us with a waiver of a portion of its fees generally equal to the amount of the performance component that would have been payable with respect to the Class E shares and the Series 1 Class E OP Units held by third parties until the NAV of such shares or units exceeds $10.00 per share or unit, the benefit of which will be shared among all holders of Fund Interests.

As a result, the performance component is not directly tied to the performance of the shares you purchase, the class of shares you purchase, or the time period during which you own your shares. The performance component may be payable to the Advisor even if the NAV of your shares at the end of the calendar year is below your purchase price, and the thresholds at which increases in NAV count towards the overall return to the holders of Fund Interests are not based on your purchase price. Because of the class-specific allocations of the ongoing distribution fee, which differ among classes, we do not expect the overall return of each class of Fund Interests to ever be the same. However, if and when the performance component of the advisory fee is payable, the expense will be allocated among all holders of Fund Interests ratably according to the NAV of their units or shares, regardless of the different returns achieved by different classes of Fund Interests during the year. Further, stockholders who redeem their shares during a given year may redeem their shares at a lower NAV per share as a result of an accrual for the estimated performance component of the advisory fee, even if no performance component is ultimately payable to the Advisor at the end of such calendar year. In addition, if the Advisor earns a performance component of the advisory fee, it will not be obligated to return any portion of advisory fees paid based on our subsequent performance. See “The Advisor and the Advisory Agreement—The Advisory Agreement” and “The Operating Partnership Agreement.”

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Payment of fees and expenses to the Advisor and the Dealer Manager reduces the cash available for distribution and increases the risk that you will not be able to recover the amount of your investment in our shares.

The Advisor and the Dealer Manager perform services for us, including, among other things, the selection and acquisition of our investments, the management of our assets, the disposition of our assets, the financing of our assets and certain administrative services. We pay the Advisor and the Dealer Manager fees and expense reimbursements for these services, which will reduce the amount of cash available for further investments or distribution to our stockholders.

We are required to pay substantial compensation to the Advisor and its affiliates, which may be increased or decreased during this offering or future offerings by a majority of our board of directors, including a majority of the independent directors.

Pursuant to our agreements with the Advisor and its affiliates, we are obligated to pay substantial compensation to the Advisor and its affiliates. Subject to limitations in our charter, the fees, compensation, income, expense reimbursements, interests and other payments that we are required to pay to the Advisor and its affiliates may increase or decrease during this offering or future offerings if such change is approved by a majority of our board of directors, including a majority of the independent directors. These types of payments to the Advisor and its affiliates will decrease the amount of cash we have available for operations and new investments and could negatively impact our NAV, our ability to pay distributions and your overall return.

We are dependent upon the Advisor and its affiliates to conduct our operations and this offering; thus, adverse changes in their financial health or our relationship with them could cause our operations to suffer.

We are dependent upon the Advisor and its affiliates to conduct our operations and this offering. Thus, adverse changes to our relationship with, or the financial health of, the Advisor and its affiliates, including changes arising from litigation, could hinder their ability to successfully manage our operations and our portfolio of investments.

If we were to internalize our management or if another investment program, whether sponsored or advised by affiliates of the Sponsor or otherwise, conducts its own internalization transaction, we could incur significant costs and/or our business could be harmed.

At some point in the future, we may consider internalizing the functions performed for us by the Advisor, although we do not currently intend to do so. Any internalization transaction could result in significant payments to the owners of the Advisor, including in the form of our stock which could reduce the percentage ownership of our then existing stockholders and concentrate ownership in the owner of the Advisor. In addition, we rely on persons employed by the Advisor or its affiliates to manage our day-to-day operating and acquisition activities. If we were to effectuate an internalization of the Advisor, we may not be able to retain all of the employees of the Advisor or its affiliates or to maintain relationships with other entities sponsored or advised by affiliates of the Sponsor. In addition, some of the employees of the Advisor or its affiliates may provide services to one or more other investment programs. These programs or third parties may decide to retain some or all of the key employees in the future. If this occurs, these programs could hire certain of the persons currently employed by the Advisor or its affiliates who are most familiar with our business and operations, thereby potentially adversely impacting our business.

We have broad authority to incur debt, and high debt levels could hinder our ability to make distributions and could decrease the value of your investment in shares of our common stock.

Under our charter, we have a limitation on borrowing which precludes us from borrowing in excess of 300% of the value of our net assets, provided that we may exceed this limit if a higher level of borrowing is approved by a majority of our independent directors. High debt levels would cause us to incur higher interest charges, would result in higher debt service payments, could be accompanied by restrictive covenants and would generally make us more subject to the risks associated with leverage. These factors could limit the amount of cash we have available to distribute and could result in a decline in our NAV and in the value of your investment in shares of our common stock.

We are dependent on our customers for revenue and we are exposed to risks if we are unable to collect rent from our customers.

Our revenues from property investments depend on the creditworthiness of our customers and will be adversely affected by the loss of or default by significant lessees. Much of our customer base is presently comprised of and is expected to continue to be comprised of non-rated and non-investment grade customers. Lease payment defaults by customers could cause us to reduce the amount of distributions to you and could force us to find an alternative source of funding to pay any mortgage loan interest or principal, taxes, or other obligations relating to the property. In the event of a customer default, we may also experience delays in enforcing our rights as landlord and may incur substantial costs in protecting our investment and re-leasing our property. If a lease is terminated, the value of the property may be immediately and negatively affected and we may be unable to lease the property for the rent previously received or at all or sell the property without incurring a loss. As of September 30, 2021, no customer represented more than 10.0% of total annualized base rent, and our 10 largest customers represented 24.0% of total annualized base rent. We are not aware of any current customer, including

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our largest customer, whose inability to pay their contractual rental amounts would have a material adverse impact on our results of operations.

We are active portfolio managers and will incur transaction and transition costs each time that we acquire or dispose of an asset.

We believe that the real estate market is cyclical, with different demand for property types at different times. Although we do not invest for the short term, we are active portfolio managers and we will seek to take advantage of opportunities to acquire or dispose of assets presented to us by the real estate markets. Each time that we acquire or dispose of an asset, we incur associated transaction costs which may include, but are not limited to, broker fees, attorney fees, regulatory filings and taxes. In addition, each time that we sell an income-generating asset, our operating results will be negatively impacted unless and until we are able to reinvest the proceeds in an investment with an equal or greater yield, which we may be unable to do. Accordingly, in order for us to provide positive returns to our stockholders from active portfolio management, the benefits of active management must outweigh the associated transaction and transition costs. We may be unable to achieve this. These factors could adversely affect our results of operations, financial condition, NAV and ability to pay distributions to our stockholders.

In order to maintain what we deem to be sufficient liquidity for our redemption program it may cause us to keep more of our assets in securities, cash, cash equivalents and other short-term investments than we would otherwise like which would affect returns.

In order to provide liquidity for share redemptions, we intend to, subject to any limitations and requirements relating to our intention to qualify as a REIT, maintain a number of sources of liquidity including (i) cash equivalents (e.g. money market funds), other short-term investments, U.S. government securities, agency securities and liquid real estate-related securities and (ii) one or more borrowing facilities. We may fund redemptions from any available source of funds, including operating cash flows, borrowings, proceeds from this offering and/or sales of our assets. This could adversely affect our results of operations, financial condition, NAV and ability to pay distributions to our stockholders.

Black Creek Group was recently acquired by Ares and we could face challenges related to the integration of Black Creek into the business, operations and corporate culture of Ares, the allocation of corporate resources, and the retention of Black Creek personnel, which could adversely impact our business and reduce the synergies that we expect to benefit from as a result of the transaction.

On July 1, 2021, Ares closed on the acquisition of Black Creek Group’s U.S. real estate investment advisory and distribution business, including our former advisor, Black Creek Diversified Property Advisors LLC. The integration of Black Creek Group into the business of Ares could present challenges that are often encountered by the surviving companies of similar corporate transactions (e.g., issues involving the integration of corporate cultures or infrastructure), in addition to unanticipated challenges, which could divert time and attention away from the activities of our Company.  

Some former employees of Black Creek Group, in their capacities at Ares, are expected to work on new projects or accounts that they were not involved in when Black Creek was a standalone business.  As a result of the transaction and related integration of certain Black Creek personnel, conflicts may arise in the allocation of certain personnel and other resources.  Different entities and persons may be performing different roles and devoting different levels of attention to our Company as compared to the individuals and entities performing these functions prior to the closing of the transaction.

There will not be a complete overlap in the team of management professionals, and the roles of various team members, as between our Company and prior investment vehicles sponsored by Ares and Black Creek Group, respectively.  Investors should consider this when reviewing historical information about our Sponsor in this prospectus.

Our board of directors also adopted a delegation of authority policy and, pursuant to such policy, has delegated the authority for certain actions to the AREIT Advisors Committee, which is not a committee of our board of directors, but rather is the Advisor’s investment and management committee for our company and consists of certain of our officers and officers of the Advisor. Our board of directors has delegated to the AREIT Advisors Committee certain responsibilities with respect to certain acquisition, disposition, leasing, capital expenditure and borrowing decisions, which may result in our making riskier investments and which could adversely affect our results of operations and financial condition.

Our board of directors has delegated to the AREIT Advisors Committee the authority to execute certain transactions and make certain decisions on our behalf. The AREIT Advisors Committee has the authority to approve certain transactions, including acquisitions, dispositions and leases, as well as to make decisions with respect to capital expenditures and borrowings, in each case so long as such investments and decisions meet certain board-approved parameters (that include limitations regarding the dollar amount of the transactions, among others) and are consistent with the requirements of our charter. There can be no assurance that the AREIT Advisors Committee will be successful in applying any strategy or discretionary approach to our investment activities pursuant to this delegation of authority. Our board of directors will review the investment decisions made pursuant to this delegation of authority periodically. The prior approval of our board of directors or a committee of our independent directors will be required as set forth in our charter (including for transactions with affiliates of the Advisor) or for transactions or decisions that are outside of the board-approved parameters placed on this

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delegation of authority. Transactions entered into and decisions made by the AREIT Advisors Committee on our behalf may be costly, difficult or impossible to unwind if our board of directors later reviews them and determines that they should not have been entered into or made.

Risks Related to Conflicts of Interest

Our Advisor faces a conflict of interest because the fees it receives for services performed are based on our NAV, the procedures for which the Advisor will assist our board of directors in developing, overseeing, implementing and coordinating.

The Advisor assists our board of directors in developing, overseeing, implementing and coordinating our NAV procedures. It assists our Independent Valuation Advisor in valuing our real property portfolio by providing the firm with property-level information, including (i) historical and projected operating revenues and expenses of the property; (ii) lease agreements on the property; and (iii)  revenues and expenses of the property. Our Independent Valuation Advisor assumes and relies upon the accuracy and completeness of all such information, and does not undertake any duty or responsibility to verify independently any of such information and relies upon us and our Advisor to advise if any material information previously provided becomes inaccurate or was required to be updated during the period of its review. In addition, the Advisor may be the approved pricing source for certain assets and liabilities, and its discretion with respect to the valuations of such assets and liabilities could affect our NAV. Because the Advisor is paid fees for its services based on our NAV, the Advisor could be motivated to influence our NAV and NAV procedures such that they result in an NAV exceeding realizable value, due to the impact of higher valuations on the compensation to be received by the Advisor. If our NAV is calculated in a way that is not reflective of our actual NAV, then the purchase price of shares of our common stock on a given date may not accurately reflect the value of our portfolio, and your shares may be worth less than the purchase price. See “Net Asset Valuation Calculation and Valuation Procedures.”

The Advisor’s fee may not create proper incentives or may induce the Advisor and its affiliates to make certain investments, including speculative investments, that increase the risk of our real property portfolio.

The advisory fee we pay the Advisor is made up of a fixed component and a performance component. We will pay the Advisor the fixed component regardless of the performance of our portfolio. The Advisor’s entitlement to the fixed component, which is not based upon performance metrics or goals, might reduce the Advisor’s incentive to devote its time and effort to seeking investments that provide attractive risk-adjusted returns for our portfolio. We will be required to pay the Advisor the fixed component in a particular period despite experiencing a net loss or a decline in the value of our portfolio during that period. The performance component, which is based on our total distributions plus the change in NAV per share, may create an incentive for the Advisor to make riskier or more speculative investments on our behalf than it would otherwise make in the absence of such performance-based compensation.

Our Advisor’s management personnel face conflicts of interest relating to time management and there can be no assurance that our Advisor’s management personnel will devote adequate time to our business activities or that our Advisor will be able to hire adequate additional employees.

All of our Advisor’s management personnel, other employees, affiliates and related parties may also provide services to other entities sponsored or advised by affiliates of our Sponsor. We are not able to estimate the amount of time that such management personnel will devote to our business. As a result, certain of our Advisor’s management personnel may have conflicts of interest in allocating their time between our business and their other activities which may include advising and managing various other real estate programs and ventures, which may be numerous and may change as programs are closed or new programs are formed. During times of significant activity in other programs and ventures, the time they devote to our business may decline and be less than we would require. There can be no assurance that our Advisor’s affiliates will devote adequate time to our business activities or that our Advisor will be able to hire adequate additional employees to perform the tasks currently being performed by our Advisor’s affiliates should the amount of time devoted to our business activities by such affiliates prove to be insufficient. Should the Advisor fail to allocate sufficient resources to perform its responsibilities to us for any reason we may be unable to achieve our investment objectives or pay distributions to our stockholders.

Our Advisor and its affiliates, including our officers and two of our directors, face conflicts of interest caused by compensation arrangements with us and other entities sponsored or advised by affiliates of our Sponsor, which could result in actions that are not in our stockholders’ best interests.

Some of our executive officers, two of our directors and other key personnel are also officers, directors, managers, and/or key personnel in the Advisor, the Dealer Manager and/or other entities related to the Sponsor. The Advisor and its affiliates receive substantial fees from us in return for their services and these fees could influence their advice to us. Among other matters, the compensation arrangements could affect their judgment with respect to:

the continuation, renewal or enforcement of our agreements with the Advisor and its affiliates, including the Advisory Agreement and the agreement with the Dealer Manager;

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recommendations to our board of directors with respect to developing, overseeing, implementing and coordinating our NAV procedures, or the decision to adjust the value of certain of our assets or liabilities if the Advisor is responsible for valuing them;
public offerings of equity by us, which may result in increased fees for the Advisor and other related parties;
competition for customers from entities sponsored or advised by affiliates of the Sponsor that own properties in the same geographic area as us; and
investments through joint ventures or other co-ownership arrangements, which may result in increased fees for the Advisor.

We will be responsible for our proportionate share of certain fees and expenses, including due diligence costs, as determined by our Advisor, including legal, accounting and financial advisor fees and related costs, incurred in connection with evaluating and consummating investment opportunities, regardless of whether such transactions are ultimately consummated by the parties thereto.

In addition, we reimburse the Advisor and its affiliates for the salaries and other compensation of its personnel in accordance with the Advisory Agreement based on the percentage of such personnel’s time spent on our affairs. Pursuant to the terms of our Advisory Agreement, we reimburse our Advisor and its affiliates for personnel (and related employment) costs and overhead (including, but not limited to, allocated rent paid, equipment, utilities, insurance, travel and entertainment, and other costs) incurred by the Advisor or its affiliates in performing the services under the Advisory Agreement, including, but not limited to, total compensation, benefits and other overhead of all employees involved in the performance of such services; provided, that we will not reimburse the Advisor or its affiliates for services for which the Advisor or its affiliates are entitled to compensation in the form of a separate fee, or for compensation of the Company’s named executive officers, unless the named executive officer provides services related to shareholder operations.

Considerations relating to compensation to the Advisor and its affiliates from us and other entities sponsored or advised by affiliates of the Sponsor could result in decisions that are not in your best interests, which could hurt our ability to pay you distributions or result in a decline in the value of your investment. Conflicts of interest such as those described above have contributed to stockholder litigation against certain other externally managed REITs that are not affiliated with us or the Sponsor.

When considering whether to recommend investments through a joint venture or other co-ownership arrangement, the fee arrangements between our Advisor and the proposed joint venture partner may incentivize our Advisor to recommend investing a greater proportion of our resources in joint venture investments than may be in our stockholders’ best interests.

When we invest in assets through joint ventures or other co-ownership arrangements, our Advisor may, directly or indirectly (including, without limitation, through us or our subsidiaries), receive fees from our joint venture partners and co-owners of our properties for the services our Advisor provides to them with respect to their proportionate interests. Fees received from joint venture entities or partners and paid, directly or indirectly (including without limitation, through us or our subsidiaries), to the Advisor may be more or less than similar fees that we pay to the Advisor pursuant to the Advisory Agreement. Because the Advisor may receive fees from our joint venture partners and co-owners in connection with our joint venture or other co-ownership arrangements, the Advisor may be incentivized to recommend a higher level of investment through joint ventures than may otherwise be in the best interests of our stockholders.

The time and resources that entities sponsored or advised by affiliates of our Sponsor devote to us may be diverted and we may face additional competition due to the fact that these entities are not prohibited from raising money for another entity that makes the same types of investments that we target.

Entities sponsored or advised by affiliates of our Sponsor are not prohibited from raising money for another investment entity that makes the same types of investments as those we target. As a result, the time and resources they could devote to us may be diverted. For example, our Dealer Manager is currently involved in other public offerings for other entities sponsored or advised by affiliates of our Sponsor. In addition, we may compete with any such investment entity for the same investors and investment opportunities. We may also co-invest with any such investment entity. Even though all such co-investments will be subject to approval by our independent directors, they could be on terms not as favorable to us as those we could achieve co-investing with an unrelated third party.

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We may in the future enter into joint ventures, co-investment or other arrangements with affiliates of the Sponsor or entities sponsored or advised by affiliates of the Sponsor to acquire, develop and/or manage property, debt and other investments; such investments may raise potential conflicts of interest between us and such other investment vehicles managed by our Advisor or its affiliates.

While our joint venture partners and co-owners have been third parties, we may in the future enter into joint ventures, co-investment or other arrangements with affiliates of the Sponsor or entities sponsored or advised by affiliates of the Sponsor to acquire, develop and/or manage property, debt and other investments. Such investments may raise potential conflicts of interest between us and such other investment vehicles managed by our Advisor or its affiliates, including determining which of such entities should enter into any particular joint venture, co-investment or other arrangement agreement. Joint venture, co-investment or other arrangement partners affiliated with the Advisor or sponsored or advised by affiliates of the Sponsor may have economic or business interests or goals which are or that may become inconsistent with our business interests or goals. In addition, should any such joint venture, co-investment or other arrangement be consummated, the Advisor and its affiliates may face a conflict in structuring the terms of the relationship between our interests and the interests of other parties, in managing the joint venture, co-investment or other arrangement, and in resolving any conflicts or exercising any rights in connection with the joint venture, co-investment or other arrangement. Since the Advisor will make various decisions on our behalf, agreements and transactions between us and the Advisor’s affiliates or entities sponsored or advised by affiliates of the Sponsor will not have the benefit of arm’s-length negotiations of the type normally conducted between unrelated parties. Furthermore, when such other investment vehicles managed by our Advisor or its affiliates have interests or requirements that do not align with our interests, including differing liquidity needs or desired investment horizons, conflicts may arise in the manner in which any voting or control rights are exercised with respect to the relevant investment, potentially resulting in an adverse impact on us. We may enter into joint ventures with affiliates of the Sponsor or entities sponsored or advised by affiliates of the Sponsor for the acquisition of investments, but only if (i) a majority of our directors not otherwise interested in the transaction, including a majority of the independent directors, approve the transaction as being fair and reasonable to us and (ii) the investment by us and such affiliate are on terms and conditions that are no less favorable than those that would be available to unaffiliated parties.

With respect to any joint venture, we may enter into an advisory or sub-advisory agreement with an affiliate of the Advisor. We may also enter into arrangements with the Advisor in which the Advisor receives fees (directly or indirectly, including through a subsidiary of ours) from the joint venture entity or from the joint venture partner. Fees received from joint venture entities or partners and paid, directly or indirectly (including without limitation, through us or our subsidiaries), to the Advisor may be more or less than similar fees that we pay to the Advisor pursuant to the Advisory Agreement. In addition, the Advisor may, with respect to any investment in which we are a participant, also render advice and service to others in that investment, and earn fees for rendering such advice and service. Specifically, it is contemplated that we may enter into joint venture or other similar co-investment arrangements with certain individuals, corporations, partnerships, trusts, joint ventures, limited liability companies or other entities, with respect to which the Advisor or one of its affiliates may be engaged to provide advice and service to such individuals, corporations, partnerships, trusts, joint ventures, limited liability companies or other entities. The Advisor or its affiliate will earn fees for rendering such advice and service pursuant to the agreements governing such joint ventures or arrangements.

The fees we pay to entities sponsored or advised by affiliates of our Sponsor in connection with our offerings of securities and in connection with the management of our investments were not determined on an arm’s-length basis, and therefore, we do not have the benefit of arm’s-length negotiations of the type normally conducted between unrelated parties.

Our Advisor, our Dealer Manager and other of our Advisor’s affiliates have earned and will continue to earn fees, commissions and expense reimbursements from us. The fees, commissions and expense reimbursements paid and to be paid to our Advisor, our Dealer Manager and other of our Advisor’s affiliates for services they provided us in connection with past offerings and in connection with this offering were not determined on an arm’s-length basis. As a result, the fees have been determined without the benefit of arm’s-length negotiations of the type normally conducted between unrelated parties. See “Conflicts of Interest.”

We compete with entities sponsored or advised by affiliates of the Sponsor, for whom affiliates of the Sponsor provide certain advisory or management services, for opportunities to acquire, lease, finance, or sell investments, and for customers, which may have an adverse impact on our operations.

We compete with entities sponsored or advised by affiliates of the Sponsor and may compete with any such entity created in the future, as well as entities for whom affiliates of the Sponsor provide certain advisory or management services, for opportunities to acquire, lease, finance or sell certain types of properties. We may also buy, lease, finance or sell properties at the same time as these entities are buying, leasing, financing or selling properties. In this regard, there is a risk that we will purchase or lend on a property that provides lower returns to us than a property purchased or lent on by entities sponsored or advised by affiliates of the Sponsor and entities for whom affiliates of the Sponsor provide certain advisory or management services.

Certain entities sponsored or advised by affiliates of the Sponsor own and/or manage properties in geographical areas in which we expect to own properties. Therefore, our properties may compete for customers with other properties owned and/or managed by these entities. The Advisor may face conflicts of interest when evaluating customer leasing opportunities for our properties and other properties owned and/or managed by these entities and these conflicts of interest may have a negative impact on our ability to attract and retain

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customers. The Sponsor and the Advisor have implemented lease allocation guidelines to assist with the process of the allocation of leases when we and certain other entities to which affiliates of the Advisor are providing certain advisory services have potentially competing properties with respect to a particular customer. These guidelines are designed to allow, where possible, each fund with a potentially competing property to bid on a lease with a prospective customer in a fair and equitable manner.

Because affiliates of the Sponsor and the Advisor currently sponsor and advise, and in the future may sponsor and advise, other investment vehicles and clients (each, an “Advisory Client”) with overlapping investment objectives, strategies and criteria, potential conflicts of interest may arise with respect to real estate investment opportunities. In order to manage this potential conflict of interest, in allocating opportunities among the Advisory Clients, the Sponsor follows an allocation policy (the “Allocation Policy”) which endeavors to allocate investment opportunities in a fair and equitable manner. The Sponsor’s Allocation Policy, which may be amended without our consent, is intended to enable us to share equitably with any other Advisory Clients that are managed by the Sponsor and the Advisor and competing with us to acquire similar types of assets. Under the Allocation Policy, real estate investments will be considered for Advisory Clients based on appropriateness and conformity with their respective investment objectives, as well as the suitability of the investment for each Advisory Client. Suitability is determined by a variety of factors related to the investment mandates of each Advisory Client, the nature of the investment opportunity and the composition of each client’s portfolio. In the circumstance where an investment is suitable for only one Advisory Client based on such factors, the investment will be allocated to that Advisory Client. Where an investment is suitable for more than one Advisory Client, the Sponsor generally employs an allocation rotation process pursuant to the Allocation Policy that is designed to facilitate an equitable allocation of such opportunities over time. Nevertheless, it is possible that we may not be given the opportunity to participate in certain investments made by Advisory Clients managed by affiliates of the Sponsor and the Advisor. In addition, the Sponsor may from time to time limit the number of positions in a rotation and/or grant to certain Advisory Clients certain exclusivity, rotation or other priority (each, a “Rotational Priority”) with respect to industrial investments or other investment opportunities. Current existing Rotational Priorities have been granted to certain of the Sponsor’s industrial real estate funds which ensure them a minimum number of opportunities (e.g., one out of every three) in each core, value-add and development rotation. This means that, depending on the number of Advisory Clients and number of positions in each such rotation and/or the Rotational Priorities that have been granted, we may be offered less investment opportunities. The Sponsor or its affiliates may grant additional Rotational Priorities in the future and from time to time.

The Sponsor may modify its overall allocation policies from time to time. Any changes to the Sponsor’s allocation policies will be timely reported to our board of directors or Conflicts Resolution Committee. The Advisor will be required to provide information to our board of directors on a quarterly basis to enable our board of directors, including the independent directors, to determine whether such policies are being fairly applied.

Our Advisor  may manage other investment vehicles (including public, non-listed REITs) that have investment objectives that compete or overlap with, and may from time to time invest in, our target asset classes.

Affiliates of our Advisor may manage other investment vehicles (including public, non-listed REITs) that have investment objectives that compete or overlap with, and may from time to time invest in, our target asset classes. This may apply to existing investment vehicles or investment vehicles that may be organized, or with respect to which affiliates of our Advisor may acquire and assume the role of management in the future. Consequently, we, on the one hand, and these other investment vehicles, on the other hand, may from time to time pursue the same or similar investment opportunities. To the extent such existing vehicles or other future investment vehicles managed by our Advisor or its affiliates seek to acquire the same target assets as our Company, the scope of opportunities otherwise available to us may be adversely affected and/or reduced. Our Advisor or its affiliates may also give advice to investment vehicles managed by our Advisor or its affiliates that may differ from the advice given to us even though their investment objectives may be the same or similar to ours.

We may invest in, acquire, sell assets to or provide financing to investment vehicles managed by our Advisor or its affiliates.

We may invest in, acquire, sell assets to or provide financing to investment vehicles managed by our Advisor or its affiliates and their portfolio companies or purchase assets from, sell assets to, or arrange financing from any such investment vehicles and their portfolio companies. Any such transactions will require approval by a majority of our independent directors. There can be no assurance that any procedural protections will be sufficient to ensure that these transactions will be made on terms that will be at least as favorable to us as those that would have been obtained in an arm’s-length transaction.

Our Advisor is subject to extensive regulation as an investment adviser, which could adversely affect its ability to manage our business.

Our Advisor is subject to regulation as an investment adviser by various regulatory authorities that are charged with protecting the interests of its clients, including us. Instances of criminal activity and fraud by participants in the investment management industry and disclosures of trading and other abuses by participants in the financial services industry have led the United States Government and regulators to increase the rules and regulations governing, and oversight of, the United States financial system. This activity resulted in changes to the laws and regulations governing the investment management industry and more aggressive enforcement of the existing laws and regulations. Our Advisor could be subject to civil liability, criminal liability, or sanction, including revocation of its registration as an investment adviser, revocation of the licenses of its employees, censures, fines, or temporary suspension or permanent bar from conducting

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business, if it is found to have violated any of these laws or regulations. Any such liability or sanction could adversely affect our Advisor’s ability to manage our business. Our Advisor must continually address conflicts between its interests and those of its clients, including us. In addition, the Commission and other regulators have increased their scrutiny of potential conflicts of interest. Our Advisor has procedures and controls that are reasonably designed to address these issues. However, appropriately dealing with conflicts of interest is complex and difficult and if our Advisor fails, or appears to fail, to deal appropriately with conflicts of interest, it could face litigation or regulatory proceedings or penalties, any of which could adversely affect its ability to manage our business.

We have purchased and may in the future purchase assets from third parties who have existing or previous business relationships with affiliates or other related entities of our Sponsor; as a result, in any such transaction, we may not have the benefit of arm’s-length negotiations of the type normally conducted between unrelated parties.

We have purchased and may in the future purchase assets from third parties that have existing or previous business relationships with affiliates of our Sponsor. Affiliates of our Sponsor who also perform or have performed services for such third parties may have had or have a conflict in representing our interests in these transactions on the one hand and in preserving or furthering their respective relationships with such third parties on the other hand. In any such transaction, we will not have the benefit of arm’s-length negotiations of the type normally conducted between unrelated parties.

Risks Related to Adverse Changes in General Economic Conditions

Changes in global economic and capital market conditions, including periods of generally deteriorating real estate industry fundamentals, may significantly affect our results of operations and returns to our stockholders.

We are subject to risks generally incident to the ownership of real property, including changes in global, national, regional or local economic, demographic, political, real estate, or capital market conditions and other factors particular to the locations of our respective real property investments. We are unable to predict future changes in these market conditions. For example, an economic downturn or rise in interest rates could make it more difficult for us to lease properties or dispose of them. In addition, rising interest rates could make alternative interest bearing and other investments more attractive and, therefore, potentially lower the relative value of our existing real estate investments.

In addition, we believe the risks associated with our business are more severe during periods of economic slowdown or recession if these periods are accompanied by deteriorating fundamentals and declining values in the real estate industry. Because all of our debt-related investments outstanding as of September 30, 2021 and debt-related investments we may make in the future might consist of mortgages secured by real property, these same conditions could also adversely affect the underlying borrowers and collateral of assets that we own. Declining real estate values and deteriorating real estate fundamentals would also likely reduce the level of new mortgage loan originations, since borrowers often use increases in the value of their existing properties to support the purchase of, or investment in, additional properties. Furthermore, borrowers may not be able to pay principal and interest on such loans. Declining real estate values would also significantly increase the likelihood that we would incur losses on our debt investments in the event of a default because the value of our collateral may be insufficient to cover some or all of our basis in the investment.

For example, we recorded impairments of real properties, significant other-than-temporary impairment charges related to our real estate-related securities holdings, and provisions for losses on our debt-related investments, as a result of such conditions that occurred during the last recession in the United States. To the extent that there is a general economic slowdown or real estate fundamentals deteriorate, such factors could have a significant and adverse impact on our revenues, results from operations, financial condition, liquidity, overall business prospects and ultimately our ability to make distributions to our stockholders.

The current outbreak of the novel coronavirus, or COVID-19, has caused severe disruptions in the U.S. and global economy and may have an adverse impact on our financial condition and results of operations. This impact could be materially adverse to the extent the current COVID-19 outbreak, or future pandemics, cause customers to be unable to pay their rent or reduce the demand for commercial real estate, or cause other impacts described below.

In December 2019, a novel strain of coronavirus (COVID-19) was reported to have surfaced in Wuhan, China. COVID-19 has since spread to over 100 countries, including the United States. COVID-19 has also spread to every state in the United States. On March 11, 2020 the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a pandemic, and on March 13, 2020 the United States declared a national emergency with respect to COVID-19.

The outbreak of COVID-19 in many countries, including the United States, continues to adversely impact global economic activity and has contributed to significant volatility and negative pressure in financial markets. The global impact of the outbreak has been rapidly evolving and, as cases of the virus have continued to be identified in additional countries, many countries, including the United States, have reacted by instituting quarantines and restrictions on travel.

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Between March and May 2020, nearly all U.S. cities and states, including cities and states where our properties are located, reacted by instituting quarantines, restrictions on travel, “shelter in place” rules, restrictions on types of business that may continue to operate, and/or restrictions on types of construction projects that may continue. Beginning in early May 2020, parts of the U.S. began to ease the lockdown restrictions and allow for the reopening of businesses. The gradual reopening of retail, manufacturing, and office facilities came with required or recommended safety protocols. However, due to the continuation of new COVID-19 cases, these lockdown restrictions have or may be reinstated in certain areas to varying degrees in the future. Additionally, there is no assurance that the reopening of businesses, even if those businesses adhere to recommended safety protocols, will enable us or many of our customers to avoid adverse effects on our and our customers’ operations and businesses. The COVID-19 outbreak has had, and future pandemics could have, a significant adverse impact on economic and market conditions of economies around the world, including the United States, and has triggered a period of global economic slowdown or global recession.

The effects of COVID-19 or another pandemic could adversely affect us and/or our customers due to, among other factors:

the unavailability of personnel, including executive officers and other leaders that are part of the management team and the inability to recruit, attract and retain skilled personnel-to the extent management or personnel are impacted in significant numbers by the outbreak of pandemic or epidemic disease and are not available or allowed to conduct work—business and operating results may be negatively impacted;
difficulty accessing debt and equity capital on attractive terms, or at all—a severe disruption and instability in the global financial markets or deteriorations in credit and financing conditions may affect our and our customers’ ability to access capital necessary to fund business operations or replace or renew maturing liabilities on a timely basis, and may adversely affect the valuation of financial assets and liabilities, any of which could affect our ability to meet liquidity and capital expenditure requirements or have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows;
an inability to operate in affected areas, or delays in the supply of products or services from the vendors that are needed to operate effectively;
customers’ inability to pay rent on their leases or our inability to re-lease space that is or becomes vacant, which inability, if extreme, could cause us to: (i) no longer be able to pay distributions at our current rates or at all in order to preserve liquidity and (ii) be unable to meet our debt obligations to lenders, which could cause us to lose title to the properties securing such debt, trigger cross-default provisions, or could cause us to be unable to meet debt covenants, which could cause us to have to sell properties or refinance debt on unattractive terms;
uncertainty related to whether the U.S. Congress or state legislatures will pass additional laws providing for additional economic stimulus packages, government funding, or other relief programs, whether such measures will be enacted, whether our customers will be eligible or will apply for any such funds, whether the funds, if available, could be used by our customers to pay rent, and whether such funds will be sufficient to supplement our customers’ rent and other obligations to us;
an inability to ensure business continuity in the event our continuity of operations plan is not effective or improperly implemented or deployed during a disruption;
our inability to raise capital in our ongoing public offerings, if investors are reluctant to purchase our shares;
our inability to deploy capital due to slower transaction volume which may be dilutive to stockholders; and
our inability to satisfy redemption requests and preserve liquidity, if demand for redemptions exceeds the limits of our share redemption program or ability to fund redemptions.

Because our property investments are currently located in the United States, COVID-19 will continue to impact our properties and operating results given its continued spread within the United States reduces occupancy, increases the cost of operation, results in limited hours or necessitates the closure of such properties. In addition, quarantines, states of emergencies and other measures taken to curb the spread of COVID-19 may negatively impact the ability of such properties to continue to obtain necessary goods and services or provide adequate staffing, which may also adversely affect our properties and operating results.

Customers and potential customers of the properties we own operate in industries that are being adversely affected by the disruption to business caused by this global outbreak. Customers or operators have been, and may in the future be, required to suspend operations at our properties for what could be an extended period of time. For example, with respect to our retail properties, individual non-essential stores have been, and may be, closed for an extended period of time or only open certain hours of the day or only open with limited capacity. Certain of our office and industrial properties have been negatively impacted by similar impacts on our customers’

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businesses. Our residential properties have been impacted by declining household incomes and wealth, which may result in delinquencies or vacancies. Whereas a number of our customers requested rent deferrals in the second quarter of 2020, these requests significantly decreased in the third and fourth quarters of 2020. However, more customers may request rent concessions or may not pay rent in the future. This could lead to increased customer delinquencies, rent deferrals, and/or defaults under leases, a lower demand for rentable space leading to increased concessions or lower occupancy, and/or tenant improvement expenditures, or reduced rental rates to maintain occupancies. Our operations could be materially negatively affected if the economic downturn is prolonged, which could adversely affect our operating results, ability to pay our distributions, our ability to repay or refinance our debt, and the value of our shares.

The rapid development and fluidity of this situation precludes any prediction as to the ultimate impact of COVID-19. The full extent of the impact and effects of COVID-19 on our future financial performance, as a whole, and, specifically, on our real estate holdings are uncertain at this time. The impact will depend on future developments, including, among other factors, the duration and spread of the outbreak, vaccine distributions, travel advisories and restrictions, the recovery time of the disrupted supply chains, the consequential staff shortages, and production delays, and the uncertainty with respect to the duration of the global economic slowdown. COVID-19 and the current financial, economic and capital markets environment, and future developments in these and other areas present uncertainty and risk with respect to our performance, financial condition, results of operations, cash flows, and value of our shares.

The current outbreak of COVID-19 and resulting impacts on the U.S. economy and financial markets has created extreme uncertainty and volatility with respect to the current and future values of real estate, and therefore our NAV per share, as well as the market value of our debt (including associated interest rate hedges). As a result, our NAV per share may not reflect the actual realizable value of our underlying properties at any given time or the market value of our debt (including associated interest rate hedges).

The current outbreak of COVID-19 and resulting impacts on the U.S. economy and financial markets have created extreme uncertainty and volatility with respect to the current and future values of real estate and real estate-related assets, borrowings and hedges. The recent COVID-19 pandemic is expected to continue to have a significant impact on local, national and global economies and has resulted in a world-wide economic slowdown. The fallout from the ongoing pandemic on our investments is uncertain; however, it has had a negative impact on certain sectors of real estate, with a particularly adverse impact on certain sectors that we do not currently own, including hospitality, shopping malls and gaming. In addition, slower transaction volume may result in less data for assessing real estate values. This increases the risk that our NAV per share may not reflect the actual realizable value of our underlying properties at any given time, as valuations and appraisals of our properties and real estate-related assets are only estimates of market value as of the end of the prior month and may not reflect the changes in values resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, as this impact is occurring rapidly and is not immediately quantifiable. To the extent real estate values decline after the date we disclose our NAV, whether due to the COVID-19 pandemic or otherwise, (i) we may overpay to redeem our shares, which would adversely affect the investment of non-redeeming stockholders, and (ii) new investors may overpay for their investment in our common stock, which would heighten their risk of loss. Furthermore, because we generally do not mark to market our property-level mortgages and corporate-level credit facilities that are intended to be held to maturity, or our associated interest rate hedges that are intended to be held to maturity, the realizable value of our company or our assets that are encumbered by debt may be higher or lower than the value used in the calculation of our NAV. This risk may be exacerbated by the current market volatility, which can lead to large and sudden swings in the fair value of our assets and liabilities. We currently estimate the fair value of our debt (inclusive of associated interest rate hedges) that was intended to be held to maturity as of September 30, 2021 was $19.0 million higher than par for such debt in aggregate, meaning that if we used the fair value of our debt rather than par (and treated the associated hedge as part of the same financial instrument), our NAV would be lower by approximately $19.0 million, or $0.10 per share, as of September 30, 2021. As of September 30, 2021, we classified all of our debt as intended to be held to maturity.

Uncertainty and volatility in the credit markets could affect our ability to obtain debt financing on reasonable terms, or at all, which could reduce the number of properties we may be able to acquire and the amount of cash distributions we can make to our stockholders.

The U.S. and global credit markets have in the past experienced severe dislocations and liquidity disruptions, which caused volatility in the credit spreads on prospective debt financings and constrained the availability of debt financing due to the reluctance of lenders to offer financing at high leverage ratios. Similar conditions in the future could adversely impact our ability to access additional debt financing on reasonable terms or at all, which may adversely affect investment returns on future acquisitions or our ability to make acquisitions.

If mortgage debt or unsecured debt is unavailable on reasonable terms as a result of increased interest rates, increased credit spreads, decreased liquidity or other factors, we may not be able to finance the initial purchase of properties. In addition, when we incur mortgage debt or unsecured debt, we run the risk of being unable to refinance such debt upon maturity, or of being unable to refinance on favorable terms.

If interest rates are higher or other financing terms, such as principal amortization, the need for a corporate guaranty, or other terms are not as favorable when we refinance debt or issue new debt, our income could be reduced. To the extent we are unable to refinance debt on reasonable terms, at appropriate times or at all, we may be required to sell properties on terms that are not advantageous to us, or that could result in the foreclosure of such properties. If any of these events occur, our cash flow could be reduced. This, in turn,

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could reduce cash available for distribution to our stockholders and may hinder our ability to raise more capital by issuing securities or borrowing more money.

Economic events that may cause our stockholders to request that we redeem their shares may materially adversely affect our cash flow and our ability to achieve our investment objectives.

Future economic events affecting the U.S. economy generally, or the real estate sector specifically, could cause our stockholders to seek to sell their shares to us pursuant to our share redemption program or holders of OP units to seek to redeem their OP Units. The redemptions of Class E, Class T, Class S, Class D, and Class I shares are subject to the 2% and 5% limits (as described above) (subject to potential carry-over capacity). Even if we are able to satisfy all resulting redemption requests, our cash flow could be materially adversely affected. In addition, if we determine to sell valuable assets to satisfy redemption requests, our ability to achieve our investment objectives, including, without limitation, diversification of our portfolio by property type and location, moderate financial leverage, conservative operating risk and an attractive level of current income, could be materially adversely affected. See “Description of Capital Stock—Share Redemption Program” for more information.

Inflation or deflation may adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations.

Although neither inflation nor deflation has materially impacted our operations in the recent past, increased inflation could have an adverse impact on our floating rate mortgages, interest rates and general and administrative expenses, as these costs could increase at a rate higher than our rental and other revenue. Inflation could also have an adverse effect on consumer spending which could impact our customers’ sales and, in turn, our percentage rents, where applicable. Conversely, deflation could lead to downward pressure on rents and other sources of income.

The failure of any banking institution in which we deposit our funds could have an adverse effect on our results of operations, financial condition and ability to pay distributions to our stockholders.

Currently, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, or “FDIC”, generally, only insures amounts up to $250,000 per depositor per insured bank. A small proportion of our cash and cash equivalents, primarily those used to fund property-level working capital needs, are currently held in FDIC-insured bank accounts. To the extent that we have deposited funds with banking institutions, then if any of such institutions ultimately fail, we would lose the amount of our deposits over the then current FDIC insurance limit. The loss of our deposits could reduce the amount of cash we have available to distribute or invest and would likely result in a decline in the value of your investment.

We intend to disclose funds from operations (“FFO”), a non-GAAP financial measure, in future communications with investors, including documents filed with the Commission. However, FFO is not equivalent to our net income or loss as determined under GAAP, and is not a complete measure of our financial position and results of operations.

We use, and we disclose to investors, FFO, which is considered a non-GAAP financial measure. See “Selected Information Regarding Our Operations—How We Measure Our Operating Performance.” FFO is not equivalent to our net income or loss as determined in accordance with GAAP. FFO and GAAP net income differ because FFO excludes gains or losses from sales of property and impairment of depreciable real estate, and adds back real estate-related depreciation and amortization.

No single measure can provide investors with sufficient information and investors should consider all of our disclosures as a whole in order to adequately understand our financial position, liquidity and results of operations. Because of the differences between FFO and GAAP net income or loss, FFO may not be an accurate indicator of our operating performance, especially during periods in which we are acquiring properties. In addition, FFO is not necessarily indicative of cash flow available to fund cash needs and investors should not consider FFO as an alternative to cash flows from operations or an indication of our liquidity, or indicative of funds available to fund our cash needs, including our ability to make distributions to our stockholders. Neither the Commission nor any other regulatory body has passed judgment on the acceptability of the adjustments that we use to calculate FFO. Also, because not all companies calculate this type of measure the same way, comparisons with other companies may not be meaningful.

Risks Related to Our General Business Operations and Our Corporate Structure

A prolonged national or world-wide economic downturn or volatile capital market conditions could harm our operations, cash flows and financial condition and lower returns to our stockholders.

Disruptions in the capital and credit markets could adversely affect our ability to obtain financing, or, when available, to obtain such financing on reasonable terms, which could negatively impact our ability to implement our investment strategy.

If these disruptions in the capital and credit markets should occur as a result of, among other factors, uncertainty surrounding COVID-19, changing regulation, changes in trade agreements, reduced alternatives or additional failures of significant financial

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institutions, our access to liquidity could be significantly impacted. Prolonged disruptions could result in us taking measures to conserve cash until the markets stabilize or until alternative credit arrangements or other funding for our business needs could be arranged. Such measures could include deferring investments, reducing or eliminating the number of shares redeemed under our share redemption program and reducing or eliminating distributions we make to our stockholders.

We believe the risks associated with our business are more severe during periods of economic downturn if these periods are accompanied by declining values in real estate. For example, a prolonged economic downturn could negatively impact our property investments as a result of increased customer delinquencies and/or defaults under our leases, generally lower demand for rentable space, potential oversupply of rentable space leading to increased concessions, and/or tenant improvement expenditures, or reduced rental rates to maintain occupancies. Our operations could be negatively affected to a greater extent if an economic downturn occurs, is prolonged or becomes more severe, which could significantly harm our revenues, results of operations, financial condition, liquidity, business prospects and our ability to make distributions to our stockholders.

We depend on our Advisor and its key personnel; if any of such key personnel were to cease employment with our Advisor, our business could suffer.

Our ability to make distributions and achieve our investment objectives is dependent upon the performance of our Advisor in the acquisition, disposition and management of real properties and debt-related investments, the selection of customers for our real properties, the determination of any financing arrangements and other factors. In addition, our success depends to a significant degree upon the continued contributions of certain of our Advisor’s key personnel, including William S. Benjamin, Michael J. Blum, Rajat Dhanda, Jay W. Glaubach, Andrew E. Holm, Howard C. Huang, Andrea L. Karp, Lainie P. Minnick, Gregory M. Moran, James R. Mulvihill, Taylor M. Paul, Scott W. Recknor, David A. Roth, Scott A. Seager, Jeffrey W. Taylor, and Joshua J. Widoff, each of whom would be difficult to replace. We currently do not have, nor do we expect to obtain key man life insurance on any of our Advisor’s key personnel. If our Advisor were to lose the benefit of the experience, efforts and abilities of one or more of these individuals, our operating results and NAV could suffer.

Our board of directors determines our major policies and operations, which increases the uncertainties faced by our stockholders.

Our board of directors determines our major policies, including our policies regarding acquisitions, dispositions, financing, growth, REIT qualification, redemptions and distributions. Our board of directors may amend or revise these and other policies without a vote of the stockholders. Under the Maryland General Corporation Law and our charter, our stockholders have a right to vote only on limited matters. Our board of directors’ broad discretion in setting policies and our stockholders’ inability to exert control over those policies increases the uncertainty and risks our stockholders face, especially if our board of directors and our stockholders disagree as to what course of action is in our stockholders’ best interests.

Our UPREIT structure may result in potential conflicts of interest with limited partners in the Operating Partnership whose interests may not be aligned with those of our stockholders.

Limited partners in the Operating Partnership have the right to vote on certain amendments to the agreement that governs the Operating Partnership (the “Operating Partnership Agreement”), as well as on certain other matters. Persons holding such voting rights may exercise them in a manner that conflicts with our stockholders’ interests. As general partner of the Operating Partnership, we are obligated to act in a manner that is in the best interests of all partners of the Operating Partnership. Circumstances may arise in the future when the interests of limited partners in the Operating Partnership may conflict with the interests of our stockholders. These conflicts may be resolved in a manner our stockholders believe is not in their best interests.

We may assume unknown liabilities in connection with acquisitions which could result in unexpected liabilities and expenses.

In connection with an acquisition, we may receive certain assets or interests in certain assets subject to existing liabilities, some of which may be unknown to us at the time of the acquisition. Unknown liabilities might include liabilities for cleanup or remediation of undisclosed environmental conditions, claims of customers, vendors or other persons dealing with the entities prior to an acquisition (including those that had not been asserted or threatened prior to an acquisition), tax liabilities, and accrued but unpaid liabilities incurred in the ordinary course of business. If we acquire an entity, that entity may be subject to liabilities that become our responsibility upon acquisition of the entity. Our recourse with respect to such liabilities may be limited. Depending upon the amount or nature of such liabilities, our business, financial condition and results of operations, our ability to make distributions to our stockholders and the NAV of our shares may be adversely affected.

Tax protection agreements could limit our ability to sell or otherwise dispose of property contributed to the Operating Partnership.

In connection with contributions of property to the Operating Partnership, our Operating Partnership may enter into a tax protection agreement with the contributor of such property that provides that if we dispose of any interest in the contributed property in a taxable transaction within a certain time period, subject to certain exceptions, we may be required to indemnify the contributor for its tax

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liabilities attributable to the built-in gain that exists with respect to such property interests, and the tax liabilities incurred as a result of such tax protection payment. Therefore, although it may be in our stockholders’ best interests that we sell the contributed property, it may be economically prohibitive for us to do so because of these obligations.

Tax protection agreements may require our Operating Partnership to maintain certain debt levels that otherwise would not be required to operate our business.

Under a tax protection agreement, our Operating Partnership may provide the contributor of property the opportunity to guarantee debt or enter into a deficit restoration obligation. If we fail to make such opportunities available, we may be required to deliver to such contributor a cash payment intended to approximate the contributor’s tax liability resulting from our failure to make such opportunities available to that contributor and the tax liabilities incurred as a result of such tax protection payment. These obligations may require the Operating Partnership to maintain more or different indebtedness than we would otherwise require for our business.

Certain provisions in the partnership agreement of our Operating Partnership may delay or defer an unsolicited acquisition of us or a change of our control.

Provisions in the partnership agreement of our Operating Partnership may delay or defer an unsolicited acquisition of us or changes of our control. These provisions include, among others, redemption rights of qualifying parties and the rights of the limited partners to consent to transfers of the general partnership interest and mergers under specified circumstances. These provisions could discourage third parties from making proposals involving an unsolicited acquisition of us or a change of our control, although some stockholders might consider such proposals, if made, desirable.

The Operating Partnership’s private placements of beneficial interests in specific Delaware statutory trusts under our DST Program could cause our leverage ratio to increase or subject us to liabilities from litigation or otherwise.

On March 2, 2016, we, through the Operating Partnership, initiated a program to raise capital in private placements exempt from registration under Section 506(b) of the Securities Act through the sale of beneficial interests in specific Delaware statutory trusts holding real properties, including properties currently indirectly owned by the Operating Partnership. These interests may serve as replacement properties for investors seeking to complete like-kind exchange transactions under Section 1031 of the Code. All of the interests sold to investors pursuant to such private placements will be leased-back by the Operating Partnership or a wholly owned subsidiary thereof, as applicable, and fully guaranteed by the Operating Partnership, although there can be no assurance that the Operating Partnership can or will fulfill these guarantee obligations. Additionally, the Operating Partnership will be given a the FMV Option giving it the right, but not the obligation, to acquire the interests in the Delaware statutory trust from the investors at a later time in exchange for OP Units. In the event the Operating Partnership elects not to exercise the purchase option our leverage ratio could increase based on remaining master lease obligations. This may result in both increased costs to us and a negative impact on our overall debt covenants. In addition, in the event the Operating Partnership elects not to exercise the purchase option and the DST Property is sold to a third party, the master lease will terminate, triggering an obligation on the part of a subsidiary of the Operating Partnership, as master tenant, to pay to the trust an amount equal to the positive difference, if any, between the fair market value of the DST Property with the master lease in place as if such automatic termination had not occurred, and the gross purchase price to be paid by the third party buyer to the trust to acquire the DST Property. However, if the gross purchase price for the DST Property exceeds the fair market value of the DST Property subject to the master lease, no payment to the trust by the master tenant will be required. Further, investors who acquired interests pursuant to such private placements may have been seeking certain tax benefits that depend on the interpretation of, and compliance with, federal and state income tax laws and regulations. As the general partner of the Operating Partnership, we may become subject to liability, from litigation or otherwise, as a result of such transactions, including in the event an investor fails to qualify for any desired tax benefits.

The Operating Partnership’s private placements of beneficial interests in specific Delaware statutory trusts under our DST Program will not shield us from risks related to the performance of the real properties held through such structures.

Pursuant to the DST Program, the Operating Partnership intends to place certain of its existing real properties and/or acquire new properties to place into specific Delaware statutory trusts and then sell interests, via its taxable REIT subsidiary (TRS), in such trusts to third-party investors. We will hold long-term leasehold interests in the property pursuant to master leases that are fully guaranteed by our Operating Partnership, while the third-party investors indirectly hold some or all of the interests in the real estate. There can be no assurance that the Operating Partnership can or will fulfill these guarantee obligations. Although we will hold the FMV Option to reacquire the real estate through a purchase of interests in the Delaware statutory trust, the purchase price will be based on the then-current fair market value of the third-party investor’s interest in the real estate, which will be greatly impacted by the rental terms fixed by the long-term master lease. Under the lease we are responsible for subleasing the property to occupying customers until the earlier of the expiration of the master lease or our exercise of the FMV Option, which means that we bear the risk that the underlying cash flow from the property and all capital expenditures may be less than the master lease payments at such time. Therefore, even though we will no longer own the underlying real estate, because of the fixed terms of the long-term master lease guaranteed by our Operating Partnership, negative performance by the underlying properties could affect cash available for distributions to our stockholders and will likely have an adverse effect on our results of operations and NAV.

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We may own beneficial interests in trusts owning real property that will be subject to the agreements under our DST Program, which may have an adverse effect on our results of operations, relative to if the DST Program agreements did not exist.

In connection with the launch of our DST Program, we may own beneficial interests in trusts owning real property that are subject to the terms of the agreements provided by our DST Program. The DST Program agreements may limit our ability to encumber, lease or dispose of our beneficial interests. Such agreements could affect our ability to turn our beneficial interests into cash and could affect cash available for distributions to our stockholders. The DST Program agreements used in connection with the DST Program could also impair our ability to take actions that would otherwise be in the best interests of our stockholders and, therefore, may have an adverse effect on our results of operations and NAV, relative to if the DST Program agreements did not exist.

Properties that are placed into the DST Program and later reacquired may be less liquid than other assets, which could impair our ability to utilize cash proceeds from sales of such properties for other purposes such as paying down debt, distributions, or additional investments.

Properties that are placed into the DST Program (the “Original DST Program Asset”) may later be reacquired through exercise of the option granted to our Operating Partnership. In such cases the investors who become limited partners in the Operating Partnership (the “Original DST Investors”) will generally remain tied to the Original DST Program Asset in terms of basis and built-in-gain. As a result, if the Original DST Program Asset is subsequently sold, unless we effectuate a like-kind exchange under Section 1031 of the Code, then tax will be triggered on the Original DST Investors’ built-in-gain. Although we are not contractually obligated to do so, we have generally sought to execute 1031 exchanges in such situations rather than trigger gain. Any replacement property acquired in connection with a 1031 exchange will similarly be tied to the Original DST Investors with similar considerations if such replacement property ever is sold. As a result of these factors, placing properties into the DST Program may limit our ability to access liquidity from such properties or replacement properties through sale without triggering taxes due to the built-in-gain tied to Original DST Investors. Such reduced liquidity could impair our ability to utilize cash proceeds from sales for other purposes such as paying down debt, paying distributions, funding redemptions or making additional investments.

Investors who use DST Program Loans to acquire interests in the Delaware statutory trusts as part of the DST Program may default on such loans.

As part of the DST Program, a subsidiary of ours will provide DST Program Loans of no more than 50% of the purchase price to certain DST Program investors who acquire interests in Delaware statutory trusts. DST Program Loans will be secured by the DST Interests acquired using the DST Program Loan, and will be non-recourse to the borrowing DST Program investor subject to commercially customary recourse carveouts. We may suffer losses if the fair market value of the asset underlying the DST Interests acquired by the DST Program investor declines after the DST Program investor’s borrowing with respect to a DST Program Loan, or if there is otherwise a default on a DST Program Loan.

Cash redemptions to holders of OP Units will reduce cash available for distribution to our stockholders or to honor their redemption requests under our share redemption program.

The holders of OP Units (other than us) generally have the right to cause the Operating Partnership to redeem all or a portion of their OP Units for, at our sole discretion, shares of our common stock, cash, or a combination of both. Our election to redeem OP Units for cash may reduce funds available for distribution to our stockholders or to honor our stockholders’ redemption requests under our share redemption program.

We may be limited or restricted in engaging in like-kind exchanges.

We may dispose of properties in transactions intended to qualify as like-kind exchanges under the Code. Such like-kind exchanges are intended to result in the deferral of gain for U.S. federal income tax purposes. The failure of any such transaction to qualify as a like-kind exchange could require us to pay U.S. federal income tax, possibly including the 100% prohibited transaction tax, depending on the facts and circumstances surrounding the particular transaction.

Maryland law and our organizational documents limit our stockholders’ right to bring claims against our officers and directors.

Maryland law provides that a director will not have any liability as a director so long as he or she performs his or her duties in good faith, in a manner he or she reasonably believes to be in our best interests and with the care that an ordinarily prudent person in a like position would use under similar circumstances. In addition, our charter provides that, subject to the applicable limitations set forth therein or under Maryland law, no director or officer will be liable to us or our stockholders for monetary damages. Our charter also provides that we will generally indemnify our directors, our officers, our Advisor and its affiliates for losses they may incur by reason of their service in those capacities unless their act or omission was material to the matter giving rise to the proceeding and was committed in bad faith or was the result of active and deliberate dishonesty, they actually received an improper personal benefit in money, property or services or, in the case of any criminal proceeding, they had reasonable cause to believe the act or omission was unlawful. Moreover, we have entered into

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separate indemnification agreements with each of our independent directors and executive officers. As a result, we and our stockholders have more limited rights against these persons than might otherwise exist under common law. In addition, we are obligated to fund the defense costs incurred by these persons in some cases. However, our charter does provide that we may not indemnify our directors, our Advisor and its affiliates for any liability or loss suffered by them unless they have determined that the course of conduct that caused the loss or liability was in our best interests, they were acting on our behalf or performing services for us, the liability or loss was not the result of negligence or misconduct by our non-independent directors, our Advisor and its affiliates or gross negligence or willful misconduct by our independent directors, and the indemnification is recoverable only out of our net assets and not from the stockholders.

Our bylaws designate the Circuit Court for Baltimore City, Maryland as the sole and exclusive forum for certain types of actions and proceedings that may be initiated by our stockholders, which could limit our stockholders’ ability to obtain a favorable judicial forum for disputes with us or our directors, officers or employees.

Our bylaws provide that, unless we consent in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the Circuit Court for Baltimore City, Maryland shall be the sole and exclusive forum for certain types of actions and proceedings that may be initiated by our stockholders with respect to our company, our directors, our officers or our employees (we note we currently have no employees). This choice of forum provision does not apply to claims under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act, or any other claim for which the federal courts have exclusive jurisdiction. This choice of forum provision may limit a stockholder’s ability to bring a claim in a judicial forum that the stockholder believes is favorable for disputes with us or our directors, officers or employees, which may discourage meritorious claims from being asserted against us and our directors, officers and employees. Alternatively, if a court were to find this provision of our bylaws inapplicable to, or unenforceable in respect of, one or more of the specified types of actions or proceedings, we may incur additional costs associated with resolving such matters in other jurisdictions, which could adversely affect our business, financial condition or results of operations. We adopted this provision because we believe it makes it less likely that we will be forced to incur the expense of defending duplicative actions in multiple forums and less likely that plaintiffs’ attorneys will be able to employ such litigation to coerce us into otherwise unjustified settlements, and we believe the risk of a court declining to enforce this provision is remote, as the General Assembly of Maryland has specifically amended the Maryland General Corporation Law to authorize the adoption of such provisions.

Your interest will be diluted if we or the Operating Partnership issue additional securities.

Existing stockholders and new investors purchasing shares of common stock in this offering do not have preemptive rights to any shares issued by us in the future. Under our charter, we have authority to issue a total of 2,700,000,000 shares of capital stock. Of the total number of shares of capital stock authorized (a) 2,500,000,000 shares are designated as common stock, 500,000,000 of which are classified as Class E shares, 500,000,000 of which are classified as Class T shares, 500,000,000 of which are classified as Class S shares, 500,000,000 of which are classified as Class D shares and 500,000,000 of which are classified as Class I shares and (b) 200,000,000 shares are designated as preferred stock. Our board of directors may amend our charter to increase the aggregate number of authorized shares of capital stock or the number of authorized shares of capital stock of any class or series without stockholder approval. We intend to operate as a perpetual-life REIT, and investors purchasing shares in this offering will likely experience dilution of their equity investment in us as a result of this ongoing offering, including the distribution reinvestment plan, our ongoing Class E distribution reinvestment plan offering and future public offerings. Investors will also experience dilution if we issue securities in one or more private offerings, issue equity compensation pursuant to our equity incentive plans, issue shares to the Advisor in lieu of cash payments or reimbursements under the Advisory Agreement, or redeem OP Units for shares of common stock. In addition, we may in the future cause the Operating Partnership to issue a substantial number of additional OP Units in order to raise capital in relation to the DST Program or otherwise, acquire properties, consummate a merger, business combination or another significant transaction or to pay our Advisor in lieu of cash payments. OP Units may generally be converted into shares of our common stock, thereby diluting the percentage ownership interest of other stockholders. Ultimately, any additional issuance by us of equity securities or by the Operating Partnership of OP Units will dilute your indirect interest in the Operating Partnership, through which we own all of our interests in our investments.

We may issue preferred stock or new classes of OP Units, which issuance could adversely affect those stockholders who purchased shares of our common stock in our public offerings.

If we ever created and issued preferred stock or one or more new classes of OP Units with a distribution preference over common stock, payment of any distribution preferences on outstanding preferred stock or OP Units would reduce the amount of funds available for the payment of distributions on our common stock. Further, holders of preferred stock are normally entitled and holders of new classes of OP Units could be entitled to receive a preference payment in the event we liquidate, dissolve or wind up before any payment is made to our common stockholders, likely reducing the amount common stockholders would otherwise receive upon such an occurrence. Holders of preferred stock or new classes of OP Units could be given other preferential rights, such as preferential redemption rights or preferential tax protection agreements, that could reduce the amount of funds available for the payment of distributions on our common stock or otherwise negatively affect our common stockholders. In addition, under certain circumstances, the issuance of preferred stock, a new class of OP Units, or a separate class or series of common stock may render more difficult or tend to discourage:

a merger, offer or proxy contest;

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the assumption of control by a holder of a large block of our securities;
the removal of incumbent management; and/or
liquidity options that otherwise may be available.

We are not limited to making acquisitions with cash or borrowings.

We are not limited to making acquisitions with cash or borrowings. We may also make investments through either public or private offerings of equity securities from us or the Operating Partnership, and we may do so when attractive acquisition opportunities are available. We are not limited in the number or size of investments we may make with equity issuances, and we may effect a merger, business combination or another significant transaction through equity issuances. Such issuances may be comprised of existing classes of shares of our common stock or OP Units in the Operating Partnership, new classes of shares of our common stock or OP Units in the Operating Partnership with preferential terms compared to those of our existing investors (such as preferred stock, preferred OP Units, or contractual obligations to provide protection from adverse tax consequences), or tenancy-in-common interests. We and our Operating Partnership may, with the approval of a majority of our independent directors, agree to pay additional fees to our Advisor, the Dealer Manager and their affiliates in connection with any such transactions, which may negatively affect the NAV of your shares, our ability to pay distributions and your overall return.

The limit on the percentage of shares of our common stock that any person may own may discourage a takeover or business combination that may have benefited our stockholders.

Our charter restricts the direct or indirect ownership by one person or entity to no more than 9.8% of the value of our then outstanding capital stock (which includes common stock and any preferred stock we may issue) and no more than 9.8% of the value or number of shares, whichever is more restrictive, of our then outstanding common stock. This restriction may discourage a change of control of us and may deter individuals or entities from making tender offers for shares of our common stock on terms that might be financially attractive to stockholders or which may cause a change in our management. This ownership restriction may also prohibit business combinations that would have otherwise been approved by our board of directors and our stockholders. In addition to deterring potential transactions that may be favorable to our stockholders, these provisions may also decrease our stockholders’ ability to sell their shares of our common stock.

Although we are not currently afforded the full protection of the Maryland General Corporation Law relating to deterring or defending hostile takeovers, our board of directors could opt into these provisions of Maryland law in the future, which may discourage others from trying to acquire control of us and may prevent our stockholders from receiving a premium price for their stock in connection with a business combination.

Under Maryland law, “business combinations” between a Maryland corporation and certain interested stockholders or affiliates of interested stockholders are prohibited for five years after the most recent date on which the interested stockholder becomes an interested stockholder. These business combinations include a merger, consolidation, share exchange, or, in circumstances specified in the statute, an asset transfer or issuance or reclassification of equity securities. Also under Maryland law, control shares of a Maryland corporation acquired in a control share acquisition have no voting rights except to the extent approved by a vote of two-thirds of the votes entitled to be cast on the matter. Shares owned by the acquirer, an officer of the corporation or an employee of the corporation who is also a director of the corporation are excluded from the vote on whether to accord voting rights to the control shares. Should our board of directors opt into these provisions of Maryland law, it may discourage others from trying to acquire control of us and increase the difficulty of consummating any offer. Similarly, provisions of Title 3, Subtitle 8 of the Maryland General Corporation Law could provide similar anti-takeover protection. For more information about the business combination, control share acquisition and Subtitle 8 provisions of Maryland law, see “Description of Capital Stock—Business Combinations,” “Description of Capital Stock—Control Share Acquisitions” and “Description of Capital Stock—Subtitle 8.”

Our charter includes a provision regarding tender offers that may discourage a stockholder from launching a tender offer for our shares.

Our charter provides that any person making a tender offer that is not otherwise subject to Regulation 14D of the Exchange Act, including any “mini-tender” offer, must comply with most of the provisions of Regulation 14D of the Exchange Act, including the notice and disclosure requirements. In addition, the offeror must provide us notice of such tender offer at least 10 business days before initiating the tender offer. If the offeror does not comply with the provisions set forth above, we will have the right to redeem that offeror’s shares, if any, and any shares acquired in such tender offer. In addition, the non-complying offeror will be responsible for all of our expenses in connection with that offeror’s noncompliance. This provision of our charter may discourage a stockholder from initiating a tender offer for our shares.

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We depend on our relationships with lenders, joint venture partners, and property managers to conduct our business. If we fail to honor any of our contractual obligations, there could be a material and adverse impact on our ability to raise capital or manage our portfolio.

If we are viewed as developing underperforming properties, suffer sustained losses on our investments, default on a significant level of loans or experience significant foreclosure of our properties, our reputation could be damaged. Damage to our reputation could make it more difficult to successfully develop or acquire properties in the future and to continue to grow and expand our relationships with our lenders, joint venture partners, customers and third-party management clients, which could adversely affect our business, financial condition, NAV, results of operations and ability to make distributions.

Our business could suffer in the event our Advisor, the Dealer Manager, our transfer agent or any other party that provides us with services essential to our operations experiences system failures or other cyber incidents or a deficiency in cybersecurity.

Our Advisor, the Dealer Manager, our transfer agent and other parties that provide us with services essential to our operations are vulnerable to service interruptions or damages from any number of sources, including computer viruses, malware, unauthorized access, energy blackouts, natural disasters, terrorism, war and telecommunication failures. Any system failure or accident that causes interruptions in our operations could result in a material disruption to our business. A cyber incident is considered to be any adverse event that threatens the confidentiality, integrity or availability of information resources. More specifically, a cyber incident is an intentional attack or an unintentional event that may include, but is not limited to, gaining unauthorized access to systems to disrupt operations, corrupt data, steal assets or misappropriate Company funds and/or confidential information, including, for example, confidential information regarding our stockholders. As reliance on technology in our industry has increased, so have the risks posed to our systems, both internal and those we have outsourced. In addition, the risk of cyber incidents has generally increased as the number, intensity and sophistication of attempted attacks and intrusions from around the world have increased. Cyber incidents may be carried out by third parties or insiders, including by computer hackers, foreign governments and cyber terrorists, using techniques that range from highly sophisticated efforts to more traditional intelligence gathering and social engineering aimed at obtaining information or funds. The remediation costs and lost revenues experienced by a victim of a cyber incident may be significant and significant resources may be required to repair system damage, protect against the threat of future security breaches or to alleviate problems, including reputational harm, loss of revenues and litigation, caused by any breaches. If personal information such as social security numbers of our stockholders is stolen, our stockholders may be more likely to be victims of identity theft and other crimes. There also may be liability for any stolen assets or misappropriated Company funds or confidential information. Any material adverse effect experienced by our Advisor, the Dealer Manager, our transfer agent and other parties that provide us with services essential to our operations could, in turn, have an adverse impact on us.

The termination or replacement of the Advisor could trigger a repayment event under our mortgage loans for some of our properties and the credit agreement governing any line of credit or other form of unsecured debt that we obtain.

Lenders for certain of our properties may request provisions in the mortgage loan documentation that would make the termination or replacement of the Advisor an event requiring the immediate repayment of the full outstanding balance of the loan. Similarly, under any line of credit or other form of unsecured debt such as term loans that we currently have, or we may obtain in the future, the termination or replacement of the Advisor could trigger repayment of outstanding amounts under the credit agreement governing that line of credit or other form of unsecured debt. If a debt repayment event occurs, our results of operations, ability to pay distributions, and financial condition may be adversely affected.

The success of this offering is dependent, in part, on the ability of the Dealer Manager to retain key employees and to successfully build and maintain a network of licensed broker-dealers.

The success of this offering and our ability to implement our business strategy is dependent upon the ability of our Dealer Manager to retain key employees and to build and maintain a network of licensed securities broker-dealers and other agents. If the Dealer Manager is unable to retain qualified employees or build and maintain a sufficient network of participating broker-dealers to distribute shares in this offering, we may not be able to raise adequate proceeds through this offering to implement our investment strategy. In addition, the Dealer Manager currently serves and may serve as dealer manager for other issuers. As a result, the Dealer Manager may experience conflicts of interest in allocating its time between this offering and such other issuers, which could adversely affect our ability to raise adequate proceeds through this offering and implement our investment strategy. Further, the participating broker-dealers retained by the Dealer Manager may have numerous competing investment products, some with similar or identical investment strategies and areas of focus as us, which they may elect to emphasize to their retail clients.

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Risks Related to Investments in Real Property

Real properties are illiquid investments, and we may be unable to adjust our portfolio in response to changes in economic or other conditions or sell a property if or when we decide to do so.

Real properties are illiquid investments and we may be unable to adjust our portfolio in response to changes in economic or other conditions. In addition, the real estate market is affected by many factors, such as general economic conditions, availability of financing, interest rates and other factors, including supply and demand, that are beyond our control. We cannot predict whether we will be able to sell any real property for the price or on the terms set by us, or whether any price or other terms offered by a prospective purchaser would be acceptable to us. We cannot predict the length of time needed to find a willing purchaser and to close the sale of a real property. We may acquire real properties that are subject to contractual “lock-out” provisions that could restrict our ability to dispose of the real property for a period of time. In addition, U.S. federal tax laws that impose a 100% excise tax on gains from sales of dealer property by a REIT (generally, property held for sale, rather than investment) could limit our ability to sell properties and may affect our ability to sell properties without adversely affecting returns to our stockholders. These restrictions could adversely affect our results of operations and financial condition.

We may also be required to expend funds to correct defects or to make improvements before a property can be sold. We cannot assure you that we will have funds available to correct such defects or to make such improvements.

In acquiring a real property, we may agree to restrictions that prohibit the sale of that real property for a period of time or impose other restrictions, such as a limitation on the amount of debt that can be placed or repaid on that real property. Our real properties may also be subject to resale restrictions. All of these provisions would restrict our ability to sell a property.

We are dependent on customers for revenue, and our inability to lease our real properties or to collect rent from our customers may adversely affect our results of operations, NAV and returns to our stockholders.

Our revenues from our real property investments are dependent on our ability to lease our real properties and the creditworthiness of our customers and would be adversely affected by the loss of or default by one or more significant lessees. Furthermore, certain of our assets may utilize leases with payments directly related to tenant sales, where some or all of the amount of rent that we charge a tenant is calculated as a percentage of such tenant’s revenues over a fixed period of time, and a reduction in sales can reduce the amount of the lease payments required to be made to us by customers leasing space in such assets. The success of those real properties depends on the financial stability of the respective customers. The financial results of our customers can depend on several factors, including but not limited to the general business environment, interest rates, inflation, the availability of credit, taxation and overall consumer confidence.

In addition, our ability to increase our revenues and operating income partially depends on steady growth of demand for the products and services offered by the customers located in the assets that we own and manage. A drop in demand, as a result of a slowdown in the U.S. and global economy or otherwise, could result in a reduction in tenant performance and consequently, adversely affect our results of operations, NAV and returns to our stockholders. Inflation could also have an adverse effect on consumer spending which could impact our customers’ sales and, in turn, our percentage rents, where applicable. Conversely, deflation could lead to downward pressure on rents and other sources of income.

If indicators of impairment exist in any of our real properties, for example, we experience negative operating trends such as prolonged vacancies or operating losses, we may not recover some or all of our investment.

Lease payment defaults by customers could cause us to reduce the amount of distributions to our stockholders and could force us to find an alternative source of funds to make mortgage payments on any mortgage loans or payments due under our unsecured credit facilities. In the event of a tenant default, we may also experience delays in enforcing our rights as landlord and may incur substantial costs in protecting our investment and re-leasing our real property. If a lease is terminated, we may be unable to lease the real property for the rent previously received or sell the real property without incurring a loss.

Some of our properties may be leased to a single or significant customer and, accordingly, may be suited to the particular or unique needs of such customer. We may have difficulty replacing such a customer if the floor plan of the vacant space limits the types of businesses that can use the space without major renovation. In addition, the resale value of the property could be diminished because the market value of a particular property will depend principally upon the value of the leases of such property.

Similarly, certain of our other commercial properties are leased out to single customers or customers that are otherwise reliant on a single enterprise to remain in business. Adverse impacts to such customers, businesses or operators, including as a result of changes in market or economic conditions, natural disasters, outbreaks of an infectious disease, pandemic or any other serious public health concern, political events or other factors that may impact the operation of these properties, may have negative effects on our business and financial results. As a result, some of our customer or operators have been, and may in the future be, required to suspend operations at our properties for what could be an extended period of time. Further, if such customers default under their leases or such operators are unable to operate

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our assets, we may not be able to promptly enter into a new lease or operating arrangement for such properties, rental rates or other terms under any new leases or operating arrangement may be less favorable than the terms of the current lease or operating arrangement or we may be required to make capital improvements to such properties for a new customer or operator, any of which could adversely impact our operating results.

If the market for commercial real estate experiences increased vacancy rates, particularly in certain large metropolitan areas, it could result in lower revenues for us.

In the relatively recent past, there have been global economic downturns that negatively impacted the commercial real estate market in the U.S., and resulted in, among other things, increased tenant defaults under leases, generally lower demand for rentable space, and an oversupply of rentable space, all of which could lead to increased concessions, tenant improvement expenditures or reduced rental rates to maintain occupancies. We believe that the risks associated with our business could be more severe if the economy deteriorates again or if commercial real estate values decline. Our revenues will decline and our NAV and ability to pay distributions will be negatively impacted if our commercial properties experience higher vacancy rates or decline in value.

A real property that incurs a vacancy could be difficult to sell or re-lease.

A real property may incur a vacancy either by the continued default of a customer under its lease or the expiration of the lease. In addition, certain of the real properties we acquire may have some vacancies at the time of closing. Certain other real properties may be specifically suited to the particular needs of a customer and such real property may become vacant. Certain of our leases with retail customers contain provisions giving the particular tenant the exclusive right to sell particular types of merchandise or provide specific types of services within the particular retail center. These provisions may limit the number and types of prospective customers interested in leasing space in a particular retail property. Therefore, we may have difficulty obtaining a new tenant for any vacant space we have in our real properties. In certain cases, we may need to offer free rent or other concessions to attract customers. If the vacancy continues for a long period of time, we would suffer reduced revenues, which could materially and adversely affect our liquidity and NAV, and result in lower distributions to our stockholders. In addition, the resale value of the real property could be diminished because the market value may depend principally upon the value of the leases of such real property.

Adverse economic and other conditions in the regions where our assets are located may have a significant adverse impact on our financial results.

A deterioration of general economic or other relevant conditions, changes in governmental laws and regulations, acts of nature, demographics or other factors in any of the states or the geographic region in which our assets are located could result in the loss of a tenant, a decrease in the demand for our properties and a decrease in our revenues from those markets, which in turn may have a disproportionate and material adverse effect on our results of operations and financial condition. In addition, some of our investments are located in areas that are more susceptible to natural disasters, and therefore, our customers and properties are particularly susceptible to revenue loss, cost increase or damage caused by earthquakes or other severe weather conditions or natural disasters. Any significant loss due to a natural disaster may not be covered by insurance and may lead to an increase in the cost of insurance and expenses for our customers, or could limit the future availability of such insurance, which could limit our customers’ ability to satisfy their obligations to us.

In addition, our results of operations depend substantially on our ability to lease the spaces available in the assets that we own as well as the price at which we lease such space. Adverse conditions in the regions and specific markets where we operate may reduce our ability to lease our properties, reduce occupancy levels, restrict our ability to increase lease prices and force us to lower lease prices and/or offer tenant incentives. Should our assets fail to generate sufficient revenues for us to meet our obligations, our financial condition and results of operations, as well as our NAV and ability to make distributions or repay debt, could be adversely affected.

Properties that have significant vacancies, especially value-add or other types of discounted real estate assets, may experience delays in leasing up or could be difficult to sell, which could diminish our return on these properties and the return on your investment.

Our investments in value-add properties or other types of discounted properties may have significant vacancies at the time of acquisition and/or thereafter. If vacancies continue for a prolonged period of time beyond the expected lease-up stage that we anticipate will follow any redevelopment or repositioning efforts, we may suffer reduced revenues, resulting in less cash available for distributions to our stockholders. In certain cases, we may need to offer free rent or other concessions to attract customers. In addition, the resale value of the property could be diminished because the market value of a particular property depends principally upon the value of the cash flow generated by the leases associated with that property. Such a reduction on the resale value of a property could also reduce our NAV and the overall return on your investment.

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Changes in supply of or demand for similar real properties in a particular area may increase the price of real property assets we seek to purchase or adversely affect the value of the real property assets that we own.

The real estate industry is subject to market forces and we are unable to predict certain market changes including changes in supply of or demand for similar real properties in a particular area. For example, if demand for the types of real property assets in which we seek to invest were to sharply increase or supply of those assets were to sharply decrease, the prices to acquire those assets could rise significantly. Any potential purchase of an overpriced asset could decrease our rate of return on these investments and result in lower operating results and overall returns to our stockholders. Likewise, a sharp increase in supply could adversely affect leasing rates and occupancy, which could lower operating results, our NAV and overall returns to our stockholders.

Actions of our joint venture partners could adversely impact our performance.

We have entered into and may continue to enter into joint ventures with third parties, including entities that are affiliated with our Advisor or entities sponsored or advised by affiliates of our Sponsor. We may be a general partner, but also could be a limited partner. Such venture may give substantial discretionary authority to a third party general partner or to an affiliate of our Advisor or Sponsor as general partner. We have purchased and developed and may also continue to purchase and develop properties in joint ventures or in partnerships, co-tenancies or other co-ownership arrangements with the sellers of the properties, affiliates of the sellers, developers or other persons. Such investments may involve risks not otherwise present with a direct investment in real estate, including, for example:

the possibility that our venture partner, co-tenant or partner in an investment might become bankrupt or otherwise be unable to meet its capital contribution obligations;
that such venture partner, co-tenant or partner may at any time have economic or business interests or goals which are or which become inconsistent with our business interests or goals;
that such venture partner, co-tenant or partner may be in a position to take action contrary to our instructions or requests or contrary to our policies or objectives;
that actions by such venture partner, co-tenant or partner could adversely affect our reputation, negatively impacting our ability to conduct business; or
that such venture partner, co-tenant or partner has legal or other effective control over the asset, partnership or venture.

Actions by a joint venture partner or co-tenant might have the result of subjecting the property to liabilities in excess of those contemplated and may have the effect of reducing our stockholders’ returns.

Under certain joint venture arrangements, neither venture partner may have the power to control the venture, and an impasse could be reached, which might have a negative influence on the joint venture and decrease potential returns to our stockholders. In the event that a venture partner has a right of first refusal to buy out the other partner, it may be unable to finance such a buy-out at that time. It may also be difficult for us to sell our interest in any such joint venture or partnership or as a co-tenant in a particular property. In addition, to the extent that our venture partner or co-tenant is an affiliate of our Advisor or an entity sponsored or advised by affiliates of our Sponsor, certain conflicts of interest will exist. See “Conflicts of Interest—Co-Investments and Joint Ventures with Affiliates of the Sponsor or Other Entities Advised by Affiliates of the Sponsor.”

We compete with numerous other parties or entities for real property investments and customers, and we may not compete successfully.

We compete with numerous other persons or entities seeking to buy real property assets or to attract customers to real properties we already own, which may have a negative impact on our ability to acquire real property assets or attract customers on favorable terms, if at all, and the returns on our real property assets. These persons or entities may have greater experience and financial strength than us. For example, our competitors may be willing to offer space at rental rates below our rates, causing us to lose existing or potential customers and pressuring us to reduce our rental rates to retain existing customers or convince new customers to lease space at our properties. Similarly, the opening of new competing assets near the assets that we own may hinder our ability to renew our existing leases or to lease to new customers, because the proximity of new competitors may divert existing or new customers to such competitors. In addition, if market rental rates decline during the term of an existing lease, we may be unable to renew or find a new tenant without lowering the rental rate. Each of these factors could adversely affect our results of operations, financial condition, NAV and ability to repay debt, and pay distributions to our stockholders.

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Delays in the selection, acquisition, development and construction of real properties or debt investments may have adverse effects on portfolio diversification, results of operations and returns to our stockholders.

Delays we encounter in selecting, acquiring and developing additional real properties or debt investments could adversely affect our stockholders’ returns. The uncertain state of the real estate markets in recent years and the resulting incentives of lenders and sellers to retain their investments had previously led to generally lower transaction volume in the broader real estate market and for us, in part due to pricing and valuation uncertainties. It is possible that such disruptions and uncertainties may reoccur. Alternatively, increased competition for high quality investments may also limit our ability to make incremental accretive investments in real properties and debt investments. These factors may continue to have a negative effect on our stockholders’ returns, and may also hinder our ability to reach our portfolio diversification objectives.

In addition, where properties are acquired prior to the start of construction or during the early stages of construction, it will typically take several months to complete construction and rent available space. Therefore, we may not receive any income from these properties for a significant period of time following acquisition, and distributions to our stockholders could suffer. Delays in the completion of construction could give customers the right to terminate preconstruction leases for space at a newly developed project. We may incur additional risks when we make periodic progress payments or other advances to builders prior to completion of construction. Each of those factors could result in increased costs of a project or loss of our investment. In addition, we will be subject to normal lease-up risks relating to newly constructed projects. Furthermore, the price we agree to for a real property will be based on our projections of rental income and expenses and estimates of the fair market value of the real property upon completion of construction. If our projections are inaccurate, we may pay too much for a property.

We may be unable to achieve our diversification goals or to realize benefits from diversification.

We are primarily focused on investing in and operating a diverse portfolio of real property and investing in other real estate-related assets. We currently focus our investment activities primarily across the major U.S. property sectors (industrial, residential, office and retail) but to a lesser extent intend to strategically invest in other property sectors and geographies, infrastructure and real estate debt, to create a diversified blend of current income and long-term value appreciation. Although there can be no assurance that we will achieve this objective, we intend to diversify our portfolio by key portfolio attributes including, but not limited to, (i) property sector and type, (ii) target market, with consideration given to geographic concentrations, (iii) average lease terms and portfolio occupancy expectations, (iv) customer concentrations, including credit and exposure to particular businesses or industries and (v) debt profile with the goal of maximizing flexibility while seeking to minimize cost and mitigate the risks associated with changes in interest rates and debt maturities. However, we may not successfully implement our diversification strategy. Even if we do fully achieve our diversification goals, it is possible our diversified portfolio will not perform as well as a portfolio that is concentrated in a particular type of real estate.

We may alter our exposure to various real property sectors and we may not always own properties in each sector.

We currently focus our investment activities primarily across the major U.S. property sectors (industrial, residential, office and retail) but to a lesser extent intend to strategically invest in other property sectors and geographies, infrastructure and real estate debt, to create a diversified blend of current income and long-term value appreciation. Although we aim to diversify our real property portfolio by owning properties in a number of these sectors, we may not always have significant holdings, or any holdings at all, in each sector. We may elect to increase or decrease our holdings in each sector at any time and we may change our target property sectors at any time. If we decrease or eliminate our holdings in any property sector or cease to target any of these property sectors our real property portfolio will be less diversified and we may not realize the benefits of diversification.

We are subject to the risk that, with respect to assets that we have acquired and may acquire based on growth potential, such growth potential is not realized.

From 2018 to September 30, 2021, we disposed of approximately $737.7 million of properties and we acquired approximately $1.2 billion of properties. The properties that we sold were generally higher-yielding than the new properties we acquired, although we believe the acquired assets exhibit greater potential for future growth. We believe that market conditions may cause us to continue to explore in certain markets the disposition of higher-yielding assets and in certain target markets the acquisition of assets that may generate lower initial yields but with greater growth potential. Although there can be no assurance that we will continue to pursue this strategy or be successful in its execution, for some period of time this may mean that higher-yielding assets are sold from our portfolio in exchange for assets that initially may produce lower current income but which we believe may generate increased income over time through increased tenant demand and/or rental rate growth in order to generate long-term growth in NAV. With respect to such assets, we are subject to the risk that the expected growth potential is not realized. This may result from a variety of factors, including but not limited to unanticipated changes in local market conditions or increased competition for similar properties in the same market. Acquiring properties that do not realize their expected growth potential, or properties that take longer than expected to realize their growth potential, would likely negatively affect our NAV, limit our ability to pay distributions to you and reduce your overall returns.

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Our real properties are subject to property and other taxes that may increase in the future, which could adversely affect our cash flow.

Our real properties are subject to real and personal property and other taxes that may increase as tax rates change and as the properties are assessed or reassessed by taxing authorities. Certain of our leases provide that the property taxes, or increases therein, are charged to the lessees as an expense related to the real properties that they occupy while other leases will generally provide that we are responsible for such taxes. In any case, as the owner of the properties, we are ultimately responsible for payment of the taxes to the applicable governmental authorities. If property taxes increase, our customers may be unable to make the required tax payments, ultimately requiring us to pay the taxes even if otherwise stated under the terms of the lease. If we fail to pay any such taxes, the applicable taxing authorities may place a lien on the property and the property may be subject to a tax sale. In addition, we will generally be responsible for property taxes related to any vacant space.

Potential changes to the U.S. tax laws could have a significant negative impact on our business operations, financial condition and earnings.

U.S. federal income tax laws governing REITs and other corporations and the administrative interpretations of those laws may be amended at any time, potentially with retroactive effect. Future legislation, new regulations, administrative interpretations or court decisions could adversely affect our ability to qualify as a REIT or adversely affect our stockholders.

We are subject to litigation that could adversely affect our results of operations.

We are a defendant from time to time in lawsuits and/or regulatory proceedings relating to our business. Unfavorable outcomes resulting from such lawsuits and/or regulatory proceedings could adversely impact our business, financial condition, NAV or results of operations.

Uninsured losses or premiums for insurance coverage relating to real property may adversely affect our returns.

There are types of losses, generally catastrophic in nature, such as losses due to wars, acts of terrorism, earthquakes, floods, hurricanes, pollution or environmental matters that are uninsurable or not economically insurable, or may be insured subject to limitations, such as large deductibles or co-payments. Risks associated with potential acts of terrorism could sharply increase the premiums we pay for coverage against property and casualty claims. Additionally, mortgage lenders sometimes require commercial property owners to purchase specific coverage against terrorism as a condition for providing mortgage loans. These policies may not be available at a reasonable cost, if at all, which could inhibit our ability to finance or refinance our real properties. In such instances, we may be required to provide other financial support, either through financial assurances or self-insurance, to cover potential losses. Changes in the cost or availability of insurance could expose us to uninsured property or casualty losses. In the event that any of our real properties incurs a property or casualty loss that is not fully covered by insurance, the value of our assets will be reduced by any such uninsured loss. In addition, we could be held liable for indemnifying possible victims of an accident. We cannot assure our stockholders that funding will be available to us for the repair or reconstruction of damaged real property in the future or for liability payments to accident victims.

The real estate industry is subject to extensive regulation, which may result in higher expenses or other negative consequences that could adversely affect us.

Our activities are subject to federal, state and municipal laws, and to regulations, authorizations and license requirements with respect to, among other things, zoning, environmental protection and historical heritage, all of which may affect our business. We may be required to obtain licenses and permits with different governmental authorities in order to acquire and manage our assets.

In addition, the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (the “Dodd-Frank Act”) which generally took effect in 2011, contains a sweeping overhaul of the regulation of U.S. financial institutions and financial markets.

Various rules currently in effect under the Dodd-Frank Act may have a significant impact on our business, including, without limitation, provisions of the legislation that increase regulation of and disclosure requirements related to investment advisors, swap transactions and hedging policies, corporate governance and executive compensation, investor protection and enforcement provisions, and asset-backed securities.

For example, but not by way of limitation, the Dodd-Frank Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder provides for significantly increased regulation of the derivatives markets and transactions that affect our interest rate hedging activities, including: (i) regulatory reporting; (ii) subject to limited exemptions, mandated clearing through central counterparties and execution on regulated exchanges or execution facilities; and (iii) margin and collateral requirements. The foregoing requirements may affect our ability to enter into hedging or other risk management transactions, may increase our costs in entering into such transactions, and/or may result in us entering into such transactions on less favorable terms than prior to the Dodd-Frank Act. For example, subject to an exception for “end-users” of swaps upon which we and our subsidiaries generally rely, we may be required to clear certain interest rate hedging transactions by submitting them to a derivatives-clearing organization. To the extent we are required to clear any such transactions, we will

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be required to, among other things, post margin in connection with such transactions. The occurrence of any of the foregoing events may have an adverse effect on our business and your return.

In addition, public authorities may enact new and more stringent standards, or interpret existing laws and regulations in a more restrictive manner, which may force companies in the real estate industry, including us, to spend funds to comply with these new rules. Any such action on the part of public authorities may adversely affect the value of your investments.

In the event of noncompliance with such laws, regulations, licenses and authorizations, we may face the payment of fines, project shutdowns, cancellation of licenses, and revocation of authorizations, in addition to other civil and criminal penalties.

Environmentally hazardous conditions may adversely affect our operating results.

Under various federal, state and local environmental laws, a current or previous owner or operator of real property may be liable for the cost of removing or remediating hazardous or toxic substances on such real property. Such laws often impose liability whether or not the owner or operator knew of, or was responsible for, the presence of such hazardous or toxic substances. Third parties may also sue the owner or operator of a site for damages based on personal injury, natural resources or property damage or other costs, including investigation and clean-up costs resulting from the environmental contamination. In addition, the presence of hazardous substances, or the failure to properly remediate these substances, may adversely affect our ability to sell, rent or pledge such real property as collateral for future borrowings. Environmental laws also may impose restrictions on the manner in which real property may be used or businesses may be operated. A property owner who violates environmental laws may be subject to sanctions, which may be enforced by government agencies or, in certain circumstances, private parties. Some of these laws and regulations have been amended so as to require compliance with new or more stringent standards as of future dates. Compliance with new or more stringent laws or regulations or stricter interpretation of existing laws may require us to incur material expenditures. Future laws, ordinances or regulations may impose material environmental liability. Our customers’ operations, the existing condition of land when we buy it, operations in the vicinity of our real properties, such as the presence of underground storage tanks, or activities of unrelated third parties may affect our real properties. In addition, there are various local, state and federal fire, health, life-safety and similar regulations with which we may be required to comply, and which may subject us to liability in the form of fines or damages for noncompliance. In connection with the acquisition and ownership of our real properties, we may be exposed to such costs in connection with such regulations. The cost of defending against environmental claims, of any damages or fines we must pay, of compliance with environmental regulatory requirements or of remediating any contaminated real property could materially and adversely affect our business, lower the value of our assets or results of operations and, consequently, lower our NAV and the amounts available for distribution to our stockholders.

Environmental laws in the U.S. also require that owners or operators of buildings containing asbestos properly manage and maintain the asbestos, adequately inform or train those who may come into contact with asbestos and undertake special precautions, including removal or other abatement, in the event that asbestos is disturbed during building renovation or demolition. These laws may impose fines and penalties on building owners or operators who fail to comply with these requirements and may allow third parties to seek recovery from owners or operators for personal injury associated with exposure to asbestos. Some of our properties may contain asbestos-containing building materials.

We may invest in properties historically used for industrial, manufacturing and commercial purposes. Some of these properties may contain at the time of our investment, or may have contained prior to our investment, underground storage tanks for the storage of petroleum products and other hazardous or toxic substances. All of these operations create a potential for the release of petroleum products or other hazardous or toxic substances. Some of the properties that we acquire may be adjacent to or near other properties that have contained or then currently contain underground storage tanks used to store petroleum products or other hazardous or toxic substances. In addition, certain of the properties that we acquire may be on or adjacent to or near other properties upon which others, including former owners or customers of our properties, have engaged, or may in the future engage, in activities that may release petroleum products or other hazardous or toxic substances.

From time to time, we may acquire properties, or interests in properties, with known adverse environmental conditions where we believe that the environmental liabilities associated with these conditions are quantifiable and that the acquisition will yield an appropriate risk-adjusted return. In such an instance, we will underwrite the costs of environmental investigation, clean-up and monitoring into the cost. Further, in connection with property dispositions, we may agree to remain responsible for, and to bear the cost of, remediating or monitoring certain environmental conditions on the properties.

Generally, our properties are subject to a Phase I or similar environmental assessment by independent environmental consultants prior to or in connection with our acquisition of such properties. Phase I assessments are intended to discover and evaluate information regarding the environmental condition of the surveyed property and surrounding properties. Phase I assessments generally include a historical review, a public records review, an investigation of the surveyed site and surrounding properties and preparation and issuance of a written report, but do not include soil sampling or subsurface investigations and typically do not include an asbestos survey. We cannot give any assurance that an environmental liability that we believe would have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations taken as a whole, will not currently exist at the time of acquisition or may not arise in the future, with respect to any of our properties. Material environmental conditions, liabilities or compliance concerns may arise after an environmental assessment

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has been completed. Moreover, there can be no assurance that future laws, ordinances or regulations will not impose any material environmental liability, or that the then current environmental condition of our properties will not be affected by customers, by the condition of land or operations in the vicinity of such properties (such as releases from underground storage tanks), or by third parties unrelated to us.

Costs of complying with governmental laws and regulations related to environmental protection and human health and safety may be high.

All real property and the operations conducted on the real property are subject to federal, state and local laws and regulations relating to environmental protection and human health and safety. Some of these laws and regulations may impose joint and several liability on customers, owners or operators for the costs to investigate or remediate contaminated properties, regardless of fault or whether the acts causing the contamination were legal. Leasing properties to customers that engage in industrial, manufacturing, and commercial activities will cause us to be subject to the risk of liabilities under environmental laws and regulations. In addition, the presence of hazardous or toxic substances, or the failure to properly remediate these substances, may adversely affect our ability to sell, rent or pledge such property as collateral for future borrowings.

Some of these laws and regulations have been amended so as to require compliance with new or more stringent standards as of future dates. Compliance with new or more stringent laws or regulations or stricter interpretation of existing laws may require us to incur material expenditures. Future laws, ordinances or regulations may impose material environmental liability. Additionally, our customers’ operations, the existing condition of land when we buy it, operations in the vicinity of our properties, such as the presence of underground storage tanks, or activities of unrelated third parties may affect our properties. In addition, there are various local, state and federal fire, health, life-safety and similar regulations with which we may be required to comply and which may subject us to liability in the form of fines or damages for noncompliance. Any material expenditures, fines or damages we must pay will reduce our ability to make distributions.

In addition, changes in these laws and governmental regulations, or their interpretation by agencies or the courts, could occur.

The sale and disposition of real properties carry certain litigation risks at the property level that may reduce our profitability and the return on your investment.

The acquisition, ownership and disposition of real properties carry certain specific litigation risks. Litigation may be commenced with respect to a property acquired by us in relation to activities that took place prior to our acquisition of such property. In addition, at the time of disposition of an individual property, a potential buyer may claim that it should have been afforded the opportunity to purchase the asset or alternatively that such potential buyer should be awarded due diligence expenses incurred or statutory damages for misrepresentation relating to disclosure made, if such buyer is passed over in favor of another as part of our efforts to maximize sale proceeds. Similarly, successful buyers may later sue us under various damage theories, including those sounding in tort, for losses associated with latent defects or other problems not uncovered in due diligence.

The costs associated with complying with the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Fair Housing Amendment Act may reduce the amount of cash available for distribution to our stockholders.

Investment in real properties may also be subject to the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, as amended, or the “Disabilities Act” and the Fair Housing Amendment Act, as amended, or the “Fair Housing Act.” Under the Disabilities Act, all places of public accommodation are required to comply with federal requirements related to access and use by disabled persons. The Disabilities Act has separate compliance requirements for “public accommodations” and “commercial facilities” that generally require that buildings and services be made accessible and available to people with disabilities. The Disabilities Act’s requirements could require us to remove access barriers and our failure to comply with the act’s requirements could result in the imposition of injunctive relief, monetary penalties or, in some cases, an award of damages. The Fair Housing Act requires residential dwellings first occupied after March 13, 1991 to comply with design and construction requirements related to access and use by disabled persons. We will attempt to acquire properties that comply with these acts or place the burden on the seller or other third party, such as a customer, to ensure compliance with these acts. We cannot assure our stockholders that we will be able to acquire properties or allocate responsibilities in this manner. Any monies we use to comply with or defend lawsuits related to the Disabilities Act and Fair Housing Act will reduce our NAV and the amount of cash available for distribution to our stockholders.

We may not have funding for future tenant improvements, which may adversely affect the value of our assets, our results of operations and returns to our stockholders.

When a tenant at one of our real properties does not renew its lease or otherwise vacates its space in one of our buildings, it is likely that, in order to attract one or more new customers, we will be required to expend substantial funds to construct new tenant improvements in the vacated space. We expect to invest the net proceeds from this offering in real estate-related investments, and we do not anticipate that we will maintain permanent working capital reserves. We do not currently have an identified funding source to provide

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funds that may be required in the future for tenant improvements and tenant refurbishments in order to attract new customers. If we do not establish sufficient reserves for working capital or obtain adequate financing to supply necessary funds for capital improvements or similar expenses, we may be required to defer necessary or desirable improvements to our real properties. If we defer such improvements, the applicable real properties may decline in value, and it may be more difficult for us to attract or retain customers to such real properties or the amount of rent we can charge at such real properties may decrease. We cannot assure our stockholders that we will have any sources of funding available to us for the repair or reconstruction of damaged real property in the future.

Lease agreements may have specific provisions that create risks to our business and may adversely affect us.

Our lease agreements are regulated by local, municipal, state and federal laws, which may grant certain rights to customers, such as the compulsory renewal of their lease by filing lease renewal actions when certain legal conditions are met. A lease renewal action may represent two principal risks for us: (i) if we plan to vacate a given unit in order to change or adapt an asset’s mix of customers, the customer could remain in that unit by filing a lease renewal action and interfere with our strategy; and (ii) if we desire to increase the lease price for a specific unit, this increase may need to be approved in the course of a lease renewal action, and the final value could be decided at the discretion of a judge. We would then be subject to the court’s interpretation and decision, and could be forced to accept an even lower price for the lease of the unit. The compulsory renewal of our lease agreements and/or the judicial review of our lease prices may adversely affect our cash flow and our operating results.

Certain of our lease agreements may not be “triple net leases,” under which the lessee undertakes to pay all the expenses of maintaining the leased property, including insurance, taxes, utilities and repairs. We will be exposed to higher maintenance, tax and property management expenses with respect to all of our leases that are not “triple net.”

Operating expenses, such as expenses for fuel, utilities, labor, building materials and insurance are not fixed and may increase in the future. There is no guarantee that we will be able to pass such increases on to our customers. To the extent such increases cannot be passed on to our customers, any such increases would cause our cash flow, NAV and operating results to decrease.

We depend on the availability of public utilities and services, especially for water and electric power. Any reduction, interruption or cancellation of these services may adversely affect us.

Public utilities, especially those that provide water and electric power, are fundamental for the sound operation of our assets. The delayed delivery or any material reduction or prolonged interruption of these services could allow certain customers to terminate their leases or result in an increase in our costs, as we may be forced to use backup generators, which also could be insufficient to fully operate our facilities and could result in our inability to provide services. Accordingly, any interruption or limitation in the provision of these essential services may adversely affect us.

Acquiring or attempting to acquire multiple properties in a single transaction may adversely affect our operations.

From time to time, we may acquire multiple properties in a single transaction. Portfolio acquisitions typically are more complex and expensive than single-property acquisitions, and the risk that a multiple-property acquisition does not close may be greater than in a single-property acquisition. Portfolio acquisitions may also result in us owning investments in geographically dispersed markets, placing additional demands on the Advisor in managing the properties in the portfolio. In addition, a seller may require that a group of properties be purchased as a package even though we may not want to purchase one or more properties in the portfolio. In these situations, if we are unable to identify another person or entity to acquire the unwanted properties, we may be required to operate or attempt to dispose of these properties. We also may be required to accumulate a large amount of cash to fund such acquisitions. We would expect the returns that we earn on such cash to be less than the returns on investments in real property. Therefore, acquiring multiple properties in a single transaction may reduce the overall yield on our portfolio.

In the event we obtain options to acquire properties, we may lose the amount paid for such options whether or not the underlying property is purchased.

We may obtain options to acquire certain properties. The amount paid for an option, if any, is normally surrendered if the property is not purchased and may or may not be credited against the purchase price if the property is purchased. Any unreturned option payments will reduce the amount of cash available for further investments or distributions to our stockholders.

We will rely on property managers to operate our properties and leasing agents to lease vacancies in our properties.

The Advisor intends to hire property managers to manage our properties and leasing agents to lease vacancies in our properties. The property managers will have significant decision-making authority with respect to the management of our properties. Our ability to direct and control how our properties are managed on a day-to-day basis may be limited because we will engage third parties to perform this function. Thus, the success of our business may depend in large part on the ability of our property managers to manage the day-to-day

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operations and the ability of our leasing agents to lease vacancies in our properties. Any adversity experienced by, or problems in our relationship with, our property managers or leasing agents could adversely impact the operation and profitability of our properties.

Our properties may be leased at below-market rates under long-term leases.

We may seek to negotiate longer-term leases to reduce the cash flow volatility associated with lease rollovers, in particular when contractual rent increases are included. In addition, where appropriate, we may seek leases that provide for operating expenses, or expense increases, to be paid by the customers. These leases may allow customers to renew the lease with pre-defined rate increases. If we do not accurately judge the potential for increases in market rental rates or expenses, we may set the rental rates (or expense reimbursements) of these long-term leases at levels such that even after contractual rental increases, the resulting rental rates (or net revenues to us) are less than then-current market rental rates. Further, we may be unable to terminate those leases or adjust the rent or expense reimbursements to then-prevailing market rates. As a result, our income and distributions to our stockholders could be lower than if we did not enter into long-term leases.

Retail properties depend on anchor customers to attract shoppers and could be adversely affected by the loss of a key anchor customer.

Retail properties, like other properties, are subject to the risk that customers may be unable to make their lease payments or may decline to extend a lease upon its expiration. A lease termination by a customer that occupies a large area of a retail center (commonly referred to as an anchor customer) could impact leases of other customers. Other customers may be entitled to modify the terms of their existing leases (or terminate their leases) in the event of a lease termination by an anchor customer, or the closure of the business of an anchor customer that leaves its space vacant even if the anchor customer continues to pay rent. Any such modifications, conditions or terminations could be unfavorable to us as the property owner and could decrease rents or expense recoveries. Additionally, major customer closures may result in decreased customer traffic, which could lead to decreased sales at other stores. In the event of default by a customer or anchor store, we may experience delays and costs in enforcing our rights as landlord to recover amounts due to us under the terms of our agreements with those parties.

Our investments in industrial properties are more dependent on economic activity and trade regulation than other real estate sectors.

Some of our investments in real estate assets are in industrial properties. The demand for industrial space in the U.S. is more strongly dependent on economic activity and trade regulation than other real estate sectors. For example, customers and potential customers of our industrial properties operate in industries including e-commerce, traditional retail, third-party logistics, warehousing and manufacturing, all of which may be adversely impacted by recently enacted and proposed changes to U.S. foreign trade policies, including tariffs and other impositions on imported goods, trade sanctions imposed on certain countries, the limitation on the importation of certain types of goods or of goods containing certain materials from other countries and other policies. Our performance may be more dependent on economic activity and trade regulation than that of real estate companies that do not invest in industrial properties.

Student housing properties are subject to seasonality.

Subsequent to September 30, 2021, we acquired one student housing property and may acquire additional student housing properties. Student housing properties are typically leased during prime leasing seasons, and are therefore highly dependent on the effectiveness of our marketing and leasing efforts and personnel during such seasons. Additionally, student housing properties are generally on short-term leases, exposing owners of such properties to increased leasing risk. We may not be able to re-lease our properties on similar terms, if we are able to re-lease our properties at all. The terms of renewal or re-lease (including the cost of required renovations) may be less favorable to us than the prior lease. If we are unable to re-lease all or a substantial portion of our properties, or if the rental rates upon such re-leasing are significantly lower than expected rates, our cash flows from operations could be adversely affected.

Prior to the commencement of each new lease period, we prepare the units for new incoming residents. Other than revenue generated by in-place leases for returning residents, we do not generally recognize lease revenue during this period referred to as “turn” as we have no leases in place. In addition, during turn, we incur expenses preparing our units for occupancy, which we recognize immediately. This lease turn period results in seasonality in our operating results, and as a result, we may experience significantly reduced cash flows during such periods.

In addition, we may be adversely affected by a change in university admission policies. For example, if a university reduces the number of student admissions, the demand for our student housing properties may be reduced and our occupancy rates may decline. Our student housing properties also compete with university-owned student housing and other national and regional owner-operators of off-campus student housing in a number of markets as well as with smaller local owner-operators.

We may be subject to tenant relief laws and may be subject to rent control laws, which could negatively impact our rental revenue.

To the extent we own residential rental properties, we expect that we will regularly be seeking to evict tenants who are not paying their rent or are otherwise in material violation of the terms of their lease. Eviction activities will result in additional legal costs and require

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the time and attention of our management. The eviction process is typically subject to numerous legal requirements and mandatory “cure” policies, which may increase our costs and delay our ability to gain possession of and stabilize a property. Additionally, state and local landlord-tenant laws may impose legal duties on us to assist tenants in relocating to new housing, or restrict our ability to recover certain costs or charge tenants for damage tenants cause to our property. Because such laws vary by state and locality, we will need to be familiar with and take appropriate steps to comply with applicable landlord-tenant laws in the jurisdictions in which we operate, and we will need to incur supervisory and legal expenses to ensure such compliance. To the extent that we do not comply with state or local laws, we may be subjected to civil litigation filed by individuals, a class of plaintiffs or by state or local law enforcement. We may be required to pay our adversaries’ litigation fees and expenses if judgment is entered against us in such litigation or if we settle such litigation.

We may be subject to additional risks from non-U.S. investments.

We intend in the future to invest in assets located in countries outside the United States, which may include Canada, the United Kingdom, Europe and other foreign jurisdictions, which involve certain factors not typically associated with investing in the U.S., including risks relating to (i) currency exchange matters, including fluctuations in the rate of exchange between the U.S. dollar and the various non-U.S. currencies in which such investments are denominated, and costs associated with conversion of investment principal and income from one currency into another; (ii) differences in conventions relating to documentation, settlement, corporate actions, stakeholder rights and other matters; (iii) differences between U.S. and non-U.S. asset markets, including potential price volatility in and relative illiquidity of some non-U.S. markets; (iv) the absence of uniform accounting, auditing and financial reporting standards, practices and disclosure requirements and differences in government supervision and regulation; (v) certain economic, social and political risks, including potential exchange-control regulations, potential restrictions on non-U.S. investment and repatriation of capital, the risks associated with political, economic or social instability, including the risk of sovereign defaults, regulatory change, and the possibility of expropriation or confiscatory taxation or the imposition of withholding or other taxes on dividends, interest, capital gains, other income or gross sale or disposition proceeds, and adverse economic and political developments; (vi) the possible imposition of non-U.S. taxes on income and gains and gross sales or other proceeds recognized with respect to such investments; (vii) differing and potentially less well-developed or well-tested corporate laws regarding stakeholder rights, creditors’ rights (including the rights of secured parties), fiduciary duties and the protection of investors; (viii) different laws and regulations including differences in the legal and regulatory environment or enhanced legal and regulatory compliance; (ix) political hostility to investments by foreign investors; and (x) less publicly available information. Furthermore, while we may have the capacity, but not the obligation, to mitigate such additional risks, including through the utilization of certain foreign exchange hedging instruments, there is no guarantee that we will be successful in mitigating such risks and in turn may introduce additional risks and expenses linked to such efforts.

Risks Related to Investments in Real Estate-Related Debt and Securities

The mortgage loans in which we invest will be subject to the risk of delinquency, foreclosure and loss, which could result in losses to us.

Commercial mortgage loans are secured by commercial property and are subject to risks of delinquency and foreclosure and risks of loss. The ability of a borrower to repay a loan secured by a property typically is dependent primarily upon the successful operation of such property rather than upon the existence of independent income or assets of the borrower. If the net operating income of the property is reduced, the borrower’s ability to repay the loan may be impaired. Net operating income of an income-producing property can be affected by, among other things: customer mix, success of customer businesses, property management decisions, property location and condition, competition from comparable types of properties, changes in laws that increase operating expenses or limit rents that may be charged, any need to address environmental contamination at the property, the occurrence of any uninsured casualty at the property, changes in national, regional or local economic conditions and/or specific industry segments, current and potential future capital markets uncertainty, declines in regional or local real estate values, declines in regional or local rental or occupancy rates, increases in interest rates, real estate tax rates and other operating expenses, changes in governmental rules, regulations and fiscal policies, including environmental legislation, acts of God, terrorism, social unrest and civil disturbances.

In the event of any default under a mortgage loan held directly by us, we will bear a risk of loss of principal to the extent of any deficiency between the value of the collateral and the principal and accrued interest of the mortgage loan, which could have a material adverse effect on our cash flow from operations, and results from operations and limit amounts available for distribution to our stockholders. In the event of the bankruptcy of a mortgage loan borrower, the mortgage loan to such borrower will be deemed to be secured only to the extent of the value of the underlying collateral at the time of bankruptcy (as determined by the bankruptcy court), and the lien securing the mortgage loan will be subject to the avoidance powers of the bankruptcy trustee or debtor-in-possession to the extent the lien is unenforceable under state law. Foreclosure of a mortgage loan can be an expensive and lengthy process, which could have a substantial adverse effect on our anticipated return on the foreclosed mortgage loan. In addition, if we foreclose on a particular property, we could become, as owner of the property, subject to liabilities associated with such property, including liabilities related to taxes and environmental matters.

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The preferred equity, mezzanine loans and B-notes in which we invest involve greater risks of loss than senior loans secured by income-producing real properties.

We may invest in preferred equity, mezzanine loans and B-notes. Preferred equity is unsecured, while mezzanine loans and B-notes substantially take the form of subordinated loans secured by second mortgages on the underlying real property or loans secured by a pledge of the ownership interests of either the entity owning the real property or the entity that owns the interest in the entity owning the real property. These types of investments involve a higher degree of risk than long-term senior mortgage loans secured by income-producing real property because the investment may become unsecured as a result of foreclosure by the senior lender. In the event of a bankruptcy of the entity providing the pledge of its ownership interests as security, we may not have full recourse to the assets of such entity, or the assets of the entity may not be sufficient to satisfy our preferred equity, mezzanine loan or B-note in whole or in part. In addition, there may be significant delays and costs associated with the process of foreclosing on collateral securing or supporting mezzanine loans and B-notes. If a borrower defaults on a mezzanine loan, B-note or debt senior to our loan, or in the event of a borrower bankruptcy, our mezzanine loan or B-note will be satisfied only after the senior debt. As a result, we may not recover some or all of our investment. In addition, mezzanine loans or B-notes may have higher loan-to-value ratios than conventional mortgage loans, resulting in less equity in the real property and increasing the risk of loss of principal. Further, even if we are successful in foreclosing on the equity interests serving as collateral for our mezzanine loans or B-notes, such foreclosure will result in us inheriting all of the liabilities of the underlying mortgage borrower, including the senior mortgage on the applicable property. This may result in both increased costs to us and a negative impact on our overall debt covenants and occupancy levels. In many cases a significant restructuring of the senior mortgage may be required in order for us to be willing to retain longer term ownership of the property. If we are unsuccessful in restructuring the underlying mortgage debt in these scenarios, the mortgage lender ultimately may foreclose on the property causing us to lose any remaining investment.

A portion of our debt-related investments may be considered illiquid, and we may not be able to adjust our portfolio in response to changes in economic and other conditions.

Certain of the debt-related investments that we have purchased or may purchase in the future in connection with privately negotiated transactions are not or may not be registered under the relevant securities laws, resulting in a prohibition against their transfer, sale, pledge or other disposition except in a transaction that is exempt from the registration requirements of, or is otherwise effected in accordance with, those laws. As a result, our ability to vary our portfolio in response to changes in economic and other conditions may be limited. In addition, certain of our registered securities may not be as liquid as when originally purchased.

Bridge loans may involve a greater risk of loss than conventional mortgage loans.

We may provide bridge loans secured by first lien mortgages on properties to borrowers who are typically seeking short-term capital to be used in an acquisition, development or refinancing of real estate. The borrower may have identified an undervalued asset that has been undermanaged or is located in a recovering market. If the market in which the asset is located fails to recover according to the borrower’s projections, or if the borrower fails to improve the quality of the asset’s management or the value of the asset, the borrower may not receive a sufficient return on the asset to satisfy the bridge loan, and we may not recover some or all of our investment.

In addition, owners usually borrow funds under a conventional mortgage loan to repay a bridge loan. We may, therefore, be dependent on a borrower’s ability to obtain permanent financing to repay our bridge loan, which could depend on market conditions and other factors. Bridge loans, like other loans secured directly or indirectly by property, are subject to risks of borrower defaults, bankruptcies, fraud, losses and special hazard losses that are not covered by standard hazard insurance. In the event of any default under bridge loans held by us, we bear the risk of loss of principal and nonpayment of interest and fees to the extent of any deficiency between the value of the mortgage collateral and the principal amount of the bridge loan. Any such losses with respect to our investments in bridge loans could have an adverse effect on our NAV, results of operations and financial condition.

Interest rate and related risks may cause the value of our real estate-related securities investments to be reduced.

Interest rate risk includes the risk that fixed-income securities such as preferred and debt securities, and to a lesser extent dividend paying common stocks, will decline in value because of changes in market interest rates. Generally, when market interest rates rise, the market value of such securities will decline, and vice versa. In addition, during periods of rising interest rates, the average life of certain types of securities may be extended because of slower than expected principal payments. This may result in a below-market interest rate, an increase in the security’s duration, and a reduction in the value of the security. This is known as extension risk. During periods of declining interest rates, an issuer may be able to exercise an option to prepay principal earlier than scheduled, which is generally known as call or prepayment risk. If this occurs, we may be forced to reinvest in lower yielding securities. This is known as reinvestment risk. Preferred and debt securities frequently have call features that allow the issuer to repurchase the security prior to its stated maturity. An issuer may redeem an obligation if the issuer can refinance the debt at a lower cost due to declining interest rates or an improvement in the credit standing of the issuer. To the extent we invest in real estate-related securities going forward, these risks may reduce the value of such investments.

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Investments in real estate-related securities are subject to specific risks relating to the particular issuer of the securities and may be subject to the general risks of investing in subordinated real estate-related securities.

We may invest in real estate-related common equity, preferred equity and debt securities of both publicly traded and private real estate companies. Investments in real estate-related securities will involve special risks relating to the particular issuer of the securities, including the financial condition and business outlook of the issuer. Issuers of real estate-related securities generally invest in real estate or real estate-related assets and are subject to the inherent risks associated with real estate-related debt investments discussed in this prospectus.

Real estate-related securities may be unsecured and subordinated to other obligations of the issuer. As a result, investments in real estate-related securities are subject to risks of (i) limited liquidity in the secondary trading market, (ii) substantial market price volatility, (iii) subordination to the prior claims of banks and other senior lenders to the issuer and preferred equity holders, (iv) the operation of mandatory sinking fund or call/redemption provisions during periods of declining interest rates that could cause the issuer to reinvest redemption proceeds in lower yielding assets, (v) the possibility that earnings of the issuer may be insufficient to meet its debt service and distribution obligations and (vi) the declining creditworthiness and potential for insolvency of the issuer during periods of rising interest rates and economic downturn. These risks may adversely affect the value of outstanding real estate-related securities and the ability of the issuers thereof to pay dividends.

We may make investments in non-U.S. dollar denominated securities, which will be subject to currency rate exposure and risks associated with the uncertainty of foreign laws and markets.

Some of our real estate-related securities investments may be denominated in foreign currencies, and therefore, we expect to have currency risk exposure to any such foreign currencies. A change in foreign currency exchange rates may have an adverse impact on returns on our non-U.S. dollar denominated investments. Although we may hedge our foreign currency risk subject to the REIT income qualification tests, we may not be able to do so successfully and may incur losses on these investments as a result of exchange rate fluctuations. To the extent that we invest in non-U.S. dollar denominated securities, in addition to risks inherent in the investment in securities generally discussed in this prospectus, we will also be subject to risks associated with the uncertainty of foreign laws and markets including, but not limited to, unexpected changes in regulatory requirements, political and economic instability in certain geographic locations, difficulties in managing international operations, currency exchange controls, potentially adverse tax consequences, additional accounting and control expenses and the administrative burden of complying with a wide variety of foreign laws.

Investments in real estate-related debt securities are subject to risks including various creditor risks and early redemption features which may materially adversely affect our results of operations and financial condition.

The debt securities and other interests in which we may invest may include secured or unsecured debt at various levels of an issuer’s capital structure. The debt securities in which we may invest may not be protected by financial covenants or limitations upon additional indebtedness, may be illiquid or have limited liquidity, and may not be rated by a credit rating agency. Debt securities are also subject to other creditor risks, including (i) the possible invalidation of an investment transaction as a “fraudulent conveyance” under relevant creditors’ rights laws, (ii) so-called lender liability claims by the issuer of the obligation and (iii) environmental liabilities that may arise with respect to collateral securing the obligations. Our investments may be subject to early redemption features, refinancing options, prepayment options or similar provisions which, in each case, could result in the issuer repaying the principal on an obligation held by us earlier than expected, resulting in a lower return to us than anticipated or reinvesting in a new obligation at a lower return to us.

Risks Associated with Debt Financing

We incur mortgage indebtedness and other borrowings, which may increase our business risks, and could hinder our ability to make distributions to our stockholders.

We have financed and may continue to finance a portion of the purchase price of certain of our investments by borrowing funds. As of September 30, 2021, our leverage ratio is approximately 31.1% and is calculated as the outstanding principal balance of our borrowings less cash and cash equivalents divided by the fair value of our real property and debt-related investments not associated with the DST Program (determined in accordance with our valuation procedures). Our current leverage target is between 40-60%. Although we will generally work to maintain our targeted leverage ratio, there are no assurances that we will maintain the targeted range disclosed above or achieve any other leverage ratio that we may target in the future. Our board of directors may from time to time modify our borrowing policy in light of then-current economic conditions, the relative costs of debt and equity capital, the fair values of our properties, general conditions in the market for debt and equity securities, growth and acquisition opportunities or other factors.

Under our charter, we have a limitation on borrowing that precludes us from borrowing in excess of 300% of the value of our net assets unless approved by a majority of the independent directors and disclosed to stockholders in our next quarterly report along with justification for the excess. Net assets for purposes of this calculation are defined to be our total assets (other than intangibles), valued at cost prior to deducting depreciation or other non-cash reserves, less total liabilities. Generally speaking, the preceding calculation is

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expected to approximate 75% of the aggregate cost of our real property assets and debt-related investments before non-cash reserves and depreciation. In addition, we have incurred and may continue to incur mortgage debt secured by some or all of our real properties to obtain funds to acquire additional real properties or for working capital. We may also borrow funds to satisfy the REIT tax qualification requirement that we distribute at least 90% of our annual REIT taxable income to our stockholders. Furthermore, we may borrow funds if we otherwise deem it necessary or advisable to ensure that we maintain our qualification as a REIT for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

High debt levels would generally cause us to incur higher interest charges, and could result in higher debt service payments and could be accompanied by restrictive covenants. If there is a shortfall between the cash flow from a property and the cash flow needed to service mortgage debt on that property, then the amount available for distributions to our stockholders may be reduced. In addition, incurring mortgage debt increases the risk of loss of a property since defaults on indebtedness secured by a property may result in lenders initiating foreclosure action. In that case, we could lose the property securing the loan that is in default or be forced to sell the property at an inopportune time, thus reducing the value of our investments. For tax purposes, a foreclosure on any of our properties will be treated as a sale of the property for a purchase price equal to the outstanding balance of the debt secured by the mortgage. If the outstanding balance of the debt secured by the mortgage exceeds our tax basis in the property, we will recognize taxable income on foreclosure, but we would not receive any cash proceeds. We and our Operating Partnership have historically given certain full, partial or limited guarantees, and may continue to give full, partial or limited guarantees in the future, to lenders of mortgage debt on behalf of the entities that own our properties. When we give a guarantee on behalf of an entity that owns one of our properties, we are responsible to the lender for satisfaction of the debt if it is not paid by such entity. If any mortgage contains cross-collateralization or cross-default provisions, a default on a single property could affect multiple properties. If any of our properties are foreclosed upon due to a default, our NAV, liquidity and ability to pay cash distributions to our stockholders may be adversely affected.

Increases in interest rates could increase the amount of our debt service payments and therefore adversely impact our operating results.

As of September 30, 2021, our variable rate debt represented approximately 29.4% of our total debt. To the extent we do not have derivative instruments to hedge exposure to changes in interest rates and/or do not have fixed rate debt, increases in interest rates would increase our interest costs, which would reduce our cash flows and our ability to make distributions to our stockholders. In addition, from time to time we may finance or refinance our investments, or obtain new interest rate hedges in a rising interest rate environment. Accordingly, increases in interest rates could increase our interest and/or hedging expense, which could have an adverse effect on our cash flow from operating activities and our ability to make distributions. In addition, if rising interest rates cause us to need additional capital to repay indebtedness in accordance with its terms or otherwise, we may need to liquidate one or more of our investments at times that may not permit realization of the maximum return on these investments.

Our derivative instruments used to hedge against interest rate fluctuations may not be successful in mitigating our risks associated with interest rates and could reduce the overall returns on our investments.

We utilize derivative instruments to hedge exposure to changes in interest rates on certain of our loans secured by our real properties, but no hedging strategy can protect us completely. We may use derivative instruments, such as forward starting swaps, to hedge interest rate risks associated with debt incurrences that we anticipate may occur. However, if we fail to accurately forecast such debt incurrences we will be subject to interest rate risk without successfully hedging the underlying transaction. Furthermore, the use of derivative instruments may cause us to forgo the benefits of otherwise favorable fluctuations in interest rates, since derivative instruments may prevent us from realizing the full benefits of lower borrowing costs in an environment of declining interest rates.

In addition, derivative instruments may not mitigate all of the risk associated with fluctuations in borrowing costs. Derivative instruments are generally used to hedge fluctuations in benchmark interest rates, such as London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”) and U.S. treasury security-based interest rates. However, there are other components of borrowing costs that may comprise the “spread” that lenders apply to the benchmark interest rates. The “spread” that lenders apply to benchmark interest rates when making loans may fluctuate from time to time. Fluctuations in the “spread” may be attributable to volatility in the credit markets or borrower-specific credit risk. When we enter into derivative instruments in anticipation of certain debt incurrences, such derivative instruments do not mitigate the risks of fluctuations in “spread” which could exacerbate the risks described above.

We cannot assure our stockholders that our hedging strategy and the derivatives that we use will adequately offset all of our risk related to interest rate volatility or that our hedging of these risks will not result in losses. These derivative instruments may also generate income that may not be treated as qualifying REIT income for purposes of the 75% or 95% REIT income tests.

We assume the credit risk of our counterparties with respect to derivative transactions.

We may enter into derivative contracts for risk management purposes to hedge our exposure to cash flow variability caused by changing interest rates on our future variable rate real estate loans receivable and variable rate notes payable. These derivative contracts generally are entered into with bank counterparties and are not traded on an organized exchange or guaranteed by a central clearing organization. We would therefore assume the credit risk that our counterparties will fail to make periodic payments when due under these contracts or become insolvent. If a counterparty fails to make a required payment, becomes the subject of a bankruptcy case, or otherwise

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defaults under the applicable contract, we would have the right to terminate all outstanding derivative transactions with that counterparty and settle them based on their net market value or replacement cost. In such an event, we may be required to make a termination payment to the counterparty, or we may have the right to collect a termination payment from such counterparty. We assume the credit risk that the counterparty will not be able to make any termination payment owing to us. We may not receive any collateral from a counterparty, or we may receive collateral that is insufficient to satisfy the counterparty’s obligation to make a termination payment. Default by a counterparty may result in the loss of unrealized profits and may force us to enter into a replacement transaction at the then current market price.

We assume the risk that our derivative counterparty may terminate transactions early.

If we fail to make a required payment or otherwise default under the terms of a derivative contract, the counterparty would have the right to terminate all outstanding derivative transactions between us and that counterparty and settle them based on their net market value or replacement cost. In certain circumstances, the counterparty may have the right to terminate derivative transactions early even if we are not defaulting. If our derivative transactions are terminated early, it may not be possible for us to replace those transactions with another counterparty, on as favorable terms or at all.

We may be required to collateralize our derivative transactions.

We may be required to secure our obligations to our counterparties under our derivative contracts by pledging collateral to our counterparties. That collateral may be in the form of cash, securities or other assets. If we default under a derivative contract with a counterparty, or if a counterparty otherwise terminates one or more derivative contracts early, that counterparty may apply such collateral toward our obligation to make a termination payment to the counterparty. If we have pledged securities or other assets, the counterparty may liquidate those assets in order to satisfy our obligations. If we are required to post cash or securities as collateral, such cash or securities will not be available for use in our business. Cash or securities pledged to counterparties may be repledged by counterparties and may not be held in segregated accounts. Therefore, in the event of a counterparty insolvency, we may not be entitled to recover some or all collateral pledged to that counterparty, which could result in losses and have an adverse effect on our operations.

We may default on our derivative obligations if we default on the indebtedness underlying such obligations.

We have agreements with certain of our derivative counterparties that contain a provision where we could be declared in default on our derivative obligations if repayment of the underlying indebtedness is accelerated by the lender due to our default on the indebtedness. We also have agreements with certain other derivative counterparties that contain a provision whereby if we default on any of our indebtedness held by the Operating Partnership, including default where repayment of the indebtedness has not been accelerated by the lender, then we could also be declared in default on our derivative obligations. If we are declared in default under the terms of a derivative contract, the counterparty would have the right to terminate all outstanding derivative transactions between us and that counterparty and settle them based on their net market value or replacement cost.

We have entered into loan agreements that contain restrictive covenants relating to our operations, which could limit our ability to make distributions to our stockholders.

When providing financing, a lender typically imposes restrictions on us that may affect our distribution and operating policies and our ability to incur additional debt. Our loan agreements include restrictions, covenants, customary market carve-outs and/or guarantees by us. Certain financial covenants include tests of our general liquidity and debt servicing capability as well as certain collateral specific performance and valuation ratios. In addition, our loan agreements may contain covenants that limit our ability to further leverage the property, discontinue insurance coverage or replace the Advisor as our advisor. Further, our loan agreements may limit our ability to replace our property managers or terminate certain operating or lease agreements related to the property. These or other limitations may adversely affect our flexibility and our ability to achieve our investment objectives and make distributions to our stockholders. There can be no assurance that we will be able to comply with these covenants in the future, or that if we violate a covenant the lender would be willing to provide a waiver of such covenant. Violation of these covenants could result in the acceleration of maturities under the default provisions of our loan agreements. As of September 30, 2021, we were in compliance with all financial covenants.

We assume the risk that our credit facility lenders may not honor their commitments to us.

We may enter into credit facility arrangements with lenders pursuant to which, subject to certain conditions, they commit to lend us money, provide us with letters of credit or provide other financial services to us. If we fail to comply with the covenants in such arrangements, the lenders could declare us in default, accelerate the maturities of our borrowings and refuse to make loans or provide other financial services to us. Or, if a lender becomes unable or unwilling to honor its commitments to us, we may not receive the loans and other financial services for which we negotiated. In such a situation, a replacement lender may be difficult or impossible to find quickly or at all. If we are unable to receive loans and other financial services, our liquidity and business could be negatively impacted.

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We have entered into, and may continue to enter into, financing arrangements involving balloon payment obligations, which may adversely affect our ability to refinance or sell properties on favorable terms, and to make distributions to our stockholders.

Most of our current financing arrangements require us to make a lump-sum or “balloon” payment at maturity. Our ability to make a balloon payment at maturity will be uncertain and may depend upon our ability to obtain additional financing or our ability to sell a particular property. At the time the balloon payment is due, we may or may not be able to refinance the balloon payment on terms as favorable as the original loan or to sell a particular property at a price sufficient to make the balloon payment. The effect of a refinancing or sale could affect the rate of return to our stockholders and the projected time of disposition of our assets. In an environment of increasing interest rates, if we place debt on properties or obtain corporate debt, we run the risk of being unable to refinance such debt if interest rates are higher at the time a balloon payment is due. In addition, payments of principal and interest made to service our debts, including balloon payments, may leave us with insufficient cash to pay the distributions that we are required to pay to maintain our qualification as a REIT.

Risks related to variable-rate indebtedness could increase the amount of our debt payments and therefore negatively impact our operating results.

Our debt may be subject to the fluctuation of market interest rates such as the London Interbank Offered Rate, or “LIBOR”, Prime rate, and other benchmark rates. Should such interest rates increase, our variable rate debt service payments may also increase, reducing cash available for distributions. Furthermore, if we need to refinance existing debt during periods of rising interest rates, we could be required to liquidate one or more of our investments at times given the property may not support the same level of loan proceeds which may not permit realization of the maximum return on such investments. Additionally, as it relates to any real estate assets that we may own, an increase in interest rates may negatively impact activity in the consumer market and reduce consumer purchases, which could adversely affect us.

Furthermore, U.S. and international regulators and law enforcement agencies have conducted investigations into a number of rates or indices which are deemed to be “reference rates.” Actions by such regulators and law enforcement agencies may result in changes to the manner in which certain reference rates are determined, their discontinuance, or the establishment of alternative reference rates. In particular, on July 27, 2017, the Chief Executive of the U.K. Financial Conduct Authority (the “FCA”), which regulates LIBOR, stated that it is the FCA’s intention that it will no longer be necessary to persuade or compel banks to submit rates for the calculation of LIBOR after 2021. Such statement indicates that the continuation of LIBOR on the current basis cannot and will not be guaranteed after 2021. As a result, it is possible that LIBOR will be phased out or modified by 2023.

The U.S. Federal Reserve, in conjunction with the Alternative Reference Rates Committee, a steering committee comprised of large U.S. financial institutions, is recommending replacing U.S.-dollar LIBOR with the Secured Overnight Financing Rate (“SOFR”), a new index calculated by short-term repurchase agreements, backed by Treasury securities. Although there have been a few issuances utilizing SOFR or the Sterling Over Night Index Average, an alternative reference rate that is based on transactions, it is unknown whether these alternative reference rates will attain market acceptance as replacements for LIBOR.

At this time, it is not possible to predict the effect that these developments, any discontinuance, modification or other reforms to LIBOR or any other reference rate, or the establishment of SOFR or other alternative reference rates may have on LIBOR or other benchmarks. The use of alternative reference rates or other reforms could cause the interest rates for our floating rate indebtedness to be materially higher than expected, which could impact our results of operations, cash flows and the market value of our debt-related investments.

Risks Related to Our Taxation as a REIT

Failure to qualify as a REIT could adversely affect our operations and our ability to make distributions.

We are organized and operate in a manner intended to qualify as a REIT for U.S. federal income tax purposes. We first elected REIT status for our taxable year ended December 31, 2006. Although we have not requested a ruling from the Internal Revenue Service (“Internal Revenue Service” or “IRS”) as to our overall REIT status, we have received the opinion of our special U.S. federal income tax counsel, DLA Piper LLP (US), with respect to our qualification as a REIT. Investors should be aware, however, that opinions of counsel are not binding on the IRS or on any court. The opinion of DLA Piper LLP (US) represents only the view of our counsel based on our counsel’s review and analysis of existing law and on certain representations as to factual matters and covenants made by us, including representations relating to the values of our assets and the sources of our income. DLA Piper LLP (US) has no obligation to advise us or the holders of our common stock of any subsequent change in the matters stated, represented or assumed in its opinions or of any subsequent change in applicable law. Furthermore, both the validity of the opinion of DLA Piper LLP (US) and our qualification as a REIT depend on our satisfaction of numerous requirements (some on an annual and quarterly basis) established under highly technical and complex provisions of the Code, for which there are only limited judicial or administrative interpretations, and involve the determination of various factual matters and circumstances not entirely within our control. The complexity of these provisions and of the applicable income tax regulations that have been promulgated under the Code is greater in the case of a REIT that holds its assets through a partnership, as we do. Moreover, no assurance can be given that legislation, new regulations, administrative interpretations or court

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decisions will not change the tax laws with respect to qualification as a REIT or the U.S. federal income tax consequences of that qualification.

If we were to fail to qualify as a REIT for any taxable year, we would be subject to U.S. federal income tax on our taxable income at corporate rates. In addition, we would generally be disqualified from treatment as a REIT for the four taxable years following the year in which we lose our REIT status. Losing our REIT status would reduce our net earnings available for investment or distribution to stockholders because of the additional tax liability. In addition, distributions to stockholders would no longer be deductible in computing our taxable income and we would no longer be required to make distributions. To the extent that distributions had been made in anticipation of our qualifying as a REIT, we might be required to borrow funds or liquidate some investments in order to pay the applicable corporate income tax. In addition, although we intend to operate in a manner as to qualify as a REIT, it is possible that future economic, market, legal, tax or other considerations may cause our board of directors to recommend that we revoke our REIT election.

Failure of our Operating Partnership to be taxable as a partnership could cause us to fail to qualify as a REIT and we could suffer other adverse tax consequences.

We believe that the Operating Partnership will continue to be treated for U.S. federal income tax purposes as a partnership and not as an association or as a publicly traded partnership taxable as a corporation. If the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) were successfully to determine that the Operating Partnership was properly treated as a corporation, the Operating Partnership would be required to pay U.S. federal income tax at corporate rates on its net income, its partners would be treated as stockholders of the Operating Partnership and distributions to partners would constitute distributions that would not be deductible in computing the Operating Partnership’s taxable income. In addition, we could fail to qualify as a REIT, with the resulting consequences described above.

To continue to qualify as a REIT, we must meet annual distribution requirements, which may result in us distributing amounts that may otherwise be used for our operations.

To maintain the favorable tax treatment accorded to REITs, we normally will be required each year to distribute to our stockholders at least 90% of our REIT taxable income, determined without regard to the deduction for distributions paid and by excluding net capital gains. We are subject to U.S. federal income tax on our undistributed taxable income and net capital gain and to a 4% nondeductible excise tax on any amount by which distributions we pay with respect to any calendar year are less than the sum of (i) 85% of our ordinary income, (ii) 95% of our capital gain net income and (iii) 100% of our undistributed income from prior years. These requirements could cause us to distribute amounts that otherwise would be spent on acquisitions of properties and it is possible that we might be required to borrow funds or sell assets to fund these distributions. Additionally, it is possible that we might not always be able to make distributions sufficient to meet the annual distribution requirements and to avoid corporate income taxation on the earnings that we distribute.

From time to time, we may generate taxable income greater than our net income, as defined by GAAP, or differences in timing between the recognition of taxable income and the actual receipt of cash may occur. If we do not have other funds available in these situations, we could be required to borrow funds on unfavorable terms, sell investments at disadvantageous prices or distribute amounts that would otherwise be invested in future acquisitions to make distributions sufficient to enable us to pay out enough of our taxable income to satisfy the REIT distribution requirement and to avoid corporate income tax and the 4% excise tax in a particular year. These alternatives could increase our costs or reduce our equity. Thus, compliance with the REIT requirements may hinder our ability to grow, which could adversely affect the value of our common stock.

Recharacterization of sale-leaseback transactions may cause us to lose our REIT status.

We may purchase real properties and lease them back to the sellers of such properties. If we were to attempt to structure a sale-leaseback transaction such that the lease would be characterized as a “true lease” that would allow us to be treated as the owner of the property for U.S. federal income tax purposes, we cannot assure our stockholders that the IRS will not challenge such characterization. In the event that any such sale-leaseback transaction is challenged and recharacterized as a financing transaction or loan for U.S. federal income tax purposes, deductions for depreciation and cost recovery relating to such property would be disallowed. If a sale-leaseback transaction were so recharacterized, we might fail to satisfy the REIT qualification “asset tests” or the “income tests” and, consequently, lose our REIT status effective with the year of recharacterization. Alternatively, the amount of our REIT taxable income could be recalculated, which might also cause us to fail to meet the distribution requirement for a taxable year.

Our stockholders may have current tax liability on distributions if our stockholders elect to reinvest in shares of our common stock.

Even if our stockholders participate in our distribution reinvestment plan, our stockholders will be deemed to have received, and for U.S. federal income tax purposes will be taxed on, the amount reinvested in shares of our common stock to the extent the amount reinvested was not a tax-free return of capital. As a result, our stockholders that are not tax-exempt entities may have to use funds from other sources to pay their tax liability on the value of the common stock received.

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Distributions payable by REITs do not qualify for the reduced tax rates that apply to other corporate distributions.

The current maximum U.S. federal income tax rate for distributions payable by corporations to domestic stockholders that are individuals, trusts or estates is 20% (plus a 3.8% “Medicare tax” surcharge, if applicable). Distributions payable by REITs, however, generally are taxed at the ordinary income tax rate applicable to the individual recipient, rather than the maximum 20% income tax rate, subject to certain applicable deductions and holding periods. The more favorable rates applicable to regular corporate distributions could cause investors who are individuals to perceive investments in REITs to be relatively less attractive than investments in the stocks of non-REIT corporations that pay distributions, which could adversely affect the value of the stock of REITs, including our common stock.

If we were considered to have actually or constructively paid a “preferential dividend” to certain of our stockholders, our status as a REIT could be adversely affected.

For taxable years ending on or before December 31, 2014, in order for distributions to be counted as satisfying the annual distribution requirement for REITs, and to provide us with a REIT-level tax deduction, the distributions must not have been “preferential dividends.” A dividend is not a preferential dividend if the distribution is (1) pro rata among all outstanding shares within a particular class, and (2) in accordance with the preferences among different classes of shares as set forth in our organizational documents. For the taxable year that began on January 1, 2015 and all subsequent taxable years, so long as we continue to be a “publicly offered REIT” (i.e., a REIT which is required to file annual and periodic reports with the Commission under the Exchange Act), the preferential dividend rule will not apply to us.

In certain circumstances, we may be subject to federal and state income taxes as a REIT, which would reduce our cash available for distribution to our stockholders.

We may be subject to taxes on our income or property even if we qualify as a REIT for U.S. federal income tax purposes, including those described below:

In order to qualify as a REIT, we are required to distribute annually at least 90% of our REIT taxable income (determined without regard to the dividends-paid deduction or net capital gain) to our stockholders. If we satisfy the distribution requirement but distribute less than 100% of our REIT taxable income (and any net capital gain), we will be subject to corporate income tax on the undistributed income.
We will be required to pay a 4% nondeductible excise tax on the amount, if any, by which the distributions we make to our stockholders in any calendar year are less than the sum of 85% of our ordinary income, 95% of our capital gain net income and 100% of our undistributed income from previous years.
If we have net income from the sale of foreclosure property that we hold primarily for sale to customers in the ordinary course of business or other non-qualifying income from foreclosure property, we will be required to pay a tax on that income at the highest corporate income tax rate.
Any gain we recognize on the sale of a property, other than foreclosure property, that we hold primarily for sale to customers in the ordinary course of business, could be subject to the 100% “prohibited transaction” tax unless the sale qualified for a statutory safe harbor that requires, among other things, a two year holding period for the production of income.

Our board of directors is authorized to revoke our REIT election without stockholder approval, which may cause adverse consequences to our stockholders.

Our charter authorizes our board of directors to revoke or otherwise terminate our REIT election, without the approval of our stockholders, if it determines that it is not in our best interest to qualify as a REIT. In this event, we would become subject to U.S. federal income tax at regular corporate income tax rates on our taxable income and we would no longer be required to distribute most of our net income to our stockholders, which may cause a reduction in the total return to our stockholders.

Distributions to tax-exempt investors may be classified as unrelated business taxable income.

Neither ordinary nor capital gain distributions with respect to our common stock nor gain from the sale of common stock should generally constitute unrelated business taxable income to a tax-exempt investor. However, there are certain exceptions to this rule. In particular:

part of the income and gain recognized by certain qualified employee pension trusts with respect to our common stock may be treated as unrelated business taxable income if shares of our common stock are predominately held by qualified employee pension trusts, we are required to rely on a special look-through rule for purposes of meeting one of the REIT share

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ownership tests, and we are not operated in a manner to avoid treatment of such income or gain as unrelated business taxable income;
part of the income and gain recognized by a tax-exempt investor with respect to our common stock would constitute unrelated business taxable income if the investor incurs debt in order to acquire the common stock; and
part or all of the income or gain recognized with respect to our common stock by social clubs, voluntary employee benefit associations, supplemental unemployment benefit trusts and qualified group legal services plans that are exempt from U.S. federal income taxation under Sections 501(c)(7), (9), (17) or (20) of the Code may be treated as unrelated business taxable income.

The stock ownership limit imposed by the Code for REITs and our charter may restrict our business combination opportunities and you may be restricted from acquiring or transferring certain amounts of our capital stock.

To maintain our status as a REIT under the Code, not more than 50% in value of our outstanding stock may be owned, directly or indirectly, by five or fewer individuals (as defined in the Code to include certain entities) at any time during the last half of each taxable year after our first year in which we qualify as a REIT. Our charter, with certain exceptions, authorizes our board of directors to take the actions that are necessary and desirable to preserve our qualification as a REIT. Unless an exemption is granted by our board of directors, no person (as defined to include entities) may own more than 9.8% in value of our capital stock or more than 9.8% in value or in number of shares, whichever is more restrictive, of our common stock following the completion of our public offerings. In addition, our charter will generally prohibit beneficial or constructive ownership of shares of our capital stock by any person who owns, actually or constructively, an interest in any of our customers that would cause us to own, actually or constructively, more than a 9.9% interest in any of our customers. Our board of directors may grant an exemption in its sole discretion, subject to such conditions, representations and undertakings as it may determine. These ownership limitations in our charter are common in REIT charters and are intended, among other purposes, to assist us in complying with the tax law requirements and to minimize administrative burdens. However, these ownership limits might also delay or prevent a transaction or a change in our control that might involve a premium price for our common stock or otherwise be in the best interests of our stockholders.

The tax on prohibited transactions will limit our ability to engage in transactions, including certain methods of syndicating and securitizing mortgage loans, that would be treated as sales for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

A REIT’s net income from prohibited transactions is subject to a 100% tax. In general, prohibited transactions are sales or other dispositions of property, other than foreclosure property, but including mortgage loans that are held primarily for sale to customers in the ordinary course of business. We might be subject to this tax if we were to syndicate, dispose of or securitize loans in a manner that was treated as a sale of the loans for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Therefore, to avoid the prohibited transactions tax, we may choose not to engage in certain sales of loans at the REIT level and may limit the structures we utilize for our securitization transactions, even though the sales or structures otherwise might be beneficial to us.

In addition, the Code provides a safe harbor that, if met, allows us to avoid being treated as engaged in a prohibited transaction. In order to meet the safe harbor, (i) we must have held the property for at least two years (and, in the case of property which consists of land or improvements not acquired through foreclosure, we must have held the property for two years for the production of rental income), (ii) we must not have made aggregate expenditures includible in the basis of the property during the two-year period preceding the date of sale that exceed 30% of the net selling price of the property, and (iii) during the taxable year the property is disposed of, we must not have made more than seven property sales or, alternatively, the aggregate adjusted basis or fair market value of all the properties sold by us during the taxable year must not exceed 10% of the aggregate adjusted basis or 10% of the fair market value, respectively, of all our assets as of the beginning of the taxable year (with the 10% thresholds increased to 20% in certain circumstances). If the seven-sale limitation in (iii) above is not satisfied, substantially all of the marketing and development expenditures with respect to the property must be made through an independent contractor from whom we do not derive or receive any income (or, in certain circumstances, by a taxable REIT subsidiary). We will endeavor to avoid engaging in prohibited transactions or we will attempt to comply with the safe harbor provisions. There is no assurance, however, that we will not engage in prohibited transactions.

Recharacterization of transactions under the Operating Partnership’s private placements could result in a 100% tax on income from prohibited transactions, which would diminish our cash distributions to our stockholders.

The IRS could recharacterize transactions under the Operating Partnership’s private placements such that the Operating Partnership could be treated as the bona fide owner, for tax purposes, of properties acquired and resold by the entity established to facilitate the transaction. Such recharacterization could result in the income realized on these transactions by the Operating Partnership being treated as gain on the sale of property that is held as inventory or otherwise held primarily for the sale to customers in the ordinary course of business. In such event, such gain could constitute income from a prohibited transaction and might be subject to a 100% tax. If this occurs, our ability to pay cash distributions to our stockholders will be adversely affected.

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Legislative or regulatory action could adversely affect investors.

In recent years, numerous legislative, judicial and administrative changes have been made to the U.S. federal income tax laws applicable to investments in REITs and similar entities. Additional changes to tax laws are likely to continue to occur in the future, and we cannot assure our stockholders that any such changes will not adversely affect the taxation of a stockholder. Although REITs generally receive more favorable tax treatment than entities taxed as regular corporations, it is possible that future legislation would result in a REIT having fewer tax advantages, and it could become more advantageous for a company that invests in real estate to elect to be treated for U.S. federal income tax purposes as a corporation. Our charter provides our board of directors with the power, under certain circumstances, to revoke or otherwise terminate our REIT election and cause us to be taxed as a regular corporation, without the vote of our stockholders. Our board of directors has fiduciary duties to us and our stockholders and could only cause such changes in our tax treatment if it determines in good faith that such changes are in the best interest of our stockholders.

The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, which made significant changes to the U.S. federal income tax rules for taxation of individuals and corporations, was signed into law by the President on December 22, 2017.

The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act made significant changes to the U.S. federal income tax rules for taxation of individuals and corporations. In the case of individuals, the tax brackets were adjusted, the top federal income rate was reduced to 37%, special rules reduce taxation of certain income earned through pass-through entities and reduce the top effective rate applicable to ordinary dividends from REITs to 29.6% (through a 20% deduction for ordinary REIT dividends received that are not “capital gain dividends” or “qualified dividend income,” subject to complex limitations and potentially a minimum 45-day holding period with respect to shares of our common stock). Most of the changes applicable to individuals are temporary and apply only to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2017 and before January 1, 2026. For taxable years after December 31, 2017, our business interest deductions may be limited to 30% of our adjusted taxable income (plus business interest income). This limitation does not apply to an “electing real property trade or business.”

You are urged to consult with their tax advisors with respect to the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act and any other regulatory or administrative developments and proposals and their potential effect on investment in our common stock.

Prospective investors should consult with their tax advisors regarding the effects of the CARES Act.

On March 27, 2020, legislation intended to support the economy during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (the “CARES Act”), was signed into law. The CARES Act made technical corrections, or temporary modifications, to certain of the provisions of the TJCA, including, without limitation, the provisions of the TCJA concerning net operating losses (“NOLs”) and interest expense deductions. With respect to NOLs, effective for taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2018, the TCJA limited the deduction for NOL carryforwards to 80% of taxable income (before the deduction) and eliminated NOL carrybacks for individuals and non-REIT corporations (NOL carrybacks did not apply to REITs under prior law), but allows for indefinite NOL carryforwards. The CARES Act repealed such 80% limitation for carryforwards to taxable years beginning before January 1, 2021. The CARES Act also allows a five-year carryback for NOLs arising in 2018, 2019, or 2020.

Qualifying as a REIT involves highly technical and complex provisions of the Code.

Qualification as a REIT involves the application of highly technical and complex Code provisions for which only limited judicial and administrative authorities exist. Even a technical or inadvertent violation could jeopardize our REIT qualification. Our continued qualification as a REIT will depend on our satisfaction of certain asset, income, organizational, distribution, stockholder ownership and other requirements on a continuing basis. In addition, our ability to satisfy the requirements to qualify as a REIT depends in part on the actions of third parties over which we have no control or only limited influence, including in cases where we own an equity interest in an entity that is classified as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

Certain foreign investors may be subject to the Foreign Investment in Real Property Tax Act of 1980 (“FIRPTA”) on the sale of common shares if we are unable to qualify as a “domestically controlled qualified investment entity.”

A foreign person (subject to certain exceptions) disposing of a U.S. real property interest, including shares of a U.S. corporation whose assets consist principally of U.S. real property interests, is generally subject to a tax, known as FIRPTA, on the gain recognized on the disposition. FIRPTA does not apply, however, to the disposition of stock in a REIT if the REIT is a “domestically controlled qualified investment entity” (as defined in Section 897(h)(4)(B) of the Code). A domestically controlled qualified investment entity includes a REIT in which, at all times during a specified testing period, less than 50% in value of its shares is held directly or indirectly by non-U.S. holders. We cannot assure our stockholders that we will qualify as a domestically controlled qualified investment entity. If we were to fail to so qualify, gain realized by a foreign investor on a sale of our common stock would potentially be subject to FIRPTA unless our common stock was traded on an established securities market and the foreign investor did not at any time during a specified testing period directly or indirectly own more than 10% of the value of our outstanding common stock. Regardless of our status as a domestically controlled qualified investment entity, capital gain distributions attributable to a disposition of a U.S. real property interest will generally

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be subject to tax under FIRPTA in the hands of non-U.S. investors (unless an exception to FIRPTA applies to such investor). See “Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations—Special Tax Considerations for Non-U.S. Stockholders—Capital Gain Distributions.”

Compliance with REIT requirements may force us to liquidate otherwise attractive investments.

To qualify as a REIT, at the end of each calendar quarter, at least 75% of our assets must consist of cash, cash items, government securities and qualified real estate assets. The remainder of our investments in securities (other than qualified real estate assets and government securities) generally cannot include more than 10% of the voting securities of any one issuer or more than 10% of the value of the outstanding securities of any one issuer unless we and such issuer jointly elect for such issuer to be treated as a “taxable REIT subsidiary” under the Code. Additionally, no more than 5% of the value of our assets (other than government securities and qualified real estate assets) can consist of the securities of any one issuer, and no more than 20% of the value of our assets may be represented by securities of one or more taxable REIT subsidiaries (25% in certain taxable years beginning before December 31, 2017). If we fail to comply with these requirements, we must dispose of a portion of our assets within 30 days after the end of the calendar quarter in order to avoid losing our REIT status and suffering adverse tax consequences. In order to satisfy these requirements, we may be forced to liquidate otherwise attractive investments.

The failure of a mezzanine loan to qualify as a real estate asset could adversely affect our ability to qualify as a REIT.

The IRS has provided a safe harbor for mezzanine loans but not rules of substantive law. Pursuant to the safe harbor, if a mezzanine loan meets certain requirements, it will be treated by the IRS as a real estate asset for purposes of the REIT asset tests, and interest derived from the mezzanine loan will be treated as qualifying mortgage interest for purposes of the REIT 75% income test. We may acquire mezzanine loans that do not meet all of the requirements of this safe harbor. In the event we own a mezzanine loan that does not meet the safe harbor, the IRS could challenge such loan’s treatment as a real estate asset for purposes of the REIT asset and income tests and, if such a challenge were sustained, we could fail to qualify as a REIT.

We may enter into certain hedging transactions which may have a potential impact on our REIT status.

From time to time, we may enter into hedging transactions with respect to one or more of our assets or liabilities. Our hedging activities may include entering into interest rate and/or foreign currency swaps, caps, and floors, options to purchase these items, and futures and forward contracts. Income and gain from “hedging transactions” that we enter into to hedge indebtedness incurred or to be incurred to acquire or carry real estate assets and that are clearly and timely identified as such will be excluded from both the numerator and the denominator for purposes of the gross income and asset tests that apply to REITs. Moreover, any income from a transaction entered into primarily to manage risk of currency fluctuations with respect to any item of income that would be qualifying REIT income under the REIT gross income tests, and any gain from the unwinding of any such transaction, does not constitute gross income for purposes of the REIT annual gross income tests. To the extent that we do not properly identify such transactions as hedges or we hedge with other types of financial instruments, or hedge other types of indebtedness, the income from those transactions may not be treated as qualifying income for purposes of the REIT gross income tests, and might also give rise to an asset that does not qualify for purposes of the REIT asset tests.

Investment Company Risks

Avoiding registration as an investment company imposes limits on our operations, and failure to avoid registration reduces the value of your investment.

We conduct our operations so as not to become regulated as an investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, which we refer to as the “Investment Company Act.” To do so, we will have to continue to monitor the value of our securities in comparison with the value of our other assets and make sure that the value of our securities does not exceed 40% of the value of all of our assets on an unconsolidated basis. As a result, we may be unable to sell assets we would otherwise want to sell and may be unable to purchase securities we would otherwise want to purchase.

If we were obligated to register as an investment company, we would have to comply with a variety of substantive requirements under the Investment Company Act that impose, among other things:

limitations on capital structure;
restrictions on specified investments;
prohibitions on transactions with affiliates; and
compliance with reporting, record keeping, voting proxy disclosure and other rules and regulations that would significantly increase our operating expenses.

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Registration with the Commission as an investment company would be costly, would subject our company to a host of complex regulations and would divert the attention of management from the conduct of our business.

Further, if it were established that we were an unregistered investment company, there would be a risk that we would be subject to monetary penalties and injunctive relief in an action brought by the Commission, that we would be unable to enforce contracts with third parties and that third parties could seek to obtain rescission of transactions undertaken during the period it was established that we were an unregistered investment company. Any such results would be likely to have a material adverse effect on us.

Retirement Plan Risks

If you fail to meet the fiduciary and other standards under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, or “ERISA,” or the Code as a result of an investment in our stock, you could be subject to penalties.

There are special considerations that apply to employee benefit plans subject to ERISA (such as profit-sharing, section 401(k) or pension plans) and other retirement plans or accounts subject to Section 4975 of the Code (such as an IRA) or any entity whose assets include such assets (each a “Benefit Plan”) that are investing in our shares. If you are investing the assets of such a plan or account in our common stock, you should satisfy yourself that:

your investment is consistent with your fiduciary and other obligations under ERISA and the Code;
your investment is made in accordance with the documents and instruments governing the plan or IRA, including the plan’s or account’s investment policy;
your investment satisfies the prudence and diversification requirements of Sections 404(a)(1)(B) and 404(a)(1)(C) of ERISA and other applicable provisions of ERISA and the Code;
your investment in our shares, for which no trading market may exist, is consistent with the liquidity needs of the plan or IRA;
your investment will not produce an unacceptable amount of “unrelated business taxable income” for the plan or IRA;
you will be able to comply with the requirements under ERISA and the Code to value the assets of the plan or IRA annually; and
your investment will not constitute a non-exempt prohibited transaction under Section 406 of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code.

With respect to the annual valuation requirements described above, we expect to provide an estimated value of our net assets per share annually to those fiduciaries (including IRA trustees and custodians) who request it. Although this estimate will be based upon determinations of the NAV of our shares in accordance with our valuation procedures, no assurance can be given that such estimated value will satisfy the applicable annual valuation requirements under ERISA and the Code. The Department of Labor or the IRS may determine that a plan fiduciary or a fiduciary acting for an IRA is required to take further steps to determine the value of our common shares. In the absence of an appropriate determination of value, a plan fiduciary or a fiduciary acting for an IRA may be subject to damages, penalties or other sanctions.

Failure to satisfy the fiduciary standards of conduct and other applicable requirements of ERISA and the Code may result in the imposition of civil and criminal penalties, and can subject the fiduciary to claims for damages or for equitable remedies, including liability for investment losses. In addition, if an investment in our shares constitutes a prohibited transaction under ERISA or the Code, the fiduciary or IRA owner who authorized or directed the investment may be subject to the imposition of excise taxes with respect to the amount invested. Additionally, the investment transaction may have to be reversed. In the case of a prohibited transaction involving an IRA owner, the IRA may be disqualified as a tax-exempt account and all of the assets of the IRA may be deemed distributed and subjected to tax. ERISA plan fiduciaries and IRA owners should consult with counsel before making an investment in our shares.

If our assets are deemed to be plan assets, the Advisor and we may be exposed to liabilities under Title I of ERISA and the Code.

In some circumstances where an ERISA plan holds an interest in an entity, the assets of the entity are deemed to be ERISA plan assets unless an exception applies. This is known as the “look-through rule.” Under those circumstances, the obligations and other responsibilities of plan sponsors, plan fiduciaries and plan administrators, and of parties in interest and disqualified persons, under Title I of ERISA and Section 4975 of the Code, as applicable, may be applicable, and there may be liability under these and other provisions of ERISA and the Code. We believe that our assets should not be treated as plan assets because the shares should qualify as “publicly-offered securities” that are exempt from the look-through rules under applicable Treasury Regulations. We note, however, that because certain

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limitations are imposed upon the transferability of shares so that we may qualify as a REIT, and perhaps for other reasons, it is possible that this exemption may not apply. If that is the case, and if the Advisor or we are exposed to liability under ERISA or the Code or we are required to alter our operations to comply with ERISA or the Code, our performance and results of operations could be adversely affected. Prior to making an investment in us, you should consult with your legal and other advisors concerning the impact of ERISA and the Code on your investment and our performance.

We do not intend to provide investment advice to any potential investor for a fee. However, we, the Advisor, and our respective affiliates receive certain fees and other consideration disclosed herein in connection with an investment. If it were determined we provided a Benefit Plan investor with investment advice for a fee, or if our assets are not exempt from the look-through rules, it could give rise to a determination that we constitute an investment advice fiduciary under ERISA and/or that our fee arrangements or operations are in violation of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code. Such a determination could give rise to claims that our fee arrangements constitute non-exempt prohibited transactions under ERISA or the Code and/or claims that we have breached a fiduciary duty to a Benefit Plan investor. Adverse determinations with respect to ERISA fiduciary status or non-exempt prohibited transactions could result in significant civil penalties and excise taxes.

See “ERISA Considerations” for a more complete discussion of the foregoing issues and other risks associated with an investment in shares of our common stock by retirement plans.

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ESTIMATED USE OF PROCEEDS

The following table presents information about how we intend to use the proceeds raised in this offering assuming that we sell the maximum primary offering amount of $6,000,000,000 and the maximum distribution reinvestment plan offering amount of $1,500,000,000. The table assumes that 1/6 of primary offering gross proceeds come from sales of Class T shares, 1/6 of primary offering gross proceeds come from sales of Class S shares, 1/3 of primary offering gross proceeds come from sales of Class D shares and 1/3 of primary offering gross proceeds come from sales of Class I shares. Because no sales commissions or dealer manager fees are paid on shares sold in the distribution reinvestment plan, it is not necessary to make any assumptions regarding the number of shares sold in the distribution reinvestment plan. We are offering up to $6,000,000,000 of shares of our common stock in our primary offering, and up to $1,500,000,000 of shares of our common stock in our distribution reinvestment plan, in any combination of our shares. We may reallocate the shares of our common stock we are offering between the primary offering and our distribution reinvestment plan.

The actual amount of selling commissions and the dealer manager fee will vary from the estimated amounts shown because (1) the number of Class T and Class S shares that we will sell is uncertain, (2) our Class T and Class S shares will be sold at a price that varies month by month based on our monthly NAV per share for the applicable class of shares and actual selling commissions and the dealer manager fee per Class T and Class S shares, as applicable, will be a percentage of the transaction price per such Class T or Class S share, as applicable, in our primary offering and (3) the selling commission and the dealer manager fee may be reduced or eliminated in connection with certain categories of sales of Class T and Class S shares, such as sales for which a volume discount applies. Any reduction in selling commissions will be accompanied by a corresponding reduction in the Class T and Class S per share purchase price, as applicable, but will not affect the net proceeds available to us. Because amounts in this table are estimates, they may not accurately reflect the actual receipt or use of the offering proceeds.

We intend to use the net proceeds from this offering, which are not used to pay the fees and other expenses attributable to our operations: (1) to make investments in accordance with our investment strategy and policies; (2) to provide liquidity to our stockholders and (3) for other general corporate purposes (which may include repayment of our debt or any other corporate purposes we deem appropriate). We may use the proceeds of this offering to fund stockholder distributions, although we do not currently intend to do so. The specific amounts of the net proceeds that are used for such purposes, and the priority of such uses, will depend on the amount of proceeds raised in this offering, the timing of our receipt of such proceeds and the best uses of the proceeds at such time. The figures presented below are estimates based on numerous assumptions. The actual percentage of net proceeds available to use will depend on a number of factors, including the amount of capital we raise and the actual offering costs. For example, if we raise less than the maximum offering amount, we would expect the percentage of net offering proceeds available to us to be less (and may be substantially less) than that set forth below because many offering costs are fixed and do not depend on the amount of capital raised in the offering.

7

Maximum Offering of
$7,500,000,000

Amounts

Percent

Gross Offering Proceeds

$

7,500,000,000

100.00

%

Less:

Upfront selling commissions and dealer manager fees(1)

(101,449,000)

(1.35)

Additional Underwriting Compensation(2)

(1,258,000)

(0.02)

Issuer Organization and Offering Expenses(3)

(24,325,000)

(0.32)

Net Offering Proceeds(4)

$

7,372,968,000

98.31

%


(1) The table assumes that 1/6 of primary offering gross proceeds come from sales of Class T shares, 1/6 of primary offering gross proceeds come from sales of Class S shares, 1/3 of primary offering gross proceeds come from sales of Class D shares and 1/3 of primary offering gross proceeds come from sales of Class I shares. Because no sales commissions or dealer manager fees are paid on shares sold in the distribution reinvestment plan, it is not necessary to make any assumptions regarding the number of the shares sold in the distribution reinvestment plan. The actual selling commissions that will be paid on Class T and Class S shares and the actual dealer manager fee that will be paid on Class T shares may be higher or lower due to rounding. For each purchase, the total per share purchase price will be calculated by adding the applicable selling commission and dealer manager fee to the transaction price per share for such class and rounding to four decimal places. Selling commissions and dealer manager fees presented in the table reflect that no selling commissions are paid with respect to Class D shares, Class I shares or on distribution reinvestment plan shares, and no dealer manager fees are paid with respect to Class S, Class D, Class I or on distribution reinvestment plan shares. This table excludes the distribution fee, which will be paid over time and will not be paid from offering proceeds. Subject to FINRA limitations on underwriting compensation, we pay our Dealer Manager (1) a distribution fee equal to 0.85% per annum of the aggregate NAV of our outstanding Class T shares, consisting of an advisor distribution fee and a dealer distribution fee, (2) a distribution fee equal to 0.85% per annum of the aggregate NAV of our outstanding Class S shares and (3) a distribution fee equal to equal to 0.25% per annum of the aggregate NAV of our outstanding Class D shares. We will cease paying the distribution fees with respect to individual Class T, Class S and Class D shares when they are no longer outstanding, including as a result of conversion to Class I shares. See “Plan of Distribution—Underwriting Compensation.”

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(2) We pay directly, or reimburse the Advisor and the Dealer Manager if they pay on our behalf, certain additional items of underwriting compensation described in “Plan of Distribution—Underwriting Compensation—Other Compensation,” including legal fees of the Dealer Manager, costs reimbursement for registered representatives of participating broker-dealers to attend educational conferences sponsored by us or the Dealer Manager, attendance fees for registered persons associated with the Dealer Manager to attend seminars conducted by participating broker-dealers, reimbursement of broker-dealers for technology costs and expenses associated with the facilitation of the marketing of our shares and ownership of our shares by their participating customers, and promotional items. In addition to this additional underwriting compensation, the Advisor may also pay the Dealer Manager additional amounts to fund certain of the Dealer Manager’s costs and expenses related to the distribution of this offering, which will not be reimbursed by us, as described in “Plan of Distribution—Underwriting Compensation—Other Compensation.” Also, the Dealer Manager may pay supplemental fees or commissions to participating broker-dealers and servicing broker-dealers with respect to shares sold in the primary offering, which will not be reimbursed by us, as described in “Plan of Distribution—Underwriting Compensation—Supplemental Fees and Commissions.”
(3) We also pay directly, or reimburse the Advisor and the Dealer Manager if they pay on our behalf, any issuer organization and offering expenses (meaning organization and offering expenses other than underwriting compensation) as and when incurred. After the termination of the primary offering and again after termination of the offering under our distribution reinvestment plan, the Advisor has agreed to reimburse us to the extent that total cumulative organization and offering expenses (including underwriting compensation) that we incur exceed 15% of our gross proceeds from the applicable offering. The issuer organization and offering expense estimates shown in the table above represent our estimates of expenses incurred by us in connection with this offering (other than selling commissions, the dealer manager fee, the distribution fee, and additional underwriting compensation set forth in the table above).
(4) Generally, the net offering proceeds will be available (1) to make investments in accordance with our investment strategy and policies; (2) to fund redemptions under our share redemption program; and (3) for other general corporate purposes (which may include repayment of our debt). Upfront selling commissions and dealer manager fees, which are effectively paid by purchasers of shares in the primary offering at the time of purchase, because the purchase price of such shares is equal to the transaction price, which generally equals the most recently disclosed monthly NAV per share, plus the upfront selling commissions and dealer manager fees, have no effect on the NAV of any class. Accordingly, if we fund additional underwriting compensation and issuer organization and offering expenses entirely out of cash flow from operations (which would not reduce the net offering proceeds), then as a percentage of the NAV of the shares sold (measured as of the date of sale), approximately 98.6% of the proceeds will be available to us.

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INVESTMENT STRATEGY, OBJECTIVES AND POLICIES

Investment Objectives

Our primary investment objectives are:

providing current income to our stockholders in the form of consistent cash distributions;
preserving and protecting our stockholders’ capital investments;
realizing capital appreciation in our share price from active investment management and asset management; and
providing portfolio diversification in the form of multi-asset class investing in direct real estate.

We cannot assure you that we will attain our investment objectives. Our charter places numerous limitations on us with respect to the manner in which we may invest our funds. In most cases these limitations cannot be changed unless our charter is amended, which may require the approval of our stockholders.

Investment Strategy

We are primarily focused on investing in and operating a diverse portfolio of real property and investing in other real estate-related assets. We currently focus our investment activities primarily across the major U.S. property sectors (industrial, residential, office and retail). To a lesser extent, we intend to strategically invest in geographies outside of the U.S., which may include Canada, the United Kingdom, Europe and other foreign jurisdictions, and in other sectors such as triple net lease, real estate debt (which may include mortgages and subordinated interests) and infrastructure, to create a diversified blend of current income and long-term value appreciation. Our objective is to bring the Ares leading institutional-quality real assets investment platform to income-focused investors, with significant diversification across real estate and real estate-related asset classes, geographies and sectors. We intend to allocate capital dynamically between sectors and strategies so as to achieve outperformance through strategic diversification rather than outsized risk. We expect real estate debt, non-US jurisdictions and/or infrastructure assets to comprise up to 30% of our assets. Currently, infrastructure is not expected to comprise more than 10% of our assets with a focus on real estate related infrastructure and renewable energy sources. While we will not limit our investment opportunities to stay within these allocations, we may adjust our expectations based on market conditions and opportunities.

We believe that the real estate market is cyclical, with demand for property types peaking at different times. Although we do not invest for the short term, we are active portfolio managers and will seek to take advantage of opportunities to acquire or dispose of assets strategically at different points in the cycle. One reason we focus on multiple property types and markets is to increase our ability to take advantage of these market cycles. We believe that the broader the opportunity set in which to invest our capital, the more selective we can be in choosing strategic and accretive investments, which we believe may result in attractive total returns for you. Seeing more of the overall real estate market also may allow us to be consistent and meaningful investors throughout different cycles. When we believe one market and/or sector is overvalued, we patiently wait and focus on another market and/or sector that we believe is overlooked or has stronger fundamentals of relative value. We also believe that value generally is based on the investment’s ability to produce cash flow. We generally focus on select, targeted markets that exhibit characteristics of being supply-constrained with strong demand from customers seeking quality space.

Our near-term investment strategy is likely to prioritize new investments in the industrial and residential sectors due to relatively attractive fundamental conditions. We also intend to continue to hold an allocation of properties in the office and retail sectors, the latter of which is largely grocery-anchored. To a lesser extent we intend to invest in other property sectors and geographies, infrastructure and real estate debt.

We generally employ a long-term hold strategy for strategic investments within our portfolio of real estate assets. The majority of our current portfolio consists of primarily “core” or “core-plus” properties that have significant operating histories and are substantially leased whereby a significant portion of the total investment return is expected to be derived from current income. In addition, we have invested in a relatively smaller proportion of “value added” opportunities that have arisen in circumstances where we have determined that a property may be situationally undervalued or where re-development, re-leasing and/or improved asset management may increase cash flows, and where the total investment return is generally expected to have a relatively larger component derived from capital appreciation.

Portfolio Diversification

Our objective is to continue to build a high-quality, diversified real property portfolio. Although there can be no assurance that we will achieve this objective, we intend to diversify our portfolio by key portfolio attributes including, but not limited to, (1) property type, (2) target market, with consideration given to geographic concentrations, (3) average lease terms and portfolio occupancy expectations,

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(4) customer concentrations, including credit and exposure to particular businesses or industries and (5) debt profile with the goal of maximizing flexibility while seeking to minimize cost and mitigate the risks associated with changes in interest rates and debt maturities.

As of September 30, 2021, our real estate portfolio consisted of 61 properties, totaling approximately 12.6 million square feet located in 28 markets throughout the United States.

As of September 30, 2021, we operated in four reportable segments: office, retail, residential and industrial. The following table summarizes our real estate portfolio by segment as of September 30, 2021:

Average

% of Total

Effective Annual  

% of

 

($ and square feet in thousands,

    

Number of

    

Number of

    

Rentable

    

Rentable  

    

Base Rent per  

    

%

    

Aggregate

    

Aggregate  

except for per square foot data)

Markets (1)

Real Properties

Square Feet

Square Feet

 

Square Foot (2)

Leased

Fair Value

Fair Value

Office properties

 

7

 

7

 

1,716

 

13.7

%  

$

34.16

 

82.6

%  

$

663,250

 

23.0

%

Retail properties

 

9

 

26

 

3,343

 

26.6

 

18.59

 

94.1

 

967,450

 

33.6

Residential properties

 

4

 

4

 

1,222

 

9.7

 

24.06

 

95.5

 

401,450

 

14.0

Industrial properties

 

19

 

24

 

6,292

 

50.0

 

5.78

 

98.4

 

845,400

 

29.4

Total real property portfolio

 

28

 

61

 

12,573

 

100.0

%  

$

14.34

 

94.8

%  

$

2,877,550

 

100.0

%


(1)

Reflects the number of unique markets by segment and in total. As such, the total number of markets does not equal the sum of the number of markets by segment as certain segments are located in the same market.

(2)

Amount calculated as total annualized base rent, which includes the impact of any contractual customer concessions (cash basis) per the terms of the lease, divided by total lease square footage as of September 30, 2021.

Real Property Portfolio

The Advisor has substantial discretion with respect to identifying and evaluating prospective real property investments. In determining the specific types of real property investments to potentially recommend to our board of directors, the Advisor will utilize the following criteria:

positioning the overall portfolio to achieve a desired mix of real property and other real estate-related investments;
diversification benefits relative to the rest of the real property and other assets within our portfolio;
broad assessment of macro and microeconomic, employment and demographic data and trends;
regional, market and property specific supply/demand dynamics;
credit quality of in-place customers and the potential for future rent increases;
physical condition and location of the asset;
market rents and opportunity for revenue and net operating income growth;
opportunities for capital appreciation based on product repositioning, operating expense reductions and other factors;
liquidity and income tax considerations; and
additional factors considered important to meeting our investment objectives.

The board of directors has delegated to the AREIT Advisors Committee the authority to review and approve any real property acquisition and development (including real property portfolio acquisitions and developments), for a purchase price or total project cost of up to $25,000,000. The board of directors, including a majority of the independent directors, must approve all real property acquisitions and developments, including real property portfolio acquisitions and developments, for a purchase price or total project cost greater than $25,000,000, including the financing of such acquisitions and developments.

We are not specifically limited in the number or size of real properties we may acquire, or on the percentage of the net proceeds from this offering that we may invest in a single real property or real property type. However, we may not invest in excess of 10% of the aggregate cost of the real property assets within our portfolio in unimproved land or real properties that are not expected to produce income within two years of their acquisition. The specific number and mix of real properties we acquire will depend upon real estate market conditions, other circumstances existing at the time we are acquiring our real properties and the amount of proceeds we raise in this offering.

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Real Estate-Related Debt and Securities Portfolio

To provide diversification to our portfolio, we may continue to invest in real estate-related debt (which may include mortgages and subordinated interests). While we are not currently investing in real estate-related securities, should we decide to invest in real estate-related securities, any such investments generally will focus on debt or equity issued by public and private real estate companies and certain other securities, with the primary goal of such investments being preservation of liquidity in support of our share redemption program, while also seeking income, potential for capital appreciation and further portfolio diversification. Targeted securities investments may include, but are not limited to, the following: (1) equity securities such as preferred stocks, common stocks and convertible preferred securities of public or private real estate companies (including other REITs, real estate operating companies, homebuilders and other real estate companies), (2) debt securities issued by other real estate companies, (3) U.S. government and agency securities and (4) certain other types of securities and debt-related investments that may help us reach our diversification, liquidity and other investment objectives.

Our charter provides that we may not invest in securities unless a majority of our directors (including a majority of the independent directors) not otherwise interested in the transaction approves such investment as being fair, competitive and commercially reasonable and that, generally, we may not make mortgage loan investments (other than an investment in mortgage programs or residential mortgage backed securities) unless an appraisal is obtained concerning the underlying property and the aggregate amount of all mortgage loans outstanding on the property do not exceed an amount equal to 85% of the appraised value of the property unless substantial justification exists because of the presence of other underwriting criteria. See “—Investment Limitations” below. Consistent with such requirements, in determining the types of real estate-related debt and securities investments to make, we evaluate specific criteria for each prospective real estate-related debt and securities investment including:

positioning the overall portfolio to achieve a desired liquidity mix of real property and other real estate-related investments;
diversification benefits relative to the rest of the real estate-related debt and securities within our portfolio;
fundamental securities analysis;
quality and sustainability of underlying property cash flows;
broad assessment of macro-economic data and regional property level supply and demand dynamics;
potential for delivering current income and attractive risk-adjusted total returns; and
additional factors considered important to meeting our investment objectives.

We are not specifically limited in the number or size of our real estate-related debt or securities investments, or on the percentage of the net proceeds from this offering that we may invest in a single real estate-related debt or security investment or pool of investments. The specific number and mix of real estate-related debt and securities in which we invest will depend upon real estate market conditions, other circumstances existing at the time we are making investments and the amount of proceeds we raise in this offering. We will not invest in securities of other issuers for the purpose of exercising control and the first or second mortgages in which we intend to invest will likely not be insured by the Federal Housing Administration or guaranteed by the Veterans Administration or otherwise guaranteed or insured.

Development and Construction of Properties

We may invest a portion of the proceeds available for investment in unimproved land upon which improvements are to be constructed or completed. However, we may not make investments in unimproved real property or indebtedness secured by a deed of trust or mortgage loans on unimproved real property in excess of 10% of our total assets. Development of real properties is subject to risks relating to a builder’s ability to control construction costs or to build in conformity with plans, specifications and timetables. To help ensure performance by the builders of real properties that are under construction, we intend to require a guarantee of completion at the price contracted either by an adequate completion bond or performance bond. The Advisor may rely upon the net worth of the contractor or developer or a personal guarantee accompanied by financial statements showing a substantial net worth provided by an affiliate of the person entering into the construction or development contract as an alternative to a completion bond or performance bond. The Advisor may elect to employ one or more project managers (who under some circumstances may be affiliated with the Advisor) to plan, supervise and implement the development and construction of any unimproved real properties which we may acquire. Such persons would be compensated by us.

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Acquisition of Properties from the Advisor, its Affiliates and Other Related Entities

We are not precluded from acquiring real properties, directly or through joint ventures, from the Advisor, its affiliates or entities sponsored or advised by affiliates of the Sponsor. Any such acquisitions are subject to approval by our board of directors consistent with the conflict of interest procedures described in this prospectus. See “Conflicts of Interest—Conflict Resolution Procedures.”

Joint Ventures

A component of our investment strategy may include entering into joint venture agreements with partners in connection with certain property acquisitions and debt-related investments. With respect to these agreements, we may make varying levels of contributions in such ventures, including, without limitation, contributions of existing assets, and may take varying levels of management, control and decision rights. These agreements may allow us or our joint venture partners to be entitled to profit participation upon the sale of a property.

In addition, our joint venture partners and co-owners of our properties may be paid and receive fees, promotes, and expense reimbursements for providing services with respect to the property or properties owned through the applicable joint venture or co-ownership arrangement. We will pay our proportionate share of any such fees, promotes and expense reimbursements, which will reduce our returns on those investments. These fees, promotes and expense reimbursements may be similar to and relate to services similar to those earned and provided by the Advisor, however it is generally expected that any such services will relate to the specific property or properties that are the subject of the applicable joint venture or co-ownership arrangement. Any fees, promotes or expense reimbursements that we pay to our joint venture partners and co-owners of our properties will not offset or reduce the fees, promotes or reimbursements otherwise payable to the Advisor.

While our joint venture partners and co-owners have been third parties, we may in the future enter into joint ventures, co-investment or other arrangements with affiliates of the Sponsor or entities sponsored or advised by affiliates of the Sponsor to acquire, develop and/or manage property, debt and other investments. Such investments may raise potential conflicts of interest between us and such other investment vehicles managed by our Advisor or its affiliates, including determining which of such entities should enter into any particular joint venture, co-investment or other arrangement agreement. Joint venture, co-investment or other arrangement partners affiliated with the Advisor or sponsored or advised by affiliates of the Sponsor may have economic or business interests or goals which are or that may become inconsistent with our business interests or goals. In addition, should any such joint venture, co-investment or other arrangement be consummated, the Advisor and its affiliates may face a conflict in structuring the terms of the relationship between our interests and the interests of other parties, in managing the joint venture, co-investment or other arrangement, and in resolving any conflicts or exercising any rights in connection with the joint venture, co-investment or other arrangement. Since the Advisor will make various decisions on our behalf, agreements and transactions between us and the Advisor’s affiliates or entities sponsored or advised by affiliates of the Sponsor will not have the benefit of arm’s-length negotiations of the type normally conducted between unrelated parties. Furthermore, when such other investment vehicles managed by our Advisor or its affiliates have interests or requirements that do not align with our interests, including differing liquidity needs or desired investment horizons, conflicts may arise in the manner in which any voting or control rights are exercised with respect to the relevant investment, potentially resulting in an adverse impact on us. We may enter into joint ventures with affiliates of the Sponsor or entities sponsored or advised by affiliates of the Sponsor for the acquisition of investments, but only if (i) a majority of our directors not otherwise interested in the transaction, including a majority of the independent directors, approve the transaction as being fair and reasonable to us and (ii) the investment by us and such affiliate are on terms and conditions that are no less favorable than those that would be available to unaffiliated parties.

With respect to any joint venture, we may enter into an advisory or sub-advisory agreement with an affiliate of the Advisor. We may also enter into arrangements with the Advisor in which the Advisor receives fees (directly or indirectly, including through a subsidiary of ours) from the joint venture entity or from the joint venture partner. Fees received from joint venture entities or partners and paid, directly or indirectly (including without limitation, through us or our subsidiaries), to the Advisor may be more or less than similar fees that we pay to the Advisor pursuant to the Advisory Agreement. In addition, the Advisor may, with respect to any investment in which we are a participant, also render advice and service to others in that investment, and earn fees for rendering such advice and service. Specifically, it is contemplated that we may enter into joint venture or other similar co-investment arrangements with certain individuals, corporations, partnerships, trusts, joint ventures, limited liability companies or other entities, with respect to which the Advisor or one of its affiliates may be engaged to provide advice and service to such individuals, corporations, partnerships, trusts, joint ventures, limited liability companies or other entities. The Advisor or its affiliate will earn fees for rendering such advice and service pursuant to the agreements governing such joint ventures or arrangements.

Real Property Ownership

Our investments in real properties generally take the form of holding fee title or a long-term leasehold estate. We generally acquire such interests either (a) directly through DCTRT Real Estate Holdco LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Operating Partnership, or wholly owned subsidiaries thereof or (b) indirectly through limited liability interests or through investments in joint ventures, general partnerships, co-tenancies or other co-ownership arrangements with the developers of the real properties, entities sponsored or advised by affiliates of the Sponsor or other persons. In addition, we may purchase real properties and lease them back to the

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sellers of such real properties. While we will use commercially reasonable efforts to structure any such sale-leaseback transaction such that the lease will be characterized as a “true lease” so that we will be treated as the owner of the property for federal income tax purposes, we cannot assure you that the IRS will not challenge such characterization. In the event that any such recharacterization were successful, deductions for depreciation and cost recovery relating to such real property would be disallowed and it is possible that under some circumstances we could fail to qualify as a REIT as a result. See “Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations—Sale-Leaseback Transactions.”

In determining whether to purchase a particular real property, we may, in accordance with customary practices, obtain a purchase option on such real property. The amount paid for a purchase option, if any, is normally surrendered if the real property is not purchased and is normally credited against the purchase price if the real property is purchased.

Due Diligence

Our obligation to close a transaction involving the purchase of a real property asset is generally conditioned upon the delivery and verification of certain documents from the seller or developer, including, where appropriate:

plans and specifications;
environmental reports;
surveys;
evidence of marketable title subject to such liens and encumbrances; and
title and liability insurance policies.

Our policy generally is to not close a transaction involving the purchase of a real property asset unless and until we obtain an environmental assessment (generally a minimum of a Phase I review) for each real property purchased.

Terms of Leases and Customer Creditworthiness

The terms and conditions of any lease we enter into with our customers may vary substantially from those we describe in this prospectus. The Advisor reviews the creditworthiness of potential major customers of our real properties depending on the type of real property. Although we are authorized to enter into leases with any type of customer, we anticipate that major corporations, smaller corporations and other organizations will be our customers under many of our office, retail, and industrial property leases. These types of customers, as well as individuals who may be customers under residential property leases, will generally be subjected to a credit review prior to entering into new leases with us or upon renewal of existing leases. Such credit reviews do not require that each customer be credit rated or free of any credit issues.

We anticipate that tenant improvements required to be funded by us as the landlord under leases in connection with newly acquired real properties will be funded from proceeds from this offering or, to the extent available, through our cash flows from operations or financing. However, at such time as a customer at one of our real properties does not renew its lease or otherwise vacates its space in one of our industrial, retail or office buildings, it is likely that, in order to attract new customers, we will be required to expend substantial funds for tenant improvements and tenant refurbishments to the vacated space. Since we do not anticipate maintaining permanent working capital reserves, we may not have access to funds required in the future for tenant improvements and tenant refurbishments in order to attract new customers to lease vacated space.

In this regard, we anticipate that most of our leases for office, industrial and retail properties will be for fixed rentals with periodic increases based on the consumer price index or similar adjustments and that most of the rentals under our leases for industrial, office or residential properties will not be based on the income or profits of any person. Rentals due under leases for retail properties may be based in part on the income of the retail customer. In such cases where the customer is required to pay rent based on a percentage of the customer’s income from its operations at the real property, the actual rental income we receive under such a lease may be inadequate to cover the operating expenses associated with the real property if a customer’s income is substantially lower than projected. In such case, we may not have access to funds required in the future to pay the operating expenses associated with the real property.

Disposition Policies—Real Property Portfolio

We generally acquire real property assets with an expectation of holding each asset for an extended period. However, circumstances might arise which could result in a shortened holding period for certain assets. As described above, we are active portfolio

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managers and we will seek to take advantage of opportunities to acquire or dispose of assets presented to us by the real estate markets. A real property asset may be sold before the end of the expected holding period if:

current market values exceed our internal intrinsic value assessment;
we believe full current value has been reached and the value of the asset might decline;
there is a change in the local economy or regulatory environment;
there are diversification benefits associated with disposing of the asset and rebalancing our investment portfolio;
an opportunity has arisen to pursue a more attractive real property or real estate-related debt or securities investment;
a major customer has involuntarily liquidated or is in default under its lease;
the asset was acquired as part of a portfolio acquisition and does not meet our strategic plan;
there exists an opportunity to enhance overall investment returns by raising capital through the sale of the asset; or
the sale of the real property is in our best interests.

The selling price of a real property which is net leased will be determined in large part by the amount of rent payable under the lease(s) for such real property. If a customer has a repurchase option at a formula price, we may be limited in realizing any appreciation. In connection with our sales of real properties we may lend the purchaser all or a portion of the purchase price. In these instances, our taxable income may exceed the cash received in the sale. See “Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations—Requirements for Qualification as a REIT—Operational Requirements—Annual Distribution Requirement.” The terms of payment will be affected by custom in the area in which the real property being sold is located and by the then-prevailing economic conditions.

The determination of whether a particular real property should be sold or otherwise disposed of will be made with a view toward achieving our investment objectives for our stockholders. We cannot assure you that these objectives will be realized.

The board of directors has delegated to the AREIT Advisors Committee the authority to generally approve all real property dispositions, including real property portfolio dispositions, proposed by the Advisor for a sales price of up to $25,000,000, provided that the total dispositions approved by the AREIT Advisors Committee in any quarter may not exceed $50,000,000. The board, including a majority of the independent directors, must approve all real property dispositions, including real property portfolio dispositions, proposed by the Advisor (i) for a sales price greater than $25,000,000, and (ii) once the total dispositions approved by the AREIT Advisors Committee in any quarter equals $50,000,000, for any sales price through the end of such quarter.

Disposition Policies—Real Estate-Related Debt and Securities

In general, the holding period for real estate-related debt and securities is expected to be shorter than the holding period for real property assets. The determination of whether a particular real estate-related debt or security investment should be sold or otherwise disposed of will be made after consideration of relevant factors with a view toward achieving maximum total investment return for the asset. Relevant factors that are considered when disposing of a security or debt-related investment include:

the prevailing economic, real estate and securities market conditions;
the extent to which an asset has realized its expected total return;
portfolio rebalancing and optimization;
diversification benefits;
opportunities to pursue a more attractive real property or real estate-related debt or securities investment;
liquidity benefits with respect to sufficient funds for the share redemption program; and
other factors that determine that the sale of the security or debt-related asset is in our best interests.

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Borrowing Policies

We use and intend to continue to use secured and unsecured debt as a means of providing additional funds for the acquisition of real property and real estate-related debt and securities. Our ability to enhance our investment returns and to increase our diversification by acquiring assets using additional funds provided through borrowing could be adversely impacted if banks and other lending institutions reduce the amount of funds available for the types of loans we seek. See “Risk Factors—Risks Related to Adverse Changes in General Economic Conditions.” When debt financing is unattractive due to high interest rates or other reasons, or when financing is otherwise unavailable on a timely basis, we may purchase certain assets for cash with the intention of seeking debt financing at a later time.

We use financial leverage to provide additional funds to support our investment activities. We calculate our leverage for reporting purposes as the outstanding principal balance of our borrowings less cash and cash equivalents divided by the fair value of our real property and debt-related investments not associated with the DST Program (determined in accordance with our valuation procedures). Based on this methodology, our leverage was 31.1 % as of September 30, 2021, as compared to 36.6% as of December 31, 2020. For purposes of determining the fair value of our real property, we include the fair value of the properties that are part of the DST Program due to the master lease structure, including our purchase option. There are other methods of calculating our overall leverage ratio that may differ from this methodology, such as the methodology used in determining our compliance with corporate borrowing covenants. Our current leverage target is between 40-60%. Although we will generally work to maintain our targeted leverage ratio, there are no assurances that we will maintain the targeted range disclosed above or achieve any other leverage ratio that we may target in the future. Our board of directors may from time to time modify our borrowing policy in light of then-current economic conditions, the relative costs of debt and equity capital, the fair values of our properties, general conditions in the market for debt and equity securities, growth and acquisition opportunities or other factors.

There is no limitation on the amount we may invest in any single improved real property, security or debt-related investment. However, under our charter, we have a limitation on borrowing that precludes us from borrowing in excess of 300% of the value of our net assets unless approved by a majority of the independent directors and disclosed to stockholders in our next quarterly report along with justification for the excess. Net assets for purposes of this calculation are defined to be our total assets (other than intangibles), valued at cost prior to deducting depreciation or other non-cash reserves, less total liabilities. Generally speaking, the preceding calculation is expected to approximate 75% of the aggregate cost of our real property assets and debt-related investments before non-cash reserves and depreciation. However, we may temporarily borrow in excess of these amounts if such excess is approved by a majority of the independent directors and disclosed to stockholders in our next quarterly report, along with an explanation for such excess. In such event, we will review our debt levels at that time and take action to reduce any such excess as soon as practicable.

Our board of directors has delegated (i) to our Managing Director, Chief Financial Officer the authority to review and approve any proposed new borrowing or refinancing (secured or unsecured) of the Company, the Operating Partnership or any direct or indirect subsidiary of ours or the Operating Partnership, provided that the amount of any single proposed borrowing or refinancing does not exceed $30,000,000, (ii) to the AREIT Advisors Committee the authority to review and approve any proposed new borrowing (secured or unsecured) of the Company, the Operating Partnership or any direct or indirect subsidiary of ours or the Operating Partnership, provided that the amount of any single proposed borrowing does not exceed $100,000,000 and the amount of total new borrowings approved by the AREIT Advisors Committee in any quarter does not exceed $100,000,000, and (iii) to the AREIT Advisors Committee the authority to review and approve any proposed refinancing (secured or unsecured) of the Company, the Operating Partnership or any direct or indirect subsidiary of ours or the Operating Partnership, provided that the amount of any single proposed refinancing does not exceed $100,000,000 and the amount of total new refinancings approved by the AREIT Advisors Committee in any quarter does not exceed $100,000,000. Such debt may be fixed or floating rate.

By operating on a leveraged basis, we expect that we will have more funds available for investments. This will generally allow us to make more investments than would otherwise be possible, potentially resulting in enhanced investment returns and a more diversified portfolio. However, our use of leverage increases the risk of default on loan payments and the resulting foreclosure on a particular asset. In addition, lenders may have recourse to assets other than those specifically securing the repayment of the indebtedness.

The Advisor will seek to obtain financing on the most favorable terms available to us and will seek to refinance assets during the term of a loan only in limited circumstances, such as when a decline in interest rates makes it beneficial to prepay an existing loan, when an existing loan matures or if an attractive investment becomes available and the proceeds from the refinancing can be used to purchase such investment. The benefits of any such refinancing may include an increased cash flow resulting from reduced debt service requirements, an increase in distributions from proceeds of the refinancing and an increase in diversification and assets owned if all or a portion of the refinancing proceeds are reinvested.

Our charter restricts us from obtaining loans from any of our directors, the Advisor and any of their affiliates unless such loan is approved by a majority of the directors (including a majority of the independent directors) not otherwise interested in the transaction as fair, competitive and commercially reasonable and no less favorable to us than comparable loans between unaffiliated parties. Our aggregate borrowings, secured and unsecured, will be reviewed by the board of directors at least quarterly.

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Acquisitions Through Equity Issuances

We are not limited to making acquisitions with cash or borrowings. We may also make investments through either public or private offerings of equity securities from us or the Operating Partnership, and we may do so when attractive acquisition opportunities are available. We are not limited in the number or size of investments we may make with equity issuances, and we may effect a merger, business combination or another significant transaction through equity issuances. Such issuances may be comprised of existing classes of shares of our common stock or OP Units in the Operating Partnership, new classes of shares of our common stock or OP Units in the Operating Partnership with preferential terms compared to those of our existing investors (such as preferred stock, preferred OP Units, or contractual obligations to provide protection from adverse tax consequences), or tenancy-in-common interests. We and the Operating Partnership may, with the approval of a majority of our independent directors, agree to pay additional fees to the Advisor, the Dealer Manager and their affiliates in connection with any such transactions, which may negatively affect the NAV of stockholders’ shares, our ability to pay distributions and the stockholders’ overall return.

DST Program

In March 2016, we, through the Operating Partnership, initiated a program to raise capital in private placements exempt from registration under Section 506(b) of the Securities Act through the sale of beneficial interests in specific Delaware statutory trusts holding real properties, including properties currently indirectly owned by the Operating Partnership (the “DST Program”).

Under the DST Program, each private placement will offer interests in one or more real properties placed into one or more Delaware statutory trust(s) by the Operating Partnership or its affiliates (“DST Properties”).

We anticipate that these interests may serve as replacement properties for investors seeking to complete like-kind exchange transactions under Section 1031 of the Code. Additionally, underlying interests of properties that are sold to investors pursuant to such private placements will be leased-back by an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of the Operating Partnership on a long term basis of up to 29 years. The lease agreements are expected to be fully guaranteed by the Operating Partnership. Additionally, the Operating Partnership will retain a FMV Option giving it the right, but not the obligation, to acquire the interests from the investors at a later time in exchange for OP Units.

Similar to our prior private placement offerings, we expect that the DST Program will give us the opportunity to expand and diversify our capital raising strategies by offering what we believe to be an attractive and unique investment product for investors that may be seeking replacement properties to complete like-kind exchange transactions under Section 1031 of the Code. We expect to use the net proceeds of these private placements to make investments in accordance with our investment strategy and policies, to provide liquidity to our investors and for general corporate purposes (which may include repayment of our debt or any other corporate purposes we deem appropriate). The specific amounts of the net proceeds that are used for such purposes, and the priority of such uses, will depend on the amount and timing of receipts of such proceeds and what we deem to be the best use of such proceeds at such time.

In connection with the DST Program, in March 2016, Ares Diversified Real Estate Exchange LLC (“ADREX”), a wholly owned subsidiary of our taxable REIT subsidiary that is wholly owned by the Operating Partnership, entered into a dealer manager agreement with our Dealer Manager, which has since been amended and restated. Pursuant to the amended and restated dealer manager agreement, the Dealer Manager agreed to conduct the private placements of up to $1.0 billion of interests.  As of September 30, 2021, we have sold $734.1 million of gross interests related to the DST Program, $63.0 million of which were financed by DST Program Loans. The Advisor, Dealer Manager and certain of their affiliates receive fees and reimbursements in connection with their roles in the DST Program, which costs are substantially funded by the private investors in that program, through one or more purchase price “mark-ups” of the initial estimated fair value of the DST Properties to be sold to investors, fees paid by the investors at the time of investment, or deductions from distributions paid to such investors.

ADREX will pay certain up-front fees and reimburse certain related expenses to the Dealer Manager with respect to capital raised through the DST Program. ADREX is obligated to pay the Dealer Manager a dealer manager fee of up to 1.5% of gross equity proceeds raised and a commission of up to 5% of gross equity proceeds raised through the private placements. In addition, with respect to certain classes of interests (or the corresponding classes of OP Units or shares for which they may be exchanged in certain circumstances) we, the Operating Partnership or ADREX will pay the Dealer Manager ongoing fees in amounts up to 0.85% of the equity investment or net asset value thereof per year. The Dealer Manager may re-allow such commissions, ongoing fees and a portion of such dealer manager fees to participating broker-dealers. In addition, pursuant to the dealer manager agreement for the DST Program, we, or our subsidiaries, are obligated to reimburse the Dealer Manager for (a) customary travel, lodging, meals and reasonable entertainment expenses incurred in connection with the private placements; (b) costs and expenses of conducting educational conferences and seminars, attending broker-dealer sponsored conferences, or educational conferences sponsored by ADREX; (c) customary promotional items; and (d) legal fees of the Dealer Manager.

Pursuant to our Advisory Agreement and Operating Partnership Agreement, DST Properties are included when calculating the fixed and performance components of the advisory fee due to our Advisor or Sponsor, as applicable. Furthermore, because our Advisor funds certain Dealer Manager personnel costs that are not reimbursed under the DST Program dealer manager agreement, we have also

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agreed to pay our Advisor a fee equal to the mark-up paid by DST Program investors for these costs, which is up to 1.5% of the total equity amount paid for the interests.

ADREX Manager LLC (the “DST Manager”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of our Operating Partnership, acts, directly or through a wholly-owned subsidiary, as the manager of each Delaware statutory trust holding a DST Property, but has assigned all of its rights and obligations as manager (including fees and reimbursements received) to BC Exchange Advisor LLC (“DST Advisor”), an affiliate of the Advisor. While the intention is to sell 100% of the interests to third parties, ADREX may hold an interest for a period of time and therefore could be subject to the following description of fees and reimbursements paid to the DST Manager. The DST Manager will have primary responsibility for performing administrative actions in connection with the trust and any DST Property and has the sole power to determine when it is appropriate for a trust to sell a DST Property. For its services, DST Advisor will receive, through the DST Manager, (i) a management fee equal to a stated percentage (e.g., 1.0%) of the gross rents payable to the trust, with such amount to be set on a deal-by-deal basis, (ii) a disposition fee of up to 1.0% of the gross sales price of certain DST Properties sold to a third party, subject to the terms of the applicable DST Program offering documents, (iii) a loan fee of up to 1.0% for any DST Program Loans (described below) provided by us in connection with the DST Program (in which case a subsidiary of ours would provide the debt financing and earn interest thereon), (iv) reimbursement of certain expenses associated with the establishment, maintenance and operation of the trust and DST Properties and the sale of any DST Property to a third party, and (v) up to 1.0% of the gross equity proceeds as compensation for developing and maintaining the DST Program technology and intellectual property. Furthermore, to the extent that the Operating Partnership exercises the FMV Option to acquire the interests from the investors at a later time in exchange for OP Units, and such investors subsequently submit such OP Units for redemption pursuant to the terms of our Operating Partnership, a redemption fee of up to 1.0% of the amount otherwise payable to a limited partner upon redemption will be paid to DST Manager (or such other amount as may be set forth in the applicable DST Program offering documents).

As part of the DST Program, a subsidiary of ours will DST Program Loans of no more than 50% of the purchase price to certain DST Program investors who acquire interests in Delaware statutory trusts. DST Program Loans will be secured by the DST Interests acquired using the DST Program Loan, and will be non-recourse to the borrowing DST Program investor subject to commercially customary recourse carveouts.

Investment Limitations

Our charter places the following limitations on us with respect to the manner in which we may invest our funds prior to a listing of our common stock:

We will not invest in commodities or commodity futures contracts, except for futures contracts when used solely for the purpose of hedging in connection with our ordinary business of investing in real property, real estate-related debt and securities.
We will not invest in real estate contracts of sale, otherwise known as land sale contracts, unless the contract is in recordable form and is appropriately recorded in the chain of title.
We will not make or invest in individual mortgage loans (excluding any investments in mortgage pools, commercial mortgage-backed securities (“CMBS”) or residential mortgage-backed securities (“MBS”)) unless an appraisal is obtained concerning the underlying property except for those mortgage loans insured or guaranteed by a government or government agency. In cases where a majority of our independent directors so determines, and in all cases in which the transaction is with any of our directors, the Sponsor, the Advisor or any of their affiliates, such appraisal shall be obtained from an independent appraiser. We will maintain such appraisal in our records for at least five years and it will be available for your inspection and duplication. We will also obtain a mortgagee’s or owner’s title insurance policy as to the priority of the mortgage.
We will not make or invest in mortgage loans that are subordinate to any lien or other indebtedness of any of our directors, the Advisor or its affiliates.
We will not invest in securities unless a majority of the directors (including a majority of the independent directors) not otherwise interested in the transaction approve such investment as being fair, competitive and commercially reasonable. See “Investment Strategy, Objectives and Policies—Real Estate-Related Debt and Securities Portfolio.”
We will not issue (i) equity securities redeemable solely at the option of the holder (except that stockholders may offer their shares of common stock to us pursuant to our share redemption program), (ii) debt securities unless the historical debt service coverage (in the most recently completed fiscal year) as adjusted for known changes is anticipated to be sufficient to properly service that higher level of debt, or (iii) options or warrants to the directors, the Advisor or any of their affiliates except on the same terms as such options or warrants are sold to the general public; options or warrants may be issued to persons other than the directors, the Advisor or any of their affiliates, but not at exercise prices less than the fair market value of the

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underlying securities on the date of grant and not for consideration (which may include services) that in the judgment of the independent directors has a market value less than the value of such option or warrant on the date of grant.
We will not make any investment that is inconsistent with our objectives of qualifying and remaining qualified as a REIT unless and until the board of directors determines, in its sole discretion, that REIT qualification is not in our best interests.
We will not make or invest in mortgage loans, including construction loans but excluding any investment in CMBS, or residential MBS, on any one real property if the aggregate amount of all mortgage loans on such real property would exceed an amount equal to 85% of the appraised value of such real property as determined by appraisal unless substantial justification exists because of the presence of other underwriting criteria.
We will not borrow in excess of 300% of the value of our net assets (net assets for purposes of this calculation is defined to be our total assets (other than intangibles), valued at cost prior to deducting depreciation, reserves for bad debts and other non-cash reserves, less total liabilities).
We will not make investments in unimproved real property or indebtedness secured by a deed of trust or mortgage loans on unimproved real property in excess of 10% of our total assets.
We will not issue equity securities on a deferred payment basis or other similar arrangement.

Investment Company Act Considerations

We intend to continue to conduct our operations so that neither we nor any of our subsidiaries will be required to register as an investment company under the Investment Company Act. Under the relevant provisions of Section 3(a)(1) of the Investment Company Act, an entity may be an “investment company”:

If it is engaged primarily, or holds itself out as being engaged primarily or proposing to engage primarily, in the business of investing, reinvesting or trading in securities; or
If it is engaged or proposes to engage in the business of investing, reinvesting, owning, holding or trading in securities and owns or proposes to acquire “investment securities” having a value exceeding 40% of the value of its total assets (other than government securities or cash items) on an unconsolidated basis. “Investment securities” excludes U.S. government securities and securities of majority-owned subsidiaries that are not themselves investment companies and are not relying on the exception from the definition of investment company under Section 3(c)(1) or Section 3(c)(7) of the Investment Company Act (relating to private investment companies).

To continue to avoid registration under the Investment Company Act, we may have to retain assets we would otherwise want to sell and may have to sell assets we would otherwise wish to retain. In addition, we may have to acquire assets that we might not otherwise have acquired and may have to forego opportunities to acquire assets that we would otherwise want to acquire. See “Risk Factors—Investment Company Risks.”

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INVESTMENTS IN REAL PROPERTIES AND REAL ESTATE-RELATED DEBT AND SECURITIES

Real Property Portfolio Overview

We are primarily focused on investing in and operating a diverse portfolio of real property and investing in other real estate-related assets. We currently focus our investment activities primarily across the major U.S. property sectors (industrial, residential, office and retail). To a lesser extent, we intend to strategically invest in geographies outside of the U.S., which may include Canada, the United Kingdom, Europe and other foreign jurisdictions, and in other sectors such as triple net lease, real estate debt (which may include mortgages and subordinated interests) and infrastructure, to create a diversified blend of current income and long-term value appreciation. Our objective is to bring the Ares leading institutional-quality real assets investment platform to income-focused investors, with significant diversification across real estate and real estate-related asset classes, geographies and sectors. We intend to allocate capital dynamically between sectors and strategies so as to achieve outperformance through strategic diversification rather than outsized risk. We expect real estate debt, non-US jurisdictions and/or infrastructure assets to comprise up to 30% of our assets. Currently, infrastructure is not expected to comprise more than 10% of our assets with a focus on real estate related infrastructure and renewable energy sources. While we will not limit our investment opportunities to stay within these allocations, we may adjust our expectations based on market conditions and opportunities. The following information summarizes our real property portfolio as of June 30, 2021.

As of September 30, 2021, our real property portfolio consisted of 61 properties totaling approximately 12.6 million square feet located in 28 markets throughout the U.S.

As used herein, the term “commercial” refers to our office, retail and industrial properties or customers, as applicable.

Acquisitions. During the nine months ended September 30, 2021, we acquired seven industrial properties and one grocery-anchored retail property comprising 1.8 million square feet for an aggregate contractual purchase price of approximately $345.4 million.

Dispositions. During the nine months ended September 30, 2021, we sold one retail property, one industrial property, and two office properties for net proceeds of approximately $141.4 million. We recorded a net gain on sale of approximately $53.3 million related to the sale of our industrial and office properties, and an impairment of $0.8 million related to the sale of our retail property.

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Market Diversification. The following table summarizes certain operating metrics of our real property portfolio by market and by segment as of September 30, 2021:

($ and square feet in thousands)

Number of Properties

Investment in Real Estate Properties

% of Gross Investment Amount

Rentable Square Feet

% of Total Rentable Square Feet

% Leased (1)

Office properties:

Northern New Jersey

1

$

252,063

9.4

%

601

4.8

%

79.7

%

Denver, CO

1

93,263

3.4

264

2.1

87.9

Austin, TX

1

77,913

2.9

273

2.2

98.9

Washington, DC

1

76,585

2.8

132

1.0

39.7

Philadelphia, PA

1

52,167

1.9

174

1.4

70.1

Dallas, TX

1

42,734

1.6

165

1.3

94.5

Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN

1

29,528

1.1

107

0.9

100.0

Total office properties

7

624,253

23.1

1,716

13.7

82.6

Retail properties:

Greater Boston

17

466,489

17.2

1,757

14.0

93.4

South Florida

2

108,344

4.0

206

1.6

95.6

Washington, DC

1

67,132

2.5

233

1.9

100.0

Northern New Jersey

1

65,806

2.4

226

1.8

96.8

Atlanta, GA

1

56,380

2.1

328

2.6

95.5

Birmingham, AL

1

43,932

1.6

193

1.5

91.3

Raleigh, NC

1

42,918

1.6

125

1.0

79.9

San Antonio, TX

1

42,546

1.6

174

1.4

99.3

Tulsa, OK

1

35,513

1.3

101

0.8

91.8

Total retail properties

26

929,060

34.3

3,343

26.6

94.1

Residential properties:

Atlanta, GA

1

117,512

4.4

356

2.8

94.2

Washington, DC

1

95,952

3.5

288

2.3

94.2

Orlando, FL

1

84,790

3.1

242

1.9

98.0

South Florida

1

79,510

2.9

336

2.7

96.0

Total residential properties (1,325 units)

4

377,764

13.9

1,222

9.7

95.5

Industrial properties:

Indianapolis, IN

3

80,995

3.1

966

7.7

100.0

Reno, NV

1

68,674

2.5

722

5.7

100.0

East Bay, CA

3

166,369

6.1

615

4.9

85.7

Atlanta, GA

1

64,704

2.4

798

6.3

100.0

Salt Lake City, UT

1

63,689

2.4

438

3.5

100.0

Lehigh Valley, PA

1

50,122

1.9

291

2.3

100.0

Houston, TX

1

39,116

1.4

352

2.8

100.0

San Antonio, TX

2

34,115

1.3

404

3.2

100.0

San Diego, CA

1

25,072

0.9

136

1.1

100.0

Las Vegas, NV

1

24,671

0.9

248

2.0

100.0

Dallas, TX

1

19,602

0.7

230

1.8

100.0

Louisville, KY

1

19,241

0.7

235

1.9

100.0

Philadelphia, PA

1

19,056

0.7

171

1.4

92.3

Cincinnati, OH

1

18,759

0.7

218

1.7

100.0

Northern New Jersey

1

17,328

0.6

100

0.8

100.0

Portland, OR

1

15,132

0.6

123

1.0

100.0

Chicago, IL

1

9,408

0.3

110

0.9

100.0

Washington, DC

1

5,327

0.2

30

0.2

100.0

Orange County, CA

1

34,969

1.3

105

0.8

100.0

Total industrial properties

24

776,349

28.7

6,292

50.0

98.4

Total real property portfolio

61

$

2,707,426

100.0

%

12,573

100.0

%

94.8

%


(1)

Percentage leased is based on executed leases as of September 30, 2021.

Lease Terms. Commercial lease terms typically range from one to 10 years, and often include renewal options. Most of our commercial leases include fixed rental increases or Consumer Price Index-based rental increases and are not based on the income or profits of any person. The majority of our residential leases expire within 12 months.

Lease Expirations. As of September 30, 2021, the weighted-average remaining term of our total leased commercial portfolio was approximately 5.3 years based on annualized base rent and 5.2 years based on leased square footage, excluding renewal options. The following table summarizes the lease expirations at our commercial properties for leases in place as of September 30, 2021, without giving effect to the exercise of renewal options or termination rights, if any. The table excludes our residential properties as substantially all leases at such properties expire within 12 months.

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($ and square feet in thousands)

Number of Commercial Leases

Annualized Base Rent (1)

% of Total
Annualized
Base Rent (1)

Leased
Square Feet

% of Total
Leased
Square Feet

2021

39

$

3,760

2.6

%

153

1.4

%

2022

81

12,663

8.9

761

7.1

2023

90

21,160

14.8

1,137

10.6

2024

73

10,053

7.0

819

7.6

2025

68

19,907

13.9

1,419

13.2

2026

65

13,770

9.6

1,742

16.2

2027

40

16,993

11.9

1,753

16.3

2028

35

6,468

4.5

400

3.7

2029

27

8,613

6.0

1,023

9.5

2030

24

8,492

5.9

377

3.5

Thereafter

49

21,116

14.9

1,179

10.9

Total leased

591

$

142,995

100.0

%

10,763

100.0

%


(1)

Annualized base rent is calculated as monthly base rent including the impact of any contractual tenant concessions (cash basis) per the terms of the lease as of September 30, 2021, multiplied by 12.

Customer Diversification. We believe that the customer base that occupies our real estate portfolio is generally well-diversified. As of September 30, 2021, there were no customers that represented more than 10.0% of total annualized base rent or more than 10.0% of total leased square feet. The following table reflects our 10 largest customers, based on annualized base rent, as of September 30, 2021:

($ and square feet in thousands)

Number of
Locations (1)

Annualized
Base Rent (2)

% of Total
Annualized
Base Rent (2)

Leased
Square Feet

% of Total
Leased
Square Feet

Stop & Shop

11

$

11,825

6.9

%

703

5.9

%

Amazon.com / Whole Foods

5

4,840

2.8

495

4.1

Mizuho Bank Ltd.

1

4,666

2.7

119

1.0

FedEx

2

3,875

2.3

999

8.4

Home Depot

1

2,964

1.7

102

0.9

TJX Companies

5

2,704

1.6

252

2.1

Alliant Techsystems, Inc.

1

2,685

1.6

107

0.9

Deloitte LLP

1

2,556

1.5

62

0.5

Apple, Inc.

1

2,523

1.5

94

0.8

Shaw's Supermarket

2

2,448

1.4

135

1.1

Total

30

$

41,086

24.0

%

3,068

25.7

%


(1)

Reflects the number of properties for which the customer has at least one lease in-place.

(2)

Annualized base rent is calculated as monthly base rent including the impact of any contractual tenant concessions (cash basis) per the terms of the lease as of September 30, 2021, multiplied by 12.

The majority of our customers do not have a public corporate credit rating. We evaluate creditworthiness and financial strength of prospective commercial customers based on financial, operating and business plan information that such prospective customers provide to us, as well as other market, industry, and economic information that is generally publicly available. As a result of this assessment, we may require that the customers enhance their credit by providing us with security deposits, letters of credit from established financial institutions, or personal or corporate guarantees. Customer creditworthiness often influences the amount of upfront tenant improvements, lease incentives, concessions or other leasing costs. We evaluate creditworthiness of our residential customers based on standard market practice, which includes credit checks.

Industry Diversification. We intend to maintain a well-diversified mix of customers to limit our exposure to any single customer or industry. Our diversified investment strategy inherently provides for customer diversity, and we continue to monitor our exposure relative to our larger customer industry sectors. The following table reflects the 10 largest industry concentrations within our portfolio, based on annualized base rent, as of September 30, 2021 and assumes that our residential investments are not concentrated within any specific industry:

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($ and square feet in thousands)

Number of Leases

Annualized
Base Rent (1)

% of Total
Annualized
Base Rent

Leased
Square Feet

% of Total
Leased
Square Feet

Supermarket

26

$

21,594

12.6

%

1,364

11.4

%

Financial

31

14,956

8.7

382

3.2

Professional Services

67

11,182

6.5

322

2.7

Food & Beverage

86

8,993

5.3

354

3.0

Healthcare Services

57

6,019

3.5

204

1.7

Software / Technology

15

5,827

3.4

133

1.1

Apparel / Clothing

21

5,667

3.3

667

5.6

Post & Courier Services

10

5,484

3.2

1,170

9.8

Computer / Electronics

15

4,896

2.9

193

1.6

Storage / Warehousing

8

4,892

2.9

1,090

9.1

Total

336

$

89,510

52.3

%

5,879

49.2

%


(1)

Annualized base rent is calculated as monthly base rent including the impact of any contractual tenant concessions (cash basis) per the terms of the lease as of September 30, 2021, multiplied by 12.

DST Program and DST Program Loans. During the nine months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020, we incurred rent obligations of approximately $20.7 million and $13.7 million, respectively, under our master lease agreements in the DST Program. Additionally, during the nine months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020, 7.6 million partnership units (“OP Units”) in our Operating Partnership and 1.5 million OP Units, respectively were issued in exchange for DST Interests for a net investment of $57.7 million and $11.3 million, respectively, in accordance with our Umbrella Partnership Real Estate Investment Trust (“UPREIT”) structure. In order to facilitate additional capital raise through the DST Program, we may offer loans (“DST Program Loans”) to finance a portion of the sale of beneficial interests in the trusts holding DST Properties to potential investors. As of September 30, 2021, we had 84 DST Program Loans with a combined carrying value of $58.3 million, and a weighted average interest rate and weighted average maturity of 3.96% and 8.9 years, respectively, related to the DST Program.

Debt Obligations. Our indebtedness is currently comprised of borrowings under our line of credit, term loans and mortgage notes. As of September 30, 2021, we had approximately $921.3 million of indebtedness with a weighted-average interest rate of 3.01%, which includes the effects of the interest rate swap agreements. The weighted-average remaining term of our debt as of September 30, 2021 was 1.9 years, excluding the impact of certain extension options. The total gross book value of properties encumbered by our debt as of September 30, 2021 was approximately $557.1 million.

LIBOR is expected to be phased out or modified by June 2023, and the writing of contracts using LIBOR is expected to stop by the end of 2021. As of September 30, 2021, our line of credit and our term loans are our only indebtedness with initial or extended maturity dates beyond 2023 that have exposure to LIBOR. The agreements governing the line of credit and term loans provide procedures for determining a replacement or alternative base rate in the event that LIBOR is discontinued. However, there can be no assurances as to whether such replacement or alternative base rate will be more or less favorable than LIBOR. We intend to monitor the developments with respect to the potential phasing out of LIBOR after 2023 and work with our lenders to seek to ensure any transition away from LIBOR will have minimal impact on our financial condition, but can provide no assurances regarding the impact of the discontinuation of LIBOR.

Portfolio Activity Subsequent to September 30, 2021

Subsequent to September 30, 2021, we acquired (excluding properties related to our DST Program) seven industrial properties, three residential properties, and acquired two majority interests in separate entities that own two residential properties, one of which is a student housing property, for a total aggregate purchase price of approximately $728.5 million. Subsequent to September 30, 3021, we also entered into contracts to acquire two industrial properties located in Texas and Colorado for a total combined purchase price of approximately $56.7 million. There can be no assurance that we will complete the acquisitions of the properties under these agreements.

Subsequent to September 30, 2021, we disposed of two separate retail properties, located in Portsmouth, New Hampshire and Braintree, Massachusetts, for combined gross proceeds of approximately $84.8 million. Our combined accounting basis (net of accumulated depreciation and amortization) for these real estate properties as of September 30, 2021 was approximately $52.2 million. Subsequent to September 30, 2021, we also entered into two contracts to dispose of two separate office properties, located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and Denver, Colorado, for combined gross proceeds of approximately $135.8 million. Our combined accounting basis (net of accumulated depreciation and amortization) for these real estate properties as of September 30, 2021 was approximately $100.4 million. There can be no assurance that we will complete the dispositions of the properties under these agreements.

Subsequent to September 30, 2021, we amended and restated our existing senior unsecured revolving and term credit facility agreement by entering into a $700 million revolving credit facility, a $400 million term loan, and a second $400 million term loan for an

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aggregate amount of $1.5 billion. The amended and restated credit facility resulted in a decrease of our weighted-average interest rate from 3.01% to 2.98% and an increase of our weighted-average debt maturity from 1.9 years to 4.2 years, before consideration of any available extension options.

MANAGEMENT

Board of Directors

We operate under the direction of our board of directors, the members of which are accountable to us and our stockholders as fiduciaries. The board of directors is responsible for the management and control of our affairs. The board of directors has retained the Advisor to manage our day-to-day affairs and to implement our investment strategy, subject to the board’s direction, oversight and approval.

We currently have a total of seven members on our board of directors, four of whom are independent of us, the Advisor, our Sponsor and our respective affiliates. Under our charter, an “independent director” is a person who is not associated, and has not been associated within the last two years, directly or indirectly, with us, our Sponsor or our Advisor. We refer to our two directors who are not independent of us as our “interested directors.”

Our charter sets forth the material business or professional relationships that cause a person to be associated with us and therefore not eligible to serve as an independent director. A business or professional relationship is per se material if the prospective independent director received more than 5% of his annual gross income in the last two years from the Sponsor, the Advisor or any affiliate of the Sponsor or Advisor, or if more than 5% of his net worth, on a fair market value basis, has come from the Sponsor, the Advisor or any affiliate of the Sponsor or Advisor. The existence of other relationships or circumstances may also create a material business or professional relationship, thereby disqualifying a person as an independent director, even if he has not received more than 5% of his annual gross income in the last two years from the Sponsor, the Advisor or any affiliate of the Sponsor or Advisor, and has not acquired more than 5% of his net worth, on a fair market value basis, from the Sponsor, the Advisor or any affiliate of the Sponsor or Advisor.

Our charter and bylaws provide that the number of our directors may be established by a majority of the board but may not be fewer than three nor more than 15. The foregoing is the exclusive means of fixing the number of directors. Our charter also provides that a majority of the directors must be independent directors. Our charter provides that at least one of the independent directors must have at least three years of relevant real estate experience. The independent directors will nominate replacements for vacancies among the independent directors.

Each director will be elected by the stockholders and will serve for a term of one year. Each director may be elected to an unlimited number of successive terms. Although the number of directors may be increased or decreased, a decrease shall not have the effect of shortening the term of any incumbent director.

Any director may resign at any time and may be removed with or without cause by the stockholders upon the affirmative vote of at least a majority of all the votes entitled to be cast at a meeting called for the purpose of the proposed removal. The notice of the meeting shall indicate that the purpose, or one of the purposes, of the meeting is to determine if the director shall be removed.

A vacancy following the removal of a director or a vacancy created by an increase in the number of directors or the death, resignation, adjudicated incompetence or other incapacity of a director shall be filled by a vote of a majority of the remaining directors and, in the case of an independent director, the director must also be nominated by the remaining independent directors.

If there are no remaining independent directors, then a majority vote of the remaining directors shall be sufficient to fill a vacancy among the independent directors’ positions. If at any time there are no independent or interested directors in office, successor directors shall be elected by the stockholders. Each director will be bound by our charter.

Duties of Directors

In general, when the board of directors acts on matters relating to any of the following, the approval of a majority of the independent directors is required: minimum capital, duties of directors, the Advisory Agreement, liability and indemnification of directors, fees to our Advisor or its affiliates, compensation and expenses, investment policies, leverage and borrowing policies, meetings of stockholders, stockholders’ election of directors and our distribution reinvestment plan. At the first meeting of our board of directors consisting of a majority of independent directors, held January 9, 2006, our charter and each of the above matters were reviewed and ratified by a unanimous vote of the directors and of the independent directors.

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The responsibilities of the board of directors are as follows:

It reviews and adopts valuation procedures to be used in connection with the calculation of our NAV, oversees the implementation of the valuation procedures and approves the parties engaged in connection with determining our NAV.
It approves and oversees our overall investment strategy, which consists of elements such as (i) allocation percentages of capital to be invested in real properties and real estate-related debt and securities, (ii) diversification strategies, (iii) investment selection criteria for real property and real estate-related debt and securities and (iv) asset disposition strategies.
It approves all investments, dispositions and real property developments, except that the board of directors has delegated (i) to the AREIT Advisors Committee the authority to review and approve any real property acquisition and development (including real property portfolio acquisitions and developments), for a purchase price or total project cost of up to $25,000,000, and (ii) to the AREIT Advisors Committee the authority to review and approve any real property disposition (including real property portfolio dispositions) for a sales price of up to $25,000,000, provided that the total dispositions approved by the AREIT Advisors Committee in any quarter may not exceed $50,000,000.
It approves and oversees our debt financing strategies, except that the board of directors has delegated (i) to the Lainie Minnick, our Chief Financial Officer, the authority to review and approve any proposed new borrowing or refinancing (secured or unsecured) for an amount of up to $30,000,000, (ii) to the AREIT Advisors Committee the authority to review and approve any proposed new borrowing (secured or unsecured) for an amount of up to $100,000,000, provided that the total new borrowings approved by the AREIT Advisors Committee in any quarter may not exceed $100,000,000, and (iii) to the AREIT Advisors Committee the authority to review and approve any proposed new refinancing (secured or unsecured) for an amount of up to $100,000,000, provided that the total new refinancings approved by the AREIT Advisors Committee in any quarter may not exceed $100,000,000.
It approves and monitors the relationship between us, the Operating Partnership and the Advisor.
It approves joint ventures, limited partnerships and other such relationships with third parties.
It determines our distribution policy and declares distributions from time to time.
It oversees our share redemption program.

The directors are not required to devote all of their time to our business and are only required to devote such time to our affairs as their duties require. The directors will meet quarterly or more frequently as necessary.

The directors have established written policies on investments and borrowings consistent with our investment objectives and will monitor our administrative procedures, investment operations and performance and those of the Advisor to assure that such policies are carried out. The independent directors will review these policies at least annually to determine that the policies are in the best interests of our stockholders. Each such determination and the basis thereof will be included in the minutes of the board of directors. Any change in our investment objectives, as stated in our charter, must be approved by the stockholders.

The independent directors are also responsible for reviewing our fees and expenses on at least an annual basis and with sufficient frequency to determine that the expenses incurred are in the best interest of the stockholders.

In order to reduce or eliminate certain potential conflicts of interest, our charter requires that a majority of our board of directors (including a majority of the independent directors) not otherwise interested in the transaction approve all transactions with any of our directors, the Sponsor, the Advisor or any of their affiliates. The independent directors are also responsible for reviewing the performance of the Advisor and determining that the compensation to be paid to the Advisor is reasonable in relation to the nature and quality of services performed and that the provisions of the Advisory Agreement are being carried out. Each such determination shall be based on factors set forth below and all other factors the independent directors deem relevant and the findings of the independent directors will be recorded in the minutes of the board of directors. As part of their review of the Advisor’s compensation, the independent directors will consider factors such as:

the amount of fees paid to the Advisor in relation to the size, composition and performance of our investments;
the success of the Advisor in generating investment opportunities that meet our investment objectives;
rates charged to other externally advised REITs and other similar investors by advisors performing similar services;

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additional revenues realized by the Advisor and its affiliates through their relationship with us, whether we pay them or they are paid by others with whom we do business;
the quality and extent of the services and advice furnished by the Advisor;
the performance of our investments, including income, conservation or appreciation of capital, frequency of problem investments and competence in dealing with distress situations; and
the quality of our investment portfolio in relation to the investments generated by the Advisor for its own account.

Committees of the Board

Our board of directors may establish committees it deems appropriate to address specific areas in more depth than may be possible at a full board meeting, provided that the majority of the members of each committee are independent directors. We currently have seven directors on our board of directors, four of whom are independent. Our board of directors has established an Audit Committee, a Conflicts Resolution Committee and a Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee.

Our board of directors also adopted a delegation of authority policy and, pursuant to such policy, has delegated the authority for certain actions to the AREIT Advisors Committee. The AREIT Advisors Committee, described further below, is not a committee of our board of directors, but rather is the Advisor’s investment and management committee for our company and consists of certain of our officers and officers of the Advisor.

Audit Committee

The Audit Committee meets on a regular basis, at least quarterly and more frequently as necessary. The Audit Committee’s primary function is to assist our board of directors in fulfilling its oversight responsibilities by reviewing the financial information to be provided to stockholders and others, reviewing our system of internal controls, which management has established, overseeing the audit and financial reporting process, including the preapproval of services performed by our independent registered public accounting firm, and overseeing certain areas of risk management. The Audit Committee is currently comprised of three directors, each of whom is an independent director. The members of the Audit Committee are Charles B. Duke, Daniel J. Sullivan and John P. Woodberry.

Conflicts Resolution Committee

Our board of directors has delegated to the Conflicts Resolution Committee the responsibility to consider and resolve all conflicts that may arise between us and other entities or programs sponsored or advised by affiliates of the Sponsor. Such conflicts may arise as a result of the investment allocation methodology that our Advisor utilizes for allocating investment opportunities that are suitable for both us and other entities or programs sponsored or advised by affiliates of the Sponsor. The members of the Conflicts Resolution Committee are Daniel J. Sullivan and John P. Woodberry, each of whom is an independent director.

Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee

On April 28, 2021, our board of directors established a Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee. The primary function of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee is to assist our board of directors in (i) identifying individuals qualified to become members of our board of directors; (ii) recommending candidates to our board of directors to fill vacancies on the board; (iii) recommending committee assignments for directors to the full board; (iv) periodically assessing the performance of our board of directors; and (v) advising our board of directors on certain other corporate governance matters. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee is comprised of Messrs. Sullivan and Woodberry, each of whom is an independent director. Mr. Woodberry is the chairman of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee.

Delegation of Authority to AREIT Advisors Committee

Our board of directors has delegated certain responsibilities with respect to certain disposition, leasing, capital expenditure, borrowing and refinancing decisions to the AREIT Advisors Committee and/or certain individuals at the Advisor who are senior members of the AREIT Advisors Committee. The AREIT Advisors Committee does not have authority over any transactions between us and the Advisor, a member of the board of directors, or any of their affiliates. The AREIT Advisors Committee is not a board committee but rather is the Advisor’s investment and management committee for our company and consists of certain of our officers and officers of the Advisor. The members of the AREIT Advisors Committee and their biographical summaries are in “—The Advisor and the Advisory Agreement” below.

With respect to real property investments, the board of directors has delegated to the AREIT Advisors Committee the authority to generally approve all real property dispositions, including real property portfolio dispositions, for a sales price of up to $25,000,000,

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provided that the total dispositions approved by the AREIT Advisors Committee in any quarter may not exceed $50,000,000. The board of directors, including a majority of the independent directors, must approve all real property dispositions, including real property portfolio dispositions, (i) for a sales price greater than $25,000,000, and (ii) once the total dispositions approved by the AREIT Advisors Committee in any quarter equals $50,000,000, for any sales price through the end of such quarter.

With respect to the lease of real property, the board of directors has delegated to (i) Scott Recknor the authority to approve any lease, on such terms as they deem necessary, advisable, or appropriate, for total base rent not to exceed $20,000,000 over the base term of the lease, (ii) Scott Recknor that authority to delegate such authorization to an appropriate Principal or Vice President (each, a “Sub-delegate”) to approve any lease for total base rent not to exceed $5 million over the base term of the lease for a Principal and not to exceed $1 million over the base term of the lease for a Vice President, and (iii) the AREIT Advisors Committee the authority to approve the lease of real property, on such terms as the AREIT Advisors Committee deems necessary, advisable, or appropriate, for total base rent not to exceed $50,000,000 over the base term of the lease.

With respect to capital expenditures (excluding capital expenditures approved by the board of directors in the ordinary course of budget approvals), (i) Scott Recknor is authorized to approve any capital expenditure of up to $3,000,000 over the line item approved by the board of directors in the budget for the specified property, and (ii) the AREIT Advisors Committee is authorized to approve any capital expenditure of up to $7,000,000 over the line item approved by the board of directors in the budget for the specified property.

With respect to borrowing and refinancing decisions, the board of directors has authorized (i) Lainie Minnick to review and approve any proposed new borrowing or refinancing (secured or unsecured) for an amount of up to $30,000,000, (ii) the AREIT Advisors Committee to review and approve any proposed new borrowing (secured or unsecured) for an amount of up to $100,000,000, provided that the total new borrowings approved by the AREIT Advisors Committee in any quarter may not exceed $100,000,000, and (iii) the AREIT Advisors Committee to review and approve any proposed new refinancing (secured or unsecured) for an amount of up to $100,000,000, provided that the total new refinancings approved by the AREIT Advisors Committee in any quarter may not exceed $100,000,000.

Compensation of Directors

We pay each of our independent directors an annual retainer of $50,000 ($12,500 per quarter), $2,000 for each regular board of directors meeting attended in person or by telephone and $2,000 for each committee meeting and each special board of directors meeting attended in person or by telephone. We also pay the chairman of the Audit Committee an annual retainer of $15,000 ($3,750 per quarter) and the chairman of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee an annual retainer of $10,000 ($2,500 per quarter). All directors receive reimbursement of reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection with attending board meetings. If a director is also one of our officers, we will not pay additional compensation for services rendered as a director.

RSU Awards

In addition, at each annual meeting of stockholders the independent directors automatically, upon election, receive an award (“Annual Award”), pursuant to either the Equity Incentive Plan (as defined below) or the Secondary Plan (as defined below), of $50,000 in restricted stock units (“RSUs”) with respect to Class I shares of our common stock, with the number of RSUs based on the NAV per Class I share as of the end of the day of the annual meeting. Independent directors appointed after an annual meeting will receive, upon appointment, a pro rata Annual Award, with the number of RSUs based on the Class I NAV as of the end of the day of appointment and reflecting the number of days remaining until the one-year anniversary of the prior annual meeting of stockholders (or, if earlier and if scheduled as of the day of appointment, the date of the next scheduled annual meeting of stockholders).

RSUs vest if and when the director completes the term for which he or she was elected/appointed. Unvested awards also vest in the event of death or disability of the director or upon a change of control of our company. Unvested awards are forfeited if the director’s term in office terminates prematurely for any other reason. The directors may elect to defer settlement of vested awards in shares pursuant to Section 409A of the Code.

The independent directors accrue dividend equivalents on unsettled RSUs, in amounts and with accrual dates that mirror the dividend amounts and payment dates on the underlying Class I shares. Any such dividend equivalents is paid in the form of additional RSUs, is subject to the same terms and vesting as the underlying RSUs with respect to which the dividend equivalents are paid, and is settled in shares at the same time as the underlying RSUs with respect to which the dividend equivalents are paid.

Equity Incentive Plans

Second Amended and Restated Equity Incentive Plan

On March 12, 2015, our board of directors adopted the Second Amended and Restated Equity Incentive Plan (the “Equity Incentive Plan”). The Equity Incentive Plan was approved by our stockholders on June 23, 2015. The Equity Incentive Plan provides for the granting of cash-based awards and stock-based awards, including stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock, and stock

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units to our employees (if we have any in the future), our independent directors, employees of the Advisor or its affiliates, other advisors and consultants of ours and of the Advisor selected by the plan administrator for participation in the Equity Incentive Plan, and any prospective director, officer, employee, consultant, or advisor of the Company and the Advisor. Any such stock-based awards, including stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock, and stock units will provide for exercise prices, where applicable, that are not less than the fair market value of shares of our common stock on the date of the grant.

Our board of directors administers the Equity Incentive Plan as the plan administrator, with sole authority to select participants, determine the types of awards to be granted and determine all the terms and conditions of the awards, including whether the grant, vesting or settlement of awards may be subject to the attainment of one or more performance goals. No awards will be granted under the Equity Incentive Plan if the grant, vesting and/or exercise of the awards would jeopardize our status as a REIT for tax purposes or otherwise violate the ownership and transfer restrictions imposed under our charter. Unless determined by the plan administrator, no award granted under the Equity Incentive Plan will be transferable except through the laws of descent and distribution.

An aggregate maximum of 5.0 million shares of our common stock may be issued upon grant, vesting or exercise of awards under the Equity Incentive Plan, although the board of directors, to date, has only authorized and reserved for issuance a total of 2.0 million shares of our common stock under the Equity Incentive Plan. In addition, to any individual in any single calendar year no more than 200,000 shares may be made subject to stock options or stock appreciation rights under the Equity Incentive Plan and no more than 200,000 shares may be made subject to other stock-based awards under the Equity Incentive Plan. Further, no more than $1.0 million may be paid under a cash-based award to any individual in a single calendar year.

If any shares subject to an award are forfeited or cancelled, or if an award is settled in cash, terminates unearned or expires, in each case, without a distribution of shares, the shares with respect to such award shall, to the extent of any such forfeiture, cancellation, cash settlement, termination or expiration, again be available for awards under the Equity Incentive Plan. By contrast, if shares are surrendered or withheld as payment of the exercise price of an award or withholding taxes in respect of an award, the shares with respect to such award shall, to the extent of any such surrender or withholding, no longer be available for awards under the Equity Incentive Plan. In the event of certain corporate transactions affecting our common stock, such as, for example, a reorganization, recapitalization, merger, spin-off, split-off, stock dividend or extraordinary dividend, our board of directors will have the sole authority to determine whether and in what manner to equitably adjust the number and type of shares and the exercise prices applicable to outstanding awards under the plan, the number and type of shares reserved for future issuance under the plan, and, if applicable, performance goals applicable to outstanding awards under the plan. Fractional shares that result from any adjustment will be disregarded.

Under the Equity Incentive Plan, the plan administrator will determine the treatment of awards in the event of a change in our control. The Equity Incentive Plan will automatically expire on March 12, 2025, unless earlier terminated by our board of directors. Our board of directors may terminate the Equity Incentive Plan at any time. The expiration or other termination of the Equity Incentive Plan will have no adverse impact on any award that is outstanding at the time the Equity Incentive Plan expires or is terminated without the consent of the holder of the outstanding award. Our board of directors may amend the Equity Incentive Plan at any time, but no amendment will adversely affect any award on a retroactive basis without the consent of the holder of the outstanding award, and no amendment to Equity Incentive Plan will be effective without the approval of our stockholders if such approval is required by any law, regulation or rule applicable to the Equity Incentive Plan. The same is true for any amendment to remove the prohibition on repricing. No amendment will be made that could jeopardize the status of the Company as a REIT under the Code.

Secondary Equity Incentive Plan

On March 12, 2015, the board of directors also adopted the Amended and Restated Secondary Equity Incentive Plan (the “Secondary Plan”). The Secondary Plan was approved by our stockholders on June 23, 2015. The Secondary Plan is substantially similar to the Equity Incentive Plan, except that under the Secondary Plan, an eligible participant is any person, trust, association or entity to which the plan administrator desires to grant an award. An aggregate maximum of 5.0 million shares may be issued upon grant, vesting or exercise of awards under the Secondary Plan, although the board of directors, to date, has only authorized and reserved for issuance a total of 2.0 million shares of our common stock under the Secondary Plan.

Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation

Because our Advisory Agreement provides that our Advisor will assume principal responsibility for managing our affairs, our officers, in their capacities as such, do not receive compensation directly from us.

Limited Liability and Indemnification of Directors, Officers and Others

Our charter, subject to certain limitations, limits the personal liability of our directors and officers for monetary damages. The Maryland General Corporation Law permits a corporation to include in its charter a provision limiting the liability of its directors and officers to the corporation and its stockholders for money damages, except for liability resulting from (a) actual receipt of an improper benefit or profit in money, property or services or (b) active and deliberate dishonesty established by a final judgment and which is

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material to the cause of action. In addition, our charter and, with respect to our directors only, indemnification agreements with each director, provide that, subject to certain limitations, we will generally indemnify our directors, our officers, the Advisor and its affiliates, and may indemnify our employees (if we have any in the future) and agents for losses they may incur by reason of their service in those capacities. We also have obtained directors and officers liability insurance. The Maryland General Corporation Law allows directors and officers to be indemnified against judgments, penalties, fines, settlements and expenses actually incurred in a proceeding unless the following can be established:

an act or omission of the director or officer was material to the cause of action adjudicated in the proceeding, and was committed in bad faith or was the result of active and deliberate dishonesty;
the director or officer actually received an improper personal benefit in money, property or services; or
with respect to any criminal proceeding, the director or officer had reasonable cause to believe his act or omission was unlawful.

In spite of the above provisions of the Maryland General Corporation Law, our charter and, with respect to our directors only, indemnification agreements with each director, provide that our directors, the Advisor and its affiliates will be indemnified by us for losses or liabilities suffered by them or held harmless for losses or liabilities suffered by us only if all of the following conditions are met:

our directors, the Advisor or its affiliates have determined, in good faith, that the course of conduct that caused the loss or liability was in our best interests;
our directors, the Advisor or its affiliates were acting on our behalf or performing services for us;
in the case of interested directors, the Advisor or its affiliates, the liability or loss was not the result of negligence or misconduct by the party seeking indemnification;
in the case of our independent directors, the liability or loss was not the result of gross negligence or willful misconduct by the party seeking indemnification; and
the indemnification or agreement to hold harmless is recoverable only out of our net assets and not from our stockholders.

We have agreed to indemnify and hold harmless the Advisor and its affiliates performing services for us from specific claims and liabilities arising out of the performance of their obligations under the Advisory Agreement to the maximum extent permitted by law. As a result, we and our stockholders may be entitled to a more limited right of action than we would otherwise have if these indemnification rights were not included in the Advisory Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any provision of the Maryland General Corporation Law or our organizational documents, we may not indemnify or hold harmless the Advisor, its affiliates or any of their respective officers, directors, partners or employees in any manner that would be inconsistent with the Statement of Policy Regarding Real Estate Investment Trusts adopted by the North American Securities Administrators Association (the “Statement of Policy”).

The general effect to investors of any arrangement under which any of our controlling persons, directors or officers are insured or indemnified against liability is a potential reduction in distributions resulting from our payment of premiums associated with insurance or any indemnification for which we do not have adequate insurance.

The Commission and certain other state securities regulators take the position that indemnification against liabilities arising under the Securities Act is against public policy and unenforceable. Indemnification of the directors, our officers, the Advisor or its affiliates will not be allowed for liabilities arising from or out of a violation of state or federal securities laws, unless one or more of the following conditions are met:

there has been a successful adjudication on the merits of each count involving alleged securities law violations;
such claims have been dismissed with prejudice on the merits by a court of competent jurisdiction; or
a court of competent jurisdiction approves a settlement of the claims against the indemnitee and finds that indemnification of the settlement and the related costs should be made, and the court considering the request for indemnification has been advised of the position of the Commission and of the published position of any state securities regulatory authority in which the securities were offered as to indemnification for violations of securities laws.

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Indemnification will be allowed for settlements and related expenses of lawsuits alleging securities laws violations and for expenses incurred in successfully defending any lawsuits, provided that a court either:

approves the settlement and finds that indemnification of the settlement and related costs should be made; or
dismisses with prejudice, or there is a successful adjudication on the merits of, each count involving alleged securities law violations as to the particular indemnitee and a court approves the indemnification.

We may advance funds to directors, officers, the Advisor and its affiliates for legal expenses and other costs incurred as a result of our legal action for which indemnification is being sought only if all of the following conditions are met:

the legal action relates to acts or omissions with respect to the performance of duties or services on behalf of the REIT;
the party seeking such advancement has provided us with written affirmation of his good faith belief that he has met the standard of conduct necessary for indemnification;
the legal action is initiated by a third party who is not a stockholder or the legal action is initiated by a stockholder acting in his capacity as such and a court of competent jurisdiction specifically approves such advancement; and
the party seeking indemnification undertakes to repay the advanced funds to us, together with the applicable legal rate of interest thereon, in cases in which he is found not to be entitled to indemnification.

Indemnification may reduce the legal remedies available to us and our stockholders against the indemnified individuals.

The aforementioned charter provisions do not reduce the exposure of directors and officers to liability under federal or state securities laws, nor do they limit a stockholder’s ability to obtain injunctive relief or other equitable remedies for a violation of a director’s or an officer’s duties to us or our stockholders, although the equitable remedies may not be an effective remedy in some circumstances.

Directors and Executive Officers

As of the date of this prospectus, our directors and executive officers, their ages and their positions and offices are as follows:

Name

    

Age

    

Position

James R. Mulvihill

57

Chairman of the Board of Directors

Rajat Dhanda

53

Director and Managing Director, Co-President

David A. Roth

55

Director

Charles B. Duke

63

Director*

Brian P. Mathis

55

Director*

Daniel J. Sullivan

56

Director*

John P. Woodberry

58

Director*

Jeffrey W. Taylor

49

Managing Director, Co-President

Gregory M. Moran

49

Managing Director and Chief Investment Officer

Lainie P. Minnick

49

Managing Director, Senior Portfolio Manager, Chief Financial Officer, and Treasurer

Joshua J. Widoff

51

Managing Director, Chief Legal Officer and Secretary

Scott W. Recknor

54

Managing Director, Head of Asset Management


*

Denotes an independent director.

James R. Mulvihill has served as a director of our board of directors since October 2018 and as Chairman since March 2020. Mr. Mulvihill has also served as a member of the AREIT Advisors Committee since July 2021. Since July 2021, Mr. Mulvihill has served as a Strategic Advisor to AREG. Prior to joining Ares in July 2021, he served as a principal of Black Creek Group, a Denver based real estate investment firm which he co-founded in 1993. As of June 30, 2021, Mr. Mulvihill has overseen directly, or indirectly through affiliated entities, the acquisition, development, redevelopment, financing and sale of real estate related assets with an aggregate value in excess of approximately $24.9 billion. Mr. Mulvihill also was a co-founder and formerly served as a director of DCT Industrial Trust, formerly known as Dividend Capital Trust, a NYSE listed industrial REIT (NYSE: DCT). He is also a co-founder and former Chairman of the Board of CPA, one of the largest owners and developers of industrial properties in Mexico. In 1993, Mr. Mulvihill co-founded American Real Estate Investment Corp. (formerly known as Keystone Property Trust, NYSE: KTR) which was an industrial, office and logistics REIT and was acquired by ProLogis Trust (NYSE: PLD) in August 2004. Mr. Mulvihill served as its Chairman and as a director from 1993 through 1997 and as a director of Keystone Property Trust from 1997 through 2001.

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Prior to 1991, Mr. Mulvihill served as Vice President of the Real Estate Banking and Investment Banking Groups of Manufacturers Hanover and subsequently Chemical Bank, where his responsibilities included real estate syndication efforts, structured debt underwritings and leveraged buyout real estate financings. Mr. Mulvihill holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science from Stanford University.

We believe that Mr. Mulvihill’s qualifications to serve on our board of directors are demonstrated by his extensive experience in real estate investments, including his over 25 years of experience with Black Creek Group as a co-founder of the company, his leadership experience as an advisor to non-traded REITs and other real estate investment companies, and his experience in real estate investment banking.

Rajat Dhanda has served as a director since March 2020, our Managing Director, Co-President since December 2019 and as Managing Director, President from April 2017 to December 2019. Since August 2021, Mr. Dhanda has served as director of BCI IV. Mr. Dhanda has also served as a Managing Director, Co-President of BCI IV since December 2019 and as Managing Director, President of BCI IV from April 2017 to December 2019. Mr. Dhanda has also served as a member of the AREIT Advisors Committee since July 2021. Since July 2021, he has served as a Partner in AREG and its Chief Operating Officer. He has served as Ares’ Global Head of Wealth Management since November 2021, responsible for the oversight of distribution, marketing, product development, operations and legal functions. Mr. Dhanda has also served on AREG’s Combined Industrial Advisors Committee (“CIAC”) Investment Committee since November 2018. Prior to joining Ares in July 2021, he served as the Chief Executive Officer of Black Creek Group, which he joined in 2016 as President before being named Chief Executive Officer in April 2018.

Prior to joining Black Creek Group, Mr. Dhanda spent 26 years at Morgan Stanley, leading key divisions of their institutional and Wealth Management platforms, while also serving on the firm's Management and Risk Committee for his last eight years. Most recently, he was head of Investment Products and Services in Wealth Management, responsible for all of the products distributed by Morgan Stanley's financial advisors. In this capacity, he worked closely with the firm's financial advisors and third-party asset managers to design and distribute products offering a breadth of investment solutions. In addition, as a member of the division's Executive and Operating Committees, Mr. Dhanda worked to develop strategies for the changing regulatory environment and the opportunities that technology and data offer today in the wealth management channels. Mr. Dhanda holds a BA in both Business Economics as well as Organizational Behavior & Management from Brown University.

We believe that Mr. Dhanda’s qualifications to serve on our board of directors are demonstrated by his proven business acumen and his significant experience leading key divisions while at Morgan Stanley and Black Creek Group. He has also demonstrated extensive knowledge of capital raising in wealth management channels. We believe that his leadership and experience are valuable additions to our board in connection with our ongoing offering and perpetual-life REIT.

David A. Roth has served as a director since September 2021. Since January 2019, Mr. Roth has served as a Partner in AREG and Head of U.S. Real Estate Equity. He has served as the President of Ares Commercial Real Estate Corporation (NYSE: ACRE) since July 2019 and has served on AREG’s Global Committee since January 2019, Debt Committee since January 2020 and CIAC Investment Committees since August 2021. Mr. Roth has also served as a member of the AREIT Advisors Committee since August 2021. Prior to joining Ares in January 2019, Mr. Roth was a Senior Managing Director in the Real Estate Group at Blackstone Inc. (NYSE: BX). Previously, he was a Principal in the Acquisitions Group at Walton Street Capital, a Senior Vice President and Chief Investment Officer - Europe at Security Capital Group and an Associate at Wachtell Lipton Rosen & Katz. Mr. Roth earned a B.A. degree from Dartmouth College, a J.D. from New York University School of Law and an M.P.H from the Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health. In addition, Mr. Roth is a CFA Charterholder.

We believe that Mr. Roth’s qualifications to serve on our board of directors are demonstrated by his extensive experience in real estate investments, including specifically his experience serving in leadership positions at Ares and Blackstone.

Charles B. Duke has served as an independent director of our board of directors since January 2006. Mr. Duke has also served as an independent director on the board of BCI IV since February 2016 and on the board of IPT from March 2013 through May 2020. Mr. Duke also served as an independent director on the board of directors of Industrial Income Trust Inc. from December 2009 until November 2015. Mr. Duke is currently founder and Chief Executive Officer of To Table Inc. (“To Table”), a retailer of specialty gourmet foods. Prior to founding To Table in November 2014, Mr. Duke was involved in the management of two ink jet cartridge remanufacturers and aftermarket suppliers: Mr. Duke served as Executive Vice President of IJR, Inc. in Phoenix, Arizona, from October 2012 to July 2014, and as the founder, President and Chief Executive Officer of Legacy Imaging, Inc. from 1996 through 2012. Mr. Duke has been active in entrepreneurial and general business activities since 1980 and has held several executive and management roles throughout his career, including founder, president, and owner of Careyes Corporation, a private bank, registered investment advisor and a member of FINRA based in Denver, Colorado, Chief Financial Officer at Particle Measuring Systems, a global technology leader in the environmental monitoring industry based in Boulder, Colorado, and Vice President of Commercial Loans at Colorado National Bank. Mr. Duke also spent four years with Kirkpatrick Pettis, the investment banking subsidiary of Mutual of Omaha, as Vice President of Corporate Finance, involved in primarily mergers and acquisitions, financing, and valuation activities. Mr. Duke graduated from Hamilton College in 1980 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics and English.

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We believe that Mr. Duke’s qualifications to serve on our board of directors include his considerable experience in financial matters, including specifically his experience as founder and president of a private bank and as Chief Financial Officer of a significant organization, and we believe his business management experience is valuable in terms of providing director leadership.

Brian P. Mathis has served as an independent director of our board of directors since September 2021. Mr. Mathis a founding partner of Pine Street Alternative Asset Management (“Pine Street”), a premier investment management firm focused on emerging hedge fund managers. Prior to founding Pine Street in 2011, Mr. Mathis was a Co-Managing Partner of Provident Group Asset Management, LLC (“PGAM”) where he was a member of the investment committee and primarily responsible for portfolio construction and capital raising. Before joining PGAM, Mr. Mathis was a Managing Director at Advent Capital Management, responsible for business development and marketing of their multi-strategy, credit and convertible hedge fund strategies. Prior to Advent, Mr. Mathis was a Director at Pacific Alternative Asset Management Company (“PAAMCO”), a fund of hedge funds with over $7.5 billion of assets under management. Prior to PAAMCO, Mr. Mathis was a Vice President at J.P. Morgan Chase & Co. serving in various private equity groups. Mr. Mathis served on the Board of Directors/Advisors for PlusFunds (observer), Eastport Operating Partners LP, Edison Schools, LinksCorp, and Bell Sports. Mr. Mathis currently serves on the Board of Directors for Vericast, a privately held marketing solutions business, and NewHold Investment Corporation (NASDAQ: NHIC), special purpose acquisition company or “SPAC” focused on industrial technology. Mr. Mathis received a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration from the University of Michigan Business School and a Juris Doctor and Master’s Degree in Public Administration from Harvard Law School and the John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University, respectively.

We believe that Mr. Mathis brings significant alternative asset investment experience to the board of directors, including hedge fund, private equity, and venture capital experience, globally. His qualifications to serve on our board are also demonstrated by his experience in serving on the board of directors of Vericast and NewHold Investment Corporation.

Daniel J. Sullivan has served as an independent director of our board of directors since January 2006. Since 2003, Mr. Sullivan has been a private consultant and an author. From 2003 to 2013, Mr. Sullivan was also the assistant editor of Humanitas, an academic journal published by the National Humanities Institute. Prior to that, from 1998 to 2002, he was Director of Business Development at Jordan Industries Inc. Mr. Sullivan has nineteen years of international business, consulting, and private equity investment experience, including over four years, from 1987 through 1991, in the real estate industry as an appraiser, property analyst, and investment banker with Manufacturers Hanover Real Estate Investment Banking Group in New York. During that time, Mr. Sullivan participated in the structuring and private placement of over $1 billion in long term, fixed rate, and multi property mortgage financings for the bank’s corporate clients. Mr. Sullivan holds a Master of Arts Degree in Political Theory from The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. and a Bachelor of Arts Degree in History from Boston College in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts.

We believe that Mr. Sullivan’s diverse background in education, journalism, international business, consulting, and private equity investment adds a unique perspective to our board of directors in fulfilling its duties. His qualifications to serve on our board are also demonstrated by his experience in international business, finance, and real estate investments.

John P. Woodberry has served as an independent director of our board of directors since January 2006. He also served as a member of the Board of Trustees, the Special Committee, and the Audit Committee for IPT and as the Chairman of the Special Committee and Audit Committee from May 2020 until July 2020 when its remaining assets were sold and the company was dissolved. Mr. Woodberry has been active in finance and investing since 1991. From July 2019 to present, Mr. Woodberry has served as Director at the investment banking firm W.G. Nielsen & Co. From 2012 to July 2019, Mr. Woodberry served as Portfolio Manager for Woodberry Holdings, LLC, a family office with investments in venture capital, hedge funds, private companies, and public equities. From 2016 to present, Mr. Woodberry has served as the Chairman of the Board and Chief Financial Officer of American Marksman, LLC, an early stage recycling and munitions company. From 2014 to present, Mr. Woodberry has served as the Chairman of the Board for AgPixel, LLC, an agriculture services company. From 2007 to 2012, Mr. Woodberry worked at Passport Capital, LLC where he served as a Senior Managing Director and Portfolio Manager for Capital Markets and India. From 2004 to 2007, Mr. Woodberry was the President and Portfolio Manager of Independence Capital Asset Partners, LLC. Previously, from 2001 to 2004, Mr. Woodberry was a Senior Research Analyst at Cobalt Capital, LLC, a New York City based hedge fund. From 1998 to 2001, Mr. Woodberry worked for Minute Man Capital Management, LLC and Trident Investment Management, LLC, each a New York City based hedge fund. From 1995 to 1998, Mr. Woodberry worked at Templeton Investment Council Ltd. Mr. Woodberry has a Master’s Degree in Business Administration from Harvard Business School and a Bachelor of Arts Degree from Stanford University.

We believe that Mr. Woodberry’s qualifications to serve on our board of directors include his depth of experience in finance, capital markets, and investment management. His managerial roles at various hedge funds, including his experience as President and Portfolio Manager of Independence Capital Asset Partners, LLC, provide him with leadership experience that we believe is valuable to our Board of Directors in fulfilling its duties.

Jeffrey W. Taylor has served as Managing Director, Co-President since December 2019. Mr. Taylor has had a long tenure at the Company and is familiar with its day-to-day operations, having served as our Managing Director of Shareholder Operations since April 2017 and previously served as our Senior Vice President of Shareholder Operations from September 2012 to April 2017. Since July 2021, Mr. Taylor has served as a Partner and Head of Operations in AREG. He has also served on AREG’s CIAC Investment Committee since

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November 2018. Prior to joining Ares in July 2021, he served as Managing Director, Chief Operating Officer of Black Creek Group since January 2017 and Senior Vice President of Operations of Black Creek Group since 2009. Mr. Taylor has also served in similar capacities at other companies sponsored by affiliates of Black Creek Group. In those roles, he had responsibilities for shareholder operations, product management and development, coordination of risk management programs and certain business operations. He has also served as President of BCG Advisors LLC since March 2012. BCG Advisors LLC is a registered investment advisor which had previously been engaged by our former advisor and us to provide non-discretionary advice and recommendations with respect to our investment in securities. Mr. Taylor's background includes investment management, risk management, product management, operating company analysis and strategic planning within financial services companies. Prior to joining us and Black Creek Group, Mr. Taylor served in various positions with INVESCO Funds Group, most notably in management roles within the investment division and the distribution company as well as positions within the transfer agency. Mr. Taylor also serves on the Board of Directors for Institute for Portfolio Alternatives. Mr. Taylor holds a Bachelor's Degree from Pennsylvania State University and a Master's in Business Administration from the University of Colorado at Denver. In addition, Mr. Taylor is a CFA Charterholder.

Gregory M. Moran has served as our Chief Investment Officer since September 2017 and our Managing Director since December 2019 and previously served as our Managing Director, Retail from April 2017 to December 2019 and our Executive Vice President from July 2013 to April 2017. Mr. Moran has served as a Managing Director in AREG since July 2021. Prior to joining Ares in July 2021, he served as a Vice President of Investments of Black Creek Diversified Property Advisors Group LLC, an affiliate of our former advisor, since August 2005. Mr. Moran has been an active participant in the institutional real estate community since 1998. Prior to joining Black Creek Group in 2005, from December 2001 through July 2005, Mr. Moran was a Portfolio Manager in the Real Estate Investment Group for the Public Employees' Retirement Association of Colorado where he was directly involved in the ongoing management of a global real estate investment portfolio with over $2 billion of invested equity. Mr. Moran was responsible for sourcing and underwriting new investment opportunities, ongoing asset management of existing portfolio investments and relationship management for over a dozen joint venture partners and advisors of the fund. Previously, Mr. Moran worked in the Capital Markets Group at Sonnenblick Goldman Company, most recently as a Vice President. During this time, Mr. Moran was responsible for raising and structuring debt and equity investments in commercial real estate projects on behalf of public and private real estate investment companies. Mr. Moran received his Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration and Master's Degree in Professional Accounting from the University of Texas at Austin—McCombs School of Business. He is also a FA Charterholder, and a member of the CFA Institute, Urban Land Institute and Pension Real Estate Association.

Lainie P. Minnick has served as our Managing Director, Senior Portfolio Manager, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer since December 2019 and as our Managing Director, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer since April 2018. Ms. Minnick previously served as our Senior Vice President of Finance from March 2010 to April 2017. In such capacity, Ms. Minnick oversees portfolio performance and overall strategy, debt capital markets initiatives, financial reporting and forecasting, treasury management, the application of our NAV policies and procedures, accounting, tax compliance and other related areas of responsibilities. Ms. Minnick has also served in similar capacities for other companies sponsored by affiliates of Black Creek Group. She has served as a Managing Director for AREG since July 2021 and a member of AREG’s CIAC Investment Committee since November 2018. Ms. Minnick has overseen the execution of over $12.0 billion of financings and associated interest rate hedging strategies for Black Creek affiliates, collectively. Prior to joining Black Creek in 2007, Ms. Minnick was a Project Executive for Urban Villages, Inc., a Denver-based real estate development firm. From 1999 through 2004, Ms. Minnick worked for Goldman Sachs, most recently as a Vice President working exclusively with the Whitehall Funds, a series of global real estate opportunity funds. Based in both New York and London, Ms. Minnick was responsible for executing real estate related financing transactions throughout the U.S. and Europe. Prior to joining Goldman Sachs, Ms. Minnick worked for the Archon Group, a subsidiary of Goldman Sachs, where she was responsible for real estate related portfolio management and loan asset management efforts. Ms. Minnick holds a Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration from Southern Methodist University and a Master's Degree in Business Administration from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.

Joshua J. Widoff has served as our Managing Director since April 2017 and our Chief Legal Officer and Secretary since June 2018. Previously, Mr. Widoff served as General Counsel and Secretary from September 2007 through June 2018, as Executive Vice President from October 2010 to April 2017 and as Senior Vice President from September 2007 to October 2010. Mr. Widoff oversees all legal aspects of our investments, leasing activity, compliance, risk management, and corporate governance. Since July 2021, he has served as a Partner, Co-General Counsel, Real Estate in the Ares Legal Department and a member of AREG’s CIAC Investment Committee. Prior to joining Ares in 2021, Mr. Widoff served as Chief Legal Officer for Black Creek Diversified Property Advisors LLC since June 2018 and as Managing Director of and Chief Legal Officer of Black Creek Group since June 2019, and previously as Executive Vice President of Black Creek Group since September 2007. Mr. Widoff has served in similar capacities for various companies sponsored by affiliates of Black Creek Group and for other advisor entities advising such companies since 2007. Prior to joining Black Creek in September 2007, Mr. Widoff was a partner from October 2002 to July 2007 at the law firm of Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, P.C., where he was active in the management of the firm, serving as chairman of both the firm's Associate and Recruiting Committees and overseeing an integrated team of attorneys and paralegals servicing clients primarily in the commercial real estate business. During more than a dozen years of private practice, he managed transactions involving the acquisition, development, leasing, financing and disposition of various real estate assets, including vacant land, apartment and office buildings, hotels, casinos, industrial/warehouse facilities and shopping centers. He also participated in asset and stock acquisition transactions, convertible debt financings, private offerings and complex joint venture negotiations. Mr. Widoff served as general business counsel on a variety of contract and operational issues to a wide range of clients in diverse businesses. Mr. Widoff currently serves as Immediate Past Chair and Commissioner for the Denver Urban

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Renewal Authority. Mr. Widoff received his Bachelor’s Degree from Trinity University in Texas and his Juris Doctor Degree from the University of Colorado School of Law.

Scott W. Recknor has served as our Managing Director, Head of Asset Management since July 2017. Since July 2021, he has served as a Partner, Head of U.S. Asset Management for AREG and a member of AREG’s CIAC Investment Committee. Prior to joining Ares in July 2021, Mr. Recknor served, from 2005 through October 2010, as a Vice President for AMB Property Corporation (now ProLogis), a leading global owner, operator and developer of industrial real estate, where he was responsible for leasing, capital expenditures, budgeting and re-forecasting and property management oversight in the greater Los Angeles area. From 2001 through 2004, Mr. Recknor was a District Manager for RREEF (Real Estate Investment Managers) where he managed three offices responsible for the leasing, property management, capital expenditure and budgeting and re-forecasting for a number of separate pension fund accounts. Prior to RREEF, Mr. Recknor was the West Region Real Estate Manager for the Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company where he was responsible for all operating aspects of Goodyear's West Region real estate portfolio in six states (California, Hawaii, Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico and Texas). Prior to the Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company, Mr. Recknor was a real estate broker with The Seeley Company (now Colliers International) in the Los Angeles area. Mr. Recknor graduated from the University of California (Irvine) and has previously served on the Board of Directors for NAIOP (SoCal) and has been an affiliate member of SIOR (Los Angeles).

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THE ADVISOR AND THE ADVISORY AGREEMENT

General

We rely on the Advisor to manage our day-to-day activities and to implement our investment strategy. We, the Operating Partnership and the Advisor are currently party to the Second Amended and Restated Advisory Agreement (2021), effective as of July 1, 2021.

The Advisor

The Advisor performs its duties and responsibilities under the Advisory Agreement as a fiduciary of the Company and our stockholders. Under the terms of the Advisory Agreement, subject to the oversight, review and approval of the board of directors, the Advisor undertakes to perform the following:

participate in formulating an investment strategy and asset allocation framework consistent with achieving our investment objectives;
assist our board of directors in developing, overseeing, implementing and coordinating our monthly NAV procedures;
provide information about our properties and other assets and liabilities to the Independent Valuation Advisor and other parties involved in determining our monthly NAV;
research, identify, review and recommend to our board of directors for approval real property and real estate-related related acquisitions and dispositions consistent with our investment policies and objectives;
structure the terms and conditions of transactions pursuant to which acquisitions and dispositions of real properties and real estate-related investments will be made;
actively oversee and manage our real property and real estate-related investment portfolios for purposes of meeting our investment objectives;
manage our day-to-day affairs, including financial accounting and reporting, investor relations, marketing, informational systems and other administrative services on our behalf;
select joint venture partners, structure corresponding agreements and oversee and monitor these relationships; and
arrange for financing and refinancing of our assets.

The above summary is provided to illustrate the material functions that the Advisor will perform for us as our Advisor and it is not intended to include all of the services that may be provided to us by the Advisor or third parties.

The Advisor expects to engage in other business activities, including for persons that will compete with us for investments. As a result, the Advisor’s resources will not be dedicated exclusively to our business. If the Advisor or its affiliates have sponsored other investment programs with similar investment objectives which have investment funds available at the same time as us, it is the duty of our directors (including the independent directors) to ensure that the Advisor and its affiliates follow an allocation method that is reasonable and fairly applied. The Advisor must provide the information necessary for the directors to make this determination. The Advisor is required to use commercially reasonable efforts to present a continuing and suitable investment program to us which is consistent with our investment policies and objectives, but neither the Advisor nor any affiliate of the Advisor is obligated generally to present any particular investment opportunity to us even if the opportunity is of a character that, if presented to us, could be taken by us. In the event an investment opportunity is identified, the allocation procedure set forth in this prospectus (see “Conflicts of Interest—Conflict Resolution Procedures—Allocation of Investment Opportunities”) governs the allocation of the opportunity among us and affiliates of the Advisor.

Our board of directors has delegated certain responsibilities with respect to certain disposition, leasing, capital expenditure, borrowing and refinancing decisions to the AREIT Advisors Committee and/or certain individuals at the Advisor who are senior members of the AREIT Advisors Committee. The AREIT Advisors Committee does not have authority over any transactions between us and the Advisor, a member of the board of directors, or any of their affiliates. The AREIT Advisors Committee is not a board committee but rather

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is the Advisor’s investment and management committee for our company and consists of certain of our officers and officers of the Advisor. The members of the AREIT Advisors Committee and their biographical summaries are:

William S. Benjamin

Gregory M. Moran

Michael J. Blum

James R. Mulvihill

Rajat Dhanda

Taylor M. Paul

Jay W. Glaubach

Scott W. Recknor

Andrew E. Holm

David A. Roth

Howard C. Huang

Scott A. Seager

Andrea L. Karp

Jeffrey W. Taylor

Lainie P. Minnick

Joshua J. Widoff

For biographical information regarding Messrs. Dhanda, Moran, Mulvihill, Recknor, Roth, Taylor and Widoff and Ms. Minnick, see “Management—Directors and Executive Officers.”

William S. Benjamin, age 57, is a Partner and Head of AREG. He also serves as a Director and Chairman of ACRE’s Board of Directors. Additionally, Mr. Benjamin serves on AREG’s Global, CIAC and Debt Investment Committees. Mr. Benjamin joined Ares in July 2013 from AREA Property Partners, where he was a Senior Partner from 1995 to 2013. Mr. Benjamin joined AREA Property Partners in 1995 from Bankers Trust Corp, where he was a Principal from 1986 to 1995. He is a Trustee of Impetus, a UK based charity focused on improving access to education and employment for disadvantaged youth. Mr. Benjamin graduated from Harvard with a B.A. in social studies and holds an M.B.A. from University of Pennsylvania, Wharton School.

Michael J. Blum, age 37, has served as our Portfolio Manager since February 2019. Mr. Blum is responsible for the oversight of portfolio performance as well as overall fund strategy and was previously in an Acquisitions role since joining the Company in 2012. He currently serves as a Principal in AREG. Prior to joining Ares in 2021, he was a Senior Vice President, Portfolio Manager at Black Creek Group. From 2007 through 2012, Mr. Blum was with Madison Capital Management, an alternative investment management firm where he focused on distressed corporate and real estate investments across all levels of the capital structure. Previously, Mr. Blum served as an Investment Banking Analyst in the financial institutions and real estate group at A.G. Edwards & Sons, with transactional experience raising more than $7.5 billion in IPOs and follow-on offerings for publicly traded clients as well as financial advisory work. Mr. Blum received a Bachelor Science in Business Administration from the Washington University in St. Louis Olin School of Business.

Jay W. Glaubach, age 45, is a Partner in AREG, where he focuses on equity investments across the United States. Additionally, Mr. Glaubach is a member of AREG’s Global Investment Committee. Mr. Glaubach joined Ares in 2014 from DLJ Real Estate Capital Partners where he ran the Los Angeles office. He previously worked in investment banking with ING in New York, London and Frankfurt. From 2015 to 2019, Mr. Glaubach was on the Board of Directors of Montage Hotels & Resorts and was the Chair of the Finance Committee. Mr. Glaubach also served as an Adjunct Professor of Real Estate at the University of Southern California from 2012 to 2016. He holds a B.A., magna cum laude, from Harvard College, a J.D., magna cum laude, from Harvard Law School and an M.B.A. from Harvard Business School.

Andrew E. Holm, age 38, is a Partner in AREG, where he serves as a Co-Portfolio Manager of the U.S. opportunity funds and leads the group's equity investment activities across the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic U.S. Additionally, he serves on AREG’s Global and U.S. Development and Redevelopment Fund II Investment Committees and the Ares Real Estate Operating Committee. Prior to joining Ares in 2013, Mr. Holm was a Principal at AREA Property Partners, where he focused on sourcing and executing real estate investments across asset classes for AREA's equity and mezzanine debt businesses. Previously, he was an Analyst at Lazard in the real estate investment banking group. Mr. Holm serves on the Board of Trustees of the Ethical Culture Fieldston School. Mr. Holm holds a B.A., summa cum laude, from Harvard College in Government.

Howard C. Huang, age 62, is a Partner in AREG, where he focuses on U.S. real estate equity. Additionally, he serves on AREG’s Global and Debt Investment Committees. Prior to joining Ares in 2013, Mr. Huang was a Partner at AREA Property Partners, where he focused on investment acquisitions and management across all asset classes. Previously, Mr. Huang was with the Value Enhancement Funds at Lend Lease Real Estate, where he focused on portfolio management and investment acquisitions. In addition, Mr. Huang was Senior Vice President and Head of the Specialty Housing Group at GE Capital, where he focused on portfolio acquisitions and asset management, and a Director at Equitable Real Estate Investment Management, where he focused on asset management and workouts. Mr. Huang holds a B.Arch., cum laude, from Virginia Tech in Architecture, and an M.B.A., with distinction, from the University of Pennsylvania, Wharton School in Real Estate.

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Andrea L. Karp, age 50, has responsibilities for due diligence and dispositions and has served as our Managing Director, Head of Due Diligence and Dispositions since April 2017. She currently serves as a Managing Director for AREG and a member of CIAC Investment Committee. Prior to joining Ares in 2021, she was a Managing Director, Head of Real Estate Due Diligence at Black Creek Group, where she led the team that thoroughly examined every deal that the company considered. Ms. Karp previously served as our Senior Vice President of Real Estate from August 2012 to April 2017 and as Senior Vice President of Real Estate at AREIT from May 2007 to April 2017. Ms. Karp has served as Managing Director and Head of Real Estate Due Diligence and Dispositions of BCI IV since April 2017 and as Senior Vice President of Real Estate for BCI IV from November 2014 until April 2017. She also serves as Portfolio Manager for Black Creek Industrial Fund and as Managing Director, Head of Due Diligence for Build-To-Core Industrial Partnership III LLC from 2017 and 2018 to present, respectively. Ms. Karp also served as Managing Director, Head of Due Diligence for IPT from April 2017 through July 2020 when its remaining assets were sold and the company was dissolved. She also served as Senior Vice President of Real Estate of IIT from August 2010 to November 2015. From 2006 to 2007, Ms. Karp was Vice President of Fremont Investment & Loan, a California-based bank where she was responsible for originating commercial loans. From 1997 through 2006, Ms. Karp served as First Vice President of ProLogis. In this capacity, Ms. Karp was responsible for overseeing the Asset Services team, which handled all due diligence and underwriting activities of corporate mergers, joint ventures, financings, acquisitions and dispositions with activity levels in excess of $6 billion per year. Ms. Karp holds a Bachelor's Degree in Economics from the University of Colorado.

Taylor M. Paul, age 42, serves as our Senior Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer. He has held various positions of growing responsibilities with us and our Advisor since our inception in 2006, including as our Vice President and Controller from 2011 to 2015 and as our Senior Vice President and Controller from 2015 to 2018. He currently serves as a Principal and Chief Accounting Officer, Real Estate in the Ares Finance, Accounting and Operations Department. Mr. Paul also serves as Senior Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer for BCI IV since February 2019 and served as Senior Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer of IPT from February 2019 through July 2020 when its remaining assets were sold and the company was dissolved. Mr. Paul's responsibilities have included financial reporting, corporate and property accounting, financial planning and analysis and treasury management. In his current role, Mr. Paul oversees all aspects of our accounting, budgeting, and financial reporting functions and certain treasury management and compliance functions for AREIT. Prior to joining us, Mr. Paul was with KPMG LLP from 2003 to 2006 where he primarily worked in the firm's real estate practice for various clients which most notably included an S&P 500 international real estate investment trust. Mr. Paul holds a Bachelor's Degree in Accounting and Spanish from Southwestern University in Georgetown, Texas and holds an active CPA license in the state of Colorado.

Scott A. Seager, age 41, has served as our Senior Vice President, Debt Capital Markets since February 2019. He has also served as the Chief Financial Officer for BCI IV since August 2020, as the Treasurer of BCI IV since February 2019, and, since joining Ares in 2021, as a Principal in AREG. Prior thereto, Mr. Seager served in various roles for Black Creek Group and other companies sponsored by affiliates of Black Creek Group as Senior Vice President, Corporate Accounting and Controller from March 2018 to February 2019; as Vice President, Corporate Accounting and Controller from December 2017 to March 2018; and as Vice President, Corporate Accounting from February 2016 to December 2017. In his current role, Mr. Seager is responsible for sourcing debt financings, lender relationships, cash management and managing liquidity. Mr. Seager has 20 years of corporate finance experience including public company accounting, reporting, financial planning and analysis, and debt capital markets. Prior to joining Black Creek Group, Mr. Seager worked most recently for a large publicly traded retailer, Collective Brands Inc. in various finance roles. Prior thereto, Mr. Seager was a Division Director for publicly traded Robert Half International and a senior auditor in public accounting for Ernst and Young. Mr. Seager is a CPA (inactive) in the state of Kansas and graduated magna cum laude from Baker University.

The Advisory Agreement

Term and Termination Rights

The term of the Advisory Agreement is for one year and expires on April 30 of each calendar year, subject to renewals by our board of directors for an unlimited number of successive one-year periods. The independent directors will evaluate the performance of the Advisor before renewing the Advisory Agreement, and the criteria used in such evaluation will be included in the minutes of the board of directors. The Advisory Agreement may be terminated:

immediately by us for “cause” or upon the bankruptcy of the Advisor;
without cause or penalty by a majority of our independent directors upon 60 days’ written notice; or
with “good reason” by the Advisor upon 60 days’ written notice.

“Good reason” is defined in the Advisory Agreement to mean either any failure by us to obtain a satisfactory agreement from any successor to assume and agree to perform our obligations under the Advisory Agreement or any uncured material breach of the Advisory Agreement of any nature whatsoever by us. “Cause” is defined in the Advisory Agreement to mean fraud, criminal conduct, willful misconduct or willful or negligent breach of fiduciary duty by the Advisor, or an uncured material breach of the Advisory Agreement by the Advisor.

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In the event of the termination of the Advisory Agreement, the Advisor will cooperate with us and take all reasonable steps requested to assist the board of directors in making an orderly transition of the advisory function. Before selecting a successor advisor, the board of directors must determine that any successor advisor possesses sufficient qualifications to perform the advisory function and to justify the compensation it would receive from us.

The Advisor and its affiliates are paid fees and reimbursed certain expenses in connection with services they provide to us. In the event the Advisory Agreement is terminated, the Advisor will be paid all accrued and unpaid fees and expense reimbursements earned prior to the date of termination.

The Advisor may also, directly or indirectly (including, without limitation, through us or our subsidiaries), receive fees from our joint venture partners and co-owners of our properties for services provided to them with respect to their proportionate interests. Fees received from joint venture partners or co-owners of our properties and paid, directly or indirectly (including without limitation, through us or our subsidiaries), to the Advisor may be more or less than similar fees that we pay to the Advisor pursuant to the Advisory Agreement.

Advisory Fee and Expense Reimbursements

As compensation for asset management services the Advisor provides to us pursuant to the Advisory Agreement, we pay the Advisor an advisory fee with a fixed component, payable monthly in arrears, that accrues monthly in an amount equal to 1/12th of 1.10% of (a) the applicable monthly NAV per Fund Interest times the weighted-average number of Fund Interests for such month and (b) the consideration received by us or our affiliate for selling interests in DST Properties to third party investors, net of up-front fees and expense reimbursements payable out of gross sale proceeds from the sale of such interests. In calculating the fixed component of our advisory fee, we use our NAV before giving effect to monthly accruals for the fixed and performance components of the advisory fee, distribution fees payable to our Dealer Manager, or distributions payable on our outstanding shares or OP Units held by third parties.

In consideration for the asset management services the Advisor provides on our behalf, we also pay the Advisor, in its capacity as holder of the Special Units, a performance based amount in the form of an allocation and distribution as an additional component of the advisory fee. This amount will be paid to the Advisor, so long as the Advisory Agreement has not been terminated, as a performance participation interest with respect to the Special Units or, at the election of the Advisor, all or a portion of this amount will be paid instead to the Advisor as a fee. If the Advisor elects to have the Performance Component paid instead to the Advisor as a fee, the Advisor has the discretion to make this election with respect to all or any portion of the performance component of the advisory fee for a particular year. This performance component of the advisory fee is calculated on the basis of the overall investment return provided to holders of Fund Interests (i.e., our outstanding shares and OP Units held by third parties) in any calendar year such that the Advisor will receive the lesser of (1) 12.5% of (a) the annual total return amount less (b) any loss carryforward, and (2) the amount equal to (x) the annual total return amount, less (y) any loss carryforward, less (z) the amount needed to achieve an annual total return amount equal to 5% of the NAV per Fund Interest at the beginning of such year (the “Hurdle Amount”). The foregoing calculations are calculated on a per Fund Interest basis and multiplied by the weighted average Fund Interests outstanding during the year.

The “annual total return amount” referred to above means all distributions paid or accrued per Fund Interest plus any change in NAV per Fund Interest since the end of the prior calendar year, adjusted to exclude the negative impact on annual total return resulting from our payment or obligation to pay, or distribute, as applicable, the performance component of the advisory fee as well as ongoing distribution fees (i.e., our ongoing class-specific fees).

The “loss carryforward” referred to above will track any negative annual total return amounts from prior years and offset the positive annual total return amount for purposes of the calculation of the performance component of the advisory fee. The loss carryforward is zero as of the date of this prospectus.

Additionally, the Advisor will provide us with a waiver of a portion of its fees generally equal to the amount of the performance component that would have been payable with respect to the Class E shares and the Series 1 Class E OP Units held by third parties until the NAV of such shares or units exceeds $10.00 a share or unit, the benefit of which will be shared among all holders of Fund Interests. If the Advisor does not elect on or before the first day of a calendar year to have the performance component of the advisory fee paid as a fee to the Advisor, then it will be paid as a distribution on the performance participation interest to the Advisor, as the holder of the Special Units. In such case, the performance component of the advisory fee will be payable in cash or Class I OP Units, at the election of the Advisor. If the Advisor elects to receive such distributions in Class I OP Units, the number of Class I OP Units to be issued to the Advisor will be determined by dividing an amount equal to the value of the performance component of the advisory fee by the NAV per Class I OP Unit as of the date of the distribution. The Advisor may request the Operating Partnership to repurchase such OP Units from the Advisor at a later date. Any such repurchase requests will not be subject to any holding period, early redemption deduction, volume limitations or other restrictions that apply to other holders of OP Units under the Operating Partnership Agreement or to our stockholders under our share redemption program; provided, however, that in the event the Advisor hold OP Units paid or distributed with respect to the annual performance allocation or fee due under the Operating Partnership Agreement and/or Advisory Agreement from any prior calendar year (which, for the avoidance of doubt, does not include any OP Units awarded in the then-current year for the prior year’s performance, if any), and requests the Operating Partnership to redeem all or a portion of such OP Units (the “Partnership Unit Balance”), the Operating

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Partnership will be required to redeem such Partnership Unit Balance only if we, based on reasonable projections, (i) have determined that, after redeeming such Partnership Unit Balance, we expect to have liquidity (from any available source) equal to or in excess of the NAV of the maximum amount of our shares which can be redeemed under our then current share redemption program for the next ninety days (the “Minimum Liquidity Requirement”) and (ii) at the time of the redemption request, 100% of all properly submitted redemption requests in the share redemption program as of the most recent quarter end and the most recent month end (the “Redemption Period”) have been honored (collectively, with the Minimum Liquidity Requirement, the “Redemption Requirements”). In the event that we deem that the Redemption Requirements have not been met, then the Advisor may only redeem its Partnership Unit Balance up to the lesser of (A) whichever is the lower pro rata basis within the Redemption Period provided to our common stockholders requesting redemption of shares under the share redemption program, or (B) an amount that causes the Minimum Liquidity Requirement to still be met. If there was no pro rata redemption under the share redemption program during the Redemption Period, the Advisor may only redeem an amount that causes the Minimum Liquidity Requirement to still be met. The above OP Unit redemption restriction shall not apply in the event that we terminate the Advisory Agreement. The Operating Partnership will redeem any OP Units of the Advisor for cash unless our board of directors determines that any such redemption for cash would be prohibited by applicable law or the Operating Partnership Agreement, in which case such OP Units will be redeemed for our common shares.

In the event the performance component of the advisory fee is paid in cash to the Advisor as an allocation and distribution in its capacity as holder of the Special Units, such amount will not be deductible by the Operating Partnership although it will reduce the cash available for distribution to holders of common OP Units and we believe that taxable income allocated to the Advisor as holder of the Special Units should reduce the amount of taxable income allocable to the holders of common OP Units for the taxable period of the allocation. In addition, in the event the Operating Partnership commences a liquidation of its assets during any calendar year, the Advisor will be distributed the performance participation allocation as its liquidation distribution, or the Advisor will receive payment of the performance component of the advisory fee, as applicable, prior to the distribution of the remaining liquidation proceeds to the holders of OP Units.

The Special Units do not receive Operating Partnership distributions or allocations except as described above. Holders of Special Units do not share in distributions paid to holders of common OP Units and are not allocated income or losses of the Operating Partnership except to the extent of taxable income allocated to them in their capacity as holders of the Special Units.

For a more comprehensive description of the performance component and related calculations, including an example of a calculation of the performance component, see “—Summary of Fees, Commissions and Reimbursements” and “—Performance Component Calculation Example” and “The Operating Partnership Agreement.”

The performance component is not directly tied to the performance of the shares you purchase, the class of shares you purchase, or the time period during which you own your shares. The performance component may be payable to the Advisor even if the NAV of your shares at the end of the calendar year is below your purchase price, and the thresholds at which increases in NAV count towards the overall return to the holders of Fund Interests are not based on your purchase price. Because of the class-specific allocations of the ongoing distribution fee, which differ among classes, we do not expect the overall return of each class of Fund Interests to ever be the same. However, if and when the performance component of the advisory fee is payable, the expense will be allocated among all holders of Fund Interests ratably according to the NAV of their units or shares, regardless of the different returns achieved by different classes of Fund Interests during the year. Further, stockholders who redeem their shares during a given year may redeem their shares at a lower NAV per share as a result of an accrual for the estimated performance component of the advisory fee, even if no performance component is ultimately payable to the Advisor at the end of such calendar year. In addition, if the Advisor earns a performance component of the advisory fee, it will not be obligated to return any portion of advisory fees paid based on our subsequent performance.

The fixed and performance components of the advisory fee described above are based on the Aggregate Fund NAV and the returns to holders of all Fund Interests because the Advisor manages all of the assets owned by the Operating Partnership, but the Company’s NAV only represents the part of the ownership interests in the Operating Partnership. The other interests in our Operating Partnership are owned by third-party holders of OP Units. This fee structure does not benefit the third-party holders of OP Units at the expense of our stockholders or vice versa, because these fees will be allocated among all third-party holders of OP Units and all of our stockholders ratably according to the NAV of their units or shares.

If the advisory fee described in our current Advisory Agreement is payable with respect to any partial calendar month or calendar year, the fixed component will be prorated based on the number of days elapsed during any partial calendar month and the performance component will be prorated based on the number of days elapsed during, and the annual total return amount achieved for, the period of such partial calendar year.

Subject to certain limitations, we reimburse the Advisor or its affiliates for all of the costs they incur in connection with the services they provide to us under the Advisory Agreement, including, but not limited to:

organization and offering expenses (whether public or private offerings), which include legal, accounting and printing fees and expenses attributable to preparation of the registration statement, registration and qualification of our common stock for

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sale with the Commission and in the various states and filing fees (and not including selling commissions, the dealer manager fee and the distribution fee), in the event that the Advisor incurs any such expenses on our behalf;
expenses incurred in connection with the selection and acquisition of properties, real estate-related assets and other investments of ours, whether or not such investments are acquired (“acquisition expenses”);
expenses incurred in connection with the disposition of properties, real estate-related assets and other investments of ours;
the actual cost of goods and services used by us and obtained from persons unaffiliated with the Advisor, other than acquisition expenses, including brokerage fees paid in connection with the purchase and sale of real estate-related securities or debt investments;
interest and other costs for borrowed money, including discounts, points and other similar fees;
taxes and assessments on our income or the income of our properties;
costs associated with insurance required in connection with our business or by our directors;
expenses incurred in connection with financing transactions, including the financing or refinancing of our properties;
expenses of managing and operating our properties;
expenses in connection with the compensation of our directors, meetings of our board of directors, and our annual and special stockholder meetings;
personnel (and related employment) costs and overhead (including, but not limited to, allocated rent paid to both third parties and an affiliate of the Advisor, equipment, utilities, insurance, travel and entertainment, and other costs) incurred by the Advisor or its affiliates in performing the services under the Advisory Agreement based on the percentage of such personnel’s time spent on our affairs, including, but not limited to, total compensation, benefits and other overhead of all employees involved in the performance of such services; provided, that we will not reimburse the Advisor or its affiliates for services for which the Advisor or its affiliates are entitled to compensation in the form of a separate fee, or for compensation of the Company’s named executive officers, unless the named executive officer provides services related to shareholder operations;
expenses associated with a listing of our shares on a national securities exchange or the receipt by our stockholders of securities that are listed on a national securities exchange in exchange for our shares, if applicable, or with the issuance and distribution of our shares, such as selling commissions and fees, advertising expenses, taxes, legal and accounting fees, listing and registration fees;
expenses in connection with our payment of distributions or otherwise to our stockholders;
expenses in connection with our organization, redomestication, merger, liquidation or dissolution or of the amendment of our organizational documents;
expenses in connection with stockholder communications, including the cost of preparing, printing, and mailing annual reports and other stockholder reports and proxy statements;
internal and external audit, accounting and legal fees and other fees for professional services relating to our operations and all such fees incurred at the request, or on behalf of, the board of directors, the independent directors or any committee of the board; and
any other expenses incurred by the Advisor or its affiliates in performing its duties under the Advisory Agreement.

In lieu of cash, the Advisor may elect to receive the payment of its fees and the reimbursement of its expenses in shares of our common stock or OP Units, in any class of its choice. Any such shares or OP Units will be valued at the NAV per share or OP Unit applicable to such shares or OP Units on the issue date. Such shares shall not be subject to the Early Redemption Deduction under our share redemption program.

The Advisor must reimburse us at least quarterly for reimbursements paid to the Advisor in any four consecutive fiscal quarters to the extent that such reimbursements to the Advisor cause our total operating expenses over such period to exceed the greater of (1) 2% of

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our average invested assets, which generally consists of the average of the aggregate book value of our assets invested, directly or indirectly, in equity interests in, and loans secured by, real estate, before reserves for depreciation, bad debts and other non-cash reserves, or (2) 25% of our net income, which is defined as our total revenues less total operating expenses for any given period excluding additions to reserves for depreciation, bad debts and other non-cash reserves. Such operating expenses will be calculated in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and will include, but will not be limited to, items such as legal, accounting and auditing expenses, the advisory fee, transfer agent costs, D&O insurance, board of directors fees and related expenses, and expenses related to compliance with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. Such operating expenses will not include (a) the expenses of raising capital such as organization and offering expenses, legal, audit, accounting, underwriting, brokerage, listing, registration and other fees, printing and other such expenses, and tax incurred in connection with the issuance, distribution, transfer and registration of our shares; (b) interest payments; (c) taxes; (d) non-cash expenditures such as depreciation, amortization and bad debt reserves; (e) incentive fees paid in compliance with the Statement of Policy; and (f) acquisition fees, acquisition expenses, real estate commissions on the sale of property and other fees and expenses connected with the acquisition, disposition, management and ownership of real estate interests, mortgage loans or other property (including the costs of foreclosure, insurance premiums, legal services, maintenance, repair and improvement of property). To the extent that operating expenses payable or reimbursable by us exceed this limit and the independent directors determine that the excess expenses were justified based on unusual and nonrecurring factors which they deem sufficient, the Advisor may be reimbursed in future quarters for the full amount of the excess expenses, or any portion thereof, but only to the extent the reimbursement would not cause our operating expenses to exceed the limitation in any four consecutive fiscal quarters. Within 60 days after the end of any of our fiscal quarters for which total operating expenses for the 12 months then ended exceed the limitation, there shall be sent to the stockholders a written disclosure, together with an explanation of the factors the independent directors considered in arriving at the conclusion that the excess expenses were justified.

Assignment

With the permission of our board of directors, including a majority of our independent directors, our Advisor may at any time assign the Advisory Agreement to an affiliate of the Advisor. The assignment would not be expected to materially affect the identity of the persons on whom we rely for advisory services, and hence we would expect that such assignment would be approved by our board if requested.

Holdings of Shares of Common Stock and OP Units

We are the sole general partner of our Operating Partnership. We initially contributed $2,000 into the Operating Partnership in exchange for 200 OP Units, representing the sole general partner interest in the Operating Partnership. Subsequently, we contributed 100% of the proceeds received from our public offerings of common stock to our Operating Partnership in exchange for OP Units representing our interest as a limited partner of the Operating Partnership. As of September 30, 2021, we held an 88.4% limited partnership interest in the Operating Partnership. As of September 30, 2021, the Operating Partnership had issued OP Units to third-party investors, representing approximately an 11.6% limited partnership interest, pursuant to the Operating Partnership’s option to acquire certain fractional interests in real estate that were previously sold to such investors pursuant to the Operating Partnership’s private placements.

Companies Affiliated with the Advisor

Dealer Manager

The Dealer Manager is a member firm of FINRA. The Dealer Manager was organized in December 2001 for the purpose of participating in and facilitating the distribution of securities of entities sponsored or advised by affiliates of our Sponsor. The Dealer Manager provides certain sales, promotional and marketing services to us in connection with the distribution of the shares of common stock offered pursuant to this prospectus. See “Plan of Distribution.”

We pay the Dealer Manager selling commissions on Class T shares sold in the primary offering of up to 3.0% of the transaction price per share and a dealer manager fee on Class T shares sold in the primary offering of up to 1.5% of the transaction price per share; provided, however, that the sum of upfront selling commissions and upfront dealer manager fees will not exceed 3.5% of the transaction price. We pay the Dealer Manager selling commissions on Class S shares sold in the primary offering of up to 3.5% of the transaction price per share. The foregoing amounts may be higher or lower due to rounding. Selling commissions may be reduced or eliminated to or for the account of certain categories of purchasers. We do not pay selling commissions or dealer manager fees on Class D shares, Class I shares, on shares sold under our distribution reinvestment plan, or on Class T shares or Class S shares sold through fee-based programs, also known as wrap accounts, or through investment advisers registered under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 or applicable state law. Subject to FINRA limitations on underwriting compensation, we pay the Dealer Manager (1) a distribution fee equal to 0.85% per annum of the aggregate NAV of our outstanding Class T shares, consisting of an advisor distribution fee and a dealer distribution fee, (2) a distribution fee equal to 0.85% per annum of the aggregate NAV of our outstanding Class S shares and (3) a distribution fee equal to equal to 0.25% per annum of the aggregate NAV of our outstanding Class D shares. See “Plan of Distribution—Underwriting Compensation.”

We pay directly, or reimburse the Advisor and the Dealer Manager if they pay on our behalf, certain additional items of underwriting compensation described in “Plan of Distribution—Underwriting Compensation—Other Compensation,” including legal fees

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of the Dealer Manager, costs reimbursement for registered representatives of participating broker-dealers to attend educational conferences sponsored by us or the Dealer Manager, attendance fees for registered persons associated with the Dealer Manager to attend seminars conducted by participating broker-dealers, reimbursement of broker-dealers for technology costs and expenses associated with the facilitation of the marketing of our shares and ownership of our shares by their participating customers, and promotional items. In addition to this additional underwriting compensation, the Advisor may also pay the Dealer Manager additional amounts to fund certain of the Dealer Manager’s costs and expenses related to the distribution of this offering, which will not be reimbursed by us, as described in “Plan of Distribution—Underwriting Compensation—Other Compensation.” Also, the Dealer Manager may pay supplemental fees or commissions to participating broker-dealers and servicing broker-dealers with respect to shares sold in the primary offering, which will not be reimbursed by us, as described in “Plan of Distribution—Underwriting Compensation—Supplemental Fees and Commissions.”

We have also engaged the Dealer Manager to conduct the private placements of our DST Program. For more information, see “Investment Strategy, Objectives and Policies—DST Program.”

BC Exchange Advisor LLC

The DST Manager, a wholly owned subsidiary of our Operating Partnership, acts, directly or through a wholly-owned subsidiary, as the manager of each Delaware statutory trust holding a DST Property, but has assigned all of its rights and obligations as manager (including fees and reimbursements received) to DST Advisor. Both DST Advisor and the Advisor receive fees in connection with the DST Program. For more information, see “Investment Strategy, Objectives and Policies—DST Program.”

Fees from Other Services

We retain certain of the Advisor’s affiliates, from time to time, for services relating to our investments or our operations, which may include property management services, leasing services, corporate services, statutory services, transaction support services (including but not limited to coordinating with brokers, lawyers, accountants and other advisors, assembling relevant information, conducting financial and market analyses, and coordinating closing procedures), construction and development management, and loan management and servicing, and within one or more such categories, providing services in respect of asset and/or investment administration, accounting, technology, tax preparation, finance (including but not limited to budget preparation and preparation and maintenance of corporate models), treasury, operational coordination, risk management, insurance placement, human resources, legal and compliance, valuation and reporting-related services, as well as services related to mortgage servicing, group purchasing, healthcare, consulting/brokerage, capital markets/credit origination, property, title and/or other types of insurance, management consulting and other similar operational matters. Any fees paid to the Advisor’s affiliates for any such services will not reduce the advisory fees. Any such arrangements will be at market rates or reimbursement of costs incurred by the affiliate in providing the services.

Management Decisions of the Advisor

Our Advisor’s key personnel have primary responsibility for the management decisions of the Advisor, including the selection of real property and real estate-related investments to be recommended to our board of directors, the negotiations in connection with these investments and the property management and leasing of real properties.

Management Compensation

Because our Advisory Agreement provides that our Advisor assumes principal responsibility for managing our affairs, our officers, in their capacities as such, do not receive compensation directly from us. Our Advisor, through an affiliate, compensates our officers who also serve as officers of the Advisor and of other affiliates. However, in their capacities as officers or employees of our Advisor or its affiliates, they devote such portion of their time to our affairs as is required for the performance of the duties of our Advisor under the Advisory Agreement.

The Advisor, the Sponsor, the Dealer Manager and BC Exchange Advisor LLC are presently each directly or indirectly majority owned, controlled and/or managed by Ares. The independent directors will determine, from time to time but at least annually, that (1) the total fees and expenses paid to the Advisor, the Dealer Manager and BC Exchange Advisor LLC, as applicable, are reasonable in light of our investment performance, net assets, net income and the fees and expenses of other comparable unaffiliated REITs and (2) the compensation paid to the Advisor is reasonable in relation to the nature and quality of services performed and that such compensation is within the limits prescribed by this prospectus. Each such determination will be reflected in the minutes of the board of directors. The independent directors will also supervise the performance of the Advisor and review the compensation we pay the Advisor to determine that the provisions of the Advisory Agreement are carried out.

The following table summarizes and discloses all of the compensation and fees, including reimbursement of expenses, to be paid by us to the Advisor and the Dealer Manager in connection with this offering or the operation of the Company. The estimated amount that we may pay with respect to such compensation, fees and reimbursement of expenses is also set forth below, assuming the maximum gross proceeds from the primary offering and distribution reinvestment plan. In addition, the Sponsor has been issued partnership units in the

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Operating Partnership constituting a separate series of partnership interests with special distribution rights, or the “Special Units.” The Advisor is wholly-owned by the Sponsor. As described below, at the election of the Advisor, the performance component of the advisory fee payable to the Advisor may be paid instead to the Advisor as a performance participation allocation with respect to the Special Units.

The upfront selling commissions and dealer manager fees listed below are effectively paid by purchasers of shares in the primary offering at the time of purchase, because the purchase price of such shares is equal to the transaction price, which generally equals the most recently disclosed monthly NAV per share, plus the upfront selling commissions and dealer manager fees, and therefore have no effect on the NAV of any class. The distribution fee listed below is allocated on a class-specific basis and differs for each class, even when the NAV of each class is the same. Such class-specific fees are generally expected to affect distributions of the applicable classes rather than the NAV per share of such classes. The other fees and expenses below are not class-specific. Accordingly, they are allocated among all holders of Fund Interests ratably according to the NAV of their units or shares.

Summary of Fees, Commissions and Reimbursements

Type of Compensation and
Recipient

    

Description and Method of Computation

    

Estimated Amount

Upfront Selling Commissions and Dealer Manager Fees(1)(2)—the Dealer Manager

The Dealer Manager will be entitled to receive upfront selling commissions of up to 3.0%, and dealer manager fees of up to 1.5%, of the transaction price of each Class T share sold in the primary offering; provided, however, that the sum of upfront selling commissions and upfront dealer manager fees will not exceed 3.5% of the transaction price. The Dealer Manager will be entitled to receive upfront selling commissions of up to 3.5% of the transaction price of each Class S share sold in the primary offering. The Dealer Manager anticipates that all or a portion of the upfront selling commissions and dealer manager fees will be retained by, or reallowed (paid) to, participating broker-dealers.

No upfront selling commissions or dealer manager fees will be paid with respect to purchases of Class D shares, Class I shares or shares of any class sold pursuant to our distribution reinvestment plan.

The amount of upfront selling commissions and dealer manager fees will depend on the number of shares sold, the class of shares sold and the transaction price of each share sold in the primary offering.

Upfront selling commissions will equal approximately $96.6 million and upfront dealer manager fees will equal approximately $4.8 million if we sell the maximum amount in our primary offering, assuming payment of the full upfront selling commissions and dealer manager fees (with a split for Class T shares of 3.0% and 0.5%, respectively), that 1/6 of the gross proceeds are from the sale of each of Class T and Class S shares, that the transaction prices of each of our Class T and Class S shares remain constant throughout this offering, and that there is no reallocation of shares between our primary offering and our distribution reinvestment plan.

Distribution Fees(2)—the Dealer Manager

Subject to FINRA limitations on underwriting compensation, we will pay the Dealer Manager distribution fees:

·

with respect to our outstanding Class T shares, equal to 0.85% per annum of the aggregate NAV of our outstanding Class T shares, consisting of an advisor distribution fee and a dealer distribution fee; we expect generally that the advisor distribution fee will equal 0.65% per annum and the dealer distribution fee will equal 0.20% per annum, of the aggregate NAV for each Class T share; however, with respect to certain Class T shares, the advisor distribution fee and the dealer distribution fee may be other amounts, provided that the sum of such fees will always equal 0.85% per annum of the NAV of such shares;

·

with respect to our outstanding Class S shares, equal to 0.85% per annum of the aggregate NAV of our outstanding Class S shares; and

·

with respect to our outstanding Class D shares, equal to 0.25% per annum of the aggregate NAV of our outstanding Class D shares.

Actual amounts depend upon the number of shares of each class outstanding, our monthly NAV, and when shares are outstanding, and, therefore, cannot be determined at this time. The distribution fee with respect to shares sold in this offering will equal $34.1 million per annum if we sell the maximum offering amount, assuming 1/6 of gross proceeds in our primary offering and distribution reinvestment plan offering come from sales of Class T shares, 1/6 of gross proceeds in our primary offering and distribution reinvestment plan offering come from sales of Class S shares, 1/3 of gross proceeds in our primary offering and distribution reinvestment plan offering come from sales of Class D shares and 1/3 of gross proceeds in our primary offering and distribution reinvestment plan offering come from sales of Class I shares, that there is no reallocation of shares between our primary offering and our distribution reinvestment plan, and that the NAV per share remains the same throughout this offering.

We will not pay a distribution fee with respect to our outstanding Class E or Class I shares.

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Type of Compensation and
Recipient

    

Description and Method of Computation

    

Estimated Amount

The distribution fees will be paid monthly in arrears. The Dealer Manager will reallow (pay) or advance all or a portion of the distribution fees to participating broker-dealers and servicing broker-dealers, and will rebate distribution fees to us to the extent a participating broker-dealer or servicing broker-dealer is not eligible to receive it unless the Dealer Manager has not recouped the total amount of distribution fees it advanced or the Dealer Manager is serving as the broker of record with respect to such shares. The distribution fees are calculated based on the NAV of all our outstanding Class T, Class S and Class D shares, including shares issued under our distribution reinvestment plan. In calculating our distribution fees, we will use our most recently disclosed monthly NAV before giving effect to the monthly distribution fee or distributions on our shares.

We will cease paying the distribution fees with respect to individual Class T, Class S and Class D shares when they are no longer outstanding, including as a result of conversion to Class I shares. Each Class T, Class S or Class D share held within a stockholder’s account shall automatically and without any action on the part of the holder thereof convert into a number of Class I shares at the Applicable Conversion Rate (as defined below) on the earliest of (a) a listing of any shares of our common stock on a national securities exchange, (b) our merger or consolidation with or into another entity, or the sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of our assets and (c) the end of the month in which the Dealer Manager in conjunction with our transfer agent determines that the total upfront selling commissions, upfront dealer manager fees and ongoing distribution fees paid with respect to all shares of such class held by such stockholder within such account (including shares purchased through a distribution reinvestment plan or received as stock dividends) equals or exceeds 8.75% (or a lower limit set forth in any applicable agreement between the Dealer Manager and a participating broker-dealer, provided that the Dealer Manager advises our transfer agent of the lower limit in writing) of the aggregate purchase price of all shares of such class held by such stockholder within such account and purchased in a primary offering (i.e., an offering other than a distribution reinvestment plan).

In addition, after termination of a primary offering registered under the Securities Act, each Class T, Class S or Class D share sold in that primary offering, each Class T, Class S or Class D share sold under a distribution reinvestment plan pursuant to the same registration statement that was used for that primary offering, and each Class T, Class S or Class D share received as a stock dividend with respect to such shares sold in such primary offering or distribution reinvestment plan, shall automatically and without any action on the part of the holder thereof convert into a number of Class I shares at the Applicable Conversion Rate, at the end of the month in which we, with the assistance of the Dealer Manager, determine that all underwriting compensation paid or incurred with respect to the offerings covered by that registered statement from all sources, determined pursuant to the rules and guidance of FINRA, would be in excess of 10% of the aggregate purchase price of all shares sold for our account through that primary offering.

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Type of Compensation and
Recipient

    

Description and Method of Computation

    

Estimated Amount

As used above, the “Applicable Conversion Rate” means (a) with respect to Class T shares, a ratio whereby the numerator is the most recently disclosed monthly Class T NAV per share and the denominator is the most recently disclosed monthly Class I NAV per share, (b) with respect to Class S shares, a ratio whereby the numerator is the most recently disclosed monthly Class S NAV per share and the denominator is the most recently disclosed monthly Class I NAV per share, and (c) with respect to Class D shares, a ratio whereby the numerator is the most recently disclosed monthly Class D NAV per share and the denominator is the most recently disclosed monthly Class I NAV per share. For each class of shares, the NAV per share shall be calculated as described in the most recent valuation procedures approved by our board of directors. Because we currently expect to allocate ongoing distribution fee expenses to our Class T, Class S and Class D shares through their distributions, and not through their NAV per share, we currently expect the Applicable Conversion Rate to remain 1:1 for our Class T, Class S and Class D shares.

Additional Underwriting Compensation—the Dealer Manager or the Advisor

We pay directly, or reimburse the Advisor and the Dealer Manager if they pay on our behalf, certain additional items of underwriting compensation described in “Plan of Distribution—Underwriting Compensation,” including legal fees of the Dealer Manager, costs reimbursement for registered representatives of participating broker-dealers to attend educational conferences sponsored by us or the Dealer Manager, attendance fees for registered persons associated with the Dealer Manager to attend seminars conducted by participating broker-dealers, reimbursement of broker-dealers for technology costs and expenses associated with the facilitation of the marketing of our shares and ownership of our shares by their participating customers, and promotional items. In addition to this additional underwriting compensation, the Advisor may also pay the Dealer Manager additional amounts to fund certain of the Dealer Manager’s costs and expenses related to the distribution of this offering, which will not be reimbursed by us, as described in “Plan of Distribution—Underwriting Compensation—Other Compensation.” Also, the Dealer Manager may pay supplemental fees or commissions to participating broker-dealers and servicing broker-dealers with respect to shares sold in the primary offering, which will not be reimbursed by us, as described in “Plan of Distribution—Underwriting Compensation—Supplemental Fees and Commissions.”

We estimate our additional underwriting compensation expenses to be approximately $1.3 million if we sell the maximum offering amount.

Issuer Organization and Offering Expense Reimbursement—the Advisor or its affiliates, including the Dealer Manager(3)

We also pay directly, or reimburse the Advisor and the Dealer Manager if they pay on our behalf, any issuer organization and offering expenses (meaning organization and offering expenses other than underwriting compensation) as and when incurred. After the termination of the primary offering and again after termination of the offering under our distribution reinvestment plan, the Advisor has agreed to reimburse us to the extent that total cumulative organization and offering expenses (including underwriting compensation) that we incur exceed 15% of our gross proceeds from the applicable offering.

We estimate our issuer organization and offering expenses (which excludes underwriting compensation expenses, including selling commissions, the dealer manager fee, the distribution fee, supplemental fees and commissions, the additional underwriting compensation described above and certain other amounts described in “Plan of Distribution—Underwriting Compensation-Other Compensation”) to be approximately $24.3 million if we sell the maximum offering amount.

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Type of Compensation and
Recipient

    

Description and Method of Computation

    

Estimated Amount

Advisory Fee—Fixed Component and Expense Reimbursement—the Advisor(4)

In consideration for the asset management services it provides on our behalf, we pay the Advisor an advisory fee with a fixed component, payable monthly in arrears, that accrues monthly in an amount equal to 1/12th of 1.10% of (a) the applicable monthly NAV per Fund Interest times the weighted-average number of Fund Interests for such month and (b) the consideration received by us or our affiliates for selling interests in DST Properties to third party investors, net of up-front fees and expense reimbursements payable out of gross sale proceeds from the sale of such interests. In calculating the fixed component of our advisory fee, we use our NAV before giving effect to monthly accruals for the fixed and performance components of the advisory fee, distribution fees payable to our Dealer Manager, or distributions payable on our outstanding shares or OP Units held by third parties.

Actual amounts depend upon our Aggregate Fund NAV, the changes in NAV and actual expenses incurred and, therefore, cannot be determined at this time.

Subject to certain limitations, we reimburse the Advisor or its affiliates for all of the costs they incur in connection with the services they provide to us under the Advisory Agreement, including, without limitation, the salaries and other compensation of its personnel based on the percentage of such personnel’s time spent on our affairs. Pursuant to the terms of our Advisory Agreement, we reimburse our Advisor and its affiliates for personnel (and related employment) costs and overhead (including, but not limited to, allocated rent paid, equipment, utilities, insurance, travel and entertainment, and other costs) incurred by the Advisor or its affiliates in performing the services under the Advisory Agreement, including, but not limited to, total compensation, benefits and other overhead of all employees involved in the performance of such services; provided, that we will not reimburse the Advisor or its affiliates for services for which the Advisor or its affiliates are entitled to compensation in the form of a separate fee, or for compensation of our named executive officers, unless the named executive officer provides services related to shareholder operations. See “The Advisor and the Advisory Agreement—The Advisory Agreement” for more details.

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Type of Compensation and
Recipient

    

Description and Method of Computation

    

Estimated Amount

Advisory Fee—Performance Component—the Advisor and the Advisor(4)

In consideration for the asset management services the Advisor provides on our behalf, we also pay the Advisor, in its capacity as holder of the Special Units, a performance based amount in the form of an allocation and distribution as an additional component of the advisory fee. This amount will be paid to the Advisor, so long as the Advisory Agreement has not been terminated, as a performance participation interest with respect to the Special Units or, at the election of the Advisor, all or a portion of this amount will be paid instead to the Advisor as a fee. If the Advisor elects to have the Performance Component paid as a fee, the Advisor has the discretion to make this election with respect to all or any portion of the performance component of the advisory fee for a particular year. This performance component of the advisory fee is calculated on the basis of the overall investment return provided to holders of Fund Interests (i.e., our outstanding shares and OP Units held by third parties) in any calendar year such that the Advisor will receive the lesser of (1) 12.5% of (a) the annual total return amount less (b) any loss carryforward, and (2) the amount equal to (x) the annual total return amount, less (y) any loss carryforward, less (z) the amount needed to achieve an annual total return amount equal to 5% of the NAV per Fund Interest at the beginning of such year (the “Hurdle Amount”). The foregoing calculations are calculated on a per Fund Interest basis and multiplied by the weighted average Fund Interests outstanding during the year. In no event will the performance component of the advisory fee be less than zero.

Actual amounts depend upon our Aggregate Fund NAV, the distributions we pay and the changes in NAV and, therefore, cannot be calculated at this time.

Accordingly, if the annual total return amount exceeds the Hurdle Amount plus the amount of any loss carryforward, then the Advisor will earn a performance component equal to 100% of such excess, but limited to 12.5% of the annual total return amount that is in excess of the loss carryforward.

The “annual total return amount” referred to above means all distributions paid or accrued per Fund Interest plus any change in NAV per Fund Interest since the end of the prior calendar year, adjusted to exclude the negative impact on annual total return resulting from our payment or obligation to pay, or distribute, as applicable, the performance component of the advisory fee as well as ongoing distribution fees (i.e., our ongoing class-specific fees).

The “loss carryforward” referred to above will track any negative annual total return amounts from prior years and offset the positive annual total return amount for purposes of the calculation of the performance component of the advisory fee. The loss carryforward is zero as of the date of this prospectus.

Additionally, the Advisor will provide us with a waiver of a portion of its fees generally equal to the amount of the performance component that would have been payable with respect to the Class E shares and the Series 1 Class E OP Units held by third parties until the NAV of such shares or units exceeds $10.00 a share or unit, the benefit of which will be shared among all holders of Fund Interests.

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Type of Compensation and
Recipient

    

Description and Method of Computation

    

Estimated Amount

If the Advisor does not elect on or before the first day of a calendar year to have the performance component of the advisory fee paid as a fee to the Advisor, then it will be paid as a distribution on the performance participation interest to the Advisor, as the holder of the Special Units. In such case, the performance component of the advisory fee will be payable in cash or Class I OP Units, at the election of the Advisor. If the Advisor elects to receive such distributions in Class I OP Units, the number of Class I OP Units to be issued to the Advisor will be determined by dividing an amount equal to the value of the performance component of the advisory fee by the NAV per Class I OP Unit as of the date of the distribution. The Advisor may request the Operating Partnership to repurchase such OP Units from the Advisor at a later date.

Any such repurchase requests will not be subject to any holding period, early redemption deduction, volume limitations or other restrictions that apply to other holders of OP Units under the limited partnership agreement of the Operating Partnership (the “Operating Partnership Agreement”) or to our stockholders under our share redemption program; provided, however, that in the event the Advisor holds OP Units paid or distributed with respect to the annual performance allocation or fee due under the Operating Partnership Agreement and/or Advisory Agreement from any prior calendar year (which, for the avoidance of doubt, does not include any OP Units awarded in the then-current year for the prior year’s performance, if any), and requests the Operating Partnership to redeem all or a portion of such OP Units (the “Partnership Unit Balance”), the Operating Partnership will be required to redeem such Partnership Unit Balance only if we, based on reasonable projections, (i) have determined that, after redeeming such Partnership Unit Balance, we expect to have liquidity (from any available source) equal to or in excess of the NAV of the maximum amount of our shares which can be redeemed under our then current share redemption program for the next ninety days (the “Minimum Liquidity Requirement”) and (ii) at the time of the redemption request, 100% of all properly submitted redemption requests in the share redemption program as of the most recent quarter end and the most recent month end (the “Redemption Period”) have been honored (collectively, with the Minimum Liquidity Requirement, the “Redemption Requirements”). In the event that we deem that the Redemption Requirements have not been met, then the Advisor may only redeem its Partnership Unit Balances up to the lesser of (A) whichever is the lower pro rata basis within the Redemption Period provided to our common stockholders requesting redemption of shares under the share redemption program, or (B) an amount that causes the Minimum Liquidity Requirement to still be met. If there was no pro rata redemption under the share redemption program during the Redemption Period, the Advisor may only redeem an amount that causes the Minimum Liquidity Requirement to still be met.

The above OP Unit redemption restriction shall not apply in the event that we terminate the Advisory Agreement. The Operating Partnership will redeem any OP Units of the Advisor for cash unless our board of directors determines that any such redemption for cash would be prohibited by applicable law or the Operating Partnership Agreement, in which case such OP Units will be redeemed for our common shares.

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Type of Compensation and
Recipient

    

Description and Method of Computation

    

Estimated Amount

In the event the performance component of the advisory fee is paid in cash to the Advisor as an allocation and distribution in its capacity as holder of the Special Units, such amount will not be deductible by the Operating Partnership although it will reduce the cash available for distribution to holders of common OP Units and we believe that taxable income allocated to the Advisor as holder of the Special Units should reduce the amount of taxable income allocable to the holders of common OP Units for the taxable period of the allocation. In addition, in the event the Operating Partnership commences a liquidation of its assets during any calendar year, the Advisor will be distributed the performance participation allocation as its liquidation distribution, or the Advisor will receive payment of the performance component of the advisory fee, as applicable, prior to the distribution of the remaining liquidation proceeds to the holders of OP Units.

The Special Units do not receive Operating Partnership distributions or allocations except as described above. Holders of Special Units do not share in distributions paid to holders of common OP Units and are not allocated income or losses of the Operating Partnership except to the extent of taxable income allocated to them in their capacity as holders of the Special Units.

For a more comprehensive description of the performance component and related calculations, including an example of a calculation of the performance component, see “The Advisor and the Advisory Agreement—Summary of Fees, Commissions and Reimbursements” and “The Advisor and the Advisory Agreement—Performance Component Calculation Example” and “The Operating Partnership Agreement.”

Fees from Other Services—Affiliates of the Advisor

We retain certain of the Advisor’s affiliates, from time to time, for services relating to our investments or our operations, which may include property management services, leasing services, corporate services, statutory services, transaction support services (including but not limited to coordinating with brokers, lawyers, accountants and other advisors, assembling relevant information, conducting financial and market analyses, and coordinating closing procedures), construction and development management, and loan management and servicing, and within one or more such categories, providing services in respect of asset and/or investment administration, accounting, technology, tax preparation, finance (including but not limited to budget preparation and preparation and maintenance of corporate models), treasury, operational coordination, risk management, insurance placement, human resources, legal and compliance, valuation and reporting-related services, as well as services related to mortgage servicing, group purchasing, healthcare, consulting/brokerage, capital markets/credit origination, property, title and/or other types of insurance, management consulting and other similar operational matters. Any fees paid to the Advisor’s affiliates for any such services will not reduce the advisory fees. Any such arrangements will be at market rates or reimbursement of costs incurred by the affiliate in providing the services.

Actual amounts depend on whether affiliates of the Advisor are actually engaged to perform such services.


(1) Upfront selling commissions and dealer manager fees may be reduced or waived in connection with volume or other discounts. See “Plan of Distribution—Upfront Selling Commissions and Dealer Manager Fees.”

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(2) We will cease paying distribution fees at the date following the completion of this offering at which total underwriting compensation from any source in connection with this offering equals 10% of the gross proceeds from our primary offering (i.e., excluding proceeds from sales pursuant to our distribution reinvestment plan). This limitation is intended to ensure that we satisfy the FINRA requirement that total underwriting compensation paid in connection with this offering does not exceed 10% of the gross proceeds of our primary offering.
(3) Expenses incurred in connection with this offering may include legal, accounting, printing, mailing and filing fees and expenses, costs in connection with preparing sales materials, and diligence expenses of investment advisers, any of which may be incurred by the Advisor on our behalf. Additional expenses incurred in connection with this offering, which may be incurred by or on behalf of the Dealer Manager, may include reimbursements for the bona fide due diligence expenses of participating broker-dealers, supported by detailed and itemized invoices. Although we expect to pay such expenses directly, we will reimburse the Advisor or the Dealer Manager, as applicable, for any organization and offering expenses that it incurs on our behalf (other than selling commissions, the dealer manager fee, the distribution fee, supplemental fees and commissions and certain other amounts described in “Plan of Distribution—Underwriting Compensation—Other Compensation”). As required by FINRA rules and the Statement of Policy, under no circumstances may our total cumulative organization and offering expenses (including selling commissions, the dealer manager fee, and the distribution fee, bona fide due diligence expenses and other underwriting compensation) exceed 15% of the gross proceeds from the primary offering.
(4) The Advisor must reimburse us at least quarterly for reimbursements paid to the Advisor in any four consecutive fiscal quarters to the extent that such reimbursements to the Advisor cause our total operating expenses over such period to exceed the greater of (1) 2% of our average invested assets, which generally consists of the average of the aggregate book value of our assets invested, directly or indirectly, in equity interests in, and loans secured by, real estate, before reserves for depreciation, bad debts and other non-cash reserves, or (2) 25% of our net income, which is defined as our total revenues less total operating expenses for any given period excluding additions to reserves for depreciation, bad debts and other non-cash reserves, unless the independent directors have determined that such excess expenses were justified based on unusual and non-recurring factors. The fixed and performance components of the advisory fee will count against the limit on total operating expenses. See “—The Advisory Agreement.”

In lieu of cash, the Advisor may elect to receive the payment of its fees and the reimbursement of its expenses in shares of our common stock or OP Units, in any class of its choice. Any such shares or OP Units will be valued at the NAV per share or OP Unit applicable to such shares or OP Units on the issue date. Such shares shall not be subject to the Early Redemption Deduction under our share redemption program.

Performance Component Calculation Example

The following example illustrates how we would calculate the performance component of the advisory fee at the end of each year based on the assumptions set forth in rows A through G and I of the table below. All amounts are with respect to the Fund Interests outstanding at the end of the year. Per Fund Interest amounts are rounded to the nearest $0.01 in the following table. Actual results may differ materially from the following example.

A.

    

Beginning NAV per Fund Interest

    

$

7.41

B.

Distributions paid per Fund Interest, before the negative impact of ongoing distribution fees (i.e. our ongoing class-specific fees)

$

0.38

C.

Change in NAV per Fund Interest, adjusted to remove the negative impact of our payment or obligation to pay the performance component of advisory fee

$

0.11

D.

Annual total return amount per Fund Interest, adjusted to remove the negative impact resulting from our payment or obligation to pay the performance component of advisory fee as well as ongoing distribution fees (i.e. our ongoing class-specific fees) (B plus C)

$

0.49

E.

Hurdle Amount per Fund Interest(1)

$

0.37

F.

Loss carryforward per Fund Interest(2)

G.

Hurdle Amount plus the loss carryforward per Fund Interest (E plus F)

$

0.37

H.

Performance component of the advisory fee per Fund Interest is earned because the annual total return amount per Fund Interest (D) is greater than the Hurdle Amount plus the loss carryforward per Fund Interest (G). The performance component of the advisory fee per Fund Interest is equal to 12.5% of the annual total return amount per Fund Interest (D) less the loss carryforward per Fund Interest (F).(3)

$

0.06

I.

Weighted-average total Fund Interests outstanding for the year

144,000,000

J.

Performance component of the advisory fee (H multiplied by I)

$

8,730,000


(1) The Hurdle Amount per Fund Interest for any period is that amount that results in an annual total return amount equal to 5% of the NAV per Fund Interest at the beginning of the period, where annual total return amount is adjusted to remove the negative impact resulting from our payment or obligation to pay the performance component of the advisory fee as well as ongoing distribution fees (i.e. our ongoing class-specific fees).

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(2) The loss carryforward per Fund Interest will track any negative annual total return amount per Fund Interest from prior years and offset the positive annual total return amount per Fund Interest for purposes of the calculation of the performance component of the advisory fee per Fund Interest. The loss carryforward per Fund Interest is zero as of the date of this prospectus.
(3) The performance component of the advisory fee per Fund Interest is equal to the lesser of (a) 12.5% of (i) the annual total return amount per Fund Interest (D) less (ii) any loss carryforward per Fund Interest (F), and (b) the amount equal to (i) the annual total return amount per Fund Interest (D), less (ii) the Hurdle Amount per Fund Interest (E), less (iii) any loss carryforward per Fund Interest (F). In the example above, the calculation described in clause (a) of the preceding sentence results in an amount equal to $0.06 per Fund Interest, which is less than the $0.10 per Fund Interest that results from the calculation described in clause (b) of the preceding sentence. Accordingly, the performance component of the advisory fee in the example above is equal to $0.06 per Fund Interest, or 12.5% of the annual total return amount per Fund Interest (D) less the loss carryforward per Fund Interest (F). In no event will the performance component of the advisory fee be less than zero.

Summary of Incurred Fees and Expenses

The following table summarizes fees and expenses incurred by us in connection with offering and operation services provided by the Advisor and its affiliates, and by the Dealer Manager, and any related amounts payable. Refer to the section of the Prospectus entitled “The Advisor and the Advisory Agreement—Summary of Fees, Commissions and Reimbursements” for more information regarding these fees and expenses.

(in thousands)

    

For the
Nine Months
Ended
September 30,
2021

    

Payable as
of September 30,
2021

    

For the
Year Ended
December 31,
2020

    

Payable as of
December 31,
2020

Selling commissions and dealer manager fees(1)

$

1,866

$

$

1,498

$

Ongoing distribution fees(1)(2)

2,064

291

2,024

188

Advisory fees—fixed component

15,389

1,893

17,211

1,547

Performance participation allocation

7,769

7,769

4,608

4,608

Other expense reimbursements—Advisor(3)(4)

8,783

3,804

10,002

2,112

Other expense reimbursements—Dealer Manager

249

516

DST Program selling commissions, dealer manager fees and distribution fees(1)

6,422

236

4,097

Other DST Program related costs—Advisor (3)

3,978

82

4,085

Total

$

46,520

$

14,075

$

44,041

$

8,455


(1) All or a portion of these amounts will be retained by, or reallowed (paid) to, participating broker-dealers and servicing broker-dealers.
(2) The distribution fees accrue daily and are payable monthly in arrears, Additionally, we accrue for future estimated amounts payable related to ongoing distribution fees. The future estimated amounts payable of approximately $26.4 million and $15.5 million as of September 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively, are included in other liabilities on the consolidated balance sheets.
(3) Includes costs reimbursed to the Advisor related to the DST Program.
(4) Other expense reimbursements include certain expenses incurred for organization and offering, acquisition and general administrative services provided to us under the advisory agreement, including, but not limited to, certain expenses described after this footnote, allocated rent paid to both third parties and affiliates of our Advisor, equipment, utilities, insurance, travel and entertainment

Related Party Transactions

For more information regarding our related party transactions during the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018, see Note 10 to our historical financial statements included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020, which is incorporated herein by reference.

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THE OPERATING PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT

General

The Operating Partnership was formed in April 2005 to own real property and real estate-related debt and securities that have been and will continue to be acquired and actively managed by the Advisor on our behalf. We utilize an UPREIT structure generally to enable us to acquire real property in exchange for OP Units from owners who desire to defer taxable gain that would otherwise be recognized by them upon the disposition of their real property or the transfer of their real property to us in exchange for shares of our common stock or cash. In such a transaction, the property owner’s goals are accomplished because the owner may contribute property to the Operating Partnership in exchange for OP Units on a tax-deferred basis. These owners may also desire to achieve diversity in their investment and other benefits afforded to owners of shares of our common stock in a REIT.

We intend to continue to hold substantially all of our assets in the Operating Partnership or in subsidiary entities in which the Operating Partnership owns an interest, and we intend to continue to make future acquisitions of real properties using the UPREIT structure. Further, the Operating Partnership is structured to make distributions with respect to OP Units that are equivalent to the distributions made to our stockholders. Finally, a third-party holder of OP Units may later exchange his OP Units for shares of our common stock in a taxable transaction. For purposes of satisfying the asset and income tests for qualification as a REIT for federal income tax purposes, the REIT’s proportionate share of the assets and income of the Operating Partnership will be deemed to be assets and income of the REIT.

We are the sole general partner of our Operating Partnership. As the sole general partner of the Operating Partnership, we have the exclusive power to manage and conduct the business of the Operating Partnership. In addition, we have contributed 100% of the proceeds received from our public offerings of common stock to our Operating Partnership in exchange for OP Units representing our interest as a limited partner of the Operating Partnership. As of September 30, 2021, we held a 88.4% limited partnership interest in the Operating Partnership. As of September 30, 2021, the Operating Partnership had issued OP Units to third-party investors, representing approximately an 11.6% limited partnership interest, pursuant to the Operating Partnership’s option to acquire certain fractional interests in real estate that were previously sold to such investors pursuant to the Operating Partnership’s private placements.

In addition, the Advisor owns partnership units in the Operating Partnership constituting a separate series of partnership interests with special distribution rights, or the “Special Units.” As described below, at the election of the Advisor, the performance component of the advisory fee payable to the Advisor may be paid instead to the Advisor as a performance participation allocation with respect to the Special Units.

The following is a summary of certain provisions of the Operating Partnership Agreement.

Classes of OP Units

Our Operating Partnership has classes of OP Units that correspond to our five classes of common stock: Class E OP Units (which are further separated into Series 1 and Series 2), Class T OP Units (which are further separated into Series 1 and Series 2), Class S OP Units (which are further separated into Series 1 and Series 2), Class D OP Units and Class I OP Units. We may issue new classes of OP Units with unique terms, preferences, conversion or other rights, voting powers, restrictions, limitations as to dividends or other distributions, qualifications and terms or conditions of redemption. Thus, our board of directors could authorize the issuance of new classes of OP Units with terms and conditions which could have the effect of delaying, deferring or preventing a transaction or change in control that might involve a premium price for holders of our common stock or otherwise be in their best interest.

Capital Contributions

As we accept subscriptions for shares of our common stock, we will transfer substantially all of the net offering proceeds to the Operating Partnership in exchange for OP Units of the same class as the applicable shares with respect to which offering proceeds have been received. Such OP Units will have economic terms that vary based upon the class of shares issued. However, we will be deemed to have made capital contributions in the amount of the gross offering proceeds received from investors, and the Operating Partnership will be deemed to have simultaneously paid the fees, commissions and other costs associated with this offering. Currently all of the third-party partners own Class E OP Units, but we may in the future cause the Operating Partnership to issue Class T, Class S, Class D or Class I OP Units to third parties other than us.

If the Operating Partnership requires additional funds at any time in excess of capital contributions, we may borrow funds from a financial institution or other lender and lend such funds to the Operating Partnership. In addition, we are authorized to cause the Operating Partnership to issue OP Units for less than fair market value if we conclude in good faith that such issuance is in the best interest of the Operating Partnership and us.

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Operations

The Operating Partnership Agreement requires that the Operating Partnership be operated in a manner that will enable us to (1) satisfy the requirements for being classified as a REIT for federal income tax purposes, unless we otherwise cease to qualify as a REIT, (2) avoid any federal income or excise tax liability and (3) ensure that the Operating Partnership will not be classified as a “Publicly Traded Partnership” for purposes of Section 7704 of the Code, which classification could result in the Operating Partnership being taxed as a corporation, rather than as a partnership. See “Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations—Federal Income Tax Aspects of the Operating Partnership—Classification as a Partnership.”

The Operating Partnership Agreement generally provides that, except as provided below with respect to the Special Units, the Operating Partnership will distribute cash flow from operations and net sales proceeds from disposition of assets to the partners of the Operating Partnership in accordance with their relative percentage interests, but that we may (and we intend to) cause the distributions to vary by class of OP Units in a manner that matches the way distributions to our stockholders may vary by class of common stock, in order to account for different NAVs per share and class-specific fees and allocations.

Upon the liquidation of the Operating Partnership, after payment of debts and obligations, any remaining assets of the Operating Partnership will be distributed to the partners based on the NAVs per share of our shares that correspond to the class of OP Units held by each partner.

Subject to compliance with Sections 704(b) and 704(c) of the Code and related Treasury Regulations, profits and losses are allocated among the partners so as to cause each partner’s capital account balance to equal the amount the partner would receive if the Operating Partnership were then liquidated.

In consideration for the asset management services the Advisor provides on our behalf, we pay the Advisor, in its capacity as holder of the Special Units, a performance based amount in the form of an allocation and distribution as an additional component of the advisory fee. This amount will be distributed to the Advisor, so long as the Advisory Agreement has not been terminated, as a performance participation interest with respect to the Special Units or, at the election of the Advisor, all or a portion of this amount will be paid instead to the Advisor as a fee. If the Advisor does not elect to have it paid to the Advisor as a fee, the Advisor will receive an allocation from the Operating Partnership with respect to the Special Units equal to such performance component of the advisory fee. If the Advisor elects to receive the performance component of the advisory fee as an allocation for a particular year, the Advisor will not receive the performance component of the advisory fee as a fee for such year. Any such allocation to the Special Units will be made annually and accrue monthly. See “The Advisor and the Advisory Agreement-The Advisory Agreement-Advisory Fee and Expense Reimbursements” for a description of how the performance component of the advisory fee is calculated.

Distributions on the Special Units for the performance component of the advisory fee will be payable in cash or distributable as Class I OP Units, at the election of the holders of Special Units (the "Special Unitholders"). If the Special Unitholders elect to receive such distributions in Class I OP Units, the number of Class I OP Units to be issued to the Special Unitholders will be determined by dividing the amount of the performance component of the advisory fee payable by the NAV per Class I OP Unit. The Special Unitholders, the Advisor and any person to whom they transfer OP Units or Special Units (collectively with the Advisor, the "Advisor Parties") may request the Operating Partnership to repurchase their OP Units. Any such repurchase requests will not be subject to any holding period, early redemption deduction, volume limitations or other restrictions that apply to other holders of OP Units under the limited partnership agreement of the Operating Partnership (the "Operating Partnership Agreement") or to our stockholders under our share redemption program; provided, however, that in the event the Advisor Parties hold OP Units paid or distributed with respect to the annual performance allocation or fee due under the Operating Partnership Agreement and/or Advisory Agreement from any prior calendar year (which, for the avoidance of doubt, does not include any OP Units awarded in the then-current year for the prior year’s performance, if any), and requests the Operating Partnership to redeem all or a portion of such OP Units (the "Partnership Unit Balance"), the Operating Partnership will be required to redeem such Partnership Unit Balance only if we, based on reasonable projections, (i) have determined that, after redeeming such Partnership Unit Balance, expect to have liquidity (from any available source) equal to or in excess of the NAV of the maximum amount of our shares which can be redeemed under our then current share redemption program for the next ninety days (the "Minimum Liquidity Requirement") and (ii) at the time of the redemption request, 100% of all properly submitted redemption requests in the share redemption program as of the most recent quarter end and the most recent month end (the "Redemption Period") have been honored (collectively, with the Minimum Liquidity Requirement, the "Redemption Requirements"). In the event that we deem that the Redemption Requirements have not been met, then the Advisor Parties may only redeem their respective Partnership Unit Balances up to the lesser of (A) whichever is the lower pro rata basis within the Redemption Period provided to our common stockholders requesting redemption of shares under the share redemption program, or (B) an amount that causes the Minimum Liquidity Requirement to still be met. If there was no pro rata redemption under the share redemption program during the Redemption Period, the Advisor Parties may only redeem an amount that causes the Minimum Liquidity Requirement to still be met. Redemption requests from multiple Advisor Parties, if applicable, will be honored on a pro rata basis, if redemptions are limited pursuant to the foregoing. The above OP Unit redemption restriction shall not apply in the event that we terminate the Advisory Agreement. The Operating Partnership will redeem any OP Units of the Advisor Parties for cash unless our board of directors determines that any such redemption for cash would be prohibited by applicable law or the Operating Partnership Agreement, in which case such OP Units will be redeemed for our common shares.

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In the event the performance component of the advisory fee is paid in cash to the Advisor as an allocation and distribution in its capacity as holder of the Special Units, such amount will not be deductible by the Operating Partnership although it will reduce the cash available for distribution to holders of common OP Units and we believe that taxable income allocated to the Advisor as holder of the Special Units should reduce the amount of taxable income allocable to the holders of common OP Units for the taxable period of the allocation. In addition, in the event the Operating Partnership commences a liquidation of its assets during any calendar year, the Advisor will be distributed the performance participation allocation as its liquidation distribution, or the Advisor will receive payment of the performance component of the advisory fee, as applicable, prior to the distribution of the remaining liquidation proceeds to the holders of OP Units.

The Special Units do not receive Operating Partnership distributions or allocations except as described above. Holders of Special Units do not share in distributions paid to holders of common OP Units and are not allocated income or losses of the Operating Partnership except to the extent of taxable income allocated to them in their capacity as holders of the Special Units.

In addition to the administrative and operating costs and expenses incurred by the Operating Partnership in acquiring and operating real properties and in acquiring and managing real estate-related debt and securities, the Operating Partnership will pay all our administrative costs and expenses and such expenses will be treated as expenses of the Operating Partnership. Such expenses will include:

all expenses relating to the formation and continuity of our existence;
all expenses relating to our offering and registration of securities;
all expenses associated with the preparation and filing of any periodic reports by us under federal, state or local laws or regulations;
all expenses associated with compliance by us with applicable laws, rules and regulations; and
all our other operating or administrative costs incurred in the ordinary course of our business on behalf of the Operating Partnership.

Redemption Rights of OP Units other than those Held by Advisor Parties

The redemption rights with respect to OP Units held by Advisor Parties are described above. With respect to other OP Units, the holders of Series 1 Class E OP Units (other than us) generally have the right to cause the Operating Partnership to redeem all or a portion of their Class E OP Units for, at our sole discretion, Class E shares of our common stock, cash or a combination of both. The holders of Series 2 Class E OP Units (none of which are owned by us) or Class I OP Units (other than us) generally have the right to cause the Operating Partnership to redeem all or a portion of their OP Units for, at our sole discretion, Class I shares of our common stock, cash or a combination of both. The holders of Class S OP Units (other than us) generally have the right to cause the Operating Partnership to redeem all or a portion of their OP Units for, at our sole discretion, Class S shares of our common stock, cash or a combination of both. The right of the holders of OP Units to cause us to redeem their OP Units is not subject to an annual percentage limitation on the number or dollar value of OP Units redeemed for cash or shares of our common stock. If we elect to redeem OP Units for shares of our common stock, we will generally deliver one share of our common stock for each such OP Unit redeemed (subject to any redemption fees withheld), and such shares may, subsequently, only be redeemed for cash in accordance with the terms of our share redemption program. If we elect to redeem OP Units for cash, the cash delivered will equal the then-current NAV per unit of the applicable class of OP Units (subject to any redemption fees withheld), which will equal the then-current NAV per share of our corresponding class of shares. In connection with the exercise of these redemption rights, a limited partner must make certain representations, including that the delivery of shares of our common stock upon redemption would not result in such limited partner owning shares in excess of the ownership limits in our charter.

Subject to the foregoing, holders of OP Units (other than us) may exercise their redemption rights at any time after one year; provided, however, that a holder of OP Units may not deliver more than two redemption notices in a single calendar year and may not exercise a redemption right for less than 1,000 OP Units, unless such holder holds less than 1,000 OP Units, in which case, it must exercise its redemption right for all of its OP Units.

Transferability of Operating Partnership Interests

We may not (1) voluntarily withdraw as the general partner of the Operating Partnership, (2) engage in any merger, consolidation or other business combination or (3) transfer our general partnership interest in the Operating Partnership (except to a wholly owned subsidiary), unless the transaction in which such withdrawal, business combination or transfer occurs results in the holders of OP Units receiving or having the right to receive an amount of cash, securities or other property equal in value to the amount they would have received if they had exercised their exchange rights immediately prior to such transaction or unless, in the case of a merger or other business combination, the successor entity contributes substantially all of its assets to the Operating Partnership in return for an interest in the Operating Partnership and agrees to assume all obligations of the general partner of the Operating Partnership. We may also enter into

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a business combination or we may transfer our general partnership interest upon the receipt of the consent of a majority-in-interest of the holders of OP Units. With certain exceptions, the holders of OP Units may not transfer their interests in the Operating Partnership, in whole or in part, without our written consent, as general partner; provided, that each of the Advisor Parties may transfer all or any portion of its respective OP Units, or any of its economic rights as a limited partner, to any of its respective affiliates or any trust, limited liability company, partnership, or other entity established by or at the direction of such Advisor Party, without our consent.

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CONFLICTS OF INTEREST

We are subject to various conflicts of interest arising out of our relationship with the Advisor and its affiliates, including (i) conflicts related to the compensation arrangements between the Advisor, certain of its affiliates and us, (ii) conflicts with respect to the allocation of the time of the Advisor and its key personnel and (iii) conflicts with respect to the allocation of investment and leasing opportunities. The independent directors have an obligation to function on our behalf in all situations in which a conflict of interest may arise and will have a fiduciary obligation to act on behalf of the stockholders. The material conflicts of interest are discussed below. Please also refer to “Risk Factors—Risks Related to Conflicts of Interest.”

Interests in Other Real Estate Programs

Members of the Advisor’s management are presently, and plan in the future to continue to be, involved with a number of other real estate programs and activities, including present and future involvement with institutional real estate funds and other non-traded REITs, some of which may compete for investments with us. The Advisor and its affiliates are not prohibited from engaging, directly or indirectly, in any other business or from possessing interests in any other business venture or ventures, including businesses and ventures involved in the acquisition, ownership, development, management, leasing or sale of real property or the acquisition, ownership, management and disposition of real estate debt and securities. Entities sponsored or advised by affiliates of the Sponsor are not prohibited from raising money for another entity that makes the same types of investments that we target and we may co-invest with any such entity. All such potential co-investments will be subject to approval by our independent directors.

Allocation of Advisor’s Time

We rely on the Advisor and its affiliates to manage our day-to-day activities and to implement our investment strategy. The Advisor and certain of its affiliates are presently, and plan in the future to continue to be, involved with real estate programs and activities which are unrelated to us. As a result of these activities, the Advisor, its employees, and certain of its affiliates will have conflicts of interest in allocating their time between us and other activities in which they are or may become involved. The Advisor and its employees will devote only as much of their time to our business as the Advisor, in its judgment, determines is reasonably required to fulfill their responsibilities to us, which may be substantially less than their full time. Therefore, the Advisor and its employees may experience conflicts of interest in allocating management time, services and functions among us and other programs sponsored or advised by affiliates of the Sponsor and any other business ventures in which they or any of their key personnel, as applicable, are or may become involved.

This could result in actions that are more favorable to other entities or programs sponsored or advised by affiliates of the Sponsor than to us. However, the Advisor believes that it and its affiliates have sufficient personnel to discharge fully their responsibilities to us and all of the other entities or programs sponsored or advised by affiliates of the Sponsor with which they are involved.

Competition

We compete with entities or programs sponsored or advised by affiliates of the Sponsor for opportunities to acquire, finance or sell investments. As a result of this competition, certain investment opportunities may not be available to us.

We and the Advisor have developed procedures to resolve potential conflicts of interest in the allocation of investment opportunities between us entities or programs sponsored or advised by affiliates of the Sponsor. With respect to any such potential conflicts of interest that may arise, our board of directors has delegated to the Conflicts Resolution Committee the responsibility to consider and resolve any such conflicts. The Conflicts Resolution Committee consists entirely of independent directors. See “—Conflict Resolution Procedures” for a further description of how potential investment opportunities will be allocated between us and entities or programs sponsored or advised by affiliates of the Sponsor.

Affiliates of our executive officers and certain of our directors and entities owned or managed by such affiliates also may acquire or develop real estate and real estate-related investments for their own accounts, and have done so in the past. Furthermore, affiliates of our executive officers and certain of our directors and entities owned or managed by such affiliates intend to form additional real estate investment entities in the future, whether public or private, which can be expected to have the same or similar investment objectives and targeted assets as we have, and such persons may be engaged in sponsoring one or more of such entities at approximately the same time as the offering of our shares of common stock. The Advisor, its managers, directors, officers and other employees and certain of its affiliates and related parties will experience conflicts of interest as they simultaneously perform services for us and other real estate programs that they sponsor or have involvement with.

Certain of the Advisor’s affiliates or other related entities currently own and/or manage properties in geographic areas in which we expect to acquire real properties. Conflicts of interest will exist to the extent that we own and/or manage real properties in the same geographic areas where real properties owned or managed by other entities or programs sponsored or advised by affiliates of the Sponsor. In such a case, a conflict could arise in the leasing of real properties in the event that we and another entity or program sponsored or advised by an affiliate of the Sponsor were to compete for the same customers in negotiating leases, or a conflict could arise in connection with the resale of real properties in the event that we and another entity or program sponsored or advised by an affiliate of the Sponsor

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were to attempt to sell similar real properties at the same time. Conflicts of interest may also exist at such time as we or the Advisor’s affiliates or other related entities managing real property on our behalf seek to employ developers, contractors or building managers. See “—Conflict Resolution Procedures” for information about how potential leasing opportunities will be allocated between us and other entities to which affiliates of the Advisor are providing certain advisory services and that may have potentially competing properties with respect to a particular customer.

Dealer Manager

The Advisor is related to the Dealer Manager and this relationship may create conflicts of interest in connection with the performance of due diligence by the Dealer Manager. Although the Dealer Manager has examined the information in the prospectus for accuracy and completeness, the Dealer Manager has not made an independent due diligence review and investigation of our company or this offering of the type normally performed by an unrelated, independent underwriter in connection with the offering of securities. The Dealer Manager is currently involved in offerings for other programs sponsored or advised by affiliates of the Sponsor. Accordingly, you do not have the benefit of such independent review and investigation.

Certain of the participating broker-dealers have made, or are expected to make, their own independent due diligence investigations. The Dealer Manager is not prohibited from acting in any capacity in connection with the offer and sale of securities offered by entities or programs sponsored or advised by affiliates of the Sponsor that may have some or all investment objectives similar to ours.

DST Program

The Advisor is related to our Dealer Manager and BC Exchange Advisor LLC. These relationships may create conflicts of interest with respect to decisions regarding whether to place properties into the DST Program. The Advisor, Dealer Manager and DST Advisor receive fees and expense reimbursements in connection with their roles in the DST Program (which costs are expected to be substantially paid by the private investors in that program). For more information, see “Investment Strategy, Objectives and Policies—DST Program.”

Co-Investments and Joint Ventures with Affiliates of the Sponsor or Other Entities Advised by Affiliates of the Sponsor

While our joint venture partners and co-owners have been third parties, we may in the future enter into joint ventures, co-investment or other arrangements with affiliates of the Sponsor or entities sponsored or advised by affiliates of the Sponsor to acquire, develop and/or manage property, debt and other investments. Such investments may raise potential conflicts of interest between us and such other investment vehicles managed by our Advisor or its affiliates, including determining which of such entities should enter into any particular joint venture, co-investment or other arrangement agreement. Joint venture, co-investment or other arrangement partners affiliated with the Advisor or sponsored or advised by affiliates of the Sponsor may have economic or business interests or goals which are or that may become inconsistent with our business interests or goals. In addition, should any such joint venture, co-investment or other arrangement be consummated, the Advisor and its affiliates may face a conflict in structuring the terms of the relationship between our interests and the interests of other parties, in managing the joint venture, co-investment or other arrangement, and in resolving any conflicts or exercising any rights in connection with the joint venture, co-investment or other arrangement. Since the Advisor will make various decisions on our behalf, agreements and transactions between us and the Advisor’s affiliates or entities sponsored or advised by affiliates of the Sponsor will not have the benefit of arm’s-length negotiations of the type normally conducted between unrelated parties. Furthermore, when such other investment vehicles managed by our Advisor or its affiliates have interests or requirements that do not align with our interests, including differing liquidity needs or desired investment horizons, conflicts may arise in the manner in which any voting or control rights are exercised with respect to the relevant investment, potentially resulting in an adverse impact on us. We may enter into joint ventures with affiliates of the Sponsor or entities sponsored or advised by affiliates of the Sponsor for the acquisition of investments, but only if (i) a majority of our directors not otherwise interested in the transaction, including a majority of the independent directors, approve the transaction as being fair and reasonable to us and (ii) the investment by us and such affiliate are on terms and conditions that are no less favorable than those that would be available to unaffiliated parties.

With respect to any joint venture, we may enter into an advisory or sub-advisory agreement with an affiliate of the Advisor. We may also enter into arrangements with the Advisor in which the Advisor receives fees (directly or indirectly, including through a subsidiary of ours) from the joint venture entity or from the joint venture partner. Fees received from joint venture entities or partners and paid, directly or indirectly (including without limitation, through us or our subsidiaries), to the Advisor may be more or less than similar fees that we pay to the Advisor pursuant to the Advisory Agreement. In addition, the Advisor may, with respect to any investment in which we are a participant, also render advice and service to others in that investment, and earn fees for rendering such advice and service. Specifically, it is contemplated that we may enter into joint venture or other similar co-investment arrangements with certain individuals, corporations, partnerships, trusts, joint ventures, limited liability companies or other entities, with respect to which the Advisor or one of its affiliates may be engaged to provide advice and service to such individuals, corporations, partnerships, trusts, joint ventures, limited liability companies or other entities. The Advisor or its affiliate will earn fees for rendering such advice and service pursuant to the agreements governing such joint ventures or arrangements.

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Fees and Other Compensation to the Advisor and its Affiliates

None of the agreements that provide for fees and other compensation to the Advisor and its affiliates will be the result of arm’s-length negotiations. All such agreements, including the Advisory Agreement, require approval by a majority of the independent directors.

The timing and nature of fees and compensation to the Advisor or its affiliates could create a conflict between the interests of the Advisor or its affiliates and those of our stockholders. Specifically, the Advisor is responsible for assisting our board of directors in developing, overseeing, implementing and coordinating our NAV procedures, and the advisory fee we pay the Advisor and the fees we pay the Dealer Manager are based on our NAV. Among other matters, the compensation arrangements could affect the judgment of the Advisor’s personnel with respect to:

the continuation, renewal or enforcement of our agreements with the Advisor and its affiliates, including the Advisory Agreement and the agreement with the Dealer Manager;
recommendations to our board of directors with respect to developing, overseeing, implementing and coordinating our NAV procedures, the provision of forward-looking property-level information to the Independent Valuation Advisor, or the decision to adjust the value of certain of our assets or liabilities if the Advisor is responsible for valuing them;
public offerings of equity by us, which may result in increased advisory fees for the Advisor;
competition for customers from entities sponsored or advised by affiliates of the Sponsor that own properties in the same geographic area as us; and
investments through a joint venture or other co-ownership arrangements, which may result in increased fees for the Advisor.

We will pay certain advisory fees to the Advisor regardless of the quality of the services it provides during the term of the Advisory Agreement.

We will be responsible for our proportionate share of certain fees and expenses, including due diligence costs, as determined by our Advisor, including legal, accounting and financial advisor fees and related costs, incurred in connection with evaluating and consummating investment opportunities, regardless of whether such transactions are ultimately consummated by the parties thereto.

In addition, we reimburse the Advisor and its affiliates for the salaries and other compensation of its personnel in accordance with the Advisory Agreement based on the percentage of such personnel’s time spent on our affairs. Pursuant to the terms of our Advisory Agreement, we reimburse our Advisor and its affiliates for personnel (and related employment) costs and overhead (including, but not limited to, allocated rent paid, equipment, utilities, insurance, travel and entertainment, and other costs) incurred by the Advisor or its affiliates in performing the services under the Advisory Agreement, including, but not limited to, total compensation, benefits and other overhead of all employees involved in the performance of such services; provided, that we will not reimburse the Advisor or its affiliates for services for which the Advisor or its affiliates are entitled to compensation in the form of a separate fee, or for compensation of the Company’s named executive officers, unless the named executive officer provides services related to shareholder operations.

Each transaction we enter into with the Advisor or its affiliates is subject to an inherent conflict of interest. The board of directors may encounter conflicts of interest in enforcing our rights against any affiliate of the Advisor in the event of a default by or disagreement with an affiliate of the Advisor or in invoking powers, rights or options pursuant to any agreement between us and any affiliate of the Advisor. The independent directors must approve each transaction between us and the Advisor or any of its affiliates.

Valuation Conflicts

The Advisor assists our board of directors in developing, overseeing, implementing and coordinating our NAV procedures. It assists our Independent Valuation Advisor in valuing our real property portfolio by providing the firm with property-level information, including (i) historical and projected operating revenues and expenses of the property; (ii) lease agreements on the property; and (iii) information regarding recent or planned capital expenditures. Our Independent Valuation Advisor assumes and relies upon the accuracy and completeness of all such information, and does not undertake any duty or responsibility to verify independently any of such information and relies upon us and the Advisor to advise if any material information previously provided becomes inaccurate or was required to be updated during the period of its review. In addition, the Advisor may be the approved pricing source for certain assets and liabilities, and its discretion with respect to the valuations of such assets and liabilities could affect our NAV. Because the Advisor is paid fees for its services based on our NAV, the Advisor could be motivated to influence our NAV and NAV procedures such that they result in an NAV exceeding realizable value, due to the impact of higher valuations on the compensation to be received by the Advisor. The Advisor may also benefit by us retaining ownership of our assets at times when our stockholders may be better served by the sale or disposition of our assets in order to avoid a possible reduction in our NAV that could result from a distribution of the proceeds.

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We also compensate our Independent Valuation Advisor, independent appraisers and other parties involved in the determination of our monthly NAV, as described in “Net Asset Value Calculation and Valuation Procedures.” The compensation we pay to these parties has been approved by a majority of our independent directors and is based on standard market terms, which are not based on the valuations of our assets and liabilities.

Conflict Resolution Procedures

We are subject to potential conflicts of interest arising out of our relationship with the Advisor and its affiliates. These conflicts may relate to compensation arrangements, the allocation of investment opportunities, the terms and conditions on which various transactions might be entered into by us and the Advisor or its affiliates and other situations in which our interests may differ from those of the Advisor or its affiliates. The procedures set forth below have been adopted by us to address these potential conflicts of interest.

Independent Directors

Our independent directors, acting as a group, will resolve potential conflicts of interest whenever they determine that the exercise of independent judgment by the board of directors or the Advisor or its affiliates could reasonably be compromised. However, the independent directors may not take any action which, under Maryland law, must be taken by the entire board or which is otherwise not within their authority. The independent directors, as a group, are authorized to retain their own legal and financial advisors. Among the matters we expect the independent directors to review and act upon are:

the continuation, renewal or enforcement of our agreements with the Advisor and its affiliates, including the Advisory Agreement and the agreement with the dealer manager;
transactions with affiliates, including our directors and officers; and
awards under the equity incentive plans.

Those conflict of interest matters that cannot be delegated to the independent directors, as a group, under Maryland law must be acted upon by both the board of directors and the independent directors.

Compensation Involving the Advisor and its Affiliates

The independent directors evaluate at least annually whether the compensation that we contract to pay to the Advisor and its affiliates is reasonable in relation to the nature and quality of services performed and that such compensation is within the limits prescribed by our charter. The independent directors supervise the performance of the Advisor and its affiliates and the compensation we pay to them to determine that the provisions of our compensation arrangements are being carried out. This evaluation is based on the factors set forth below as well as any other factors deemed relevant by the independent directors:

the amount of fees paid to the Advisor in relation to the size, composition and performance of our investments;
the success of the Advisor in generating investments that meet our investment objectives;
rates charged to other externally advised REITs and other similar investors by advisors performing similar services;
additional revenues realized by the Advisor and its affiliates through their relationship with us, whether we pay them or they are paid by others with whom we do business;
the quality and extent of the services and advice furnished by the Advisor;
the performance of our investments, including income, conservation or appreciation of capital, frequency of problem investments and competence in dealing with distress situations; and
the quality of our investment portfolio in relation to the investments generated by the Advisor for its own accounts.

Acquisitions

We will not purchase or lease real properties in which the Sponsor, the Advisor, any of our directors or any of their respective affiliates has an interest without a determination by a majority of the directors not otherwise interested in the transaction (including a majority of the independent directors not otherwise interested in the transaction) that such transaction is fair and reasonable to us and at a price to us no greater than the cost of the property to the Sponsor, the Advisor, such director or such affiliate unless there is substantial

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justification for any amount that exceeds such cost and such excess amount is determined to be reasonable. In no event will we acquire any such property at an amount in excess of its appraised value. We will not sell or lease real properties to the Sponsor, the Advisor, any of our directors or any of their respective affiliates unless a majority of the directors not otherwise interested in the transaction (including a majority of the independent directors not otherwise interested in the transaction) determine that the transaction is fair and reasonable to us.

Our charter provides that the consideration we pay for real property will ordinarily be based on the fair market value of the property as determined by a majority our directors, or the approval of a majority of a committee of the board of directors. In cases in which a majority of our independent directors so determine, and in all cases in which real property is acquired from the Sponsor, the Advisor, any of our directors or any of their respective affiliates, the fair market value shall be determined by an independent appraiser selected by our independent directors.

Mortgage Loans

Our charter prohibits us from investing in or making mortgage loans in which the transaction is with the Sponsor, the Advisor, our directors or any of their respective affiliates unless an independent expert appraises the underlying property. We must keep the appraisal for at least five years and make it available for inspection and duplication by any of our stockholders. In addition, we must obtain a mortgagee’s or owner’s title insurance policy or commitment as to the priority of the mortgage or the condition of the title. Our charter prohibits us from making or investing in any mortgage loans that are subordinate to any lien or other indebtedness of the Sponsor, the Advisor, our directors, our officers or any of their affiliates.

Issuance of Options and Warrants

Our charter prohibits the issuance of options or warrants to purchase our common stock to the Sponsor, the Advisor, our directors or any of their respective affiliates (i) except on the same terms as such options or warrants are sold to the general public and (ii) in excess of an amount equal to 10% of our outstanding common stock on the date of grant.

Repurchase of Shares of Common Stock

Our charter prohibits us from paying a fee to the Sponsor, the Advisor, our directors or any of their respective affiliates in connection with our repurchase or redemption of our common stock.

Loans and Expense Reimbursements

Except with respect to certain mortgage loans as described above or loans to wholly owned subsidiaries, we will not make any loans to the Sponsor, the Advisor or to our directors or any of their respective affiliates. In addition, we will not borrow from these parties unless a majority of the directors not otherwise interested in the transaction (including a majority of the independent directors not otherwise interested in the transaction) approve the transaction as being fair, competitive and commercially reasonable, and no less favorable to us than comparable loans between unaffiliated parties. These restrictions on loans will only apply to advances of cash that are commonly viewed as loans, as determined by the board of directors. By way of example only, the prohibition on loans would not restrict advances of cash for legal expenses or other costs incurred as a result of any legal action for which indemnification is being sought, nor would the prohibition limit our ability to advance reimbursable expenses incurred by directors or the Advisor or its affiliates.

In addition, our directors and officers, the Sponsor, the Advisor and its affiliates shall be entitled to reimbursement, at cost, for actual expenses incurred by them on behalf of us or joint ventures in which we are a joint venture partner, subject to the limitation on reimbursement of operating expenses to the extent that they exceed the greater of 2% of our average invested assets or 25% of our net income, as described in this prospectus under the caption “The Advisor and the Advisory Agreement—The Advisory Agreement.”

Voting of Shares of Common Stock

Under our charter, the Advisor, each director and any of their affiliates may not vote their shares of common stock regarding (i) the removal of any of the Advisor, our directors or any of their affiliates or (ii) any transaction between them and us.

Allocation of Leasing Opportunities

The Sponsor and the Advisor have implemented lease allocation guidelines to assist with the process of the allocation of leases when we and certain other entities to which affiliates of the Advisor are providing certain advisory services have potentially competing properties with respect to a particular customer. Pursuant to the lease allocation guidelines, if we have an opportunity to bid on a lease with a prospective customer and one or more of these other entities has a potentially competing property, then, under certain circumstances, we may not be permitted to bid on the opportunity and in other circumstances, we and the other entities will be permitted to participate in the bidding process. The lease allocation guidelines are overseen by a joint management committee which includes certain representatives of

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our management team and other representatives associated with other entities to which affiliates of the Advisor are providing similar services.

Allocation of Investment Opportunities

We compete with entities sponsored or advised by affiliates of the Sponsor and may compete with any such entity created in the future, as well as entities for whom affiliates of the Sponsor provide certain advisory or management services, for opportunities to acquire, lease, finance or sell certain types of properties. We may also buy, lease, finance or sell properties at the same time as these entities are buying, leasing, financing or selling properties. In this regard, there is a risk that we will purchase a property that provides lower returns to us than a property purchased by entities sponsored or advised by affiliates of the Sponsor and entities for whom affiliates of the Sponsor provide certain advisory or management services.

Certain entities sponsored or advised by affiliates of the Sponsor own and/or manage properties in geographical areas in which we expect to own properties. Therefore, our properties may compete for customers with other properties owned and/or managed by these entities. The Advisor may face conflicts of interest when evaluating customer leasing opportunities for our properties and other properties owned and/or managed by these entities and these conflicts of interest may have a negative impact on our ability to attract and retain customers. The Sponsor and the Advisor have implemented lease allocation guidelines to assist with the process of the allocation of leases when we and certain other entities to which affiliates of the Advisor are providing certain advisory services have potentially competing properties with respect to a particular customer. These guidelines are designed to allow, where possible, each fund with a potentially competing property to bid on a lease with a prospective customer in a fair and equitable manner.

Because affiliates of the Sponsor and the Advisor currently sponsor and advise, and in the future may sponsor and advise, other investment vehicles and clients (each, an “Advisory Client”) with overlapping investment objectives, strategies and criteria, potential conflicts of interest may arise with respect to real estate investment opportunities. In order to manage this potential conflict of interest, in allocating opportunities among the Advisory Clients, the Sponsor follows an allocation policy (the “Allocation Policy”) which endeavors to allocate investment opportunities in a fair and equitable manner. The Sponsor’s Allocation Policy, which may be amended without our consent, is intended to enable us to share equitably with any other Advisory Clients that are managed by the Sponsor and the Advisor and competing with us to acquire similar types of assets. Under the Allocation Policy, real estate investments will be considered for Advisory Clients based on appropriateness and conformity with their respective investment objectives, as well as the suitability of the investment for each Advisory Client. Suitability is determined by a variety of factors related to the investment mandates of each Advisory Client, the nature of the investment opportunity and the composition of each client’s portfolio. In the circumstance where an investment is suitable for only one Advisory Client based on such factors, the investment will be allocated to that Advisory Client. Where an investment is suitable for more than one Advisory Client, the Sponsor generally employs an allocation rotation process pursuant to the Allocation Policy that is designed to facilitate an equitable allocation of such opportunities over time. Nevertheless, it is possible that we may not be given the opportunity to participate in certain investments made by Advisory Clients managed by affiliates of the Sponsor and the Advisor. In addition, the Sponsor may from time to time limit the number of positions in a rotation and/or grant to certain Advisory Clients certain exclusivity, rotation or other priority (each, a “Rotational Priority”) with respect to industrial investments or other investment opportunities. Current existing Rotational Priorities have been granted to certain of the Sponsor’s industrial real estate funds which ensure them a minimum number of opportunities (e.g., one out of every three) in each core, value-add and development rotation. This means that, depending on the number of Advisory Clients and number of positions in each such rotation and/or the Rotational Priorities that have been granted, we may be offered less investment opportunities. The Sponsor or its affiliates may grant additional Rotational Priorities in the future and from time to time.

The Sponsor may modify its overall allocation policies from time to time. Any changes to the Sponsor’s allocation policies will be timely reported to our board of directors or Conflicts Resolution Committee. The Advisor will be required to provide information to our board of directors on a quarterly basis to enable our board of directors, including the independent directors, to determine whether such policies are being fairly applied.

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SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT

The following table shows, as of December 1, 2021, the amount of each class of our common stock and OP Units beneficially owned (unless otherwise indicated) by (i) any person who is known by us to be the beneficial owner of more than five percent of the outstanding shares and OP Units of such class, (ii) our directors, (iii) our executive officers and (iv) all of our directors and executive officers as a group.

Unless otherwise indicated below, each person or entity has an address in care of our principal executive offices at 518 Seventeenth Street, 17th Floor, Denver, Colorado 80202.

908

Name and Address of Beneficial Owner(1)

Amount and Nature of
Beneficial Ownership

Percent of
Applicable Class

James R. Mulvihill (Chairman and Director)(2)

245,899

371,643

Class I shares

Class I OP Units

1.1 %

Rajat Dhanda (Director and Managing Director, Co-President)

33,397

Class S shares

*

David A. Roth (Director)

*

Charles B. Duke (Independent Director)

26,525

Class I shares

*

Brian P. Mathis (Independent Director)

*

Daniel J. Sullivan (Independent Director)

29,908

Class I shares

*

John P. Woodberry (Independent Director)

19,936

Class I shares

*

Jeffrey W. Taylor (Managing Director, Co-President)

28,914

Class I shares

*

Lainie P. Minnick (Managing Director, Senior Portfolio Manager, Chief Financial Officer, and Treasurer)

5,032

Class I shares

*

Joshua J. Widoff (Managing Director, Chief Legal Officer and Secretary)

29,171

Class I shares

*

Gregory M. Moran (Managing Director and Chief Investment Officer)

10,457

Class I shares

*

Scott W. Recknor (Managing Director, Head of Asset Management)

*

Beneficial ownership by all directors and executive officers as a group (12 persons)(2)

33,397

Class S shares

*

767,485

Class I shares/OP Units

1.4 %

800,882

Total shares/OP Units

*


*

Less than 1%.

(1)Except as otherwise indicated below, each beneficial owner has the sole power to vote and dispose of all common stock held by that beneficial owner. Beneficial ownership is determined in accordance with Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act. Common stock issuable upon redemption of OP Units are treated as beneficially owned and outstanding for the purpose of computing the percentage ownership of the person holding the OP Units, but are not treated as outstanding for the purpose of computing the percentage ownership of any other person.
(2)With respect to Mr. Mulvihill, 105,217 of the Class I shares listed are held by our former advisor or the parent of our former advisor, which are entities directly or indirectly controlled by one or more of the following and/or their affiliates: estate of John A. Blumberg, James R. Mulvihill, and Evan H. Zucker.

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NET ASSET VALUE CALCULATION AND VALUATION PROCEDURES

Valuation Policy

Overview

Our board of directors, including a majority of our independent directors, has adopted these valuation procedures, as amended from time to time, that contain a comprehensive set of methodologies to be used in connection with the calculation of our NAV. Our valuation procedures, which address specifically each category of our assets and liabilities and are applied separately from the preparation of our financial statements in accordance with GAAP, involve adjustments from historical cost. There are certain factors which cause NAV to be different from total equity or stockholders’ equity on a GAAP basis. Most significantly, the valuation of our real estate assets, which is the largest component of our NAV calculation, is provided to us by the Independent Valuation Advisor. For GAAP purposes, these assets are generally recorded at depreciated or amortized cost. Another example that will cause our NAV to differ from our GAAP net book value include the straight-lining of rent, which results in a receivable for GAAP purposes that is not included in the determination of our NAV. As a public company, we are required to issue financial statements generally based on historical cost in accordance with GAAP. To calculate our NAV for the purpose of establishing a purchase and redemption price for our shares, we have adopted policies and procedures, which adjust the values of certain of our assets and liabilities from historical cost to fair value, as described below. As a result, our NAV may differ from the amount reported as stockholders’ equity on the face of our financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP. The fair values of our assets and certain liabilities are determined using widely accepted methodologies and, as appropriate, the GAAP principles within the FASB Accounting Standards Codification under Topic 820, Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures and are used by ALPS in calculating our NAV per share. However, our valuation procedures and our NAV are not subject to GAAP and will not be subject to independent audit. We did not develop our valuation procedures with the intention of complying with fair value concepts under GAAP and, therefore, there could be differences between our fair values and the fair values derived from the principal market or most advantageous market concepts of establishing fair value under GAAP. Although we believe our NAV calculation methodologies are consistent with standard industry principles, there is no established practice among public REITs, whether listed or not, for calculating NAV in order to establish a purchase and redemption price. As a result, other public REITs may use different methodologies or assumptions to determine NAV.

Independent Valuation Advisor

With the approval of our board of directors, including a majority of our independent directors, we have engaged our Independent Valuation Advisor with respect to providing monthly real property appraisals, reviewing annual third-party real property appraisals, reviewing the Advisor’s internal valuations of debt-related assets and liabilities, helping us administer the valuation and review process described under “Real Property” below for the real properties in our portfolio, and assisting in the development and review of the valuation procedures contained herein. Altus Group is a multidisciplinary provider of independent, commercial real estate appraisal, consulting, technology, and advisory services with multiple offices around the world, including in the United States, Canada, Europe and Asia Pacific. Altus Group is not affiliated with us or the Advisor. The compensation we pay to our Independent Valuation Advisor is not based on the estimated values of our assets or liabilities. Our board of directors, including a majority of our independent directors, may replace our Independent Valuation Advisor at any time. We will promptly disclose any changes to the identity or role of our Independent Valuation Advisor in this prospectus and in reports we publicly file with the SEC.

Altus Group discharges its responsibilities with respect to real property appraisals in accordance with our real property valuation procedures described below and with the oversight of our board of directors. Our board of directors is not involved in the day-to-day valuation of the real properties in our portfolio, but periodically receives and reviews such information about the valuations of the real properties as it deems necessary to exercise its oversight responsibility. While our Independent Valuation Advisor is responsible for providing monthly appraisals of our real properties and reviews of third-party appraisals, our Independent Valuation Advisor is not responsible for nor does it prepare our monthly NAV.

Our Independent Valuation Advisor performs other roles under our valuation procedures as described herein and may be engaged to provide additional services, including providing an independent appraisal of any of our other assets or liabilities (contingent or otherwise). Our Independent Valuation Advisor may, from time to time, perform other commercial real estate and financial advisory services for our Advisor and its related parties, or in transactions related to the properties that are the subject of appraisals being performed for us, or otherwise, so long as such other services do not adversely affect the independence of the applicable appraiser as certified in the applicable appraisal report or the independence of our Independent Valuation Advisor.

Valuation of Consolidated Assets and Liabilities

Our NAV will reflect our pro rata ownership share of the fair values of certain consolidated assets and liabilities, as described below.

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Real Property Assets

The overarching principle of the real property appraisal process is to produce real property appraisals that represent credible estimates of fair value. The estimate of fair value developed in the appraisals of our real properties may not always reflect the value of, or may materially differ from, the value at which we would agree to buy or sell such assets. Further, we do not undertake to disclose the value at which we would be willing to buy or sell our real properties to any prospective or existing investor.

Each real property is appraised by a Third-Party Appraisal Firm at least once per calendar year and reviewed by the Advisor and our Independent Valuation Advisor. We seek to schedule the appraisals by Third-Party Appraisal Firms evenly throughout the calendar year, such that an approximately equal portion of the real properties in our portfolio are appraised by a Third-Party Appraisal Firm each month, although we may have more or fewer appraisals in an individual month. In its review, our Independent Valuation Advisor, will provide an opinion as to the reasonableness of each appraisal report from Third-Party Appraisal Firms as well as provide a second, independent appraisal as part of its regular monthly appraisal duties, as described below. Valuation discrepancies between the appraisal provided by the Third-Party Appraisal Firm and the appraisal provided by our Independent Valuation Advisor are subject to our valuation dispute resolution procedures. Under these procedures, if the Third-Party Appraisal Firm and our Independent Valuation Advisor are unable to reconcile the key differences between the two appraisals, we will use the appraisal from our Independent Valuation Advisor in the calculation of our NAV until a new appraisal from a different Third-Party Appraisal Firm is obtained, reviewed for reasonableness by the Independent Valuation Advisor and used as the appraised value. In no event will a calendar year pass without having each real property appraised by a Third-Party Appraisal Firm unless such asset is being bought or sold in such calendar year.

Additionally, each real property is appraised each calendar month by our Independent Valuation Advisor, and such appraisals are reviewed by the Advisor. As described above, our Independent Valuation Advisor will review the appraisals from the Third-Party Appraisal Firms and provide an opinion as to the reasonableness of each appraisal report before reflecting any valuation change in its monthly appraisals of the real properties in our portfolio.

Notwithstanding, newly acquired real properties are initially valued at cost, which is expected to represent fair value at that time. Each newly acquired real property will be appraised by the Independent Valuation Advisor within three months following the month of acquisition, and thereafter will be subject to the regular monthly appraisal process described above. Additionally, each newly acquired real property will first be appraised by a Third-Party Appraisal Firm in the calendar year following the year of acquisition.

All appraisals are performed in accordance with the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practices, or USPAP, the real estate appraisal industry standards created by The Appraisal Foundation and the Code of Ethics & Standards of Professional Practice of the Appraised Institute. Each appraisal must be reviewed, approved, and signed by an individual with the professional MAI designation of the Appraisal Institute. Real property appraisals are reported on a free-and-clear basis (for example, no mortgage), irrespective of any property-level financing that may be in place. Such property-level debt or other financing ultimately are factored in and do impact our NAV in a manner described in more detail below.

We rely on the income approach as the primary methodology used by the Third-Party Appraisal Firms and our Independent Valuation Advisor (together, the “Independent Appraisal Firms”) in valuing the real properties in our portfolio, whereby value is derived by determining the present value of a real property’s future cash flows (for example, discounted cash flow analysis). Consistent with industry practices, the income approach incorporates subjective judgments regarding comparable property rental rates and operating expense data, the appropriate capitalization and discount rates, and projections of future income and expenses based on market derived data and trends. Other methodologies that may also be used to value properties include sales comparisons and cost approaches. Because the real property appraisals involve significant professional judgment in the application of both observable and unobservable inputs, the estimated fair values of our real properties may differ from their actual realizable values or future appraised values. Our real property valuations may not reflect the liquidation value or net realizable value of our real properties because the valuations performed by our Independent Appraisal Firms involve subjective judgments about competitive market behavior and do not reflect transaction costs that would be incurred if we were to dispose of our real properties today. Transaction costs related to an acquisition or disposition will generally be factored into our NAV no later than the closing date for such transaction, and in some circumstances such as when an asset is anticipated to be acquired or disposed, we may factor into our NAV calculation a portion of the potential transaction price and related closing costs given the likelihood that the transaction will close.

Our Independent Appraisal Firms request and collect all reasonably available information that they deem relevant in valuing the real properties in our portfolio from a variety of sources including, but not limited to information from management and other information derived through our Independent Appraisal Firm’s database and other industry and market data. The Independent Appraisal Firms rely in part on property-level information provided by the Advisor, including: (i) historical and budgeted operating revenues and expenses of the property; (ii) lease agreements on the property; and (iii) information regarding recent or planned capital expenditures.

In conducting their investigation and analyses, our Independent Appraisal Firms take into account customary and accepted financial and commercial procedures and considerations as they deem relevant, which may include, without limitation, the review of documents, materials and information relevant to valuing the real properties that are provided by us or our Advisor. Although our Independent Appraisal Firms may review the information supplied or otherwise made available by us or our Advisor for reasonableness, they assume

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and rely upon the accuracy and completeness of all such information and of all information supplied or otherwise made available to them by any other party and do not undertake any duty or responsibility to verify independently any of such information. With respect to operating or financial forecasts and other information and data to be provided to or otherwise to be reviewed by or discussed with our Independent Appraisal Firms, our Independent Appraisal Firms assume that such forecasts and other information and data were reasonably prepared in good faith reflecting the best currently available estimates and judgments of our management, board of directors and Advisor, and rely upon us to advise our Independent Appraisal Firms promptly if any material information previously provided becomes inaccurate or is required to be updated during the valuation period.

In performing their analyses, our Independent Appraisal Firms make numerous other assumptions with respect to the behavior of market participants, industry performance, general business, economic and regulatory conditions and other matters, many of which are beyond their control and our control, as well as certain factual matters. For example, unless specifically informed to the contrary, our Independent Appraisal Firms may assume that we have clear and marketable title to each real property valued, that no title defects exist, that improvements were made in accordance with law, that no hazardous materials are present or were present previously, that no deed restrictions exist, and that no changes to zoning ordinances or regulations governing use, density or shape are pending or being considered. Furthermore, our Independent Appraisal Firms’ analysis, opinions and conclusions are necessarily based upon market, economic, financial and other circumstances and conditions existing at or prior to the appraisal, and any material change in such circumstances and conditions may affect our Independent Appraisal Firms’ analysis and conclusions. Our Independent Appraisal Firms’ appraisal reports may contain other assumptions, qualifications and limitations set forth in the respective appraisal reports that qualify the analysis, opinions and conclusions set forth therein.

Our Independent Appraisal Firms’ valuation reports are addressed solely to us and not to the public, may not be relied upon by any other person to establish an estimated value of our common stock, and will not constitute a recommendation to any person to purchase or sell any shares of our common stock. In preparing their appraisal reports, our Independent Appraisal Firms do not solicit third-party indications of interest for our common stock in connection with possible purchases thereof or the acquisition of all or any part of our company.

Upon becoming aware of the occurrence of a material event impacting a real property, the Advisor will promptly notify our Independent Valuation Advisor. Our Independent Valuation Advisor determines the appropriate adjustment, if any, to be made to its estimated fair value of the real property during a given month and then updates its appraisal on the asset. For example, changes to underlying property fundamentals and overall market conditions, which may include: (i) an unexpected termination or renewal of a material lease; (ii) a material change in vacancy levels; (iii) an unanticipated structural or environmental event at a real property; or (iv) material capital markets events, any of which may cause the value of a real property to change materially. Furthermore, the values of our real properties are determined on an unencumbered basis. The effect of any property-level debt on our NAV is discussed further below.

Investments in land and development assets will be valued by our Independent Valuation Advisor monthly at estimated fair value. Land cost and other factors such as the status of land entitlements, permitting, jurisdictional approvals, estimated overall development completion, and estimated development profit are considered in determining estimates of fair value. Upon the earlier of three months following the month of stabilization or twelve months after substantial completion, we will obtain an appraisal from a Third-Party Appraisal Firm, and thereafter the valuation process will follow the regular valuation process described above.

Real Estate-Related Assets and Other Assets

Real Estate-Related Assets that are not restricted as to salability or transferability are fair valued monthly based on publicly available information. Generally, to the extent the information is available, such Real Estate-Related Assets are valued at the last trade of such securities that was executed at or prior to closing on the valuation day or, in the absence of such trade, the last ‘‘bid’’ price. The value of these Real Estate-Related Assets that are restricted as to salability or transferability may be adjusted by the pricing source for a liquidity discount. In determining the amount of such discount, consideration is given to the nature and length of such restriction and the relative volatility of the market price of the asset.

Other assets include, but may not be limited to, derivatives (other than interest rate hedges), credit rated government securities, cash and cash equivalents and accounts receivable. Estimates of the fair values of other assets are determined using widely accepted methodologies and, where available, on the basis of publicly available pricing quotations and information.

Other assets also include individual investments in mortgages, mortgage participations, mezzanine loans, and loans associated with our DST Program (as described under the “Valuation of Assets and Liabilities Associated with the DST Program” heading below) that are included in our determination of NAV at estimated fair value using widely accepted valuation methodologies.

Pursuant to our valuation procedures, our board of directors, including a majority of our independent directors, approves the pricing sources of our Real Estate-Related Assets and other assets. In general, these sources are third parties other than our Advisor. However, we may utilize the Advisor or an Ares affiliate as a pricing source if the asset is not considered material to the Company or there are no other pricing sources reasonably available, and provided that our board of directors, including a majority of our independent directors, must approve the initial valuation performed by our Advisor and any subsequent material adjustments made by our Advisor. The Independent

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Valuation Advisor generally does not act as the third-party pricing source for these assets, although it may, under certain circumstances, be engaged to do so.

Liabilities, Excluding Property-Level Mortgages, Corporate-Level Credit Facilities and Interest Rate Hedges

Except as noted below, we include an estimate of the fair values of our liabilities as part of our NAV calculation. These liabilities include, but may not be limited to, fees and reimbursements payable to the Advisor and its affiliates, accounts payable and accrued expenses, and other liabilities. Pursuant to our valuation procedures, our board of directors, including a majority of our independent directors, approves the pricing sources of our liabilities which may include third parties or our Advisor or its affiliates.

Under applicable GAAP, we record liabilities for distribution fees (i) that we currently owe the Dealer Manager under the terms of our dealer manager agreement and (ii) for an estimate that we may pay to our Dealer Manager in future periods. However, we do not deduct the liability for estimated future distribution fees in our calculation of NAV since we intend for our NAV to reflect our estimated value on the date that we determine our NAV. Accordingly, our estimated NAV at any given time does not include consideration of any estimated future distribution fees that may become payable after such date.

The estimated fair values of these liabilities may be determined by our Advisor or another suitable pricing source. Our Independent Valuation Advisor is not responsible for appraising or reviewing these liabilities.

Liabilities - Property-Level Mortgages, Corporate-Level Credit Facilities and Interest Rate Hedges

Our property-level mortgages and corporate-level credit facilities that are intended to be held to maturity, including those subject to interest rates hedges, are valued at par (i.e. at their respective outstanding balances) by the Advisor. Because we often utilize interest rate hedges to stabilize interest payments (i.e. to fix all-in interest rates through interest rate swaps or to limit interest rate exposure through interest rate caps) on individual loans, each loan and associated interest rate hedge are treated as one financial instrument which are valued at par if intended to be held to maturity (which for fixed rate debt not subject to interest rate hedges may be the date near maturity at which time the debt will be eligible for prepayment at par for purposes herein). This policy of valuing at par will apply regardless of whether any given interest rate hedge is considered as an asset or liability for GAAP purposes.

Our property-level mortgages and corporate-level credit facilities that are not intended to be held to maturity (in conjunction with any associated interest rate hedges that are not intended to be held to maturity) are fair valued by the Advisor using widely accepted valuation methodologies based on information provided by various qualified third-party valuation experts and data sources. Our Independent Valuation Advisor will review the Advisor’s fair value estimates for the property-level mortgages and corporate-level credit facilities that are not intended to be held to maturity, excluding any impacts from interest rate hedges.

Estimated prepayment penalties will not factor into the valuation of our debt unless an interest rate hedge is definitively not intended to be held to maturity, in which case a hedge mark to market adjustment will be made at such time using a third-party pricing source.

Debt that is not intended to be held to maturity means any property-level mortgages that we definitively intend to prepay in association with any asset considered as held-for-sale from a GAAP perspective, other property-level mortgages or corporate-level credit facilities that we definitively intend to prepay, or any interest rate hedge that we definitively intend to terminate.

In addition, for non-recourse mortgages and interest rate hedges, the combined value of the net liability for each mortgage and associated interest rate hedge is limited to the value of the underlying asset(s), so as to not make the equity of such asset(s) less than zero.

Costs and expenses incurred to secure such financings are amortized over the life of the applicable loan. Unless costs can be specifically identified, we allocate the financing costs and expenses incurred with obtaining multiple loans that are not directly related to any single loan among the applicable loans, generally pro rata based on the amount of proceeds from each loan.

Valuation of Assets and Liabilities Associated with the DST Program

We have initiated a program (the “DST Program”) to raise capital in private placements through the sale of beneficial interests in specific Delaware statutory trusts holding real properties (each a “DST Property” and collectively, the “DST Properties”). DST Properties may be sourced from real properties currently indirectly owned by the Operating Partnership or may be newly acquired. Pursuant to the DST Program, we, through a subsidiary of our Operating Partnership, will hold a long-term leasehold interest in each DST Property pursuant to a master lease that is guaranteed by the Operating Partnership, while third-party investors own some or all of the DST Property through a Delaware statutory trust. Under the master lease, the Operating Partnership acts as a landlord to the occupying customers and is responsible for subleasing the DST Property to such customers, which means that we bear the risk that the underlying cash flow received by us from the DST Property may be less than the master lease payments made by us. Additionally, the Operating Partnership will retain a

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fair market value purchase option giving it the right, but not the obligation, to acquire the beneficial interests in the Delaware statutory trusts from the investors at a later time in exchange for units in the Operating Partnership (the “FMV Option”).

Due to our continuing involvement with the DST Properties through the master lease arrangements and the FMV Options, we will include DST Properties in our determination of NAV at fair market value in the same manner as described under “Real Property” above. In addition, the cash received by us or a DST Program Loan made by us in exchange for the sale of interests in a DST Property will be valued as assets and shall initially equal the value of the real property subject to the master lease, which will be valued as a liability. Accordingly, the sale of interests in a DST Property has no initial net effect to our NAV. Thereafter, our Independent Valuation Advisor will value the real property subject to the master lease liability quarterly using a discounted cash flow methodology. Therefore, any differences between the fair value of the underlying real property and the fair value of the real property subject to the master lease obligations will accrue into our NAV not less frequently than quarterly. The Advisor will value any loan assets used to purchase interests in the DST Program using the same methodology used to value our other debt investments, with such values reviewed for reasonableness by our Independent Valuation Advisor.

Estimated NAV of Unconsolidated Investments

Unconsolidated real properties held through joint ventures or partnerships are valued according to the valuation procedures set by such joint ventures or partnerships. At least once per calendar year, each unconsolidated real property will be appraised by a Third-Party Appraisal Firm. If the valuation procedures of the applicable joint ventures or partnerships do not accommodate a monthly determination of the fair value of real property, the Advisor will determine the estimated fair value of the unconsolidated real properties for those interim periods. The Advisor will also determine on a monthly basis the fair value of any other applicable assets and liabilities of the joint venture using similar practices that we utilize for our consolidated portfolio.

Once the associated fair values of assets and liabilities are determined, the value of our interest in any joint venture or partnership is then determined by using a hypothetical liquidation calculation based on our ownership percentage of the joint venture or partnership’s estimated NAV. If deemed an appropriate alternative to fair valuing applicable assets and liabilities individually, unconsolidated assets and liabilities held in a joint venture or partnership that acquires multiple real properties over time may be valued as a single investment. The value of our interest in any joint venture or partnership that is a minority interest or is restricted as to salability or transferability may reflect or be adjusted for a minority or liquidity discount. In determining the amount of such discount, consideration may be given to a variety of factors, including, without limitation, the nature and length of such restriction.

Our Independent Valuation Advisor is not responsible for providing monthly appraisals of unconsolidated real properties, reviewing third-party appraisals of unconsolidated real properties, or valuing our unconsolidated investments per these valuation procedures; however, it may be engaged to do so.

Probability-Weighted Adjustments

In certain circumstances, such as in an acquisition or disposition process, we may be aware of a contingency or contingencies that could impact the value of our assets, liabilities, income or expenses for purposes of our NAV calculation. For example, we may be party to an agreement to sell a property at a value different from the property value being used in our current NAV calculation. The same agreement may require the buyer to assume a related mortgage loan with a fair value that is different from the value of the loan being used in our current NAV calculation. The transaction may also involve costs for brokers, transfer taxes, and other items upon a successful closing. The Advisor may take such contingencies into account when determining the values of certain components of our NAV (such as the carrying value of our liabilities or expense accruals) for purposes of our NAV calculation. These adjustments may be made either in whole or in part over a period of time, and the Advisor may take into account (a) the estimated probability of the contingencies occurring and (b) the estimated impact to NAV if the contingencies were to occur when determining the timing and magnitude of any adjustments to NAV.

NAV and NAV per Share Calculation

Our NAV per share is calculated as of the last calendar day of each month for each of our outstanding classes of stock, and is available generally within 15 calendar days after the end of the applicable month. Our NAV per share is calculated by ALPS, a third-party firm approved by our board of directors, including a majority of our independent directors. Our board of directors, including a majority of our independent directors, may replace ALPS or any other party involved in our valuation procedures with another party, including our Advisor, if it is deemed appropriate to do so.

Each month, before taking into consideration accrued dividends or class-specific distribution fee accruals, any change in the Aggregate Fund NAV of our outstanding shares of common stock, along with the OP Units held by third parties from the prior month (whether an increase or decrease) is allocated among each class or series of Fund Interest based on each class’s or series’s relative percentage of the previous Aggregate Fund NAV. Changes in the Aggregate Fund NAV reflect factors including, but not limited to, unrealized/realized gains (losses) on the value of our real property portfolio, increases or decreases in Real Estate-Related Assets and other

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assets and liabilities, and monthly accruals for income and expenses (including accruals for performance based fees, if any, advisory fees and distribution fees) and distributions to investors.

Our most significant source of income is property-level net operating income. We accrue revenues and expenses on a monthly basis based on actual leases and operating expenses in that month. For the first month following a real property acquisition, we will calculate and accrue net operating income with respect to such property based on the performance of the property before the acquisition and the contractual arrangements in place at the time of the acquisition, as identified and reviewed through our due diligence and underwriting process in connection with the acquisition. For NAV calculation purposes, organization and offering costs incurred as part of our corporate-level expenses related to our primary offering reduce NAV as incurred. Organization and offering costs incurred as part of our corporate-level expenses related to the DST Program reduce NAV on a monthly basis over a two-year period following the completion of each DST offering.

Following the calculation and allocation of changes in the Aggregate Fund NAV as described above, NAV for each class is adjusted for accrued dividends and ongoing distribution fees that are currently payable, to determine the monthly NAV. Ongoing distribution fees are allocated on a class-specific basis and borne by all holders of the applicable class. These class-specific fees may differ for each class, even when the NAV of each class is the same. We normally expect that the allocation of ongoing distribution fees on a class-specific basis will result in different amounts of distributions being paid with respect to each class of shares. However, if no distributions are authorized for a certain period, or if they are authorized in an amount less than the allocation of class-specific fees with respect to such period, then pursuant to these valuation procedures, the class-specific fee allocations may lower the NAV of a share class. Therefore, as a result of the different ongoing fees allocable to each share class, each share class could have a different NAV per share. If the NAV of our classes are different, then changes to our assets and liabilities that are allocable based on NAV may also be different for each class. Because the purchase price of shares in the primary offering is equal to the transaction price, which generally equals the most recently disclosed monthly NAV per share, plus the upfront selling commissions and dealer manager fees, which are effectively paid by purchasers of shares at the time of purchase, the upfront selling commissions and dealer manager fees have no effect on the NAV of any class.

NAV per share for each class is calculated by dividing such class’s NAV at the end of each month by the number of shares outstanding for that class on such day.

NAV of our Operating Partnership and OP Units

Our valuation procedures include the following methodology to determine the monthly NAV of our Operating Partnership and the OP Units. Our Operating Partnership has certain classes or series of OP Units that are each economically equivalent to a corresponding class of shares. Accordingly, on the last day of each month, for such classes or series of OP Units, the NAV per OP Unit equals the NAV per share of the corresponding class. Certain other classes or series of OP Units may not be economically equivalent to a class of shares. The NAV of these classes or series of OP Units shall initially be set at a specified value, and thereafter adjusted as described above under “NAV and NAV per Share Calculation” as if they were a separate class of shares, taking into account their specific economic terms (specifically, their specific dividends and ongoing distribution fees). The NAV of our Operating Partnership on the last day of each month equals the sum of the NAVs of each outstanding OP Unit on such day.

Oversight by our Board of Directors

All parties engaged by us in connection with our valuation procedures, including Altus Group, ALPS and our Advisor, are subject to the oversight of our board of directors. As part of this process, our Advisor reviews the estimates of the fair values of our real properties, Real Estate-Related Assets, and other assets and liabilities within our portfolio for consistency with our valuation guidelines and the overall reasonableness of the valuation conclusions, and informs our board of directors of its conclusions. Although Third-Party Appraisal Firms, our Independent Valuation Advisor, or other pricing sources may consider any comments received from us or our Advisor or other valuation sources for their individual valuations, the final estimated fair values of our real properties are determined by our Independent Valuation Advisor, and the final estimates of fair values of our Real Estate-Related Assets, our other assets, and our liabilities are determined by the applicable pricing source as described above. With respect to the valuation of our real properties, our Independent Valuation Advisor provides our board of directors with periodic valuation reports and is available to meet with our board of directors to review valuation information, as well as our valuation guidelines and the operation and results of the valuation process generally. Our board of directors has the right to engage additional valuation firms and pricing sources to review the valuation process or valuations, if deemed appropriate.

Review of and Changes to Our Valuation Procedures

At least once each calendar year, our board of directors, including a majority of our independent directors, reviews the appropriateness of our valuation procedures with input from our Independent Valuation Advisor.

From time to time, our board of directors, including a majority of our independent directors, may adopt changes to the valuation procedures if it: (1) determines that such changes are likely to result in a more accurate reflection of NAV or a more efficient or less costly procedure for the determination of NAV without having a material adverse effect on the accuracy of such determination; or (2) otherwise reasonably believes a change is appropriate for the determination of NAV.

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We will publicly announce material changes to our valuation procedures.

Limitations on the Calculation of NAV

The most significant component of our NAV consists of the estimated fair values of real properties and, as with any real property valuation protocol, the estimated fair values of real properties are based on a number of judgments, assumptions or opinions about future events that may or may not prove to be correct. The use of different judgments, assumptions or opinions could result in a different estimate of the value of our real properties. Although the methodologies contained in the valuation procedures are designed to operate reliably within a wide variety of circumstances, it is possible that in certain unanticipated situations or after the occurrence of certain extraordinary events (such as a terrorist attack or an act of nature), our ability to implement and coordinate our NAV procedures may be impaired or delayed, including in circumstances where there is a delay in accessing or receiving information from vendors or other reporting agents. Further, the NAV per share should not be viewed as being determinative of the value of our common stock that may be received in a sale to a third party or the value at which our stock would trade on a national stock exchange. Our board of directors may suspend this offering and the share redemption program if it determines that the calculation of NAV may be materially incorrect or there is a condition that restricts the valuation of a material portion of our assets

Relationship between NAV and Our Transaction Price

Generally, our transaction price will equal our most recently disclosed monthly NAV. The transaction price will be the price at which we redeem shares and the price, together with applicable upfront selling commissions and dealer manager fees, at which we offer shares. Although the transaction price will generally be based on our most recently disclosed monthly NAV per share, the most recently disclosed monthly NAV may be significantly different from the current NAV per share of the applicable class of stock as of the date on which your purchase or redemption occurs.

In addition, we may offer shares at a price that we believe reflects the NAV per share of such stock more appropriately than the most recently disclosed monthly NAV per share (including by updating a previously disclosed transaction price) or suspend our offering and/or our share redemption program in cases where we believe there has been a material change (positive or negative) to our NAV per share relative to the most recently disclosed monthly NAV per share. In cases where our transaction price is not based on the most recently disclosed monthly NAV per share, the offering price and redemption price may not equal our NAV per share as of any time.

Our Current NAV Calculations

As used below, “Fund Interests” means our outstanding shares of common stock, along with the partnership units in our operating partnership (“OP Units”) which may be or were held directly or indirectly by the Advisor, our former sponsor Black Creek Diversified Property Advisors Group LLC, members or affiliates of the former sponsor, and third parties, and “Aggregate Fund NAV” means the NAV of all the Fund Interests.

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The following table sets forth the components of Aggregate Fund NAV as of November 30, 2021 and October 31, 2021:

As of

(in thousands)

    

November 30, 2021

    

October 31, 2021

Investments in office properties

$

665,600

$

663,850

Investments in retail properties

 

965,400

 

966,250

Investments in residential properties (1)

 

677,850

 

546,300

Investments in industrial properties

 

885,050

 

859,600

Total investment in real estate properties

3,193,900

3,036,000

Debt-related investments

47,883

47,883

DST Program Loans

57,217

58,862

Total investments

3,299,000

3,142,745

Cash and cash equivalents

 

11,922

 

10,345

Restricted cash

 

2,113

 

13,977

Other assets

 

56,149

 

32,068

Line of credit, term loans and mortgage notes

 

(1,089,660)

 

(1,022,659)

Financing obligations associated with our DST Program

 

(645,997)

 

(651,341)

Other liabilities

 

(54,411)

 

(56,325)

Accrued performance participation allocation

 

(12,845)

 

(9,964)

Accrued advisory fees

(2,020)

(1,927)

Noncontrolling interests in joint venture

(1,148)

(2,209)

Aggregate Fund NAV

$

1,563,103

$

1,454,710

Total Fund Interests outstanding

 

193,770

 

183,448


(1)Residential properties include multi-family and student housing.

The following table sets forth the NAV per Fund Interest as of November 30, 2021 and October 31, 2021:

    

Class T

    

Class S

    

Class D

    

Class I

    

Class E

    

(in thousands, except per Fund Interest data)

Total

Shares

Shares

Shares

Shares

Shares

OP Units

As of November 30, 2021

Monthly NAV

$

1,563,103

$

124,244

$

274,801

$

51,504

$

427,077

$

456,797

$

228,680

Fund Interests outstanding

 

193,770

 

15,402

 

34,066

 

6,385

 

52,942

 

56,627

 

28,348

NAV Per Fund Interest

$

8.0668

$

8.0668

$

8.0668

$

8.0668

$

8.0668

$

8.0668

$

8.0668

As of October 31, 2021

 

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

Monthly NAV

$

1,454,710

$

114,737

$

262,277

$

48,416

$

410,101

$

451,777

$

167,402

Fund Interests outstanding

 

183,448

 

14,469

 

33,075

 

6,106

 

51,716

 

56,972

 

21,110

NAV Per Fund Interest

$

7.9298

$

7.9298

$

7.9298

$

7.9298

$

7.9298

$

7.9298

$

7.9298

Under GAAP, we record liabilities for ongoing distribution fees that (i) we currently owe the Dealer Manager under the terms of our Dealer Manager agreement and (ii) we estimate we may pay to the Dealer Manager in future periods for shares of our common stock. As of November 30, 2021, we estimated approximately $32.2 million of ongoing distribution fees were potentially payable to the Dealer Manager. We do not deduct the liability for estimated future distribution fees in our calculation of NAV since we intend for our NAV to reflect our estimated value on the date that we determine our NAV. Accordingly, our estimated NAV at any given time does not include consideration of any estimated future distribution fees that may become payable after such date.

We include no discounts to our NAV for the illiquid nature of our shares, including the limitations on our stockholders’ ability to redeem shares under our share redemption program and our ability to suspend or terminate our share redemption program at any time. Our NAV generally does not consider exit costs (e.g. selling costs and commissions related to the sale of a property) that would likely be incurred if our assets and liabilities were liquidated or sold today. While we may use market pricing concepts to value individual components of our NAV, our per share NAV is not derived from the market pricing information of open-end real estate funds listed on stock exchanges.

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Our NAV is not a representation, warranty or guarantee that: (i) we would fully realize our NAV upon a sale of our assets; (ii) shares of our common stock would trade at our per share NAV on a national securities exchange; and (iii) a stockholder would be able to realize the per share NAV if such stockholder attempted to sell his or her shares to a third party.

The valuations of our real properties as of November 30, 2021, excluding certain newly acquired properties that are currently held at cost which we believe reflects the fair value of such properties, were provided by the Independent Valuation Advisor in accordance with our valuation procedures.. Certain key assumptions that were used by the Independent Valuation Advisor in the discounted cash flow analysis are set forth in the following table based on weighted-averages by property type.

    

Office

    

Retail

    

Residential

    

Industrial

    

Weighted-Average
Basis

 

Exit capitalization rate

 

6.18

%  

6.26

%  

5.02

%  

5.05

%  

5.67

%

Discount rate / internal rate of return

 

6.66

%  

6.85

%  

6.10

%  

5.86

%  

6.39

%

Average holding period (years)

 

9.6

 

10.0

 

10.0

 

10.0

 

9.9

A change in the exit capitalization and discount rates used would impact the calculation of the value of our real property. For example, assuming all other factors remain constant, the changes listed below would result in the following effects on the value of our real properties, excluding certain newly acquired properties that are currently held at cost which we believe reflects the fair value of such properties:

Input

    

Hypothetical
Change

    

Office

    

Retail

    

Residential

    

Industrial

    

Weighted-Average
Values

 

Exit capitalization rate (weighted-average)

 

0.25% decrease

 

2.99

%  

2.51

%  

3.40

%  

3.67

%  

3.11

%

 

0.25% increase

 

(2.75)

%  

(2.31)

%  

(3.07)

%  

(3.32)

%  

(2.84)

%

Discount rate (weighted-average)

 

0.25% decrease

 

2.05

%  

1.91

%  

1.99

%  

2.05

%  

1.99

%

 

0.25% increase

 

(2.00)

%  

(1.86)

%  

(1.94)

%  

(2.01)

%  

(1.95)

%

From September 30, 2017 through November 30, 2019, we valued our debt-related investments and real estate-related liabilities generally in accordance with fair value standards under GAAP. Beginning with our valuation for December 31, 2019, our property-level mortgages and corporate-level credit facilities that are intended to be held to maturity (which for fixed rate debt not subject to interest rate hedges may be the date near maturity at which time the debt will be eligible for prepayment at par for purposes herein), including those subject to interest rate hedges, were valued at par (i.e. at their respective outstanding balances). In addition, because we utilize interest rate hedges to stabilize interest payments (i.e. to fix all-in interest rates through interest rate swaps or to limit interest rate exposure through interest rate caps) on individual loans, each loan and associated interest rate hedge is treated as one financial instrument which is valued at par if intended to be held to maturity. This policy of valuing at par applies regardless of whether any given interest rate hedge is considered as an asset or liability for GAAP purposes. As of November 30, 2021, we classified all of our debt as intended to be held to maturity.

Our Historical NAV Calculations

On September 1, 2017 (the “Restructuring Date”), we amended our charter and restructured our outstanding share classes. The stockholder approved charter amendment modified the number and terms of the classes of shares of our common stock that we have outstanding and are authorized to issue. More specifically, instead of having unclassified shares (which we have referred to as “Class E” shares since 2012), Class A, Class W and Class I shares, following the charter amendment we now have formally designated Class E, Class T, Class S, Class D shares and a new version of Class I shares. Whenever we refer to our share classes in this prospectus with respect to dates prior to the Restructuring Date, we are referring to our shares under our prior share structure, and whenever we refer to our share classes in this prospectus with respect to dates on or after the Restructuring Date, we are referring to our shares under our new share structure. When reviewing our historical NAV calculations below, it is important to consider the share class restructuring described above. It is also important to note that, from July 12, 2012 through August 31, 2017, we calculated our NAV daily and generally did not undertake to mark-to-market our debt investments or real estate-related liabilities, but rather these assets and liabilities were usually included in our determination of NAV at an amount determined in accordance with GAAP.

The following table shows our NAV per share at the end of each quarter for the previous five full fiscal years.

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Date

    

Class E

    

Class T

    

Class S

    

Class D

    

Class I

 

March 31, 2016

$

7.36 

$

7.36 

N/A

$

7.36 

$

7.36 

June 30, 2016

$

7.37 

$

7.37 

N/A

$

7.37 

$

7.37 

September 30, 2016

$

7.48 

$

7.48 

N/A

$

7.48 

$

7.48 

December 31, 2016

$

7.57 

$

7.57 

N/A

$

7.57 

$

7.57 

March 31, 2017

$

7.52 

$

7.52 

N/A

$

7.52 

$

7.52 

June 30, 2017

$

7.50 

$

7.50 

N/A

$

7.50 

$

7.50 

September 30, 2017

$

7.45 

$

7.45 

$

7.45

$

7.45 

$

7.45 

December 31, 2017

$

7.41 

$

7.41 

$

7.41

$

7.41 

$

7.41 

March 31, 2018

$

7.46 

$

7.46 

$

7.46

$

7.46 

$

7.46 

June 30, 2018

$

7.49 

$

7.49 

$

7.49

$

7.49 

$

7.49 

September 30, 2018

$

7.54 

$

7.54 

$

7.54

$

7.54 

$

7.54 

December 31, 2018

$

7.44 

$

7.44 

$

7.44

$

7.44 

$

7.44 

March 31, 2019

$

7.31 

$

7.31 

$

7.31

$

7.31 

$

7.31 

June 30, 2019

$

7.30 

$

7.30 

$

7.30

$

7.30 

$

7.30 

September 30, 2019

$

7.35 

$

7.35 

$

7.35

$

7.35 

$

7.35 

December 31, 2019

$

7.49 

$

7.49 

$

7.49

$

7.49 

$

7.49 

March 31, 2020

$

7.53 

$

7.53 

$

7.53

$

7.53 

$

7.53 

June 30, 2020

$

7.50 

$

7.50 

$

7.50

$

7.50 

$

7.50 

September 30, 2020

$

7.52 

$

7.52 

$

7.52

$

7.52 

$

7.52 

December 30, 2020

$

7.54 

$

7.54 

$

7.54

$

7.54 

$

7.54 

March 31, 2021

$

7.59 

$

7.59 

$

7.59

$

7.59 

$

7.59 

June 30, 2020

$

7.66 

$

7.66 

$

7.66

$

7.66 

$

7.66 

September 30, 2021

$

7.83 

$

7. 83 

$

7.83

$

7.83 

$

7.83 

Our share sales and redemptions are made based on the applicable NAV per share carried out to four decimal places. Our most recent NAV per share for each class is (i) posted on our website, www.blackcreekgroup.com/investment-solutions/AREIT, and (ii) made available on our toll-free, automated telephone line, (888) 310-9352. In addition, we will disclose in a prospectus or prospectus supplement filed with the Commission the principal valuation components of our monthly NAV calculations.

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SELECTED INFORMATION REGARDING OUR OPERATIONS

Historical Fund-Level Expenses

During the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, we incurred certain company-level expenses at an annualized rate equal to approximately 2.90% and 2.91%, respectively, of our average NAV over the respective periods. Such company-level expenses comprised (i) an advisory fee equal to an annualized 1.89% and 1.61%, respectively, of our average NAV over the respective periods, which included a performance fee of 0.40% and 0.35% for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, (ii) general and administrative expenses equal to an annualized 0.75% and 0.83%, respectively, of our average NAV over the respective periods and (iii) organizational and offering costs equal to an annualized 0.26% and 0.46%, respectively, of our average NAV over the respective periods. Said differently, for each $1,000 in net proceeds that we received from the sale of shares after deducting upfront fees and commissions, we incurred approximately $29 and $29 in these company-level expenses during 2020 and 2019, respectively.

The information above should not be considered a representation of future fund-level expenses, which are dependent on a number of factors, including but not limited to our performance which affects the performance fee that we pay. From time to time we may change the fees and expense reimbursements we pay to our Advisor and Dealer Manager. For example, in connection with the Restructuring on September 1, 2017, we revised certain fees and expense reimbursements payable to our Advisor and Dealer Manager. In addition, investors in this offering may also be subject to upfront selling commissions and dealer manager fees, and ongoing distribution fees. Furthermore, we incur other investment-related expenses not included in the paragraph above such as, but not limited to, interest expense from borrowings and investment and property-level expenses (e.g. real estate taxes, property insurance and other real estate operating expenses). See “The Advisor and the Advisory Agreement—Summary of Fees, Commissions and Reimbursements” for a more detailed explanation of the fees and expenses payable to the Advisor and its affiliates.

Distributions

From January 31, 2020 through September 30, 2021, our board of directors authorized a monthly distribution rate of $0.03125 per share of common stock, subject to adjustment for class-specific fees. Our board of directors reserves the right to revisit this distribution level during the quarter with respect to record dates that have not yet passed. The distributions were paid, or will be paid, on or about the last business day of each respective month to stockholders of record as of the close of business on the last business day of each respective month.

The following table outlines sources used, as determined on a GAAP basis, to pay total gross distributions (which are paid in cash or reinvested in shares of our common stock through our distribution reinvestment plan) for the quarters indicated below:

 

Amount

 

Source of Distributions Paid in Cash

 

Declared

 

 

 

 

Total Cash

 

    

 

 

per

     

    

 

Flows from

 

Cash Flows from

 

Common

Reinvested in

Total

 

Operating

 

Operating

    

(in thousands, except per share data)

    

Share (1)

    

Paid in Cash (2)

    

Shares

    

Distributions

    

Activities (3)

    

Activities

    

Borrowings

2021

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

March 31

$

0.09375

$

9,572

 

63.4

%  

$

5,526

 

36.6

%  

$

15,098

$

7,659

$

7,659

 

80.0

%  

$

1,913

 

20.0

%

June 30

 

0.09375

 

9,962

 

63.5

 

5,723

 

36.5

 

15,685

 

14,204

 

9,962

 

100.0

 

 

September 30

 

0.09375

 

10,597

 

63.9

 

5,985

 

36.1

 

16,582

 

16,887

 

10,597

 

100.0

 

 

Total

$

0.28125

$

30,131

 

63.6

%  

$

17,234

 

36.4

%  

$

47,365

$

38,750

$

28,218

93.7

%  

$

1,913

6.3

%

2020

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

March 31

$

0.09375

$

9,032

 

62.8

%  

$

5,360

 

37.2

%  

$

14,392

$

7,455

$

7,455

 

82.5

%  

$

1,577

 

17.5

%

June 30

 

0.09375

 

9,150

 

63.3

 

5,316

 

36.7

 

14,466

 

11,384

 

9,150

 

100.0

 

 

September 30

 

0.09375

 

9,074

 

63.2

 

5,282

 

36.8

 

14,356

 

10,008

 

9,074

 

100.0

 

 

December 31

 

0.09375

 

9,214

 

63.3

 

5,347

 

36.7

 

14,561

 

12,281

 

9,214

 

100.0

 

 

Total

$

0.37500

$

36,470

 

63.1

%  

$

21,305

 

36.9

%  

$

57,775

$

41,128

$

34,893

95.7

%  

$

1,577

4.3

%


(1) Amount reflects the total quarterly distribution rate, subject to adjustment for class-specific fees. Distributions were declared and paid as of monthly record dates. These monthly distributions have been aggregated and presented on a quarterly basis.
(2) Includes other cash distributions consisting of: (i) distributions paid to OP Unit holders; and (ii) ongoing distribution fees paid to the Dealer Manager with respect to Class T, Class S and Class D shares.
(3) During the first quarter of each calendar year, we typically generate lower cash flows from operating activities than the other quarters of the years, all else equal, as a result of annual payments of operating expenses that are due during the first quarter. Such annual

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payments due in the first quarter include annual bonus reimbursements and certain property taxes in jurisdictions that require one annual payment.

For the nine months ended September 30, 2021 and the year ended December 31, 2020, our FFO was $25.7 million, or 54.2% of our total distributions, and $33.5 million, or 58.0% of our total distributions, respectively. FFO is a non-GAAP operating metric and should not be used as a liquidity measure. However, management believes the relationship between FFO and distributions may be meaningful for investors to better understand the sustainability of our operating performance compared to distributions made. Refer to “Additional Measures of Performance” below for the definition of FFO, as well as a detailed reconciliation of our GAAP net income (loss) to FFO.

Redemptions and Repurchases

Below is a summary of redemptions and repurchases pursuant to our share redemption program for the nine months ended September 30, 2021 and year ended December 31, 2020. Our board of directors may modify or suspend our share redemption program if in its reasonable judgment it deems a suspension to be in our best interest and the best interest of our stockholders.

For the Nine Months Ended

For the Year Ended

(in thousands, except for per share data)

    

September 30, 2021

December 31, 2020

Number of shares requested for redemption or repurchase

6,601

14,071

Number of shares redeemed or repurchased

 

6,601

 

14,071

% of shares requested that were redeemed or repurchased

 

100.0

%  

100.0

%

Average redemption or repurchase price per share

$

7.59

$

7.50

We funded these redemptions from cash flows from operating activities in excess of our distributions paid in cash, cash on hand, proceeds from our public offerings, proceeds from the disposition of properties, and borrowings under our revolving line of credit. We generally repay funds borrowed from our revolving line of credit from a variety of sources including: cash flows from operating activities in excess of our distributions; proceeds from our public offerings; proceeds from the disposition of properties; and other longer-term borrowings.

Additional Measures of Performance

Net Income and NOI

We define NOI as GAAP rental revenues less GAAP rental expenses. We consider NOI to be an appropriate supplemental performance measure and believe NOI provides useful information to our investors regarding our financial condition and results of operations because NOI reflects the operating performance of our properties and excludes certain items that are not considered to be controllable in connection with the management of the properties, such as real estate-related depreciation and amortization, general and administrative expenses, advisory fees, acquisition expenses, impairment charges, interest expense, gains on sale of properties, other income and expense, gains and losses on the extinguishment of debt and noncontrolling interests. However, NOI should not be viewed as an alternative measure of our financial performance since it excludes such items, which could materially impact our results of operations. Further, our NOI may not be comparable to that of other real estate companies, as they may use different methodologies for calculating NOI. Therefore, we believe net income, as defined by GAAP, to be the most appropriate measure to evaluate our overall financial performance. Refer to the “Results of Operations” section in “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020, which is incorporated herein by reference, for a reconciliation of our GAAP net income (loss) to NOI for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018, and in our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended September 30, 2021 for a reconciliation for the nine months ended September 30, 2021.

Article I.Funds From Operations (“FFO”)

We believe that FFO, in addition to net income (loss) and cash flows from operating activities as defined by GAAP, are useful supplemental performance measures that our management uses to evaluate our consolidated operating performance. However, this supplemental, non-GAAP measure should not be considered as an alternative to net income (loss) or to cash flows from operating activities as an indication of our performance and is not intended to be used as a liquidity measure indicative of cash flow available to fund our cash needs, including our ability to make distributions to our stockholders. No single measure can provide users of financial information with sufficient information and only our disclosures read as a whole can be relied upon to adequately portray our financial position, liquidity, and results of operations. In addition, other REITs may define FFO and similar measures differently and choose to treat acquisition-related costs and potentially other accounting line items in a manner different from us due to specific differences in investment and operating strategy or for other reasons.

FFO. As defined by the National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts (“NAREIT”), FFO is a non-GAAP measure that excludes certain items such as real estate-related depreciation and amortization. We believe FFO is a meaningful supplemental measure of our operating performance that is useful to investors because depreciation and amortization in accordance with GAAP implicitly assumes that the value of real estate assets diminishes predictably over time. By excluding gains or losses on the sale of assets, we believe FFO

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provides a helpful additional measure of our consolidated operating performance on a comparative basis. We use FFO as an indication of our consolidated operating performance and as a guide to making decisions about future investments.

The following unaudited table presents a reconciliation of GAAP net income (loss) to NAREIT FFO:

 

For the Nine Months Ended

September 30, 

For the Year Ended December 31,

(in thousands, except per share data)

    

2021

    

2020

    

2020

    

2019

    

2018

    

2017

    

2016

GAAP net income (loss) attributable to common stockholders

$

22,922

$

(19,827)

$

(14,914)

$

142,551

$

(1,237)

$

72,216

$

49,976

GAAP net income (loss) per common share—basic and diluted

$

0.15

$

(0.14)

$

(0.10)

$

1.04

$

(0.01)

$

0.51

$

0.31

Reconciliation of GAAP net income (loss) to NAREIT FFO:

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

GAAP net income (loss) attributable to common stockholders

$

22,922

$

(19,827)

$

(14,914)

$

142,551

$

(1,237)

$

72,216

$

49,976

Real estate-related depreciation and amortization

 

52,728

 

44,558

 

62,923

 

57,342

 

57,866

 

68,070

 

80,105

Impairment of real estate property

 

758

 

 

 

113

 

14,648

 

1,116

 

2,677

Gain on sale of real estate property

 

(53,321)

 

(2,192)

 

(13,335)

 

(160,537)

 

(14,093)

 

(83,057)

 

(45,660)

Noncontrolling interests’ share of net income (loss)

 

2,430

 

(1,515)

 

(1,091)

 

10,726

 

(101)

 

7,182

 

5,072

Redeemable noncontrolling interests' share of net income (loss)

169

(71)

(54)

Noncontrolling interests’ share of NAREIT FFO

 

(2,470)

 

(1,467)

 

(2,462)

 

(3,565)

 

(4,461)

 

(5,090)

 

(7,874)

Redeemable noncontrolling interests' share of NAREIT FFO

(171)

(69)

(110)

NAREIT FFO attributable to common stockholders—basic

 

23,045

 

19,417

 

30,957

 

46,630

 

52,622

 

60,437

 

84,296

NAREIT FFO attributable to OP Units

 

2,641

 

1,536

 

2,572

 

3,563

 

4,456

 

4,995

 

6,546

NAREIT FFO

$

25,686

$

20,953

$

33,529

$

50,193

$

57,078

$

65,432

$

90,842

Weighted-average shares outstanding—basic

 

151,045

 

142,216

 

142,268

 

136,925

 

128,740

 

142,349

 

159,648

Weighted-average shares outstanding—diluted

 

168,475

 

153,665

 

154,052

 

147,316

 

139,674

 

154,156

 

172,046

NAREIT FFO per common share—basic and diluted

$

0.15

$

0.14

$

0.22

$

0.34

$

0.41

$

0.42

$

0.53

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DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK

The following is a summary of the material terms of shares of our capital stock as set forth in our charter and is qualified in its entirety by reference to our charter. Under our charter, we have authority to issue a total of 2,700,000,000 shares of capital stock. Of the total number of shares of capital stock authorized (a) 2,500,000,000 shares are designated as common stock with a par value of $0.01 per share, 500,000,000 of which are classified as Class E shares, 500,000,000 of which are classified as Class T shares, 500,000,000 of which are classified as Class S shares, 500,000,000 of which are classified as Class D shares and 500,000,000 of which are classified as Class I shares and (b) 200,000,000 shares are designated as preferred stock with a par value of $0.01 per share. Our board of directors, with the approval of a majority of the full board and without any action by our stockholders, may amend our charter from time to time to increase or decrease the aggregate number of shares of capital stock or the number of shares of capital stock of any class or series that we have authority to issue. As of December 1, 2021, we had outstanding 169,664,194 shares, comprised of 16,425,269 Class T shares, 35,756,737 Class S shares, 6,748,922 Class D shares, 54,405,525 Class I shares and 56,327,741 Class E shares.

Common Stock

The holders of shares of our common stock are entitled to one vote per share on all matters voted on by stockholders, including election of our directors. Our charter does not provide for cumulative voting in the election of directors. Therefore, the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of our common stock can elect our full board of directors. Subject to any preferential rights of any outstanding series of preferred stock and the provisions of our charter regarding restriction on ownership and transfer of our common stock, the holders of shares of our common stock are entitled to such distributions as may be authorized from time to time by our board of directors out of legally available funds and declared by us and, upon liquidation, are entitled to receive all assets available for distribution to stockholders. All shares of our common stock issued in this offering are fully paid and non-assessable shares of common stock. Holders of shares of our common stock do not have preemptive rights, which means that you do not have an option to purchase any new shares of common stock that we issue, and generally do not have appraisal rights unless our board of directors determines that appraisal rights apply, with respect to all or any classes or series of shares, to one or more transactions occurring after the date of such determination in connection with which holders of such shares would otherwise be entitled to exercise appraisal rights. Stockholders are not liable for the acts or obligations of the Company.

We do not issue certificates for shares of our common stock. Shares of our common stock are held in “uncertificated” form which eliminates the physical handling and safekeeping responsibilities inherent in owning transferable share certificates and eliminates the need to return a duly executed share certificate to effect a transfer. DST Systems, Inc. acts as our registrar and as the transfer agent for shares of our common stock. Transfers can be effected simply by mailing a transfer and assignment form, which we will provide to you at no charge, to:

For regular mail:

For overnight deliveries:

DST Systems, Inc.

DST Systems, Inc.

PO Box 219079

430 West 7th Street, Suite 219079

Kansas City, Missouri 64121-9079

Kansas City, Missouri 64105

Class E Shares

Substantially all of our outstanding Class E shares were sold by us in prior public primary offerings or to Class E stockholders pursuant to our distribution reinvestment plan. No Class E shares will be issued in this offering.

Class T Shares

Each Class T share issued in the primary offering will be subject to an upfront selling commission of up to 3.0%, and a dealer manager fee of up to 1.5%, of the transaction price of each Class T share sold in the offering on the date of the purchase; provided, however, that the sum of upfront selling commissions and upfront dealer manager fees will not exceed 3.5% of the transaction price. The Dealer Manager anticipates that all or a portion of the upfront selling commissions and dealer manager fees will be retained by, or reallowed (paid) to, participating broker-dealers.

We will pay the Dealer Manager a distribution fee with respect to our outstanding Class T shares equal to 0.85% per annum of the aggregate NAV of our outstanding Class T shares, consisting of an advisor distribution fee of 0.65% per annum, and a dealer distribution fee of 0.20% per annum, of the aggregate NAV for the Class T shares; however, with respect to certain Class T shares, the advisor distribution fee and the dealer distribution fee may be other amounts, provided that the sum of such fees will always equal 0.85% per annum of the NAV of such shares. The distribution fee will be paid monthly in arrears. The Dealer Manager will reallow (pay) or advance all or a portion of the distribution fee to participating broker-dealers and servicing broker-dealers and will rebate to us the distribution fee to the extent a broker-dealer is not eligible to receive it unless the Dealer Manager has not recouped the total amount of distribution fees it advanced or the Dealer Manager is serving as the broker of record with respect to such shares. We will cease paying the distribution fees

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with respect to individual Class T shares when they are no longer outstanding, including as a result of conversion to Class I shares as described below under “—Conversion.”

The upfront selling commission and dealer manager fee will not be payable in respect of any Class T shares sold pursuant to our distribution reinvestment plan, but such shares will be charged the distribution fee payable with respect to all our outstanding Class T shares.

Class T shares are available to the general public for purchase in this offering.

Class S Shares

Each Class S share issued in the primary offering will be subject to an upfront selling commission of up to 3.5% of the transaction price of each Class S share sold in the offering on the date of the purchase. The Dealer Manager anticipates that all or a portion of the upfront selling commissions will be retained by, or reallowed (paid) to, participating broker-dealers. No dealer manager fee will be paid for sales of any Class S shares.

We will pay the Dealer Manager a distribution fee with respect to our outstanding Class S shares equal to 0.85% per annum of the aggregate NAV of our outstanding Class S shares. The distribution fee will be paid monthly in arrears. The Dealer Manager will reallow (pay) or advance all or a portion of the distribution fee to participating broker-dealers and servicing broker-dealers and will rebate to us the distribution fee to the extent a broker-dealer is not eligible to receive it unless the Dealer Manager has not recouped the total amount of distribution fees it advanced or the Dealer Manager is serving as the broker of record with respect to such shares. We will cease paying the distribution fees with respect to individual Class S shares when they are no longer outstanding, including as a result of conversion to Class I shares as described below under “—Conversion.”

The upfront selling commission will not be payable in respect of any Class S shares sold pursuant to our distribution reinvestment plan, but such shares will be charged the distribution fee payable with respect to all our outstanding Class S shares.

Class S shares are available to the general public for purchase in this offering.

Class D Shares

No upfront selling commissions or dealer manager fee will be paid for sales of any Class D shares. We will pay the Dealer Manager a distribution fee with respect to our outstanding Class D shares equal to 0.25% per annum of the aggregate NAV of all our outstanding Class D shares, including any Class D shares sold pursuant to our distribution reinvestment plan. The distribution fee will be paid monthly in arrears. The Dealer Manager will reallow (pay) or advance all or a portion of the distribution fee to participating broker-dealers and servicing broker-dealers and will rebate to us the distribution fee to the extent a broker-dealer is not eligible to receive it unless the Dealer Manager has not recouped the total amount of distribution fees it advanced or the Dealer Manager is serving as the broker of record with respect to such shares. We will cease paying the distribution fees with respect to individual Class D shares when they are no longer outstanding, including as a result of conversion to Class I shares as described below under “—Conversion.”

Class D shares are generally available for purchase in this offering only (1) through fee-based programs, also known as wrap accounts, that provide access to Class D shares, (2) through participating broker-dealers that have alternative fee arrangements with their clients to provide access to Class D shares, (3) through investment advisers that are registered under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 or applicable state law and direct clients to trade with a broker-dealer that offers Class D shares, (4) through bank trust departments or any other organization or person authorized to act in a fiduciary capacity for its clients or customers or (5) other categories of investors that we name in an amendment or supplement to this prospectus.

Class I Shares

No upfront selling commissions, dealer manager fees or distribution fees will be paid for sales of any Class I shares.

Class I shares are available for purchase in this offering only (1) through fee-based programs, also known as wrap accounts, that provide access to Class I shares, (2) by institutional accounts as defined by FINRA Rule 4512(c), (3) through bank-sponsored collective trusts and bank-sponsored common trusts, (4) by retirement plans (including a trustee or custodian under any deferred compensation or pension or profit sharing plan or payroll deduction IRA established for the benefit of the employees of any company), foundations or endowments, (5) through certain financial intermediaries that are not otherwise registered with or as a broker-dealer and that direct clients to trade with a broker-dealer that offers Class I shares, (6) through investment advisers registered under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 or applicable state law that are also registered with or as a broker-dealer, whose broker-dealer does not receive any compensation from us or the Dealer Manager, (7) by our executive officers and directors and their immediate family members, as well as officers and employees of the Advisor or affiliates of the Advisor and their immediate family members, and, if approved by our board of directors, joint venture partners, consultants and other service providers, (8) by participating broker-dealers, including their registered representatives

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and immediate family members, (9) through bank trust departments or any other organization or person authorized to act as a fiduciary for its clients or customers and (10) by any other categories of purchasers that we name in an amendment or supplement to this prospectus.

Conversion

Each Class T, Class S or Class D share held within a stockholder’s account shall automatically and without any action on the part of the holder thereof convert into a number of Class I shares at the Applicable Conversion Rate (as defined below) on the earliest of (a) a listing of any shares of our common stock on a national securities exchange, (b) our merger or consolidation with or into another entity, or the sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of our assets and (c) the end of the month in which the Dealer Manager in conjunction with our transfer agent determines that the total upfront selling commissions, upfront dealer manager fees and ongoing distribution fees paid with respect to all shares of such class held by such stockholder within such account (including shares purchased through a distribution reinvestment plan or received as stock dividends) equals or exceeds 8.75% (or a lower limit set forth in any applicable agreement between the Dealer Manager and a participating broker-dealer, provided that the Dealer Manager advises our transfer agent of the lower limit in writing) of the aggregate purchase price of all shares of such class held by such stockholder within such account and purchased in a primary offering (i.e., an offering other than a distribution reinvestment plan).

In addition, after termination of a primary offering registered under the Securities Act, each Class T, Class S or Class D share sold in that primary offering, each Class T, Class S or Class D share sold under a distribution reinvestment plan pursuant to the same registration statement that was used for that primary offering, and each Class T, Class S or Class D share received as a stock dividend with respect to such shares sold in such primary offering or distribution reinvestment plan, shall automatically and without any action on the part of the holder thereof convert into a number of Class I shares at the Applicable Conversion Rate, at the end of the month in which we, with the assistance of the Dealer Manager, determine that all underwriting compensation paid or incurred with respect to the offerings covered by that registered statement from all sources, determined pursuant to the rules and guidance of FINRA, would be in excess of 10% of the aggregate purchase price of all shares sold for our account through that primary offering.

As used above, the “Applicable Conversion Rate” means (a) with respect to Class T shares, a ratio whereby the numerator is the most recently disclosed monthly Class T NAV per share and the denominator is the most recently disclosed monthly Class I NAV per share, (b) with respect to Class S shares, a ratio whereby the numerator is the most recently disclosed monthly Class S NAV per share and the denominator is the most recently disclosed monthly Class I NAV per share, and (c) with respect to Class D shares, a ratio whereby the numerator is the most recently disclosed monthly Class D NAV per share and the denominator is the most recently disclosed monthly Class I NAV per share. For each class of shares, the NAV per share shall be calculated as described in the most recent valuation procedures approved by our board of directors. Because we currently expect to allocate ongoing distribution fee expenses to our Class T, Class S and Class D shares through their distributions, and not through their NAV per share, we currently expect the Applicable Conversion Rate to remain 1:1 for our Class T, Class S and Class D shares.

Rights Upon Liquidation

Immediately before any liquidation, dissolution or winding up, or any distribution of our assets pursuant to a plan of liquidation, dissolution or winding up, our Class T, Class S and Class D shares will automatically convert to Class I shares at the Applicable Conversion Rate. Following such conversion, each holder of shares of a particular class of common stock will be entitled to receive, ratably with each other holder of shares of such class, that portion of such aggregate assets available for distribution as the number of outstanding shares of such class held by such holder bears to the total number of outstanding shares of such class then outstanding.

Preferred Stock

Our charter authorizes our board of directors to classify and reclassify any unissued shares of our common stock and preferred stock into other classes or series of stock. A majority of our independent directors who do not have an interest in the transaction must approve any offering of preferred stock and have access to counsel at the Company’s expense. Prior to issuance of shares of each class or series, the board of directors is required by the Maryland General Corporation Law and by our charter to set, subject to our charter restrictions on transfer of our stock, the terms, preferences, conversion or other rights, voting powers, restrictions, limitations as to dividends or other distributions, qualifications and terms or conditions of redemption for each class or series. Thus, the board of directors could authorize the issuance of shares of common stock or preferred stock with terms and conditions which could have the effect of delaying, deferring or preventing a transaction or change in control that might involve a premium price for holders of our common stock or otherwise be in their best interest. Our board of directors has no present plans to issue preferred stock, but may do so at any time in the future without stockholder approval. We will not offer preferred stock to our Advisor, our Dealer Manager, our officers and directors, or any of their affiliates except on the same terms as preferred stock is offered to all other investors.

Meetings, Special Voting Requirements and Access to Records

An annual meeting of the stockholders is held each year on a date specified by our board of directors that is not less than 30 days after delivery of our annual report. Special meetings of stockholders may be called only upon the request of a majority of the directors, a

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majority of the independent directors, the chief executive officer or upon the written request of stockholders holding at least 10% of the outstanding shares of our common stock. Upon receiving a written request, either by person or by mail, our secretary will provide all stockholders with written notice, either by person or by mail, of such meeting and the purpose of such meeting. The special meeting must be held not less than 15 nor more than 60 days after the distribution of the notice, at a time and place specified in the stockholder request, or if none is specified, at a time and place convenient to the stockholders. The presence of 50% of the outstanding shares of our common stock either in person or by proxy shall constitute a quorum. Generally, the affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast on a matter is necessary to take stockholder action, except that a majority of the votes represented in person or by proxy at a meeting at which a quorum is present is required to elect a director and except for the matters described in the next paragraph, which must be approved by the affirmative vote of stockholders entitled to cast a majority of all the votes entitled to be cast on the matter.

Under the Maryland General Corporation Law and our charter, stockholders are generally entitled to vote at a duly held meeting at which a quorum is present on (1) the amendment of our charter, (2) our dissolution, (3) our merger into another entity, our consolidation or the sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of our assets and (4) the election or removal of our directors.

The Advisory Agreement, including the selection of the Advisor, is approved annually by our directors including a majority of the independent directors. While the stockholders do not have the ability to vote to replace the Advisor or to select a new advisor, stockholders do have the ability, by the affirmative vote of a majority of the shares of our common stock entitled to vote on such matter, to remove a director from our board of directors. Any stockholder shall be permitted access to all our records at all reasonable times, and may inspect and copy any of them for a reasonable copying charge. An alphabetical list of the names, addresses and telephone numbers of our stockholders, along with the number of shares of our common stock held by each of them, shall be maintained as part of our books and records and shall be available for inspection by any stockholder or the stockholder’s designated agent at our office. The stockholder list will be updated at least quarterly to reflect changes in the information contained therein. A copy of the list shall be mailed to any stockholder who requests the list within 10 days of the request. A stockholder may request a copy of the stockholder list in connection with matters relating to voting rights and the exercise of stockholder rights under federal proxy laws. A stockholder requesting a list will be required to pay reasonable costs of postage and duplication. We have the right to request that a requesting stockholder represent to us that the list will not be used to pursue commercial interests. In addition to the foregoing, stockholders have rights under Rule 14a-7 under the Exchange Act, which provides that, upon the request of investors and the payment of the expenses of the distribution, we are required to distribute specific materials to stockholders in the context of the solicitation of proxies for voting on matters presented to stockholders or, at our option, provide requesting stockholders with a copy of the list of stockholders so that the requesting stockholders may make the distribution of proxies themselves. If a proper request for the stockholder list is not honored, then the requesting stockholder shall be entitled to recover certain costs incurred in compelling the production of the list as well as actual damages suffered by reason of the refusal or failure to produce the list. However, a stockholder shall not have the right to, and we may require a requesting stockholder to represent that it will not, secure the stockholder list or other information for the purpose of selling or using the list for a commercial purpose (such as to acquire our shares in a tender offer for investment purposes) not related to the requesting stockholder’s interest in the affairs of the Company.

Tender Offers

Our charter provides that any person making a tender offer that is not otherwise subject to Regulation 14D of the Exchange Act, including any “mini-tender” offer, must comply with most of the provisions of Regulation 14D of the Exchange Act, including the notice and disclosure requirements. In addition, the offeror must provide us notice of such tender offer at least 10 business days before initiating the tender offer. If the offeror does not comply with the provisions set forth above, we will have the right to redeem that offeror’s shares, if any, and any shares acquired in such tender offer. In addition, the non-complying offeror will be responsible for all of our expenses in connection with that offeror’s noncompliance.

Restriction On Ownership of Shares of Capital Stock

In order for us to qualify as a REIT, no more than 50% in value of the outstanding shares of our common stock may be owned, directly or indirectly, through the application of certain attribution rules under the Code, by any five or fewer individuals, as defined in the Code to include specified entities, during the last half of any taxable year. In addition, the outstanding shares of our common stock must be owned by 100 or more persons independent of us and each other during at least 335 days of a 12-month taxable year or during a proportionate part of a shorter taxable year, excluding our first taxable year ending December 31, 2006. In addition, we must meet requirements regarding the nature of our gross income in order to qualify as a REIT. One of these requirements is that at least 75% of our gross income for each calendar year must consist of rents from real property and income from other real property investments. The rents received by the Operating Partnership from any customer will not qualify as rents from real property, which could result in our loss of REIT status, if we own, actually or constructively within the meaning of certain provisions of the Code, 10% or more of the ownership interests in that customer. In order to assist us in preserving our status as a REIT, among other purposes, our charter contains limitations on the ownership and transfer of shares of common stock which prohibit any person or entity from owning or acquiring, directly or indirectly, more than 9.8% of the value of our then outstanding capital stock or more than 9.8% of the value or number of shares, whichever is more restrictive, of our then outstanding common stock, prohibit the beneficial ownership of the outstanding shares of our capital stock by fewer than 100 persons and prohibit any transfer of or other event or transaction with respect to shares of capital stock that would result in the beneficial ownership of our outstanding shares of capital stock by fewer than 100 persons. In addition, our charter prohibits any transfer of

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or other event with respect to shares of our capital stock that would result in us being “closely held” within the meaning of Section 856(h) of the Code, that would cause us to own, actually or constructively, more than 9.9% of the ownership interests in a customer of our real property or the real property of the Operating Partnership or any direct or indirect subsidiary of the Operating Partnership or that would otherwise cause us to fail to qualify as a REIT.

Our charter provides that the shares of our capital stock that, if transferred, would result in a violation of the 9.8% ownership limit, would result in us being “closely held” within the meaning of Section 856(h) of the Code, would cause us to own more than 9.9% of the ownership interests in a customer of our real property or the real property of the Operating Partnership or any direct or indirect subsidiary of the Operating Partnership or would otherwise cause us to fail to qualify as a REIT will be transferred automatically to a trust effective on the day before the purported transfer of such shares of our capital stock. We will designate a trustee of the share trust that will not be affiliated with us or the purported transferee or record holder. We will also name a charitable organization as beneficiary of the share trust. The trustee will receive all distributions on the shares of our capital stock in the same trust and will hold such distributions or distributions in trust for the benefit of the beneficiary. The trustee also will vote the shares of capital stock in the same trust. The intended transferee will acquire no rights in such shares of capital stock, unless, in the case of a transfer that would cause a violation of the 9.8% ownership limit, the transfer is exempted by the board of directors from the ownership limit based upon receipt of information (including certain representations and undertakings from the intended transferee) that such transfer would not violate the provisions of the Code for our qualification as a REIT. In addition, our charter provides that any transfer of shares of our capital stock that would result in shares of our capital stock being owned by fewer than 100 persons will be null and void and the intended transferee will acquire no rights in such shares of our capital stock.

The trustee will transfer the shares of our capital stock to a person whose ownership of shares of our capital stock will not violate the ownership limits. The transfer shall be made no earlier than 20 days after the later of our receipt of notice that shares of our capital stock have been transferred to the trust or the date we determine that a purported transfer of shares of stock has occurred. During this 20-day period, we will have the option of redeeming such shares of our capital stock. Upon any such transfer or redemption, the purported transferee or holder shall receive a per share price equal to the lesser of (a) the price per share in the transaction that resulted in the transfer of such shares to the trust (or, in the case of a gift or devise, the price per share on the date of redemption at the time of the gift or devise) or (b) the price per share on the date of the redemption, in the case of a purchase by us, or the price received by the trustee net of any sales commission and expenses, in the case of a sale by the trustee. The charitable beneficiary will receive any excess amounts. In the case of a liquidation, holders of such shares will receive a ratable amount of our remaining assets available for distribution to shares of the applicable class or series taking into account all shares of such class or series. The trustee will distribute to the purported transferee or holder an amount equal to the lesser of the amounts received with respect to such shares or the price per share in the transaction that resulted in the transfer of such shares to the trust (or, in the case of a gift or devise, the price at the time of the gift or devise) and shall distribute any remaining amounts to the charitable beneficiary.

Any person who (1) acquires or attempts to acquire shares of our capital stock in violation of the foregoing restrictions or who owns shares of our capital stock that were transferred to any such trust is required to give immediate written notice to us of such event or (2) purports to transfer or receive shares of our capital stock subject to such limitations is required to give us 15 days written notice prior to such purported transaction. In both cases, such persons shall provide to us such other information as we may request in order to determine the effect, if any, of such event on our status as a REIT. The foregoing restrictions will continue to apply until the board of directors determines it is no longer in our best interest to continue to qualify as a REIT.

The ownership limits do not apply to a person or persons which the directors exempt from the ownership limit upon appropriate assurances that our qualification as a REIT is not jeopardized. Any person who owns 5% or more (or such lower percentage applicable under Treasury Regulations) of the outstanding shares of our capital stock during any taxable year will be asked to deliver a statement or affidavit setting forth the number of shares of our capital stock beneficially owned.

Distributions

We intend to make distributions on a monthly basis following the end of each calendar month. We intend to use monthly record dates and, thus, monthly distribution accruals. However, we reserve the right to adjust the periods during which distributions accrue and are paid. Our cash distributions for the nine months ended September 30, 2021 were 93.7% funded from our operations and 6.3% was funded from our borrowings. Our cash distributions for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018, on a year-to-date basis, were fully funded from our operations. When looking at individual quarters within those periods, in some cases our distributions were not fully funded from our operations for such quarters. In the future we may continue to fund distributions from sources other than cash flow from operations. Our long-term strategy is to fund the payment of monthly distributions to our stockholders entirely from our operations. However, if we are unsuccessful in investing the capital we raise in this offering or which is generated from the sale of existing assets on an effective and efficient basis that is accretive to our distribution level, we may be required to fund our monthly distributions to our stockholders from a combination of our operations and financing activities, which include net proceeds of this offering and borrowings (including borrowings secured by our assets), or to reduce the level of our monthly distributions. We have not established a cap on the amount of our distributions that may be paid from any of these sources.

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Our ability to pay distributions at the current level also likely will be impacted by the expiration of certain large leases in our portfolio, and, as a result, we may be required to reduce the level of our monthly distributions. To the extent that we sell higher yielding assets in exchange for assets that may initially produce less income in exchange for the potential ability for longer term appreciation, this may also put pressure on our ability to sustain our current distribution level. If and when our monthly distributions exceed cash flow generated from our operations, it causes a net decrease in our NAV if not offset by other effects.

Each quarter our board of directors determines the level of our distributions for each month in that quarter. In determining the appropriate level of a distribution, our board of directors considers a number of factors, including the current and anticipated market conditions, current and anticipated future performance and make-up of our investments, our overall financial projections and expected future cash needs. We can give no assurance that the board of directors will continue to set distributions at current levels and our distribution levels may change from time to time. Depending on the distribution level relative to cash flow generated from our portfolio, if and when our monthly distributions exceed cash flow generated from our operations, it causes a net decrease in our NAV if not offset by other effects.

In connection with a distribution to our stockholders, our board intends to authorize a monthly distribution of a certain dollar amount per share of our common stock before or on the first day of each calendar quarter for the months in such quarter. We will then calculate each stockholder’s specific distribution amount for the month using monthly record dates and your distributions will accrue on the first record date after you become a record owner of our common stock, subject to our board of directors declaring a distribution for record owners as of such date. We accrue the amount of declared distributions as a liability on the record date, and such liability is accounted for in determining the NAV.

The per share amount of any distributions for any class of common stock relative to the other classes of common stock shall be determined as described in the most recent multiple class plan approved by our board of directors. Under our multiple class plan in effect, distributions are made on all classes of our common stock at the same time. The per share amount of distributions on our shares of common stock differs because of different allocations of class-specific fees. We use the record share method of determining the per share amount of distributions on each class of shares, although our board of directors may choose other methods. The record share method is one of several distribution calculation methods for multiple-class funds recommended, but not required, by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (“AICPA”). Under this method, the amount to be distributed on shares of our common stock is increased by the sum of all class-specific fees accrued for such period. Such amount is divided by the number of shares of our common stock outstanding on the record date. Such per share amount is reduced for each class of common stock by the per share amount of any class-specific fees allocable to such class.

We are required to make distributions sufficient to satisfy the requirements for qualification as a REIT for federal income tax purposes. Generally, income distributed will not be taxable to us under the Code if we distribute at least 90% of our taxable income each year (computed without regard to the distributions paid deduction and our net capital gain). In addition, if we fail to distribute during each calendar year at least the sum of (a) 85% of our ordinary income for such year, (b) 95% of our capital gain net income for such year, and (c) any undistributed taxable income from prior periods, we will be subject to a 4% excise tax on the excess of the required distribution over the sum of (i) the amounts actually distributed by us, plus (ii) retained amounts on which we pay income tax at the corporate level. See “Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations—Requirements for Qualification as a REIT—Operational Requirements—Annual Distribution Requirement.” Distributions are authorized at the discretion of the board of directors, in accordance with our earnings, cash flow and general financial condition. The board’s discretion is directed, in substantial part, by its obligation to cause us to comply with the REIT requirements. Because we may receive income from interest or rents at various times during our fiscal year, distributions may not reflect our income earned in that particular distribution period and may be made in advance of actual receipt of funds in an attempt to make distributions relatively uniform. We are authorized to borrow money, issue new securities or sell assets in order to make distributions. There are no restrictions on the ability of our Operating Partnership to transfer funds to us. For information regarding our historical distributions, see “Selected Information Regarding Our Operations—Distribution Information.”

We are prohibited from making distributions in kind, except for distributions of readily marketable securities, distributions of beneficial interests in a liquidating trust established for the dissolution of the Company and the liquidation of assets in accordance with the terms of our charter, or distributions in which (i) the board of directors advises each stockholder of the risks associated with direct ownership of the property, (ii) the board of directors offers each stockholder the election of receiving such in-kind distributions and (iii) in-kind distributions are made only to those stockholders that accept such offer. We are not prohibited from distributing our own securities in lieu of making cash distributions to stockholders, provided that the securities so distributed to stockholders are readily marketable. Stockholders who receive marketable securities in lieu of cash distributions may incur transaction expenses in liquidating the securities.

Distribution Reinvestment Plan

Our distribution reinvestment plan allows you to have your cash distributions attributable to the class of shares owned automatically reinvested in additional shares of the same class. A copy of our distribution reinvestment plan is included as Appendix B to this prospectus. You may choose to enroll as a participant in our distribution reinvestment plan by completing the subscription agreement,

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the enrollment form or by other written notice to the plan administrator. Participation in the plan will begin with the next distribution made after acceptance of your written notice.

The per share purchase price for shares purchased pursuant to the distribution reinvestment plan will be equal to the transaction price for such shares in effect on the distribution date. However, our board of directors may determine, in its sole discretion, to have any distributions paid in cash without notice to participants, without suspending the plan and without affecting the future operation of the plan with respect to participants. Stockholders do not pay selling commissions or a dealer manager fee when purchasing shares pursuant to the distribution reinvestment plan. Because the distribution fee is calculated based on our NAV, it reduces the NAV and/or distributions with respect to our Class T, Class S and Class D shares, including shares issued under the distribution reinvestment plan with respect to such share classes. Shares acquired under the distribution reinvestment plan entitle the participant to the same rights and will be treated in the same manner as shares of that class purchased in this offering.

We reserve the right to amend any aspect of our distribution reinvestment plan without the consent of our stockholders, provided that notice of any material amendment is sent to participants at least 10 days prior to the effective date of that amendment. Our board of directors may amend, suspend or terminate the distribution reinvestment plan for any reason at any time upon 10 days’ prior notice to participants. We may provide notice by including such information (a) in a Current Report on Form 8-K or in our annual or quarterly reports, all publicly filed with the Commission or (b) in a separate mailing to the participants. Participation in the plan may also be terminated with respect to any person to the extent that a reinvestment of distributions in shares of our common stock would cause the share ownership limitations contained in our charter to be violated. Following any termination of the distribution reinvestment plan, all subsequent distributions to stockholders would be made in cash.

If a stockholder elects to participate in the distribution reinvestment plan, the stockholder will be treated as receiving, in lieu of the reinvested cash distribution, a distribution of additional shares of the same class of common stock on which the distribution is made. If the stockholder is subject to federal income taxation, the stockholder will be treated for federal income tax purposes as if he or she has received a dividend, to the extent of our current and accumulated earnings and profits, in an amount equal to the fair value on the relevant distribution date of the shares of the class of common stock purchased with the reinvested distributions, and will be taxed on the amount of such distribution as ordinary income to the extent such distribution is from current or accumulated earnings and profits, unless we have designated all or a portion of the distribution as a capital gain dividend in which event the appropriate portion of the distribution will be treated as long-term capital gain to the extent the distribution does not exceed our current and accumulated earnings and profits. See “Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations—Taxation of Taxable U.S. Stockholders” and “Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations—Special Tax Considerations for Non-U.S. Stockholders.” However, the tax consequences of participating in our distribution reinvestment plan will vary depending upon each participant’s particular circumstances and you are urged to consult your own tax advisor regarding the specific tax consequences to you of participation in the distribution reinvestment plan.

All material information regarding the distributions to stockholders and the effect of reinvesting the distributions, including tax information with respect to income earned on shares under the plan for the calendar year, will be provided to the stockholders at least annually. Each stockholder participating in the distribution reinvestment plan will have an opportunity to withdraw from the plan at any time after receiving this information.

Share Redemption Program

We expect that there will be no regular secondary trading market for shares of our common stock. While you should view your investment as long term with limited liquidity, we have adopted a share redemption program, whereby stockholders may request that we redeem all or any portion of our shares in accordance with the procedures and subject to certain conditions and limitations described below.

Due to the illiquid nature of investments in real property, we may not have sufficient liquid resources to fund redemption requests. In addition, we have established limitations on the amount of funds we may use for redemptions during any calendar month and quarter. See “—Redemption Limitations” below. Further, our board of directors has the right to modify or suspend the share redemption program if in its reasonable judgment it deems a suspension to be in our best interest and the best interest of our stockholders.

A stockholder’s request for redemption in accordance with any of the special treatment described below in the event of the death or qualifying disability of a stockholder must be submitted within 18 months of the death of the stockholder or the initial determination of the stockholder’s disability (which we define as such term is defined in Section 72(m)(7) of the Code), as further described below.

You may request that we redeem shares of our common stock through your financial advisor or directly with our transfer agent. We will generally adhere to the following procedures relating to the redemption of shares of our common stock:

Under our share redemption program, to the extent we choose to redeem shares in any particular month we will only redeem shares as of the last calendar day of that month (a “Redemption Date”). Shares redeemed on the Redemption Date remain outstanding on the Redemption Date and are no longer outstanding on the day following the Redemption Date. To have your

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shares redeemed, your redemption request and required documentation must be received in good order by 4:00 p.m. (Eastern time) on the second to last business day of the applicable month. Settlements of share redemptions will be made within three business days of the Redemption Date. Redemption requests received and processed by our transfer agent will be effected at a redemption price equal to the transaction price on the applicable Redemption Date (which will generally be equal to our most recently disclosed monthly NAV per share), subject to any Early Redemption Deduction. Although the transaction price for shares of our common stock will generally be based on the most recently disclosed monthly NAV per share, the NAV per share of such stock as of the Redemption Date may be significantly different.
A stockholder may withdraw his or her redemption request by notifying the transfer agent, directly or through the stockholder’s financial intermediary, on our toll-free, automated telephone line, (888) 310-9352. The line is open on each business day between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. (Eastern time). Redemption requests must be cancelled before 4:00 p.m. (Eastern time) on the last business day of the applicable month.
If a redemption request is received after 4:00 p.m. (Eastern time) on the second to last business day of the applicable month, the redemption request will be executed, if at all, on the next month’s Redemption Date at the transaction price applicable to that month (subject to any Early Redemption Deduction), unless such request is withdrawn prior to the redemption. Redemption requests received and processed by our transfer agent on a business day, but after the close of business on that day or on a day that is not a business day, will be deemed received on the next business day.
Redemption requests may be made by mail or by contacting your financial intermediary, both subject to certain conditions described in this prospectus. If making a redemption request by contacting your financial intermediary, your financial intermediary may require you to provide certain documentation or information. If making a redemption request by mail to the transfer agent, you must complete and sign a redemption authorization form, which we will provide to you at no charge and which will also be available on our website. Written requests should be sent to the transfer agent at the following address:

For regular mail:

For overnight deliveries:

DST Systems, Inc.

DST Systems, Inc.

PO Box 219079

430 West 7th Street, Suite 219079

Kansas City, Missouri 64121-9079

Kansas City, Missouri 64105

Toll Free Number: (888) 310-9352

Corporate investors and other non-individual entities must have an appropriate certification on file authorizing redemptions. A signature guarantee may be required.

For processed redemptions, stockholders may request that redemption proceeds are to be paid by mailed check provided that the amount is less than $100,000 and the check is mailed to an address on file with the transfer agent for at least 30 days.
Processed redemptions of more than $100,000 will be paid only via ACH or wire transfer. For this reason, stockholders who own more than $100,000 of our common stock must provide bank instructions for their brokerage account or designated U.S. bank account. Stockholders who own less than $100,000 of our common stock may also receive redemption proceeds via ACH or wire transfer, provided the payment amount is at least $2,500. For all redemptions paid via wire transfer, the funds will be wired to the account on file with the transfer agent or, upon instruction, to another financial institution provided that the stockholder has made the necessary funds transfer arrangements. The customer service representative can provide detailed instructions on establishing funding arrangements and designating your bank or brokerage account on file. Funds will be sent only to U.S. financial institutions (ACH network members).
A medallion signature guarantee will be required in certain circumstances. The medallion signature process protects stockholders by verifying the authenticity of a signature and limiting unauthorized fraudulent transactions. A medallion signature guarantee may be obtained from a domestic bank or trust company, broker-dealer, clearing agency, savings association or other financial institution which participates in a medallion program recognized by the Securities Transfer Association. The three recognized medallion programs are the Securities Transfer Agents Medallion Program, the Stock Exchanges Medallion Program and the New York Stock Exchange, Inc. Medallion Signature Program. Signature guarantees from financial institutions which are not participating in any of these medallion programs will not be accepted. A notary public cannot provide signature guarantees. We reserve the right to amend, waive or discontinue this policy at any time and establish other criteria for verifying the authenticity of any redemption or transaction request. We may require a medallion signature guarantee if, among other reasons: (1) the amount of the redemption request is over $500,000; (2) you wish to have redemption proceeds transferred by wire to an account other than the designated bank or brokerage account on file for at least 30 days or sent to an address other than your address of record for the past 30 days; or (3) our transfer agent cannot confirm your identity or suspects fraudulent activity.

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If a stockholder has made multiple purchases of shares of our common stock, any redemption request will be processed on a first in/first out basis unless otherwise requested in the redemption request.

Minimum Account Redemptions

In the event that any stockholder fails to maintain the minimum balance of $2,000 of shares of our common stock, we may redeem all of the shares held by that stockholder at the redemption price in effect on the date we determine that the stockholder has failed to meet the minimum balance, less any Early Redemption Deduction. Minimum account redemptions will apply even in the event that the failure to meet the minimum balance is caused solely by a decline in our NAV. Minimum account redemptions are subject to Early Redemption Deduction.

Sources of Funds for Redemptions

We may, in the Advisor’s discretion, after taking the interests of our company as a whole and the interests of our remaining stockholders into consideration, use proceeds from any available sources at our disposal to satisfy redemption requests, subject to the limitation on the amount of funds we may use described below under “—Redemption Limitations.” Potential sources of funding redemptions include, but are not limited to, cash on hand, cash available from borrowings, cash from the sale of shares of our common stock and cash from liquidations of investments, to the extent that such funds are not otherwise dedicated to a particular use, such as working capital, cash distributions to stockholders, purchases of real property, debt-related or other investments or redemption of OP Units.

Although the vast majority of our assets consist of properties that cannot generally be readily liquidated on short notice without impacting our ability to realize full value upon their disposition, we intend to maintain a number of sources of liquidity including (i) cash equivalents (e.g. money market funds), other short-term investments, U.S. government securities, agency securities and liquid real estate-related securities and (ii) one or more borrowing facilities. We may fund redemptions from any available source of funds, including operating cash flows, borrowings, proceeds from this offering and/or sales of our assets.

This share redemption program may limit our ability to make new investments or increase the current distribution rate if we experience redemption demand in excess of capacity over any two-year period. This share redemption program requires that if during any consecutive 24-month period (the “Pro-Rata Period”), we do not have at least one month in which we fully satisfy 100% of properly submitted redemption requests or accept all properly submitted tenders in a self-tender offer for our shares, we will not make any new investments (excluding short-term cash management investments under 30 days in duration) and we will use all investable assets to satisfy redemption requests (subject to the limitations under this program) until all outstanding requests are satisfied. “Investable assets” includes net proceeds from new subscription agreements, unrestricted cash, proceeds from marketable securities, proceeds from the distribution reinvestment plan, and net cash flows after any payment, accrual, allocation, or liquidity reserve associated with costs in the normal course of owning, operating and selling real estate, debt service, redemption of holders of OP Units, repayment of debt, debt financing costs, current or anticipated debt covenants associated with existing debt, funding commitments related to real estate (provided that, any such funding commitments related to the acquisition of property were made prior to the second half of the Pro-Rata Period), master lease payments pursuant to the DST Program, general and administrative expenses, organizational and offering costs, asset management and advisory fees, performance or actions under existing contracts, obligations under our organizational documents or those of our subsidiaries (provided that any such obligation, other than an immaterial obligation or an obligation or change requested by a federal or state regulatory body, existed prior to such Pro-Rata Period), obligations imposed by law, regulations, courts or arbitration, or distributions (whether for stockholders or other investors in the company or its subsidiaries) or establishment of an adequate liquidity reserve as determined by our board of directors. The Advisor will also defer its incentive fee until all redemption requests are satisfied. Furthermore, our board of directors and management will consider additional ways to improve shareholder liquidity through this share redemption program or otherwise. The purpose of this provision is to use all available investable assets to satisfy redemption requests in such a situation as described above. Exceptions to the limitations of this paragraph may be made to complete like-kind exchanges under Section 1031 of the Code necessary to avoid adverse tax consequences, or to take actions necessary to maintain our qualification as a REIT under the Code.

Redemption Limitations

We may redeem fewer shares than have been requested in any particular month to be redeemed under our share redemption program, or none at all, in our discretion at any time. The total amount of aggregate redemptions of Class E, Class T, Class S, Class D, and Class I shares (based on the price at which the shares are redeemed) will be limited during each calendar month to 2% of the aggregate NAV of all classes as of the last calendar day of the previous quarter and in each calendar quarter will be limited to 5% of the aggregate NAV of all classes of shares as of the last calendar day of the previous calendar quarter; provided, however, that every month and quarter each class of our common stock will be allocated capacity within such aggregate limit to allow stockholders in such class to either (a) redeem shares (based on the price at which the shares are redeemed) equal to at least 2% of the aggregate NAV of such share class as of the last calendar day of the previous quarter, or, if more limiting, (b) redeem shares (based on the price at which the shares are redeemed) over the course of a given quarter equal to at least 5% of the aggregate NAV of such share class as of the last calendar day of the previous quarter (collectively referred to herein as the “2% and 5% limits”), which in the second and third months of a quarter could be

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less than 2% of the NAV of such share class. In the event that we determine to redeem some but not all of the shares submitted for redemption during any month, shares redeemed at the end of the month will be redeemed on a pro rata basis. Even if the class-specific allocations are exceeded for a class, the program may offer such class additional capacity under the aggregate program limits. Redemptions and pro rata treatment, if necessary, will first be applied within the class-specific limits and then applied on an aggregate basis in a second step. All unsatisfied redemption requests must be resubmitted after the start of the next month or quarter, or upon the recommencement of the share redemption program, as applicable.

For both the aggregate and class-specific allocations described above, (i) provided that the share redemption program has been operating and not suspended for the first month of a given quarter and that all properly submitted redemption requests were satisfied, any unused capacity for that month will carry over to the second month and (ii) provided that the share redemption program has been operating and not suspended for the first two months of a given quarter and that all properly submitted redemption requests were satisfied, any unused capacity for those two months will carry over to the third month. In no event will such carry-over capacity permit the redemption of shares with aggregate value (based on the redemption price per share for the month the redemption is effected) in excess of 5% of the combined NAV of all classes of shares as of the last calendar day of the previous calendar quarter (provided that for these purposes redemptions may be measured on a net basis as described in the paragraph below).

We currently measure the foregoing redemption allocations and limitations based on net redemptions during a month or quarter, as applicable. The term “net redemptions” means, during the applicable period, the excess of our share redemptions (capital outflows) over the proceeds from the sale of our shares (capital inflows). Net redemptions for the class-specific allocations will be based only on the capital inflows and outflows of that class, while net redemptions for the overall program limits would be based on capital inflows and outflows of all classes. Thus, for any given calendar quarter, the maximum amount of redemptions during that quarter will be equal to (1) 5% of the combined NAV of all classes of shares as of the last calendar day of the previous calendar quarter, plus (2) proceeds from sales of new shares in this offering (including purchases pursuant to our distribution reinvestment plan) and the Class E distribution reinvestment plan offering since the beginning of the current calendar quarter. The same would apply for a given month, except that redemptions in a month would be subject to the 2% limit described above (subject to potential carry-over capacity), and netting would be measured on a monthly basis. With respect to future periods, our board of directors may choose whether the allocations and limitations will be applied to “gross redemptions,” i.e., without netting against capital inflows, rather than to net redemptions. If redemptions for a given month or quarter are measured on a gross basis rather than on a net basis, the redemption limitations could limit the amount of shares redeemed in a given month or quarter despite our receiving a net capital inflow for that month or quarter. In order for our board of directors to change the application of the allocations and limitations from net redemptions to gross redemptions or vice versa, we will provide notice to stockholders in a prospectus supplement or special or periodic report filed by us, as well as in a press release or on our website, at least 10 days before the first business day of the quarter for which the new test will apply. The determination to measure redemptions on a gross basis, or vice versa, will only be made for an entire quarter, and not particular months within a quarter.

If the transaction price for the applicable month is not made available by the tenth business day prior to the last business day of the month (or is changed after such date), then no redemption requests will be accepted for such month and stockholders who wish to have their shares redeemed the following month must resubmit their redemption requests.

Should redemption requests, in our judgment, place an undue burden on our liquidity, adversely affect our operations or risk having an adverse impact on the company as a whole, or should we otherwise determine that investing our liquid assets in real properties or other illiquid investments rather than repurchasing our shares is in the best interests of the company as a whole, we may choose to redeem fewer shares in any particular month than have been requested to be redeemed, or none at all. Further, our board of directors may modify or suspend our share redemption program if in its reasonable judgment it deems a suspension to be in our best interest and the best interest of our stockholders, such as when a redemption request would place an undue burden on our liquidity, adversely affect our operations or risk having an adverse impact on the Company that would outweigh the benefit of the redemption offer. Material modifications, including any amendment to the 2% monthly or 5% quarterly limitations on redemptions, to and suspensions of the share redemption program will be promptly disclosed to stockholders in a prospectus supplement (or post-effective amendment if required by the Securities Act) or special or periodic report filed by us. Material modifications will also be disclosed on our website. In addition, we may determine to suspend the share redemption program due to regulatory changes, changes in law or if we become aware of undisclosed material information that we believe should be publicly disclosed before shares are redeemed. Once the share redemption program is suspended, our board of directors will be required to consider at least quarterly whether the continued suspension of our share redemption program is in our best interests and the best interests of our stockholders. Our board of directors must affirmatively authorize the recommencement of the program if it is suspended before stockholder requests will be considered again. Our board of directors cannot terminate our share redemption program unless shares of our common stock were to list on a national securities exchange or where otherwise required by law.

Early Redemption Deduction

There is no minimum holding period for shares of our common stock and stockholders can request that we redeem their shares at any time. However, subject to limited exceptions, shares that have not been outstanding for at least one year will be redeemed at 95% of the Transaction Price (the “Early Redemption Deduction”).

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The Early Redemption Deduction will inure indirectly to the benefit of our remaining stockholders and is intended to offset the trading costs, market impact and other costs associated with short-term trading in our common stock. We may, from time to time, waive the Early Redemption Deduction in the following circumstances:

redemptions resulting from death or qualifying disability;
in the event that a stockholder’s shares are redeemed because the stockholder has failed to maintain the $2,000 minimum account balance; or
with respect to shares purchased through our distribution reinvestment plan.

In addition, the Early Redemption Deduction may not apply to transactions initiated by the trustee or adviser to a donor-advised charitable gift fund, collective trust fund, common trust fund, fund of fund(s) or other institutional accounts, strategy funds or programs if management determines, in its sole discretion, such account, fund or program has an investment strategy or policy that is reasonably likely to control short-term trading. Further, shares of our common stock may be sold to certain employer sponsored plans, bank or trust company accounts and accounts of certain financial institutions or intermediaries for which we may not apply the Early Redemption Deduction to underlying stockholders, often because of administrative or systems limitations. The Early Redemption Deduction shall also not apply to shares taken by our Advisor in lieu of fees or expense reimbursements under the Advisory Agreement.

The Early Redemption Deduction will also not apply in certain situations following the departure of certain key persons to our company, unless replaced as described below. The currently designated key persons are Rajat Dhanda, Gregory M. Moran, and James R. Mulvihill and any individual appointed by a majority of our independent directors to replace such key persons as described below. If two or more of such key persons have died, resigned, been removed, become disabled (meaning the earlier of (a) the date on which a key person’s healthcare provider states in writing that that such key person will be unable, or can reasonably be expected to be unable, to perform the essential functions of his/her regular duties and responsibilities, with or without reasonable accommodation, due to a medically determinable physical or mental illness or injury for a period of at least 60 consecutive days, or (b) the 60th consecutive day in which such key person has actually been unable to perform the essential functions of his/her regular duties and responsibilities, with or without reasonable accommodation, due to a medically determinable physical or mental illness or injury), or are otherwise unable or unwilling to exercise the authority and discharge those day-to-day management responsibilities with respect to our company as are currently exercised and discharged by such key persons, and our independent directors have not, within 60 days of such situations having arisen with respect to two or more of such key persons, approved the appointment of one or more replacements who will fulfill substantially all of the duties of at least all but one of such key persons (meaning one key person position may remain unfilled for longer than 60 days) (a “Key Man Triggering Event”), then the Early Redemption Deduction will be waived with respect to all shares purchased prior to the expiration of five business days after the public disclosure of the occurrence of such Key Man Triggering Event (“Exempt Shares”) from the time the Key Man Triggering Event is publicly disclosed until the completion of three full calendar months; provided, that if not all properly submitted redemption requests are satisfied during such three full calendar months, then such Early Redemption Deduction waiver for Exempt Shares will continue until there has been a subsequent calendar month in which all properly submitted redemption requests were satisfied. We will publicly disclose a Key Man Triggering Event and the associated waiver of the Early Redemption Deduction promptly upon its occurrence, and also promptly publicly disclose when the associated waiver of the Early Redemption Deduction has ended. Any such public disclosure will be made to stockholders in a prospectus supplement or special or periodic report filed by us, as well as in a press release or on our website.

From time to time, our board of directors may also authorize waivers of the Early Redemption Deduction for specified periods of time with respect to future redemptions for all investors upon the occurrence of specific circumstances other than personal circumstances (e.g. significant corporate changes, natural disasters) that it determines, in its sole discretion, do not raise concerns over short-term trading. Any such waivers will be publicly disclosed promptly following their approval. Any such waivers will apply to all investors and apply on a prospective basis only, and will remain effective for at least three full calendar months. Any such public disclosure will be made to stockholders in a prospectus supplement or special or periodic report filed by us, as well as in a press release or on our website.

As set forth above, we may waive the Early Redemption Deduction in respect of redemption of shares resulting from the death of a stockholder who is a natural person, subject to the conditions and limitations described above, including shares held by such stockholder through a revocable grantor trust or an IRA or other retirement or profit-sharing plan, after receiving written notice from the estate of the stockholder, the recipient of the shares through bequest or inheritance, or, in the case of a revocable grantor trust, the trustee of such trust, who shall have the sole ability to request redemption on behalf of the trust. We must receive the written redemption request within 18 months after the death of the stockholder in order for the requesting party to rely on any of the special treatment described above that may be afforded in the event of the death of a stockholder. Such a written request must be accompanied by a certified copy of the official death certificate of the stockholder. If spouses are joint registered holders of shares, the request to have the shares redeemed may be made if either of the registered holders dies. If the stockholder is not a natural person, such as certain trusts or a partnership, corporation or other similar entity, the right of redemption upon death does not apply.

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Furthermore, as set forth above, we may waive the Early Redemption Deduction in respect of redemption of shares held by a stockholder who is a natural person who is deemed to have a qualifying disability (as such term is defined in Section 72(m)(7) of the Code), subject to the conditions and limitations described above, including shares held by such stockholder through a revocable grantor trust, or an IRA or other retirement or profit-sharing plan, after receiving written notice from such stockholder, provided that the condition causing the qualifying disability was not pre-existing on the date that the stockholder became a stockholder. We must receive the written redemption request within 18 months of the initial determination of the stockholder’s disability in order for the stockholder to rely on any of the waivers described above that may be granted in the event of the disability of a stockholder. If spouses are joint registered holders of shares, the request to have the shares redeemed may be made if either of the registered holders acquires a qualifying disability. If the stockholder is not a natural person, such as certain trusts or a partnership, corporation or other similar entity, the right of redemption upon disability does not apply.

Items of Note

When you make a request to have shares redeemed, you should note the following:

if you are requesting that some but not all of your shares be redeemed, keep your balance above $2,000 to avoid minimum account redemption, if applicable;
you will not receive interest on amounts represented by uncashed redemption checks;
under applicable anti-money laundering regulations and other federal regulations, redemption requests may be suspended, restricted or canceled and the proceeds may be withheld; and
all shares of our common stock requested to be redeemed must be beneficially owned by the stockholder of record making the request or his or her estate, heir or beneficiary, or the party requesting the redemption must be authorized to do so by the stockholder of record of the shares or his or her estate, heir or beneficiary, and such shares of common stock must be fully transferable and not subject to any liens or encumbrances. In certain cases, we may ask the requesting party to provide evidence satisfactory to us that the shares requested for redemption are not subject to any liens or encumbrances. If we determine that a lien exists against the shares, we will not be obligated to redeem any shares subject to the lien.

IRS regulations require us to determine and disclose on Form 1099-B the adjusted cost basis for shares of our stock sold or redeemed. Although there are several available methods for determining the adjusted cost basis, unless you elect otherwise, which you may do by checking the appropriate box on the redemption form or calling our customer service number at (888) 310-9352, we will utilize the first-in-first-out method.

Mail and Telephone Instructions

We and our transfer agent will not be responsible for the authenticity of mail or phone instructions or losses, if any, resulting from unauthorized stockholder transactions if they reasonably believe that such instructions were genuine. We and our transfer agent have established reasonable procedures to confirm that instructions are genuine including requiring the stockholder to provide certain specific identifying information on file and sending written confirmation to stockholders of record no later than five days following execution of the instruction. Stockholders, or their designated custodian or fiduciary, should carefully review such correspondence to ensure that the instructions were properly acted upon. If any discrepancies are noted, the stockholder, or its agent, should contact his, her or its financial advisor as well as our transfer agent in a timely manner, but in no event more than 60 days from receipt of such correspondence. Failure to notify such entities in a timely manner will relieve us, our transfer agent and the financial advisor of any liability with respect to the discrepancy.

Liquidity Events

The purchase of our shares of common stock is intended to be a long-term investment and we do not anticipate that a secondary trading market will develop. Therefore, it will be very difficult for you to sell your shares promptly or at all, and any such sales may be made at a loss. On a limited basis, you may be able to have your shares redeemed through our share redemption program. In addition, we do not intend to pursue a “Liquidity Event” within any period of time. A “Liquidity Event” includes, but is not limited to, (a) a listing of our common stock on a national securities exchange (or the receipt by our stockholders of securities that are listed on a national securities exchange in exchange for our common stock); (b) our sale, merger or other transaction in which our stockholders either receive, or have the option to receive, cash, securities redeemable for cash, and/or securities of a publicly traded company; or (c) the sale of all or substantially all of our assets where our stockholders either receive, or have the option to receive, cash or other consideration. Although we will not be precluded from pursuing a Liquidity Event (or series thereof) if our board of directors determines that is in the best interest of our stockholders, we intend to operate as a perpetual-life REIT.

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Subsequent Offerings

Apart from this offering, our ongoing distribution reinvestment plan offering of Class E shares and our DST Program, we may in the future conduct offerings of common stock (whether existing or new classes), preferred stock, debt securities or interests in our Operating Partnership or other subsidiaries. We may structure such offerings to attract institutional investors or other sources of capital.

Business Combinations

Under the Maryland General Corporation Law, business combinations between a Maryland corporation and an interested stockholder or the interested stockholder’s affiliate are prohibited for five years after the most recent date on which the stockholder becomes an interested stockholder. For this purpose, the term “business combinations” includes mergers, consolidations, share exchanges, asset transfers and issuances or reclassifications of equity securities. An “interested stockholder” is defined for this purpose as: (1) any person who beneficially owns 10 percent or more of the voting power of the corporation’s shares or (2) an affiliate or associate of the corporation who, at any time within the two-year period prior to the date in question, was the beneficial owner of 10 percent or more of the voting power of the then outstanding voting shares of the corporation. A person is not an interested stockholder under the Maryland General Corporation Law if the board of directors approved in advance the transaction by which he otherwise would become an interested stockholder. However, in approving the transaction, the board of directors may provide that its approval is subject to compliance, at or after the time of approval, with any terms and conditions determined by the board.

After the five-year prohibition, any business combination between the corporation and an interested stockholder generally must be recommended by the board of directors of the corporation and approved by the affirmative vote of at least: (1) 80% of the votes entitled to be cast by holders of outstanding shares of voting stock of the corporation and (2) two-thirds of the votes entitled to be cast by holders of voting stock of the corporation other than shares of stock held by the interested stockholder or its affiliate with whom the business combination is to be effected, or held by an affiliate or associate of the interested stockholder, voting together as a single voting group.

These super majority vote requirements do not apply if the corporation’s common stockholders receive a minimum price, as defined under the Maryland General Corporation Law, for their shares of common stock in the form of cash or other consideration in the same form as previously paid by the interested stockholder for its shares of common stock.

None of these provisions of the Maryland General Corporation Law will apply, however, to business combinations that are approved or exempted by the board of directors of the corporation prior to the time that the interested stockholder becomes an interested stockholder. Pursuant to the business combination statute, our board of directors has exempted any business combination involving us and any person. Consequently, the five-year prohibition and the super majority vote requirements will not apply to business combinations between us and any person. As a result, any person may be able to enter into business combinations with us that may not be in the best interest of our stockholders, without compliance with the super majority vote requirements and other provisions of the statute.

Should our board of directors opt in to the business combination statute, it may discourage others from trying to acquire control of us and increase the difficulty of consummating any offer.

Business Combination with the Advisor

Many REITs that are listed on a national securities exchange or included for quotation on an over-the-counter market are considered self-administered, which means that they employ persons or agents to perform all significant management functions. The costs to perform these management functions are “internalized,” rather than external, and no third-party fees, such as advisory fees, are paid by the REIT. We may consider becoming a self-administered REIT if we determine that internalizing some or all of the management functions performed by the Advisor is in our best interests and in the best interests of our stockholders.

Control Share Acquisitions

The Maryland General Corporation Law provides that Control Shares of a Maryland corporation acquired in a Control Share acquisition have no voting rights except to the extent approved by a vote of two-thirds of the votes entitled to be cast on the matter. Shares of common stock owned by the acquirer, by officers or by employees who are directors of the corporation are not entitled to vote on the matter. “Control Shares” are voting shares of stock which, if aggregated with all other shares of stock owned by the acquirer or with respect to which the acquirer has the right to vote or to direct the voting of, other than solely by virtue of revocable proxy, would entitle the acquirer to exercise voting power in electing directors within one of the following ranges of voting powers:

one-tenth or more but less than one-third;
one-third or more but less than a majority; or
a majority or more of all voting power.

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Control Shares do not include shares of stock the acquiring person is then entitled to vote as a result of having previously obtained stockholder approval. Except as otherwise specified in the statute, a “Control Share acquisition” means the acquisition of Control Shares. Once a person who has made or proposes to make a Control Share acquisition has undertaken to pay expenses and has satisfied other required conditions, the person may compel the board of directors to call a special meeting of stockholders to be held within 50 days of demand to consider the voting rights of the shares of stock. If no request for a meeting is made, the corporation may itself present the question at any stockholders meeting. If voting rights are not approved for the Control Shares at the meeting or if the acquiring person does not deliver an “Acquiring Person Statement” for the Control Shares as required by the statute, the corporation may redeem any or all of the Control Shares for their fair value, except for Control Shares for which voting rights have previously been approved. Fair value is to be determined for this purpose without regard to the absence of voting rights for the Control Shares, and is to be determined as of the date of the last Control Share acquisition or of any meeting of stockholders at which the voting rights for Control Shares are considered and not approved.

If voting rights for Control Shares are approved at a stockholders’ meeting and the acquirer becomes entitled to vote a majority of the shares of stock entitled to vote, all other stockholders may exercise appraisal rights. The fair value of the shares of stock as determined for purposes of these appraisal rights may not be less than the highest price per share paid in the Control Share acquisition. Some of the limitations and restrictions otherwise applicable to the exercise of dissenters’ rights do not apply in the context of a Control Share acquisition.

The Control Share acquisition statute does not apply to shares of stock acquired in a merger, consolidation or share exchange if the corporation is a party to the transaction or to acquisitions approved or exempted by the charter or bylaws of the corporation. As permitted by the Maryland General Corporation Law, we have provided in our bylaws that the Control Share provisions of the Maryland General Corporation Law will not apply to any acquisition by any person of shares of our stock, but the board of directors retains the discretion to change this provision in the future.

Subtitle 8

Subtitle 8 of Title 3 of the Maryland General Corporation Law, which we refer to as “Subtitle 8,” permits a Maryland corporation with a class of equity securities registered under the Exchange Act and at least three independent directors to elect to be subject, by a provision in its charter or bylaws or a resolution of its board of directors and notwithstanding any contrary provision in our charter, to any or all of the following five provisions:

a classified board;
a two-thirds vote requirement for removing a director;
a requirement that the number of directors be fixed only by vote of the directors;
a requirement that a vacancy on the board be filled only by the remaining directors and for the remainder of the full term of the class of directors in which the vacancy occurred; and
a majority requirement for the calling of a special meeting of stockholders.

Pursuant to Subtitle 8, we have elected to provide that vacancies on our board of directors be filled only by the remaining directors and for the remainder of the full term of the directorship in which the vacancy occurred. Through provisions in our charter and bylaws unrelated to Subtitle 8, we vest in the board of directors the exclusive power to fix the number of directorships. We have not elected to be subject to the other provisions of Subtitle 8.

Restrictions on Roll-Up Transactions

Under our charter, the term “roll-up transaction” means a transaction involving the acquisition, merger, conversion or consolidation either directly or indirectly of our company and the issuance of securities of an entity that would be created or would survive after the successful completion of a proposed roll-up transaction to our stockholders. A roll-up transaction does not include (a) a transaction that occurs at least twelve months after our securities have been listed on a national securities exchange, or (b) a transaction involving the conversion to corporate, trust or association form of only us, if, as a consequence of the transaction, there will be no significant adverse change in any of the following: (i) voting rights of our stockholders, (ii) the term of our existence, (iii) the compensation of our Sponsor or the Advisor, or (iv) our investment objectives.

Our charter provides that we must obtain an appraisal of all of our assets from an independent expert in connection with a proposed “roll-up transaction.” In order to qualify as an independent expert for this purpose, the person or entity must have no material current or prior business or personal relationship with our Advisor or directors and must be engaged to a substantial extent in the business of rendering opinions regarding the value of real property and/or other assets of the type held by us. Our charter provides that if the

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appraisal is included in a prospectus used to offer the securities of the entity that would be created or would survive after the successful completion of the roll-up transaction, the appraisal shall be filed with the Commission and the states in which the securities are being registered as an exhibit to the registration statement for the offering. As set forth in our charter, our assets would be appraised on a consistent basis, and the appraisal would be based on the evaluation of all relevant information and would indicate the value of our assets as of a date immediately prior to the announcement of the proposed roll-up transaction. Our charter requires that the appraisal assume an orderly liquidation of assets over a 12-month period and that the terms of the engagement of such independent expert clearly state that the engagement is for our benefit and the benefit of our stockholders. Our charter also requires that we include a summary of the independent appraisal, indicating all material assumptions underlying the appraisal, in a report to the stockholders in connection with a proposed roll-up transaction.

Our charter requires the person sponsoring the roll-up transaction to offer to common stockholders who vote against the proposal a choice of:

accepting the securities of the entity that would be created or would survive after the successful completion of the roll-up transaction offered in the proposed roll-up transaction; or
one of the following:
remaining stockholders and preserving their interests in us on the same terms and conditions as existed previously; or
receiving cash in an amount equal to their pro rata share of the appraised value of our net assets.

Our charter prohibits us from participating in any proposed roll-up transaction:

that would result in common stockholders having voting rights in the entity that would be created or would survive after the successful completion of the roll-up transaction that are less than those provided in our charter, including rights with respect to the election and removal of directors, annual and special meetings, amendment of the charter and our dissolution;
that includes provisions that would operate as a material impediment to, or frustration of, the accumulation of shares by any purchaser of the securities of the entity that would be created or would survive after the successful completion of the roll-up transaction, except to the minimum extent necessary to preserve the tax status of such entity, or which would limit the ability of an investor to exercise the voting rights of its securities of the entity that would be created or would survive after the successful completion of the roll-up transaction on the basis of the number of shares held by that investor;
in which our common stockholders’ rights to access records of the entity that would be created or would survive after the successful completion of the roll-up transaction will be less than those provided in our charter and described in “—Meetings, Special Voting Requirements and Access To Records” above; or
in which we would bear any of the costs of the roll-up transaction if our common stockholders reject the roll-up transaction.

Forum for Certain Litigation

Our bylaws provide that the Circuit Court for Baltimore City, Maryland, shall be the sole and exclusive forum for (i) any derivative action or proceeding brought on our behalf, (ii) any action asserting a claim of breach of any duty owed by any director or officer or employee of the Company to us or to our stockholders, (iii) any action asserting a claim arising pursuant to any provision of the Maryland General Corporation Law or our charter or bylaws, or (iv) any action asserting a claim that is governed by the internal affairs doctrine, and any record or beneficial stockholder of the Company who commences such an action shall cooperate in a request that the action be assigned to the court’s Business and Technology Case Management Program. This exclusive forum provision does not apply to claims under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act, or any other claim for which the federal courts have exclusive jurisdiction.

Reports to Stockholders

Our charter requires that we prepare an annual report and deliver it to our stockholders within 120 days after the end of each fiscal year. Among the matters that must be included in the annual report are:

financial statements which are prepared in accordance with GAAP and are audited by our independent registered public accounting firm;
the ratio of the costs of raising capital during the year to the capital raised;

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the aggregate amount of advisory fees and the aggregate amount of other fees paid to the Advisor and any affiliate of the Advisor by us or third parties doing business with us during the year;
our total operating expenses for the year, stated as a percentage of our average invested assets and as a percentage of our net income;
a report from the independent directors that our policies are in the best interests of our stockholders and the basis for such determination; and
separately stated, full disclosure of all material terms, factors and circumstances surrounding any and all transactions involving us and the Advisor, our Sponsor, a director or any affiliate thereof during the year; and the independent directors are specifically charged with a duty to examine and comment in the report on the fairness of the transactions.

Restrictions on Transfer

Subsequent purchasers, i.e., potential purchasers of your shares, must meet the net worth or income standards of our charter, and unless you are transferring all of your shares, you may not transfer your shares in a manner that causes you or your transferee to own less than $2,000 in our shares. Apart from the foregoing potential transfer restrictions and the potential restrictions described above in “—Restriction On Ownership of Shares of Capital Stock,” the shares purchased in this offering are freely transferable.

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MATERIAL U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS

General

The following is a summary of United States material federal income tax considerations associated with an investment in our common stock that may be relevant to you. The statements made in this section of the prospectus are based upon current provisions of the Code and Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder, as currently applicable, currently published administrative positions of the Internal Revenue Service and judicial decisions, all of which are subject to change, either prospectively or retroactively. We cannot assure you that any changes will not modify the conclusions expressed in counsel’s opinions described herein. This summary does not address all possible tax considerations that may be material to an investor and does not constitute legal or tax advice. Moreover, this summary does not deal with all tax aspects that might be relevant to you, as a prospective stockholder, in light of your personal circumstances, nor does it deal with particular types of stockholders that are subject to special treatment under the federal income tax laws, such as insurance companies, holders whose shares are acquired through the exercise of share options or otherwise as compensation, holders whose shares are acquired through the distribution reinvestment plan or who intend to sell their shares under the share redemption program, tax-exempt organizations except as provided below, financial institutions or broker-dealers, or foreign corporations or persons who are not citizens or residents of the United States except as provided below. The Code provisions governing the federal income tax treatment of REITs and their stockholders are highly technical and complex, and this summary is qualified in its entirety by the express language of applicable Code provisions, Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder and administrative and judicial interpretations thereof.

We urge you, as a prospective stockholder, to consult your tax advisor regarding the specific tax consequences to you of a purchase of shares of common stock, ownership and sale of the shares of common stock and of our election to be taxed as a REIT, including the federal, state, local, foreign and other tax consequence of such purchase, ownership, sale and election and of potential changes in applicable tax laws.

REIT Qualification

We are organized and operate in a manner intended to qualify as a REIT for U.S. federal income tax purposes. We first elected REIT status for our taxable year ended December 31, 2006. This section of the prospectus discusses the laws governing the tax treatment of a REIT and its stockholders. These laws are highly technical and complex.

In connection with this offering, DLA Piper LLP (US) is expected to render an opinion that, we have been organized and have operated in conformity with the requirements for qualification and taxation as a REIT under the Code for our taxable years ended December 31, 2014 through December 31, 2020, and our current and proposed method of operation will enable us to continue to meet the requirements for qualification and taxation as a REIT under the Code for our taxable year ending December 31, 2021 and thereafter.

It must be emphasized that the opinion of DLA Piper LLP (US) is based on various assumptions relating to our organization and operation, and is conditioned upon representations and covenants made by us regarding our organization, assets and income and the past, present and future conduct of our business operations. While we intend to operate so that we will qualify as a REIT, given the highly complex nature of the rules governing REITs, the ongoing importance of factual determinations, and the possibility of future changes in our circumstances, no assurance can be given by DLA Piper LLP (US) or by us that we will so qualify for any particular year. DLA Piper LLP (US) has no obligation to advise us or the holders of our common stock of any subsequent change in the matters stated, represented or assumed in the opinion, or of any subsequent change in the applicable law. You should be aware that opinions of counsel are not binding on the Internal Revenue Service or any court, and no assurance can be given that the Internal Revenue Service will not challenge the conclusions set forth in such opinions. Other than as specifically described herein, we have not sought and will not seek an advance ruling from the IRS regarding any matter discussed in this prospectus.

Qualification and taxation as a REIT depends on our ability to meet on a continuing basis, through actual operating results, distribution levels, and diversity of share ownership, various qualification requirements imposed upon REITs by the Code, the compliance with which will not be reviewed by DLA Piper LLP (US). Our ability to qualify as a REIT also requires that we satisfy certain asset tests, some of which depend upon the fair market values of assets directly or indirectly owned by us. Such values may not be susceptible to a precise determination. While we intend to continue to operate in a manner that will allow us to qualify as a REIT, no assurance can be given that the actual results of our operations for any taxable year satisfy such requirements for qualification and taxation as a REIT.

Taxation of Ares Real Estate Income Trust Inc.

If we qualify for taxation as a REIT, we generally will not be subject to federal corporate income taxes on that portion of our ordinary income or capital gain that we distribute currently to our stockholders, because the REIT provisions of the Code generally allow a REIT to deduct distributions paid to its stockholders. This substantially eliminates the federal “double taxation” on earnings (taxation at both the corporate level and stockholder level) that usually results from an investment in a corporation. Most domestic stockholders that are individuals, trusts or estates are taxed on corporate dividends at a maximum rate of 20% (the same as long-term capital gains). With limited exceptions, however, dividends from us or from other entities that are taxed as REITs are generally not eligible for this rate and

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will continue to be taxed at rates applicable to ordinary income, which will be as high as 37%, currently. See “—Taxation of Taxable U.S. Stockholders” below. However, for taxable years prior to 2026, individual stockholders are generally allowed to deduct 20% of the aggregate amount of ordinary dividends distributed by us, subject to certain limitations and a minimum 45 day holding period with respect to our stock, which would reduce the maximum marginal effective tax rate for individuals on the receipt of such ordinary dividends to 29.6%.

Any net operating losses, foreign tax credits and other tax attributes generally do not pass through to our stockholders, subject to special rules for certain items such as the capital gains that we recognize. See “—Taxation of Taxable U.S. Stockholders” below.

Even if we qualify for taxation as a REIT, however, we will be subject to federal income taxation as follows:

We will be taxed at regular corporate rates on our undistributed REIT taxable income, including undistributed net capital gains.
Under some circumstances, we may be subject to “alternative minimum tax” for taxable years beginning before January 1, 2018.
If we have net income from prohibited transactions (which are, in general, sales or other dispositions of property, other than foreclosure property, held primarily for sale to customers in the ordinary course of business), the income will be subject to a 100% tax. The Internal Revenue Service could recharacterize transactions under the Operating Partnership’s intended private placements such that the Operating Partnership could be treated as the bona fide owner, for tax purposes, of properties acquired and resold by the entity established to facilitate the transaction. Such recharacterization could result in the income realized on these transactions by the Operating Partnership being treated as gain on the sale of property that is held as inventory or otherwise held primarily for the sale to customers in the ordinary course of business. In such event, such gain would constitute income from a prohibited transaction and would be subject to a 100% tax.
If we elect to treat property that we acquire in connection with a foreclosure of a mortgage loan or certain leasehold terminations as “foreclosure property,” we may avoid the 100% tax on gain from a resale of that property (if the sale would otherwise constitute a prohibited transaction), but the income from the sale or operation of the property may be subject to corporate income tax at the highest applicable rate (currently 21%).
If we derive “excess inclusion income” from an interest in certain mortgage loan securitization structures (i.e., a “taxable mortgage pool” or a residual interest in a real estate mortgage investment conduit, or “REMIC”), we could be subject to corporate level federal income tax at a 21% rate to the extent that such income is allocable to specified types of tax-exempt stockholders known as “disqualified organizations” that are not subject to unrelated business income tax.
If we should fail to satisfy the asset tests other than certain de minimis violations or other requirements applicable to REITs, as described below, yet nonetheless maintain our qualification as a REIT because there is reasonable cause for the failure and other applicable requirements are met, we may be subject to an excise tax. In that case, the amount of the tax will be at least $50,000 per failure, and, in the case of certain asset test failures, will be determined as the amount of net income generated by the assets in question multiplied by the highest corporate tax rate (currently 21%) if that amount exceeds $50,000 per failure.
If we fail to satisfy either of the 75% or 95% gross income tests (discussed below) but have nonetheless maintained our qualification as a REIT because certain conditions have been met, we will be subject to a 100% tax on an amount based on the magnitude of the failure, as adjusted to reflect the profit margin associated with our gross income.
If we fail to distribute during each calendar year at least the sum of (i) 85% of our REIT ordinary income for the year, (ii) 95% of our REIT capital gain net income for such year and (iii) any undistributed taxable income from prior periods, we will be subject to a nondeductible 4% excise tax on the excess of the required distribution over the sum of (A) the amounts actually distributed, plus (B) retained amounts on which corporate level tax is paid by us.
We may elect to retain and pay tax on our net long-term capital gain. In that case, a United States stockholder would be taxed on its proportionate share of our undistributed long-term capital gain and would receive a credit or refund for its proportionate share of the tax we paid.
If we fail certain of the REIT asset tests and do not qualify for “de minimis” relief, we may be required to pay a corporate level tax on the income generated by the assets that caused us to violate the asset test. See “Requirements for Qualification as a REIT—Operational Requirements—Asset Tests.”

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If we acquire appreciated assets from a C corporation that is not a REIT (i.e., a corporation generally subject to corporate level tax) in a transaction in which the C corporation would not normally be required to recognize any gain or loss on disposition of the asset and we subsequently recognize gain on the disposition of the asset during the five-year period beginning on the date on which we acquired the asset, then a portion of the gain may be subject to tax at the highest regular corporate rate, unless the C corporation made an election to treat the asset as if it were sold for its fair market value at the time of our acquisition.
We may be required to pay monetary penalties to the IRS in certain circumstances, including if we fail to meet record keeping requirements intended to monitor our compliance with rules relating to the composition of a REIT’s stockholders, as described below in “—Operational Requirements—Recordkeeping” and “—Failure to Qualify as a REIT.”
A 100% tax may be imposed on transactions between us and a TRS (as described below) that do not reflect arms-length terms.
The earnings of our subsidiaries, including any Taxable REIT Subsidiary (“TRS”), are subject to federal corporate income tax to the extent that such subsidiaries are subchapter C corporations.

No assurance can be given that the amount of any such federal income taxes will not be substantial. In addition, we and our subsidiaries may be subject to a variety of taxes, including payroll taxes and state, local, and foreign income, property and other taxes on our assets and operations. We could also be subject to tax in situations and on transactions not presently contemplated. We also could be subject to tax in situations and on transactions not presently contemplated.

Requirements for Qualification as a REIT

In order for us to qualify as a REIT, we must meet and continue to meet the requirements discussed below relating to our organization, sources of income, nature of assets and distributions of income to our stockholders.

Organizational Requirements

In order to qualify for taxation as a REIT under the Code, we must meet tests regarding our income and assets described below and:

1.be a corporation, trust or association that would be taxable as a domestic corporation but for the REIT provisions of the Code and that makes an election to be a REIT for the current taxable year or has made such an election for a previous taxable year that has not been terminated or revoked;
2.be managed by one or more trustees or directors;
3.have our beneficial ownership evidenced by transferable shares;
4.not be a financial institution or an insurance company subject to special provisions of the federal income tax laws;
5.use a calendar year for federal income tax purposes;
6.have at least 100 stockholders for at least 335 days of each taxable year of 12 months or during a proportionate part of a taxable year of less than 12 months; and
7.not be closely held as defined for purposes of the REIT provisions of the Code.

We would be treated as closely held if, during the last half of any taxable year, more than 50% in value of our outstanding capital shares is owned, directly or indirectly through the application of certain attribution rules, by five or fewer individuals, as defined in the Code to include certain entities. Items 6 and 7 above do not apply until after the first taxable year for which we elect to be taxed as a REIT. If we comply with Treasury Regulations that provide procedures for ascertaining the actual ownership of our common stock for each taxable year and we did not know, and with the exercise of reasonable diligence could not have known, that we failed to meet item 7 above for a taxable year, we will be treated as having met Item 7 for that year.

We elected to be taxed as a REIT commencing with our taxable year ended December 31, 2006, and we have satisfied and intend to continue to satisfy the other requirements described in Items 1-5 above at all times during each of our taxable years. In addition, our charter contains restrictions regarding ownership and transfer of shares of our common stock that are intended to assist us in continuing to satisfy the share ownership requirements in Items 6 and 7 above. See “Description of Capital Stock—Restriction on Ownership of Shares of Capital Stock.”

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For purposes of the requirements described herein, any corporation that is a qualified REIT subsidiary of ours will not be treated as a corporation separate from us and all assets, liabilities, and items of income, deduction and credit of our qualified REIT subsidiaries will be treated as our assets, liabilities and items of income, deduction and credit. A qualified REIT subsidiary is a corporation, other than a taxable REIT subsidiary (as described below under “—Operational Requirements—Asset Tests”), all of the capital shares of which is owned by a REIT.

In the case of a REIT that is a partner in an entity treated as a partnership for federal tax purposes, the REIT is treated as owning its proportionate share of the assets of the partnership and as earning its allocable share of the gross income of the partnership for purposes of the requirements described herein. In addition, the character of the assets and gross income of the partnership will retain the same character in the hands of the REIT for purposes of the REIT requirements, including the asset and income tests described below. As a result, our proportionate share of the assets, liabilities and items of income of the Operating Partnership and of any other partnership, joint venture, limited liability company or other entity treated as a partnership for federal tax purposes in which we or the Operating Partnership have an interest will be treated as our assets, liabilities and items of income.

The Code provides relief from violations of the REIT gross income requirements, as described below under “—Operational Requirements—Gross Income Tests,” in cases where a violation is due to reasonable cause and not willful neglect, and other requirements are met, including the payment of a penalty tax that is based upon the magnitude of the violation. In addition, the Code includes provisions that extend similar relief in the case of certain violations of the REIT asset requirements (see “—Operational Requirements—Asset Tests” below) and other REIT requirements, again provided that the violation is due to reasonable cause and not willful neglect, and other conditions are met, including the payment of a penalty tax. If we fail to satisfy any of the various REIT requirements, there can be no assurance that these relief provisions would be available to enable us to maintain our qualification as a REIT, and, if available, the amount of any resultant penalty tax could be substantial.

Operational Requirements—Gross Income Tests

To maintain our qualification as a REIT, we must satisfy annually two gross income requirements:

At least 75% of our gross income, excluding gross income from prohibited transactions and certain hedging transactions, for each taxable year must be derived directly or indirectly from investments relating to real property or mortgages on real property or on interests in real property and from other specified sources, including gain from the sale or other disposition of a real estate asset (other than a non-qualified publicly offered REIT debt instrument) which is generally not a prohibited transaction and qualified temporary investment income, as described below. Gross income includes “rents from real property” and, in some circumstances, interest, but excludes gross income from dispositions of property held primarily for sale to customers in the ordinary course of a trade or business. These dispositions are referred to as “prohibited transactions.” This is the 75% Income Test.
At least 95% of our gross income, excluding gross income from prohibited transactions and certain hedging transactions, for each taxable year must be derived from the real property investments described above, gains from the sale or other disposition of a non-qualified publicly offered REIT debt instrument, and generally from dividends and interest and gains from the sale or disposition of shares of our common stock or securities or from any combination of the foregoing. This is the 95% Income Test.
For purposes of the 75% Income Test and the 95% Income Test, certain foreign currency income is disregarded for purposes of determining gross income.

The rents we will receive or be deemed to receive will qualify as “rents from real property” for purposes of satisfying the gross income requirements for a REIT only if the following conditions are met:

The amount of rent received from a customer must not be based in whole or in part on the income or profits of any person; however, an amount received or accrued generally will not be excluded from the term “rents from real property” solely by reason of being based on a fixed percentage or percentages of gross receipts or sales.
In general, neither we nor an owner of 10% or more shares of our common stock may directly or constructively own 10% or more of a customer, which we refer to as a “Related Party Customer,” or a subtenant of the customer (in which case only rent attributable to the subtenant is disqualified).
Rent attributable to personal property leased in connection with a lease of real property cannot be greater than 15% of the total rent received under the lease, as determined based on the average of the fair market values as of the beginning and end of the taxable year.

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We normally must not operate or manage the property or furnish or render services to customers, other than through an “independent contractor” who is adequately compensated and from whom we do not derive any income or through a “taxable REIT subsidiary.” However, a REIT may provide services with respect to its properties, and the income derived therefrom will qualify as “rents from real property,” if the services are “usually or customarily rendered” in connection with the rental of space only and are not otherwise considered “rendered to the occupant.” Even if the services provided by us with respect to a property are impermissible customer services, the income derived therefrom will qualify as “rents from real property” if such income does not exceed one percent of all amounts received or accrued with respect to that property.

Unless we determine that the resulting nonqualifying income under any of the following situations, taken together with all other nonqualifying income earned by us in the taxable year, will not jeopardize our status as a REIT, we do not intend to:

charge rent for any property that is based in whole or in part on the income or profits of any person, except by reason of being based on a fixed percentage or percentages of receipts or sales, as described above;
rent any property to a related party lessee, including a taxable REIT subsidiary, unless the rent from the lease to the taxable REIT subsidiary would qualify for the special exception from the related party lessee rule applicable to certain leases with a taxable REIT subsidiary;
derive rental income attributable to personal property other than personal property leased in connection with the lease of real property, the amount of which is less than 15% of the total rent received under the lease; or
perform services considered to be noncustomary or rendered to the occupant of the property unless the amount we receive or accrue (directly or indirectly) for performing such services for any taxable year will not exceed 1% of all amounts we receive or accrue during such year with respect to the property.

We may, from time to time, enter into transactions to hedge against interest rate risks or value fluctuations on one or more of our assets or liabilities. Our hedging activities may include entering into interest rate swaps, caps, and floors, options to purchase these items, futures and forward contracts and other financial instruments. To the extent that we or a pass-through subsidiary enter into a hedging transaction (i) in the normal course of our business primarily to manage the risk of interest rate changes, price changes or currency fluctuations with respect to indebtedness incurred or to be incurred by us to acquire or carry real estate assets, (ii) primarily to manage risk of currency fluctuation with respect to items of income or gain qualifying under the 75% Income Test or the 95% Income Test, or (iii) manage risk with respect to certain prior transactions described in (i) and/or (ii) above (as described in section 856(c)(5)(G)(iii) of the Code), income and certain gain from the hedging transaction will be excluded from gross income solely for purposes of 75% Income Test and the 95% Income Test, provided, in each case, that we clearly and timely identify such hedging transaction in the manner required under the Code and the Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder. In all cases, we intend that any hedging transactions were or will be structured in a manner that does not jeopardize our status as a REIT. We may conduct some or all of our hedging activities (including hedging activities relating to currency risk) through a TRS or other corporate entity, the income from which may be subject to U.S. federal, state and/or international income tax, rather than by participating in the arrangements directly or through pass-through subsidiaries. No assurance can be given, however, that our hedging activities will not give rise to income that does not qualify for purposes of either or both of the REIT income tests, or that our hedging activities will not adversely affect our ability to satisfy the REIT qualification requirements.

Prior to the making of investments in real properties, we may invest the net offering proceeds in liquid assets such as government securities or certificates of deposit. For purposes of the 75% Income Test, income attributable to a stock or debt instrument purchased with the proceeds received by a REIT in exchange for stock in the REIT (other than amounts received pursuant to a distribution reinvestment plan) constitutes qualified temporary investment income if such income is received or accrued during the one-year period beginning on the date the REIT receives such new capital. To the extent that we hold any proceeds of the offering for longer than one year, we may invest those amounts in less liquid investments such as mortgage backed securities, maturing mortgage loans purchased from mortgage lenders, money market funds or shares of common stock in other REITs in order to satisfy the 75% Income and the 95% Income Tests and the Asset Tests described below. We expect the bulk of the remainder of our income to qualify under the 75% Income and 95% Income Tests as gains from the sale of real property interests, interest on mortgages on real property, and rents from real property in accordance with the requirements described above. With regard to rental income, we anticipate that most of our leases will be for fixed rentals with annual “consumer price index” or similar adjustments and that most of the rentals under our leases will not be based on the income or profits of any person. Rental leases may provide for payments based on gross receipts, which are generally permissible under the REIT income tests. In addition, none of our customers are expected to be Related Party Customers and the portion of the rent attributable to personal property is not expected to exceed 15% of the total rent to be received under any lease. We anticipate that all or most of the services to be performed with respect to our real properties will be performed by our property manager and such services are expected to be those usually or customarily rendered in connection with the rental of real property and not rendered to the occupant of such real property. Finally, we anticipate that any non-customary services will be provided by a taxable REIT subsidiary or, alternatively, by an independent contractor that is adequately compensated and from whom we derive no income. However, we can give no assurance that the actual sources of our gross income will allow us to satisfy the 75% Income and the 95% Income Tests described above.

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Further, we and our subsidiaries may hold investments in and pay taxes to foreign countries. Taxes that we pay in foreign jurisdictions may not be passed through to, or used by our stockholders as a foreign tax credit or otherwise. Our foreign investments might also generate foreign currency gains and losses. For purposes of either one or both of the 75% Income Test and the 95% Income Test, two categories of foreign currency gain may be excluded from gross income: “real estate foreign exchange gain” and “passive foreign exchange gain.” Real estate foreign exchange gain is not treated as gross income for purposes of both the 75% Income Test and the 95% Income Test. Real estate foreign exchange gain includes gain derived from certain qualified business units of the REIT and foreign currency gain attributable to (i) qualifying income under the 75% Income Test, (ii) the acquisition or ownership of obligations secured by mortgages on real property or interests in real property, or (iii) being an obligor on an obligation secured by mortgages on real property or on interests in real property. In addition, passive foreign exchange gain is not treated as gross income for purposes of the 95% Income Test only. Passive foreign exchange gain includes real estate foreign exchange gain and foreign currency gain attributable to (i) qualifying income under the 95% Income Test, (ii) the acquisition or ownership of obligations, or (iii) being the obligor on obligations and that, in the case of (ii) and (iii), does not fall within the scope of the real estate foreign exchange definition. In all cases, we intend that any foreign currency transactions were or will be structured in a manner that does not jeopardize our status as a REIT. No assurance can be given that any foreign currency gains that we recognize directly or through pass-through subsidiaries will not adversely affect our ability to satisfy the REIT qualification requirements.

Notwithstanding our failure to satisfy one or both of the 75% Income and the 95% Income Tests for any taxable year, we may still qualify as a REIT for that year if we are eligible for relief under specific provisions of the Code. These relief provisions generally will be available if:

our failure to meet these tests was due to reasonable cause and not due to willful neglect;
we attach a schedule of our income sources to our U.S. federal income tax return; and
any incorrect information on the schedule is not due to fraud with intent to evade tax.

It is not possible, however, to state whether, in all circumstances, we would be entitled to the benefit of these relief provisions. In addition, as discussed above in “—REIT Qualification—Taxation of Ares Real Estate Income Trust Inc.,” even if these relief provisions apply, a tax would be imposed with respect to the excess net income.

Operational Requirements—Asset Tests

At the close of each quarter of our taxable year, starting with the taxable year ending December 31, 2006, we also must satisfy five tests, which we refer to as “Asset Tests,” relating to the nature and diversification of our assets.

First, at least 75% of the value of our total assets must be represented by real estate assets, cash, cash items and government securities. The term “real estate assets” includes real property, mortgages on real property or on interests in real property, debt instruments issued by publicly offered REITs, shares of common stock in other qualified REITs, property attributable to the temporary investment of new capital as described above and a proportionate share of any real estate assets owned by a partnership in which we are a partner or of any qualified REIT subsidiary of ours.
Second, no more than 25% of our total assets may be represented by securities other than those in the 75% asset class.
Third, of the investments included in the 25% asset class, the value of any one issuer’s securities that we own may not exceed 5% of the value of our total assets. Additionally, we may not own more than 10% of the voting power or value of any one issuer’s outstanding securities, which we refer to as the “10% Asset Test.” The 10% Asset Test does not apply to securities of a taxable REIT subsidiary, nor does it apply to certain “straight debt” instruments possessing certain characteristics. The term “securities” also does not include the equity or debt securities of a qualified REIT subsidiary of ours or an equity interest in any entity treated as a partnership for federal tax purposes.
Fourth, no more than 20% (25% after July 29, 2008 and for taxable years before 2018) of the value of our total assets may consist of the securities of one or more taxable REIT subsidiaries. Subject to certain exceptions, a taxable REIT subsidiary is any corporation, other than a REIT, in which we directly or indirectly own stock and with respect to which a joint election has been made by us and the corporation to treat the corporation as a taxable REIT subsidiary of ours and also includes any corporation, other than a REIT, in which a taxable REIT subsidiary of ours owns, directly or indirectly, more than 35% of the voting power or value.
Fifth, not more than 25% of the value of our total assets may be represented by non-qualified publicly offered REIT debt instruments.

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Any interests that we hold in a REMIC will generally qualify as real estate assets and income derived from REMIC interests will generally be treated as qualifying income for purposes of the REIT income tests described above. If less than 95% of the assets of a REMIC are real estate assets, however, then only a proportionate part of our interest in the REMIC and income derived from the interest will qualify for purposes of the REIT asset and income tests. If we hold a “residual interest” in a REMIC from which we derive “excess inclusion income,” we will be required either to distribute the excess inclusion income or to pay tax on it (or a combination of the two), even though we may not receive the income in cash. To the extent that distributed excess inclusion income is allocable to a particular stockholder, the income (1) would not be allowed to be offset by any net operating losses otherwise available to the stockholder, (2) would be subject to tax as unrelated business taxable income in the hands of most types of stockholders that are otherwise generally exempt from federal income tax, and (3) would result in the application of U.S. federal income tax withholding at the maximum rate (30%), without reduction pursuant to any otherwise applicable income tax treaty, to the extent allocable to most types of foreign stockholders. Moreover, any excess inclusion income that we receive that is allocable to specified categories of tax-exempt investors which are not subject to unrelated business income tax, such as government entities, may be subject to corporate-level income tax in our hands, whether or not it is distributed.

To the extent that we hold mortgage participations or CMBS that do not represent REMIC interests, such assets may not qualify as real estate assets, and the income generated from them may not qualify for purposes of either or both of the REIT income tests, depending upon the circumstances and the specific structure of the investment.

We may enter into sale and repurchase agreements under which we would nominally sell certain of our loan assets to a counterparty and simultaneously enter into an agreement to repurchase the sold assets. We believe that we would be treated for U.S. federal income tax purposes as the owner of the loan assets that are the subject of any such agreement notwithstanding that such agreements may transfer record ownership of the assets to the counterparty during the term of the agreement. It is possible, however, that the IRS could assert that we did not own the loan assets during the term of the sale and repurchase agreement, in which case we could fail to qualify as a REIT.

Certain of our mezzanine loans may qualify for the safe harbor in Revenue Procedure 2003-65 pursuant to which certain loans secured by a first priority security interest in ownership interests in a partnership or limited liability company will be treated as qualifying assets for purposes of the 75% real estate asset test and the 10% vote or value test. See “—Operational Requirements—Gross Income Tests.” We may make some mezzanine loans that do not qualify for that safe harbor and that do not qualify as “straight debt” securities or for one of the other exclusions from the definition of “securities” for purposes of the 10% value test. We intend to make such investments in such a manner as not to fail the asset tests described above.

No independent appraisals have been obtained to support our conclusions as to the value of our total assets or the value of any particular security or securities. Moreover, values of some assets, including instruments issued in securitization transactions, may not be susceptible to a precise determination, and values are subject to change in the future. Furthermore, the proper classification of an instrument as debt or equity for U.S. federal income tax purposes may be uncertain in some circumstances, which could affect the application of the REIT asset requirements. Accordingly, there can be no assurance that the IRS will not contend that our interests in our subsidiaries or in the securities of other issuers will not cause a violation of the REIT asset tests.

The Asset Tests must generally be met for any quarter in which we acquire securities or other property. Upon full investment of the net offering proceeds we expect that most of our assets will consist of “real estate assets” and we therefore expect to satisfy the Asset Tests.

If we meet the Asset Tests at the close of any quarter, we will not lose our REIT status for a failure to satisfy the Assets Tests at the end of a later quarter in which we have not acquired any securities or other property if such failure occurs solely because of changes in asset values (including changes resulting solely by the change in the foreign currency exchange rate used to value a foreign asset). For all periods, if our failure to satisfy the Asset Tests results from an acquisition of securities or other property during a quarter, we can cure the failure by disposing of a sufficient amount of non-qualifying assets within 30 days after the close of that quarter. We intend to maintain adequate records of the value of our assets to ensure compliance with the Asset Tests and to take other action within 30 days after the close of any quarter as may be required to cure any noncompliance. If that does not occur, we may nonetheless qualify for one of the relief provisions described below.

The Code contains a number of provisions applicable to REITs, including relief provisions that make it easier for REITs to satisfy the asset requirements, or to maintain REIT qualification notwithstanding certain violations of the asset and other requirements.

One such provision allows a REIT which fails one or more of the asset requirements to nevertheless maintain its REIT qualification if (i) it provides the IRS with a description of each asset causing the failure, (ii) the failure is due to reasonable cause and not willful neglect, (iii) the REIT pays a tax equal to the greater of (a) $50,000 per failure and (b) the product of the net income generated by the assets that caused the failure multiplied by the highest applicable corporate tax rate (currently 21%), and (iv) the REIT either disposes of the assets causing the failure within six months after the last day of the quarter in which it identifies the failure, or otherwise satisfies the relevant asset tests within that time frame.

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A second relief provision applies to de minimis violations of the 10% and 5% asset tests. A REIT may maintain its qualification despite a violation of such requirements if (i) the value of the assets causing the violation do not exceed the lesser of 1.0% of the REIT’s total assets, and $10,000,000, and (ii) the REIT either disposes of the assets causing the failure within six months after the last day of the quarter in which it identifies the failure, or the relevant tests are otherwise satisfied within that time frame.

It is not possible to state whether, in all circumstances, we will be entitled to these relief provisions.

The Code also provides that certain securities will not cause a violation of the 10% value test described above. Such securities include instruments that constitute “straight debt,” which includes securities having certain contingency features. A security cannot qualify as “straight debt” where a REIT (or a controlled taxable REIT subsidiary of the REIT) owns other securities of the issuer of that security which do not qualify as straight debt, unless the value of those other securities constitute, in the aggregate, 1.0% or less of the total value of that issuer’s outstanding securities. In addition to straight debt, the Code provides that certain other securities will not violate the 10% value test. Such securities include (i) any loan made to an individual or an estate, (ii) certain rental agreements in which one or more payments are to be made in subsequent years (other than agreements between a REIT and certain persons related to the REIT), (iii) any obligation to pay rents from real property, (iv) securities issued by governmental entities that are not dependent in whole or in part on the profits of (or payments made by) a non-governmental entity, (v) any security issued by another REIT, and (vi) any debt instrument issued by a partnership if the partnership’s income is of a nature that it would satisfy the 75% gross income test described above under “—Operational Requirements—Gross Income Tests.” In addition, when applying the 10% value test, a debt security issued by a partnership is not taken into account to the extent, if any, of the REIT’s proportionate equity interest in that partnership.

Operational Requirements—Annual Distribution Requirement

In order to be taxed as a REIT, we are required to make distributions, other than capital gain distributions, to our stockholders each year in the amount of at least 90% of our REIT taxable income (computed without regard to the dividends paid deduction and our net capital gain and subject to certain other potential adjustments) for all tax years. While we must generally make distributions in the taxable year to which they relate, we may also make distributions in the following taxable year if (1) they are declared before we timely file our U.S. federal income tax return for the taxable year in question and (2) they are paid on or before the first regular distribution payment date after the declaration.

Even if we satisfy the foregoing distribution requirement and, accordingly, continue to qualify as a REIT for tax purposes, we will still be subject to federal income tax on the excess of our net capital gain and our REIT taxable income, as adjusted, over the amount of distributions to stockholders.

In addition, if we fail to distribute during each calendar year at least the sum of:

85% of our ordinary income for that year;
95% of our capital gain net income other than the capital gain net income which we elect to retain and pay tax on for that year; and
any undistributed taxable income from prior periods;

we will be subject to a 4% nondeductible excise tax on the excess of the amount of the required distributions over the sum of (A) the amounts actually distributed plus (B) retained amounts on which corporate level tax is paid by us.

For taxable years ending on or before December 31, 2014, in order for dividends to have been counted towards our distribution requirement and to have provided a tax deduction to us, they must not have been “preferential dividends.” A dividend paid for such taxable years was not a preferential dividend if it was pro rata among all outstanding shares within a particular class and was in accordance with the preferences among our different classes of shares as set forth in our organizational documents. A distribution of a preferential dividend may cause other distributions to be treated as preferential dividends, which may possibly have prevented us from satisfying the distribution requirement for REIT qualification. On November 1, 2011, we received a private letter ruling from the IRS that differences in the dividends distributed to holders of Class E shares, holders of Class A shares and holders of Class W shares would not cause such dividends to be preferential dividends. The preferential dividend rules ceased to apply to us as of our 2015 taxable year, and will not apply so long as we remain a publicly-offered REIT.

We intend to make timely distributions sufficient to satisfy this requirement; however, it is possible that we may experience timing differences between (1) the actual receipt of income and payment of deductible expenses, and (2) the inclusion of that income and deduction of those expenses for purposes of computing our taxable income. It is also possible that we may be allocated a share of net capital gain attributable to the sale of depreciated property by the Operating Partnership that exceeds our allocable share of cash attributable to that sale. In those circumstances, we may have less cash than is necessary to meet our annual distribution requirement or to avoid income or excise taxation on undistributed income. We may find it necessary in those circumstances to arrange for financing or raise

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funds through the issuance of additional shares of common stock in order to meet our distribution requirements. If we fail to satisfy the distribution requirement for any taxable year by reason of a later adjustment to our taxable income made by the Internal Revenue Service, we may be able to pay “deficiency dividends” in a later year and include such distributions in our deductions for dividends paid for the earlier year. In that event, we may be able to avoid losing our REIT status or being taxed on amounts distributed as deficiency dividends, but we would be required to pay interest and a penalty to the Internal Revenue Service based upon the amount of any deduction taken for deficiency dividends for the earlier year.

We may also elect to retain, rather than distribute, our net long-term capital gains. Provided we comply with certain requirements, the effect of such an election would be as follows:

we would be required to pay the federal income tax on these gains;
taxable U.S. stockholders, while required to include their proportionate share of the undistributed long-term capital gains in income, would receive a credit or refund for their share of the tax paid by the REIT; and
the basis of the stockholder’s shares of common stock would be increased by the difference between the designated amount included in the stockholder’s long-term capital gains and the tax deemed paid with respect to such shares of common stock.

We are required to file an annual U.S. federal income tax return, which, like other corporate returns, is subject to examination by the Internal Revenue Service. Because the tax law requires us to make many judgments regarding the proper treatment of a transaction or an item of income or deduction, it is possible that the Internal Revenue Service will challenge positions we take in computing our REIT taxable income and our distributions.

Issues could arise, for example, with respect to the allocation of the purchase price of real properties between depreciable or amortizable assets and non-depreciable or non-amortizable assets such as land and the current deductibility of fees paid to the Advisor or its affiliates. Were the Internal Revenue Service to successfully challenge our characterization of a transaction or determination of our REIT taxable income, we could be found to have failed to satisfy a requirement for qualification as a REIT. If, as a result of a challenge, we are determined to have failed to satisfy the distribution requirements for a taxable year, we would be disqualified as a REIT, unless we were permitted to pay a deficiency dividend (related to the IRS adjustment) to our stockholders and pay interest thereon to the Internal Revenue Service, as provided by the Code.

Taxable Income for Which Cash Has Not Been Received Created by Investments in Debt Obligations

Due to the nature of the assets in which we will invest, we may be required to recognize taxable income from those assets in advance of our receipt of cash flow on or proceeds from disposition of such assets, and may be required to report taxable income in early periods that exceeds the economic income ultimately realized on such assets.

We may acquire debt instruments in the secondary market for less than their face amount. The amount of such discount generally will be treated as “market discount” for U.S. federal income tax purposes. We expect to accrue market discount on the basis of a constant yield to maturity of a debt instrument. Accrued market discount is reported as income when, and to the extent that, any payment of principal of the debt instrument is made, unless we elect to include accrued market discount in income as it accrues. Principal payments on certain loans are made monthly, and consequently accrued market discount may have to be included in income each month as if the debt instrument were assured of ultimately being collected in full. If we collect less on the debt instrument than our purchase price plus the market discount we had previously reported as income, we may not be able to benefit from any offsetting loss deductions in a subsequent taxable year.

Some of the debt instruments that we acquire may have been issued with original issue discount. In general, we will be required to accrue original issue discount based on the constant yield to maturity of the debt instrument, and to treat it as taxable income in accordance with applicable U.S. federal income tax rules even though smaller or no cash payments are received on such debt instrument. As in the case of the market discount discussed in the preceding paragraph, the constant yield in question will be determined and we will be taxed based on the assumption that all future payments due on debt instrument in question will be made, with consequences similar to those described in the previous paragraph if all payments on the debt instruments are not made.

We may acquire distressed debt investments that are subsequently modified by agreement with the borrower. If the amendments to the outstanding debt are “significant modifications” under the applicable Treasury Regulations, the modified debt may be considered to have been reissued to us in a debt-for-debt exchange with the borrower. In that event, we may be required to recognize taxable income to the extent the principal amount of the modified debt exceeds our adjusted tax basis in the unmodified debt, and would hold the modified loan with a cost basis equal to its principal amount for U.S. federal tax purposes.

In addition, in the event that any debt instruments acquired by us are delinquent as to mandatory principal and interest payments, or in the event payments with respect to a particular debt instrument are not made when due, we may nonetheless be required to continue

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to recognize the unpaid interest as taxable income. Similarly, we may be required to accrue interest income with respect to subordinate mortgage-backed securities at the stated rate regardless of whether corresponding cash payments are received.

Due to each of these potential timing differences between income recognition or expense deduction and the related cash receipts or disbursements, there is a significant risk that we may have substantial taxable income in excess of cash available for distribution. In that event, we may need to borrow funds or take other action to satisfy the REIT distribution requirements for the taxable year in which this “taxable income for which cash has not been received” is recognized.

Limitation on Deductibility of Business Interest

In general, the deductibility of the “net interest” paid or accrued, as applicable, of a business, other than certain small businesses, is limited to 30% of the business’s adjusted taxable income, defined generally to mean business taxable income computed without regard to business interest income or deductions or net operating loss deductions. For tax years beginning after December 31, 2017 and before January 1, 2022, adjusted taxable income is calculated using a tax EBITDA-based calculation. For tax years beginning January 1, 2022 and thereafter, the calculation of adjusted taxable income will not add back depreciation or amortization. Interest that is disallowed as a result of this limitation can be carried forward indefinitely. This limitation does not apply to an “electing real property trade or business.” We have evaluated the election and have generally made such election for our eligible entities including the Company and the Operating Partnership.

Operational Requirements—Recordkeeping

We must maintain certain records as set forth in Treasury Regulations in order to avoid the payment of monetary penalties to the Internal Revenue Service. Such Treasury Regulations require that we request, on an annual basis, certain information designed to disclose the ownership of shares of our outstanding common stock. We intend to comply with these requirements.

Failure to Qualify as a REIT

If we fail to qualify as a REIT for any reason in a taxable year and applicable relief provisions do not apply, we will be subject to tax (including any applicable alternative minimum tax for taxable years beginning before January 1, 2018) on our taxable income at regular corporate rates. We will not be able to deduct dividends paid to our stockholders in any year in which we fail to qualify as a REIT. In this situation, to the extent of current and accumulated earnings and profits, all dividends to our domestic stockholders that are individuals, trusts or estates will generally be taxable at capital gains rates and, subject to limitations of the Code, corporate distributees may be eligible for the dividends received deduction. We also will be disqualified for the four taxable years following the year during which qualification was lost unless we are entitled to relief under specific statutory provisions. It is not possible to state whether, in all circumstances, we would be entitled to this statutory relief.

Sale-Leaseback Transactions

Some of our investments may be in the form of sale-leaseback transactions. We normally intend to treat these transactions as true leases for federal income tax purposes. However, depending on the terms of any specific transaction, the Internal Revenue Service might take the position that the transaction is not a true lease but is more properly treated in some other manner. If such recharacterization were successful, we would not be entitled to claim the depreciation deductions available to an owner of the property. In addition, the recharacterization of one or more of these transactions might cause us to fail to satisfy the Asset Tests or the Income Tests described above based upon the asset we would be treated as holding or the income we would be treated as having earned and such failure could result in our failing to qualify as a REIT. Alternatively, the amount or timing of income inclusion or the loss of depreciation deductions resulting from the recharacterization might cause us to fail to meet the distribution requirement described above for one or more taxable years absent the availability of the deficiency dividend procedure or might result in a larger portion of our dividends being treated as ordinary income to our stockholders.

Taxation of Taxable U.S. Stockholders

Definition

In this section, the phrase “U.S. Stockholder” means a holder of our common stock that for federal income tax purposes is:

a citizen or resident of the United States;
a corporation, partnership or other entity treated as a corporation or partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes created or organized in or under the laws of the United States or of any political subdivision thereof;
an estate, the income of which is subject to U.S. federal income taxation regardless of its source; or

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a trust, if a U.S. court is able to exercise primary supervision over the administration of the trust and one or more U.S. persons have the authority to control all substantial decisions of the trust.

If a partnership, including for this purpose any entity that is treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes, holds our common stock, the tax treatment of a partner in the partnership will generally depend upon the status of the partner and the activities of the partnership. An investor that is a partnership and the partners in such partnership should consult their tax advisors about the U.S. federal income tax consequences of the acquisition, ownership and disposition of our common stock.

For any taxable year for which we qualify for taxation as a REIT, amounts distributed to, and gains realized by, taxable U.S. stockholders with respect to our common stock generally will be taxed as described below. For a summary of the U.S. federal income tax treatment of distributions reinvested in additional shares of common stock pursuant to our distribution reinvestment plan, see “Description of Capital Stock—Distribution Reinvestment Plan.”

Certain U.S. individuals, estates, and trusts are subject to an additional 3.8% tax on net investment income. For these purposes, net investment income includes dividends and gains from sales of stock. In the case of an individual, the tax will be 3.8% of the lesser of the individual’s net investment income or the excess of the individual’s modified adjusted gross income over an amount equal to (1) $250,000 in the case of a married individual filing a joint return or a surviving spouse, (2) $125,000 in the case of a married individual filing a separate return, or (3) $200,000 in the case of a single individual. The temporary 20% deduction allowed by section 199A of the Code with respect to ordinary REIT dividends received by non-corporate taxpayers is allowed only for purposes of Chapter 1 of the Code and thus is likely not allowed as a deduction allocable to such dividends for purposes of determining the amount of net investment income subject to the 3.8% Medicare tax, which is imposed under Chapter 2A of the Code. U.S. stockholders are urged to consult their tax advisors regarding the implications of the additional Medicare tax resulting from an investment in our shares.

For individuals (and entities taxed at individual rates), the maximum ordinary income tax rate is currently 37% and the maximum tax rate for long-term capital gains and qualified dividends is 20%. REIT dividends generally are not treated as such qualified dividends. For taxable years prior to 2026, individual stockholders are generally allowed to deduct 20% of the aggregate amount of ordinary dividends distributed by us, subject to certain limitations and a minimum 45 day holding period with respect to our stock, which would reduce the maximum marginal effective tax rate for individuals on the receipt of such ordinary dividends to 29.6%.

Distributions Generally

Distributions to U.S. stockholders, other than capital gain distributions discussed below, will constitute distributions up to the amount of our current or accumulated earnings and profits and will be taxable to the stockholders as ordinary income (subject to the discussion below). These distributions are not eligible for the dividends received deduction generally available to corporations. In addition, with limited exceptions, these distributions are not eligible for taxation at the preferential income tax rates for qualified dividends received by domestic stockholders that are individuals, trusts and estates from taxable C corporations. In addition, for taxable years prior to 2026, individual stockholders are generally allowed to deduct 20% of the aggregate amount of ordinary dividends distributed by us, subject to certain limitations a minimum 45 day holding period with respect to our stock, which would reduce the maximum marginal effective tax rate for individuals on the receipt of such ordinary dividends to 29.6%. Stockholders that are individuals, however, are taxed at the preferential capital gains rates on dividends designated by and received from us to the extent that the dividends are attributable to (i) income retained by us in the prior taxable year on which we were subject to corporate level income tax (less the amount of tax), (ii) dividends received by us from taxable C corporations, or (iii) income in the prior taxable year from the sales of “built-in gain” property acquired by us from C corporations in carryover basis transactions (less the amount of corporate tax on such income).

To the extent that we make a distribution in excess of our current and accumulated earnings and profits, the distribution will be treated first as a tax-free return of capital, reducing the tax basis in the U.S. stockholder’s shares of common stock, and the amount of each distribution in excess of a U.S. stockholder’s tax basis in its shares of common stock will be taxable as gain realized from the sale of its shares of common stock. Dividends that we declare in October, November or December of any year payable to a stockholder of record on a specified date in any of these months will be treated as both paid by us and received by the stockholder on December 31 of the year, provided that we actually pay the dividends during January of the following calendar year.

To the extent that we have available net operating losses and capital losses carried forward from prior tax years, such losses may reduce the amount of distributions that we must make in order to comply with the REIT distribution requirements. See “—Operational Requirements—Annual Distribution Requirement.” Such losses, however, are not passed through to stockholders and do not offset income of stockholders from other sources, nor would such losses affect the character of any distributions that we make, which are generally subject to tax in the hands of stockholders to the extent that we have current or accumulated earnings and profits. A REIT’s deduction for any NOL carryforwards arising from losses it sustains in taxable years beginning after December 31, 2017 is limited to 80% of a REIT’s taxable income (determined without regard to the deduction for dividends paid), and any unused portion of losses arising in taxable years ending after December 31, 2017 may not be carried back, but may be carried forward indefinitely.

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If excess inclusion income from a taxable mortgage pool or REMIC residual interest is allocated to any stockholder, that income will be taxable in the hands of the stockholder and would not be offset by any net operating losses of the stockholder that would otherwise be available. As required by IRS guidance, we intend to notify our stockholders if a portion of a dividend paid by us is attributable to excess inclusion income.

We will be treated as having sufficient earnings and profits to treat as a dividend any distribution by us up to the amount required to be distributed in order to avoid imposition of the 4% excise tax discussed above. Moreover, any “deficiency distribution” will be treated as an ordinary or capital gain distribution, as the case may be, regardless of our earnings and profits. As a result, stockholders may be required to treat as taxable some distributions that would otherwise result in a tax-free return of capital.

Capital Gain Distributions

Distributions to U.S. stockholders that we properly designate as capital gain distributions normally will be treated as long-term capital gains to the extent they do not exceed our actual net capital gain for the taxable year without regard to the period for which the U.S. stockholder has held his shares of common stock. A corporate U.S. stockholder might be required to treat up to 20% of some capital gain distributions as ordinary income. Long-term capital gains are generally taxable at maximum U.S. federal rates of 20% in the case of stockholders who are individuals, trusts and estates, and 21% in the case of stockholders that are corporations. Capital gains attributable to the sale of depreciable real property held for more than 12 months are subject to a 25% maximum U.S. federal income tax rate for taxpayers who are individuals, to the extent of previously claimed depreciation deductions. See “—Operational Requirements—Annual Distribution Requirement” for the treatment by U.S. stockholders of net long-term capital gains that we elect to retain and pay tax on.

To the extent that we have available net operating losses and capital losses carried forward from prior tax years, such losses may reduce the amount of distributions that must be made in order to comply with the REIT distribution requirements. Such losses, however, are not passed through to U.S. stockholders and do not offset income of U.S. stockholders from other sources, nor do they affect the character of any distributions that are actually made by us, which are generally subject to tax in the hands of U.S. stockholders to the extent that we have current or accumulated earnings and profits.

Certain Dispositions of Our Common Stock

In general, capital gains recognized by individuals upon the sale or disposition of shares of common stock will be subject to a maximum U.S. federal income tax rate of 20% if such shares of common stock are held for more than 12 months, and will be taxed at ordinary income rates (of up to 37% currently) if such shares of common stock are held for 12 months or less. Gains recognized by stockholders that are corporations are subject to federal income tax at a maximum rate of 21%, whether or not classified as long-term capital gains. The IRS has the authority to prescribe, but has not yet prescribed, regulations that would apply a higher capital gain tax rate of 25% to a portion of capital gain realized by a non-corporate holder on the sale of REIT shares that would correspond to the REIT’s “unrecaptured Section 1250 gain.” Capital losses recognized by a stockholder upon the disposition of a share of our common stock held for more than one year at the time of disposition will be considered long-term capital losses, and are generally available only to offset capital gain income of the stockholder but not ordinary income (except in the case of individuals, who may offset up to $3,000 of ordinary income each year). In addition, any loss upon a sale or exchange of shares of common stock by a stockholder who has held such shares of common stock for six months or less, after applying holding period rules, will be treated as a long-term capital loss to the extent of distributions received from us that are required to be treated by the stockholder as long-term capital gain.

If an investor recognizes a loss upon a subsequent disposition of our stock or other securities in an amount that exceeds a prescribed threshold, it is possible that the provisions of Treasury Regulations involving “reportable transactions” could apply, with a resulting requirement to separately disclose the loss-generating transaction to the IRS. These regulations, though directed towards “tax shelters,” are broadly written and apply to transactions that would not typically be considered tax shelters. The Code imposes significant penalties for failure to comply with these requirements. You should consult your tax advisor concerning any possible disclosure obligation with respect to the receipt or disposition of our stock or securities or transactions that we might undertake directly or indirectly. Moreover, you should be aware that we and other participants in the transactions in which we are involved (including their advisors) might be subject to disclosure or other requirements pursuant to these regulations.

Distributions that we make and gain arising from the sale or exchange by a domestic stockholder of our stock will not be treated as passive activity income. As a result, stockholders will not be able to apply any “passive losses” against income or gain relating to our stock. To the extent that distributions we make do not constitute a return of capital, they will be treated as investment income for purposes of computing the investment interest limitation.

Redemptions of Our Common Stock

A redemption of our common stock will be treated as a distribution in exchange for the redeemed shares and taxed in the same manner as other taxable share sales discussed above, provided that the redemption satisfies one of the tests enabling the redemption to be treated as a sale or exchange. A redemption will be treated as a sale or exchange if it (1) is “substantially disproportionate” with respect to

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a stockholder, (2) results in a “complete termination” of a stockholder’s interest in our shares or (3) is “not essentially equivalent to a dividend” with respect to a stockholder, all within the meaning of applicable provisions of the Code. In determining whether any of these tests have been met, shares considered to be owned by a stockholder by reason of certain constructive ownership rules, as well as shares actually owned, must generally be taken into account.

A redemption that does not qualify as an exchange under such tests will constitute a dividend equivalent redemption that is treated as a taxable distribution and taxed in the same manner as regular distributions (i.e., ordinary dividend income to the extent paid out of earnings and profits unless properly designated as a capital gain dividend). In addition, although guidance is sparse, the IRS could take the position that a stockholder who does not participate in any redemption treated as a dividend should be treated as receiving a constructive share distribution taxable as a dividend in the amount of their increased percentage ownership of our shares as a result of the redemption, even though the stockholder did not actually receive cash or other property as a result of the redemption.

To avoid certain issues related to our ability to comply with the REIT distribution requirements and utilize the deficiency dividend procedure (see “—Requirements for Qualification as a REIT—Operational Requirements—Annual Distribution Requirement”) we have implemented procedures designed to track our stockholders’ percentage interests in our common stock in order to identify any dividend equivalent redemptions and will decline to effect a redemption to the extent that we believe that it would constitute a dividend equivalent redemption. We cannot assure you, however, that we will be successful in preventing all dividend equivalent redemptions.

Passive Activity Losses and Investment Interest Limitations

Distributions made by us and gain arising from the sale, redemption or exchange by a U.S. stockholder of shares of our common stock will not be treated as passive activity income. As a result, U.S. stockholders will not be able to apply any “passive losses” against income or gain relating to shares of our common stock. Distributions made by us, to the extent they do not constitute a return of capital, generally will be treated as investment income for purposes of computing the investment interest limitation. A U.S. stockholder that elects to treat capital gain dividends, capital gains from the disposition of shares or qualified dividend income as investment income for purposes of the investment interest limitation will be taxed at ordinary income rates on such amounts.

Information Reporting Requirements and Backup Withholding for U.S. Stockholders

We will report to U.S. stockholders of our common stock and to the Internal Revenue Service the amount of distributions made or deemed made during each calendar year and the amount of tax withheld, if any. Under some circumstances, U.S. stockholders may be subject to backup withholding on payments made with respect to, or cash proceeds of a sale or exchange of, our common stock. Backup withholding will apply only if the stockholder:

Fails to furnish its taxpayer identification number (which, for an individual, would be his Social Security number);
Furnishes an incorrect taxpayer identification number;
Is notified by the Internal Revenue Service that the stockholder has failed properly to report payments of interest or dividends and is subject to backup withholding; or
Under some circumstances, fails to certify, under penalties of perjury, that it has furnished a correct taxpayer identification number and has not been notified by the Internal Revenue Service that the stockholder is subject to backup withholding for failure to report interest and dividend payments or has been notified by the Internal Revenue Service that the stockholder is no longer subject to backup withholding for failure to report those payments.

Backup withholding will not apply with respect to payments made to some stockholders, such as corporations in certain circumstances and tax-exempt organizations. Backup withholding is not an additional tax. Rather, the amount of any backup withholding with respect to a payment to a U.S. stockholder will be allowed as a credit against the U.S. stockholder’s United States federal income tax liability and may entitle the U.S. stockholder to a refund, provided that the required information is furnished to the Internal Revenue Service. U.S. stockholders should consult their tax advisors regarding their qualification for exemption from backup withholding and the procedure for obtaining an exemption.

With respect to dispositions of REIT shares acquired after 2010 (2011 in the case of shares acquired in connection with a distribution reinvestment plan), brokers that are required to report the gross proceeds from a sale of shares on Form 1099-B are also required to report the customer’s adjusted basis in the shares and whether any gain or loss with respect to the shares is long-term or short-term. In some cases, there may be alternative methods of determining the basis in shares that are disposed of, in which case your broker will apply a default method of its choosing if you do not indicate which method you choose to have applied. You should consult with your own tax advisor regarding these reporting requirements and your election options.

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Treatment of Tax-Exempt Stockholders

Tax-exempt entities including employee pension benefit trusts and individual retirement accounts generally are exempt from United States federal income taxation. These entities are subject to taxation, however, on any “unrelated business taxable income,” which we refer to as “UBTI,” as defined in the Code. The Internal Revenue Service has issued a published ruling that distributions from a REIT to a tax-exempt pension trust did not constitute UBTI. Although rulings are merely interpretations of law by the Internal Revenue Service and may be revoked or modified, based on this analysis, indebtedness incurred by us or by the Operating Partnership in connection with the acquisition of a property should not cause any income derived from the property to be treated as UBTI upon the distribution of those amounts as dividends to a tax-exempt U.S. stockholder of our common stock. A tax-exempt entity that incurs indebtedness to finance its purchase of our common stock, however, will be subject to UBTI under the debt-financed income rules. However, social clubs, voluntary employee benefit associations, supplemental unemployment benefit trusts and qualified group legal services plans that are exempt from taxation under specified provisions of the Code are subject to different UBTI rules, which generally may require them to treat distributions from us as UBTI. These organizations are urged to consult their own tax advisor with respect to the treatment of our distributions to them.

In certain circumstances, a pension trust that owns more than 10% of our stock could be required to treat a percentage of the dividends as UBTI if we are a “pension-held REIT.” We will not be a pension-held REIT unless (1) we are required to “look through” one or more of our pension trust stockholders in order to satisfy the REIT “closely-held” test, and (2) either (i) one pension trust owns more than 25% of the value of our stock, or (ii) one or more pension trusts, each individually holding more than 10% of the value of our stock, collectively owns more than 50% of the value of our stock. Certain restrictions on ownership and transfer of our stock generally should prevent a tax-exempt entity from owning more than 10% of the value of our stock and generally should prevent us from becoming a pension-held REIT. Tax-exempt stockholders are urged to consult their tax advisors regarding the federal, state, local and foreign income and other tax consequences of owning our common stock.

Special Tax Considerations for Non-U.S. Stockholders

The rules governing United States federal income taxation of non-resident alien individuals, foreign corporations, foreign partnerships and other foreign stockholders, which we refer to collectively as “Non-U.S. holders,” are complex. The following discussion is intended only as a summary of these rules. Non-U.S. holders should consult with their own tax advisors to determine the impact of United States federal, state and local income tax laws on an investment in our common stock, including any reporting requirements as well as the tax treatment of the investment under the tax laws of their home country.

Ordinary Dividends

The portion of distributions received by Non-U.S. holders payable out of our earnings and profits which are not attributable to our capital gains and which are not effectively connected with a U.S. trade or business of the Non-U.S. holder will be subject to U.S. withholding tax at the rate of 30%, unless reduced or eliminated by treaty. Reduced treaty rates and other exemptions are not available to the extent that income is attributable to excess inclusion income allocable to the Non-U.S. holder. Accordingly, we will withhold at a rate of 30% on any portion of a dividend that is paid to a non-U.S. holder and attributable to that holder’s share of our excess inclusion income. As required by IRS guidance, we intend to notify our stockholders if a portion of a dividend paid by us is attributable to excess inclusion income. In general, Non-U.S. holders will not be considered to be engaged in a U.S. trade or business solely as a result of their ownership of our common stock. In cases where the distribution income from a Non-U.S. holder’s investment in our common stock is, or is treated as, effectively connected with the Non-U.S. holder’s conduct of a U.S. trade or business, the Non-U.S. holder generally will be subject to U.S. tax at graduated rates, in the same manner as domestic stockholders are taxed with respect to such distributions, such income must generally be reported on a U.S. income tax return filed by or on behalf of the Non-U.S. holder, and the income may also be subject to the 30% branch profits tax in the case of a Non-U.S. holder that is a corporation.

Non-Dividend Distributions

Unless our common stock constitutes a U.S. real property interest, which we refer to as a “USRPI,” distributions by us which are not distributions out of our earnings and profits will not be subject to U.S. income tax. If it cannot be determined at the time at which a distribution is made whether or not the distribution will exceed current and accumulated earnings and profits, the distribution will be subject to withholding at the rate applicable to distributions. However, the Non-U.S. holder may seek a refund from the Internal Revenue Service of any amounts withheld if it is subsequently determined that the distribution was, in fact, in excess of our current and accumulated earnings and profits. If our common stock constitutes a USRPI, as described below, distributions by us in excess of the sum of our earnings and profits plus the stockholder’s adjusted tax basis in shares of our common stock will be taxed under the Foreign Investment in Real Property Tax Act of 1980, which we refer to as “FIRPTA,” unless a specific exemption under FIRPTA applies (i.e. for “qualified foreign pension funds” or “qualified shareholders”), at the rate of tax, including any applicable capital gains rates, that would apply to a domestic stockholder of the same type (e.g., an individual or a corporation, as the case may be), and the collection of the tax will be enforced by a refundable withholding at a rate of 15% of the amount by which the distribution exceeds the stockholder’s share of our earnings and profits.

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Capital Gain Distributions

A capital gain distribution from a publicly traded REIT will generally not be treated as income that is effectively connected with a U.S. trade or business, and will instead be treated the same as an ordinary distribution from us (see “—Special Tax Considerations for Non-U.S. Stockholders—Ordinary Dividends”), provided that (1) the capital gain distribution is received with respect to a class of stock that is regularly traded on an established securities market located in the United States, and (2) the recipient Non-U.S. holder does not own, actually or constructively, more than 10% of that class of stock at any time during the taxable year in which the capital gain distribution is received. If such requirements are not satisfied, such distributions will be treated as income that is effectively connected with a U.S. trade or business of the Non-U.S. holder without regard to whether the distribution is designated as a capital gain distribution and, in addition, shall be subject to a 21% withholding tax. We do not anticipate our common stock will satisfy the “regularly traded” requirement, and therefore expect that our capital gain distributions that are attributable to the disposition of a U.S. real property interest will be taxable under FIRPTA, unless a specific exemption under FIRPTA applies (i.e. for “qualified foreign pension funds” or “qualified shareholders”). Distributions subject to FIRPTA may also be subject to a 30% branch profits tax in the hands of a Non-U.S. holder that is a corporation. A distribution is not a USRPI capital gain if we held the underlying asset solely as a creditor. Capital gain distributions received by a Non-U.S. holder from a REIT that are not USRPI capital gains are generally not subject to U.S. income tax, but may be subject to withholding tax.

In addition, even if we are a domestically controlled qualified investment entity as described below, upon disposition of our stock (subject to the 10% exception applicable to “regularly traded” stock described above), a non-U.S. holder may be treated as having gain from the sale or exchange of a USRPI if the non-U.S. holder (1) disposes of our common stock within a 30-day period preceding the ex-dividend date of a distribution, any portion of which, but for the disposition, would have been treated as gain from the sale or exchange of a USRPI and (2) acquires, or enters into a contract or option to acquire, other shares of our common stock within 30 days after such ex-dividend date.

Estate Tax

If our stock is owned or treated as owned by an individual who is not a citizen or resident (as specially defined for U.S. federal estate tax purposes) of the United States at the time of such individual’s death, the stock will be includable in the individual’s gross estate for U.S. federal estate tax purposes, unless an applicable estate tax treaty provides otherwise, and may therefore be subject to U.S. federal estate tax.

Dispositions and Redemptions of Our Common Stock

Unless our common stock constitutes a USRPI, a sale of our common stock by a Non-U.S. holder generally will not be subject to U.S. taxation under FIRPTA. Our common stock will not be treated as a USRPI if less than 50% of our assets throughout a prescribed testing period consist of interests in real property located within the United States, excluding, for this purpose, interests in real property solely in a capacity as a creditor.

Even if the foregoing test is not met, our common stock nonetheless will not constitute a USRPI if we are a “domestically controlled qualified investment entity.” A domestically controlled qualified investment entity includes a REIT in which, at all times during a specified testing period, less than 50% in value of its shares of common stock is held directly or indirectly by Non-U.S. holders. We currently anticipate that we will be a domestically controlled qualified investment entity and, therefore, the sale of our common stock should not be subject to taxation under FIRPTA. However, we cannot assure you that we are or will continue to be a domestically controlled qualified investment entity.

In the event that we do not constitute a domestically controlled qualified investment entity, a non-U.S. stockholder’s sale of our common stock nonetheless will generally not be subject to tax under FIRPTA as a sale of a U.S. real property interest, provided that (1) shares of our common stock are “regularly traded,” as defined by applicable Treasury Regulations, on an established securities market and (2) the selling non-U.S. stockholder owned, actually or constructively, 10% or less of our outstanding common stock at all times during a specified testing period. As previously noted, however, we do not expect any of our shares to be regularly traded on an established securities market.

In addition, even if we are a domestically controlled qualified investment entity, upon disposition of our shares, a non-U.S. stockholder may be treated as having gain from the sale or exchange of a U.S. real property interest if the non-U.S. stockholder (1) disposes of an interest in our shares during the 30-day period preceding the ex-dividend date of a distribution, any portion of which, but for the disposition, would have been treated as gain from sale or exchange of a U.S. real property interest and (2) acquires, enters into a contract or option to acquire, or is deemed to acquire, other shares of our shares within 30 days after such ex-dividend date. The foregoing rules do not apply to a transaction if the 10% regularly traded test described above is satisfied with respect to the non-U.S. stockholder. As previously noted, however, we do not expect shares of our common stock to be regularly traded on an established securities market at any time and, therefore, we do not expect the exception for non-U.S. stockholders that satisfy the 10% regularly traded test to apply.

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A redemption of shares generally will be taxable under FIRPTA to the extent the distribution in the redemption of the shares is attributable to gains from our dispositions of U.S. real property interests. To the extent the distribution is not attributable to gains from our dispositions of U.S. real property interests, the excess of the amount of money received in the redemption over the non-U.S. stockholder’s basis in the redeemed shares will be taxable if we are not a domestically controlled qualified investment entity. The IRS has stated that redemption payments may be attributable to gains from dispositions of U.S. real property interests (except when the 10% publicly traded exception would apply), but has not provided any guidance to determine when and what portion of a redemption payment is a distribution that is attributable to gains from our dispositions of U.S. real property interests. Due to the uncertainty, we may withhold at the 21% rate from all or a portion of redemption payments to non-U.S. stockholders. To the extent the amount of tax we withhold exceeds the amount of a non-U.S. stockholder’s U.S. federal income tax liability, the non-U.S. stockholder may file a U.S. federal income tax return and claim a refund.

If the gain on the sale of shares of common stock were subject to taxation under FIRPTA (and no FIRPTA exemption existed), a Non-U.S. holder would be subject to the same treatment as a U.S. stockholder with respect to the gain, subject to any applicable alternative minimum tax and a special alternative minimum tax in the case of non-resident alien individuals. Gain from the sale of our common stock that would not otherwise be subject to FIRPTA will nonetheless be taxable in the United States to a Non-U.S. holder in two cases: (a) if the Non-U.S. holder’s investment in our common stock is effectively connected with a U.S. trade or business conducted by such Non-U.S. holder, the Non-U.S. holder will be subject to the same treatment as a U.S. stockholder with respect to such gain, or (b) if the Non-U.S. holder is a nonresident alien individual who was present in the United States for 183 days or more during the taxable year and has a “tax home” in the United States, the nonresident alien individual will be subject to a 30% tax on the individual’s capital gain.

Information Reporting Requirements and Backup Withholding for Non-U.S. Stockholders

Non-U.S. stockholders should consult their tax advisors with regard to U.S. information reporting and backup withholding requirements under the Code.

Qualified Shareholders.

Subject to the exception discussed below, any distribution by us attributable to gain from the sale or exchange of a USRPI to a “qualified shareholder” who holds our stock directly or indirectly (through one or more partnerships) will not be subject to U.S. tax as income effectively connected with a U.S. trade or business under FIRPTA and thus will not be subject to special withholding rules under FIRPTA. In addition, a sale of our stock by a “qualified shareholder” who holds such stock directly or indirectly (through one or more partnerships) will not be subject to U.S. federal income taxation under FIRPTA even if our stock were otherwise treated as a USRPI. However, if our stock were treated as a USRPI and a non-U.S. person who holds an interest in the “qualified shareholder” (other than interests solely as a creditor) also holds more than 10% of our stock (whether or not by reason of the investor’s ownership in the “qualified shareholder”), then such non-U.S. person’s pro rata share of our stock held by the qualified shareholder will generally be treated as a USRPI and therefore may be subject to FIRPTA withholding and taxation.

Qualified Foreign Pension Funds.

Any distribution by us attributable to gain from the sale or exchange of a USRPI to a “qualified foreign pension fund” (or an entity all of the interests of which are held by a “qualified foreign pension fund”) who holds our stock directly or indirectly (through one or more partnerships) will not be subject to U.S. tax as income effectively connected with a U.S. trade or business under FIRPTA and thus will not be subject to special withholding rules under FIRPTA. In addition, a sale of our stock by a “qualified foreign pension fund” that holds such stock directly or indirectly (through one or more partnerships) will not be subject to U.S. federal income taxation under FIRPTA even if our stock otherwise constitutes a USRPI.

Foreign Accounts

Under the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act, or FATCA, withholding taxes may apply to certain types of payments made to “foreign financial institutions” (as specially defined under those rules) and certain other non-U.S. entities. Specifically, a 30% withholding tax may be imposed on dividends on, or gross proceeds from the sale or other disposition of, our common stock paid to a foreign financial institution or to a non-financial foreign entity, unless (i) the foreign financial institution undertakes certain diligence and reporting, (ii) the non-financial foreign entity either certifies it does not have any substantial U.S. owners or furnishes identifying information regarding each substantial U.S. owner, or (iii) the foreign financial institution or non-financial foreign entity otherwise qualifies for an exemption from these rules. If the payee is a foreign financial institution and is subject to the diligence and reporting requirements in clause (i) above, it must enter into an agreement with the U.S. Treasury that requires, among other things, that it undertake to identify accounts held by certain U.S. persons or U.S.-owned foreign entities, annually report certain information about such accounts, and withhold 30% on payments to non-compliant foreign financial institutions and certain other account holders. Foreign financial institutions located in jurisdictions that have an intergovernmental agreement with the United States governing FATCA may be subject to different rules.

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While FATCA also technically imposes a 30% withholding tax on gross proceeds from the sale of our stock commencing on January 1, 2019, the Treasury Department released proposed Treasury Regulations which, if finalized in their present form, would eliminate the FATCA withholding on payments of such gross proceeds. Taxpayers generally may rely on these proposed Treasury Regulations until final Treasury Regulations are issued. Prospective investors should consult their tax advisors regarding FATCA.

Statement of Share Ownership

We are required to demand annual written statements from the record holders of designated percentages of our common stock disclosing the actual owners of the shares of common stock. Any record stockholder who, upon our request, does not provide us with required information concerning actual ownership of the shares of common stock is required to include specified information relating to his shares of common stock in his U.S. federal income tax return. We also must maintain, within the Internal Revenue District in which we are required to file our U.S. federal income tax return, permanent records showing the information we have received about the actual ownership of our common stock and a list of those persons failing or refusing to comply with our demand.

Federal Income Tax Aspects of the Operating Partnership

The following discussion summarizes certain federal income tax considerations applicable to our investment in the Operating Partnership. The discussion does not cover state or local tax laws or any federal tax laws other than income tax laws.

Classification as a Partnership

We will be entitled to include in our income a distributive share of the Operating Partnership’s income and to deduct our distributive share of the Operating Partnership’s losses only if the Operating Partnership is classified for federal income tax purposes as a partnership, rather than as a corporation or an association taxable as a corporation. Under applicable Treasury Regulations, which we refer to as the “Check-the-Box-Regulations,” an unincorporated domestic entity with at least two members may elect to be classified either as an association taxable as a corporation or as a partnership. If the entity fails to make an election, it generally will be treated as a partnership for federal income tax purposes. The Operating Partnership intends to be classified as a partnership for federal income tax purposes and will not elect to be treated as an association taxable as a corporation under the Check-the-Box-Regulations.

Even though the Operating Partnership will not elect to be treated as an association for Federal income tax purposes, it may be taxed as a corporation if it is deemed to be a “publicly traded partnership.” A publicly traded partnership is a partnership whose interests are traded on an established securities market or are readily tradable on a secondary market or the substantial equivalent thereof. Under applicable Treasury Regulations, which we refer to as the “PTP Regulations,” limited safe harbors from the definition of a publicly traded partnership are provided. Pursuant to one of those safe harbors, which we refer to as the “Private Placement Exclusion,” interests in a partnership will not be treated as readily tradable on a secondary market or the substantial equivalent thereof if (i) all interests in the partnership were issued in a transaction (or transactions) that were not required to be registered under the Securities Act and (ii) the partnership does not have more than 100 partners at any time during the partnership’s taxable year. In determining the number of partners in a partnership, a person owning an interest in a flow-through entity (including a partnership, grantor trust or S corporation) that owns an interest in the partnership is treated as a partner in such partnership only if (a) substantially all of the value of the owner’s interest in the flow-through entity is attributable to the flow-through entity’s direct or indirect interest in the partnership, and (b) a principal purpose of the use of the flow-through entity is to permit the partnership to satisfy the 100 partner limitation. We and the Operating Partnership believe and currently intend to take the position that the Operating Partnership should not be classified as a publicly traded partnership because (i) OP Units are not traded on an established securities market, and (ii) OP Units should not be considered readily tradable on a secondary market or the substantial equivalent thereof. In addition, the Operating Partnership presently qualifies for the Private Placement Exclusion.

Even if the Operating Partnership were considered a publicly traded partnership under the PTP Regulations, the Operating Partnership should not be treated as a corporation for Federal income tax purposes as long as 90% or more of its gross income consists of “qualifying income” under section 7704(d) of the Code. In general, qualifying income includes interest, dividends, real property rents (as defined by section 856 of the Code) and gain from the sale or disposition of real property. If the Operating Partnership were characterized as a publicly traded partnership even if it were not taxable as a corporation because of the qualifying income exception, however, holders of OP Units would be subject to special rules under section 469 of the Code. Under such rules, each holder of OP Units would be required to treat any loss derived from the Operating Partnership separately from any income or loss derived from any other publicly traded partnership, as well as from income or loss derived from other passive activities. In such case, any net losses or credits attributable to the Operating Partnership which are carried forward may only be offset against future income of the Operating Partnership. Moreover, unlike other passive activity losses, suspended losses attributable to the Operating Partnership would only be allowed upon the complete disposition of the OP Unit holder’s “entire interest” in the Operating Partnership.

We have not requested, and do not intend to request, a ruling from the Internal Revenue Service that the Operating Partnership will be classified as a partnership for federal income tax purposes.

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If for any reason the Operating Partnership were taxable as a corporation, rather than a partnership, for federal income tax purposes, we would not be able to qualify as a REIT, unless we are eligible for relief from the violation pursuant to relief provisions described above. See “—Requirements for Qualification as a REIT—Organizational Requirements” and “—Requirements for Qualification as a REIT—Operational Requirements—Asset Tests,” above, for discussion of the effect of the failure to satisfy the REIT tests for a taxable year, and of the relief provisions. In addition, any change in the Operating Partnership’s status for tax purposes might be treated as a taxable event, in which case we might incur a tax liability without any related cash distribution. Further, items of income and deduction of the Operating Partnership would not pass through to its partners, and its partners would be treated as stockholders for tax purposes. The Operating Partnership would be required to pay income tax at corporate tax rates on its net income, and distributions to its partners would constitute distributions that would not be deductible in computing the Operating Partnership’s taxable income.

Income Taxation of the Operating Partnership and its Partners

Partners, Not Operating Partnership, Subject to Tax. A partnership is not a taxable entity for federal income tax purposes. As a partner in the Operating Partnership, we will be required to take into account our allocable share of the Operating Partnership’s income, gains, losses, deductions, and credits for any taxable year of the Operating Partnership ending within or with our taxable year, without regard to whether we have received or will receive any distributions from the Operating Partnership.

Operating Partnership Allocations. Although a partnership agreement generally determines the allocation of income and losses among partners, such allocations will be disregarded for tax purposes under section 704(b) of the Code if they do not comply with the provisions of section 704(b) of the Code and the Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder. If an allocation is not recognized for federal income tax purposes, the item subject to the allocation will be reallocated in accordance with the partner’s interests in the partnership, which will be determined by taking into account all of the facts and circumstances relating to the economic arrangement of the partners with respect to such item. The Operating Partnership’s allocations of taxable income and loss are intended to comply with the requirements of section 704(b) of the Code and the Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder.

Tax Allocations With Respect to Contributed Properties. Pursuant to section 704(c) of the Code, income, gain, loss, and deduction attributable to appreciated or depreciated property that is contributed to a partnership in exchange for an interest in the partnership must be allocated for federal income tax purposes in a manner such that the contributor is charged with, or benefits from, the unrealized gain or unrealized loss associated with the property at the time of the contribution. The amount of unrealized gain or unrealized loss is generally equal to the difference between the fair market value of the contributed property at the time of contribution and the adjusted tax basis of such property at the time of contribution. Under applicable Treasury Regulations, partnerships are required to use a “reasonable method” for allocating items subject to section 704(c) of the Code, and several reasonable allocation methods are described therein.

Under the Operating Partnership Agreement, subject to exceptions applicable to the special limited partnership interests, depreciation or amortization deductions of the Operating Partnership generally will be allocated among the partners in accordance with their respective interests in the Operating Partnership, except to the extent that the Operating Partnership is required under section 704(c) to use a different method for allocating depreciation deductions attributable to its properties. In addition, gain or loss on the sale of a property that has been contributed to the Operating Partnership will be specially allocated to the contributing partner to the extent of any built-in gain or loss with respect to the property for federal income tax purposes. It is possible that we may (1) be allocated lower amounts of depreciation deductions for tax purposes with respect to contributed properties than would be allocated to us if each such property were to have a tax basis equal to its fair market value at the time of contribution, and (2) be allocated taxable gain in the event of a sale of such contributed properties in excess of the economic profit allocated to us as a result of such sale. These allocations may cause us to recognize taxable income in excess of cash proceeds received by us, which might adversely affect our ability to comply with the REIT distribution requirements, although we do not anticipate that this event will occur. The foregoing principles also will affect the calculation of our earnings and profits for purposes of determining the portion of our distributions that are taxable as a distribution. The allocations described in this paragraph may result in a higher portion of our distributions being taxed as a dividend than would have occurred had we purchased such properties for cash.

Basis in Operating Partnership Interest. The adjusted tax basis of our partnership interest in the Operating Partnership generally will be equal to (1) the amount of cash and the basis of any other property contributed to the Operating Partnership by us, (2) increased by (A) our allocable share of the Operating Partnership’s income and (B) our allocable share of indebtedness of the Operating Partnership, and (3) reduced, but not below zero, by (A) our allocable share of the Operating Partnership’s loss and (B) the amount of cash distributed to us, including constructive cash distributions resulting from a reduction in our share of indebtedness of the Operating Partnership. If the allocation of our distributive share of the Operating Partnership’s loss would reduce the adjusted tax basis of our partnership interest in the Operating Partnership below zero, the recognition of the loss will be deferred until such time as the recognition of the loss would not reduce our adjusted tax basis below zero. If a distribution from the Operating Partnership or a reduction in our share of the Operating Partnership’s liabilities would reduce our adjusted tax basis below zero, that distribution, including a constructive distribution, will constitute taxable income to us. The gain realized by us upon the receipt of any such distribution or constructive distribution would normally be characterized as capital gain, and if our partnership interest in the Operating Partnership has been held for longer than the long-term capital gain holding period (currently one year), the distribution would constitute long-term capital gain.

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Depreciation Deductions Available to the Operating Partnership. The Operating Partnership will use a portion of contributions we make from net offering proceeds to acquire interests in properties and securities. To the extent that the Operating Partnership acquires properties or securities for cash, the Operating Partnership’s initial basis in such properties for federal income tax purposes generally will be equal to the purchase price paid by the Operating Partnership. The Operating Partnership expects to depreciate each depreciable property for federal income tax purposes under the alternative depreciation system of depreciation, which we refer to as “ADS.” To the extent that the Operating Partnership acquires properties in exchange for units of the Operating Partnership, the Operating Partnership’s initial basis in each such property for federal income tax purposes should be the same as the transferor’s basis in that property on the date of acquisition by the Operating Partnership. Although the law is not entirely clear, the Operating Partnership generally intends to depreciate such depreciable property for federal income tax purposes over the same remaining useful lives and under the same methods used by the transferors.

Operating Partnership’s Deductibility of Business Interest. As discussed above in, “—Limitation on Deductibility of Business Interest,” the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act generally limits a taxpayer’s net interest expense deduction to 30% of the sum of adjusted taxable income, business interest, and certain other amounts. For partnerships, the interest deduction limit is applied at the partnership level, subject to certain adjustments to the partners for the unused deduction limitation at the partnership level. Disallowed interest expense is carried forward indefinitely (subject to special rules for partnerships). The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act allows a real property trade or business to elect out of this interest limit so long as it uses a 40-year recovery period for nonresidential real property, a 30-year recovery period for residential rental property, and a 20-year recovery period for related improvements.

Sale of the Operating Partnership’s Property. Generally, any gain realized by the Operating Partnership on the sale of property held for more than one year will be long-term capital gain, except for any portion of such gain that is treated as depreciation or cost recovery recapture.

Partnership Audit Rules. Effective for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2017, any audit adjustment to items of income, gain, loss, deduction, or credit of a partnership (and any partner’s distributive share thereof) is determined, and taxes, interest, or penalties attributable thereto are assessed and collected, at the partnership level. Such audit adjustment may result in partnerships in which we directly or indirectly invest being required to pay additional taxes, interest and penalties as a result of such adjustment, and we, as a direct or indirect partner of these partnerships, could be required to bear the economic burden of those taxes, interest, and penalties even though we, as a REIT, may not otherwise have been required to pay additional corporate-level taxes as a result of the related audit adjustment.

Prohibited Transaction Rules. A REIT will incur a 100% penalty tax on the net income derived from a sale or other disposition of property, other than foreclosure property, that the REIT holds primarily for sale to customers in the ordinary course of a trade or business, which we refer to as a “prohibited transaction.” Under a safe harbor provision in the Code, a REIT may sell certain real property without being subject to the prohibited transaction tax if, among other things, the REIT held the real property for the production of rental income for at least two years prior to the disposition. We, however, do not presently intend to acquire or hold or allow the Operating Partnership to acquire or hold any property that represents inventory or other property held primarily for sale to customers in the ordinary course of our or the Operating Partnership’s trade or business.

Other Tax Considerations

Legislative or Other Actions Affecting REITs

The rules dealing with federal income taxation are constantly under review by persons involved in the legislative process and by the IRS and the U.S. Treasury Department. Changes to the federal tax laws and interpretations thereof could adversely affect an investment in our stock.

State, Local and Foreign Taxes

We and our subsidiaries and stockholders may be subject to state, local or foreign taxation in various jurisdictions including those in which we or they transact business, own property or reside. We may own properties located in numerous jurisdictions, and may be required to file tax returns in some or all of those jurisdictions. Our state, local or foreign tax treatment and that of our stockholders may not conform to the federal income tax treatment discussed above. We may pay foreign property taxes, and dispositions of foreign property or operations involving, or investments in, foreign property may give rise to foreign income or other tax liability in amounts that could be substantial. Any foreign taxes that we incur do not pass through to stockholders as a credit against their U.S. federal income tax liability. Prospective investors should consult their tax advisors regarding the application and effect of state, local and foreign income and other tax laws on an investment in our stock.

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ERISA CONSIDERATIONS

The following is a summary of some non-tax considerations associated with an investment in shares of our common stock by a qualified employee pension benefit plan or an IRA or by an entity that includes such assets. This summary is based on provisions of ERISA and the Code, as amended through the date of this prospectus, and relevant regulations and opinions issued by the Department of Labor and the Internal Revenue Service. We cannot assure you that adverse tax decisions or legislative, regulatory or administrative changes which would significantly modify the statements expressed herein will not occur. Any such changes may or may not apply to transactions entered into prior to the date of their enactment. Each fiduciary of an employee pension benefit plan subject to ERISA, such as a profit sharing, section 401(k) or pension plan, or of any other retirement plan or account subject to Section 4975 of the Code, such as an IRA, or any entity that includes such assets, which we refer to collectively as the “Benefit Plans,” seeking to invest plan assets in shares of our common stock must, taking into account the facts and circumstances of such Benefit Plan, consider, among other matters:

whether the investment is consistent with the applicable provisions of ERISA and the Code;
whether, under the facts and circumstances attendant to the Benefit Plan in question, the fiduciary’s responsibility to the plan has been satisfied;
whether the investment will produce UBTI to the Benefit Plan (see “Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations—Treatment of Tax-Exempt Stockholders”); and
the need to value the assets of the Benefit Plan annually.

Under ERISA, a plan fiduciary’s responsibilities include the following duties:

to act solely in the interest of plan participants and beneficiaries and for the exclusive purpose of providing benefits to them, as well as defraying reasonable expenses of plan administration;
to invest plan assets prudently;
to diversify the investments of the plan unless it is clearly prudent not to do so;
to ensure sufficient liquidity for the plan; and
to consider whether an investment would constitute or give rise to a prohibited transaction under ERISA or the Code.

ERISA also requires that the assets of an employee benefit plan be held in trust and that the trustee, or a duly authorized named fiduciary or investment manager, have exclusive authority and discretion to manage and control the assets of the plan. Section 406 of ERISA and Section 4975 of the Code prohibit specified transactions involving the assets of a Benefit Plan which are between the plan and any “party in interest” or “disqualified person” with respect to that Benefit Plan. These transactions are prohibited regardless of how beneficial they may be for the Benefit Plan. Prohibited transactions include the sale, exchange or leasing of property, the lending of money or the extension of credit between a Benefit Plan and a party in interest or disqualified person, and the transfer to, or use by, or for the benefit of, a party in interest, or disqualified person, of any assets of a Benefit Plan. A fiduciary of a Benefit Plan also is prohibited from engaging in self-dealing, acting for a person who has an interest adverse to the plan or receiving any consideration for its own account from a party dealing with the plan in a transaction involving plan assets.

All investors, including Benefit Plan fiduciaries, should be aware that neither the Company, the Advisor, the Sponsor, the Dealer Manager nor any of their respective officers, directors, employees and affiliates is undertaking to provide impartial investment advice or to give advice in a fiduciary capacity in connection with the offering or purchase of our common stock and that the Advisor and the Dealer Manager have financial interests associated with the purchase of our common stock, including the fees, expense reimbursements and other payments and distributions they anticipate receiving from the Company in connection with the purchase of our common stock.

Plan Asset Considerations

In order to determine whether an investment in shares of our common stock by Benefit Plans creates or gives rise to the potential for either prohibited transactions or the commingling of assets referred to above, a fiduciary must consider whether an investment in shares of our common stock will cause our assets to be treated as assets of the investing Benefit Plans. U.S. Department of Labor Regulations provide guidelines as to whether, and under what circumstances, the underlying assets of an entity will be deemed to constitute assets of a Benefit Plan when the plan invests in that entity, which we refer to as the “Plan Assets Regulation.” Under the Plan Assets Regulation, the assets of corporations, partnerships or other entities in which a Benefit Plan makes an equity investment will generally be deemed to be assets of the Benefit Plan unless the entity satisfies one of the exceptions to this general “look-through” rule.

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In the event that our underlying assets were treated by the Department of Labor as the assets of investing Benefit Plans, our management would be treated as fiduciaries with respect to each Benefit Plan stockholder, and an investment in shares of our common stock might constitute an ineffective delegation of fiduciary responsibility to the Advisor, and expose the fiduciary of the Benefit Plan to co-fiduciary liability under ERISA for any breach by the Advisor of the fiduciary duties mandated under ERISA.

If the Advisor or affiliates of the Advisor were treated as fiduciaries with respect to Benefit Plan stockholders, the prohibited transaction restrictions of ERISA and the Code would apply to any transaction involving our assets. These restrictions could, for example, require that we avoid transactions with entities that are affiliated with us or our affiliates or restructure our activities in order to obtain an administrative exemption from the prohibited transaction restrictions. Alternatively, we might have to provide Benefit Plan stockholders with the opportunity to sell their shares of common stock to us or we might dissolve or terminate. If a prohibited transaction were to occur, the Code imposes an excise tax equal to 15% of the amount involved per year prior to correction and authorizes the IRS to impose an additional 100% excise tax if the prohibited transaction is not “corrected.” These taxes would be imposed on any disqualified person who participates in the prohibited transaction. In addition, the Advisor and possibly other fiduciaries of Benefit Plan stockholders subject to ERISA who permitted the prohibited transaction to occur or who otherwise breached their fiduciary responsibilities, or a non-fiduciary participating in a prohibited transaction, could be required to restore to the Benefit Plan any profits they realized as a result of the transaction or breach, and make good to the Benefit Plan any losses incurred by the Benefit Plan as a result of the transaction or breach. With respect to an IRA that invests in shares of our common stock, the occurrence of a prohibited transaction involving the individual who established the IRA, or his beneficiary, would cause the IRA to lose its tax-exempt status under Section 408(e)(2) of the Code and could also result in excise taxes with respect to an early “deemed distribution” of the IRA.

The Plan Assets Regulation provides that the underlying assets of an entity, including a REIT, will not be treated as assets of a Benefit Plan investing therein if the interest the Benefit Plan acquires is a “publicly offered security.” The definition of publicly offered securities requires that such securities be “widely held,” “freely transferable” and satisfy registration requirements under federal securities laws.

Under the Plan Assets Regulation, a class of securities will meet the registration requirements under federal securities laws if they are (1) part of a class of securities registered under section 12(b) or 12(g) of the Exchange Act or (2) part of an offering of securities to the public pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act and the class of securities of which such security is a part is registered under the Exchange Act within 120 days (or such later time as may be allowed by the Commission) after the end of the fiscal year of the issuer during which the offering of such securities to the public occurred. Our securities meet these registration requirements under the Plan Assets Regulation. Also under the Plan Assets Regulation, a class of securities will be “widely held” if it is held by 100 or more persons independent of the issuer. We believe that this requirement will be met with respect to Class T, Class S, Class D and Class I shares. Although all classes of our shares are intended to satisfy the registration requirements under this definition, and we expect that our securities will be “widely-held,” the “freely transferable” requirement must also be satisfied in order for us to qualify for the “publicly offered securities” exception.

Whether a security is “freely transferable” depends upon the particular facts and circumstances. Shares of our common stock are subject to certain restrictions on transferability, including restrictions intended to ensure that we continue to qualify for federal income tax treatment as a REIT and restrictions to comply with federal and state securities laws. The regulation provides, however, that where the minimum investment in a public offering of securities is $10,000 or less, the presence of a restriction on transferability intended to prohibit transfers which would result in (1) a termination or reclassification of the entity for state or federal tax purposes or (2) a violation of any state or federal statute or regulation, will not ordinarily affect a determination that such securities are freely transferable. The minimum investment in Class T, S and D shares of our common stock is less than $10,000; thus, the restrictions imposed in order to maintain our status as a REIT and to comply with federal and state securities laws should not cause the shares of common stock to be deemed not freely transferable. The minimum initial investment for Class I shares is $1,000,000, unless waived by us. However, each Class I share has a value substantially below $10,000 and, after they are purchased, such shares can be sold or otherwise disposed of in a block of any number of shares, provided that shares may be transferred in a manner that causes the transferor or transferee to own less than $2,000 in our shares. Because the Class I shares may be sold in amounts less than $10,000 after the initial purchase, and because there are no restrictions on who may purchase such shares after the initial purchase (subject to state securities laws and regulations), we believe the restrictions on these shares should also be disregarded in determining whether such shares are “freely transferable.” Although there can be no assurance that the freely transferable requirement will be met with respect to these classes of shares, we believe that these classes of shares should be treated as “freely transferable.”

Taking into account all of the relevant facts and circumstances, including those referred to in the preceding paragraph, and assuming that the offering takes place as described in this prospectus, we believe that shares of our common stock should constitute “publicly offered securities” and, accordingly, our underlying assets should not be considered “plan assets” under the Plan Assets Regulation. No assurance can be given, however, that the publicly offered securities exception will apply. If our underlying assets are not deemed to be “plan assets,” the issues discussed in the second and third paragraphs of this “Plan Assets Considerations” section are not expected to arise.

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Other Prohibited Transactions

Regardless of whether the shares of common stock qualify for the “publicly offered security” exception of the Plan Assets Regulation, a prohibited transaction could occur if we, the Advisor, any selected dealer or any of their affiliates is a fiduciary (within the meaning of Section 3(21) of ERISA) with respect to any Benefit Plan purchasing the shares of common stock. Accordingly, unless an administrative or statutory exemption applies, shares of common stock should not be purchased using assets of a Benefit Plan with respect to which any of the above persons is a fiduciary. A person is a fiduciary with respect to a Benefit Plan under Section 3(21) of ERISA if, among other things, the person has discretionary authority or control with respect to “plan assets” or provides investment advice for a fee with respect to “plan assets.” Under a regulation issued by the Department of Labor, a person shall be deemed to be providing investment advice if that person renders advice as to the advisability of investing in shares of our common stock and that person regularly provides investment advice to the Benefit Plan pursuant to a mutual agreement or understanding (written or otherwise) (1) that the advice will serve as the primary basis for investment decisions and (2) that the advice will be individualized for the Benefit Plan based on its particular needs.

Annual Valuation

A fiduciary of an employee benefit plan subject to ERISA is required to determine annually the fair market value of each asset of the plan as of the end of the plan’s fiscal year and to file a report reflecting that value with the Department of Labor. When the fair market value of any particular asset is not available, the fiduciary is required to make a good faith determination of that asset’s “fair market value” assuming an orderly liquidation at the time the determination is made. In addition, a trustee or custodian of an IRA must provide an IRA participant with a statement of the value of the IRA each year.

In discharging its obligation to value assets of a plan, a fiduciary subject to ERISA must act consistently with the relevant provisions of the plan and the general fiduciary standards of ERISA. It is not currently intended that the shares of our common stock will be listed on a national securities exchange, nor is it expected that a public market for the shares of common stock will develop. To date, neither the Internal Revenue Service nor the Department of Labor has promulgated regulations specifying how a plan fiduciary should determine the “fair market value” of the shares of our common stock, namely when the fair market value of the shares of common stock is not determined in the marketplace. Therefore, to assist fiduciaries in fulfilling their valuation and annual reporting responsibilities with respect to ownership of shares of common stock, we intend to provide reports of our annual determinations of the current value of our net assets per outstanding share to those fiduciaries (including IRA trustees and custodians) who identify themselves to us and request the reports. However, because the redemption of our common stock may be limited as to timing and as to the amount of shares of common stock that can be redeemed, you may not be able to realize the current NAV per share for your common stock at any given time. Accordingly, there can be no assurance that such determinations of current net asset value per share will satisfy the applicable annual valuation requirements under ERISA or the Code.

The foregoing requirements of ERISA and the Code are complex and subject to change. Plan fiduciaries and the beneficial owners of IRAs are urged to consult with their own advisors regarding an investment in our shares.

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PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

General

We are offering up to $7,500,000,000 of shares of our common stock pursuant to this prospectus on a “best efforts” basis through Ares Wealth Management Solutions, LLC, the Dealer Manager, a registered broker-dealer related to the Advisor. Because this is a “best efforts” offering, the Dealer Manager must only use its best efforts to sell the shares, which means that no underwriter, broker-dealer or other person will be obligated to purchase any shares. Our offering consists of up to $6,000,000,000 of shares of our common stock in our primary offering and up to $1,500,000,000 of shares of our common stock pursuant to our distribution reinvestment plan. We reserve the right to reallocate shares of common stock between our primary offering and our distribution reinvestment plan.

We are currently offering to the public four classes of shares of our common stock in our primary offering and pursuant to our distribution reinvestment plan: Class T shares, Class S shares, Class D shares and Class I shares. We are offering to sell any combination of the share classes being offered in this offering. All investors must meet the suitability standards discussed in the section of this prospectus entitled “Suitability Standards.” The share classes have different upfront selling commissions and dealer manager fees and different ongoing distribution fees.

Our Class T shares, Class S shares, Class D shares and Class I shares are available for different categories of investors. Class T and Class S shares are available to the general public. Class D shares are generally available for purchase in this offering only (1) through fee-based programs, also known as wrap accounts, that provide access to Class D shares, (2) through participating broker-dealers that have alternative fee arrangements with their clients to provide access to Class D shares, (3) through investment advisers that are registered under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 or applicable state law and direct clients to trade with a broker-dealer that offers Class D shares, (4) through bank trust departments or any other organization or person authorized to act in a fiduciary capacity for its clients or customers or (5) other categories of investors that we name in an amendment or supplement to this prospectus. Class I shares are available for purchase in this offering only (1) through fee-based programs, also known as wrap accounts, that provide access to Class I shares, (2) by institutional accounts as defined by FINRA Rule 4512(c), (3) through bank-sponsored collective trusts and bank-sponsored common trusts, (4) by retirement plans (including a trustee or custodian under any deferred compensation or pension or profit sharing plan or payroll deduction IRA established for the benefit of the employees of any company), foundations or endowments, (5) through certain financial intermediaries that are not otherwise registered with or as a broker-dealer and that direct clients to trade with a broker-dealer that offers Class I shares, (6) through investment advisers registered under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 or applicable state law that are also registered with or as a broker-dealer, whose broker-dealer does not receive any compensation from us or the Dealer Manager, (7) by our executive officers and directors and their immediate family members, as well as officers and employees of the Advisor or affiliates of the Advisor and their immediate family members, and, if approved by our board of directors, joint venture partners, consultants and other service providers, (8) by participating broker-dealers, including their registered representatives and immediate family members, (9) through bank trust departments or any other organization or person authorized to act as a fiduciary for its clients or customers and (10) by any other categories of purchasers that we name in an amendment or supplement to this prospectus. In particular, we intend to sell Class I shares to a bank-sponsored collective trust named The Trust Advisors Portfolios Program, Series Seven, Reliance Trust Real Estate Portfolio—Dividend Capital Focus. The trust presently intends to raise capital by selling units of interest in the trust, and to invest a substantial amount of the proceeds in our Class I shares. The trust is under no obligation to purchase any Class I shares.

If you are eligible to purchase more than one class of shares, you should consider, among other things, the amount of your investment, the length of time you intend to hold the shares, the upfront selling commissions, dealer manager fees and distribution fees attributable to the Class T, Class S, Class D or Class I shares and whether you qualify for any selling commission discounts described below. Before making your investment decision, please consult with your investment adviser regarding your account type and the classes of common stock you may be eligible to purchase. Neither the Dealer Manager nor its affiliates will directly or indirectly compensate any person engaged as an investment advisor or bank trust department by a potential investor as an inducement for such investment advisor or bank trust department to advise favorably for an investment in us.

The broker-dealers participating in the offering of shares of our common stock are not obligated to obtain any subscriptions on our behalf, and we cannot assure you that any shares of common stock will be sold. Although we expect that most sales will be made through participating broker-dealers, in certain situations the Dealer Manager may make sales without a participating broker-dealer. In addition, we may make issuer direct sales with respect to certain Class I shares purchased in this offering, including purchases by our executive officers and directors and their immediate family members, as well as officers and employees of the Advisor and its affiliates and certain institutional investors; this will not have any effect on the price they pay for their shares.

Pursuant to this prospectus, we are offering to the public all of the shares that we have registered. Although we have registered a fixed dollar amount of our shares, we intend effectively to conduct a continuous offering of an unlimited number of shares of our common stock over an unlimited time period by filing a new registration statement prior to the end of the three-year period described in Rule 415. In certain states, the registration of our offering may continue for only one year following the initial clearance by applicable state authorities, after which we will renew the offering period for additional one-year periods (or longer, if permitted by the laws of each particular state).

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We reserve the right to terminate this offering at any time and to extend our offering term to the extent permissible under applicable law.

Purchase of Shares

The per share purchase price for shares of our common stock will equal the then-current transaction price, which will generally be the most recently disclosed monthly NAV per share of the class of share being purchased, plus applicable upfront selling commissions and dealer manager fees. Although the price you pay for shares of our common stock will generally be based on the most recently disclosed monthly NAV per share, the NAV per share of such stock for the month in which you make your purchase may be significantly different. We may offer shares at a price that we believe reflects the NAV per share of such stock more appropriately than the most recently disclosed monthly NAV per share (including by updating a previously disclosed transaction price) or suspend our offering in cases where we believe there has been a material change (positive or negative) to our NAV per share relative to the most recently disclosed monthly NAV per share. Each class of shares may have a different NAV per share because distribution fees are charged differently with respect to each class. See “Net Asset Value Calculation and Valuation Guidelines” for more information about the calculation of NAV per share.

If you participate in our distribution reinvestment plan, the cash distributions attributable to the class of shares that you purchase in our primary offering will be automatically invested in additional shares of the same class. Shares are offered pursuant to our distribution reinvestment plan at the transaction price at the time the distribution is payable, which will generally be equal to our most recently disclosed monthly NAV per share for that share class.

We will generally adhere to the following procedures relating to purchases of shares of our common stock in this continuous offering:

On each business day, our transfer agent will collect purchase orders. Notwithstanding the submission of an initial purchase order, we can reject purchase orders for any reason, even if a prospective investor meets the minimum suitability requirements outlined in our prospectus. Investors may only purchase our common stock pursuant to accepted subscription orders as of the first calendar day of each month (based on the most recently disclosed monthly transaction price), and to be accepted, a subscription request must be made with a completed and executed subscription agreement in good order and payment of the full purchase price of our common stock being subscribed at least five business days prior to the first calendar day of the month. If a purchase order is received less than five business days prior to the first calendar day of the month, unless waived by the Dealer Manager or otherwise agreed to between the Dealer Manager and the applicable participating broker-dealer, the purchase order will be executed in the next month’s closing at the transaction price applicable to that month, plus applicable upfront selling commissions and dealer manager fees. As a result of this process, the price per share at which your order is executed may be different than the price per share for the month in which you submitted your purchase order.
Generally, within 15 calendar days after the last calendar day of each month, we will determine our NAV per share for each share class as of the last calendar day of the prior month, which will generally be the transaction price for the then-current month for such share class.
Completed subscription requests will not be accepted by us before the later of (i) two business days before the first calendar day of each month and (ii) three business days after we make the transaction price (including any subsequent revised transaction price in the circumstances described below) publicly available by posting it on our website and filing a prospectus supplement with the Commission.
Subscribers are not committed to purchase shares at the time their subscription orders are submitted and any subscription may be canceled at any time before the time it has been accepted as described in the previous sentence. You may withdraw your purchase request by notifying the transfer agent, through your financial intermediary or directly on our toll-free, automated telephone line, (888) 310-9352.
You will receive a confirmation statement of each new transaction in your account as soon as practicable but generally not later than seven business days after the stockholder transactions are settled. The confirmation statement will include information on how to obtain information we have filed with the Commission and made publicly available on our website, www.blackcreekgroup.com/investment-solutions/AREIT, including supplements to the prospectus.

Our transaction price will generally be based on our most recently disclosed monthly NAV. Our NAV may vary significantly from one month to the next. Through our website at www.blackcreekgroup.com/investment-solutions/AREIT and prospectus supplement filings, you will have information about the transaction price and NAV per share. We may set a transaction price that we believe reflects the NAV per share of our stock more appropriately than the most recently disclosed monthly NAV per share (including by updating a previously disclosed transaction price) or suspend our offering in cases where we believe there has been a material change (positive or

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negative) to our NAV per share relative to the most recently disclosed monthly NAV per share. If the transaction price is not made available on or before the eighth business day before the first calendar day of the month (which is six business days before the earliest date we may accept subscriptions), or a previously disclosed transaction price for that month is changed, then we will provide notice of such transaction price (and the first day on which we may accept subscriptions) directly to subscribing investors when such transaction price is made available.

In contrast to securities traded on an exchange or over-the-counter, where the price often fluctuates as a result of, among other things, the supply and demand of securities in the trading market, our NAV will be calculated once monthly using our valuation methodology, and the price at which we sell new shares and redeem outstanding shares will not change depending on the level of demand by investors or the volume of redemption requests.

Frequent Trading Policies

We may reject for any reason, or cancel as permitted or required by law, any subscriptions for shares of our common stock.

For example, we may reject any subscriptions from market timers or investors that, in our opinion, may be disruptive to our operations. Frequent purchases and sales of our shares can harm stockholders in various ways, including reducing the returns to long-term stockholders by increasing our costs, disrupting portfolio management strategies and diluting the value of the shares of long-term stockholders. Among other things, the following activities may be considered by us to be frequent trading:

any stockholder who redeems their shares of our common stock within 30 calendar days of the purchase of such shares;
transactions deemed harmful or excessive by us (including but not limited to patterns of purchases and redemptions), in our sole discretion; and
transactions initiated by financial advisors, among multiple stockholder accounts, that in the aggregate are deemed harmful or excessive.

Underwriting Compensation

We have entered into a dealer manager agreement with the Dealer Manager, pursuant to which the Dealer Manager agrees to, among other things, manage our relationships with third-party broker-dealers engaged by the Dealer Manager to participate in the distribution of shares of our common stock, which we refer to as “participating broker-dealers,” and financial advisors. The Dealer Manager also coordinates our marketing and distribution efforts with participating broker-dealers and their registered representatives with respect to communications related to the terms of the offering, our investment strategies, material aspects of our operations and subscription procedures. We will not pay referral or similar fees to any accountants, attorneys or other persons in connection with the distribution of our shares.

Summary

The following table shows the upfront selling commissions and dealer manager fees payable at the time you subscribe for Class T, Class S, Class D or Class I shares.

    

Maximum Upfront
Selling Commissions
as a % of
Transaction Price

    

Maximum Upfront
Dealer Manager
Fees as a % of
Transaction Price

 

Class T shares

up to 3.00%*

up to 1.50%*

Class S shares

up to 3.50%

 

None

Class D shares

None

None

Class I shares

None

None


*

The sum of upfront selling commissions and upfront dealer manager fees on Class T shares may not exceed 3.5% of the transaction price.

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The following table shows the distribution fees we will pay the Dealer Manager with respect to the Class T, Class S, Class D and Class I shares on an annualized basis as a percentage of our NAV for such class. The distribution fees will be paid monthly in arrears.

    

Distribution
Fee as a % of NAV

 

Class T shares (1)

0.85 

%

Class S shares

0.85 

%

Class D shares

0.25 

%

Class I shares

None


(1) Consists of an advisor distribution fee and a dealer distribution fee. We expect that generally the advisor distribution fee will equal 0.65% per annum and the dealer distribution fee will equal 0.20% per annum, of the aggregate NAV for each Class T share. However, with respect to certain Class T shares, the advisor distribution fee and the dealer distribution fee may be other amounts, provided that the sum of such fees will always equal 0.85% per annum of the NAV of such shares.

In certain circumstances, the Dealer Manager may pay certain supplemental fees or commissions in connection with the sale of shares in this offering as described below under “—Supplemental Fees and Commissions.”

Upfront Selling Commissions and Dealer Manager Fees

Class T and Class S shares. Subject to any discounts described below, the Dealer Manager will be entitled to receive upfront selling commissions of up to 3.0%, and dealer manager fees of up to 1.5%, of the transaction price per share of each Class T share sold in the primary offering; provided, however, that the sum of upfront selling commissions and upfront dealer manager fees will not exceed 3.5% of the transaction price. Subject to any discounts described below, the Dealer Manager will be entitled to receive upfront selling commissions of up to 3.5% of the transaction price of each Class S share sold in the primary offering. The Dealer Manager anticipates that all or a portion of the upfront selling commissions and dealer manager fees will be retained by, or reallowed (paid) to, participating broker-dealers.

Investors who purchase $150,000 or more in Class T or Class S shares from the same broker-dealer, whether in a single purchase or as the result of multiple purchases, may be eligible, depending on the policies of their participating broker-dealer, for volume discounts on the upfront selling commissions. The Dealer Manager and any participating broker-dealers that offer volume discounts to their clients and their registered representatives will be responsible for implementing the volume discounts. The net offering proceeds we receive will not be affected by any reduction of upfront selling commissions. Certain participating broker-dealers may elect not to offer volume discounts to their clients.

The following table illustrates the various discount levels that may be offered for Class T and Class S shares purchased in the primary offering:

Your Investment

    

Upfront Selling
Commissions
as a % of
Transaction Price
of Class S Share

    

Upfront Selling
Commissions
as a % of
Transaction Price
of Class T Share

 

Up to $149,999.99

3.50 

%  

3.00 

%

$150,000 to $499,999.99

3.00 

%  

2.50 

%

$500,000 to $999,999.99

2.50 

%  

2.00 

%

$1,000,000 and up

2.00 

%  

1.50 

%

If you qualify for a volume discount as the result of multiple purchases of our Class T or Class S shares, you will receive the benefit of the applicable volume discount for the individual purchase which qualified you for the volume discount, but you will not be entitled to the benefit for prior purchases. Additionally, once you qualify for a volume discount, you will receive the benefit for subsequent purchases through the same participating broker-dealer. For this purpose, if you purchase Class T or Class S shares issued and sold in this offering you will receive the benefit of such Class T or Class S share purchases in connection with qualifying for volume discounts in our subsequent offerings through the same participating broker-dealer.

For purposes of qualifying for a volume discount as the result of multiple purchases of shares, only an individual or entity with the same social security number or taxpayer identification number, as applicable may combine their purchases as a “single purchaser”; provided that, certain participating broker-dealers may also combine purchases by an individual investor and his or her spouse living in the same household as a “single purchaser” for purposes of determining the applicable volume discount.

Requests to combine purchase orders of Class T or Class S shares as a part of a combined order for the purpose of qualifying for discounts or fee waivers must be made in writing by the broker-dealer, and any resulting reduction in upfront selling commissions will be

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prorated among the separate subscribers. As with discounts provided to other purchasers, the net proceeds we receive from the sale of shares will not be affected by discounts provided as a result of a combined order.

In addition, we will not pay selling commissions or dealer manager fees with respect to sales of Class T or S shares through either of the following distribution channels: (1) through fee-based programs, also known as wrap accounts or (2) through investment advisers registered under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 or applicable state law.

Your ability to receive a discount or fee waiver based on combining orders or otherwise may depend on the financial advisor or broker-dealer through which you purchase your Class T or Class S shares. An investor qualifying for a discount will receive a higher percentage return on his or her investment than investors who do not qualify for such discount. Accordingly, you should consult with your financial advisor about the ability to receive such discounts or fee waivers before purchasing Class T or Class S shares.

Any discounts or fee waivers will reduce the purchase price per Class T or Class S share, as applicable, and thereby allow the purchase of additional shares for the same investment amount. However, discounts or fee waivers may have the effect of lengthening the period of time such shares are subject to distribution fees, as lower upfront selling commissions or dealer manager fees will lengthen the amount of time it takes to reach the conversion thresholds described below under “Distribution Fees.”

Class D and Class I shares. No upfront selling commissions will be paid with respect to Class D and Class I shares sold in this offering.

We do not pay selling commissions on shares sold pursuant to our distribution reinvestment plan.

Distribution Fees

Class T, Class S and Class D Shares

Subject to FINRA limitations on underwriting compensation and certain other limitations described below, we will pay the Dealer Manager a distribution fee (i) with respect to our outstanding Class T shares equal to 0.85% per annum of the aggregate NAV of our outstanding Class T shares, consisting of an advisor distribution fee and a dealer distribution fee, which we generally expect will equal 0.65% per annum and 0.20% per annum, respectively, of the aggregate NAV for the Class T shares, provided, however, that with respect to certain Class T shares, the advisor distribution fee and the dealer distribution fee may be other amounts, provided that the sum of such fees will always equal 0.85% per annum of the NAV of such shares, (ii) with respect to our outstanding Class S shares equal to 0.85% per annum of the aggregate NAV of our outstanding Class S shares and (iii) with respect to our outstanding Class D shares equal to 0.25% per annum of the aggregate NAV of our outstanding Class D shares.

The distribution fees will be paid monthly in arrears. The Dealer Manager will reallow (pay) or advance all or a portion of the distribution fees to participating broker-dealers and servicing broker-dealers as described below. Because the distribution fees with respect to the shares are calculated based on the aggregate NAV for all of the outstanding shares of each such class, it reduces the NAV with respect to all shares of each such class, including shares issued under our distribution reinvestment plan.

Eligibility to receive the distribution fee with respect to any Class T, Class S or Class D share is conditioned on a broker-dealer acting as the broker-dealer of record or acting as a servicing broker-dealer with respect to such share. If the applicable broker-dealer is not eligible to receive the distribution fee, the Dealer Manager will rebate to us the distribution fee that such broker-dealer would have otherwise been eligible to receive; provided, however, that the Dealer Manager shall retain the distribution fees to the extent that it has not recouped the total amount of distribution fees advanced by the Dealer Manager or to the extent that it serves as the broker-dealer of record in connection with any of the shares sold in this offering. The distribution fees are ongoing fees that are not paid at the time of purchase.

We will cease paying the distribution fees with respect to individual Class T, Class S and Class D shares when they are no longer outstanding, including as a result of conversion to Class I shares. Each Class T, Class S or Class D share held within a stockholder’s account shall automatically and without any action on the part of the holder thereof convert into a number of Class I shares at the Applicable Conversion Rate (as defined below) on the earliest of (a) a listing of any shares of our common stock on a national securities exchange, (b) our merger or consolidation with or into another entity, or the sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of our assets and (c) the end of the month in which the Dealer Manager in conjunction with our transfer agent determines that the total upfront selling commissions, upfront dealer manager fees and ongoing distribution fees paid with respect to all shares of such class held by such stockholder within such account (including shares purchased through a distribution reinvestment plan or received as stock dividends) equals or exceeds 8.75% (or a lower limit set forth in any applicable agreement between the Dealer Manager and a participating broker-dealer, provided that the Dealer Manager advises our transfer agent of the lower limit in writing) of the aggregate purchase price of all shares of such class held by such stockholder within such account and purchased in a primary offering (i.e., an offering other than a distribution reinvestment plan).

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In addition, after termination of a primary offering registered under the Securities Act, we will cease paying the distribution fees with respect to each Class T, Class S or Class D share sold in that primary offering, each Class T, Class S or Class D share sold under a distribution reinvestment plan pursuant to the same registration statement that was used for that primary offering, and each Class T, Class S or Class D share received as a stock dividend with respect to such shares sold in such primary offering or distribution reinvestment plan, on the date when, we, with the assistance of the Dealer Manager, determine that all underwriting compensation paid or incurred with respect to the offerings covered by that registered statement from all sources, determined pursuant to the rules and guidance of FINRA, would be in excess of 10% of the aggregate purchase price of all shares sold for the account of the Company through that primary offering. Further, each such share shall automatically and without any action on the part of the holder thereof convert into a number of Class I shares at the Applicable Conversion Rate at the end of the month in which such determination is made.

As used above, the “Applicable Conversion Rate” means (a) with respect to Class T shares, a ratio whereby the numerator is the most recently disclosed monthly Class T NAV per share and the denominator is the most recently disclosed monthly Class I NAV per share, (b) with respect to Class S shares, a ratio whereby the numerator is the most recently disclosed monthly Class S NAV per share and the denominator is the most recently disclosed monthly Class I NAV per share, and (c) with respect to Class D shares, a ratio whereby the numerator is the most recently disclosed monthly Class D NAV per share and the denominator is the most recently disclosed monthly Class I NAV per share. For each class of shares, the NAV per share shall be calculated as described in the most recent valuation procedures approved by our board of directors. Because we currently expect to allocate ongoing distribution fee expenses to our Class T, Class S and Class D shares through their distributions, and not through their NAV per share, we currently expect the Applicable Conversion Rate to remain 1:1 for our Class T, Class S and Class D shares.

Supplemental Fees and Commissions

In addition to the fees and commissions described above, the Dealer Manager may elect to pay supplemental fees or commissions to participating broker-dealers and servicing broker-dealers with respect to shares sold in the primary offering. If such supplemental fees or commissions are paid with respect to an investment, the investor will be notified through disclosure on the subscription agreement. Such supplemental fees or commissions may be paid at the time of sale or over time. Any such supplemental fees and commissions will be considered underwriting compensation subject to the 10% underwriting compensation limit described below and will not be reimbursed by us, but may be reimbursed by the Advisor. Assuming that we sell the maximum primary offering in equal dollar amounts of each class offered, we do not expect such supplemental fees and commissions to exceed $6.0 million.

Other Compensation

We also pay directly, or reimburse the Advisor and the Dealer Manager if they pay on our behalf, any issuer organization and offering expenses (meaning organization and offering expenses other than underwriting compensation) as and when incurred. These expenses may include reimbursements for the bona fide due diligence expenses of participating broker-dealers, supported by detailed and itemized invoices, and similar diligence expenses of investment advisers. We may also pay directly, or reimburse the Advisor and the Dealer Manager if they pay on our behalf, certain underwriting compensation expenses, including legal fees of the Dealer Manager, costs reimbursement for registered representatives of participating broker-dealers to attend educational conferences sponsored by us or the Dealer Manager, attendance fees for registered persons associated with the Dealer Manager to attend seminars conducted by participating broker-dealers, reimbursement of broker-dealers for technology costs and expenses associated with the offering and costs and expenses associated with the facilitation of the marketing of our shares and ownership of our shares by their participating customers, and promotional items.

In addition, the Advisor may pay the Dealer Manager, without reimbursement by us, additional amounts in order to fund certain of the Dealer Manager’s costs and expenses related to the distribution of the offering, including compensation of certain registered employees of the Dealer Manager, reimbursements for customary travel, lodging, meals and reasonable entertainment expenses and other actual costs of registered persons associated with the Dealer Manager incurred in the performance of wholesaling activities, as well as supplemental fees and commissions paid by the Dealer Manager with respect to sales of shares described above. Such payments will be considered underwriting compensation subject to the 10% underwriting compensation limit described below. Assuming that we sell the maximum primary offering in equal dollar amounts of each class offered, we do not expect such payments to exceed $34.8 million (including payments to reimburse the Dealer Manager for payments of any supplemental fees or commissions in connection with the sale of shares that are not reimbursable by us, as described above in “—Supplemental Fees and Commissions”).

Limitations on Underwriting Compensation

The Dealer Manager will monitor the aggregate amount of underwriting compensation that we and the Advisor pay in connection with this offering in order to ensure we comply with the underwriting compensation limits of applicable FINRA rules. FINRA rules also limit our total organization and offering expenses (including upfront selling commissions, bona fide due diligence expenses and other underwriting compensation) to 15% of our gross offering proceeds from this offering. After the termination of the primary offering and again after termination of the offering under our distribution reinvestment plan, the Advisor has agreed to reimburse us to the extent that total cumulative organization and offering expenses (including selling commissions, the dealer manager fee, the distribution fee and any additional underwriting compensation) that we incur exceed 15% of our gross proceeds from the applicable offering.

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The following table assumes that (1) we sell the maximum primary offering amount, (2) 1/6 of primary offering gross proceeds come from sales of Class T shares, 1/6 of primary offering gross proceeds come from sales of Class S shares, 1/3 of primary offering gross proceeds come from sales of Class D shares and 1/3 of primary offering gross proceeds come from sales of Class I shares, (3) no shares are reallocated between the primary offering and the distribution reinvestment plan, and (4) all Class T and Class S shares are sold with the highest possible upfront selling commissions and dealer manager fees. The table does not give effect to any shares issued pursuant to our distribution reinvestment plan. The following table also assumes that we will cease paying distribution fees with respect to any Class T, Class S and Class D shares after the time the total upfront selling commissions, dealer manager fees and distribution fees with respect to such Class T, Class S and Class D share reach 8.75% of the gross proceeds from the primary offering of such Class T, Class S or Class D share.

Maximum Estimated Underwriting Fees and Expenses

At Maximum Primary Offering of $6,000,000,000

Upfront selling commissions and dealer manager fees

$

101,449,000

1.7

%

Supplemental fees and commissions

$

6,000,000

0.1

%

Distribution fees(1)

$

248,551,000

4.2

%

Wholesaling compensation allocations(2)

$

79,698,000

1.3

%

Reimbursements related to retail activities(3)

$

1,093,000

-

%

Reimbursements for wholesaling activities(4)

$

1,628,000

-

%

Legal fees allocable to the Dealer Manager

$

105,000

-

%

Promotional items

$

60,000

-

%

Total

$

438,584,000

7.3

%


(1) We will pay the Dealer Manager a distribution fee with respect to our outstanding Class T, Class S and Class D shares as described above under “Distribution FeesClass T, Class S and Class D shares.” The numbers presented reflect that distribution fees are paid over a number of years, and as a result, will cumulatively increase above the per annum percentage amounts over time. The Dealer Manager will reallow (pay) or advance all or a portion of the distribution fee to participating broker-dealers and servicing broker-dealers with respect to such shares, and will rebate distribution fees to us to the extent a broker-dealer is not eligible to receive it, provided, however, that the Dealer Manager shall retain the distribution fees to the extent that it has not recouped the total amount of distribution fees advanced by the Dealer Manager or to the extent that it acts as the broker-dealer of record in connection with any of the shares sold in this offering. The distribution fees are ongoing fees that are not paid at the time of purchase.
(2) Represents the estimated amount of non-transaction based and transaction-based compensation of the Dealer Manager’s employees engaged in the distribution of this offering that will be allocated to this offering under applicable FINRA rules. The Advisor will reimburse the Dealer Manager for these expenses, without reimbursement from us, to the extent permissible under applicable FINRA rules.
(3) Consists primarily of (a) fees paid to participating broker-dealers to attend retail seminars sponsored by such participating broker-dealers and (b) amounts used to reimburse participating broker-dealers for the actual costs incurred by registered representatives for travel, lodging and meals in connection with attending bona fide training and education meetings sponsored by us or the Dealer Manager. We will reimburse the Dealer Manager for these expenses to the extent permissible under applicable FINRA rules.
(4) Consists primarily of expense reimbursements for actual costs incurred by employees of the Dealer Manager in the performance of wholesaling activities, including reasonable entertainment expenses and actual costs incurred by such employees for travel, lodging and meals in connection with attending retail seminars sponsored by participating broker-dealers and bona fide training and education meetings sponsored by us or the Dealer Manager. The Advisor will reimburse the Dealer Manager for these expenses, without reimbursement from us, to the extent permissible under applicable FINRA rules.

Term of the Dealer Manager Agreement

Either party may terminate the dealer manager agreement upon 60 days’ written notice to the other party or immediately upon notice to the other party in the event such other party failed to comply with a material provision of the dealer manager agreement.

Selected Dealer Agreement with Morgan Stanley

On October 13, 2017, we, the Dealer Manager and the Advisor entered into a selected dealer agreement with Morgan Stanley, pursuant to which Morgan Stanley was appointed as a participating broker-dealer to sell our shares in our public offerings. Subject to certain limitations set forth in the selected dealer agreement, we, the Dealer Manager and the Advisor, jointly and severally, agreed to indemnify Morgan Stanley, its affiliates and their respective officers, directors, partners, members, shareholders, employees and agents against certain losses, claims, damages or liabilities arising directly out of or relating to certain untrue or alleged untrue statements of

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material fact or omissions or alleged omissions of material fact in the prospectus, registration statement and sales materials used in connection with this offering and applications to qualify the shares for sale under the securities laws of certain jurisdictions, certain other written information approved or supplied by us, the Dealer Manager or the Advisor in connection with this offering, a material breach by us, the Dealer Manager or the Advisor of any of the representations, warranties or agreements in the selected dealer agreement, a material breach by us or the Dealer Manager of any of the representations, warranties or agreements in the dealer manager agreement, or any willful misconduct, fraud or gross negligence by us, the Dealer Manager or the Advisor in the performance of or failure to perform its obligations under the selected dealer agreement.

Indemnification

Subject to certain limitations in our agreements, we have agreed to indemnify the Dealer Manager and participating broker-dealers, and the Dealer Manager and participating broker-dealers have agreed to severally indemnify us, our officers and directors against certain liabilities in connection with this offering, including liabilities arising under the Securities Act. However, the Commission and some state securities commissions take the position that indemnification against liabilities arising under the Securities Act is against public policy and is unenforceable.

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SUPPLEMENTAL SALES MATERIAL

In addition to this prospectus, we may utilize certain sales material in connection with the offering of shares of our common stock, although only when accompanied by or preceded by the delivery of this prospectus. In certain jurisdictions, some or all of such sales material may not be available. This material may include information relating to this offering, the past performance of the Advisor and its affiliates, property brochures and articles and publications concerning real estate. In addition, the sales material may contain certain quotes from various publications without obtaining the consent of the author or the publication for use of the quoted material in the sales material.

The offering of shares of our common stock is made only by means of this prospectus. Although the information contained in such sales material will not conflict with any of the information contained in this prospectus, such material does not purport to be complete, and should not be considered a part of this prospectus or the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, or as incorporated by reference in this prospectus or said registration statement or as forming the basis of the offering of the shares of our common stock.

QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

Interest Rate Risk

We are exposed to the impact of interest rate changes. Our interest rate risk management objectives are to limit the impact of interest rate changes on earnings and cash flows, and optimize overall borrowing costs. To achieve these objectives, we often plan to borrow on a fixed interest rate basis for longer-term debt and utilize interest rate swap agreements on certain variable interest rate debt in order to limit the effects of changes in interest rates on our results of operations. As of September 30, 2021, our debt instruments consisted of borrowings under our line of credit, term loans and mortgage notes.

Fixed Interest Rate Debt. As of September 30, 2021, our fixed interest rate debt consisted of $150.3 million under our mortgage notes and $500.0 million of borrowings under our term loans that were effectively fixed through the use of interest rate swaps. In total, our fixed interest rate debt represented 70.6% of our total consolidated debt as of September 30, 2021. Interest rate fluctuations will generally not affect our future earnings or cash flows on our fixed interest rate debt unless such instruments mature or are otherwise terminated. However, interest rate changes could affect the fair value of our fixed interest rate debt. As of September 30, 2021, the fair value and the carrying value of our fixed interest rate debt, excluding the values of any associated hedges, was $652.7 million and $650.3 million, respectively. The fair value estimate of this debt was estimated using a discounted cash flow analysis utilizing rates we would expect to pay for debt of a similar type and remaining maturity if the loans were originated on September 30, 2021. Given we generally expect to hold our fixed interest rate debt instruments to maturity or when they otherwise open up for prepayment at par, and the amounts due under such debt instruments should be limited to the outstanding principal balance and any accrued and unpaid interest at such time, we do not expect that the resulting change in fair value of our fixed interest rate debt instruments due to market fluctuations in interest rates, would have a significant impact on our operating cash flows.

Variable Interest Rate Debt. As of September 30, 2021, our consolidated variable interest rate debt consisted of $85.0 million of borrowings under our line of credit, $25.0 million of borrowings under our term loans and $161.0 million under our mortgage notes, which represented 29.4% of our total consolidated debt. Interest rate changes on the variable portion of our variable-rate debt could impact our future earnings and cash flows, but would not necessarily affect the fair value of such debt. As of September 30, 2021, we were exposed to market risks related to fluctuations in interest rates on $271.0 million of consolidated borrowings. A hypothetical 25 basis points increase in the all-in rate on the outstanding balance of our variable interest rate debt as of September 30, 2021, would increase our annual interest expense by approximately $0.7 million.

Derivative Instruments. As of September 30, 2021, we had 14 outstanding derivative instruments with a total notional amount of $627.0 million. These derivative instruments were comprised of interest rate swaps and interest rate caps that were designed to mitigate the risk of future interest rate increases by either providing a fixed interest rate or capping the variable interest rate for a limited, pre-determined period of time. We are exposed to credit risk of the counterparty to our interest rate cap and swap agreements in the event of non-performance under the terms of the agreements. If we were not able to replace these caps or swaps in the event of non-performance by the counterparty, we would be subject to variability of the interest rate on the amount outstanding under our debt that is fixed or capped through the use of the swaps or caps, respectively.

LEGAL MATTERS

The legality of the shares of our common stock being offered hereby has been passed upon for us by DLA Piper LLP (US). The statements relating to certain federal income tax matters under the caption “Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations” have been reviewed by and our qualification as a REIT for federal income tax purposes and the partnership status of the Operating Partnership for federal income tax purposes has been passed upon by DLA Piper LLP (US).

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EXPERTS

The consolidated financial statements and related financial statement schedule of Ares Real Estate Income Trust Inc. (formally known as Black Creek Diversified Property Fund Inc.), as of December 31, 2020 and 2019, and for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2020, have been incorporated by reference herein and in the registration statement, in reliance upon the report of KPMG LLP, independent registered public accounting firm, incorporated by reference herein, and upon the authority of said firm as experts in accounting and auditing.

The statements included in this prospectus under “Net Asset Value Calculation and Valuation Procedures—Valuation Policy—Independent Valuation Advisor” and “Net Asset Value Calculation and Valuation Procedures—Our Current NAV Calculations” section of this prospectus specifically referencing the Independent Valuation Advisor relating to the role of Altus Group U.S. Inc. have been reviewed by Altus Group U.S. Inc., an independent valuation advisor, and are included in this prospectus given the authority of such advisor as an expert in real estate valuations. Altus Group does not admit that it is in the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act.

INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN INFORMATION BY REFERENCE

In this prospectus, we “incorporate by reference” certain information we filed with the Commission, which means that we may disclose important information to you by referring you to other documents that we have previously filed with the Commission. The information incorporated by reference is considered to be part of this prospectus. We incorporate by reference the documents listed below:

our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020, filed March 5, 2021;
our Quarterly Report on 10-Q for the period ended March 31, 2021, filed on May 11, 2021;
our Quarterly Report on 10-Q for the period ended June 30, 2021, filed on August 10, 2021;
our Quarterly Report on 10-Q for the period ended September 30, 2021, filed on November 10, 2021;
our Current Reports on Form 8-K, filed on January 15, 2021, February 16, 2021, March 15, 2021, April 15, 2021, May 5, 2021, May 14, 2021, May 20, 2021, June 15, 2021, July 1, 2021, July 6, 2021, July 15, 2021, August 13, 2021, September 10, 2021, September 15, 2021, October 15, 2021, November 15, 2021, November 22, 2021, December 3, 2021 and December 15, 2021; and
our Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A, filed on April 9, 2021.

The information relating to us contained in this prospectus should be read together with the information in the documents incorporated by reference.

You can obtain any of the documents incorporated by reference in this document from us, or from the Commission through the Commission’s website at the address www.sec.gov. Documents incorporated by reference are available from us without charge, excluding any exhibits to those documents, unless the exhibit is specifically incorporated by reference as an exhibit in this document. You can obtain documents incorporated by reference in this document, at no cost, by requesting them in writing or by telephone from us at the following address or telephone number or at our website at www.blackcreekgroup.com/investment-solutions/AREIT:

Ares Real Estate Income Trust Inc.

Investor Relations

518 17th Street, Suite 1700

Denver, Colorado 80202

Telephone: (303) 228-2200

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ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

We have filed with the Commission a registration statement under the Securities Act on Form S-11 regarding this offering. This prospectus, which is part of the registration statement, does not contain all the information set forth in the registration statement and the exhibits related thereto filed with the Commission, reference to which is hereby made.

We are subject to the informational reporting requirements of the Exchange Act and, under that Act, we will file reports, proxy statements and other information with the Commission. You may read and copy any document that we have filed with the Commission at the public reference facilities of the Commission at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, DC 20549. Please call the Commission at 1-800-SEC-0330 for further information on the operation of the public reference facilities. These documents also may be accessed through the Commission’s electronic data gathering analysis and retrieval system, or EDGAR, via electronic means, included on the Commission’s internet website, www.sec.gov.

You may also request a copy of these filings at no cost, by writing or telephoning us at:

Ares Real Estate Income Trust Inc.

518 Seventeenth Street, 17th Floor

Denver, Colorado 80202

Tel.: (303) 228-2200

Attn: Investor Relations

Within 120 days after the end of each fiscal year we will provide to our stockholders of record an annual report. The annual report will contain audited financial statements and certain other financial and narrative information that we are required to provide to stockholders.

We also maintain an internet site at www.blackcreekgroup.com/investment-solutions/AREIT, where there may be additional information about our business, but the contents of that site are not incorporated by reference in or otherwise a part of this prospectus.

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Appendix A

Form of Subscription Agreement GRAPHIC

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Table of Contents

GRAPHIC

A-2


Table of Contents

GRAPHIC

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Table of Contents

GRAPHIC

A-4


Table of Contents

GRAPHIC

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GRAPHIC

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Appendix B

FIFTH AMENDED AND RESTATED DISTRIBUTION REINVESTMENT PLAN

This FIFTH AMENDED AND RESTATED DISTRIBUTION REINVESTMENT PLAN (the “Plan”) is adopted by Ares Real Estate Income Trust Inc., a Maryland corporation (the “Company”) pursuant to its charter (the “Charter”). In this Plan, unclassified shares of the Company’s common stock are considered one of the Company’s “classes” of common stock. Unless otherwise defined herein, capitalized terms shall have the same meaning as set forth in the Charter.

1.Distribution Reinvestment. As agent for the stockholders (the “Stockholders”) of the Company who elect to participate in the Plan or who are automatically enrolled pursuant to the terms of a subscription for Company shares, the Company will apply all dividends and other distributions declared and paid in respect of the shares of the Company’s common stock (the “Shares”) held by each participating Stockholder (the “Dividends”), including Dividends paid with respect to any full or fractional Shares acquired under the Plan, to the purchase of additional Shares of the same class for such participating Stockholder to which such Dividends are attributable.

Additionally, as agent for the holders of partnership units (the “OP Units”) of AREIT Operating Partnership LP (the “Partnership”) who acquire such OP Units as a result of any transaction of the Partnership, and who elect to participate in the Plan (together with the participating Stockholders, the “Participants”), the Partnership will apply all distributions declared and paid in respect of the OP Units held by each Participant (the “Distributions”), including Distributions paid with respect to any full or fractional OP Units, to the purchase of Shares having the same class designation as the applicable class of OP Units for such Participant to which such Distributions are attributable.

2.Effective Date. The effective date of this Plan is September 1, 2017.
3.Procedure for Participation. Any Stockholder or holder of OP Units may elect to become a Participant by completing and executing the subscription agreement (which may provide for automatic enrollment unless such Stockholder or holder of OP Units opts out), an enrollment form or any other appropriate authorization form as may be available from the Company, the Partnership, the Dealer Manager or Soliciting Dealer. Participation in the Plan will begin with the next Dividend or Distribution payable after acceptance of a Participant’s subscription, enrollment or authorization. Shares will be purchased under the Plan on the date that Dividends or Distributions are paid by the Company or the Partnership, as the case may be. The Company may elect to deny participation in the Plan with respect to a Stockholder or holder of OP Units that resides in a jurisdiction or foreign country where, in the Company’s judgment, the burden or expense of compliance with applicable securities laws makes participation impracticable or inadvisable.
4.Suitability. Each Participant agrees that if such Participant fails to meet the then current suitability requirements for making an investment in the Company or cannot make the other representations or warranties as set forth in the Company’s most recent applicable prospectus or subscription agreement, enrollment form or other authorization form, such Participant will promptly so notify the Company in writing.
5.Purchase of Shares.
(a)Participants will acquire Shares under this Plan (the “Plan Shares”) from the Company at a price equal to the most recently disclosed transaction price (the “Transaction Price”), which will generally be the most recently disclosed monthly net asset value (“NAV”) per Share applicable to the class of Shares purchased by the Participant. Although the Transaction Price for Shares of the Company’s common stock will generally be based on the most recently disclosed monthly NAV per share, the NAV per share of such stock as of the date on which a Participant’s purchase is settled may be significantly different. The Company may offer Shares at a price that it believes reflects the NAV per share of such stock more appropriately than the most recently disclosed monthly NAV per share, including by updating a previously disclosed Transaction Price, in cases where the Company believes there has been a material change (positive or negative) to its NAV per Share relative to the most recently disclosed monthly NAV per Share. No selling commissions will be payable with respect to Shares purchased pursuant to this Plan. Participants in the Plan may also purchase fractional Shares so that 100% of the Dividends or Distributions will be used to acquire Shares. However, a Participant will not be able to acquire Plan Shares to the extent that any such purchase would cause such Participant to exceed the Aggregate Share Ownership Limit or the Common Share Ownership Limit as set forth in the Charter or otherwise would cause a violation of the Share ownership restrictions set forth in the Charter.

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(b)Shares to be distributed by the Company in connection with the Plan will be supplied from: (a) Shares that are or will be registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) for use in the Plan, or (b) Shares purchased by the Company for the Plan in a secondary market (if available) or on a national stock exchange (if listed) (collectively, the “Secondary Market”).
(c)Shares purchased in any Secondary Market will be purchased by the Company at the then-prevailing market price for Shares of the class purchased, which price will be utilized for purposes of issuing Shares in the Plan. Shares acquired by the Company in any Secondary Market or Shares that the Company registers for use in the Plan may be at prices lower or higher than the Share price that will be paid for the Plan Shares of that class pursuant to the Plan.
(d)If the Company acquires Shares in any Secondary Market for use in the Plan, the Company shall use its reasonable efforts to acquire Shares at the lowest price then reasonably available for Shares of the class acquired. However, the Company does not in any respect guarantee or warrant that the Shares so acquired and purchased by the Participant in the Plan will be at the lowest possible price. Further, irrespective of the Company’s ability to acquire Shares in any Secondary Market or to register Shares to be used in the Plan in the future, the Company is in no way obligated to do either, but may do so in its sole discretion.
6.Distributions in Cash. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Company’s board of directors, in its sole discretion, may elect to have any particular Dividend or Distribution paid in cash, without notice to Participants, without suspending this Plan and without affecting the future operation of the Plan with respect to Participants.
7.Taxes. IT IS UNDERSTOOD THAT REINVESTMENT OF DIVIDENDS AND DISTRIBUTIONS DOES NOT RELIEVE A PARTICIPANT OF ANY INCOME TAX LIABILITY WHICH MAY BE PAYABLE ON THE DIVIDENDS AND DISTRIBUTIONS. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION REGARDING POTENTIAL PARTICIPANT INCOME TAX LIABILITY MAY BE FOUND IN THE PUBLIC FILINGS MADE BY THE COMPANY WITH THE COMMISSION.
8.Share Certificates. The ownership of the Shares purchased through the Plan will be in book-entry form unless and until the Company issues certificates for its outstanding common stock.
9.Reports. Within 90 days after the end of the Company’s fiscal year, the Company shall provide or cause to be provided to each Stockholder with an individualized report on his or her investment, including the purchase date(s), purchase price and number of Shares owned, as well as the dates of Dividend and/or Distribution payments and amounts of Dividends and/or Distributions paid during the prior fiscal year. In addition, the Company shall provide or cause to be provided to each Participant an individualized quarterly report showing the number of Shares owned prior to and after the quarter, the amount of the Dividends and/or Distributions during the quarter and the per share purchase price for such Shares.
10.Termination by Participant. A Participant may terminate participation in the Plan at any time, without penalty, by delivering to the Company a written notice. Such notice must be received by the Company at least one business day prior to a distribution date in order for a Participant’s termination to be effective for such distribution date (i.e., a termination notice will be effective the day after it is received and will not affect participation in the Plan for any prior date). Any transfer of Shares by a Participant to a non-Participant will terminate participation in the Plan with respect to the transferred Shares. If the Company redeems a portion of a Participant’s Shares, the Participant’s participation in the Plan with respect to the Participant’s Shares that were not redeemed will not be terminated unless the Participant requests such termination pursuant to this Section 10. If the Company intends to list the Shares on a national stock exchange the Plan may be terminated and any balance in a terminating Participant’s account that does not reflect a whole number of Shares will be distributed to the terminating Participant in cash. From and after termination of Plan participation for any reason, Dividends and/or Distributions will be distributed to the Stockholder or holder of OP Units in cash.
11.Amendment or Termination of Plan by the Company. The Board of Directors may by majority vote (including a majority of the Independent Directors) amend the Plan; provided that the Plan cannot be amended to eliminate a Participant’s right to terminate participation in the Plan and that notice of any material amendment must be provided to Participants at least 10 days prior to the effective date of that amendment. The Board of Directors may by majority vote (including a majority of the Independent Directors) suspend or terminate the Plan for any reason upon 10 days’ notice to the Participants. The Company may provide notice under this Section 11 by including such information (a) in a Current Report on Form 8-K or in its annual or quarterly reports, all publicly filed with the Commission or (b) in a separate mailing to the Participants.

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12.Liability of the Company. The Company shall not be liable for any act done in good faith, or for any good faith omission to act, including, without limitation, any claims or liability (a) arising out of failure to terminate a Participant’s account upon such Participant’s death prior to receipt of notice in writing of such death; or (b) with respect to the time and the prices at which Shares are purchased or sold for a Participant’s account. To the extent that indemnification may apply to liabilities arising under the Securities Act, or the securities laws of a particular state, the Company has been advised that, in the opinion of the Commission and certain state securities commissioners, such indemnification is contrary to public policy and, therefore, unenforceable.
13.Governing Law. The terms and conditions of the Plan and its operation are governed by the laws of the State of Maryland.

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Table of Contents

You should rely only on the information contained in this prospectus and incorporated herein by reference. No dealer, salesperson or other individual has been authorized to give any information or to make any representations that are not contained in this prospectus. If any such information or statements are given or made, you should not rely upon such information or representation. This prospectus does not constitute an offer to sell any securities other than those to which this prospectus relates, or an offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to buy, to any person in any jurisdiction where such an offer or solicitation would be unlawful. This prospectus speaks as of the date set forth above. You should not assume that the delivery of this prospectus will remain fully accurate and correct as of any time subsequent to the date of this prospectus.

GRAPHIC

Ares Real Estate Income Trust Inc.

Common Stock

Maximum Offering of $7,500,000,000


PROSPECTUS


January 11, 2021


PART II

Information Not Required in the Prospectus

Item 31. Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution.

The following table itemizes the expenses, other than selling commissions, the dealer manager fee and distribution fees to be incurred by Ares Real Estate Income Trust Inc. (the “Company”) in connection with the issuance and registration of the securities being registered hereunder. All amounts shown are estimates except the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission” or the “SEC”) registration fee and the FINRA filing fee.

7

Commission registration fee

$

744,000

FINRA filing fee

226,000

Printing costs

122,000

Legal fees and expenses

2,135,000

Accounting fees and expenses

60,000

Blue sky fees and expenses

523,000

Advertising and sales literature

9,706,000

Advisor personnel salaries and expenses

5,227,000

Due diligence expenses

1,020,000

Transfer agent fees and expenses

4,005,000

Miscellaneous expenses

557,000

Reimbursements related to retail activities - additional underwriting compensation

1,093,000

Legal fees allocable to the Dealer Manager - additional underwriting compensation

105,000

Promotional items- additional underwriting compensation

60,000

Total

$

25,583,000

Item 32.Sales to Special Parties.

None.

Item 33.Recent Sales of Unregistered Securities.

Pursuant to the Limited Partnership Agreement of AREIT Operating Partnership LP, the Company’s Operating Partnership, holders of partnership units in the Operating Partnership (“OP Units”) may request the Operating Partnership to redeem their OP Units, and the Company, as the general partner of the Operating Partnership, may elect to redeem any OP Units for cash or for shares of its common stock. The number of shares issuable by the Company in redemption of OP Units is currently equal to the number of OP Units redeemed, less an amount of shares to cover a redemption fee.

Item 34.Indemnification of Directors, Officers and Others.

Pursuant to Maryland corporate law and the Company’s charter, the Company is required to indemnify and hold harmless a present or former director, officer, Advisor, or Advisor’s affiliate and may indemnify and hold harmless a present or former employee or agent of the Company (the “Indemnitees”) against any or all losses or liabilities reasonably incurred by the Indemnitee in connection with or by reason of any act or omission performed or omitted to be performed on behalf of the Company while a director, officer, Advisor, Advisor’s affiliate, employee or agent and in such capacity, provided that the Indemnitee, if a director, the Advisor or an Advisor’s affiliate, has determined, in good faith, that the act or omission which caused the loss or liability was in the best interests of the Company. In addition, the Company will not indemnify the Indemnitee for any loss or liability suffered by the Indemnitee or

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hold the Indemnitee harmless for any loss or liability suffered by the Company if: (i) the loss or liability was the result of negligence or misconduct if the Indemnitee is an interested director, the Advisor, or an Advisor’s affiliate, (ii) the loss or liability was the result of gross negligence or willful misconduct if the Indemnitee is an independent director, (iii) the act or omission was material to the loss or liability and was committed in bad faith or was the result of active and deliberate dishonesty, (iv) the Indemnitee actually received an improper personal benefit in money, property, or services, (v) in the case of any criminal proceeding, the Indemnitee had reasonable cause to believe that the act or omission was unlawful, or (vi) in a proceeding by or in the right of the Company, the Indemnitee shall have been adjudged to be liable to the Company. In addition, the Company will not provide indemnification to a director, the Advisor or an Advisor’s affiliate for any loss or liability arising from an alleged violation of federal or state securities laws unless one or more of the following conditions are met: (i) there has been a successful adjudication on the merits of each count involving the alleged securities law violation as to the particular Indemnitee; (ii) such claims have been dismissed with prejudice on the merits by a court of competent jurisdiction as to the particular Indemnitee or (iii) a court of competent jurisdiction approves a settlement of the claims against a particular Indemnitee and finds that indemnification of the settlement and the related costs should be made, and the court considering the request of indemnification has been advised of the position of the Commission and of the published position of any state securities regulatory authority in which securities of the Company were offered or sold as to indemnification for violation of securities laws. Pursuant to its charter, the Company is required to pay or reimburse reasonable expenses incurred by a present or former director, officer, Advisor or Advisor’s affiliate and may pay or reimburse reasonable expenses incurred by any other Indemnitee in advance of final disposition of a proceeding if the following are satisfied: (i) the Indemnitee was made a party to the proceeding by reason of his service as a director, officer, Advisor, Advisor’s affiliate, employee or agent of the Company, (ii) the Indemnitee provides the Company with written affirmation of his good faith belief that he has met the standard of conduct necessary for indemnification by the Company as authorized by the charter, (iii) the Indemnitee provides the Company with a written agreement to repay the amount paid or reimbursed by the Company, together with the applicable legal rate of interest thereon, if it is ultimately determined that the Indemnitee did not comply with the requisite standard of conduct, and (iv) the legal proceeding was initiated by a third party who is not a stockholder or, if by a stockholder of the Company acting in his capacity as such, a court of competent jurisdiction approves such advancement.

Any indemnification may be paid only out of Net Assets of the Company (as defined in its charter), and no portion may be recoverable from the stockholders.

The Company has entered into indemnification agreements with each of the Company’s independent directors and executive officers. The indemnification agreements require, among other things, that, subject to certain limitations, the Company indemnify its independent directors and executive officers and advance to the independent directors and executive officers all related expenses, subject to reimbursement if it is subsequently determined that indemnification is not permitted. In accordance with these agreements, the Company must indemnify and advance all expenses incurred by its independent directors and executive officers seeking to enforce their rights under the indemnification agreements. The Company also covers officers and directors under the Company’s directors’ and officers’ liability insurance.

Item 35.Treatment of Proceeds from Shares Being Registered.

Not applicable.

Item 36.Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(a)Financial Statements.

The following financial statements are incorporated into the prospectus by reference:

The consolidated financial statements and financial statement schedule of the Company included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 20210 filed with the Commission on March 5, 2020.
The consolidated financial statements of the Company included in the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2020 filed with the Commission on May 11, 2020.
The consolidated financial statements of the Company included in the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2020 filed with the Commission on August 10, 2020.

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The consolidated financial statements of the Company included in the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2020 filed with the Commission on November 10, 2020.

Any financial statement schedules omitted have been so omitted because of the absence of the conditions under which they are required or because the information required by such omitted schedules is set forth in the financial statements or the notes thereto.

(b)Exhibits.

See the Exhibit Index on the page immediately preceding the signature page for a list of exhibits filed as part of this registration statement on Form S-11, which Exhibit Index is incorporated herein by reference.

Item 37.Undertakings.

1.The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:

(a) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement:

(i) To include any prospectus required by section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act.

(ii) To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than a 20% change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in the effective registration statement.

(iii) To include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to such information in the registration statement.

(b) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

(c) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.

(d) That, for the purpose of determining liability under the Securities Act to any purchaser, each prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) as part of the registration statement relating to the offering, other than a registration statement relying on Rule 430B or other than a prospectus filed in reliance on Rule 430A, shall be deemed to be part of and included in the registration statement as of the date it is first used after effectiveness. Provided, however, that no statement made in a registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement or made in a document incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference into the registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement will, as to a purchaser with a time of contract of sale prior to such first use, supersede or modify any statement that was made in the registration statement or prospectus that was part of the registration statement or made in any such document immediately prior to such date of first use.

(e) That, for the purpose of determining liability of the registrant under the Securities Act to any purchaser in the initial distribution of the securities, in a primary offering of securities pursuant to this registration statement, regardless of the underwriting method used to sell the securities to the purchaser, if the securities are offered or sold to such purchaser by means of any of the following communications, the undersigned registrant will be a seller to the purchaser and will be considered to offer or sell such securities to such purchaser:

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(i) any preliminary prospectus or prospectus of the undersigned registrant relating to the offering required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424;

(ii) any free writing prospectus relating to the offering prepared by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant or used or referred to by the undersigned registrant;

(iii) the portion of any other free writing prospectus relating to the offering containing material information about the undersigned registrant or its securities provided by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant; and

(iv) any other communication that is an offer in the offering made by the undersigned registrant to the purchaser.

(f) To send to each stockholder, at least on an annual basis, a detailed statement of any transaction with the Advisor or its affiliates, and of fees, commissions, compensation and other benefits paid or accrued to the Advisor or its affiliates for the fiscal year completed, showing the amount paid or accrued to each recipient and the services performed.

(g) To file a sticker supplement pursuant to Rule 424(c) under the Securities Act during the distribution period describing each significant property not identified in the prospectus at such time as there arises a reasonable probability that such property will be acquired and to consolidate all such stickers into a post-effective amendment filed at least once every three months, with the information contained in such amendment provided simultaneously to the existing stockholders. Each sticker supplement should disclose all compensation and fees received by the Advisor and its affiliates in connection with any such acquisition. The post-effective amendment shall include or incorporate by reference audited financial statements meeting the requirements of Rule 3-14 of Regulation S-X that have been filed or should have been filed on Form 8-K for all significant properties acquired during the distribution period.

(h) To file, after the distribution period, a current report on Form 8-K containing the financial statements and any additional information required by Rule 3-14 of Regulation S-X for each significant property acquired and to provide the information contained in such report to the stockholders at least once each quarter after the distribution period of the offering has ended.

2.Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions and otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

II-4


Exhibit Index

Exhibit
Number

Description

1.1

Fourth Amended and Restated Dealer Manager Agreement, including Form of Selected Dealer Agreement. Incorporated.*

3.1

Articles of Restatement. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on March 21, 2012.

3.2

Articles of Amendment (name change). Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on July 12, 2012.

3.3

Articles Supplementary (Class A shares). Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on July 12, 2012.

3.4

Articles Supplementary (Class W shares). Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.3 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on July 12, 2012.

3.5

Articles Supplementary (Class I shares). Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.4 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on July 12, 2012.

3.6

Certificate of Correction to Articles of Restatement. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on March 26, 2014.

3.7

Certificate of Correction to Articles of Restatement. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on August 30, 2016.

3.8

Articles of Amendment (revised terms of share classes). Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.8 to the Post-Effective Amendment No. 10 to Registration Statement on Form S-11 (File No. 333-197767) filed with the SEC on September 1, 2017.

3.9

Articles of Amendment (name change). Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.9 to the Post-Effective Amendment No. 10 to Registration Statement on Form S-11 (File No. 333-197767) filed with the SEC on September 1, 2017.

3.10

Articles of Amendment (name change). Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on December 3, 2021

3.11

Ninth Amended and Restated Bylaws. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on December 3, 2021.

4.1

Form of Subscription Agreement (included in the Prospectus as Appendix A and incorporated herein by reference).

4.2

Fifth Amended and Restated Distribution Reinvestment Plan (included in the Prospectus as Appendix B and incorporated herein by reference).

4.3

Third Amended and Restated Share Redemption Program. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on December 3, 2021.

4.4

Statement regarding transfer restrictions, preferences, limitations and rights of holders of shares of common stock (to appear on stock certificate or to be sent upon request and without charge to stockholders issued shares without certificates). Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.5 to the Post-Effective Amendment No. 10 to Registration Statement on Form S-11 (File No. 333-197767) filed with the SEC on September 1, 2017.

4.5

Valuation Procedures. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on December 26, 2019.

4.6

Multiple Class Plan. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.7 to the Post-Effective Amendment No. 10 to Registration Statement on Form S-11 (File No. 333-197767) filed with the SEC on September 1, 2017.

5.1

Opinion of DLA Piper LLP (US) as to legality of securities**

8.1

Opinion of DLA Piper LLP (US) as to tax matters**

8.2

Private Letter Ruling. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 8.2 to Amendment No. 4 to Registration Statement on Form S-11 (File No. 333-175989) filed with the SEC on June 22, 2012.

10.1

Third Amended and Restated Advisory Agreement (2021).*

10.2

Form of Indemnification Agreement for officers and directors. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4 to Amendment No. 5 to the Registration Statement on Form S-11 (File No. 333-125338) filed with the SEC on January 13, 2006.

10.3

Second Amended and Restated Equity Incentive Plan. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on June 24, 2015.

10.4

Amended and Restated Secondary Equity Incentive Plan. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on June 24, 2015.

10.5

Second Amended and Restated Credit and Term Loan Agreement. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on January 16, 2019.

II-5


10.6

Credit Agreement. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with the SEC on January 16, 2019.

10.7

Form of Independent Director Restricted Stock Unit Agreement. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.17 to the Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on March 10, 2014.

10.8

Facilitation Fee Agreement between Ares Diversified Real Estate Exchange LLC (formerly Black Creek Exchange LLC) and Ares Commercial Real Estate Management LLC as successor in interest to Black Creek Diversified Property Advisors LLC. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K, filed August 17, 2018.

10.9

Side Letter between ADREX Manager LLC (formerly BC Exchange Manager LLC) and BC Exchange Advisor LLC. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.30 to the Post-Effective Amendment No. 10 to Registration Statement on Form S-11 (File No. 333-197767) filed with the SEC on September 1, 2017.

10.10

Amendment to Agreement between ADREX Manager LLC (formerly BC Exchange Manager LLC) and BC Exchange Advisor LLC. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.5 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on August 17, 2018.

10.11

Second Amendment to Agreement between ADREX Manager LLC (formerly BC Exchange Manager LLC) and BC Exchange Advisor LLC. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.6 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on August 17, 2018.

10.12

Selected Dealer Agreement with Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on October 13, 2017.

10.13

Third Amendment to Agreement between ADREX Manager LLC (formerly BC Exchange Manager LLC) and BC Exchange Advisor LLC. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.38 of the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on March 6, 2019.

10.14

Form of Trust Agreement. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.21 to the Annual Report on form 10-K filed with the SEC on March 5, 2020.

10.15

Form of Master Lease. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.22 to the Annual Report on form 10-K filed with the SEC on March 5, 2020.

10.16

Form of Guaranty. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.23 to the Annual Report on form 10-K filed with the SEC on March 5, 2020.

10.17

First Amendment to Facilitation Fee Agreement between Ares Diversified Real Estate Exchange LLC (formerly Black Creek Exchange LLC) and Ares Commercial Real Estate Management LLC as successor in interest to Black Creek Diversified Property Advisors LLC. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.24 to the Annual Report on form 10-K filed with the SEC on March 5, 2020.

10.18

Eleventh Amended and Restated Limited Partnership Agreement.*

10.19

Second Amended and Restated Dealer Manager Agreement between Ares Diversified Real Estate Exchange LLC (formerly Black Creek Exchange LLC) and Ares Wealth Management Solutions, LLC (formerly Black Creek Capital Markets, LLC). Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.26 to the Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on March 5, 2020.

10.20

Third Amended and Restated Credit and Term Loan Agreement by and among AREIT Operating Partnership LP (f/k/a Black Creek Diversified Property Operating Partnership LP), Bank of America, N.A. and the lenders thereto.*

21

Subsidiaries of the registrant**

23.1

Consent of KPMG LLP*

23.2

Consent of DLA Piper LLP (US) (included in Exhibit 5.1 and Exhibit 8.1)**

99.1

Consent of Altus Group U.S., Inc.*

99.2

Power of Attorney. Incorporated by reference to the signature page to Registration Statement on Form S-11 (File No. 333- 252212), filed with the SEC on January 9, 2021.

* Filed herewith.

** To be filed by amendment.

II-6


SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-11 and has duly caused this Form S-11 Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Denver, State of Colorado, on January 11, 2022.

Managing Director, Co-President (Principal Executive Officer)

ARES REAL ESTATE INCOME TRUST INC.

By: /S/ JEFFREY W. TAYLOR

Jeffrey W. Taylor, Managing Director, Co-President (Principal Executive Officer)

POWER OF ATTORNEY

We, the undersigned directors and officers of Ares Real Estate Income Trust Inc. (the “Company”), and each of us, do hereby constitute and appoint Jeffrey W. Taylor, Lainie P. Minnick and Joshua J. Widoff, or either of them, our true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, each with full power of substitution, to do any and all acts and things in our name and on our behalf in our capacities as directors and officers of the Company and to execute any and all instruments for us and in our names in the capacities indicated below, which said attorneys-in-fact or agents, or any of them, may deem necessary or advisable to enable the Company to comply with the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and any rules, regulations and requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission, in connection with the filing of this Registration Statement on Form S-11, including specifically but without limitation, power and authority to sign for us or any of us in our names in the capacities indicated below for the Company, any and all amendments (including post-effective amendments) to such Registration Statement and any related registration statements filed pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended; and we do hereby ratify and confirm all that said attorneys and agents, or their substitute or substitutes, or any of them, shall do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Form S-11 registration statement has been signed by the following persons in the following capacities on January 11, 2022.

Signature

Title

*

James R. Mulvihill

Chairman of the Board and Director

*

Rajat Dhanda

Director

/s/ DAVID A. ROTH

David A. Roth

Director

/s/ BRIAN P. MATHIS

Brian P. Mathis

Director

*

Charles B. Duke

Director

*

Daniel J. Sullivan

Director

*

John P. Woodberry

Director

/s/ JEFFREY W. TAYLOR

Jeffrey W. Taylor

Managing Director, Co-President (Principal Executive Officer)

/s/ LAINIE P. MINNICK

Lainie P. Minnick

Managing Director, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer (Principal Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Officer)

* By: /s/ LAINIE P. MINNICK

Lainie P. Minnick

Attorney-in-Fact

II-7


Exhibit 1.1

FOURTH AMENDED AND RESTATED DEALER MANAGER AGREEMENT

December 1, 2021

Ares Wealth Management Solutions, LLC
518 17th Street, 17th Floor
Denver, CO 80202

This Fourth Amended and Restated Dealer Manager Agreement (this “Agreement”) amends, restates and replaces in full that certain Third Amended and Restated Dealer Manager Agreement dated September 1, 2017, by and between Ares Real Estate Income Trust Inc., a Maryland corporation (the “Company”) and Ares Wealth Management Solutions, LLC (the “Dealer Manager”).

The Company has filed one or more registration statements with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) that are listed on Schedule 1 to this Agreement (each, a “Registration Statement”), which Schedule 1 may be amended from time to time with the written consent of the Company and the Dealer Manager.  In this Agreement, unless explicitly stated otherwise, “the Registration Statement” means, at any given time, each of the registration statements listed on Schedule 1, as such Schedule 1 may be amended from time to time, as each such registration statement is finally amended and revised at the effective date of the registration statement (including at the effective date of any post-effective amendment thereto).

Each Registration Statement shall register an ongoing offering (each, an “Offering”) of shares of the Company’s common stock, $0.01 par value per share (“Common Stock”), which may consist of Class T, Class S, Class D and/or Class I shares of Common Stock (the “Shares”).  In this Agreement, unless explicitly stated otherwise, “the Offering” means each Offering covered by a Registration Statement and “Shares” means the Shares being offered in the Offering.

The Offering is and shall be comprised of a maximum amount of Shares set forth in the Prospectus (as defined in Section 1.a. below) that will be issued and sold to the public at the public offering prices per Share set forth in the Prospectus pursuant to a primary offering (the “Primary Shares”) and the Company's distribution reinvestment plan (the “DRIP Shares”). In connection with the Offering, the minimum purchase by any one person shall be as set forth in the Prospectus (except as otherwise indicated in any letter or memorandum from the Company to the Dealer Manager).

In this Agreement, unless explicitly stated otherwise, any references to the Registration Statement, the Offering, the Shares or the Prospectus with respect to each other shall mean only those that are all related to the same Registration Statement.

The Company is offering to the public four classes of Shares, Class T shares, Class S shares, Class D shares and Class I shares.  The differences between the classes of Shares and the eligibility requirements for each class are described in detail in the Prospectus.  The Shares are to be offered and sold to the public as described under the caption “Plan of Distribution” in the Prospectus.  Subject to Section 12 of this Agreement or as otherwise agreed by the Company and the Dealer Manager, Shares sold through the Dealer Manager are to be sold through the Dealer Manager, as the dealer manager, and the broker-dealers (the “Dealers”) with whom the Dealer Manager has entered into or will enter into a selected dealer agreement substantially in the form attached to this Agreement as Exhibit “A” or such other form as approved by the Company (each a “Selected Dealer Agreement”) at a purchase price generally equal to the Company’s prior month’s net asset value (“NAV”) per share applicable to the class of Shares being purchased (as calculated in accordance with the procedures described in the Prospectus), or at a different purchase price made available to investors in cases where the Company believes there has been a material change to the NAV per Share since the end of the prior month, plus in either case any applicable selling commissions and dealer manager fees, subject in certain circumstances to waivers or reductions thereof as described in the Prospectus. For stockholders who participate in the Company’s distribution reinvestment plan, the cash distributions attributable to the class of Shares


that each stockholder owns will be automatically invested in additional shares of the same class.  The DRIP Shares are to be issued and sold to stockholders of the Company at a purchase price generally equal to the Company’s prior month’s NAV per share, or at a different purchase price made available to investors in cases where the Company believes there has been a material change to the NAV per Share since the end of the prior month, before any applicable selling commissions and dealer manager fees (the “transaction price”), of the applicable class of Shares on the date that the distribution is payable.

Terms not defined herein shall have the same meaning as in the Prospectus. Now, therefore, the Company hereby agrees with the Dealer Manager as follows:

1.Representations and Warranties of the Company:The Company represents and warrants to the Dealer Manager and each Dealer participating in an Offering, with respect to such Offering, as applicable, that:

a.A Registration Statement with respect to the Shares has been prepared by the Company in accordance with applicable requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and the applicable rules and regulations (the “Rules and Regulations”) of the Commission promulgated thereunder, covering the Shares. Copies of such Registration Statement and each amendment thereto have been or will be delivered to the Dealer Manager. (The prospectus contained therein, as finally amended and revised at the effective date of the Registration Statement (including at the effective date of any post-effective amendment thereto), is hereinafter referred to as the “Prospectus,” except that if the prospectus or prospectus supplement filed by the Company pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act shall differ from the Prospectus on file at the Effective Date, the term “Prospectus” shall also include such prospectus or prospectus supplement filed pursuant to Rule 424(b).)  “Effective Date” means the applicable date upon which the Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto is or was first declared effective by the Commission. “Filing Date” means the applicable date upon which the initial Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto is filed with the Commission.

b.The Company has been duly and validly organized and formed as a corporation under the laws of the state of Maryland, with the power and authority to conduct its business as described in the Prospectus.

c.As of the Effective Date or Filing Date, as applicable, the Registration Statement and Prospectus complied or will comply with the Securities Act and the Rules and Regulations.  The Registration Statement, as of the applicable Effective Date, does not and will not contain any untrue statements of material facts or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein not misleading; and the Prospectus as of the applicable Filing Date, does not and will not contain any untrue statements of material facts or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, provided, however, that the foregoing provisions of this Section 1.c. will not extend to such statements contained in or omitted from the Registration Statement or Prospectus as are primarily within the knowledge of the Dealer Manager or any of the Dealers and are based upon information furnished by the Dealer Manager in writing to the Company specifically for inclusion therein.

d.The Company intends to use the funds received from the sale of the Shares as set forth in the Prospectus.

e.No consent, approval, authorization or other order of any governmental authority is required in connection with the execution or delivery by the Company of this Agreement or the issuance and sale by the Company of the Shares, except such as may be required under the Securities Act and the Rules and Regulations, by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (“FINRA”) or applicable state securities laws.

f.Unless otherwise described in the Registration Statement and Prospectus, there are no actions, suits or proceedings pending or to the knowledge of the Company, threatened against the Company

2


at law or in equity or before or by any federal or state commission, regulatory body or administrative agency or other governmental body, domestic or foreign, which will have a material adverse effect on the business or property of the Company.

g.The execution and delivery of this Agreement, the consummation of the transactions herein contemplated and compliance with the terms of this Agreement by the Company will not conflict with or constitute a default under any charter, by-law, indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, lease, rule, regulation, writ, injunction or decree of any government, governmental instrumentality or court, domestic or foreign, having jurisdiction over the Company, except to the extent that the enforceability of the indemnity and/or contribution provisions contained in Section 4 of this Agreement may be limited under applicable securities laws.

h.The Company has full legal right, power and authority to enter into this Agreement and to perform the transactions contemplated hereby, except to the extent that the enforceability of the indemnity and/or contribution provisions contained in Section 4 of this Agreement may be limited under applicable securities laws.

i.At the time of the issuance of the Shares, the Shares will have been duly authorized and, when issued and sold as contemplated by the Prospectus and the Company’s charter, as amended and supplemented, and upon payment therefor as provided by the Prospectus and this Agreement, will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable and will conform to the description thereof contained in the Prospectus.

j.The Company has filed all material federal, state and foreign income tax returns, which have been required to be filed, on or before the due date (taking into account all extensions of time to file) and has paid or provided for the payment of all taxes indicated by said returns and all assessments received by the Company to the extent that such taxes or assessments have become due, except where the Company is contesting such assessments in good faith.

k.The financial statements of the Company included in the Prospectus present fairly in all material respects the financial position of the Company as of the date indicated and the results of its operations for the periods specified; said financial statements have been prepared in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles applied on a consistent basis.

l.The Company does not intend to conduct its business so as to be an “investment company” as that term is defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder, and it will exercise reasonable diligence to ensure that it does not become an “investment company” within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

m.Any and all supplemental sales materials prepared by the Company and any of its affiliates (excluding the Dealer Manager) specifically for use with potential investors in connection with the Offering, when used in conjunction with the Prospectus, did not at the time provided for use, and, as to later provided materials, will not at the time provided for use, include any untrue statement of a material fact nor did they at the time provided for use, or, as to later provided materials, will they, omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made and when read in conjunction with the Prospectus, not misleading.  If at any time any event occurs which is known to the Company as a result of which such supplemental sales materials when used in conjunction with the Prospectus would include an untrue statement of a material fact or, in view of the circumstances under which they were made, omit to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, the Company will promptly notify the Dealer Manager thereof.

2.Covenants of the Company.The Company covenants and agrees with the Dealer Manager that:

3


a.It will, at no expense to the Dealer Manager, furnish the Dealer Manager with such number of printed copies of the Registration Statement, including all amendments and exhibits thereto, as the Dealer Manager may reasonably request. It will similarly furnish to the Dealer Manager and others designated by the Dealer Manager as many copies of the following documents as the Dealer Manager may reasonably request: (a) the Prospectus in preliminary and final form and every form of supplemental or amended prospectus; (b) this Agreement; and (c) any other printed sales literature or other materials (provided that the use of said sales literature and other materials has been first approved for use by the Company and all appropriate regulatory agencies).

b.It will furnish such proper information and execute and file such documents as may be necessary for the Company to qualify the Shares for offer and sale under the securities laws of such jurisdictions as the Dealer Manager may reasonably designate and will file and make in each year such statements and reports as may be required. The Company will furnish to the Dealer Manager a copy of such papers filed by the Company in connection with any such qualification.

c.It will: (a) use its best efforts to cause the Registration Statement to become effective; (b) furnish copies of any proposed amendment or supplement of the Registration Statement or Prospectus to the Dealer Manager; (c) file every amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement or the Prospectus that may be required by the Commission; and (d) if at any time the Commission shall issue any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement, it will promptly notify the Dealer Manager and, to the extent the Company determines such action is in the best interests of the Company, use its commercially reasonable efforts to obtain the lifting of such order at the earliest possible time.

d.If at any time when a Prospectus is required to be delivered under the Securities Act any event occurs as a result of which, in the opinion of either the Company or the Dealer Manager, the Prospectus would include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in view of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, the Company will promptly notify the Dealer Manager thereof (unless the information shall have been received from the Dealer Manager) and will effect the preparation of an amended or supplemental prospectus which will correct such statement or omission. The Company will then promptly prepare such amended or supplemental prospectus or prospectuses as may be necessary to comply with the requirements of Section 10 of the Securities Act.

e.To the extent the Company provides materials to the Dealer Manager specifically for distribution to a Dealer in connection with its due diligence investigation relating to the Offering, such materials, to the knowledge of the Company, will be materially accurate as of the date or dates specified in such materials.

f.It will disclose a per share estimated value of the Shares and related information in accordance with the requirements of FINRA Rule 2310(b)(5).

3.Obligations and Compensation of Dealer Manager.

a.The Company hereby appoints the Dealer Manager as its agent and principal distributor for the purpose of selling for cash to the public up to the maximum amount of Shares set forth in the Prospectus (subject to the Company's right of reallocation, as described in the Prospectus) through Dealers, all of whom shall be members of FINRA. The Dealer Manager hereby accepts such agency and distributorship and agrees to use its best efforts to sell the Shares on said terms and conditions set forth in the Prospectus with respect to each Offering and any additional terms or conditions specified in Schedule 2 to this Agreement, as it may be amended from time to time. The Dealer Manager represents to the Company that it is a member in good standing of FINRA and that it and its employees and representatives have all required licenses and registrations to act under this Agreement.  With respect to the Dealer Manager’s participation in the distribution of the Shares in the Offering, the Dealer Manager agrees to comply in all material respects with the applicable requirements of the Securities Act, the Rules and Regulations, the

4


Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, and all other state or federal laws, rules and regulations applicable to the Offering and the sale of Shares, all applicable state securities or blue sky laws and regulations, and the rules of FINRA applicable to the Offering, from time to time in effect, including, without limitation, FINRA Rules 2040, 2111, 2310, 5110 and 5141.

b.Promptly after the initial Effective Date of the Registration Statement, the Dealer Manager and the Dealers shall commence the offering of the Shares in the Offering for cash to the public in jurisdictions in which the Shares are registered or qualified for sale or in which such offering is otherwise permitted. The Dealer Manager and the Dealers will suspend or terminate offering of the Shares upon request of the Company at any time and will resume offering the Shares upon subsequent request of the Company.

c.Subject to volume discounts and other special circumstances described in or otherwise provided under the caption “Plan of Distribution” in the Prospectus, the Company will pay to the Dealer Manager selling commissions in connection with sales of Class T Primary Shares and Class S Primary Shares as described in Schedule 2 to this Agreement. The applicable selling commissions payable to the Dealer Manager will be paid substantially concurrently with the execution by the Company of orders submitted by purchasers of Class T Primary Shares and Class S Primary Shares and all or a portion of the selling commissions may be reallowed by the Dealer Manager to the Dealers who sold the Class T Primary Shares or Class S Primary Shares giving rise to such selling commissions, as described more fully in the Selected Dealer Agreement entered into with each such Dealer.

d.Subject to special circumstances described in or otherwise provided under the caption “Plan of Distribution” in the Prospectus, the Company will pay to the Dealer Manager dealer manager fees in connection with sales of Class T Primary Shares, as described in Schedule 2 to this Agreement. The applicable dealer manager fees payable to the Dealer Manager will be paid substantially concurrently with the execution by the Company of orders submitted by purchasers of Class T Primary Shares and all or a portion of the dealer manager fees may be reallowed by the Dealer Manager to the Dealers who sold the Class T Primary Shares giving rise to such dealer manager fees, as described more fully in the Selected Dealer Agreement entered into with each such Dealer.

e. Except as may be provided in the “Plan of Distribution” section of the Prospectus, subject to the limitations set forth in Section 3.f. below, the Company will pay to the Dealer Manager a distribution fee with respect to sales of Class T, Class S and Class D shares as described in Schedule 2 to this Agreement (the “Distribution Fee”). The Company will pay the Distribution Fee to the Dealer Manager monthly in arrears. The Dealer Manager may reallow all or a portion of the Distribution Fee to any Dealers who sold the Class T, Class S or Class D Shares giving rise to a portion of such Distribution Fee to the extent the Selected Dealer Agreement with such Dealer provides for such a reallowance; provided, however, that upon the date when the Dealer Manager is notified that the Dealer who sold the Class T, Class S or Class D Shares giving rise to a portion of the Distribution Fee is no longer the broker-dealer of record with respect to such Class T, Class S or Class D Shares, then such Dealer’s entitlement to the portion of the Distribution Fee related to such Class T, Class S and/or Class D Shares, as applicable, shall cease, and beginning on such date, such portion of the Distribution Fee may be reallowed by the Dealer Manager to the then-current broker-dealer of record of the Class T, Class S and/or Class D Shares, as applicable, if any such broker-dealer of record has been designated (the “Servicing Dealer”) to the extent such Servicing Dealer has entered into a Selected Dealer Agreement or similar agreement with the Dealer Manager (“Servicing Agreement”) and such Selected Dealer Agreement or Servicing Agreement with the Servicing Dealer provides for such reallowance. The Dealer Manager may also reallow some or all of the Distribution Fee to other broker-dealers who provide services with respect to the Shares who shall be considered additional Servicing Dealers pursuant to a Servicing Agreement with the Dealer Manager to the extent such Servicing Agreement provides for such reallowance, all in accordance with the terms of such Servicing Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Dealer Manager will waive the Distribution Fee with respect to sales of Class T, Class S or Class D Shares to the extent a Dealer or Servicing Dealer is not eligible to receive such Distribution Fee, unless the Dealer Manager is serving as the broker dealer of record with respect to such Class T, Class S or Class D Shares, as applicable. No Distribution Fee is payable with respect to the Class I Shares.

5


f.The Dealer Manager will cease receiving the Distribution Fee with respect to individual Class T, Class S and Class D shares when they are no longer outstanding, including as a result of conversion to Class I shares described below. Each Class T, Class S or Class D share held within a stockholder’s account shall automatically and without any action on the part of the holder thereof convert into a number of Class I shares at the Applicable Conversion Rate set forth in the Prospectus on the earliest of (a) a listing of any shares of the Company’s common stock on a national securities exchange, (b) the merger or consolidation of the Company with or into another entity, or the sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets and (c) the end of the month in which the Dealer Manager in conjunction with the Company’s transfer agent determines that the total upfront selling commissions, upfront dealer manager fees and ongoing Distribution Fees paid with respect to all shares of such class held by such stockholder within such account (including shares purchased through a distribution reinvestment plan or received as stock dividends) equals or exceeds 8.75% (or a lower limit set forth in any applicable agreement between the Dealer Manager and a participating broker-dealer, provided that the Dealer Manager advises the Company’s transfer agent of the lower limit in writing) of the aggregate purchase price of all shares of such class held by such stockholder within such account and purchased in a primary offering (i.e., an offering other than a distribution reinvestment plan). In addition, after termination of the primary portion of an Offering, the Company will cease paying the Distribution Fees with respect to each Class T, Class S or Class D share sold in that Offering (i.e., pursuant to the Registration Statement for such Offering), on the date when, the Company, with the assistance of the Dealer Manager, determines that all underwriting compensation paid or incurred in connection with such Offering from all sources, determined pursuant to the rules and guidance of FINRA, would be in excess of 10% of the aggregate purchase price of all Primary Shares sold in such Offering. For purposes of this Agreement, the portion of the Distribution Fee accruing with respect to Class T, Class S and Class D shares of the Company’s common stock issued (publicly or privately) by the Company during the term of a particular Offering, and not issued pursuant to a prior Offering, shall be underwriting compensation with respect to such particular Offering and not with respect to any other Offering.

h.The terms of any reallowance of selling commissions, dealer manager fees and the Distribution Fee shall be set forth in the Selected Dealer Agreement or Servicing Agreement entered into with the Dealers or Servicing Dealers, as applicable. The Company will not be liable or responsible to any Dealer or Servicing Dealer for direct payment of commissions or any reallowance of the dealer manager fee or Distribution Fee to such Dealer or Servicing Dealer, it being the sole and exclusive responsibility of the Dealer Manager for payment of commissions or any reallowance of the dealer manager fee or Distribution Fee to Dealers and Servicing Dealers.

i.In addition to the other items of underwriting compensation set forth in this Section 3, the Company and/or Ares Commercial Real Estate Management LLC (the “Advisor”) shall reimburse the Dealer Manager for all items of underwriting compensation referenced in the Prospectus, to the extent the Prospectus indicates that they will be paid by the Company or the Advisor, as applicable, to the extent permitted pursuant to prevailing rules and regulations of FINRA; provided, however, that, the aggregate of all underwriting compensation paid in connection with the Offering may not exceed 10.0% of the gross proceeds from the sale of the Primary Shares in such Offering, excluding reimbursement of bona fide due diligence expenses as provided under Section 3.j.

j.In addition to reimbursement as provided under Section 3.i, the Company shall also pay directly or reimburse the Dealer Manager for reasonable bona fide due diligence expenses incurred by any Dealer. The Dealer Manager shall obtain from any Dealer and provide to the Company a detailed and itemized invoice for any such due diligence expenses.

k.The Dealer Manager may elect to pay supplemental fees and commissions to certain Dealers and Servicing Dealers with respect to Class I Primary Shares, which may be paid at the time of sale or over time, provided, however, that the parties acknowledge and agree that (a) such supplemental fees and commissions will be considered underwriting compensation subject to the 10% underwriting compensation limit and (b) such supplemental fees and commissions will not be reimbursed by the Company.

l.The Dealer Manager represents and warrants to the Company and each person and firm that signs the Registration Statement that the information under the caption “Plan of Distribution” in the Prospectus and all other information furnished to the Company by the Dealer Manager in writing expressly for use in the Registration Statement, any preliminary prospectus, the Prospectus, or any amendment or

6


supplement thereto does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading.

m.The Dealer Manager and all Dealers will offer and sell the Shares at the public offering prices per share as determined in accordance with the Prospectus.

4.Indemnification.    

a.The Company will indemnify and hold harmless the Dealers and the Dealer Manager, their officers and directors and each person, if any, who controls such Dealer or the Dealer Manager within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act from and against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities, joint or several, to which such Dealers or the Dealer Manager, their officers and directors, or such controlling person may become subject, under the Securities Act or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon (a) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained (i) in the Registration Statement (including the Prospectus as a part thereof) or any post-effective amendment thereto or (ii) in any blue sky application or other document executed by the Company or on its behalf specifically for the purpose of qualifying any or all of the Shares for sale under the securities laws of any jurisdiction or based upon written information furnished by the Company under the securities laws thereof (any such application, document or information being hereinafter called a “Blue Sky Application”), or (b) the omission or alleged omission to state in the Registration Statement (including the Prospectus as a part thereof) or any post-effective amendment thereof or in any Blue Sky Application a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, or (c) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any preliminary prospectus, if used prior to the effective date of the Registration Statement, or in the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement to the Prospectus or the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, and will reimburse each Dealer or the Dealer Manager, its officers and each such controlling person for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such Dealer or the Dealer Manager, its officers and directors, or such controlling person in connection with investigating or defending such loss, claim, damage, liability or action; provided that the Company will not be liable in any such case to the extent that any such loss, claim, damage or liability arises out of, or is based upon an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission made in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company or the Dealer Manager by or on behalf of any Dealer or the Dealer Manager specifically for use with reference to such Dealer or the Dealer Manager in the preparation of the Registration Statement or any such post-effective amendment thereof, any such Blue Sky Application or any such preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus or any such amendment thereof or supplement thereto; and further provided that the Company will not be liable in any such case if it is determined that such Dealer or the Dealer Manager was at fault in connection with the loss, claim, damage, liability or action. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company may not indemnify or hold harmless the Dealer Manager, any Dealer or any of their affiliates in any manner that would be inconsistent with the provisions to Article II.G of the NASAA REIT Guidelines (as defined below). In particular, but without limitation, the Company may not indemnify or hold harmless the Dealer Manager, any Dealer or any of their affiliates for liabilities arising from or out of a violation of state or federal securities laws, unless one or more of the following conditions are met:

(i)  There has been a successful adjudication on the merits of each count involving alleged securities law violations;

(ii)  Such claims have been dismissed with prejudice on the merits by a court of competent jurisdiction; or

(iii)  A court of competent jurisdiction approves a settlement of the claims against the indemnitee and finds that indemnification of the settlement and the related costs should be made, and the court considering the request for indemnification has been advised of the position of the

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Commission and of the published position of any state securities regulatory authority in which the securities were offered as to indemnification for violations of securities laws.

b.The Dealer Manager will indemnify and hold harmless the Company, each officer and director of the Company, and each person or firm which has signed the Registration Statement and each person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act, from and against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities to which any of the aforesaid parties may become subject, under the Securities Act or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon (a) any untrue statement of a material fact contained (i) in the Registration Statement (including the Prospectus as a part thereof) or any post-effective amendment thereof or (ii) any Blue Sky Application, or (b) the omission to state in the Registration Statement (including the Prospectus as a part thereof) or any post-effective amendment thereof or in any Blue Sky Application a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, or (c) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any preliminary prospectus, if used prior to the effective date of the Registration Statement, or in the Prospectus, or in any amendment or supplement to the Prospectus or the omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein in the light of the circumstances under which they were made not misleading, in each case to the extent, but only to the extent, that such untrue statement or omission was made in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by or on behalf of the Dealer Manager specifically for use with reference to the Dealer Manager in the preparation of the Registration Statement or any such post-effective amendments thereof or any such Blue Sky Application or any such preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus or any such amendment thereof or supplement thereto, or (d) any unauthorized use of sales materials or use of unauthorized verbal representations concerning the Shares by the Dealer Manager and will reimburse the aforesaid parties, in connection with investigation or defending such loss, claim, damage, liability or action. This indemnity agreement will be in addition to any liability which the Dealer Manager may otherwise have.

c.Each Dealer severally will indemnify and hold harmless the Company, the Dealer Manager and each of their directors (including any persons named in the Registration Statement with his consent, as about to become a director), each of their officers who has signed the Registration Statement and each person, if any, who controls the Company or the Dealer Manager within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act from and against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities to which the Company, the Dealer Manager, any such director or officer, or controlling person may become subject, under the Securities Act or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon (a) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained (i) in the Registration Statement (including the Prospectus as a part thereof) or any post-effective amendment thereof or (ii) in any Blue Sky Application, or (b) the omission or alleged omission to state in the Registration Statement (including the Prospectus as a part thereof) or any post-effective amendment thereof or in any Blue Sky Application a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, or (c) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any preliminary prospectus, if used prior to the effective date of the Registration Statement, or in the Prospectus, or in any amendment or supplement to the Prospectus or the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, in each case to the extent, but only to the extent that such untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission was made in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company or the Dealer Manager by or on behalf of such Dealer specifically for use with reference to such Dealer in the preparation of the Registration Statement or any such post-effective amendments thereof or any such Blue Sky Application or any such preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus or any such amendment thereof or supplement thereto, or (d) any unauthorized use of sales materials or use of unauthorized verbal representations concerning the Shares by such Dealer or Dealer's representatives or agents in violation of Section VII of the Selected Dealer Agreement or otherwise, or (e) any failure to comply with applicable rules of FINRA, federal or state securities laws or the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, the NASAA REIT Guidelines (as defined in Section 13 below), or any other state or federal laws and regulations applicable to the Offering or the activities of the Dealer in connection with the Offering, and will reimburse the Company and the Dealer

8


Manager and any such directors or officers, or controlling person, in connection with investigating or defending any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action. This indemnity agreement will be in addition to any liability which such Dealer may otherwise have.

d.Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under this Section 4 of notice of the commencement of any action, such indemnified party will, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against any indemnifying party under this Section 4, notify in writing the indemnifying party of the commencement thereof; the omission so to notify the indemnifying party will relieve it from liability under this Section 4 only in the event and to the extent the failure to provide such notice adversely affects the ability to defend such action. In case any such action is brought against any indemnified party, and it notifies an indemnifying party of the commencement thereof, the indemnifying party will be entitled, to the extent it may wish, jointly with any other indemnifying party similarly notified, to participate in the defense thereof, with separate counsel. Such participation shall not relieve such indemnifying party of the obligation to reimburse the indemnified party for reasonable legal and other expenses (subject to paragraph (e) of this Section 4) incurred by such indemnified party in defending itself, except for such expenses incurred after the indemnifying party has deposited funds sufficient to effect the settlement, with prejudice, of the claim in respect of which indemnity is sought. Any such indemnifying party shall not be liable to any such indemnified party on account of any settlement of any claim or action effected without the consent of such indemnifying party.

e.The indemnifying party shall pay all legal fees and expenses of the indemnified party in the defense of such claims or actions; provided, however, that the indemnifying party shall not be obliged to pay legal expenses and fees to more than one law firm in connection with the defense of similar claims arising out of the same alleged acts or omissions giving rise to such claims notwithstanding that such actions or claims are alleged or brought by one or more parties against more than one indemnified party. If such claims or actions are alleged or brought against more than one indemnified party, then the indemnifying party shall only be obliged to reimburse the expenses and fees of the one law firm that has been selected by a majority of the indemnified parties against which such action is finally brought; and in the event a majority of such indemnified parties is unable to agree on which law firm for which expenses or fees will be reimbursable by the indemnifying party, then payment shall be made to the first law firm of record representing an indemnified party against the action or claim. Such law firm shall be paid only to the extent of services performed by such law firm and no reimbursement shall be payable to such law firm on account of legal services performed by another law firm.

f.The indemnity agreements contained in this Section 4 shall remain operative and in full force and effect regardless of (a) any investigation made by or on behalf of any Dealer, or any person controlling any Dealer or by or on behalf of the Company, the Dealer Manager or any officer or director thereof, or by or on behalf of any person controlling the Company or the Dealer Manager, (b) delivery of any Shares and payment therefor, and (c) any termination of this Agreement. A successor of any Dealer or of any of the parties to this Agreement, as the case may be, shall be entitled to the benefits of the indemnity agreements contained in this Section 4.

5.Survival of Provisions.

a.The respective agreements, representations and warranties of the Company and the Dealer Manager set forth in this Agreement shall remain operative and in full force and effect regardless of (a)  any investigation made by or on behalf of the Dealer Manager or any Dealer or any person controlling the Dealer Manager or any Dealer or by or on behalf of the Company or any person controlling the Company, and (b) the acceptance of any payment for the Shares.

b.The respective agreements of the Company and the Dealer Manager set forth in Sections 3.c. through 3.k. and Sections 4 through 13 of this Agreement shall remain operative and in full force and effect regardless of any termination of this Agreement.

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6.Applicable Law.This Agreement was executed and delivered in, and its validity, interpretation and construction shall be governed by, the laws of the State of Colorado; provided however, that causes of action for violations of federal or state securities laws shall not be governed by this Section.  Venue for any action brought hereunder shall lie exclusively in Denver, Colorado.

7.Counterparts.This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts. Each counterpart, when executed and delivered, shall be an original contract, but all counterparts, when taken together, shall constitute one and the same Agreement.

8.Successors and Amendment.    

a.This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the Dealer Manager and the Company and their respective successors. Nothing in this Agreement is intended or shall be construed to give to any other person any right, remedy or claim, except as otherwise specifically provided herein. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of the Dealers to the extent set forth in Sections 1 and 4 hereof.

b.This Agreement may be amended by the written agreement of the Dealer Manager and the Company.

c.Schedule 1 may be amended from time to time with the written consent of the Company and the Dealer Manager.  However, the addition or removal of Registration Statements from Schedule 1 shall only apply prospectively and shall not affect the respective agreements, representations and warranties of the Company and the Dealer Manager prior to such amendments to Schedule 1.  For the avoidance of doubt, the parties acknowledge and agree that, upon the removal of a Registration Statement from Schedule 1, the representations, warranties and covenants in Sections 1 and 2 shall no longer continue to be made with respect to the Offering, the Shares or the Prospectus relating to such Registration Statement.

9.Term and Termination.

Any party to this Agreement shall have the right to terminate this Agreement on 60 days’ written notice or immediately upon notice to the other party in the event that such other party shall have failed to comply with any material provision hereof. Upon expiration or termination of this Agreement, (a) the Company shall pay to the Dealer Manager all earned but unpaid compensation and reimbursement for all incurred, accountable compensation to which the Dealer Manager is or becomes entitled under Section 3 pursuant to the requirements of that Section 3 at such times as such amounts become payable pursuant to the terms of such Section 3, offset by any losses suffered by the Company or any officer or director of the Company arising from the Dealer Manager’s breach of this Agreement or an action that would otherwise give rise to an indemnification claim against the Dealer Manager under Section 4.b. herein, and (b) the Dealer Manager shall promptly deliver to the Company all records and documents in its possession that relate to the Offering and that are not designated as “dealer” copies. Dealer Manager shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to cooperate with the Company to accomplish an orderly transfer of management of the Offering to a party designated by the Company.

10.Confirmation.The Company hereby agrees and assumes the duty to confirm on its behalf and on behalf of Dealers who sell the Shares all orders for purchase of Shares accepted by the Company.

11.Prospectus and Supplemental Information. Dealer Manager agrees that it is not authorized or permitted to give and will not give, any information or make any representation concerning the Shares except as set forth in the Prospectus and any additional sales literature which has been approved in advance in writing by the Company (“Company-Approved Supplemental Information”). The Dealer Manager further agrees (a) not to deliver any Company-Approved Supplemental Information to any investor or prospective investor, to any broker-dealer that has not entered into a Selected Dealer Agreement or Servicing Agreement, or to any representatives or other associated persons of such a broker-dealer, unless it is accompanied or preceded by the Prospectus as amended and supplemented, (b) not to show or give to any investor or prospective investor or reproduce any material or writing that is supplied to it by the Company and marked “dealer only” or otherwise bearing a legend denoting that it is not to be used in

10


connection with the sale of Shares to members of the public and (c) not to show or give to any investor or prospective investor in a particular jurisdiction (and will similarly require Dealers pursuant to the Selected Dealer Agreement) any material or writing that is supplied to it by the Company if such material bears a legend denoting that it is not to be used in connection with the sale of Shares to members of the public in such jurisdiction.  Dealer Manager, in its agreements with Dealers, will include requirements and obligations of the Dealers similar to those imposed upon the Dealer Manager pursuant to this section.

12.Acting as Dealer.  Except where otherwise inconsistent with its rights and duties as Dealer Manager under this Agreement, the Dealer Manager may act as a Dealer with respect to (a) institutional accounts as defined by FINRA Rule 4512(c), and (b) investors who are referred to the Dealer Manager by registered investment advisers (each an “RIA”) and accepted by the Dealer Manager on a non-solicited basis pursuant to the terms of a Registered Investment Adviser Referral Agreement substantially in the form attached hereto as Schedule 3 (“Referral Agreement”).  With respect to such activities, except where otherwise inconsistent with its rights and duties as Dealer Manager under this Agreement and except as set forth below regarding suitability determinations in connection with sales described in (b) above, all provisions of this Agreement and form of Selected Dealer Agreement attached hereto (as each may be amended from time to time) that are applicable to Dealers shall apply to the Dealer Manager.  Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Company acknowledges and agrees that the Dealer Manager will rely on each RIA executing a Referral Agreement to perform the obligations and requirements relating to the suitability of investors as set forth in the form of Selected Dealer Agreement, which would otherwise be applicable to the Dealer Manager in connection with sales described in (b) above. The Company agrees that the Dealer Manager is not obligated to determine the suitability of investors referred to the Dealer Manager pursuant to a Referral Agreement.  The Company and the Dealer Manager shall remain subject to all other terms and conditions of this Agreement and, as applicable, the form of Selected Dealer Agreement, with respect to the Dealer Manager’s efforts to sell Shares to institutional accounts and to the investors referred by RIAs as described in this section.

13.Suitability of Investors.The Dealer Manager, in its agreements with Dealers, will require that the Dealers offer Shares only to persons who meet the financial qualifications set forth in the Prospectus or in any suitability letter or memorandum sent to it by the Company and will only make offers to persons in the jurisdictions in which it is advised in writing that the Shares are qualified for sale or that such qualification is not required. In offering Shares, the Dealer Manager, in its agreements with Dealers, will require that the Dealer comply with the provisions of all applicable rules and regulations relating to suitability of investors, including, without limitation, the provisions of Article III.C. of the Statement of Policy Regarding Real Estate Investment Trusts of the North American Securities Administrators Association, Inc. (the “NASAA REIT Guidelines”).  The Dealer Manager, in its agreements with Dealers, will require that the Dealers shall sell Class D shares and Class I shares only to those persons who are eligible to purchase such shares as described in the Prospectus and only through those Dealers who are authorized to sell such shares.  The Dealer Manager, in its agreements with the Dealers, shall require the Dealers to maintain, for at least six years, a record of the information obtained to determine that an investor meets the financial qualification and suitability standards imposed on the offer and sale of the Shares.  To the extent Shares are offered to investors other than through a Dealer, the obligations of the Dealers set forth in this Section 13 shall become obligations of the Dealer Manager, and the Dealer Manager shall be responsible for ensuring that such offers and sales comply with the obligations set forth in this Section 13; provided, however, that such obligations shall not become obligations of the Dealer Manager in connection with sales to investors referred to the Dealer Manager pursuant to a Referral Agreement as described in Section 12 above.  

14.Submission of Orders.  The Dealer Manager will require in its agreements with each Dealer that each Dealer comply with the submission of orders procedures set forth in the form of Selected Dealer Agreement attached as Exhibit “A” to this Agreement.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Dealer Manager may authorize certain Dealers that are “$250,000 broker-dealers” to instruct their customers to make their checks or wire transfers (“instruments of payment”) for Shares subscribed for payable directly to the Dealer or authorize a debit from the customer’s account maintained with the Dealer for the amount of Shares subscribed for by the customer.  In such case, the Dealer will collect the proceeds of the subscribers’ instruments of payment and debits and transmit funds to the Company or its designated agent.  The procedures for the transmittal of instruments of payment of $250,000 broker-dealers will be set forth in the agreements between the $250,000 broker-dealer and the Dealer Manager.  If the Dealer Manager is involved in the distribution process other than through a Dealer, the Dealer Manager will comply with such submission of orders procedures, and will require each person desiring to purchase Shares in the Offering to

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complete and execute a subscription eligibility form in the form provided by the Company to the Dealer Manager for use in connection with the Offering (the “Eligibility Form”) and to deliver to the Dealer Manager or as otherwise directed by the Dealer Manager such completed and executed Eligibility Form together with an instrument of payment in the amount of such person’s purchase, which must be at least the minimum purchase amount set forth in the Prospectus. Eligibility Forms and instruments of payment will be transmitted by the Dealer Manager to the Company as soon as practicable, but in any event by the end of the second business day following receipt by the Dealer Manager. If the Dealer Manager receives an Eligibility Form or instrument of payment not conforming to the instructions set forth in the form of Selected Dealer Agreement, the Dealer Manager shall return such Eligibility Form and instrument of payment directly to such subscriber not later than the end of the next business day following its receipt. Instruments of payment of rejected subscribers will be promptly returned to such subscribers.

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If the foregoing correctly sets forth our understanding, please indicate your acceptance thereof in the space provided below for that purpose, whereupon this letter and your acceptance shall constitute a binding agreement between us as of the date first above written.

Lainie

​ ​​ ​

 

Very truly yours,


 


ARES REAL ESTATE INCOME TRUST INC.

By:

/s/ Lainie P. Minnick

Name:

Lainie P. Minnick

Title:

Managing Director, Chief Financial Officer & Treasurer

By:

/s/ Casey Galligan

Name:

Casey Galligan

Title:

Managing Director, Co-Chief Executive Officer

Accepted and agreed to as of the date first above written:

ARES WEALTH MANAGEMENT SOLUTIONS, LLC

 

 

By:

/s/ Steve Stroker

 

 

Name:

Steve Stroker

Title:

Managing Director, Chief Executive Officer

 

 


Schedule 1

Registration Statement(s)

1. Registration Statement on Form S-11, Commission file no. 333-222630.

Accepted and agreed to by the Company and the Dealer Manager as of December 1, 2021.

​ ​​ ​


ARES REAL ESTATE INCOME TRUST INC.

By:

/s/ Lainie P. Minnick

Name:

Lainie P. Minnick

Title:

Managing Director, Chief Financial Officer & Treasurer

By:

/s/ Casey Galligan

Name:

Casey Galligan

Title:

Managing Director, Co-Chief Executive Officer

Accepted and agreed to as of the date first above written:

ARES WEALTH MANAGEMENT SOLUTIONS, LLC

 

 

By:

/s/ Steve Stroker

 

 

Name:

Steve Stroker

Title:

Managing Director, Chief Executive Officer

 

 


Schedule 2

Compensation

I. Selling Commissions and Dealer Manager Fees

Subject to certain Dealers’ right to retain selling commissions and dealer manager fees directly from investors, as described in such Dealers’ Selected Dealer Agreements, the Company will pay to the Dealer Manager selling commissions in the amount of up to 3.0%, and dealer manager fees in the amount of up to 0.5%, of the transaction price per share of each sale of Class T Primary Shares, provided, however that such amounts may vary for sales through certain Dealers as provided in such Dealers’ Selected Dealer Agreements, provided that the sum of such selling commissions and dealer manager fees will not exceed 3.5% of the transaction price per share. Further, subject to certain Dealers’ right to retain selling commissions directly from investors, as described in such Dealers’ Selected Dealer Agreements, the Company will pay to the Dealer Manager selling commissions in the amount of up to 3.5% of the transaction price per share of each sale of Class S Primary Shares. The Company will not pay to the Dealer Manager any selling commissions or dealer manager fees in respect of the purchase of any Class D shares, Class I shares or DRIP Shares, and will not pay to the Dealer Manager any dealer manager fees in respect of the purchase of any Class S shares.

II.Distribution Fee

The Company will pay to the Dealer Manager a Distribution Fee with respect to outstanding Class T shares in an amount equal to 0.85% per annum of the aggregate NAV of the outstanding Class T shares, consisting of an advisor distribution fee and a dealer distribution fee. The Company expects that the advisor distribution fee will equal 0.65% per annum and the dealer distribution fee will equal 0.20% per annum, of the aggregate NAV for each Class T share; however, with respect to Class T shares sold through certain Dealers, the advisor distribution fee and the dealer distribution fee may be other amounts as set forth in such Dealers’ Selected Dealer Agreements, provided that the sum of such fees will always equal 0.85% per annum of the NAV of such shares. The Company will pay to the Dealer Manager a Distribution Fee with respect to outstanding Class S shares and Class D shares in an amount equal to 0.85% per annum of the aggregate NAV of the outstanding Class S shares and in an amount equal to 0.25% per annum of the aggregate NAV of the outstanding Class D shares. The Company will not pay the Dealer Manager a Distribution Fee with respect to Class I shares. The Distribution Fees will be paid monthly in arrears.


Schedule 3

FORM OF REGISTERED INVESTMENT ADVISER REFERRAL AGREEMENT


EXHIBIT A

FORM OF SELECTED DEALER AGREEMENT

Ladies and Gentlemen:

Ares Wealth Management Solutions, LLC, as the dealer manager (“Dealer Manager”) for Ares Real Estate Income Trust Inc. (the “Company”), a Maryland corporation which will be taxed as a real estate investment trust, invites you (the “Dealer”) to participate in the distribution of shares of common stock (“Shares”) of the Company subject to the following terms:

I.Dealer Manager Agreement

The Dealer Manager has entered into a Fourth Amended and Restated Dealer Manager Agreement (the “Dealer Manager Agreement”) with the Company dated December 1, 2021, attached hereto as Exhibit “A.” By your acceptance of this Agreement, you will become one of the Dealers referred to in such Agreement between the Company and the Dealer Manager and will be entitled and subject to the indemnification provisions contained in such Agreement, including the provisions of Section 4 of such Agreement wherein the Dealers severally agree to indemnify and hold harmless the Company, the Dealer Manager and each officer and director thereof, and each person, if any, who controls the Company or the Dealer Manager within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. Except as otherwise specifically stated herein, all terms used in this Agreement have the meanings provided in the Dealer Manager Agreement. The Shares are to be offered solely through broker-dealers who are members of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (“FINRA”).

The Dealer hereby agrees to use its best efforts to sell the Shares for cash on the terms and conditions stated in the Prospectus. Nothing in this Agreement shall be deemed or construed to make the Dealer an employee, agent, representative or partner of the Dealer Manager or of the Company, and the Dealer is not authorized to act for the Dealer Manager or the Company or to make any representations on their behalf except as set forth in the Prospectus and such other Supplemental Information (as defined in Section VII herein).

As described in the Dealer Manager Agreement, the Company has filed one or more registration statements with the Commission that are listed on Schedule 1 to the Dealer Manager Agreement (each, a “Registration Statement”), which Schedule 1 may be amended from time to time with the written consent of the Company and the Dealer Manager. Any new Registration Statement will be added to Schedule 1 upon its initial effectiveness with the Commission. Each Registration Statement shall register an ongoing offering (each, an “Offering”) of Common Stock, which may consist of Class T, Class S, Class D and/or Class I shares of Common Stock (the “Shares”).

Notwithstanding the foregoing, if any new Registration Statement is added to Schedule 1 to the Dealer Manager Agreement, the Dealer Manager will give the Dealer prompt written notice of such addition. Schedule 1 to the Dealer Manager Agreement may be amended from time to time with the written consent of the Company and the Dealer Manager. However, the addition or removal of Registration Statements from Schedule 1 to the Dealer Manager Agreement shall only apply prospectively and shall not affect the respective agreements, representations and warranties of the Company, the Dealer Manager and the Dealer prior to such amendments to Schedule 1 to the Dealer Manager Agreement. It is possible that more than one Registration Statement may be listed on Schedule 1 during times of transition from one Registration Statement to another, during which time offers or sales may be made pursuant to either Registration Statement. In such event, the Dealer Manager shall (a) communicate to the Dealer details about the transition from one Registration Statement to the next, including when sales may be made pursuant to the most recent Registration Statement and when sales will cease pursuant to the older Registration Statement and (b) provide the Dealer with sufficient copies of the appropriate Prospectus and other offering materials in order to continue to make offers and sales throughout such transition period.

In this Agreement, unless explicitly stated otherwise, “the Registration Statement” means, at any given time, each of the registration statements listed on Schedule 1 to the Dealer Manager Agreement, as such Schedule 1 to the Dealer Manager Agreement may be amended from time to time, as each such registration statement is finally


amended and revised at the effective date of the registration statement (including at the effective date of any post-effective amendment thereto). In this Agreement, unless explicitly stated otherwise, “the Offering” means, at any given time, an offering covered by a Registration Statement and “Shares” means the Shares being offered in an Offering. In this Agreement, unless explicitly stated otherwise, any references to the Registration Statement, the Offering, the Shares or the Prospectus with respect to each other shall mean only those that are all related to the same Registration Statement.

II.Submission of Orders

Each person desiring to purchase Shares in the Offering will be required to complete and execute a subscription eligibility form provided by the Company to each Dealer for use in connection with the Offering (the “Eligibility Form”) and to deliver to the Dealer such completed and executed Eligibility Form together with a check or wire transfer (“instrument of payment”) in the amount of such person’s purchase, which must be at least the minimum purchase amount set forth in the Prospectus. Those persons who purchase Shares will be instructed by the Dealer to make their instruments of payment payable to or for the benefit of “Ares Real Estate Income Trust Inc.” Purchase orders which include a completed and executed Eligibility Form in good order and instruments of payment received by the Company at least five (5) business days prior to the first calendar day of the month (unless waived by the Dealer Manager) will be executed as of the first calendar day of the next month (based on the prior month’s transaction price per share of the applicable share).

If the Dealer receives an Eligibility Form or instrument of payment not conforming to the foregoing instructions, the Dealer shall return such Eligibility Form and instrument of payment directly to such subscriber not later than the end of the next business day following its receipt. Eligibility Forms and instruments of payment received by the Dealer which conform to the foregoing instructions shall be transmitted for deposit pursuant to one of the methods described in this Section II. Transmittal of received investor funds will be made in accordance with the following procedures:

Where, pursuant to the Dealer's internal supervisory procedures, internal supervisory review is conducted at the same location at which Eligibility Forms and instruments of payment are received from subscribers, Eligibility Forms and instruments of payment will be transmitted by the end of the next business day following receipt by the Dealer for deposit to Ares Real Estate Income Trust Inc. as set forth in the Eligibility Form or as otherwise directed by the Company.

Where, pursuant to the Dealer's internal supervisory procedures, final and internal supervisory review is conducted at a different location, Eligibility Forms and instruments of payment will be transmitted by the end of the next business day following receipt by the Dealer to the office of the Dealer conducting such final internal supervisory review (the “Final Review Office”). The Final Review Office will in turn, by the end of the next business day following receipt by the Final Review Office, transmit such Eligibility Forms and instruments of payment for deposit to Ares Real Estate Income Trust Inc. as set forth in the Eligibility Form or as otherwise directed by the Company.

III.Pricing

Except as otherwise provided in the Prospectus, which may be amended or supplemented from time to time, the Primary Shares shall generally be offered to the public at a purchase price payable in cash equal to the Company’s prior month’s net asset value (“NAV”) per share applicable to the class of shares being purchased (as calculated in accordance with the procedures described in the Prospectus), or at a different purchase price made available to investors in cases where the Company believes there has been a material change to the NAV per Share since the end of the prior month, plus in either case any applicable selling commissions and dealer manager fees. For stockholders who participate in the Company’s distribution reinvestment plan (“DRIP”), the cash distributions attributable to the class of shares that each stockholder owns will be automatically invested in additional shares of the same class. The DRIP Shares are to be issued and sold to stockholders of the Company at a purchase price generally equal to the Company’s prior month’s NAV per share, or at a different purchase price made available to investors in cases where the Company believes there has been a material change to the NAV per Share since the end

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of the prior month, before any applicable selling commissions and dealer manager fees (“transaction price”) of the applicable class of shares on the date the distribution is payable. Except as otherwise indicated in the Prospectus or in any letter or memorandum sent to the Dealer by the Company or the Dealer Manager, a minimum initial purchase of $2,500 in Class T shares, Class S shares and Class D shares is required, and a minimum initial purchase of $1,000,000 (unless waived by the Company) in Class I shares is required, and additional investments of any such shares may be made in cash in minimal increments of at least $500 in such shares except for purchases made pursuant to the DRIP. The Shares are nonassessable.

 IV.Dealers' Compensation

Except as may be provided in the “Plan of Distribution” section of the Prospectus, which may be amended or supplemented from time to time, as compensation for completed sales, Dealer is entitled, on the terms and subject to the conditions herein, to the compensation set forth on Schedule 1 hereto.

V.Payment

Payments of selling commissions and any other fees due to the Dealer pursuant to this Agreement will be made by the Dealer Manager to the Dealer. Selling commissions and such other fees due to the Dealer pursuant to this Agreement will be paid to the Dealer within 30 days after receipt by the Dealer Manager.

The Dealer, in its sole discretion, may authorize Dealer Manager to deposit selling commissions and any other fees or payments due to it pursuant to this Agreement directly to its bank account. If the Dealer so elects, the Dealer shall provide such deposit authorization and instructions in Schedule 2 to this Agreement.

VI.Right to Reject Orders or Cancel Sales

All orders, whether initial or additional, are subject to acceptance by and shall only become effective upon confirmation by the Company, which reserves the right to reject any order. Orders not accompanied by an executed Eligibility Form and the required instrument of payment in payment for the Shares may be rejected. Issuance and delivery of the Shares will be made only after actual receipt of payment therefor. If any check is not paid upon presentment, or if the Company is not in actual receipt of clearinghouse funds or cash, certified or cashier's check or the equivalent in payment for the Shares within 15 days of sale, the Company reserves the right to cancel the sale without notice. In the event an order is rejected, canceled or rescinded for any reason, the Dealer agrees to return to the Dealer Manager any commission and any other fees or payments theretofore paid with respect to such order.

VII.Prospectus and Supplemental Information; Compliance with Laws

Dealer is not authorized or permitted to give and will not give, any information or make any representation concerning the Shares except as set forth in the Prospectus and any additional sales literature which has been approved in advance in writing by the Dealer Manager (“Supplemental Information”). The Dealer Manager will supply Dealer with reasonable quantities of the Prospectus, any supplements thereto and any amended Prospectus, as well as any Supplemental Information, for delivery to investors, and Dealer will deliver a copy of the Prospectus and all supplements thereto and any amended Prospectus to each investor to whom an offer is made prior to or simultaneously with the first solicitation of an offer to sell the Shares to an investor. The Dealer agrees that it will not send or give any supplement to the Prospectus or any Supplemental Information to an investor unless it has previously sent or given a Prospectus and all previous supplements thereto and any amended Prospectus to that investor or has simultaneously sent or given a Prospectus and all previous supplements thereto and any amended Prospectus with such supplement to the Prospectus or Supplemental Information. The Dealer agrees that it will not show or give to any investor or prospective investor or reproduce any material or writing which is supplied to it by the Dealer Manager and marked “dealer only” or otherwise bearing a legend denoting that it is not to be used in connection with the sale of Shares to members of the public. The Dealer agrees that it will not show or give to any investor or prospective investor in a particular jurisdiction any material or writing that is supplied to it by the Dealer Manager if such material bears a legend denoting that it is not to be used in connection with the sale of Shares to members of the public in such jurisdiction. Dealer agrees that it will not use in connection with the offer or sale of Shares any material or writing which relates to another company supplied to it by the Company or the Dealer

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Manager bearing a legend which states that such material may not be used in connection with the offer or sale of any securities other than the company to which it relates. The Dealer further agrees that it will not use in connection with the offer or sale of Shares any materials or writings which have not been previously approved by the Dealer Manager in writing. The Dealer agrees, if the Dealer Manager so requests, to furnish a copy of any revised preliminary Prospectus to each person to whom it has furnished a copy of any previous preliminary Prospectus, and further agrees that it will itself mail or otherwise deliver all preliminary and final Prospectuses required for compliance with the provisions of Rule 15c2-8 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). Regardless of the termination of this Agreement, the Dealer will deliver a Prospectus in transactions in the Shares for a period of 90 days from the effective date of the Registration Statement or such longer period as may be required by the Exchange Act.

On becoming a Dealer, and in offering and selling Shares, the Dealer agrees to comply with all the applicable requirements imposed upon it under (a) the Securities Act, the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated under both such acts, (b) all applicable state securities laws and regulations as from time to time in effect, (c) any other state, federal, foreign and other laws and regulations applicable to the Offering, the sale of Shares or the activities of the Dealer pursuant to this Agreement, including without limitation the privacy standards and requirements of state and federal laws, including the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act of 1999 (“GLBA”), and the laws governing money laundering abatement and anti-terrorist financing efforts, including the applicable rules of the Commission and FINRA, the Bank Secrecy Act, as amended, the USA Patriot Act of 2001, and regulations administered by the Office of Foreign Asset Control at the Department of the Treasury; and (d) this Agreement and the Prospectus as amended and supplemented. Notwithstanding the termination of this Agreement or the payment of any amount to the Dealer, the Dealer agrees to pay the Dealer's proportionate share of any claim, demand or liability asserted against the Dealer and the other Dealers on the basis that such Dealers or any of them constitute an association, unincorporated business or other separate entity, including in each case such Dealer's proportionate share of any expenses incurred in defending against any such claim, demand or liability.

VIII.License and Association Membership

The Dealer's acceptance of this Agreement constitutes a representation to the Company and the Dealer Manager that the Dealer is a properly registered or licensed broker-dealer, duly authorized to sell Shares under federal and state securities laws and regulations, and foreign laws, if applicable, and in all states or jurisdictions where it offers or sells Shares, and that it is a member in good standing of FINRA. This Agreement shall automatically terminate if the Dealer ceases to be a member in good standing of FINRA. The Dealer agrees to notify the Dealer Manager immediately if the Dealer ceases to be a member in good standing of FINRA. The Dealer also hereby agrees to abide by the Rules of FINRA, including FINRA Rules 2040, 2111, 2121, 2310, 5110 and 5141.

IX.Limitation of Offer; Suitability

The Dealer will offer Shares (both at the time of an initial subscription and at the time of any additional subscription, including initial enrollments and increased participations in the DRIP) only to persons who meet the financial qualifications set forth in the Prospectus or in any suitability letter or memorandum sent to it by the Company or the Dealer Manager and will only make offers to persons in the jurisdictions in which it is advised in writing by the Dealer Manager that the Shares are qualified for sale or that such qualification is not required and in which the Dealer has all required licenses and registrations to offer Shares in such jurisdictions. In offering Shares, the Dealer will comply with the provisions of the Rules set forth in the FINRA Manual, as well as all other applicable rules and regulations relating to suitability of investors, including without limitation, the provisions of Article III.C and Article III.E.1 of the Statement of Policy Regarding Real Estate Investment Trusts of the North American Securities Administrators Association, Inc. (the “NASAA Guidelines”). Nothing contained in this section shall be construed to relieve Dealer of its suitability obligations under FINRA Rule 2111 or FINRA Rule 2310. The Dealer will sell Class T shares, Class S shares, Class D shares and Class I shares only to the extent approved by the Dealer Manager as set forth on Schedule 1 to this Agreement, and to the extent approved to sell Class D shares and Class I shares pursuant to this Agreement, sell such shares only to those persons who are eligible to purchase Class D shares and Class I shares as described in the Prospectus. Nothing contained in this Selected Dealer Agreement shall be construed to impose upon the Company or the Dealer Manager the responsibility of assuring that

4


prospective investors meet the suitability standards in accordance with the terms and provisions of the Prospectus. Dealer shall not purchase any Shares for a discretionary account without obtaining the prior written approval of Dealer’s customer and such customer’s completed and executed Eligibility Form. The Dealer agrees to comply with the record-keeping requirements imposed by (a) federal and state securities laws and the rules and regulations thereunder, (b) the applicable rules of FINRA and (c) the NASAA Guidelines, including the requirement to maintain records (the “Suitability Records”) of the information used to determine that an investment in Shares is suitable and appropriate for each subscriber for a period of six years from the date of the sale of the Shares. The Dealer further agrees to make the Suitability Records available to the Dealer Manager and the Company upon request and to make them available to representatives of the Commission and FINRA and applicable state securities administrators upon the Dealer’s receipt of a subpoena or other appropriate document request from such agency.

X.Disclosure Review; Confidentiality of Information

The Dealer agrees that it shall have reasonable grounds to believe, based on the information made available to it through the Prospectus or other materials, that all material facts are adequately and accurately disclosed in the Prospectus and provide a basis for evaluating the Shares. In making this determination, the Dealer shall evaluate, at a minimum, items of compensation, physical properties, tax aspects, financial stability and experience of the sponsor, conflicts of interest and risk factors, and appraisals and other pertinent reports. If the Dealer relies upon the results of any inquiry conducted by another member or members of FINRA, the Dealer shall have reasonable grounds to believe that such inquiry was conducted with due care, that the member or members conducting or directing the inquiry consented to the disclosure of the results of the inquiry and that the person who participated in or conducted the inquiry is not the Dealer Manager or a sponsor or an affiliate of the sponsor of the Company.

It is anticipated that (i) the Dealer and Dealer’s officers, directors, managers, employees, owners, members, partners, home office diligence personnel and other agents of the Dealer that are conducting a due diligence inquiry on behalf of the Dealer and (ii) persons or committees, as the case may be, responsible for determining whether the Dealer will participate in the Offering ((i) and (ii) are collectively, the “Diligence Personnel”) either have previously or will in the future have access to certain Confidential Information (defined below) pertaining to the Company, the Dealer Manager, the Advisor, or their respective affiliates. For purposes hereof, “Confidential Information” shall mean and include: (i) trade secrets concerning the business and affairs of the Company, the Dealer Manager, the Advisor, or their respective affiliates, (ii) confidential data, know-how, current and planned research and development, current and planned methods and processes, marketing lists or strategies, slide presentations, business plans, however documented, belonging to the Company, the Dealer Manager, the Advisor, or their respective affiliates; (iii) information concerning the business and affairs of the Company, the Dealer Manager, the Advisor, or their respective affiliates (including, without limitation, historical financial statements, financial projections and budgets, investment-related information, models, budgets, plans, and market studies, however documented; (iv) any information marked or designated “Confidential—For Due Diligence Purposes Only”; and (v) any notes, analysis, compilations, studies, summaries and other material containing or based, in whole or in part, on any information included in the foregoing. The Dealer agrees to keep, and to cause its Diligence Personnel to keep, all such Confidential Information strictly confidential and to not use, distribute or copy the same except in connection with the Dealer’s due diligence inquiry. The Dealer agrees to not disclose, and to cause its Diligence Personnel not to disclose, such Confidential Information to the public, or the Dealer’s sales staff, financial advisors, or any person involved in selling efforts related to the Offering or to any other third party and agrees not to use the Confidential Information in any manner in the offer and sale of the Shares. The Dealer further agrees to use all reasonable precautions necessary to preserve the confidentiality of such Confidential Information, including, but not limited to (a) limiting access to such information to persons who have a need to know such information only for the purpose of the Dealer’s due diligence inquiry and (b) informing each recipient of such Confidential Information of the Dealer’s confidentiality obligation. The Dealer acknowledges that Dealer or its Diligence Personnel may previously have received Confidential Information in connection with preliminary due diligence on the Company, and agrees that the foregoing restrictions shall apply to any such previously received Confidential Information. The Dealer acknowledges that Dealer or its Diligence Personnel may in the future receive Confidential Information either in individual or collective meetings or telephone calls with the Company, or at general “Forums” sponsored by the Company, and agrees that the foregoing restrictions shall apply to any Confidential Information received in the future through any source or medium. The Dealer acknowledges the restrictions and limitations of Regulation F-D promulgated by the Commission and agrees that the foregoing restrictions are necessary and appropriate in order for the Company to comply therewith. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Confidential Information may be disclosed (a) if

5


approved in writing for disclosure by the Company or the Dealer Manager, (b) pursuant to a subpoena or as required by law, or (c) as required by regulation, rule, order or request of any governing or self-regulatory organization (including the Commission or FINRA), provided that the Dealer shall notify the Dealer Manager in advance if practicable under the circumstances of any attempt to obtain Confidential Information pursuant to provisions (b) and (c).

XI.Dealer's Compliance with Anti-Money Laundering Rules and Regulations

The Dealer acknowledges that investors who purchase Shares through the Dealer are “customers” of the Dealer and not the Dealer Manager. The Dealer hereby represents that it has complied and will comply with Section 326 of the USA PATRIOT Act of 2001 and the implementing rules and regulations promulgated thereunder (the “PATRIOT Act”) in connection with broker/dealers' anti-money laundering obligations (the “AML Rules”). The Dealer hereby represents that it has adopted and implemented, and will maintain a written anti-money laundering compliance program (“AML Program”) including, without limitation, anti-money laundering policies and procedures relating to customer identification as required by the PATRIOT Act and the implementing rules and regulations promulgated thereunder. In accordance with these applicable laws and regulations and its AML Program, the Dealer agrees to verify the identity of its new customers; to maintain customer records; and to check the names of new customers against government watch lists, including the Office of Foreign Asset Control’s (OFAC) list of Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons. Additionally, Dealer will monitor account activity to identify patterns of unusual size or volume, geographic factors and any other “red flags” described in the PATRIOT Act as potential signals of money laundering or terrorist financing. The Dealer will submit to the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network any required suspicious activity reports about such activity and further will disclose such activity to applicable federal and state law enforcement when required by law. Upon request by the Dealer Manager at any time, the Dealer hereby agrees to furnish (a) a copy of its AML Program to the Dealer Manager for review, and (b) a copy of the findings and any remedial actions taken in connection with the Dealer’s most recent independent testing of its AML Program. The Dealer further understands that, while the Dealer Manager is required to establish and implement an AML Program in accordance with the AML Rules, the Dealer cannot rely on the Dealer Manager’s AML Program for purposes of the Dealer’s compliance with the AML Rules. The Dealer agrees to notify Dealer Manager immediately if the Dealer is subject to a FINRA disclosure event or fine from FINRA related to its AML Program.

XII.Privacy.

The Dealer agrees as follows:

The Dealer agrees to abide by and comply in all respects with (a) the privacy standards and requirements of the GLBA and applicable regulations promulgated thereunder, (b) the privacy standards and requirements of any other applicable federal or state law, including the Fair Credit Reporting Act (“FCRA”) and (c) its own internal privacy policies and procedures, each as may be amended from time to time.

The parties hereto acknowledge that from time to time, Dealer may share with the Company and the Company may share with Dealer nonpublic personal information (as defined under the GLBA) of customers of Dealer. This nonpublic personal information may include, but is not limited to a customer’s name, address, telephone number, social security number, account information and personal financial information. Dealer shall only be granted access to such nonpublic personal information of each of its customers that pertains to the period or periods during which Dealer served as the broker dealer of record for such customer’s account. Dealer, the Dealer Manager and the Company shall not disclose nonpublic personal information of any customers who have opted out of such disclosures, except (a) to service providers (when necessary and as permitted under the GLBA), (b) to carry out the purposes for which one party discloses such nonpublic personal information to another party under this Agreement (when necessary and as permitted under the GLBA) or (c) as otherwise required by applicable law. Any nonpublic personal information that one party receives from another party shall be subject to the limitations on usage described in this Section XII. Except as expressly permitted under the FCRA, Dealer agrees that it shall not disclose any information that would be considered a “consumer report” under the FCRA.

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Dealer shall be responsible for determining which customers have opted out of the disclosure of nonpublic personal information by periodically reviewing and, if necessary, retrieving a list of such customers (the “List”) to identify customers that have exercised their opt-out rights. In the event Dealer, the Dealer Manager or the Company expects to use or disclose nonpublic personal information of any customer for purposes other than as set forth in this Section XII, it must first consult the List to determine whether the affected customer has exercised his or her opt-out rights. The use or disclosure of any nonpublic personal information of any customer that is identified on the List as having opted out of such disclosures, except as set forth in this Section XII, shall be prohibited.

Dealer shall implement reasonable measures designed (a) to assure the security and confidentiality of nonpublic personal information of all customers; (b) to protect such information against any anticipated threats or hazards to the security or integrity of such information; (c) to protect against unauthorized access to, or use of, such information that could result in material harm to any customer; (d) to protect against unauthorized disclosure of such information to unaffiliated third parties; and (e) to otherwise ensure its compliance with all applicable privacy standards and requirements of federal or state law (including, but not limited to, the GLBA), and any other applicable legal or regulatory requirements. Dealer further agrees to cause all its agents, representatives, affiliates, subcontractors, or any other party to whom Dealer provides access to or discloses nonpublic personal information of customers to implement appropriate measures designed to meet the objectives set forth in this Section XII.

XIII.Dealer’s Undertaking to Not Facilitate a Secondary Market in the Shares

The Dealer acknowledges that there is no public trading market for the Shares and that there are limits on the ownership, transferability and redemption of the Shares, which significantly limit the liquidity of an investment in the Shares. The Dealer also acknowledges that the Company’s Share Redemption Program (the “Program”) provides only a limited opportunity for investors to have their Shares redeemed by the Company and that the Company’s board of directors may, in its sole discretion, amend, suspend, or terminate the Program at any time in accordance with the terms of the Program. The Dealer further acknowledges that the Company is obligated to immediately terminate the Program if the Shares are listed on a national securities exchange or if a secondary market in the Shares is otherwise established. The Dealer hereby agrees that so long as the Company is offering Shares under a registration statement filed with the Commission (including any follow-on offering of the Shares) and the Company has not listed the Shares on a national securities exchange, the Dealer will not engage in any action or transaction that would facilitate or otherwise create the appearance of a secondary market in the Shares without the prior written approval of the Dealer Manager.

XIV.Arbitration

Any dispute, controversy or claim arising between the parties relating to this Agreement (whether such dispute arises under any federal, state or local statute or regulation, or at common law), shall be resolved by final and binding arbitration administered in accordance with the then current commercial arbitration rules of FINRA in accordance with the terms of this Agreement (including the governing law provisions of this Agreement and pursuant to the Federal Arbitration Act (9 U.S.C. §§ 1 – 16). The parties will request that the arbitrator or arbitration panel (“Arbitrator”) issue written findings of fact and conclusions of law. The Arbitrator shall not be empowered to make any award or render any judgment for punitive damages, and the Arbitrator shall be required to follow applicable law in construing this Agreement, making awards, and rendering judgments. The decision of the arbitration panel shall be final and binding, and judgment upon any arbitration award may be entered by any court having jurisdiction. All arbitration hearings will be held at the Denver FINRA District Office or at another mutually agreed upon site. The parties may agree on a single arbitrator, or, if the parties cannot so agree, each party will have the right to choose one arbitrator, and the selected arbitrators will choose a third arbitrator. Each arbitrator must have experience and education that qualify him or her to competently address the specific issues to be designated for arbitration. Notwithstanding the preceding, no party will be prevented from immediately seeking provisional remedies in courts of competent jurisdiction, including but not limited to, temporary restraining orders and preliminary injunctions, but such remedies will not be sought as a means to avoid or stay arbitration.

XV.Termination

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The Dealer will suspend or terminate its offer and sale of Shares upon the request of the Company or the Dealer Manager at any time and will resume its offer and sale of Shares hereunder upon subsequent request of the Company or the Dealer Manager. Any party may terminate this Agreement by written notice. Such termination shall be effective 48 hours after the mailing of such notice. This Agreement is the entire agreement of the parties and supersedes all prior agreements, if any, between the parties hereto.

This Agreement may be amended at any time by the Dealer Manager by written notice to the Dealer, and any such amendment shall be deemed accepted by the Dealer upon placing an order for sale of Shares after the Dealer has received such notice.

The respective agreements and obligations of the Dealer Manager and Dealer set forth in Sections IV, VI, VII, and XIII through XVIII of this Agreement shall remain operative and in full force and effect regardless of the termination of this Agreement.

XVI.Notice

All notices will be in writing and will be duly given to the Dealer Manager when mailed to 518 17th Street, 12thFloor, Denver, Colorado 80202, and to the Dealer when mailed to the address specified by the Dealer herein.

XVII.Attorney's Fees and Applicable Law

In any action to enforce the provisions of this Agreement or to secure damages for its breach, the prevailing party shall recover its costs and reasonable attorney's fees. This Agreement shall be construed under the laws of the State of Colorado and shall take effect when signed by the Dealer and countersigned by the Dealer Manager. Venue for any action (including arbitration) shall lie exclusively in Denver, Colorado.

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THE DEALER MANAGER:


 


 


 


 


 


 



ARES WEALTH MANAGEMENT SOLUTIONS, LLC


 


 


 


 

 



 


 


 


 

 Date:


 

 

 

 

 

      

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  We have read the foregoing Agreement and we hereby accept and agree to the terms and conditions therein set forth. We hereby represent that the list below of jurisdictions in which we are registered or licensed as a broker or dealer and are fully authorized to sell securities is true and correct, and we agree to advise you of any change in such list during the term of this Agreement.

1.IDENTITY OF DEALER:


Company Name:

 

  


 

 


Type of entity:


 


  


(Corporation, Partnership or Proprietorship)


 


 


Organized in the State of:


 


  



 


 


Licensed as broker-dealer all States:


 


Yes


  



 


No


  



 


 


 


 


If no, list all States licensed as broker-dealer:


 


  



  



Tax ID #:


 


  



 


 

2.Person to receive notices delivered pursuant to the Selected Dealer Agreement.


Name:


 


  



 


 


Company:


 


  



 


 


Address:


 


  



 


 


City, State and Zip:


 


  



 


 


Telephone:


 


  



 


 


Fax:


 


  



 


 


Email:


 


 



 


 

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AGREED TO AND ACCEPTED BY THE DEALER:


 


 


  


(Dealer's Firm Name)


 


 


By:


 


  


Signature


 


 


Name:


 


  



 


 


Title:


 


  



 


 


Date:


 


  



 


 

11


SCHEDULE 1
TO
SELECTED DEALER AGREEMENT WITH
ARES WEALTH MANAGEMENT SOLUTIONS, LLC

NAME OF ISSUER: ARES REAL ESTATE INCOME TRUST INC.

NAME OF PARTICIPATING BROKER-DEALER:

SCHEDULE 1 TO AGREEMENT DATED:

The following reflects the selling commissions, dealer manager fees and Distribution Fees as agreed upon between Ares Wealth Management Solutions, LLC (the “Dealer Manager”) and Dealer, effective as of the effective date of the Selected Dealer Agreement (the “Agreement”) between the Dealer Manager and Dealer in connection with the offering of Shares of Ares Real Estate Income Trust Inc. (the “Company”).

Upfront Selling Commissions and Dealer Manager Fees.

Except as may be provided in the “Plan of Distribution” section of the Prospectus, which may be amended or supplemented from time to time, as compensation for completed sales (as defined below) by the Dealer of Class T Primary Shares and Class S Primary Shares that the Dealer is authorized to sell and for services rendered by Dealer hereunder, the Dealer Manager shall reallow to Dealer an upfront selling commission in an amount up to the percentage of the transaction price per share set forth under “Share Class Election” in this Schedule 1 on such completed sales of Class T Primary Shares and Class S Primary Shares, as applicable, by Dealer. Dealer shall not receive selling commissions for sales of any DRIP Shares, or for sales of any Class D or Class I shares, whether in the Primary Offering or pursuant to the DRIP. For purposes of this Schedule 1, a “completed sale” shall occur if and only if a transaction has closed with a subscriber for Shares pursuant to all applicable offering and subscription documents, payment for the Shares has been received by the Company in full in the manner provided in Section II of the Agreement, the Company has accepted the subscription agreement of such subscriber and the Company has thereafter distributed the selling commission and dealer manager fee, as applicable, to the Dealer Manager in connection with such transaction.

Except as may be provided in the “Plan of Distribution” section of the Prospectus, which may be amended or supplemented from time to time, as compensation for completed sales by the Dealer of Class T Primary Shares that the Dealer is authorized to sell and for services rendered by Dealer hereunder, the Dealer Manager shall reallow to Dealer a dealer manager fee in an amount up to the percentage set forth below of the transaction price per share on such completed sales of Class T Primary Shares by Dealer. Dealer shall not receive dealer manager fees for sales of any DRIP Shares, or for sales of any Class S, Class D or Class I shares, whether in the Primary Offering or pursuant to the DRIP.

The Dealer may withhold the selling commissions and dealer manager fees, if applicable, to which it is entitled pursuant to the Agreement, this Schedule 1 and the Prospectus from the purchase price for the Shares in the Offering and forward the balance to the Company or its agent as set forth in the Subscription Agreement if it represents to the Dealer Manager that: (i) the Dealer is legally permitted to do so; and (ii) (A) the Dealer meets all applicable net capital requirements under the rules of FINRA or other applicable rules regarding such an arrangement; (B) the Dealer has forwarded the Subscription

12


Agreement to the Company or its agent within the time required under Section II, and received the Company’s written acceptance of the subscription prior to forwarding the purchase price for the Shares, net of the selling commissions and dealer manager fees, if applicable, to which the Dealer is entitled, to the Company or its agent; and (C) the Dealer has verified that there are sufficient funds in the investor’s account with the Dealer to cover the entire cost of the subscription. Dealer shall wire such subscription funds to the Company or its agent as set forth in the Subscription Agreement by the end of the second business day following the Company’s acceptance of the subscription.

The Dealer shall be responsible for implementing the volume discounts and other special circumstances described in or as otherwise provided in the “Plan of Distribution” section of the Prospectus. Requests to combine purchase orders of Class T shares or Class S shares as a part of a combined order for the purpose of qualifying for discounts as described in the “Plan of Distribution” section of the Prospectus must be made in writing by the Dealer, and any resulting reduction in selling commissions will be prorated among the separate subscribers.

Terms and Conditions of the Distribution Fees.

The payment of the Distribution Fee to Dealer is subject to terms and conditions set forth herein and the Prospectus as may be amended or supplemented from time to time. If Dealer elects to sell Class T shares, Class S shares and/or Class D shares, eligibility to receive the Distribution Fee with respect to the Class T shares, Class S shares and/or Class D shares, as applicable, sold by the Dealer is conditioned upon the Dealer acting as broker-dealer of record with respect to such Shares.

The Dealer hereby represents by its acceptance of each payment of the Distribution Fee that it complies with the above requirement. The Dealer agrees to promptly notify the Dealer Manager if it is no longer the broker-dealer of record with respect to some or all of the Class T, Class S or Class D shares giving rise to such Distribution Fees.

Subject to the conditions described herein, the Dealer Manager will reallow to Dealer the Distribution Fee in an amount described below, on Class T shares, Class S shares or Class D shares, as applicable, sold by Dealer. To the extent payable, the Distribution Fee will be payable monthly in arrears as provided in the Prospectus. All determinations regarding the total amount and rate of reallowance of the Distribution Fee, the Dealer’s compliance with the listed conditions, and/or the portion retained by the Dealer Manager will be made by the Dealer Manager in its sole discretion.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, subject to the terms of the Prospectus, upon the date when the Dealer Manager is notified that the Dealer is no longer the broker-dealer of record with respect to such Class T, Class S or Class D shares, then Dealer’s entitlement to the Distribution Fees related to such Class T, Class S and/or Class D shares, as applicable, shall cease, and Dealer shall not receive the Distribution Fee for any portion of the month in which Dealer is not the broker dealer of record on the last day of the month; provided, however, if the change in the broker dealer of record with respect to such Class T, Class S or Class D shares is made in connection with a change in the registration of record for such Class T, Class S or Class D shares on the Company’s books and records (including, but not limited to, a re-registration due to a sale or a transfer or a change in the form of ownership of the account), then Dealer shall be entitled to a pro rata portion of the Distribution Fees related to such Class T, Class S and/or Class D shares, as applicable, for the portion of the month for which Dealer was the broker dealer of record.

Thereafter, such Distribution Fees may be reallowed to the then-current broker-dealer of record of the Class T, Class S and/or Class D shares, as applicable, if any such broker-dealer of record has been

13


designated (the “Servicing Dealer”), to the extent such Servicing Dealer has entered into a Selected Dealer Agreement or similar agreement with the Dealer Manager (“Servicing Agreement”) and such Selected Dealer Agreement or Servicing Agreement with the Servicing Dealer provides for such reallowance. In this regard, all determinations will be made by the Dealer Manager in good faith in its sole discretion. The Dealer is not entitled to any Distribution Fee with respect to Class I shares. The Dealer Manager may also reallow some or all of the Distribution Fee to other broker-dealers who provide services with respect to the Shares (who shall be considered additional Servicing Dealers) pursuant to a Servicing Agreement with the Dealer Manager to the extent such Servicing Agreement provides for such reallowance and such additional Servicing Dealer is in compliance with the terms of such agreement related to such reallowance, in accordance with the terms of such Servicing Agreement.

The Company and the Dealer Manager will cease paying the Distribution Fee with respect to individual Class T, Class S and Class D shares when they are no longer outstanding, including as a result of conversion to Class I shares described below. Each Class T, Class S or Class D share held within a stockholder’s account shall automatically and without any action on the part of the holder thereof convert into a number of Class I shares at the Applicable Conversion Rate set forth in the Prospectus on the earliest of (a) a listing of any shares of the Company’s common stock on a national securities exchange, (b) the merger or consolidation of the Company with or into another entity, or the sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets and (c) the end of the month in which the Dealer Manager in conjunction with the Company’s transfer agent determines that the total upfront selling commissions, upfront dealer manager fees and ongoing Distribution Fees paid with respect to all shares of such class held by such stockholder within such account (including shares purchased through a distribution reinvestment plan or received as stock dividends) equals or exceeds 8.75% (or a lower limit set forth in any applicable agreement between the Dealer Manager and a participating broker-dealer, provided that the Dealer Manager advises the Company’s transfer agent of the lower limit in writing) of the aggregate purchase price of all shares of such class held by such stockholder within such account and purchased in a primary offering (i.e., an offering other than a distribution reinvestment plan). In addition, after termination of the primary portion of an Offering, the Company and the Dealer Manager will cease paying the Distribution Fees with respect to each Class T, Class S or Class D share sold in that Offering (i.e., pursuant to the Registration Statement for such Offering), on the date when, the Company, with the assistance of the Dealer Manager, determine that all underwriting compensation paid or incurred in connection with such Offering from all sources, determined pursuant to the rules and guidance of FINRA, would be in excess of 10% of the aggregate purchase price of all sales of Primary Shares in such Offering. For purposes of this Agreement, the portion of the Distribution Fee accruing with respect to Class T, Class S and Class D shares of the Company’s common stock issued (publicly or privately) by the Company during the term of a particular Offering, and not issued pursuant to a prior Offering, shall be underwriting compensation with respect to such particular Offering and not with respect to any other Offering.

General

Selling commissions, dealer manager fees and Distribution Fees due to the Dealer pursuant to this Agreement will be paid to the Dealer within 30 days after receipt by the Dealer Manager. The Dealer, in its sole discretion, may authorize Dealer Manager to deposit selling commissions, dealer manager fees, Distribution Fees or other payments due to it pursuant to this Agreement directly to its bank account. If the Dealer so elects, the Dealer shall provide such deposit authorization and instructions in Schedule 2 to this Agreement.

The parties hereby agree that the foregoing selling commissions and reallowed dealer manager fees and Distribution Fee are not in excess of the usual and customary distributors’ or sellers’ commission received in the sale of securities similar to the Primary Shares, that the Dealer’s interest in the Offering is limited to such selling commissions and reallowed dealer manager fees and Distribution Fee, as

14


applicable, from the Dealer Manager and the Dealer’s indemnity referred to in Section 4 of the Dealer Manager Agreement, and that the Company is not liable or responsible for the direct payment of such selling commissions and reallowed dealer manager fees and Distribution Fee to the Dealer.

Except as otherwise described under “Upfront Selling Commissions and Dealer Manager Fees” above, the Dealer waives any and all rights to receive compensation, including the dealer manager fees and Distribution Fee, until it is paid to and received by the Dealer Manager. Dealer acknowledges and agrees that, if the Company pays selling commissions, dealer manager fees or Distribution Fees, as applicable, to the Dealer Manager, the Company is relieved of any obligation for selling commissions, dealer manager fees or Distribution Fees, as applicable, to Dealer. The Company may rely on and use the preceding acknowledgement as a defense against any claim by Dealer for selling commissions, dealer manager fees or Distribution Fees, as applicable, the Company pays to Dealer Manager but that Dealer Manager fails to remit to Dealer. The Dealer affirms that the Dealer Manager’s liability for selling commissions and dealer manager fees payable and the Distribution Fee is limited solely to the proceeds of selling commissions, dealer manager fees and the Distribution Fee, as applicable, received by the Dealer Manager from the Company associated with the Dealer’s sale of the applicable Shares, and Dealer hereby waives any and all rights to receive payment of selling commissions or any reallowance of dealer manager fees or the Distribution Fee, as applicable, due until such time as the Dealer Manager is in receipt of the selling commission, dealer manager fee or Distribution Fee, as applicable, from the Company. Notwithstanding the above, Dealer affirms that, to the extent Dealer retains selling commissions and/or dealer manager fees as described above under “Upfront Selling Commissions and Dealer Manager Fees,” neither the Company nor the Dealer Manager shall have liability for selling commissions or dealer manager fees payable to the Dealer, and that Dealer is solely responsible for retaining the selling commissions and dealer manager fees, as applicable, due to Dealer from the subscription funds received by Dealer from its customers for the purchase of Shares in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.

Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, Dealer will not be entitled to receive any selling commissions, dealer manager fees or Distribution Fee which would cause the aggregate amount of selling commissions, dealer manager fees, Distribution Fees and other forms of underwriting compensation (as defined in accordance with applicable FINRA rules) paid from any source in connection with an Offering to exceed ten percent (10.0%) of the gross proceeds raised from the sale of Shares in the primary portion of such Offering.

Due Diligence

In addition, as set forth in the Prospectus, the Dealer Manager or, in certain cases at the option of the Company, the Company, will pay or reimburse the Dealer for reasonable bona fide due diligence expenses incurred by the Dealer in connection with the Offering. Such due diligence expenses may include travel, lodging, meals and other reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Dealer and its personnel when visiting the Company’s offices or properties to verify information relating to the Company or its properties. The Dealer shall provide a detailed and itemized invoice for any such due diligence expenses and shall obtain the prior written approval from the Dealer Manager for such expenses, and no such expenses shall be reimbursed absent a detailed and itemized invoice. All such reimbursements will be made in accordance with, and subject to the restrictions and limitations imposed under the Prospectus, FINRA rules and other applicable laws and regulations.

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Share Class Election

CHECK EACH APPLICABLE BOX BELOW IF THE DEALER ELECTS TO PARTICIPATE IN THE DISTRIBUTION OF THE LISTED SHARE CLASS

Class T Shares

Class S Shares

Class D Shares

Class I Shares

The following reflects the selling commission, dealer manager fee and/or the Distribution Fee as agreed upon between the Dealer Manager and the Dealer for the applicable Share Class.

Class T Shares

________ (Initials)

Upfront Selling Commission of up to 3.0% of the transaction price per Class T share sold in the Primary Offering*

Total Selling Commissions and Dealer Manager Fee may not exceed 3.5%.

By initialing here, the Dealer hereby agrees to the terms of the Agreement and this Schedule 1 with respect to the Class T shares.

________ (Initials)

Upfront Dealer Manager Fee of up to 0.5% of the transaction price per Class T share sold in the Primary Offering*

Total Selling Commissions and Dealer Manager Fee may not exceed 3.5%.

By initialing here, the Dealer hereby agrees to the terms of the Agreement and this Schedule 1 with respect to the Class T shares.

________ (Initials)

Distribution Fee of 0.85% (Annualized Rate) of aggregate NAV of outstanding Class T shares, consisting of an advisor Distribution Fee of 0.65% (Annualized Rate), and a dealer Distribution Fee of 0.20% (Annualized Rate), of the aggregate NAV of outstanding Class T shares.

By initialing here, the Dealer agrees to the terms of eligibility for the Distribution Fee set forth in this Schedule 1. Should the Dealer choose to opt out of this provision, it will not be eligible to receive the Distribution Fee and initialing is not necessary. The Dealer represents by its acceptance of each payment of the Distribution Fee that it complies with each of the above requirements.

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Class S Shares

________ (Initials)

Upfront Selling Commission of up to 3.5% of the transaction price per Class S share sold in the Primary Offering*

By initialing here, the Dealer hereby agrees to the terms of the Agreement and this Schedule 1 with respect to the Class S shares.

________ (Initials)

Distribution Fee of 0.85% (Annualized Rate) of aggregate NAV of outstanding Class S shares

By initialing here, the Dealer agrees to the terms of eligibility for the Distribution Fee set forth in this Schedule 1. Should the Dealer choose to opt out of this provision, it will not be eligible to receive the Distribution Fee and initialing is not necessary. The Dealer represents by its acceptance of each payment of the Distribution Fee that it complies with each of the above requirements.

Class D Shares

________ (Initials)

Distribution Fee of 0.25% (Annualized Rate) of aggregate NAV of outstanding Class D shares

By initialing here, the Dealer agrees to the terms of eligibility for the Distribution Fee set forth in this Schedule 1. Should the Dealer choose to opt out of this provision, it will not be eligible to receive the Distribution Fee and initialing is not necessary. The Dealer represents by its acceptance of each payment of the Distribution Fee that it complies with each of the above requirements.

* Subject to discounts described in the “Plan of Distribution” section of the Prospectus.

17


“DEALER MANAGER”

ARES WEALTH MANAGEMENT SOLUTIONS, LLC

By: ​ ​

Name: ​ ​

Title: ​ ​

“DEALER”

​ ​

(Print Name of Dealer)

By: ​ ​

Name: ​ ​

Title:​ ​

18


SCHEDULE 2
TO
SELECTED DEALER AGREEMENT WITH
ARES WEALTH MANAGEMENT SOLUTIONS, LLC

NAME OF ISSUER: ARES REAL ESTATE INCOME TRUST INC.

NAME OF DEALER:

SCHEDULE 2 TO AGREEMENT DATED:

Dealer hereby authorizes the Dealer Manager or its agent to deposit upfront selling commissions, dealer manager fees, distribution fees, reallowances and other payments due to it pursuant to the Selected Dealer Agreement in the manner specified below. This authority will remain in force until Dealer notifies the Dealer Manager in writing to cancel it. In the event that the Dealer Manager deposits funds erroneously into Dealer’s account, the Dealer Manager is authorized to debit the account with no prior notice to Dealer for an amount not to exceed the amount of the erroneous deposit.

Payment Type

Upfront Selling Commissions/Dealer Manager Fees

Distribution Fees

Other

If there are different instructions for each payment type, please complete a separate form for each payment instruction.

Payment Method

Check

Mailing Address:___________________________

Attention:_________________________________

City:________________State: __________Zip: ____________

ACH

ABA Number:________________________________

Bank Name:__________________________________

Account Number:______________________________

Reference: _____________________________________

Mailing Address:_________________________________

City:___________________ State:________________Zip:_____________


Payment Backup

Hard Copy

Mail to address listed above

Mail to a different address:

Mailing address: __________________________________________

City:_________________ State:______________ Zip:_____________

Internet Dealer Commission (IDC) – Please go to www.dstidc.com to sign up for access to commission files.

If you have any questions regarding commissions, please contact Amber Wallner at 303.226.4856.


Exhibit 10.1

THIRD AMENDED AND RESTATED ADVISORY AGREEMENT (2021)

among

ARES REAL ESTATE INCOME TRUST INC.,

AREIT OPERATING PARTNERSHIP LP

and

ARES COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE MANAGEMENT LLC


TABLE OF CONTENTS

1.

DEFINITIONS

1

2.

APPOINTMENT

10

3.

DUTIES OF THE ADVISOR

10

4.

AUTHORITY OF ADVISOR

15

5.

BANK ACCOUNTS

16

6.

RECORDS; ACCESS

16

7.

LIMITATIONS ON ACTIVITIES

16

8.

RELATIONSHIP WITH DIRECTORS

17

9.

FEES

17

10.

EXPENSES

21

11.

other services

23

12.

REIMBURSEMENT TO THE ADVISOR

23

13.

OTHER ACTIVITIES OF THE ADVISOR

24

14.

TERM; TERMINATION OF AGREEMENT

25

15.

TERMINATION BY THE PARTIES

25

16.

ASSIGNMENT

25

17.

PAYMENTS TO AND DUTIES OF ADVISOR UPON TERMINATION

25

18.

INDEMNIFICATION BY THE COMPANY AND THE OPERATING PARTNERSHIP

26

19.

INDEMNIFICATION BY ADVISOR

27

20.

NOTICES

28

21.

MODIFICATION

28

22.

SEVERABILITY

28

23.

CONSTRUCTION

28

24.

ENTIRE AGREEMENT

28

25.

INDULGENCES, NOT WAIVERS

29

26.

GENDER

29

27.

TITLES NOT TO AFFECT INTERPRETATION

29

28.

EXECUTION IN COUNTERPARTS

29

29.

INITIAL INVESTMENT

29

i


THIRD AMENDED AND RESTATED ADVISORY AGREEMENT (2021)

THIS THIRD AMENDED AND RESTATED ADVISORY AGREEMENT (2021) (this “Agreement”), dated and effective as of December 1, 2021, is among Ares Real Estate Income Trust Inc., a Maryland corporation (the “Company”), AREIT Operating Partnership LP, a Delaware limited partnership (the “Operating Partnership”), and ARES Commercial Real Estate Management LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Advisor”).

W I T N E S S E T H

WHEREAS, the Company has qualified as a REIT (as defined below), and invests its funds in investments permitted by the terms of Sections 856 through 860 of the Code (as defined below);

WHEREAS, the Company is the general partner of the Operating Partnership and conducts all its business and makes all investments in Real Properties, Real Estate Related Securities, and Debt Investments through the Operating Partnership;

WHEREAS, the Company and the Operating Partnership desire to avail themselves of the experience, sources of information, advice, assistance and certain facilities of the Advisor and to have the Advisor undertake the duties and responsibilities hereinafter set forth, on behalf of, and subject to the supervision, of the Board of Directors of the Company all as provided herein;

WHEREAS, the Advisor is willing to undertake to render such services, subject to the supervision of the Board of Directors, on the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth;

WHEREAS, the Company, the Operating Partnership and the Advisor entered into that certain Second Amended and Restated Advisory Agreement (2021), dated as of July 1, 2021 (the “Prior Agreement”);

WHEREAS, the parties hereto now wish to amend and restated the Prior Agreement in its entirety.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and of the mutual covenants and agreements contained herein, the parties hereto agree as follows:

1.DEFINITIONS. As used in this Agreement, the following terms have the definitions hereinafter indicated:

Acquisition Expenses. Any and all expenses, exclusive of Acquisition Fees, incurred by the Company, the Operating Partnership, the Advisor, or any of their Affiliates in connection with the selection, acquisition or development of any Real Property, Real Estate Related Security or Debt Investment, whether or not acquired, including, without limitation, legal fees and expenses, travel and communications expenses, costs of appraisals, nonrefundable option payments on property not acquired, accounting fees and expenses, title insurance premiums, and the costs of performing due diligence.

1


Acquisition Fees. Any and all fees and commissions, exclusive of Acquisition Expenses, paid by any Person to any other Person (including any fees or commissions paid by or to any Affiliate of the Company, the Operating Partnership or the Advisor) in connection with making or investing in Debt Investments or the purchase, development or construction of a Real Property, including real estate commissions, selection fees, development fees, construction fees, nonrecurring management fees, loan fees, points or any other fees of a similar nature. Excluded shall be development fees and construction fees paid to any Person not affiliated with the Sponsor in connection with the actual development and construction of a project.

Advisor. Ares Commercial Real Estate Management LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, any successor advisor to the Company, the Operating Partnership or any person or entity to which Ares Commercial Real Estate Management LLC or any successor advisor subcontracts substantially all of its functions. Notwithstanding the forgoing, a Person hired or retained by Ares Commercial Real Estate Management LLC to perform property and securities management and related services for the Company or the Operating Partnership that is not hired or retained to perform substantially all of the functions of Ares Commercial Real Estate Management LLC with respect to the Company or the Operating Partnership as a whole shall not be deemed to be an Advisor.

Advisory Fee. The fee payable to the Advisor pursuant to Section 9(b).

Affiliate or Affiliated. With respect to any Person, (i) any Person directly or indirectly owning, controlling or holding, with the power to vote, ten percent (10%) or more of the outstanding voting securities of such other Person; (ii) any Person ten percent (10%) or more of whose outstanding voting securities are directly or indirectly owned, controlled or held, with the power to vote, by such other Person; (iii) any Person directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by or under common control with such other Person; (iv) any executive officer, director, trustee or general partner of such other Person; and (v) any legal entity for which such Person acts as an executive officer, director, trustee or general partner.

Annual Total Return Amount. The overall investment return, expressed as a dollar amount per OP Unit, which shall be equal to the sum of (1) the Weighted-Average Distributions per OP Unit over the applicable period, and (2) the Ending VPU, adjusted to remove the negative impact on the overall investment return from the payment or the obligation to pay, or distribute, as applicable, the Performance Component and Class-Specific Fees, less the Beginning VPU.

Articles of Incorporation. The Articles of Incorporation of the Company, as amended from time to time.

Average Invested Assets. For a specified period, the average of the aggregate book value of the assets of the Company invested, directly or indirectly, in Real Estate Related Securities, Debt Investments and Real Properties, before deducting depreciation, bad debts or other non-cash reserves, computed by taking the average of such values at the end of each month during such period.

Beginning VPU. The VPU determined as of the end of the most recent month prior to the commencement of the applicable period.

2


Board of Directors or Board. The persons holding such office, as of any particular time, under the Articles of Incorporation of the Company, whether they be the Directors named therein or additional or successor Directors.

Bylaws. The bylaws of the Company, as the same are in effect from time to time.

Cause. With respect to the termination of this Agreement, fraud, criminal conduct, willful misconduct or willful or negligent breach of fiduciary duty by the Advisor, or an uncured material breach of this Agreement by the Advisor.

Class E Unit. An OP Unit entitling the holder thereof to the rights of a holder of Class E Units as provided in the Operating Partnership Agreement.

Class-Specific Fees. Any Distribution Fee expenses accrued or allocated directly or indirectly to a particular class of OP Units or Shares.

Code. 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.

Commercial Real Property. A Real Property other than a Multifamily Real Property.

Company. Company shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble of this Agreement.

Company Property. Any and all property, real, personal or otherwise, tangible or intangible, which is transferred or conveyed to the Company (including all rents, income, profits and gains therefrom), and which is owned or held by, or for the account of, the Company.

Debt Investments. The debt related investments, or such investments the Board of Directors and the Advisor mutually designate as debt related investments, which are owned from time to time by the Company or the Operating Partnership; such debt related investments include, but are not limited to, mortgage loans, B-notes, mezzanine debt, participating debt (including with equity-like features), non-traded preferred equity, convertible debt, hybrid instruments, equity instruments and other related investments.

Director. A member of the Board of Directors of the Company.

Disposition Expenses. Any and all expenses incurred by the Company, the Operating Partnership, the Advisor, or any of their Affiliates in connection with the disposition of any Real Property, Real Estate Related Security or Debt Investment, whether or not finally sold, including, without limitation, legal fees and expenses, travel and communications expenses and accounting fees and expenses.

Distribution Fees. Any ongoing distribution fees, dealer manager fees or similar fees (as distinguished from up-front or one-time selling commissions and dealer manager fees) payable pursuant to the then-current dealer manager agreement between the Company and Ares Wealth Management Solutions, LLC.

3


Distributions. Any distributions of money or other property by the Company to owners of Shares, including distributions that may constitute a return of capital for federal income tax purposes.

DST Properties. Real properties that meet the following criteria: (i) tenancy-in-common or Delaware statutory trust beneficial interests in such properties have been sold by the Company or any Affiliate to third party investors and (ii) such properties are being leased by the Company or any Affiliate from the tenancy-in-common or Delaware statutory trust third party investors.

DST Property Consideration. The consideration received by the Company or any Affiliate for selling tenancy-in-common or Delaware statutory trust beneficial interests in DST Properties to third party investors, net of DST Up Front Fees.

DST Up Front Fees. Up front fees and expense reimbursements payable out of gross sale proceeds from the sale of tenancy-in-common or Delaware statutory trust beneficial interests in DST Properties, including but not limited to sales commissions, dealer manager fees and non-accountable expense allowances.

Ending VPU. The VPU as of the end of the last month in the applicable period.

Equity Shares. Transferable shares of beneficial interest of the Company of any class or series, including common shares or preferred shares.

Excess Amount. Excess Amount has the meaning set forth in Section 12.

Expense Year. Expense Year has the meaning set forth in Section 12.

Fixed Component. The non-variable component of the Advisory Fee as described in Section 9.

GAAP. Generally accepted accounting principles as in effect in the United States of America from time to time.

Good Reason. With respect to the termination of this Agreement, (i) any failure to obtain a satisfactory agreement from any successor to the Company and/or the Operating Partnership to assume and agree to perform the Company's and/or the Operating Partnership's obligations under this Agreement; or (ii) any uncured material breach of this Agreement of any nature whatsoever by the Company and/or the Operating Partnership.

Gross Proceeds. The aggregate purchase price of all Shares sold for the account of the Company through all Offerings, without deduction for Organizational and Offering Expenses.

Hurdle Amount. For the applicable period, an amount that when annualized would equal 5.0% of the Beginning VPU.

Independent Director. Independent Director shall have the meaning set forth in the Articles of Incorporation.

4


Independent Expert. A person or entity with no material current or prior business or personal relationship with the Advisor or the Directors and who is engaged to a substantial extent in the business of rendering opinions regarding the value of assets of the type held by the Company.

Independent Valuation Advisor. A firm that is (i) engaged to a substantial degree in the business of conducting valuations on commercial real estate properties, (ii) not affiliated with the Advisor and (iii) engaged by the Company with the approval of the Board to appraise the Real Properties or other assets or liabilities pursuant to the Valuation Procedures.

Joint Ventures. The joint venture or partnership arrangements (other than with AREIT Operating Partnership LP) in which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a co-venturer or general partner which are established to acquire Real Properties.

Listing. The listing of the Shares on a national securities exchange or the receipt by the Company's stockholders of securities that are listed on a national securities exchange in exchange for the Company's common stock. Upon such Listing, the Shares shall be deemed Listed.

Loss Carryforward Amount. Loss Carryforward Amount equaled zero as of September 1, 2017 and cumulatively increases from then by the absolute value of any negative Annual Total Return Amount and decrease by any positive Annual Total Return Amount, provided that the Loss Carryforward Amount shall at no time be less than zero. The effect of the Loss Carryforward Amount is that the recoupment of past Annual Total Return Amount losses will offset the positive Annual Total Return Amount for purposes of the calculation of the Performance Component.

Multifamily Real Property. A property that primarily includes residential apartment units for rent. Such properties may include commercial spaces and tenants. However, the majority of the revenue generated by the property is derived from residential rental income.

NASAA REIT Guidelines. The Statement of Policy Regarding Real Estate Investment Trusts published by the North American Securities Administrators Association on May 7, 2007, as may be amended from time to time.

NAV. Net asset value, calculated pursuant to the Valuation Procedures.

NAV Calculations. The calculations used to determine the NAV of the Company, the Shares, the Operating Partnership and the OP Units, all as provided in the Valuation Procedures.

Net Income. For any period, the Company's total revenues applicable to such period, less the total expenses applicable to such period other than additions to reserves for depreciation, bad debts or other similar non-cash reserves and excluding any gain from the sale of the Company's assets.

Offering. A public offering of Shares pursuant to a Prospectus.

5


Operating Partnership. Operating Partnership has the meaning set forth in the preamble of this Agreement.

Operating Partnership Agreement. The Operating Partnership’s limited partnership agreement among the Company, as general partner, and the limited partners thereto.

Operating Partnership NAV. The NAV of the Operating Partnership, calculated pursuant to the Valuation Procedures.

OP Unit. A unit of limited partnership interest in the Operating Partnership, other than Special Partnership Units.

Organizational and Offering Expenses. Any and all cumulative costs and expenses incurred by and to be paid from the assets of the Company, including amounts reimbursable to the Advisor and its Affiliates pursuant and subject to Section 10(a)(i) hereof, in connection with the formation, qualification and registration of all of the Company’s Offerings and the subsequent marketing and distribution of Shares, including, without limitation, the following: total underwriting and brokerage discounts and commissions (including fees of the underwriters' attorneys), any expense allowance granted by the Company to the underwriter (which may include a dealer manager) or any reimbursement of expenses of the underwriter by the Company, expenses for printing, engraving, mailing and distributing costs, salaries of employees while engaged in sales activity, telephone and other telecommunications costs, all advertising and marketing expenses (including the costs related to investor and broker-dealer sales meetings), charges of transfer agents, registrars, trustees, escrow holders, depositories, experts, fees, expenses and taxes related to the filing, registration and qualification of the sale of the Shares under federal and state laws, including accountants' and attorneys' fees.

Performance Component. The variable component of the Advisory Fee as described in Section 9.

Person. An individual, corporation, partnership, trust, joint venture, limited liability company or other entity.

Private Organizational and Offering Expenses. Any and all cumulative costs and expenses incurred by and to be paid from the assets of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, including amounts reimbursable to the Advisor and its Affiliates pursuant and subject to Section 10(a)(ii) hereof, in connection with the formation and qualification of any private offerings of any securities conducted by the Company or any of its subsidiaries and the subsequent marketing and distribution of such securities, including, without limitation, the following: total underwriting and brokerage discounts and commissions (including fees of the underwriters' attorneys), any expense allowance granted by the Company or its subsidiaries to the underwriter (which may include a dealer manager) or any reimbursement of expenses of the underwriter by the Company or its subsidiaries, expenses for printing, engraving, mailing and distributing costs, salaries of employees while engaged in sales activity, telephone and other telecommunications costs, all advertising and marketing expenses (including the costs related to investor and broker-dealer sales meetings), charges of transfer agents, registrars, trustees, escrow holders,

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depositories, experts, fees, expenses and taxes related to the qualification of the sale of the securities under federal and state laws, including accountants' and attorneys' fees.

Property Accounting Services. Property Accounting Services are related to accounting for real property operations and generally acknowledged as “property accounting” by the real estate industry. Such services generally include maintaining the books and records of the property in accordance with GAAP and company policies, procedures, and internal controls, in a timely manner, and the processing of property-related cash receipts and disbursements. Examples of such property accounting services include, but are not limited to, lease administration, monthly tenant billing and collections, rental revenue accounting, accounting for doubtful accounts, preparing rental expense recovery estimates and reconciliations, recording rental expenses, processing rental expense invoices and tenant reimbursement payments, accounting and budgeting for capital improvement projects, preparing and reviewing operating budgets, assisting in reporting and cash management for loan compliance purposes, and preparing account reconciliations and operating reports. Property accounting services do not include corporate-level accounting services that include, but are not limited to, consolidation, accounting and reporting analysis, and quality control reviews of accounting and reporting of third-party property accountants to ensure the accuracy, timeliness, and consistency of property accounting results.

Prospectus. “Prospectus” has the meaning set forth in Section 2(10) of the Securities Act, including a preliminary Prospectus, an offering circular as described in Rule 256 of the General Rules and Regulations under the Securities Act or, in the case of an intrastate offering, any document by whatever name known, utilized for the purpose of offering and selling securities to the public.

Real Estate Related Securities. The real estate related securities investments, or such investments the Board of Directors and the Advisor mutually designate as Real Estate Related Securities to the extent such investments could be classified as either Real Estate Related Securities or Real Property, which are owned from time to time by the Company or the Operating Partnership.

Real Property. (i) Land, including the buildings located thereon, or (ii) land only, or (iii) the buildings only, which are owned from time to time by the Company or the Operating Partnership, either directly or through subsidiaries, joint venture arrangements or other partnerships, or (iv) such investments the Board of Directors and the Advisor mutually designate as Real Property to the extent such investments could be classified as either Real Property, Real Estate Related Securities, or Debt Investments. DST Properties shall also be deemed Real Property for the purposes of this definition.

REIT. A “real estate investment trust” under Sections 856 through 860 of the Code or as may be amended.

Sale or Sales. Any transaction or series of transactions whereby: (A) the Company or the Operating Partnership directly or indirectly (except as described in other subsections of this definition) sells, grants, transfers, conveys, or relinquishes its ownership of any Real Property or portion thereof, including the lease of any Real Property consisting of a building only, and

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including any event with respect to any Real Property which gives rise to a significant amount of insurance proceeds or condemnation awards; (B) the Company or the Operating Partnership directly or indirectly (except as described in other subsections of this definition) sells, grants, transfers, conveys, or relinquishes its ownership of all or substantially all of the interest of the Corporation or the Operating Partnership in any Joint Venture in which it is a co-venturer or partner; (C) any Joint Venture directly or indirectly (except as described in other subsections of this definition) in which the Company or the Operating Partnership as a co-venturer or partner sells, grants, transfers, conveys, or relinquishes its ownership of any Real Property or portion thereof, including any event with respect to any Real Property which gives rise to insurance claims or condemnation awards; or (D) the Company or the Operating Partnership directly or indirectly (except as described in other subsections of this definition) sells, grants, conveys or relinquishes its interest in any mortgage or portion thereof (including with respect to any mortgage, all payments thereunder or in satisfaction thereof other than regularly scheduled interest payments) of amounts owed pursuant to such mortgage and any event which gives rise to a significant amount of insurance proceeds or similar awards; or (E) the Company or the Operating Partnership directly or indirectly (except as described in other subsections of this definition) sells, grants, transfers, conveys, or relinquishes its ownership of any other asset not previously described in this definition or any portion thereof.

Securities. Any Equity Shares, any other stock, shares or other evidences of equity or beneficial or other interests, voting trust certificates, bonds, debentures, notes or other evidences of indebtedness, secured or unsecured, convertible, subordinated or otherwise, or in general any instruments commonly known as “securities” or any certificates of interest, shares or participations in, temporary or interim certificates for, receipts for, guarantees of, or warrants, options or rights to subscribe to, purchase or acquire, any of the foregoing.

Securities Act. The Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

Shares. The shares of all classes of the common stock of the Company.

Special OP Unitholders. The holders of Special Partnership Units (as defined in the Operating Partnership Agreement) in the Operating Partnership.

Special Partnership Units. Units of limited partnership interest in the Operating Partnership designated as Special Partnership Units in the in the Operating Partnership Agreement.

Sponsor. Any Person which (i) is directly or indirectly instrumental in organizing, wholly or in part, the Company, (ii) will control, manage or participate in the management of the Company, and any Affiliate of any such Person, (iii) takes the initiative, directly or indirectly, in founding or organizing the Company, either alone or in conjunction with one or more other Persons, (iv) receives a material participation in the Company in connection with the founding or organizing of the business of the Company, in consideration of services or property, or both services and property, (v) has a substantial number of relationships and contacts with the Company, (vi) possesses significant rights to control Real Properties, (vii) receives fees for providing services to the Company which are paid on a basis that is not customary in the industry, or (viii) provides goods or services to the Company on a basis which was not

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negotiated at arm's-length with the Company. “Sponsor” does not include wholly independent third parties such as attorneys, accountants and underwriters whose only compensation is for professional services.

Stockholders. The registered holders of the Company's Shares.

Termination Date. The date of termination of this Agreement, including by non-renewal.

Termination Event. The termination or nonrenewal of this Agreement (i) in connection with a merger, sale of assets or transaction involving the Company pursuant to which a majority of the Directors then in office are replaced or removed, (ii) by the Advisor for Good Reason or (iii) by the Company and the Operating Partnership other than for Cause.

Total Operating Expenses. All costs and expenses paid or incurred by the Company, as determined under GAAP, that are in any way related to the operation of the Company or to corporate business, including the Advisory Fee, but excluding (i) the expenses of raising capital such as Organizational and Offering Expenses, legal, audit, accounting, underwriting, brokerage, listing, registration, and other fees, printing and other such expenses and tax incurred in connection with the issuance, distribution, transfer, registration and Listing, (ii) interest payments, (iii) taxes, (iv) non-cash expenditures such as depreciation, amortization and bad debt reserves, (v) incentive fees paid in compliance with the NASAA REIT Guidelines; (vi) Acquisition Fees and Acquisition Expenses, (vii) real estate commissions on the Sale of Real Property, and (viii) other fees and expenses connected with the acquisition, disposition, management and ownership of real estate interests, mortgage loans or other property (including the costs of foreclosure, insurance premiums, legal services, maintenance, repair, and improvement of property). The definition of “Total Operating Expenses” set forth above is intended to encompass only those expenses which are required to be treated as Total Operating Expenses under the NASAA REIT Guidelines. As a result, and notwithstanding the definition set forth above, any expense of the Company which is not part of Total Operating Expenses under the NASAA REIT Guidelines shall not be treated as part of Total Operating Expenses for purposes hereof.

2%/25% Guidelines. For any year in which the Company qualifies as a REIT, the requirement pursuant to the NASAA REIT Guidelines that, in any period of four consecutive fiscal quarters, Total Operating Expenses not exceed the greater of 2% of the Company's Average Invested Assets during such 12-month period or 25% of the Company's Net Income over the same 12-month period.

Unitholders. The holders of OP Units.

Valuation Procedures. The valuation procedures adopted by the Board, as amended from time to time.

VPU. Average value per unit, which on any given date shall be equal to (i) the Operating Partnership NAV on such date, divided by (ii) the aggregate number of OP Units of all classes outstanding on such date.

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Weighted-Average Distributions per OP Unit. For a particular period of time, an amount equal to the ratio of (i) the aggregate distributions paid or accrued in respect of all OP Units during the applicable period, divided by (ii) the weighted-average number of OP Units of all classes outstanding during the applicable period, calculated in accordance with GAAP applied on a consistent basis.

2.APPOINTMENT. The Company and the Operating Partnership hereby appoint the Advisor to serve as their advisor on the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement, and the Advisor hereby accepts such appointment.
3.DUTIES OF THE ADVISOR. The Advisor undertakes to provide a continuing and suitable investment program consistent with the investment objectives and policies of the Company as determined and adopted from time to time by the Directors. The Advisor is registered as an investment adviser under the Advisers Act of 1940 (the “Advisers Act”) and undertakes to perform its duties consistent with applicable law. In performance of these undertakings, subject to the supervision of the Directors and consistent with the provisions of the Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws and the Operating Partnership Agreement, the Advisor shall, either directly or by engaging an Affiliated or non-Affiliated Person:
(a) Fee-related Services.
(i) Asset Management Services. The following services shall be provided by the Advisor or one of its Affiliates in consideration of the fees described in Section 9(b) of this Agreement, subject to reimbursement for expenses as provided in Section 9(a), Section 10 and Section 12, or as otherwise provided under this Agreement:
(1) participate in formulating an investment strategy and asset allocation framework consistent with achieving our investment objectives;
(2) monitor the operating performance of the investments of the Company and/or the Operating Partnership;
(3) oversee the leasing activities of the Company’s portfolio including but not limited to negotiations with prospective and existing tenants and leasing arrangements with Affiliated and non-Affiliated leasing brokers;
(4) oversee Affiliated and non-Affiliated property managers who perform property management services for the Company or the Operating Partnership; and
(5) oversee and negotiate service contracts for the Company’s Real Properties.

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(b) Non Fee-Related Services. The following services shall be provided by the Advisor or one of its Affiliates without consideration in the form of a separate fee, subject to reimbursement for expenses as provided in Section 10 and Section 12, or as otherwise provided under this Agreement:
(i) Organizational and Offering Services.
(1) assist the Company in maintaining the registration of the Shares under federal and state securities laws and complying with all federal, state and local regulatory requirements applicable to the Company in respect of the Offering (including the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, as amended), including preparing or causing to be prepared all supplements to the Prospectus, post-effective amendments to the registration statement for any Offering and financial statements required under applicable regulations and contractual undertakings and all reports and documents, if any, required under the Securities Act and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended; provided, however, that in all filings made under federal and state securities laws, the statements therein shall be made by solely the Company and not by the Advisor or any of its other Affiliates; and
(2) assist the Company in complying with all federal, state and local regulatory requirements applicable to the Company and its subsidiaries in respect of any private placements of any securities, including but not limited to tenancy-in-common or Delaware statutory trust beneficial interests in DST Properties, including preparing or causing to be prepared private placement memoranda and all supplements thereto; provided, however, that in all private placement memoranda, supplements thereto and any other offering materials, the statements therein shall be made by solely the Company and not by the Advisor or any of its other Affiliates.
(ii) Acquisition and Disposition Services.
(1) present to the Company and the Operating Partnership potential investment opportunities;
(2) serve as the Company's and the Operating Partnership's investment and financial advisor and, as reasonably appropriate under the circumstances, provide research and economic and statistical data in connection with the Company's assets and investment policies;
(3) subject to any required Board or Board committee approval, (i) locate, analyze and select potential investments, (ii) structure and negotiate the terms and conditions of transactions pursuant to which investments will be made; (iii) oversee and coordinate the

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making of investments by the Company and the Operating Partnership in compliance with the investment objectives and policies of the Company; and (iv) arrange, oversee and coordinate the financing and refinancing and the making of other changes in the asset or capital structure of investments;
(4) perform due diligence on prospective investments;
(5) upon request provide the Directors with periodic reports regarding prospective investments;
(6) obtain the prior approval of the Board, any particular Directors specified by the Board or any committee of the Board, as the case may be, for any and all investments in Real Properties;
(7) oversee and coordinate the making of investments in Real Estate Related Securities or Debt Investments within the discretionary limits and authority as granted by the Board, or if no such discretionary limits have been established, with the prior approval of the Board, any particular Directors specified by the Board or any committee of the Board, as the case may be;
(8) oversee and coordinate the disposition of Real Properties, Real Estate Related Securities or Debt Investments within the discretionary limits and authority as granted by the Board, or if no such discretionary limits have been established, with the prior approval of the Board, any particular Directors specified by the Board or any committee of the Board, as the case may be; and
(9) negotiate with and engage selling brokers as necessary to dispose of Real Properties.
(iii) Financing Services.
(1) consult with the officers and Directors of the Company and assist the Directors in the formulation and implementation of the Company's borrowing policies, and, as necessary, furnish the Directors with advice and recommendations with respect to any borrowings proposed to be undertaken by the Company and/or the Operating Partnership; and
(2) negotiate on behalf of the Company and the Operating Partnership with banks or lenders for loans to be made to the Company and the Operating Partnership, and negotiate on behalf of the Company and the Operating Partnership with investment banking firms and broker-dealers or negotiate private sales of Shares and other Securities or obtain loans for the Company and the Operating Partnership, but in no event in such a way so that the Advisor shall

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be acting as broker-dealer or underwriter; and provided, further, that any fees and costs payable to third parties incurred by the Advisor in connection with the foregoing shall be the responsibility of the Company or the Operating Partnership.
(iv) Accounting and Administrative Services.
(1) provide the daily management for the Company and the Operating Partnership and perform and supervise the various administrative functions reasonably necessary for the management of the Company and the Operating Partnership, unless expressly provided for elsewhere in this Agreement;
(2) provide the Company and the Operating Partnership with, or arrange for the provision to the Company and the Operating Partnership of, all necessary cash management services;
(3) consult with the Company’s officers and the Board and assist the Board in evaluating and obtaining adequate insurance coverage based upon risk management determinations;
(4) implement and coordinate the processes with respect to the NAV Calculations, and in connection therewith, obtain appraisals performed by an Independent Valuation Advisor concerning the value of the Real Properties;
(5) supervise one or more Independent Valuation Advisors and, if and when necessary, recommend to the Board its replacement; and
(6) deliver to or maintain on behalf of the Company copies of all appraisals obtained in connection with the investments in Real Properties and all valuations of Real Estate Related Securities or Debt Investments as may be required to be obtained by the Board;
(7) in consultation with legal counsel, advise the Company regarding the maintenance of the Company’s exemption from the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, and monitor compliance with the requirements for maintaining an exemption from such act;
(8) in consultation with legal counsel and other tax advisers, advise the Company regarding the maintenance of the Company’s status as a REIT and monitor compliance with the various REIT qualification tests and other rules set out in the Code and the regulations promulgated thereunder;
(9) in consultation with legal counsel and other tax advisers, take all necessary actions to enable the Company and the Operating Partnership to make required tax filings and reports, including

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soliciting Stockholders for required information to the extent provided by the REIT provisions of the Code; and
(10) oversee and resolve all claims, disputes or controversies (including all litigation, arbitration, settlement or other proceedings or negotiations) in which the Company and the Operating Partnership may be involved or to which the Company and the Operating Partnership may be subject, arising out of the Company’s or the Operating Partnership’s day-to-day operations, subject to such limitations or parameters as may be imposed from time to time by the Board.
(v) Stockholder Services.
(1) in consultation with legal counsel, communicate on the Company’s or the Operating Partnership’s behalf with the respective holders of any of the Company’s or the Operating Partnership’s securities as required to satisfy the reporting and other requirements of any regulatory bodies or agencies and to maintain effective relations with such holders; and
(2) oversee the performance of the transfer agent and registrar.
(vi) Property Accounting Services.
(1) provide Property Accounting Services with respect to Commercial Real Properties owned by the Company.
(vii) Other Services.
(1) oversee the development, construction and improvement, including tenant improvements, of Real Properties (including DST Properties) by third parties on behalf of the Company;
(2) oversee and monitor third-party engineers, facility managers and property managers with regard to the effective building operations and maintenance of our Real Properties (including DST Properties);
(3) oversee and coordinate the making of any private placement of OP Units, tenancy-in-common or other interests in Real Properties as may be approved by the Board;
(4) provide internal legal services, either directly to the Company or as oversight of the Company’s outside counsel, which internal legal services shall be deemed separate and not included in any of the services set forth in Section 3(a) above;

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(5) investigate, select, and, on behalf of the Company and the Operating Partnership, oversee and coordinate the engagement of and business with such Persons as the Advisor deems necessary to the proper performance of its obligations hereunder (whether for a fee or not), 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, and any and all agents for any of the foregoing, including Affiliates of the Advisor, and Persons acting in any other capacity deemed by the Advisor 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 and the Operating Partnership with any of the foregoing;
(6) from time to time, or at any time reasonably requested by the Directors, make reports to the Directors of its performance of services to the Company and the Operating Partnership under this Agreement, including reports with respect to potential conflicts of interest involving the Advisor or any of its affiliates; and
(7) do all other things reasonably necessary to assure its ability to render the services described in this Agreement.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Advisor may delegate any of the foregoing duties to any Person so long as the Advisor or any Affiliate remains responsible for the performance of the duties set forth in this Section 3.

4.AUTHORITY OF ADVISOR.
(a) Pursuant to the terms of this Agreement (including the restrictions included in this Section 4 and in Section 7), and subject to the continuing and exclusive authority of the Directors over the management of the Company, the Directors hereby delegate to the Advisor the authority to take, or cause to be taken, any and all actions and to execute and deliver any and all agreements, certificates, assignments, instruments or other documents and to do any and all things that, in the judgment of the Advisor, may be necessary or advisable in connection with the Advisor’s duties described in Section 3.
(b) Notwithstanding the foregoing, any investment in Real Properties, including any acquisition of Real Property by the Company or the Operating Partnership (including any financing of such acquisition), will require the prior approval of the Board, any particular Directors specified by the Board or any committee of the Board, as the case may be.

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

The prior approval of a majority of the Independent Directors not otherwise interested in the transaction and a majority of the Directors not otherwise interested in the transaction will be required for each transaction to which the Advisor or its Affiliates is a party. The Directors may, at any time upon the giving of written notice to the Advisor, modify or revoke the authority set forth in this Section 4. If and to the extent the Directors so modify or revoke the authority contained herein, the Advisor shall henceforth submit to the Directors for prior approval such proposed transactions involving investments in Real Property, Real Estate Related Securities, or Debt Investments as thereafter require prior approval, provided however, that such modification or revocation shall be effective upon receipt by the Advisor and shall not be applicable to investment transactions to which the Advisor has committed the Company prior to the date of receipt by the Advisor of such notification.

5.BANK ACCOUNTS. The Advisor may establish and maintain one or more bank accounts in the name of the Company and the Operating Partnership and may collect and deposit into any such account or accounts, and disburse from any such account or accounts, any money on behalf of the Company and/or the Operating Partnership, under such terms and conditions as the Directors may approve, provided that no funds shall be commingled with the funds of the Advisor; and the Advisor shall from time to time render appropriate accountings of such collections and payments to the Directors and to the auditors of the Company.
6.RECORDS; ACCESS. The Advisor shall maintain appropriate records of all its activities hereunder and make such records available for inspection by the Directors and by counsel, auditors and authorized agents of the Company, at any time or from time to time during normal business hours. The Advisor shall at all reasonable times have access to the books and records of the Company and the Operating Partnership.
7.LIMITATIONS ON ACTIVITIES. Anything else in this Agreement to the contrary notwithstanding, the Advisor shall refrain from taking any action which, in its sole judgment made in good faith, would (a) adversely affect the status of the Company as a REIT, (b) subject the Company to regulation under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, or (c) violate any law, rule, regulation or statement of policy of any governmental body or agency having jurisdiction over the Company, its Shares or its Securities, or otherwise not be permitted by the Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws of the Company, except if such action shall be ordered by the Directors, in which case the Advisor shall notify promptly the Directors of the Advisor's judgment of the potential impact of such action and shall refrain from taking such action until it receives further clarification or instructions from the Directors. In such event the Advisor shall have no liability for acting in accordance with the specific instructions of the Directors so given. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company shall hold harmless the Advisor, its directors, officers, employees and stockholders, and stockholders, directors and officers of the Advisor's Affiliates for any act or omission by the Advisor, its directors, officers or

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employees, or stockholders, directors or officers of the Advisor's Affiliates taken or omitted to be taken in the performance of their duties under this Agreement to the extent permitted under the Company’s Articles of Incorporation and under Section 18 hereof.

8.RELATIONSHIP WITH DIRECTORS. Subject to Section 7 of this Agreement and to restrictions advisable with respect to the qualification of the Company as a REIT, directors, officers and employees of the Advisor or an Affiliate of the Advisor or any corporate parents of an Affiliate, may serve as a Director and as officers of the Company, except that no director, officer or employee of the Advisor or its Affiliates who also is a Director or officer of the Company shall receive any compensation from the Company for serving as a Director or officer other than reasonable reimbursement for travel and related expenses incurred in attending meetings of the Directors and no such Director shall be deemed an Independent Director for purposes of satisfying the Director independence requirement set forth in the Articles of Incorporation. Notwithstanding the foregoing, directors, officers and employees of the Advisor and its Affiliates that are also Directors or officers of the Company may receive compensation from the Advisor or its Affiliates for which the Advisor or its Affiliates are reimbursed by the Company pursuant to Section 10 of this Agreement.
9.FEES.
(a) The fees described in Section 9(b) are compensation for the personnel and related employment costs incurred by the Advisor or its Affiliates in performing the applicable services, including but not limited to salaries and wages, benefits and overhead of all employees involved in the performance of such services, but not for the third-party costs incurred by the Advisor or its Affiliates in connection with the performance of such services, which third-party costs shall be separately reimbursed and are not included in the services provided by the Advisor and its Affiliates.
(b) Advisory Fee. The Advisor shall receive the Advisory Fee as compensation for asset management services rendered pursuant to Section 3(a)(i) hereof as follows.
(i) The Advisory Fee will be comprised of two separate components: (1) a fixed component in an amount equal to, for each month during the term of this Agreement, 1/12th of 1.10% of the sum of (a) the product of (x) the applicable monthly Operating Partnership NAV per OP Unit, before giving effect to any monthly accruals for the Advisory Fee, Distribution Fees or any distributions accrued in respect of OP Units during the applicable month, and (y) the weighted average number of OP Units outstanding during the applicable month; and (b) aggregate DST Property Consideration for all DST Properties (the “Fixed Component”); and (2) a performance component (the “Performance Component”) that is calculated as described in Section 9(b)(ii) below. Provided that this Agreement has not been terminated, the Performance Component shall be paid to the Special OP Unitholders as a performance participation interest with respect to the Special Partnership Units in the form of an allocation

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and distribution from the Operating Partnership pursuant to the Operating Partnership Agreement. At the election of the Special OP Unitholders, with respect to each calendar year, all or a portion of the Performance Component shall be paid instead to the Advisor as a fee as set forth in this Paragraph 9(b). If the Special OP Unitholders do not elect on or before the first day of a calendar year to have all or a portion of the Performance Component paid as a fee in cash to the Advisor, then the Performance Component with respect to such calendar year shall be paid as a distribution on the performance participation interest to the Special OP Unitholders, as the holder of the Special Partnership Units.
(ii) The Special OP Unitholders or the Advisor, as applicable, will earn a Performance Component with respect to each calendar year (or partial calendar year) in which this Agreement is in effect in an amount equal to:
(A) The lesser of (1) the amount equal to 12.5% of (a) the Annual Total Return Amount less (b) the Loss Carryforward Amount, and (2) the amount equal to (x) the Annual Total Return Amount, less (y) the Loss Carryforward Amount, less (z) the Hurdle Amount;

multiplied by:

(B) The weighted-average number of OP Units outstanding during the applicable year, calculated in accordance with GAAP as applied on a consistent basis,

(C) Provided that the Performance Component shall at no time be less than zero.

Except as described in the definition of Loss Carryforward Amount in this Agreement, any amount by which the Annual Total Return Amount falls below the Hurdle Amount will not be carried forward to subsequent periods. If the Performance Component is payable or distributable pursuant to this Section 9(b)(ii), the Special OP Unitholders or the Advisor, as applicable, will be entitled to such payment or distribution, as applicable, even in the event that the total percentage return to Unitholders over any longer or shorter period, or the total percentage return to any particular Unitholder over the same, longer or shorter period, has been less than the Annual Total Return Amount used to calculate the Hurdle Amount. The Special OP Unitholders or the Advisor, as applicable, shall not be obligated to return any portion of any Advisory Fee paid based on the Company’s or the Operating Partnership’s subsequent performance.

(iii) The Advisory Fee will generally accrue and be payable monthly. The Fixed Component is payable monthly in arrears (after the completion of the NAV Calculations for such month). The Performance Component

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with respect to any calendar year is generally payable or distributable, as applicable, after the completion of the NAV Calculations for December of such year. If the Advisory Fee is payable with respect to any partial calendar month or calendar year, then the Fixed Component shall be prorated based on the number of days elapsed during any partial calendar month and the Performance Component shall be calculated based on the annualized total return amount determined using the total return achieved for the period of such partial calendar year. In the event this Agreement is terminated or its term expires without renewal, the partial period Fixed Component and Performance Component of the Advisory Fee will be calculated and due and payable upon the Termination Date. In such event, for purposes of determining the Annual Total Return Amount, the change in VPU shall be determined based on a good faith estimate of what the NAV Calculations would be as of that date.
(iv) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 9(b), upon the triggering of a Pro-Rata Period as defined in the Company’s Second Amended and Restated Share Redemption Program, effective as of December 10, 2018 (as it may be amended from time to time, the “SRP”), payment or distribution of the Performance Component shall be deferred until all share redemption requests under the SRP are satisfied.
(v) In the event the Operating Partnership commences a liquidation of its Investments during any calendar year, the Special OP Unitholders or the Advisor, as applicable, will be paid the Advisory Fee from the proceeds of the liquidation and the Performance Component will be calculated at the end of the liquidation period prior to the distribution of the liquidation proceeds to the Unitholders. The calculation of the Performance Component for any partial year shall be calculated consistent with the applicable provisions of Section 9(b)(iii) above.
(vi) The measurement of the change in VPU for the purpose of calculating the Annual Total Return Amount is subject to adjustment by the Board to account for any dividend, split, recapitalization or any other similar change in the Operating Partnership’s capital structure or any distributions that the Board deems to be a return of capital if such changes are not already reflected in the Operating Partnership’s net assets.
(c) Fees for other Services. The Company may retain certain of the Advisor’s Affiliates from time to time, for services relating to its investments or its operations, which may include property management services, leasing services, corporate services, statutory services, transaction support services (including but not limited to coordinating with brokers, lawyers, accountants and other advisors, assembling relevant information, conducting financial and market analyses, and coordinating closing procedures), construction and development management, and loan management and servicing, and within one or more such categories, providing services in respect of asset and/or investment administration,

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accounting, technology, tax preparation, finance (including but not limited to budget preparation and preparation and maintenance of corporate models), treasury, operational coordination, risk management, insurance placement, human resources, legal and compliance, valuation and reporting-related services, as well as services related to mortgage servicing, group purchasing, healthcare, consulting/brokerage, capital markets/credit origination, property, title and/or other types of insurance, management consulting and other similar operational matters. Any fees paid to the Advisor’s affiliates for any such services will not reduce the advisory fees. Any such arrangements will be at market rates or reimbursement of costs incurred by the affiliate in providing the services.
(d) Loans from Affiliates. The Advisor or any Affiliate thereof may not make any loan to the Company or the Operating Partnership unless a majority of the Directors (including a majority of the Independent Directors) not otherwise interested in such loan approve the loan as being fair, competitive, and commercially reasonable and no less favorable to the Company or the Operating Partnership than loans between unaffiliated parties under the same circumstances.
(e) Exclusion of Certain Transactions. In the event the Company or the Operating Partnership shall propose to enter into any transaction in which an officer or director of the Company, and the Operating Partnership, the Advisor, or any Affiliate of the Company, the Operating Partnership or the Advisor has a direct or indirect interest, then (i) such transaction shall be approved by a majority of the Board of Directors and also by a majority of the Independent Directors and (ii) any commissions or remuneration received by any such persons in connection with such transaction shall be deducted from the fees payable under this Agreement.
(f) Payment in Shares or OP Units. The fees due under this Section 9 shall be paid in cash; provided, however, that in lieu of cash, the Advisor may elect to receive the payment of the fees due under this Section 9 in any class of Shares or OP Units.  Any such Shares or OP Units will be valued at the NAV per share applicable to such Shares or OP Units on the issue date. Such shares shall not be subject to any early redemption deduction under the Company’s share redemption program.
(g) Fee Waiver. If as of the end of the last month of the applicable period the NAV of a Class E Series 1 Unit is less than $10.00 per unit, the Advisor will waive its fees earned under this Agreement in an amount equal to the product of (a) the Performance Component for the applicable period, and (b) the weighted-average Class E Series 1 Units outstanding over the applicable period divided by the weighted-average OP Units outstanding over the same period. In this manner, the holders of each class of OP Units will benefit from this waiver pro rata in accordance with their particular class’s portion of Operating Partnership NAV.

20


10.EXPENSES.
(a) In addition to the compensation paid to the Advisor pursuant to Section 9 hereof, the Company or the Operating Partnership shall pay directly or reimburse the Advisor or its Affiliates for all of the expenses paid or incurred by the Advisor or its Affiliates in connection with the services they provide to the Company and the Operating Partnership pursuant to this Agreement, including, but not limited to:
(i) Organizational and Offering Expenses paid or incurred by the Advisor or any of its Affiliates; provided that after an Offering terminates, the Advisor shall reimburse the Company to the extent the Organizational and Offering Expenses with respect to such Offering that are borne by the Company exceed 15.0% of the Gross Proceeds raised in the completed Offering; the Advisor shall be responsible for the payment of all the Company's Organizational and Offering Expenses in excess of the maximum amount permitted;
(ii) Private Organizational and Offering Expenses paid or incurred by the Advisor or any of its Affiliates, except to the extent the Advisor or its Affiliates have agreed to receive a fee in lieu of reimbursement of such expenses therewith;
(iii) Acquisition Expenses incurred in connection with the selection and acquisition of Real Properties;
(iv) Disposition Expenses incurred in connection with the disposition of Real Properties, Real Estate Related Securities and Debt Investments;
(v) the actual cost of goods and services used by the Company and obtained from Persons not affiliated with the Advisor, other than Acquisition Expenses, including brokerage fees paid in connection with the purchase and sale of Real Estate Related Securities or Debt Investments;
(vi) interest and other costs for borrowed money, including discounts, points and other similar fees;
(vii) taxes and assessments on income of the Company or Real Properties;
(viii) costs associated with insurance required in connection with the business of the Company or by the Directors;
(ix) expenses incurred in connection with financing transactions, including the financing or refinancing of Company properties;
(x) expenses of managing and operating Real Properties owned by the Company, including but not limited to Property Accounting Services provided by the Advisor with respect to each Commercial Real Property owned by the Company (Property Accounting Services with respect to

21


each Multifamily Property owned by the Company will be provided by a third-party, the expenses of which shall be paid by the direct or indirect subsidiary of the Company which owns the Multifamily Real Property);
(xi) all expenses in connection with payments to the Directors and meetings of the Directors and Stockholders;
(xii) personnel (and related employment) costs and overhead (including, but not limited to, allocated rent paid to both third parties and an affiliate of the Advisor, equipment, utilities, insurance, travel and entertainment, and other costs) incurred by the Advisor or its Affiliates in performing the services described in Section 3 hereof, including but not limited to compensation, benefits and other overhead of all employees involved in the performance of such services, provided that no reimbursement shall be made for such costs in connection with the services under Section 3(a), for services provided by an Affiliate of the Adviser for which the Company pays a separate fee pursuant to a separate agreement, or for compensation of the Company’s named executive officers unless the named executive officer provides services as described in Section 3(b)(v);
(xiii) expenses associated with a Listing, if applicable, or with the issuance and distribution of Securities, such as selling commissions and fees, advertising expenses, taxes, legal and accounting fees, listing and registration fees;
(xiv) expenses connected with payments of Distributions in cash or otherwise made or caused to be made by the Company to the Stockholders;
(xv) expenses of organizing, redomesticating, merging, liquidating or dissolving the Company or of amending the Articles of Incorporation or the Bylaws;
(xvi) expenses of maintaining communications with Stockholders, including the cost of preparation, printing, and mailing annual reports and other Stockholder reports, proxy statements and other reports required by governmental entities;
(xvii) internal and external audit, accounting and legal fees and other fees for professional services relating to the operations of the Company and all such fees incurred at the request, or on behalf of, the Board, the Independent Directors or any committee of the Board;
(xviii) all other costs incurred by the Advisor or its Affiliates in performing its duties hereunder.
(b) Expenses incurred by the Advisor or its Affiliates on behalf of the Company and the Operating Partnership and payable pursuant to this Section 10 shall be reimbursed no less than monthly to the Advisor. The Advisor shall prepare a

22


statement documenting the expenses of the Company and the Operating Partnership and the calculation of the fees and commissions due under this Agreement during each month, and shall deliver such statement to the Company and the Operating Partnership within 45 days after the end of each month.
(c) In lieu of cash, the Advisor may elect to receive the reimbursement of any of its expenses in any class of Shares.  Any such Shares will be valued at the NAV per share applicable to such Shares on the issue date and will not be eligible for redemption by the Advisor until six months from the issue date.
(d) In the event the Advisor enters into strategic alliances with Product Specialists with respect to investments in Real Properties, Real Estate Related Securities or Debt Investments on behalf of the Company or the Operating Partnership as provided for in the Company's prospectus, and the Product Specialists perform services that entitle them to expense reimbursements, any such expense reimbursements will be deemed to be expenses incurred by the Advisor for purposes of this Agreement, and reimbursable to the extent permitted under this Agreement as if they were incurred by the Advisor directly.
11.OTHER SERVICES. Should the Directors request that the Advisor or any director, officer or employee thereof render services for the Company and the Operating Partnership other than set forth in Section 3, such services shall be separately compensated at such rates and in such amounts as are agreed by the Advisor and the Independent Directors of the Company, subject to the limitations contained in the Articles of Incorporation, and shall not be deemed to be services pursuant to the terms of this Agreement.
12.REIMBURSEMENT TO THE ADVISOR. For any year in which the Company qualifies as a REIT, the Company shall not reimburse the Advisor at the end of any fiscal quarter Total Operating Expenses that, in the four consecutive fiscal quarters then ended (the “Expense Year”) exceed (the “Excess Amount”) the greater of 2% of Average Invested Assets or 25% of Net Income (the “2%/25% Guidelines”) for such year. Any Excess Amount paid to the Advisor during a fiscal quarter shall be repaid to the Company or, at the option of the Company, subtracted from the Total Operating Expenses reimbursed during the subsequent fiscal quarter. If there is an Excess Amount in any Expense Year and the Independent Directors determine that such excess was justified based on unusual and nonrecurring factors which they deem sufficient, then (i) the Excess Amount may be carried over and included in Total Operating Expenses in subsequent Expense Years and reimbursed to the Advisor in one or more of such years, provided that Total Operating Expenses in any Expense Year, including any Excess Amount to be paid to the Advisor, shall not exceed the 2%/25% Guidelines or (ii) the Excess Amount may be paid in the Expense Year and within 60 days after the end of such Expense Year there shall be sent to the stockholders a written disclosure of such fact, together with an explanation of the factors the Independent Directors considered in determining that such excess expenses were justified. Such determination shall be reflected in the minutes of the meetings of the Board of Directors. The Company will not reimburse the Advisor or its Affiliates for its personnel (and related employment) costs and overhead (including rent, insurance and

23


other costs) incurred in connection with the services under Section 3(a) or services provided by an Affiliate of the Adviser for which the Company pays a separate fee pursuant to a separate agreement. All figures used in the foregoing computation shall be determined in accordance with GAAP applied on a consistent basis.

13. OTHER ACTIVITIES OF THE ADVISOR.
(a) Nothing herein contained shall prevent the Advisor 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 the Advisor or its Affiliates; nor shall this Agreement limit or restrict the right of any member, manager, director, officer, employee, or stockholder of the Advisor 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. The Advisor may, with respect to any investment in which the Company is a participant, also render advice and service to each and every other participant therein, 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 Advisor may be engaged (directly or indirectly) to provide advice and service to such Persons, in which case the Advisor will earn fees for rendering such advice and service. The parties to this Agreement hereby acknowledge that the Advisor may provide advice and render services to Persons that will compete with the Company for investments.
(b) The Advisor shall report to the Directors the existence of any condition or circumstance, existing or anticipated, of which it has knowledge, which creates or could create a conflict of interest between the Advisor’s obligations to the Company and its obligations to or its interest in any other partnership, corporation, limited liability company, firm, individual, trust or association. The Advisor or its Affiliates shall promptly disclose to the Directors knowledge of such condition or circumstance. If the Advisor, its members, managers, directors, employees or Affiliates thereof have sponsored other investment programs with similar investment objectives which have investment funds available at the same time as the Company, it shall be the duty of the Directors (including the Independent Directors) to ensure that the Advisor and its Affiliates follow an allocation method that is reasonable and fairly applied. The Advisor shall provide the information necessary for the Directors to make this determination.
(c) The Advisor shall be required to use commercially reasonable efforts to present a continuing and suitable investment program to the Company which is consistent with the investment policies and objectives of the Company, but neither the Advisor nor any Affiliate of the Advisor shall be obligated generally to present any particular investment opportunity to the Company even if the opportunity is of a character that, if presented to the Company, could be taken by the Company.

24


In the event an investment opportunity is located, the allocation procedure set forth in the Prospectus (as such procedures may be amended from time to time) shall govern the allocation of the opportunity among the Company and Affiliates of the Advisor.
14.TERM; TERMINATION OF AGREEMENT. This Agreement shall continue in force through April 30, 2022, subject to an unlimited number of successive one-year renewals upon mutual consent of the parties. It is the duty of the Directors to evaluate the performance of the Advisor annually before renewing the Agreement, and each such renewal shall be for a term of no more than one year.
15.TERMINATION BY THE PARTIES. This Agreement may be terminated (i) immediately by the Company and/or the Operating Partnership for Cause or upon the bankruptcy of the Advisor, (ii) upon 60 days written notice without Cause and without penalty by a majority of the Independent Directors of the Company or (iii) upon 60 days written notice with Good Reason by the Advisor.
16.ASSIGNMENT. This Agreement may be assigned by the Advisor to an Affiliate with the approval of a majority of the Directors (including a majority of the Independent Directors). The Advisor may assign any rights to receive fees or other payments under this Agreement to any Person without obtaining the approval of the Directors. This Agreement shall not be assigned by the Company or the Operating Partnership without the consent of the Advisor, except in the case of an assignment by the Company or the Operating Partnership to a corporation, limited partnership or other organization which is a successor to all of the assets, rights and obligations of the Company or the Operating Partnership, in which case such successor organization shall be bound hereunder and by the terms of said assignment in the same manner as the Company and the Operating Partnership are bound by this Agreement. For the avoidance of doubt, this Agreement may not be assigned (as such term is defined in Section 205(a)(2) of the Advisers Act) or novated by the Advisor by operation of law or otherwise without consent as required under the Advisers Act; provided, that the Advisor may assign, subcontract, delegate or otherwise transfer any of its rights and obligations hereunder to any of its Affiliates.
17.PAYMENTS TO AND DUTIES OF ADVISOR UPON TERMINATION. Payments to the Advisor of unpaid expense reimbursements pursuant to this Section 17 shall be subject to the 2%/25% Guidelines to the extent applicable.
(a) After the Termination Date, the Advisor shall not be entitled to compensation for further services hereunder except it shall be entitled to receive from the Company or the Operating Partnership within 30 days after the effective date of such termination all unpaid reimbursements of expenses and all earned but unpaid fees payable to the Advisor prior to termination of this Agreement. In addition, in accordance with the provisions of Section 12, the Advisor shall be entitled to receive any Excess Amount (as defined in Section 12) for which the Independent Directors determined (before or after the Termination Date) that there was justification based on unusual and nonrecurring factors.

25


(b) The Advisor shall promptly upon termination:
(i) pay over to the Company and the Operating Partnership all money collected and held for the account of the Company and the Operating Partnership pursuant to this Agreement, after deducting any accrued compensation and reimbursement for its expenses to which it is then entitled;
(ii) deliver to the Directors 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 Directors;
(iii) deliver to the Directors all assets, including Real Properties, Real Estate Related Securities and Debt Investments, and documents of the Company and the Operating Partnership then in the custody of the Advisor; and
(iv) cooperate with the Company and the Operating Partnership to provide an orderly management transition.
18.INDEMNIFICATION BY THE COMPANY AND THE OPERATING PARTNERSHIP. The Company and the Operating Partnership shall indemnify and hold harmless the Advisor and its Affiliates, including their respective officers, directors, partners and employees, from all liability, claims, damages or losses arising in the performance of their duties hereunder, and related expenses, including reasonable attorneys' fees, subject to any limitations imposed by the laws of the State of Maryland or the Articles of Incorporation of the Company. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company and the Operating Partnership shall not provide for indemnification of the Advisor and its Affiliates, including their respective officers, directors, partners and employees, for any loss or liability suffered by the Advisor and its Affiliates, including their respective officers, directors, partners and employees, nor shall they provide that the Advisor and its Affiliates, including their respective officers, directors, partners and employees, be held harmless for any loss or liability suffered by the Company and the Operating Partnership, unless all of the following conditions are met:
(a) The Advisor has determined, in good faith, that the course of conduct which caused the loss or liability was in the best interest of the Company and the Operating Partnership;
(b) The Advisor was acting on behalf of or performing services for the Company and the Operating Partnership;
(c) Such liability or loss was not the result of negligence or misconduct by the Advisor; and
(d) Such indemnification or agreement to hold harmless is recoverable only out of the Company's net assets and not from Stockholders.

26


Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Advisor and its Affiliates, including their respective officers, directors, partners and employees, shall not be indemnified by the Company and the Operating Partnership for any losses, liabilities or expenses arising from or out of an alleged violation of federal or state securities laws by the Advisor and its Affiliates, including their respective officers, directors, partners and employees, unless one or more of the following conditions are met:

(a) There has been a successful adjudication on the merits of each count involving alleged securities law violations as to the Advisor;
(b) Such claims have been dismissed with prejudice on the merits by a court of competent jurisdiction as to the Advisor; or
(c) A court of competent jurisdiction approves a settlement of the claims against the Advisor and finds that indemnification of the settlement and the related costs should be made, and the court considering the request for indemnification has been advised of the position of the Securities and Exchange Commission and of the published position of any state securities regulatory authority in which securities of the Company and the Operating Partnership were offered or sold as to indemnification for violation of securities laws.

In addition, the advancement of the Company's or the Operating Partnership's funds to the Advisor and its Affiliates, including their respective officers, directors, partners and employees, for legal expenses and other costs incurred as a result of any legal action for which indemnification is being sought is permissible only if all of the following conditions are satisfied:

(a) The legal action relates to acts or omissions with respect to the performance of duties or services on behalf of the Company or the Operating Partnership;
(b) The legal action is initiated by a third party who is not a shareholder or the legal action is initiated by a shareholder acting in his or her capacity as such and a court of competent jurisdiction specifically approves such advancement; and
(c) The Advisor undertakes to repay the advanced funds to the Company or the Operating Partnership, together with the applicable legal rate of interest thereon, in cases in which the Advisor is found not to be entitled to indemnification.
19.INDEMNIFICATION BY ADVISOR. The Advisor shall indemnify and hold harmless the Company and the Operating Partnership from contract or other liability, claims, damages, taxes or losses and related expenses including attorneys' fees, to the extent that such liability, claims, damages, taxes or losses and related expenses are incurred by reason of the Advisor's bad faith, fraud, willful misfeasance, gross misconduct, gross negligence or reckless disregard of its duties, but the Advisor shall not be held responsible for any action of the Board of Directors in following or declining to follow any advice or recommendation given by the Advisor.

27


20.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 Articles of Incorporation, the Bylaws, or accepted by the party to whom it is given, and shall be given by being delivered by hand or by overnight mail or other overnight delivery service to the addresses set forth herein:

To the Directors and to the Company:

Ares Real Estate Income Trust Inc.
518 17th Street
17th Floor
Denver, CO 80202

To the Operating Partnership:

AREIT Operating Partnership LP
518 17th Street
17th Floor
Denver, CO 80202

To the Advisor:

Ares Commercial Real Estate Management LLC
2000 Avenue of the Stars, 12th Floor

Los Angeles, CA 90067

Attention: Naseem Sagati Aghili

Email: nsagati@aresmgmt.com

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 20.

21.MODIFICATION. This Agreement shall not be changed, 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.
22.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.
23.CONSTRUCTION. The provisions of this Agreement shall be construed and interpreted in accordance with the laws of the State of Colorado.
24.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

28


performance and/or usage of the trade inconsistent with any of the terms hereof. This Agreement may not be modified or amended other than by an agreement in writing.

25.INDULGENCES, NOT WAIVERS. 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.
26.GENDER. Words used herein regardless of the number and gender specifically used, shall be deemed and construed to include any other number, singular or plural, and any other gender, masculine, feminine or neuter, as the context requires.
27.TITLES NOT TO AFFECT INTERPRETATION. 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.
28.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.
29.INITIAL INVESTMENT. The Advisor owns 20,000 Class E Shares, which were issued in connection with the original advisor’s initial investment in the Company of $200,000. The Advisor may not sell any of such Shares while the Advisor acts in such advisory capacity to the Company, provided, that such Shares may be transferred to Affiliates of the Advisor. The restrictions included above shall not apply to any other Securities acquired by the Advisor or its Affiliates. The Advisor shall not vote any Shares it now owns, or hereafter acquires, in any vote for the election of Directors or any vote regarding the approval or termination of any contract with the Advisor or any of its Affiliates.

29


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Third Amended and Restated Advisory Agreement (2021) as of December 1, 2021.

ARE REAL ESTATE INCOME TRUST INC., a Maryland corporation

By:

/s/ Lainie P. Minnick

Name:

Lainie P. Minnick

Title:

Managing Director, Chief Financial Officer & Treasurer

AREIT OPERATING PARTNERSHIP LP, a Delaware limited partnership

By:

Ares Real Estate Income Trust Inc., its General Partner

By:

/s/ Lainie P. Minnick

Name:

Lainie P. Minnick

Title:

Managing Director, Chief Financial Officer & Treasurer

ARES COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE MANAGEMENT LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

By:

/s/ Anton Feingold

Name:

Anton Feingold

Title:

Authorized Signatory


Exhibit 10.18

ELEVENTH AMENDED AND RESTATED LIMITED PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT


OF


AREIT Operating Partnership LP


A DELAWARE LIMITED PARTNERSHIP


december 1, 2021


TABLE OF CONTENTS

ArticlePAGE

ARTICLE 1

DEFINED TERMS

1

1.1

Definitions

1

1.2

Interpretation

13

ARTICLE 2

PARTNERSHIP FORMATION AND IDENTIFICATION

14

2.1

Formation

14

2.2

Name, Office and Registered Agent

14

2.3

Partners

14

2.4

Term and Dissolution

14

2.5

Filing of Certificate and Perfection of Limited Partnership

15

2.6

Certificates Describing Partnership Units and Special Partnership Units

15

ARTICLE 3

BUSINESS OF THE PARTNERSHIP

16

ARTICLE 4

CAPITAL CONTRIBUTIONS AND ACCOUNTS

16

4.1

Capital Contributions

16

4.2

Classes and Series of Partnership Units

16

4.3

Additional Capital Contributions and Issuances of Additional Partnership Interests

17

4.4

Additional Funding

19

4.5

Capital Accounts

19

4.6

Percentage Interests

20

4.7

No Interest On Contributions

20

4.8

Return Of Capital Contributions

20

4.9

No Third Party Beneficiary

20

ARTICLE 5

PROFITS AND LOSSES; DISTRIBUTIONS

21

5.1

Allocation of Profit and Loss

21

5.2

Distribution of Cash

23

5.3

REIT Distribution Requirements

27

5.4

No Right to Distributions in Kind

27

5.5

Limitations on Return of Capital Contributions

27

5.6

Distributions Upon Liquidation

27

5.7

Substantial Economic Effect

28

ARTICLE 6

RIGHTS, OBLIGATIONS AND POWERS OF THE GENERAL PARTNER

28

6.1

Management of the Partnership

28

6.2

Delegation of Authority

30

6.3

Indemnification and Exculpation of Indemnitees

31

6.4

Liability of the General Partner

32

6.5

Reimbursement of General Partner

33

6.6

Outside Activities

33

6.7

Employment or Retention of Affiliates

33

6.8

General Partner Participation

34

6.9

Title to Partnership Assets

34

6.1

Redemptions of REIT Shares

34

6.11

No Duplication of Fees or Expenses

35

ARTICLE 7

CHANGES IN GENERAL PARTNER

35

7.1

Transfer of the General Partner’s Partnership Interest

35

7.2

Admission of a Substitute or Additional General Partner

37

7.3

Effect of Bankruptcy, Withdrawal, Death or Dissolution of the sole remaining General Partner

37

7.4

Removal of a General Partner

38

ARTICLE 8

RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS OF THE LIMITED PARTNERS

39

8.1

Management of the Partnership

39

8.2

Power of Attorney

39

8.3

Limitation on Liability of Limited Partners

39

8.4

Ownership by Limited Partner of Corporate General Partner or Affiliate

40

8.5

Redemption Right

40

8.6

Registration

44

i


TABLE OF CONTENTS

(continued)

ArticlePAGE

8.7

Distribution Reinvestment Plan

45

ARTICLE 9

TRANSFERS OF LIMITED PARTNERSHIP INTERESTS

45

9.1

Purchase for Investment

45

9.2

Restrictions on Transfer of Limited Partnership Interests

45

9.3

Admission of Substitute Limited Partner

47

9.4

Rights of Assignees of Partnership Interests

48

9.5

Effect of Bankruptcy, Death, Incompetence or Termination of a Limited Partner

48

9.6

Joint Ownership of Interests

48

ARTICLE 10

BOOKS AND RECORDS; ACCOUNTING; TAX MATTERS

49

10.1

Books and Records

49

10.2

Custody of Partnership Funds; Bank Accounts

49

10.3

Fiscal and Taxable Year

49

10.4

Annual Tax Information and Report

49

10.5

Tax Matters Partner; Tax Elections; Special Basis Adjustments

49

10.6

Reports to Limited Partners

51

10.7

Safe Harbor Election

51

ARTICLE 11

AMENDMENT OF AGREEMENT; MERGER

51

ARTICLE 12

GENERAL PROVISIONS

52

12.1

Notices

52

12.2

Survival of Rights

52

12.3

Additional Documents

52

12.4

Severability

52

12.5

Entire Agreement

52

12.6

Pronouns and Plurals

53

12.7

Headings

53

12.8

Counterparts

53

12.9

Governing Law

53

EXHIBITS

EXHIBIT A -Partners, Capital Contributions and Percentage Interests or Special Percentage Interests

EXHIBIT B - Notice of Exercise of Redemption Right

ii


ELEVENTH Amended and Restated LIMITED PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT
OF
AREIT Operating Partnership LP

This Eleventh Amended and Restated Limited Partnership Agreement (this “Agreement”) is entered into as of December 1, 2021, between Ares Real Estate Income Trust Inc., a Maryland corporation (f/k/a Black Creek Diversified Property Fund Inc.) (the “General Partner”) and the Limited Partners set forth on Exhibit A attached hereto.  

RECITALS:

A.AREIT Operating Partnership LP (f/k/a Dividend Capital Total Realty Operating Partnership LP) (the “Partnership”), was formed on April 12, 2005 as a limited partnership under the laws of the State of Delaware, pursuant to a Certificate of Limited Partnership filed with the Office of the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on April 12, 2005.
B.The Partnership is currently governed by the Tenth Amended and Restated Limited Partnership Agreement of the Partnership dated as of July 1, 2021 (the “Prior Agreement”).  
C.The parties desire to amend and restate the Prior Agreement as fully set forth below.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing, of mutual covenants between the parties hereto, and of other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto agree that the Prior Agreement shall be and hereby is amended and restated in its entirety as follows:

Article 1

DEFINED TERMS
1.1Definitions.  The following defined terms used in this Agreement shall have the meanings specified below:

“ACT” means the Delaware Revised Uniform Limited Partnership Act, as it may be amended from time to time.

“ADDITIONAL FUNDS” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.4.

“ADDITIONAL SECURITIES” means any additional REIT Shares (other than REIT Shares issued in connection with a redemption pursuant to Section 8.5 or REIT Shares issued pursuant to a dividend reinvestment plan of the General Partner) or rights, options, warrants or convertible or exchangeable securities containing the right to subscribe for or purchase REIT Shares, as set forth in Section 4.3(a)(ii).

“ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES” means (i) all administrative and operating costs and expenses incurred by the Partnership, (ii) those administrative costs and expenses of the General Partner, including any salaries or other payments to directors, officers or employees of the General Partner, and any accounting and legal expenses of the General Partner, which expenses, the

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Partners have agreed, are expenses of the Partnership and not the General Partner, and (iii) to the extent not included in clause (ii) above, REIT Expenses; provided, however, that Administrative Expenses shall not include any administrative costs and expenses incurred by the General Partner that are attributable to Properties or partnership interests in a Subsidiary Partnership that are owned by the General Partner directly.

“ADVISOR” or “ADVISORS” means the Person or Persons, if any, appointed, employed or contracted with by the General Partner and responsible for directing or performing the day-to-day business affairs of the General Partner, including any Person to whom the Advisor subcontracts substantially all of such functions.

“ADVISORY AGREEMENT” means the agreement between the General Partner and the Advisor pursuant to which the Advisor will direct or perform the day-to-day business affairs of the General Partner.

“AFFILIATE” means, with respect to any Person, (i) any Person directly or indirectly, owning, controlling or holding with the power to vote 10% of more of the outstanding voting securities of such other Person; (ii) any Person 10% or more of whose outstanding voting securities are directly or indirectly owned, controlled or held, with the power to vote, by such other Person; (iii) any Person directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by or under common control with such other Person; (iv) any executive officer, director, trustee or general partner of such other Person; and (v) any legal entity for which such Person acts an executive officer, director, trustee or general partner.  

“AFFIRMATION DATE” has the meaning provided in Section 8.5(a).

“AGGREGATE SHARE OWNERSHIP LIMIT” shall have the meaning set forth in the Articles of Incorporation.

“AGREED VALUE” means the fair market value of a Partner’s non-cash Capital Contribution as of the date of contribution as agreed to by such Partner and the General Partner.  The names and addresses of the Partners, number and Class or Series of Partnership Units or Special Partnership Units issued to each Partner, and the Agreed Value of non-cash Capital Contributions as of the date of contribution are set forth on Exhibit A.

“AGREEMENT” means this Eleventh Amended and Restated Limited Partnership Agreement, as amended, modified supplemented or restated from time to time, as the context requires.

“ANNUAL TOTAL RETURN AMOUNT” means the overall investment return, expressed as a dollar amount per Partnership Unit, which shall be equal to the sum of (1) the Weighted-Average Distributions per Partnership Unit over the applicable period, and (2) the Ending VPU, adjusted to remove the negative impact on the overall investment return from the payment or the obligation to pay, or distribute, as applicable, the Performance Allocation and Class-Specific Fees, less the Beginning VPU.

“APPLICABLE PERCENTAGE” has the meaning provided in Section 8.5(b).

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“ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION” means the Articles of Restatement of the General Partner filed with the Maryland State Department of Assessments and Taxation on March 20, 2012, as further amended or supplemented from time to time.

“BEGINNING VPU”  means the VPU determined as of the end of the most recent month prior to the commencement of the applicable period.

“CAPITAL ACCOUNT” has the meaning provided in Section 4.5.

“CAPITAL CONTRIBUTION” means the total amount of cash, cash equivalents, and the Agreed Value of any Property or other asset (other than cash or cash equivalents) contributed or agreed to be contributed, as the context requires, to the Partnership by each Partner pursuant to the terms of this Agreement.  Any reference to the Capital Contribution of a Partner shall include the Capital Contribution made by a predecessor holder of the Partnership Interest of such Partner.

“CARRYING VALUE” means, with respect to any asset of the Partnership, the asset’s adjusted net basis for federal income tax purposes or, in the case of any asset contributed to the Partnership, the fair market value of such asset at the time of contribution, reduced by any amounts attributable to the inclusion of liabilities in basis pursuant to Section 752 of the Code, except that the Carrying Values of all assets may, at the discretion of the General Partner, be adjusted to equal their respective fair market values (as determined by the General Partner), in accordance with the rules set forth in Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(f), as provided for in Section 4.5.  In the case of any asset of the Partnership that has a Carrying Value that differs from its adjusted tax basis, the Carrying Value shall be adjusted by the amount of depreciation, depletion and amortization calculated for purposes of the definition of Profit and Loss rather than the amount of depreciation, depletion and amortization determined for federal income tax purposes.

“CASH AMOUNT” means an amount of cash per Partnership Unit equal to the applicable Redemption Price determined by the General Partner.

“CERTIFICATE” means any instrument or document that is required under the laws of the State of Delaware, or any other jurisdiction in which the Partnership conducts business, to be signed and sworn to by the Partners of the Partnership (either by themselves or pursuant to the power-of-attorney granted to the General Partner in Section 8.2) and filed for recording in the appropriate public offices within the State of Delaware or such other jurisdiction to perfect or maintain the Partnership as a limited partnership, to effect the admission, withdrawal, or substitution of any Partner of the Partnership, or to protect the limited liability of the Limited Partners as limited partners under the laws of the State of Delaware or such other jurisdiction.

“CLASS” means a class of REIT Shares or Partnership Units, as the context may require.  

“CLASS E REIT SHARES” means the Class of REIT Shares designated as “Class E Common Shares” under the General Partner’s charter.

“CLASS E UNIT” means a Partnership Unit entitling the holder thereof to the rights of a holder of a Class E Unit as provided in this Agreement, and shall be either Series 1 Class E Units or Series 2 Class E Units.

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“CLASS D REIT SHARES” means the Class of REIT Shares designated as “Class D Common Shares” under the General Partner’s charter.

“CLASS D UNIT” means a Partnership Unit entitling the holder thereof to the rights of a holder of a Class D Unit as provided in this Agreement.

“CLASS I REIT SHARES” means the Class of REIT Shares designated as “Class I Common Shares” under the General Partner’s charter.

“CLASS I UNIT” means a Partnership Unit entitling the holder thereof to the rights of a holder of a Class I Unit as provided in this Agreement.

“CLASS S REIT SHARES” means the Class of REIT Shares designated as “Class S Common Shares” under the General Partner’s charter.

“CLASS S UNIT” means a Partnership Unit entitling the holder thereof to the rights of a holder of a Class S Unit as provided in this Agreement, and shall be either Series 1 Class S Units or Series 2 Class S Units.

“CLASS-SPECIFIC FEES” means any Distribution Fee expenses accrued or allocated directly or indirectly to a particular Class or Series of Partnership Units or REIT Shares.

“CLASS T REIT SHARES” means the Class of REIT Shares designated as “Class T Common Shares” under the General Partner’s charter.

“CLASS T UNIT” means a Partnership Unit entitling the holder thereof to the rights of a holder of a Class T Unit as provided in this Agreement, and shall be either Series 1 Class T Units or Series 2 Class T Units.

“CODE” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and as hereafter amended from time to time.  Reference to any particular provision of the Code shall mean that provision in the Code at the date hereof and any successor provision of the Code.

“COMMISSION” means the U.S.  Securities and Exchange Commission.

“COMMON SHARE OWNERSHIP LIMIT” shall have the meaning set forth in the Articles of Incorporation.

“CONVERSION FACTOR” means 1.0, provided that in the event that the General Partner (i) declares or pays a dividend on its outstanding REIT Shares in REIT Shares or makes a distribution to all holders of its outstanding REIT Shares in REIT Shares, (ii) subdivides its outstanding REIT Shares, or (iii) combines its outstanding REIT Shares into a smaller number of REIT Shares, the Conversion Factor shall be adjusted by multiplying the Conversion Factor by a fraction, the numerator of which shall be the number of REIT Shares issued and outstanding on the record date for such dividend, distribution, subdivision or combination (assuming for such purposes that such dividend, distribution, subdivision or combination has occurred as of such time), and the denominator of which shall be the actual number of REIT Shares (determined without the above assumption) issued and outstanding on such date and, provided further, that in

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the event that an entity other than an Affiliate of the General Partner shall become General Partner pursuant to any merger, consolidation or combination of the General Partner with or into another entity (the “Successor Entity”), the Conversion Factor shall be adjusted by multiplying the Conversion Factor by the number of shares of the Successor Entity into which one REIT Share is converted pursuant to such merger, consolidation or combination, determined as of the date of such merger, consolidation or combination.  Any adjustment to the Conversion Factor shall become effective immediately after the effective date of such event retroactive to the record date, if any, for such event; provided, however, that if the General Partner receives a Notice of Redemption after the record date, but prior to the effective date of such dividend, distribution, subdivision or combination, the Conversion Factor shall be determined as if the General Partner had received the Notice of Redemption immediately prior to the record date for such dividend, distribution, subdivision or combination.  A separate Conversion Factor shall be determined for each Class or Series of Partnership Units (other than Series 2 Class S Units) by taking into account only the outstanding REIT Shares having the same Class designation as the applicable Class of Partnership Units. The Conversion Factor for Series 2 Class S Units shall equal the Conversion Factor for Series 1 Class S Units, multiplied by the Net Asset Value Per Unit for Series 2 Class S Units and divided by the Net Asset Value Per Unit for Series 1 Class S Units.

“DEALER MANAGER” means Ares Wealth Management Solutions, LLC or such other Person or entity selected by the board of directors of the General Partner to act as the dealer manager for the Offering.

“DIRECTOR” shall have the meaning set forth in the Articles of Incorporation.

“DISTRIBUTION FEES” means any ongoing distribution fees, dealer manager fees or similar fees (as distinguished from up-front or one-time selling commissions and dealer manager fees) payable pursuant to any dealer manager agreement between the General Partner and the Dealer Manager with respect to outstanding REIT Shares or Partnership Units.

“ENDING VPU”  means the VPU as of the end of the last month in the applicable period.

“EVENT OF BANKRUPTCY” as to any Person means the filing of a petition for relief as to such Person as debtor or bankrupt under the Bankruptcy Code of 1978 or similar provision of law of any jurisdiction (except if such petition is contested by such Person and has been dismissed within 90 days); insolvency or bankruptcy of such Person as finally determined by a court proceeding; filing by such Person of a petition or application to accomplish the same or for the appointment of a receiver or a trustee for such Person or a substantial part of his assets; commencement of any proceedings relating to such Person as a debtor under any other reorganization, arrangement, insolvency, adjustment of debt or liquidation law of any jurisdiction, whether now in existence or hereinafter in effect, either by such Person or by another, provided that if such proceeding is commenced by another, such Person indicates his approval of such proceeding, consents thereto or acquiesces therein, or such proceeding is contested by such Person and has not been finally dismissed within 90 days.

“EXCEPTED HOLDER LIMIT” shall have the meaning set forth in the Articles of Incorporation.

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“FMV Option” means a fair market value purchase option giving the Partnership the right, but not the obligation, to acquire Interests from holders thereof at a later time in exchange for Series 2 Class T Units.

“GAAP” means generally accepted accounting principles as in effect in the United States of America from time to time.

“GENERAL PARTNER” means Ares Real Estate Income Trust Inc., a Maryland corporation, and any Person who becomes a substitute or additional General Partner as provided herein, and any of their successors as General Partner, in such Person’s capacity as a General Partner of the Partnership.

“GENERAL PARTNERSHIP INTEREST” means a Partnership Interest held by the General Partner.

“GENERAL PARTNER LOAN” has the meaning provided in Section 5.2(d).

“HURDLE AMOUNT” means for the applicable period, an amount that when annualized would equal 5.0% of the Beginning VPU.

“INDEMNITEE” means (i) any Person made a party to a proceeding by reason of its status as the General Partner or a director, officer or employee of the General Partner or the Partnership, and (ii) such other Persons (including Affiliates of the General Partner or the Partnership) as the General Partner may designate from time to time, in its sole and absolute discretion.

“INDEPENDENT DIRECTORS” shall have the meaning set forth in the Articles of Incorporation.

“INTERESTS” means beneficial interests in specific Delaware statutory trusts offered in Private Placements.

“INVESTOR SERVICING FEE” means a fee paid to the dealer manager of the Private Placements equal to 0.85% per annum of the Net Asset Value Per Unit of each Resulting Series 2 Class T Unit (calculated monthly in accordance with the Valuation Procedures and in this Agreement, as they may be amended from time to time) which will be allocated to the holders of Class T OP Units through a reduction in their distributions.

“JOINT VENTURE” means any joint venture or general partnership arrangement in which the Partnership is a co-venturer or general partner which are established to acquire Real Property.

“LIMITED PARTNER” means any Person named as a Limited Partner on Exhibit A, including the Special OP Unitholder, and any Person who becomes a Substitute Limited Partner, in such Person’s capacity as a Limited Partner in the Partnership.

“LIMITED PARTNERSHIP INTEREST” means the ownership interest of a Limited Partner in the Partnership at any particular time, including the right of such Limited Partner to any and all benefits to which such Limited Partner may be entitled as provided in this Agreement and

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in the Act, together with the obligations of such Limited Partner to comply with all the provisions of this Agreement and of such Act.

“LISTING” means the listing of the shares of the General Partner’s stock, previously issued by the General Partner pursuant to an effective registration statement and such shares currently registered with the Commission pursuant to an effective registration statement, on a national securities exchange or the receipt by holders of shares of the General Partner’s stock of securities that are listed on a national securities exchange in exchange for shares of the General Partner’s stock.  Upon such Listing, the shares shall be deemed “LISTED”.

“LOSS” has the meaning provided in Section 5.1(g).

“LOSS CARRYFORWARD AMOUNT”  means an amount that equaled zero as of September 1, 2017 and cumulatively increases from then by the absolute value of any negative Annual Total Return Amount and decrease by any positive Annual Total Return Amount, provided that the Loss Carryforward Amount shall at no time be less than zero. The effect of the Loss Carryforward Amount is that the recoupment of past Annual Total Return Amount losses will offset the positive Annual Total Return Amount for purposes of the calculation of the Performance Allocation.

“MINIMUM LIMITED PARTNERSHIP INTEREST” means the lesser of (i) 1% or (ii) if the total Capital Contributions to the Partnership exceeds $50 million, 1% divided by the ratio of the total Capital Contributions to the Partnership to $50 million; provided, however, that the Minimum Limited Partnership Interest shall not be less than 0.2% at any time.

“MORTGAGES” means, in connection with any mortgage financing provided, invested in, participated in or purchased by the Partnership, all of the notes, deeds of trust, mortgages, security interests or other evidences of indebtedness or obligations, which are secured by or, collateralized by, or applicable to any Real Property owned by the borrowers under such notes, deeds of trust, mortgages, security interests or other evidences of indebtedness or obligations.

“MULTPLE CLASS PLAN” means a written plan adopted by the Board of Directors of the General Partner, as such plan may be amended from time to time, that sets forth the method by which distributions among classes of REIT Shares shall be determined relative to each other, and may set forth other terms of classes of REIT Shares relative to each other.

“NAV” means net asset value, calculated pursuant to the Valuation Procedures and in this Agreement.

“NAV CALCULATIONS” means the calculations used to determine the NAV of the General Partner, the REIT Shares, the Partnership and the Partnership Units, all as provided in the Valuation Procedures and in this Agreement.

“NET ASSET VALUE PER UNIT” means, for each Class or Series of Partnership Unit, the net asset value per unit of such Class or Series of Partnership Unit most recently determined in accordance with the Valuation Procedures and in this Agreement.

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“NET ASSET VALUE PER REIT SHARE” means, for each Class of REIT Shares, the net asset value per share of such Class of REIT Shares most recently determined in accordance with the Valuation Procedures and in this Agreement.

“NOTICE OF REDEMPTION” means the Notice of Exercise of Redemption Right substantially in the form attached as Exhibit B.

“OFFER” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.1(c).

“OFFERING” means the an offer and sale of REIT Shares to the public.

“OP UNITHOLDERS” means all holders of Partnership Interests other than the Special OP Unitholders.

“PARTNER” means any General Partner or Limited Partner.

“PARTNER NONRECOURSE DEBT MINIMUM GAIN” has the meaning set forth in Regulations Section 1.704-2(i).  A Partner’s share of Partner Nonrecourse Debt Minimum Gain shall be determined in accordance with Regulations Section 1.704-2(i)(5).

“PARTNERSHIP” means AREIT Operating Partnership LP, a Delaware limited partnership.

“PARTNERSHIP INTEREST” means an ownership interest in the Partnership held by either a Limited Partner or the General Partner and includes any and all benefits to which the holder of such a Partnership Interest may be entitled as provided in this Agreement, together with all obligations of such Person to comply with the terms and provisions of this Agreement.

“PARTNERSHIP LOAN” has the meaning provided in Section 5.2(d) hereof.

“PARTNERSHIP MINIMUM GAIN” has the meaning set forth in Regulations Section 1.704-2(d).  In accordance with Regulations Section 1.704-2(d), the amount of Partnership Minimum Gain is determined by first computing, for each Partnership nonrecourse liability, any gain the Partnership would realize if it disposed of the property subject to that liability for no consideration other than full satisfaction of the liability, and then aggregating the separately computed gains.  A Partner’s share of Partnership Minimum Gain shall be determined in accordance with Regulations Section 1.704-2(g)(1).

“PARTNERSHIP NAV”  means the NAV of the Partnership, calculated pursuant to the Valuation Procedures and in this Agreement.

“PARTNERSHIP RECORD DATE” means the record date established by the General Partner for the distribution of cash pursuant to Section 5.2, which record date shall be the same as the record date established by the General Partner for a distribution to its shareholders of some or all of its portion of such distribution.

“PARTNERSHIP UNIT” means a fractional, undivided share of the Partnership Interests of all Partners issued hereunder, including Class T Units, Class S Units, Class E Units, Class I

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Units and Class D Units, but excluding the Partnership Interests represented by Special Partnership Units.  The allocation of Partnership Units of each Class and Series among the Partners shall be as set forth on Exhibit A, as such Exhibit may be amended from time to time.

“PERCENTAGE INTEREST” means the percentage ownership interest in the Partnership of each Partner, as determined by dividing the Partnership Units owned by a Partner by the total number of Partnership Units then outstanding.  The Percentage Interest of each Partner shall be as set forth on Exhibit A, as such Exhibit may be amended from time to time.

“PERFORMANCE ALLOCATION” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5.2(c).

“PERSON” means any individual, partnership, limited liability company, corporation, joint venture, trust or other entity.

“PRIVATE PLACEMENT” means a private placement of Interests with respect to which the Partnership will be given a FMV Option.

“PROFIT” has the meaning provided in Section 5.1(g) hereof.

“PROPERTY” means any Real Property, Real Estate Securities or other investment in which the Partnership holds an ownership interest.

“REAL ESTATE SECURITIES” means the real estate related securities, or such investments the General Partner and the Advisor mutually designate as Real Estate Securities to the extent such investments could be classified as either Real Estate Securities or Real Property, typically consisting of (i) securities of other real estate investment trusts or real estate companies, (ii) shares of open-end and/or closed-end real estate funds, and (iii) mortgages or interests in pools of mortgages secured by real estate, which are acquired by the Partnership, either directly or through joint venture arrangements or other partnerships.

“REAL PROPERTY” means (i) the real properties, including the buildings located thereon, or (ii) the real properties only, or (iii) the buildings only, which are acquired by the Partnership, either directly or through joint venture arrangements or other partnerships, or (iv) such investments the General Partner and the Advisor mutually designate as Real Property to the extent such investments could be classified as either Real Property or Real Estate Securities.  

“REDEMPTION PRICE” means the Value of the REIT Shares Amount as of the end of the Specified Redemption Date.

“REDEMPTION RIGHT” has the meaning provided in Section 8.5(a).

“REDEMPTION SHARES” has the meaning provided in Section 8.6(a).

“REGULATIONS” means the Federal income tax regulations promulgated under the Code, as amended and as hereafter amended from time to time.  Reference to any particular provision of the Regulations shall mean that provision of the Regulations on the date hereof and any successor provision of the Regulations.

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“REGULATORY ALLOCATIONS” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.1(f).

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

“REIT EXPENSES” means (i) costs and expenses relating to the formation and continuity of existence and operation of the General Partner and any Subsidiaries thereof (which Subsidiaries shall, for purposes hereof, be included within the definition of General Partner), including taxes, fees and assessments associated therewith, any and all costs, expenses or fees payable to any director, officer, or employee of the General Partner, (ii) costs and expenses relating to any public offering and registration of securities by the General Partner and all statements, reports, fees and expenses incidental thereto, including, without limitation, underwriting discounts and selling commissions applicable to any such offering of securities, and any costs and expenses associated with any claims made by any holders of such securities or any underwriters or placement agents thereof, (iii) costs and expenses associated with any repurchase of any securities by the General Partner, (iv) costs and expenses associated with the preparation and filing of any periodic or other reports and communications by the General Partner under federal, state or local laws or regulations, including filings with the Commission, (v) costs and expenses associated with compliance by the General Partner with laws, rules and regulations promulgated by any regulatory body, including the Commission and any securities exchange, (vi) costs and expenses associated with any 401(k) plan, incentive plan, bonus plan or other plan providing for compensation for the employees of the General Partner, (vii) costs and expenses incurred by the General Partner relating to any issuing or redemption of Partnership Interests, and (viii) all other operating or administrative costs of the General Partner incurred in the ordinary course of its business on behalf of or in connection with the Partnership.

“REIT SHARE” means a share of common stock in the General Partner (or successor entity, as the case may be), including Class T REIT Shares, Class S REIT Shares, Class E REIT Shares, Class I REIT Shares and Class D REIT Shares.

“REIT SHARES AMOUNTmeans, with respect to any Class or Series of Tendered Units, a number of REIT Shares of such Class equal to the product of the number of Partnership Units of such Class or Series offered for exchange by a Tendering Party, multiplied by the Conversion Factor for such Class or Series of Partnership Units as adjusted to and including the Specified Redemption Date; provided that in the event the General Partner issues to all holders of REIT Shares rights, options, warrants or convertible or exchangeable securities entitling the shareholders to subscribe for or purchase REIT Shares, or any other securities or property (collectively, the “rights”), and the rights have not expired at the Specified Redemption Date, then the REIT Shares Amount shall also include the rights issuable to a holder of the REIT Shares Amount of REIT Shares on the record date fixed for purposes of determining the holders of REIT Shares entitled to rights.  

“RELATED PARTY” means, with respect to any Person, any other Person whose ownership of shares of the General Partner’s capital stock would be attributed to the first such Person under Code Section 544 (as modified by Code Section 856(h)(1)(B)).

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“RESULTING SERIES 2 CLASS T UNITS” means, with respect to any Interests, the Series 2 Class T Units issued by the Partnership in connection with its exercise of the FMV Option and acquisition of the Interests.

“SAFE HARBOR” means, the election described in the Safe Harbor Regulation, pursuant to which a partnership and all of its partners may elect to treat the fair market value of a partnership interest that is transferred in connection with the performance of services as being equal to the liquidation value of that interest.

“SAFE HARBOR ELECTION” means the election by a partnership and its partners to apply the Safe Harbor, as described in the Safe Harbor Regulation and Internal Revenue Service Notice 2005-43, issued on May 19, 2005.

“SAFE HARBOR REGULATION” means Proposed Treasury Regulations Section 1.83-3(l) issued on May 19, 2005.

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

“SERIES” means a series of a Class of Partnership Units, as the context may require.  

“SERIES 1 CLASS E UNITS” means Class E Units with the rights, privileges and obligations set forth for in this Agreement with respect to Series 1 Class E Units.  

“SERIES 1 CLASS S UNITS” means Class S Units with the rights, privileges and obligations set forth for in this Agreement with respect to Series 1 Class S Units.  

“SERIES 1 CLASS T UNITS” means Class T Units with the rights, privileges and obligations set forth for in this Agreement with respect to Series 1 Class T Units.  

“SERIES 2 CLASS E UNITS” means Class E Units with the rights, privileges and obligations set forth for in this Agreement with respect to Series 2 Class E Units.

“SERIES 2 CLASS S UNITS” means Class S Units with the rights, privileges and obligations set forth for in this Agreement with respect to Series 2 Class S Units.

“SERIES 2 CLASS T UNITS” means Class T Units with the rights, privileges and obligations set forth for in this Agreement with respect to Series 2 Class T Units.

“SERVICE” means the United States Internal Revenue Service.

“SPECIAL OP UNITHOLDERS” means the holders of Special Partnership Units; provided, that, if such holders of Special Partnership Units own Partnership Units, then such holders shall be OP Unitholders and not Special OP Unitholders with respect to such Partnership Units.

“SPECIAL PARTNERSHIP UNIT” means a unit of a series of Partnership Interests, designated as Special Partnership Units.  The number of Special Partnership Units outstanding and the Special Percentage Interests in the Partnership represented by such Special Partnership Units are set forth on Exhibit A, as such Exhibit may be amended from time to time.  For the avoidance

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of doubt, the Special Partnership Units are separate and distinct from the Special OP Units described in Section 9.8 of the General Partner’s Articles of Incorporation, which were redeemed by the Partnership effective July 12, 2012.

“SPECIAL PERCENTAGE INTEREST” shall mean the percentage ownership interest in the Special Partnership Units of each Special OP Unitholder, as determined by dividing the Special Partnership Units owned by each Special OP Unitholder by the total number of Special Partnership Units then outstanding.  The Special Percentage Interest of each Partner shall be as set forth on Exhibit A, as such Exhibit may be amended from time to time.

“SPECIFIED REDEMPTION DATE” means, if the Affirmation Date is at least three business days before the end of a month, the last business day of such month, and otherwise the last business day of the month following the month in which the Affirmation Date occurred.

“SPONSOR PARTIES” has the meaning provided in Section 8.5(a) hereof.

“SUBSIDIARY” means, with respect to any Person, any corporation or other entity of which a majority of (i) the voting power of the voting equity securities or (ii) the outstanding equity interests is owned, directly or indirectly, by such Person.

“SUBSIDIARY PARTNERSHIP” means any partnership of which the partnership interests therein are owned by the General Partner or a direct or indirect subsidiary of the General Partner.

“SUBSTITUTE LIMITED PARTNER” means any Person admitted to the Partnership as a Limited Partner pursuant to Section 9.3.  

“SUCCESSOR ENTITY” has the meaning provided in the definition of “Conversion Factor” contained herein.

“SURVIVOR” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.1(d).

“TAX MATTERS PARTNER” has the meaning described in Section 10.5(a).

“TERMINATION EVENT” means the termination or nonrenewal of the Advisory Agreement (i) in connection with a merger, sale of assets or transaction involving the General Partner pursuant to which a majority of the directors of the General Partner then in office are replaced or removed, (ii) by the Advisor for “good reason” (as defined in the Advisory Agreement) or (iii) by the General Partner other than for “cause” (as defined in the Advisory Agreement).

“TENDERED UNITS” has the meaning provided in Section 8.5(a).

“TENDERING PARTY” has the meaning provided in Section 8.5(a).

“TOTAL EQUITY AMOUNT” means the cash purchase price of Interests in a Private Placement less the amount of any loan from the Partnership or any of its affiliates to finance a portion of such purchase price.

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“TRANSACTION” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.1(c).

“TRANSFER” has the meaning set forth in Section 9.2(a).

“VALUATION PROCEDURES” means written valuation procedures adopted by the Board of Directors of the General Partner, as such procedures may be amended from time to time, that set forth the method by which the net asset value per each Class of REIT Share and Class or Series of Partnership Unit shall be calculated. Pursuant to such Valuation Procedures, certain Classes or Series of Partnership Units are each economically equivalent to a corresponding class of REIT Shares. Pursuant to this Agreement, those are as follows:

Series 1 Class E Units and Series 2 Class E Units are economically equivalent to Class E REIT Shares.
Series 1 Class S Units are economically equivalent to Class S REIT Shares.
Series 1 Class T Units and Series 2 Class T Units are economically equivalent to Class T REIT Shares.
Class D Units are economically equivalent to Class D REIT Shares.
Class I Units are economically equivalent to Class I REIT Shares.

Series 2 Class S Units, however, are not economically equivalent to any Class of REIT Shares.  Accordingly, the Net Asset Value Per Unit of Series 2 Class S Units shall, upon their initial issuance, be set at the Net Asset Value Per Unit of Series 1 Class S Units, and thereafter adjusted as described in the Valuation Procedures as if they were a separate Class of REIT Shares, taking into account their specific economic terms (specifically, their specific dividends and ongoing Distribution Fees) set forth herein.

“VALUE” means, for each Class of REIT Shares, the fair market value per share of that Class of REIT Shares which will equal:  (i) if REIT Shares of that Class are Listed, the average closing price per share for the previous thirty business days, or (ii) if REIT Shares of that Class are not Listed, the Net Asset Value Per REIT Share for REIT Shares of that Class.

“VPU”  means average value per Partnership Unit, which on any given date shall be equal to (i) the Partnership NAV on such date, divided by (ii) the aggregate number of Partnership Units of all Classes and Series outstanding on such date.

“WEIGHTED-AVERAGE DISTRIBUTIONS PER PARTNERSHIP UNIT”  shall mean, for a particular period of time, an amount equal to the ratio of (i) the aggregate distributions paid or accrued in respect of all Partnership Units during the applicable period, divided by (ii) the weighted-average number of Partnership Units of all Classes and Series outstanding during the applicable period, calculated in accordance with GAAP applied on a consistent basis.

1.2Interpretation.  The definitions in Section 1.1 shall apply equally to both the singular and plural forms of the terms defined.  Wherever the context may require, any pronoun used in this Agreement shall include the corresponding masculine, feminine and neuter forms.  For

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all purposes of this Agreement, the term “control” and variations thereof shall mean possession of the authority to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of the specified entity, through the direct or indirect ownership of equity interests therein, by contract or otherwise.  As used in this Agreement, the words “include,” “includes” and “including” shall be deemed to be followed by the phrase “without limitation.”  As used in this Agreement, the terms “herein,” “hereof” and “hereunder” shall refer to this Agreement in its entirety.  Any references in this Agreement to “Sections” or “Articles” shall, unless otherwise specified, refer to Sections or Articles, respectively, in this Agreement.  Any references in this Agreement to an “Exhibit” shall, unless otherwise specified, refer to an Exhibit attached to this Agreement.  Each such Exhibit shall be deemed incorporated in this Agreement in full.
Article 2

PARTNERSHIP FORMATION AND IDENTIFICATION
2.1Formation.  The Partnership was formed as a limited partnership pursuant to and in accordance with the Act by, among other steps, the entering into of the initial partnership agreement (within the meaning of the Act) by the initial general partner of the Partnership and the initial limited partner of the Partnership and by the entering into and filing of the initial certificate of limited partnership (within the meaning of the Act) by the initial general partner of the Partnership with the Office of the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware.
2.2Name, Office and Registered Agent.  The name of the Partnership is AREIT Operating Partnership LP.  The specified office and place of business of the Partnership shall be 518 17th Street, 17th Floor, Denver, Colorado 80202.  The General Partner may at any time change the location of such office, provided the General Partner gives notice to the Partners of any such change.  The name and address of the Partnership’s registered agent is Corporation Service Company, 2711 Centerville Road, Suite 400, Wilmington, Delaware 19808.  The sole duty of the registered agent as such is to forward to the Partnership any notice that is served on him as registered agent.
2.3Partners.
(a)The General Partner of the Partnership is Ares Real Estate Income Trust Inc., a Maryland corporation.  Its principal place of business is the same as that of the Partnership.
(b)The Limited Partners are those Persons identified as Limited Partners on Exhibit A hereto, as amended from time to time.
2.4Term and Dissolution.
(a)The term of the Partnership shall be perpetual, except that the Partnership shall be dissolved upon the first to occur of any of the following events:
(i)The occurrence of an Event of Bankruptcy as to a General Partner or the dissolution, death, removal or withdrawal of a General Partner unless the business of the Partnership is continued pursuant to Section 7.3(b); provided that if

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a General Partner is on the date of such occurrence a partnership, the dissolution of such General Partner as a result of the dissolution, death, withdrawal, removal or Event of Bankruptcy of a partner in such partnership shall not be an event of dissolution of the Partnership if the business of such General Partner is continued by the remaining partner or partners, either alone or with additional partners, and such General Partner and such partners comply with any other applicable requirements of this Agreement;
(ii)The passage of ninety (90) days after the sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Partnership (provided that if the Partnership receives an installment obligation as consideration for such sale or other disposition, the Partnership shall continue, unless sooner dissolved under the provisions of this Agreement, until such time as such note or notes are paid in full); or
(iii)The election by the General Partner that the Partnership should be dissolved.
(b)Upon dissolution of the Partnership (unless the business of the Partnership is continued pursuant to Section 7.3(b)), the General Partner (or its trustee, receiver, successor or legal representative) shall amend or cancel any Certificate(s) and liquidate the Partnership’s assets and apply and distribute the proceeds thereof in accordance with Section 5.6.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the liquidating General Partner may either (i) defer liquidation of, or withhold from distribution for a reasonable time, any assets of the Partnership (including those necessary to satisfy the Partnership’s debts and obligations), or (ii) distribute the assets to the Partners in kind.
2.5Filing of Certificate and Perfection of Limited Partnership.  The General Partner shall execute, acknowledge, record and file at the expense of the Partnership, any and all amendments to the Certificate(s) and all requisite fictitious name statements and notices in such places and jurisdictions as may be necessary to cause the Partnership to be treated as a limited partnership under, and otherwise to comply with, the laws of each state or other jurisdiction in which the Partnership conducts business.
2.6Certificates Describing Partnership Units and Special Partnership Units.  At the request of a Limited Partner, the General Partner, at its option, may issue (but in no way is obligated to issue) a certificate summarizing the terms of such Limited Partner’s interest in the Partnership, including the number and Class or Series of Partnership Units or Special Partnership Units owned and the Percentage Interest and Special Percentage Interest represented by such Partnership Units and Special Partnership Units as of the date of such certificate.  Any such certificate (i) shall be in form and substance as approved by the General Partner, (ii) shall not be negotiable and (iii) shall bear a legend to the following effect:

This certificate is not negotiable.  The Partnership Units and Special Partnership Units represented by this certificate are governed by and transferable only in accordance with the provisions of the Limited Partnership Agreement of AREIT Operating Partnership LP, as amended from time to time.  

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Article 3

BUSINESS OF THE PARTNERSHIP

The purpose and nature of the business to be conducted by the Partnership is (i) to conduct any business that may be lawfully conducted by a limited partnership organized pursuant to the Act, provided, however, that such business shall be limited to and conducted in such a manner as to permit the General Partner at all times to qualify as a REIT, unless the General Partner otherwise ceases to qualify as a REIT, and in a manner such that the General Partner will not be subject to any taxes under Section 857 or 4981 of the Code, (ii) to enter into any partnership, joint venture or other similar arrangement to engage in any of the foregoing or the ownership of interests in any entity engaged in any of the foregoing and (iii) to do anything necessary or incidental to the foregoing.  In connection with the foregoing, and without limiting the General Partner’s right in its sole and absolute discretion to qualify or cease qualifying as a REIT, the Partners acknowledge that the General Partner intends to qualify as a REIT for federal income tax purposes and upon such qualification the avoidance of income and excise taxes on the General Partner inures to the benefit of all the Partners and not solely to the General Partner.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Limited Partners agree that the General Partner may terminate its status as a REIT under the Code at any time to the full extent permitted under the Articles of Incorporation.  The General Partner on behalf of the Partnership shall also be empowered to do any and all acts and things necessary or prudent to ensure that the Partnership will not be classified as a “publicly traded partnership” for purposes of Section 7704 of the Code.

Article 4

CAPITAL CONTRIBUTIONS AND ACCOUNTS
4.1Capital Contributions.  The General Partner and the Limited Partners have made capital contributions to the Partnership in exchange for the Partnership Interests set forth opposite their names on Exhibit A, as such Exhibit may be amended from time to time.  The Partners shall own Partnership Units or Special Partnership Units of the Class or Series and in the amounts set forth in Exhibit A and shall have a Percentage Interest in the Partnership as set forth in Exhibit A. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the General Partner may keep Exhibit A current through separate revisions to the books and records of the Partnership that reflect periodic changes to the capital contributions made by the Partners and redemptions and other purchases of Partnership Units by the Partnership, and corresponding changes to the Partnership Interests of the Partners, without preparing a formal amendment to this Agreement, provided that such amendment shall be prepared upon the written request of any Limited Partner.
4.2Classes and Series of Partnership Units.  The General Partner is hereby authorized to cause the Partnership to issue Partnership Units designated as Class E Units (which may be designated by the General Partner upon issuance as Series 1 Class E Units or Series 2 Class E Units; provided, that all Class E Units issued to the General Partner shall be Series 1 Class E Units, and all other Class E Units issued prior to March 2, 2016 shall be Series 1 Class E Units), Class T Units (which may be designated by the General Partner upon issuance as Series 1 Class T Units or  Series 2 Class T Units; provided, that all Class T Units issued to the General Partner shall be Series 1 Class T Units), Class S Units (which may be designated by the General Partner upon

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issuance as Series 1 Class S Units or  Series 2 Class S Units; provided, that all Class S Units issued to the General Partner shall be Series 1 Class S Units), Class I Units and Class D Units.  Each such Class shall have the rights and obligations attributed to that Class under this Agreement.

Immediately following the time (if any) that the aggregate Investor Servicing Fees paid with respect to Resulting Series 2 Class T Units related to a single purchase of Interests in a Private Placement equals or exceeds such percentage as set forth in any applicable agreement between the Dealer Manager and a participating broker-dealer, provided that the Dealer Manager advises the General Partner’s transfer agent of the such percentage in writing) of the Total Equity Amount, all such Resulting Series 2 Class T Units (or fraction thereof) shall automatically convert to a number of Class I Units equal to the product of (a) the number of such Resulting Series 2 Class T Units and (b) the Value of Class T Units divided by the Value of Class I Units.

4.3Additional Capital Contributions and Issuances of Additional Partnership Interests.  Except as provided in this Section 4.3 or in Section 4.4, the Partners shall have no right or obligation to make any additional Capital Contributions or loans to the Partnership.  The General Partner may contribute additional capital to the Partnership, from time to time, and receive additional Partnership Interests in respect thereof, in the manner contemplated in this Section 4.3.
(a)Issuances of Additional Partnership Interests.
(i)General.  The General Partner is hereby authorized to cause  the Partnership to issue such additional Partnership Interests in the form of Partnership Units for any Partnership purpose at any time or from time to time, including but not limited to Partnership Units issued in connection with acquisitions of properties, to the Partners (including the General Partner) or to other Persons for such consideration and on such terms and conditions as shall be established by the General Partner in its sole and absolute discretion, all without the approval of any Limited Partners.  Any additional Partnership Interests issued thereby may be issued in one or more Classes (including the Classes specified in this Agreement or any other Classes), or one or more Series (including the Series specified in this Agreement or any other Series) of any of such Classes, with such designations, preferences and relative, participating, optional or other special rights, powers and duties, including rights, powers and duties senior to Limited Partnership Interests, all as shall be determined by the General Partner in its sole and absolute discretion and without the approval of any Limited Partner, subject to 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; provided, however, that no additional Partnership Interests shall be issued to the General Partner unless:
(1)(A) the additional Partnership Interests are issued in connection with an issuance of REIT Shares of or other interests in the General Partner, which shares or interests have designations, preferences

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and other rights, all such that the economic interests are substantially similar to the designations, preferences and other rights of the additional Partnership Interests issued to the General Partner by the Partnership in accordance with this Section 4.3 (without limiting the foregoing, for example, the Partnership shall issue Class D Units to the General Partner in connection with the issuance of Class D REIT Shares) and (B) the General Partner shall make a Capital Contribution to the Partnership in an amount equal to the proceeds raised in connection with the issuance of such shares of stock of or other interests in the General Partner;
(2)the additional Partnership Interests are issued in exchange for property owned by the General Partner with a fair market value, as determined by the General Partner, in good faith, equal to the value of the Partnership Interests; or
(3)the additional Partnership Interests are issued to all Partners holding Partnership Units in proportion to their respective Percentage Interests.  

Without limiting the foregoing, the General Partner is expressly authorized to cause the Partnership to issue Partnership Units for less than fair market value, so long as the General Partner concludes in good faith that such issuance is in the best interests of the General Partner and the Partnership.  

(ii)Upon Issuance of Additional Securities.  The General Partner shall not issue any Additional Securities other than to all holders of REIT Shares, unless (A) the General Partner shall cause the Partnership to issue to the General Partner, as the General Partner may designate, Partnership Interests or rights, options, warrants or convertible or exchangeable securities of the Partnership having designations, preferences and other rights, all such that the economic interests are substantially similar to those of the Additional Securities, and (B) the General Partner contributes the proceeds from the issuance of such Additional Securities and from any exercise of rights contained in such Additional Securities, directly and through the General Partner, to the Partnership (without limiting the foregoing, for example, if the General Partner issues Class D REIT Shares, then the General Partner shall contribute the proceeds of the issuance of the Class D REIT Shares to the Partnership and shall cause the Partnership to issue Class D Units to the General Partner); provided, however, that the General Partner is allowed to issue Additional Securities in connection with an acquisition of a property to be held directly by the General Partner, but if and only if, such direct acquisition and issuance of Additional Securities have been approved and determined to be in the best interests of the General Partner and the Partnership. Without limiting the foregoing, the General Partner is expressly authorized to issue Additional Securities for less than fair market value, and to cause the Partnership to issue to the General Partner corresponding Partnership Interests, so long as (x) the General Partner concludes in good faith that such issuance is in the best interests of the General Partner and the Partnership, including without limitation, the issuance of REIT Shares and

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corresponding Partnership Units pursuant to an employee share purchase plan providing for employee purchases of REIT Shares at a discount from fair market value or employee stock options that have an exercise price that is less than the fair market value of the REIT Shares, either at the time of issuance or at the time of exercise, and (y) the General Partner contributes all proceeds from such issuance to the Partnership.  For example, in the event the General Partner issues Class D REIT Shares for a cash purchase price and contributes all of the proceeds of such issuance to the Partnership as required hereunder, the General Partner shall be issued a number of additional Class D Units equal to the product of (A) the number of such Class D REIT Shares issued by the General Partner, the proceeds of which were so contributed, multiplied by (B) a fraction, the numerator of which is 100%, and the denominator of which is the Conversion Factor for Class D Units in effect on the date of such contribution.
(b)Certain Deemed Contributions of Proceeds of Issuance of REIT Shares.  In connection with any and all issuances of REIT Shares, the General Partner shall make Capital Contributions to the Partnership of the proceeds therefrom, provided that if the proceeds actually received and contributed by the General Partner are less than the gross proceeds of such issuance as a result of any underwriter’s discount or other expenses paid or incurred in connection with such issuance, then the General Partner shall be deemed to have made Capital Contributions to the Partnership in the aggregate amount of the gross proceeds of such issuance and the Partnership shall be deemed simultaneously to have paid such offering expenses in accordance with Section 6.5 and in connection with the required issuance of additional Partnership Units to the General Partner for such Capital Contributions pursuant to Section 4.3(a).
(c)Minimum Limited Partnership Interest.  In the event that either a redemption pursuant to Section 8.5 or additional Capital Contributions by the General Partner would result in the Limited Partners, in the aggregate, owning less than the Minimum Limited Partnership Interest, the General Partner and the Limited Partners shall form another partnership and contribute sufficient Limited Partnership Interests together with such other Limited Partners so that the limited partners of such partnership own at least the Minimum Limited Partnership Interest.
4.4Additional Funding.  If the General Partner determines that it is in the best interests of the Partnership to provide for additional Partnership funds (“Additional Funds”) for any Partnership purpose, the General Partner may (i) cause the Partnership to obtain such funds from outside borrowings, or (ii) elect to have the General Partner or any of its Affiliates provide such Additional Funds to the Partnership through loans or otherwise.
4.5Capital Accounts.  A separate capital account (a “Capital Account”) shall be established and maintained for each Partner in accordance with Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv).  If (i) a new or existing Partner acquires an additional Partnership Interest in exchange for more than a de minimis Capital Contribution, (ii) the Partnership distributes to a Partner more than a de minimis amount of Partnership property or money as consideration for a Partnership Interest, (iii) the Partnership is liquidated within the meaning of Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(g), or (iv) the Partnership grants a Partnership Interest (other

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than a de minimis interest) as consideration for the provision of services to or for the benefit of the Partnership, the General Partner shall revalue the property of the Partnership to its fair market value (as determined by the General Partner, in its sole and absolute discretion, and taking into account Section 7701(g) of the Code) in accordance with Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(f).  When the Partnership’s property is revalued by the General Partner, the Capital Accounts of the Partners shall be adjusted in accordance with Regulations Sections 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(f) and (g), which generally require such Capital Accounts to be adjusted to reflect the manner in which the unrealized gain or loss inherent in such property (that has not been reflected in the Capital Accounts previously) would be allocated among the Partners pursuant to Section 5.1 if there were a taxable disposition of such property for its fair market value (as determined by the General Partner, in its sole and absolute discretion, and taking into account Section 7701(g) of the Code) on the date of the revaluation.
4.6Percentage Interests.  If the number of outstanding Partnership Units increases or decreases during a taxable year, each Partner’s Percentage Interest shall be adjusted by the General Partner effective as of the effective date of each such increase or decrease to a percentage equal to the number of Partnership Units held by such Partner divided by the aggregate number of Partnership Units outstanding after giving effect to such increase or decrease.  If the Partners’ Percentage Interests are adjusted pursuant to this Section 4.6, the Profits and Losses for the taxable year in which the adjustment occurs shall be allocated between the part of the year ending on the day when the Partnership’s property is revalued by the General Partner and the part of the year beginning on the following day either (i) as if the taxable year had ended on the date of the adjustment or (ii) based on the number of days in each part.  The General Partner, in its sole and absolute discretion, shall determine which method shall be used to allocate Profits and Losses for the taxable year in which the adjustment occurs.  The allocation of Profits and Losses for the earlier part of the year shall be based on the Percentage Interests before adjustment, and the allocation of Profits and Losses for the later part shall be based on the adjusted Percentage Interests.  
4.7No Interest On Contributions.  No Partner shall be entitled to interest on its Capital Contribution.
4.8Return Of Capital Contributions.  No Partner shall be entitled to withdraw any part of its Capital Contribution or its Capital Account or to receive any distribution from the Partnership, except as specifically provided in this Agreement.  Except as otherwise provided herein, there shall be no obligation to return to any Partner or withdrawn Partner any part of such Partner’s Capital Contribution for so long as the Partnership continues in existence.
4.9No Third Party Beneficiary.  No creditor or other third party having dealings with the Partnership shall have the right to enforce the right or obligation of any Partner to make Capital Contributions or loans or to pursue any other right or remedy hereunder or at law or in equity, it being understood and agreed that the provisions of this Agreement shall be solely for the benefit of, and may be enforced solely by, the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns.  None of the rights or obligations of the Partners herein set forth to make Capital Contributions or loans to the Partnership shall be deemed an asset of the Partnership for any purpose by any creditor or other third party, nor may such rights or obligations be sold, transferred or assigned by the Partnership or pledged or encumbered by the Partnership to secure any debt or other obligation of the Partnership or of any of the Partners.  In addition, it is the intent of the parties hereto that no

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distribution to any Limited Partner shall be deemed a return of money or other property in violation of the Act.  However, if any court of competent jurisdiction holds that, notwithstanding the provisions of this Agreement, any Limited Partner is obligated to return such money or property, such obligation shall be the obligation of such Limited Partner and not of the General Partner.  Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, a deficit Capital Account of a Partner shall not be deemed to be a liability of such Partner nor an asset or property of the Partnership.  
Article 5

PROFITS AND LOSSES; DISTRIBUTIONS
5.1Allocation of Profit and Loss.  
(a)General Partner Gross Income Allocation.  There shall be specially allocated to the General Partner an amount of (i) first, items of Partnership income and (ii) second, items of Partnership gain during each fiscal year or other applicable period, before any other allocations are made hereunder, in an amount equal to the excess, if any, of the cumulative distributions made to the General Partner under Section 6.5(b) over the cumulative allocations of Partnership income and gain to the General Partner under this Section 5.1(a).
(b)General Allocations.  The items of Profit and Loss of the Partnership for each fiscal year or other applicable period, other than any items allocated under Section 5.1(a), shall be allocated among the Partners in a manner that will, as nearly as possible (after giving effect to the allocations under Section 5.1(a), 5.1(c), 5.1(d), 5.1(e), 5.1(h)  and 5.1(i)) cause the Capital Account balance of each Partner at the end of such fiscal year or other applicable period to equal (i) the amount of the hypothetical distribution that such Partner would receive if the Partnership were liquidated on the last day of such period and all assets of the Partnership, including cash, were sold for cash equal to their Carrying Values, taking into account any adjustments thereto for such period, all liabilities of the Partnership were satisfied in full in cash according to their terms (limited with respect to each nonrecourse liability to the Carrying Value of the assets securing such liability) and the remaining cash proceeds (after satisfaction of such liabilities) were distributed in full pursuant to Section 5.6, minus (ii) the sum of such Partner’s share of Partnership Minimum Gain and Partner Nonrecourse Debt Minimum Gain and the amount, if any and without duplication, that the Partner would be obligated to contribute to the capital of the Partnership, all computed as of the date of the hypothetical sale of assets.  
(c)Nonrecourse Deductions; Minimum Gain Chargeback.  Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary, (i) any expense of the Partnership that is a “nonrecourse deduction” within the meaning of Regulations Section 1.704-2(b)(1) shall be allocated in accordance with the Partners’ respective Percentage Interests, (ii) any expense of the Partnership that is a “partner nonrecourse deduction” within the meaning of Regulations Section 1.704-2(i)(2) shall be allocated to the Partner or Partners that bear the “economic risk of loss” with respect to the liability to which such deductions are attributable in accordance with Regulations Section 1.704-2(i)(1), (iii) if there is a net decrease in Partnership Minimum Gain within the meaning of Regulations

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Section 1.704-2(f)(1) for any Partnership taxable year, then, subject to the exceptions set forth in Regulations Section 1.704-2(f)(2),(3), (4) and (5), items of gain and income shall be allocated among the Partners in accordance with Regulations Section 1.704-2(f) and the ordering rules contained in Regulations Section 1.704-2(j), and (iv) if there is a net decrease in Partner Nonrecourse Debt Minimum Gain within the meaning of Regulations Section 1.704-2(i)(4) for any Partnership taxable year, then, subject to the exceptions set forth in Regulations Section 1.704-(2)(g), items of gain and income shall be allocated among the Partners in accordance with Regulations Section 1.704-2(i)(4) and the ordering rules contained in Regulations Section 1.704-2(j).  A Partner’s “interest in partnership profits” for purposes of determining its share of the excess nonrecourse liabilities of the Partnership within the meaning of Regulations Section 1.752-3(a)(3) shall be such Partner’s Percentage Interest.
(d)Qualified Income Offset.  If a Partner unexpectedly receives in any taxable year an adjustment, allocation, or distribution described in subparagraphs (4), (5), or (6) of Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d) that causes or increases a deficit balance in such Partner’s Capital Account that exceeds the sum of such Partner’s shares of Partnership Minimum Gain and Partner Nonrecourse Debt Minimum Gain, as determined in accordance with Regulations Sections 1.704-2(g)(1) and 1.704-2(i)(5), such Partner shall be allocated specially for such taxable year (and, if necessary, later taxable years) items of income and gain in an amount and manner sufficient to eliminate such excess deficit Capital Account balance as quickly as possible as provided in Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d).  This Section 5.1(d) is intended to constitute a “qualified income offset” under Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d) of the Regulations and shall be interpreted consistently therewith.  After the occurrence of an allocation of income or gain to a Partner in accordance with this Section 5.1(d), to the extent permitted by Regulations Section 1.704-1(b), items of expense or loss shall be allocated to such Partner in an amount necessary to offset the income or gain previously allocated to such Partner under this Section 5.1(d).
(e)Capital Account Deficits.  Loss (or items of expense or loss) shall not be allocated to a Limited Partner to the extent that such allocation would cause or increase a deficit in such Partner’s Capital Account at the end of any fiscal year (after reduction to reflect the items described in Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d)(4), (5) and (6)) to exceed the sum of such Partner’s shares of Partnership Minimum Gain and Partner Nonrecourse Debt Minimum Gain, as determined in accordance with Regulations Sections 1.704-2(g)(1) and 1.704-2(i)(5).  Any Loss or item of expense or loss in excess of that limitation shall be allocated to the General Partner.  After an allocation to the General Partner under the immediately preceding sentence, to the extent permitted by Regulations Section 1.704-1(b), Profit or items of income or gain shall be allocated to the General Partner in an amount necessary to offset the items allocated to the General Partner under the immediately preceding sentence.
(f)Allocations Between Transferor and Transferee.  If a Partner transfers any part or all of its Partnership Interest, the distributive shares of the various items of Profit and Loss allocable among the Partners during such fiscal year of the Partnership shall be allocated between the transferor and the transferee Partner either (i) as if the

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Partnership’s fiscal year had ended on the date of the transfer, or (ii) based on the number of days of such fiscal year that each was a Partner without regard to the results of Partnership activities in the respective portions of such fiscal year in which the transferor and the transferee were Partners.  The General Partner, in its sole and absolute discretion, shall determine which method shall be used to allocate the distributive shares of the various items of Profit and Loss between the transferor and the transferee Partner.  
(g)Definition of Profit and Loss.  “Profit” and “Loss” and any items of income, gain, expense, or loss referred to in this Agreement shall be determined in accordance with federal income tax accounting principles, as modified by Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv), except that Profit and Loss shall not include items of income, gain and expense that are specially allocated pursuant to Section 5.1(a), 5.1(c), 5.1(d), 5.1(e), or 5.1(h).  All allocations of  Profit and Loss (and all items contained therein) for federal income tax purposes shall be identical to all allocations of such items set forth in this Section 5.1, except as otherwise required by Section 704(c) of the Code and Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(4).  The General Partner shall have the authority to elect the method to be used by the Partnership for allocating items of income, gain, and expense as required by Section 704(c) of the Code including a method that may result in a Partner receiving a disproportionately larger share of the Partnership tax depreciation deductions, and such election shall be binding on all Partners.
(h)Special Allocations of Class-Specific Items. To the extent that any items of income, gain, loss or deduction of the General Partner are allocable to a specific Class or Classes of REIT Shares pursuant to the Multiple Class Plan, such items, or an amount equal thereto, may be specially allocated to Classes or Series of Partnership Units pursuant to the Multiple Class Plan.
(i)Curative Allocations.  The allocations set forth in Section 5.1(c), (d) and (e) of this Agreement (the “Regulatory Allocations”) are intended to comply with certain requirements of the Regulations.  The General Partner is authorized to offset all Regulatory Allocations either with other Regulatory Allocations or with special allocations of other items of Partnership income, gain, loss or deduction pursuant to this Section 5.1(i).  Therefore, notwithstanding any other provision of this Section 5.1 (other than the Regulatory Allocations), the General Partner shall make such offsetting special allocations of Partnership income, gain, loss or deduction in whatever manner it deems appropriate so that, after such offsetting allocations are made, each Partner’s Capital Account is, to the extent possible, equal to the Capital Account balance such Partner would have had if the Regulatory Allocations were not part of this Agreement and all Partnership items were allocated pursuant to Sections 5.1(a), (b), (f) and (h).
5.2Distribution of Cash.  
(a)The Partnership shall distribute cash on a quarterly (or, at the election of the General Partner, more frequent) basis, in an amount determined by the General Partner in its sole and absolute discretion, to the Partners who are Partners on the Partnership Record Date with respect to such quarter (or other distribution period) in accordance with Section 5.2(b); provided, however, that if a new or existing Partner acquires an additional

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Partnership Interest in exchange for a Capital Contribution on any date other than a Partnership Record Date, the cash distribution attributable to such additional Partnership Interest relating to the Partnership Record Date next following the issuance of such additional Partnership Interest shall be reduced in the proportion equal to one minus (i) the number of days that such additional Partnership Interest is held by such Partner bears to (ii) the number of days between such Partnership Record Date and the immediately preceding Partnership Record Date.
(b)Except for distributions pursuant to Section 5.6 in connection with the dissolution and liquidation of the Partnership and subject to the provisions of Sections 5.2(c), 5.2(d), 5.2(e), 5.3 and 5.5, all distributions of cash shall be made to the Partners in accordance with their respective Percentage Interests on the Partnership Record Date, except that the amount distributed per Partnership Unit of any Class or Series may differ from the amount per Partnership Unit of another Class or Series on account of differences with respect to Distribution Fees. Any such differences shall correspond to differences in the amount of Distribution Fees and distributions per REIT Share for REIT Shares of different Classes, as described in the Multiple Class Plan, with the same adjustments being made to the amount of distributions per Partnership Unit for Partnership Units of a particular Class as are made to the distributions per REIT Share by the General Partner with respect to REIT Shares having the same Class designation; provided, however, that distributions with respect to Series 2 Class S Units shall be adjusted in the same manner but correspond to their specific Distribution Fee, which is equal to 0.35% per annum of the aggregate Net Asset Value Per Unit of the outstanding Series 2 Class S Units.
(c)Notwithstanding the foregoing, so long as the Advisory Agreement has not been terminated (including by means of non-renewal), the Special OP Unitholders shall be entitled to a distribution (the “Performance Allocation”), promptly following the end of each year (which shall accrue on a monthly basis) in an amount equal to:

(i)the lesser of (A) the amount equal to 12.5% of (1) the Annual Total Return Amount less (2) the Loss Carryforward Amount, and (B) the amount equal to (x) the Annual Total Return Amount, less (y) the Loss Carryforward Amount, less (z) the Hurdle Amount;

multiplied by:

(ii)the weighted-average number of Partnership Units outstanding during the applicable year, calculated in accordance with GAAP as applied on a consistent basis;

(iii) provided, that the Performance Allocation shall at no time be less than zero.

Except as described in the definition of Loss Carryforward Amount in this Agreement, any amount by which the Annual Total Return Amount falls below the Hurdle Amount will not be carried forward to subsequent periods. If the Performance Allocation is distributable pursuant to this Section 5.2(c), the Special OP Unitholders shall be entitled to such distribution even in the event that the total percentage return to OP Unitholders over any longer or shorter period, or the

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total percentage return to any particular OP Unitholder over the same, longer or shorter period, has been less than the Annual Total Return Amount used to calculate the Hurdle Amount. The Special OP Unitholders shall not be obligated to return any portion of any Performance Allocation paid based on the General Partner’s or the Partnership’s subsequent performance.

The Performance Allocation with respect to any calendar year is generally distributable after the completion of the NAV Calculations for December of such year. The Performance Allocation shall be distributable for each calendar year in which the Advisory Agreement is in effect, even if the Advisory Agreement is in effect for a partial calendar year. If the Performance Allocation is distributable with respect to any partial calendar year, the Performance Allocation shall be calculated based on the annualized total return amount determined using the total return achieved for the period of such partial calendar year. In the event the Advisory Agreement is terminated or its term expires without renewal, the partial period Performance Allocation shall be calculated and due and distributable upon the date of such termination or non-renewal. In such event, for purposes of determining the Annual Total Return Amount, the change in VPU shall be determined based on a good faith estimate of what the NAV Calculations would be as of that date. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this paragraph, upon the triggering of a Pro-Rata Period as defined in the General Partner’s Second Amended and Restated Share Redemption Program, effective as of December 10, 2018 (as it may be amended from time to time, the “SRP”), distribution of the Performance Allocation shall be deferred until all REIT Share redemption requests under the SRP are satisfied.

In the event the Partnership commences a liquidation of its Assets during any calendar year, the Special OP Unitholders shall be distributed the Performance Allocation from the proceeds of the liquidation and the Performance Allocation shall be calculated at the end of the liquidation period prior to the distribution of the liquidation proceeds to the OP Unitholders. The calculation of the Performance Allocation for any partial year shall be calculated consistent with the applicable provisions of this Section 5.2(c).

At the election of the Special OP Unitholders, with respect to each calendar year, all or a portion of the Performance Allocation shall be paid instead to the Advisor as a fee as set forth in the Advisory Agreement. If the Special OP Unitholders do not elect on or before the first day of a calendar year to have all or a portion of the Performance Allocation paid as a fee to the Advisor, then the Performance Allocation with respect to such calendar year shall be distributable to the Special OP Unitholders as set forth in this Section 5.2(c); provided, however, that the Performance Component shall be paid to the Advisor as a fee as set forth in the Advisory Agreement with respect to the calendar year 2018.

The Performance Allocation may be payable in cash or as a distribution of Class I Units or any combination thereof at the election of the Special OP Unitholders. If the Special OP Unitholders elect to receive such distributions in Class I Units, the Special OP Unitholders will receive the number of Class I Units that results from dividing an amount equal to the value of the Performance Allocation by the NAV per Class I Unit at the time of such distribution. If the Special OP Unitholders elect to receive such distributions in Class I Units, the Special OP Unitholders may request the Partnership to redeem such Class I Units from the Special OP Unitholders at any time thereafter pursuant to Section 8.5.

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The measurement of the change in VPU for the purpose of calculating the Annual Total Return Amount is subject to adjustment by the Board of Directors of the General Partner to account for any dividend, split, recapitalization or any other similar change in the Partnership’s capital structure or any distributions that the Board of Directors of the General Partner deems to be a return of capital if such changes are not already reflected in the Partnership’s net assets.

(d)Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the General Partner is authorized to take any action that it determines to be necessary or appropriate to cause the Partnership to comply with any withholding requirements established under the Code or any other federal, state or local law including, without limitation, pursuant to Sections 1441, 1442, 1445 and 1446 of the Code.  To the extent that the Partnership is required to withhold and pay over to any taxing authority any amount resulting from the allocation or distribution of income to any Partner or assignee (including by reason of Section 1446 of the Code), either (i) if the actual amount to be distributed to the Partner equals or exceeds the amount required to be withheld by the Partnership, the amount withheld shall be treated as a distribution of cash in the amount of such withholding to such Partner, or (ii) if the actual amount to be distributed to the Partner is less than the amount required to be withheld by the Partnership, the actual amount to be distributed shall be treated as a distribution of cash in the amount of such withholding and the additional amount required to be withheld shall be treated as a loan (a “Partnership Loan”) from the Partnership to the Partner on the day the Partnership pays over such amount to a taxing authority.  A Partnership Loan shall be repaid through withholding by the Partnership with respect to subsequent distributions to the applicable Partner or assignee.  In the event that a Limited Partner (a “Defaulting Limited Partner”) fails to pay any amount owed to the Partnership with respect to the Partnership Loan within fifteen (15) days after demand for payment thereof is made by the Partnership on the Limited Partner, the General Partner, in its sole and absolute discretion, may elect to make the payment to the Partnership on behalf of such Defaulting Limited Partner.  In such event, on the date of payment, the General Partner shall be deemed to have extended a loan (a “General Partner Loan”) to the Defaulting Limited Partner in the amount of the payment made by the General Partner and shall succeed to all rights and remedies of the Partnership against the Defaulting Limited Partner as to that amount.  Without limitation, the General Partner shall have the right to receive any distributions that otherwise would be made by the Partnership to the Defaulting Limited Partner until such time as the General Partner Loan has been paid in full, and any such distributions so received by the General Partner shall be treated as having been received by the Defaulting Limited Partner and immediately paid to the General Partner.

Any amounts treated as a Partnership Loan or a General Partner Loan pursuant to this Section 5.2(c) shall bear interest at the lesser of (i) the base rate on corporate loans at large United States money center commercial banks, as published from time to time in The Wall Street Journal, or (ii) the maximum lawful rate of interest on such obligation, such interest to accrue from the date the Partnership or the General Partner, as applicable, is deemed to extend the loan until such loan is repaid in full.

(e)In no event may a Partner receive a distribution of cash with respect to a Partnership Unit if such Partner is entitled to receive a cash distribution as the holder of

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record of a REIT Share for which all or part of such Partnership Unit has been or will be exchanged.
5.3REIT Distribution Requirements.  The General Partner shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause the Partnership to distribute amounts sufficient to enable the General Partner to make shareholder distributions that will allow the General Partner to (i) meet its distribution requirement for qualification as a REIT as set forth in Section 857 of the Code and (ii) avoid any federal income or excise tax liability imposed by the Code.  
5.4No Right to Distributions in Kind.  No Partner shall be entitled to demand property other than cash in connection with any distributions by the Partnership.
5.5Limitations on Return of Capital Contributions.  Notwithstanding any of the provisions of this Article 5, no Partner shall have the right to receive and the General Partner shall not have the right to make, a distribution that includes a return of all or part of a Partner’s Capital Contributions, unless after giving effect to the return of a Capital Contribution, the sum of all Partnership liabilities, other than the liabilities to a Partner for the return of his Capital Contribution, does not exceed the fair market value of the Partnership’s assets.
5.6Distributions Upon Liquidation.  Upon liquidation of the Partnership, after payment of, or adequate provision for, debts and obligations of the Partnership, including any Partner loans, and after making the distribution to the Special OP Unitholders (or payment to the Advisor, as applicable) called for by Section 5.2(c) in connection with a liquidation of the Partnership (which shall be deemed the liquidating distribution for the Special OP Unitholders) any remaining assets of the Partnership shall be distributed to all Partners such that the holder of each Partnership Unit receives an amount equal to the Net Asset Value Per Unit for each Partnership Unit held.  If, however, the remaining assets of the Partnership are not sufficient to pay in full the Net Asset Value Per Unit for each Partnership Unit, then the holders of Partnership Units of each Class or Series shall be distributed an amount equal to the product of (i) the remaining assets of the Partnership that are legally available for distribution to the Partners and (ii) the quotient obtained by dividing (A) the net asset value of the Partnership allocable to such Class or Series of Partnership Units by (B) the aggregate net asset value of the Partnership, all as calculated as described in the Valuation Procedures.  Amounts to be distributed to the holders of each Class or Series of Partnership Units shall be distributed among those holders in proportion to the number of Units of that Class or Series held by each holder.  After application of the foregoing, any remaining assets available for distribution to the Partners shall be distributed to the Partners in accordance with their Percentage Interests.

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the amount by which the value, as determined in good faith by the General Partner, of any property other than cash to be distributed in kind to the Partners exceeds or is less than the Carrying Value of such property shall, to the extent not otherwise recognized by the Partnership, be taken into account in computing Profit and Loss of the Partnership for purposes of crediting or charging the Capital Accounts of, and distributing proceeds to, the Partners, pursuant to this Agreement.  To the extent deemed advisable by the General Partner, appropriate arrangements (including the use of a liquidating trust) may be made to assure that adequate funds are available to pay any contingent debts or obligations.

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5.7Substantial Economic Effect.  It is the intent of the Partners that the allocations of Profit and Loss under this Agreement have substantial economic effect (or be consistent with the Partners’ interests in the Partnership in the case of the allocation of losses attributable to nonrecourse debt) within the meaning of Section 704(b) of the Code as interpreted by the Regulations promulgated pursuant thereto.  Article 5 and other relevant provisions of this Agreement shall be interpreted in a manner consistent with such intent.
Article 6

RIGHTS, OBLIGATIONS AND
POWERS OF THE GENERAL PARTNER
6.1Management of the Partnership.
(a)Except as otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement, the General Partner shall have full, complete and exclusive discretion to manage and control the business of the Partnership for the purposes herein stated, and shall make all decisions affecting the business and assets of the Partnership.  Subject to the restrictions specifically contained in this Agreement, the powers of the General Partner shall include, without limitation, the authority to take the following actions on behalf of the Partnership:
(i)to acquire, purchase, own, operate, lease and dispose of any real property and any other property or assets including, but not limited to notes and mortgages and other Real Estate Securities, that the General Partner determines are necessary or appropriate or in the best interests of the business of the Partnership;
(ii)to construct buildings and make other improvements on the properties owned or leased by the Partnership;
(iii)to authorize, issue, sell, redeem or otherwise purchase any Partnership Interests or any securities (including secured and unsecured debt obligations of the Partnership, debt obligations of the Partnership convertible into any Class or Series of Partnership Interests, or options, rights, warrants or appreciation rights relating to any Partnership Interests) of the Partnership;
(iv)to borrow or lend money for the Partnership, issue or receive evidences of indebtedness in connection therewith, refinance, increase the amount of, modify, amend or change the terms of, or extend the time for the payment of, any such indebtedness, and secure such indebtedness by mortgage, deed of trust, pledge or other lien on the Partnership’s assets;
(v)to pay, either directly or by reimbursement, for all operating costs and general administrative expenses of the Partnership to third parties or to the General Partner or its Affiliates as set forth in this Agreement;
(vi)to guarantee or become a co-maker of indebtedness of the General Partner or any Subsidiary thereof, refinance, increase the amount of, modify, amend or change the terms of, or extend the time for the payment of, any such guarantee

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or indebtedness, and secure such guarantee or indebtedness by mortgage, deed of trust, pledge or other lien on the Partnership’s assets;
(vii)to use assets of the Partnership (including, without limitation, cash on hand) for any purpose consistent with this Agreement, including, without limitation, payment, either directly or by reimbursement, of all operating costs and general administrative expenses of the General Partner, the Partnership or any Subsidiary of either, to third parties or to the General Partner as set forth in this Agreement;
(viii)to lease all or any portion of any of the Partnership’s assets, whether or not the terms of such leases extend beyond the termination date of the Partnership and whether or not any portion of the Partnership’s assets so leased are to be occupied by the lessee, or, in turn, subleased in whole or in part to others, for such consideration and on such terms as the General Partner may determine;
(ix)to prosecute, defend, arbitrate, or compromise any and all claims or liabilities in favor of or against the Partnership, on such terms and in such manner as the General Partner may reasonably determine, and similarly to prosecute, settle or defend litigation with respect to the Partners, the Partnership, or the Partnership’s assets;
(x)to file applications, communicate, and otherwise deal with any and all governmental agencies having jurisdiction over, or in any way affecting, the Partnership’s assets or any other aspect of the Partnership business;
(xi)to make or revoke any election permitted or required of the Partnership by any taxing authority;
(xii)to maintain such insurance coverage for public liability, fire and casualty, and any and all other insurance for the protection of the Partnership, for the conservation of Partnership assets, or for any other purpose convenient or beneficial to the Partnership, in such amounts and such types, as it shall determine from time to time;
(xiii)to determine whether or not to apply any insurance proceeds for any property to the restoration of such property or to distribute the same;
(xiv)to establish one or more divisions of the Partnership, to hire and dismiss employees of the Partnership or any division of the Partnership, and to retain legal counsel, accountants, consultants, real estate brokers, and such other persons, as the General Partner may deem necessary or appropriate in connection with the Partnership business and to pay therefor such remuneration as the General Partner may deem reasonable and proper;
(xv)to retain other services of any kind or nature in connection with the Partnership business, and to pay therefor such remuneration as the General Partner may deem reasonable and proper;

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(xvi)to negotiate and conclude agreements on behalf of the Partnership with respect to any of the rights, powers and authority conferred upon the General Partner;
(xvii)to maintain accurate accounting records and to file promptly all federal, state and local income tax returns on behalf of the Partnership;
(xviii)to distribute Partnership cash or other Partnership assets in accordance with this Agreement;
(xix)to form or acquire an interest in, and contribute property to, any further limited or general partnerships, joint ventures or other relationships that it deems desirable (including, without limitation, the acquisition of interests in, and the contributions of property to, its Subsidiaries and any other Person in which it has an equity interest from time to time);
(xx)to establish Partnership reserves for working capital, capital expenditures, contingent liabilities, or any other valid Partnership purpose;
(xxi)to merge, consolidate or combine the Partnership with or into another Person;
(xxii)to do any and all acts and things necessary or prudent to ensure that the Partnership will not be classified as a “publicly traded partnership” for purposes of Section 7704 of the Code; and
(xxiii)to take such other action, execute, acknowledge, swear to or deliver such other documents and instruments, and perform any and all other acts that the General Partner deems necessary or appropriate for the formation, continuation and conduct of the business and affairs of the Partnership (including, without limitation, all actions consistent with allowing the General Partner at all times to qualify as a REIT unless the General Partner voluntarily terminates its REIT status) and to possess and enjoy all of the rights and powers of a general partner as provided by the Act.
(b)Except as otherwise provided herein, to the extent the duties of the General Partner require expenditures of funds to be paid to third parties, the General Partner shall not have any obligations hereunder except to the extent that partnership funds are reasonably available to it for the performance of such duties, and nothing herein contained shall be deemed to authorize or require the General Partner, in its capacity as such, to expend its individual funds for payment to third parties or to undertake any individual liability or obligation on behalf of the Partnership.
6.2Delegation of Authority.  The General Partner may delegate any or all of its powers, rights and obligations hereunder, and may appoint, employ, contract or otherwise deal with any Person for the transaction of the business of the Partnership, which Person may, under supervision of the General Partner, perform any acts or services for the Partnership as the General Partner may approve.

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6.3Indemnification and Exculpation of Indemnitees.
(a)The Partnership shall indemnify an Indemnitee from and against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities, joint or several, expenses (including reasonable legal fees and expenses), judgments, fines, settlements, and other amounts arising from any and all claims, demands, actions, suits or proceedings, civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, that relate to the operations of the Partnership as set forth in this Agreement in which any Indemnitee may be involved, or is threatened to be involved, as a party or otherwise, unless it is established that:  (i) the act or omission of the Indemnitee was material to the matter giving rise to the proceeding and either was committed in bad faith or was the result of active and deliberate dishonesty; (ii) the Indemnitee actually received an improper personal benefit in money, property or services; or (iii) in the case of any criminal proceeding, the Indemnitee had reasonable cause to believe that the act or omission was unlawful.  Any indemnification pursuant to this Section 6.3 shall be made only out of the assets of the Partnership.
(b)The Partnership shall reimburse an Indemnitee for reasonable expenses incurred by an Indemnitee who is a party to a proceeding in advance of the final disposition of the proceeding upon receipt by the Partnership of (i) a written affirmation by the Indemnitee of the Indemnitee’s good faith belief that the standard of conduct necessary for indemnification by the Partnership as authorized in this Section 6.3 has been met, and (ii) a written undertaking by or on behalf of the Indemnitee to repay the amount if it shall ultimately be determined that the standard of conduct has not been met.
(c)The indemnification provided by this Section 6.3 shall be in addition to any other rights to which an Indemnitee or any other Person may be entitled under any agreement, pursuant to any vote of the Partners, as a matter of law or otherwise, and shall continue as to an Indemnitee who has ceased to serve in such capacity.
(d)The Partnership may purchase and maintain insurance, on behalf of the Indemnitees and such other Persons as the General Partner shall determine, against any liability that may be asserted against or expenses that may be incurred by such Person in connection with the Partnership’s activities, regardless of whether the Partnership would have the power to indemnify such Person against such liability under the provisions of this Agreement.
(e)For purposes of this Section 6.3, the Partnership shall be deemed to have requested an Indemnitee to serve as fiduciary of an employee benefit plan whenever the performance by it of its duties to the Partnership also imposes duties on, or otherwise involves services by, it to the plan or participants or beneficiaries of the plan; excise taxes assessed on an Indemnitee with respect to an employee benefit plan pursuant to applicable law shall constitute fines within the meaning of this Section 6.3; and actions taken or omitted by the Indemnitee with respect to an employee benefit plan in the performance of its duties for a purpose reasonably believed by it to be in the interest of the participants and beneficiaries of the plan shall be deemed to be for a purpose which is not opposed to the best interests of the Partnership.

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(f)In no event may an Indemnitee subject the Limited 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 6.3 because the Indemnitee had an interest in the transaction with respect to which the indemnification applies if the transaction was otherwise permitted by the terms of this Agreement.
(h)The provisions of this Section 6.3 are for the benefit of the Indemnitees, their heirs, successors, assigns and administrators and shall not be deemed to create any rights for the benefit of any other Persons.
6.4Liability of the General Partner.  
(a)Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in this Agreement, the General Partner shall not be liable for monetary damages to the Partnership or any Partners for losses sustained or liabilities incurred as a result of errors in judgment or of any act or omission if the General Partner acted in good faith.  The General Partner shall not be in breach of any duty that the General Partner may owe to the Limited Partners or the Partnership or any other Persons under this Agreement or of any duty stated or implied by law or equity provided the General Partner, acting in good faith, abides by the terms of this Agreement.
(b)The Limited Partners expressly acknowledge that the General Partner is acting on behalf of the Partnership, itself and its shareholders collectively, that the General Partner is under no obligation to consider the separate interests of the Limited Partners (including, without limitation, the tax consequences to Limited Partners or the tax consequences of some, but not all, of the Limited Partners) in deciding whether to cause the Partnership to take (or decline to take) any actions.  In the event of a conflict between the interests of its shareholders on one hand and the Limited Partners on the other, the General Partner shall endeavor in good faith to resolve the conflict in a manner not adverse to either its shareholders or the Limited Partners; provided, however, that for so long as the General Partner directly owns a controlling interest in the Partnership, any such conflict that the General Partner, in its sole and absolute discretion, determines cannot be resolved in a manner not adverse to either its shareholders or the Limited Partner shall be resolved in favor of the shareholders.  The General Partner shall not be liable for monetary damages for losses sustained, liabilities incurred, or benefits not derived by Limited Partners in connection with such decisions, provided that the General Partner has acted in good faith.  
(c)Subject to its obligations and duties as General Partner set forth in Section 6.1 hereof, the General Partner may exercise any of the powers granted to it under this Agreement and perform any of the duties imposed upon it hereunder either directly or by or through its agents.  The General Partner shall not be responsible for any misconduct or negligence on the part of any such agent appointed by it in good faith.
(d)Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Agreement or the Act, any action of the General Partner on behalf of the Partnership or any decision of the General

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Partner to refrain from acting on behalf of the Partnership, undertaken in the good faith belief that such action or omission is necessary or advisable in order (i) to protect the ability of the General Partner to continue to qualify as a REIT or (ii) to prevent the General Partner from incurring any taxes under Section 857, Section 4981, or any other provision of the Code, is expressly authorized under this Agreement and is deemed approved by all of the Limited Partners.
(e)Any amendment, modification or repeal of this Section 6.4 or any provision hereof shall be prospective only and shall not in any way affect the limitations on the General Partner’s liability to the Partnership and the Limited Partners under this Section 6.4 as in effect immediately prior to such amendment, modification or repeal with respect to matters occurring, in whole or in part, prior to such amendment, modification or repeal, regardless of when claims relating to such matters may arise or be asserted.
6.5Reimbursement of General Partner.  
(a)Except as provided in this Section 6.5 and elsewhere in this Agreement (including the provisions of Articles 5 and 6 regarding distributions, payments, and allocations to which it may be entitled), the General Partner shall not be compensated for its services as general partner of the Partnership.
(b)The General Partner shall be reimbursed on a monthly basis, or such other basis as the General Partner may determine in its sole and absolute discretion, for all Administrative Expenses incurred by the General Partner.
6.6Outside Activities.  Subject to Section 6.8 hereof, the Articles of Incorporation and any agreements entered into by the General Partner or its Affiliates with the Partnership or a Subsidiary, any officer, director, employee, agent, trustee, Affiliate or shareholder of the General Partner, the General Partner shall be entitled to and may have business interests and engage in business activities in addition to those relating to the Partnership, including business interests and activities substantially similar or identical to those of the Partnership.  Neither the Partnership nor any of the Limited Partners shall have any rights by virtue of this Agreement in any such business ventures, interests or activities.  None of the Limited Partners nor any other Person shall have any rights by virtue of this Agreement or the partnership relationship established hereby in any such business ventures, interests or activities, and the General Partner shall have no obligation pursuant to this Agreement to offer any interest in any such business ventures, interests and activities to the Partnership or any Limited Partner, even if such opportunity is of a character which, if presented to the Partnership or any Limited Partner, could be taken by such Person.  
6.7Employment or Retention of Affiliates.
(a)Any Affiliate of the General Partner may be employed or retained by the Partnership and may otherwise deal with the Partnership (whether as a buyer, lessor, lessee, manager, furnisher of goods or services, broker, agent, lender or otherwise) and may receive from the Partnership any compensation, price, or other payment therefor which the General Partner determines to be fair and reasonable.

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(b)The Partnership may lend or contribute to its Subsidiaries or other Persons in which it has an equity investment, and such Persons may borrow funds from the Partnership, on terms and conditions established in the sole and absolute discretion of the General Partner.  The foregoing authority shall not create any right or benefit in favor of any Subsidiary or any other Person.
(c)The Partnership may transfer assets to joint ventures, other partnerships, corporations or other business entities in which it is or thereby becomes a participant upon such  terms and subject to such conditions as the General Partner deems are consistent with this Agreement, applicable law and the REIT status of the General Partner.
(d)Except as expressly permitted by this Agreement, neither the General Partner nor any of its Affiliates shall sell, transfer or convey any property to, or purchase any property from, the Partnership, directly or indirectly, except pursuant to transactions that are, in the General Partner’s sole discretion, on terms that are fair and reasonable to the Partnership.
6.8General Partner Participation.  The General Partner agrees that all business activities of the General Partner, including activities pertaining to the acquisition, development or ownership of any office, retail, multifamily industrial, or other Real Property, Real Estate Securities or other property shall be conducted through the Partnership or one or more Subsidiary Partnerships; provided, however, that the General Partner is allowed to make a direct acquisition, but if and only if, such acquisition is made in connection with the issuance of Additional Securities, which direct acquisition and issuance have been approved and determined to be in the best interests of the General Partner and the Partnership.
6.9Title to Partnership Assets.  Title to Partnership assets, whether real, personal or mixed and whether tangible or intangible, shall be deemed to be owned by the Partnership as an entity, and no Partner, individually or collectively, shall have any ownership interest in such Partnership assets or any portion thereof.  Title to any or all of the Partnership assets may be held in the name of the Partnership, the General Partner or one or more nominees, as the General Partner may determine, including Affiliates of the General Partner.  The General Partner hereby declares and warrants that any Partnership assets for which legal title is held in the name of the General Partner or any nominee or Affiliate of the General Partner shall be held by the General Partner for the use and benefit of the Partnership in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement; provided, however, that the General Partner shall use its best efforts to cause beneficial and record title to such assets to be vested in the Partnership as soon as reasonably practicable.  All Partnership assets shall be recorded as the property of the Partnership in its books and records, irrespective of the name in which legal title to such Partnership assets is held.
6.10Redemptions of REIT Shares. If the General Partner redeems any REIT Shares, then the General Partner shall cause the Partnership to purchase from the General Partner a number of Partnership Units having the same Class designation as the redeemed REIT Shares (and always Series 1 of such Class of Partnership Units, if there are multiple Series) as determined based on the application of the Conversion Factor for that Class and Series of Partnership Units on the same terms that the General Partner redeemed such REIT Shares.  Moreover, if the General Partner makes a cash tender offer or other offer to acquire REIT Shares, then the General Partner shall

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cause the Partnership to make a corresponding offer to the General Partner to acquire an equal number of Partnership Units held by the General Partner that have the same Class designation as the REIT Shares (and always Series 1 of such Class of Partnership Units, if there are multiple Series) that are the subject of the offer.  If any REIT Shares are redeemed by the General Partner pursuant to such offer, the Partnership shall redeem an equivalent number of the General Partner’s Partnership Units having the same Class designation as the redeemed REIT Shares (and always Series 1 of such Class of Partnership Units, if there are multiple Series) for an equivalent purchase price based on the application of the Conversion Factor for that Class and Series of Partnership Units.
6.11No Duplication of Fees or Expenses.  The Partnership may not incur or be responsible for any fee or expense (in connection with an Offering or otherwise) that would be duplicative of fees and expenses paid by the General Partner.
Article 7

CHANGES IN GENERAL PARTNER
7.1Transfer of the General Partner’s Partnership Interest.
(a)The General Partner shall not transfer all or any portion of its General Partnership Interest or withdraw as General Partner except as provided in, or in connection with a transaction contemplated by, Section 7.1(c), (d) or (e).
(b)The General Partner agrees that its Percentage Interest will at all times be in the aggregate, at least 0.1%.  
(c)Except as otherwise provided in Section 6.4(b) or Section 7.1(d) or (e) hereof, the General Partner shall not engage in any merger, consolidation or other combination with or into another Person or sale of all or substantially all of its assets, (other than in connection with a change in the General Partner’s state of incorporation or organizational form) in each case which results in a change of control of the General Partner (a “Transaction”), unless:
(i)the consent of Limited Partners holding more than 50% of the Percentage Interests of the Limited Partners is obtained;
(ii)as a result of such Transaction all Limited Partners will receive for each Partnership Unit of each Class or Series an amount of cash, securities, or other property equal to the product of the Conversion Factor for that Class or Series of Partnership Unit and the greatest amount of cash, securities or other property paid in the Transaction to a holder of one REIT Share having the same Class designation as that Partnership Unit in consideration of such REIT Share; provided that if, in connection with the Transaction, a purchase, tender or exchange offer (“Offer”) shall have been made to and accepted by the holders of more than 50% of the outstanding REIT Shares, each holder of Partnership Units shall be given the option to exchange its Partnership Units for the greatest amount of cash, securities, or other property which a Limited Partner holding such Class or Series of Partnership Units

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would have received had it (1) exercised its Redemption Right and (2) sold, tendered or exchanged pursuant to the Offer the REIT Shares received upon exercise of the Redemption Right immediately prior to the expiration of the Offer; or
(iii)the General Partner is the surviving entity in the Transaction and either (A) the holders of REIT Shares do not receive cash, securities, or other property in the Transaction or (B) all Limited Partners (other than the General Partner or any Subsidiary) receive in exchange for their Partnership Units of each Class or Series, an amount of cash, securities, or other property (expressed as an amount per REIT Share) that is no less than the product of the Conversion Factor for that Class or Series of Partnership Unit and the greatest amount of cash, securities, or other property (expressed as an amount per REIT Share) received in the Transaction by any holder of REIT Shares having the same Class designation as the Partnership Units being exchanged.
(d)Notwithstanding Section 7.1(c), the General Partner may merge with or into or consolidate with another entity if immediately after such merger or consolidation (i)  substantially all of the assets of the successor or surviving entity (the “Survivor”), other than Partnership Units held by the General Partner, are contributed, directly or indirectly, to the Partnership as a Capital Contribution in exchange for Partnership Units with a fair market value equal to the value of the assets so contributed as determined by the Survivor in good faith and (ii) the Survivor expressly agrees to assume all obligations of the General Partner, as appropriate, hereunder.  Upon such contribution and assumption, the Survivor shall have the right and duty to amend this Agreement as set forth in this Section 7.1(d).  The Survivor shall in good faith arrive at a new method for the calculation of the Cash Amount, the REIT Shares Amount and Conversion Factor for a Partnership Unit of each Class or Series after any such merger or consolidation so as to approximate the existing method for such calculation as closely as reasonably possible.  Such calculation shall take into account, among other things, the kind and amount of securities, cash and other property that was receivable upon such merger or consolidation by a holder of REIT Shares of each Class or options, warrants or other rights relating thereto, and which a holder of Partnership Units of any Class or Series could have acquired had such Partnership Units been exchanged immediately prior to such merger or consolidation.  Such amendment to this Agreement shall provide for adjustment to such method of calculation, which shall be as nearly equivalent as may be practicable to the adjustments provided for with respect to the Conversion Factor for each Class or Series of Partnership Units.  The Survivor also shall in good faith modify the definition of REIT Shares and make such amendments to Section 8.5 so as to approximate the existing rights and obligations set forth in Section 8.5 as closely as reasonably possible.  The above provisions of this Section 7.1(d) shall similarly apply to successive mergers or consolidations permitted hereunder.

In respect of any transaction described in the preceding paragraph, the General Partner is required to use its commercially reasonable efforts to structure such transaction to avoid causing the Limited Partners to recognize a gain for federal income tax purposes by virtue of the occurrence of or their participation in such transaction, provided such

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efforts are consistent with the exercise of the Board of Directors’ fiduciary duties to the shareholders of the General Partner under applicable law.  

(e)Notwithstanding Section 7.1(c),
(i)a General Partner may transfer all or any portion of its General Partnership Interest to (A) a wholly-owned Subsidiary of such General Partner or (B) the owner of all of the ownership interests of such General Partner, and following a transfer of all of its General Partnership Interest, may withdraw as General Partner; and
(ii)the General Partner may engage in a transaction not required by law or by the rules of any national securities exchange on which the REIT Shares of one or more Classes are listed to be submitted to the vote of the holders of the REIT Shares of one or more Classes.
7.2Admission of a Substitute or Additional General Partner.  A Person shall be admitted as a substitute or additional General Partner of the Partnership only if the following terms and conditions are satisfied:
(a)the Person to be admitted as a substitute or additional General Partner shall have accepted and agreed to be bound by all the terms and provisions of this Agreement by executing a counterpart thereof and such other documents or instruments as may be required or appropriate in order to effect the admission of such Person as a General Partner, and a certificate evidencing the admission of such Person as a General Partner shall have been filed for recordation and all other actions required by Section 2.5 in connection with such admission shall have been performed;
(b)if the Person to be admitted as a substitute or additional General Partner is a corporation or a partnership it shall have provided the Partnership with evidence satisfactory to counsel for the Partnership of such Person’s authority to become a General Partner and to be bound by the terms and provisions of this Agreement; and
(c)counsel for the Partnership shall have rendered an opinion (relying on such opinions from other counsel and the state or any other jurisdiction as may be necessary) that (x) the admission of the person to be admitted as a substitute or additional General Partner is in conformity with the Act and (y) none of the actions taken in connection with the admission of such Person as a substitute or additional General Partner will cause (i) the Partnership to be classified other than as a partnership for federal tax purposes, or (ii) the loss of any Limited Partner’s limited liability.
7.3Effect of Bankruptcy, Withdrawal, Death or Dissolution of the sole remaining General Partner.  
(a)Upon the occurrence of an Event of Bankruptcy as to the sole remaining General Partner (and its removal pursuant to Section 7.4(a)) or the death, withdrawal, removal or dissolution of the sole remaining General Partner (except that, if the sole remaining General Partner is on the date of such occurrence a partnership, the withdrawal,

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death, dissolution, Event of Bankruptcy as to, or removal of a partner in, such partnership shall be deemed not to be a dissolution of such General Partner if the business of such General Partner is continued by the remaining partner or partners), the Partnership shall be dissolved and terminated unless the Partnership is continued pursuant to Section 7.3(b).  The merger of the General Partner with or into any entity that is admitted as a substitute or successor General Partner pursuant to Section 7.2 shall not be deemed to be the withdrawal, dissolution or removal of the General Partner.  
(b)Following the occurrence of an Event of Bankruptcy as to the sole remaining General Partner (and its removal pursuant to Section 7.4(a) hereof) or the death, withdrawal, removal or dissolution of the sole remaining General Partner (except that, if the sole remaining General Partner is, on the date of such occurrence, a partnership, the withdrawal of, death, dissolution, Event of Bankruptcy as to, or removal of a partner in, such partnership shall be deemed not to be a dissolution of such General Partner if the business of such General Partner is continued by the remaining partner or partners), the Limited Partners, within ninety (90) days after such occurrence, may elect to continue the business of the Partnership for the balance of the term specified in Section 2.4 by selecting, subject to Section 7.2 and any other provisions of this Agreement, a substitute General Partner by consent of the Limited Partners holding a majority of the Percentage Interests of all Limited Partners.  If the Limited Partners elect to continue the business of the Partnership and admit a substitute General Partner, the relationship with the Partners and of any Person who has acquired an interest of a Partner in the Partnership shall be governed by this Agreement.
7.4Removal of a General Partner.  
(a)Upon the occurrence of an Event of Bankruptcy as to, or the dissolution of, a General Partner, such General Partner shall be deemed to be removed automatically; provided, however, that if a General Partner is on the date of such occurrence a partnership, the withdrawal, death or dissolution of, Event of Bankruptcy as to, or removal of, a partner in, such partnership shall be deemed not to be a dissolution of the General Partner if the business of such General Partner is continued by the remaining partner or partners.  The Limited Partners may not remove the General Partner, with or without cause.
(b)If a General Partner has been removed pursuant to this Section 7.4 and the Partnership is continued pursuant to Section 7.3, such General Partner shall promptly transfer and assign its General Partnership Interest in the Partnership to the substitute General Partner approved by the Limited Partners in accordance with Section 7.3(b) and otherwise admitted to the Partnership in accordance with Section 7.2.  At the time of assignment, the removed General Partner shall be entitled to receive from the substitute General Partner the fair market value of the General Partnership Interest of such removed General Partner as reduced by any damages caused to the Partnership by such General Partner.  Such fair market value shall be determined by an appraiser mutually agreed upon by the General Partner and the Limited Partners holding a majority of the Percentage Interests of all Limited Partners within ten (10) days following the removal of the General Partner.  If the parties are unable to agree upon an appraiser, the removed General Partner and the Limited Partners holding a majority of the Percentage Interests of all Limited

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Partners each shall select an appraiser.  Each such appraiser shall complete an appraisal of the fair market value of the removed General Partner’s General Partnership Interest within thirty (30) days of the General Partner’s removal, and the fair market value of the removed General Partner’s General Partnership Interest shall be the average of the two appraisals; provided, however, that if the higher appraisal exceeds the lower appraisal by more than 20% of the amount of the lower appraisal, the two appraisers, no later than forty (40) days after the removal of the General Partner, shall select a third appraiser who shall complete an appraisal of the fair market value of the removed General Partner’s General Partnership Interest no later than sixty (60) days after the removal of the General Partner.  In such case, the fair market value of the removed General Partner’s General Partnership Interest shall be the average of the two appraisals closest in value.
(c)The General Partnership Interest of a removed General Partner, during the time after default until transfer under Section 7.4(b), shall be converted to that of a special Limited Partner; provided, however, such removed General Partner shall not have any rights to participate in the management and affairs of the Partnership, and shall not be entitled to any portion of the income, expense, profit, gain or loss allocations or cash distributions allocable or payable, as the case may be, to the Limited Partners.  Instead, such removed General Partner shall receive and be entitled only to retain distributions or allocations of such items that it would have been entitled to receive in its capacity as General Partner, until the transfer is effective pursuant to Section 7.4(b).
(d)All Partners shall have given and hereby do give such consents, shall take such actions and shall execute such documents as shall be legally necessary, desirable and sufficient to effect all the foregoing provisions of this Section.  
Article 8

RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS OF THE LIMITED PARTNERS
8.1Management of the Partnership.  The Limited Partners shall not participate in the management or control of Partnership business nor shall they transact any business for the Partnership, nor shall they have the power to sign for or bind the Partnership, such powers being vested solely and exclusively in the General Partner.
8.2Power of Attorney.  Each Limited Partner hereby irrevocably appoints the General Partner its true and lawful attorney-in-fact, who may act for each Limited Partner and in its name, place and stead, and for its use and benefit, to sign, acknowledge, swear to, deliver, file or record, at the appropriate public offices, any and all documents, certificates, and instruments as may be deemed necessary or desirable by the General Partner to carry out fully the provisions of this Agreement and the Act in accordance with their terms, which power of attorney is coupled with an interest and shall survive the death, dissolution or legal incapacity of the Limited Partner, or the transfer by the Limited Partner of any part or all of its Partnership Interest.
8.3Limitation on Liability of Limited Partners.  No Limited Partner shall be liable for any debts, liabilities, contracts or obligations of the Partnership.  A Limited Partner shall be liable to the Partnership only to make payments of its Capital Contribution, if any, as and when

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due hereunder.  After its Capital Contribution is fully paid, no Limited Partner shall, except as otherwise required by the Act, be required to make any further Capital Contributions or other payments or lend any funds to the Partnership.  
8.4Ownership by Limited Partner of Corporate General Partner or Affiliate.  No Limited Partner shall at any time, either directly or indirectly, own any stock or other interest in the General Partner or in any Affiliate thereof, if such ownership by itself or in conjunction with other stock or other interests owned by other Limited Partners would, in the opinion of counsel for the Partnership, jeopardize the classification of the Partnership as a partnership for federal tax purposes.  The General Partner shall be entitled to make such reasonable inquiry of the Limited Partners as is required to establish compliance by the Limited Partners with the provisions of this Section.
8.5Redemption Right.
(a)Subject to Sections 8.5(b), 8.5(c), 8.5(d), 8.5(e) and 8.5(f) and the provisions of any agreements between the Partnership and one or more Limited Partners with respect to Partnership Units held by them, each Limited Partner other than the General Partner, after holding any Class or Series of Partnership Units for at least one year (such Partnership Units, “Eligible Units”), shall have the right (subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein) to require the Partnership to redeem (a “Redemption”) all or a portion of the Eligible Units held by such Limited Partner in exchange (a “Redemption Right”) for Class E REIT Shares (with respect to Eligible Units that are Series 1 Class E Units), Class S REIT Shares (with respect to Eligible Units that are Class S Units), Class T REIT Shares (with respect to Eligible Units that are Class T Units), Class D REIT Shares (with respect to Eligible Units that are Class D Units) or Class I REIT Shares (with respect to Eligible Units that are Series 2 Class E Units or Class I Units) issuable on, or the Cash Amount payable on, the Specified Redemption Date, as determined by the General Partner in its sole discretion, provided that such Eligible Units (the “Tendered Units”) shall have been outstanding for at least one year. Any Redemption Right shall be exercised pursuant to a Notice of Redemption delivered to the Partnership (with a copy to the General Partner) by the Limited Partner exercising the Redemption Right (the “Tendering Party”). Within 30 days of receipt of a Notice of Redemption, the Partnership will send to the Limited Partner submitting the Notice of Redemption a response stating whether the General Partner has determined the applicable Eligible Units will be redeemed for REIT Shares or the Cash Amount. Within 30 days of the Partnership’s delivery of its response, the Limited Partner must affirm to the Partnership that such Limited Partner wishes to proceed with the Redemption, or the request for Redemption will be cancelled (the date such affirmation is received by the Partnership is the “Affirmation Date”). Following such affirmation, the Limited Partner shall still be entitled to withdraw the Notice of Redemption if (i) it provides notice to the Partnership that it wishes to withdraw the request and (ii) the Partnership receives the notice no less than two business days prior to the Specified Redemption Date.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, but subject to the limitations of this paragraph, the Advisor and any Person to whom the Special OP Unitholders or the Advisor transfers Partnership Units or Special Partnership Units (collectively with the Special OP Unitholders and the Advisor, the “Sponsor Parties”) shall have the right to require the Partnership to redeem all

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or a portion of their Partnership Units pursuant to this Section 8.5 at any time irrespective of the period the Partnership Units have been held by such Limited Partner; provided, however, that in the event the Sponsor Parties hold Partnership Units paid or distributed with respect to the Performance Allocation or Performance Component (as defined in the Advisory Agreement) from any prior calendar year other than the Partnership Units most recently allocated or paid and requests the Partnership to redeem all or a portion of such Partnership Units (the “Partnership Unit Balance”) the Partnership will be required to redeem such Partnership Unit Balance only if the General Partner, based on reasonable projections, (i) has determined that, after redeeming such Partnership Unit Balance, the General Partner expects to have liquidity (from any available source) equal to or in excess of the NAV of the maximum amount of REIT Shares which can be redeemed under the then current SRP for the next ninety days (the “Minimum Liquidity Requirement”) and (ii) at the time of the redemption request, 100% of all properly submitted redemption requests in the SRP as of the most recent quarter end and the most recent month end (the “Redemption Period”) have been honored (collectively, with the Minimum Liquidity Requirement, the “Redemption Requirements”). In the event that the General Partner deems that the Redemption Requirements have not been met, then the Sponsor Parties may only redeem their respective Partnership Unit Balances up to the lesser of (A) whichever is the lower pro rata basis within the Redemption Period provided to the General Partner’s common stockholders requesting redemption of REIT Shares under the SRP, or (B) an amount that causes the Minimum Liquidity Requirement to still be met. If there was no pro rata redemption under the SRP during the Redemption Period, the Sponsor Parties may only redeem an amount that causes the Minimum Liquidity Requirement to still be met. The above Partnership Unit redemption restriction shall not apply in the event that the General Partner terminates the Advisory Agreement. The Partnership shall redeem any Partnership Units of the Sponsor Parties for the Cash Amount unless the board of directors of the General Partner determines that any such redemption for cash would be prohibited by applicable law or this Agreement, in which case such Partnership Units will be redeemed for an amount of REIT Shares having the same Class designation as the Tendered Units with an aggregate NAV equivalent to the aggregate NAV of such Partnership Units.  Redemption requests from multiple Sponsor Parties, if applicable, will be honored on a pro rata basis, if redemptions are limited pursuant to the foregoing.

No Limited Partner, other than the Sponsor Parties, may deliver more than two Notices of Redemption during each calendar year. A Limited Partner, other than the Sponsor Parties, may not exercise the Redemption Right for less than 1,000 Partnership Units or, if such Limited Partner holds less than 1,000 Partnership Units, all of the Partnership Units held by such Partner. The Tendering Party shall have no right, with respect to any Partnership Units so redeemed, to receive any distribution paid with respect to such Partnership Units if the record date for such distribution is on or after the Specified Redemption Date.

(b)If the General Partner elects to redeem Tendered Units for REIT Shares rather than cash, then (I) Tendered Units that are Series 1 Class E Units shall be redeemed for Class E REIT Shares, Tendered Units that are Series 2 Class E Units or Class I Units shall be redeemed for Class I REIT Shares, Tendered Units that are Class S Units shall be redeemed for Class S REIT Shares, Tendered Units that are Class T Units shall be redeemed for Class T REIT Shares and Tendered Units that are Class D Units or shall be

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redeemed for Class D REIT Shares and (II) the Partnership shall direct the General Partner to issue and deliver such REIT Shares to the Tendering Party pursuant to the terms set forth in this Section 8.5(b), in which case, (i) the General Partner, acting as a distinct legal entity, shall assume directly the obligation with respect thereto and shall satisfy the Tendering Party’s exercise of its Redemption Right, and (ii) such transaction shall be treated, for federal income tax purposes, as a transfer by the Tendering Party of such Tendered Units to the General Partner in exchange for REIT Shares. The percentage of the Tendered Units tendered for Redemption by the Tendering Party for which the General Partner elects to issue REIT Shares (rather than cash) is referred to as the “Applicable Percentage.” In making such election to acquire Tendered Units, the Partnership shall act in a fair, equitable and reasonable manner that neither prefers one group or class of Limited Partners over another nor discriminates against a group or class of Limited Partners. If the Partnership elects to redeem any number of Tendered Units for REIT Shares rather than cash, on the Specified Redemption Date, the Tendering Party shall sell such number of the Tendered Units to the General Partner in exchange for a number of REIT Shares equal to the product of (A) the REIT Shares Amount, (B) the Applicable Percentage and (C) solely with respect to Redemption of Series 2 Class E Units, a number, expressed as a percentage, determined by dividing the Value of Class E REIT Shares by the Value of Class I REIT Shares, such values determined in each case as of the end of the Specified Redemption Date. Such number of REIT Shares shall be delivered by the General Partner as duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and accessible REIT Shares free of any pledge, lien, encumbrance or restriction, other than the Aggregate Share Ownership Limit (as calculated in accordance with the Articles of Incorporation) and other restrictions provided in the Article of Incorporation, the bylaws of the General Partner, the Securities Act and relevant state securities or “blue sky” laws. Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 8.5(a) and this Section 8.5(b), the Tendering Parties shall have no rights under this Agreement that would otherwise be prohibited under the Articles of Incorporation.
(c) In connection with an exercise of Redemption Rights pursuant to this Section 8.5, the Tendering Party shall submit the following to the General Partner, in addition to the Notice of Redemption:
(1)A written affidavit, dated the same date as the Notice of Redemption, (a) disclosing the actual and constructive ownership, as determined for purposes of Code Sections 856(a)(6) and 856(h), of REIT Shares by (i) such Tendering Party and (ii) any Related Party and (b) representing that, after giving effect to the Redemption, neither the Tendering Party nor any Related Party will own REIT Shares in excess of the Aggregate Share Ownership Limit (or, if applicable the Excepted Holder Limit);
(2)A written representation that neither the Tendering Party nor any Related Party has any intention to acquire any additional REIT Shares prior to the closing of the Redemption on the Specified Redemption Date; and

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(3)An undertaking to certify, at and as a condition to the closing of the Redemption on the Specified Redemption Date, that either (a) the actual and constructive ownership of REIT Shares by the Tendering Party and any Related Party remain unchanged from that disclosed in the affidavit required by Section 8.5(c)(1) or (b) after giving effect to the Redemption, neither the Tendering Party nor any Related Party shall own REIT Shares in violation of the Aggregate Share Ownership Limit (or, if applicable, the Excepted Holder Limit).
(4)Any other documents as the General Partner may reasonably require.
(d)Any Cash Amount to be paid to a Tendering Party pursuant to this Section 8.5 shall be paid on the Specified Redemption Date; provided, however, that the General Partner may elect to cause the Specified Redemption Date to be delayed for up to an additional 180 days to the extent required for the General Partner to cause additional REIT Shares to be issued to provide financing to be used to make such payment of the Cash Amount.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the General Partner agrees to use its best efforts to cause the closing of the acquisition of Tendered Units hereunder to occur as quickly as reasonably possible.
(e)Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the General Partner shall place appropriate restrictions on the ability of the Limited Partners to exercise their Redemption Rights to prevent, among other things, (a) any person from owning shares in excess of the Common Share Ownership Limit, the Aggregate Share Ownership Limit and the Excepted Holder Limit, (b) the General Partner’s common stock from being owned by less than 100 persons, the General Partner from being  “closely held” within the meaning of section 856(h) of the Code, and as and if deemed necessary to ensure that the Partnership does not constitute a “publicly traded partnership” under section 7704 of the Code.  If and when the General Partner determines that imposing such restrictions is necessary, the General Partner shall give prompt written notice thereof (a “Restriction Notice”) to each of the Limited Partners holding Partnership Units, which notice shall be accompanied by a copy of an opinion of counsel to the Partnership which states that, in the opinion of such counsel, restrictions are necessary in order to avoid having the Partnership be treated as a “publicly traded partnership” under section 7704 of the Code.
(f)A redemption fee may be charged (other than to the Sponsor Parties and their respective affiliates) in connection with an exercise of Redemption Rights pursuant to this Section 8.5. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, unless a waiver of such fee has been granted or a higher or lower fee was set forth in the applicable offering documents for the Partnership Units (or offering documents for a security or interest that was exchanged or converted for Partnership Units at the option of the Partnership or pursuant the terms of this Agreement), a redemption fee of 1.0% of the Cash Amount or REIT Shares otherwise payable to a Limited Partner (i) upon redemption of Series 1 Class E Units (other than Series 1 Class E Units issued to the General Partner) pursuant to this Section 8.5 shall be paid by such Limited Partner to Dividend Capital Exchange Facilitators LLC, and (ii) upon redemption of any other Partnership Units (other than from the Sponsor

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Parties and their respective affiliates) pursuant to this Section 8.5 shall be paid by such Limited Partner to BC Exchange Advisor Group LLC; the Operating Partnership shall deduct such amount from the Cash Amount or REIT Shares otherwise payable to such Limited Partner and pay it to Dividend Capital Exchange Facilitators LLC or BC Exchange Advisor Group LLC, as applicable, on behalf of the Limited Partner.  To the extent that a transaction (a “Unit Transaction”) occurs in which any Partnership Units which are subject to a redemption fee under this Section 8.5(f) are acquired (for cash or securities), transferred, merged, converted, tendered, or disposed of in any other similar transaction, then unless the beneficiaries of such redemption fees identified herein otherwise agree in their reasonable discretion (which may include requiring that any applicable counterparty execute an agreement agreeing to continue to collect and remit such redemption fees following the Unit Transaction), the Operating Partnership will be obligated to collect the redemption fees in connection with the closing of such Unit Transaction and remit the same to the applicable beneficiaries.
8.6Registration.  Subject to the terms of any agreement between the General Partner and one or more Limited Partners with respect to Partnership Units held by them:
(a)Registration of the Common Stock.  The General Partner agrees to file with the Commission a registration statement covering the resale of the REIT Shares that may be issued upon redemption of such Partnership Units pursuant to Section 8.5 (“Redemption Shares”) if a Limited Partner or Limited Partners who together hold Redemption Shares of a single Class that have an aggregate value of at least $10 million (based on the then current price) request that the General Partner register for resale such Redemption Shares. Such requests shall be made in writing and shall state the number of Redemption Shares to be disposed of. Within 30 days after receipt of a request for registration, whatever the amount of the Redemption Shares requested to be registered, the General Partner shall give written notice of such request to all other Limited Partners holding Partnership Units; provided however, that the General Partner shall be obligated to give such notice no more than one time in any six-month period. Further, the General Partner shall include in a registration statement all such Redemption Shares with respect to which the General Partner has received written requests for inclusion therein (whether or not such Redemption Shares have been issued) within 15 days after the receipt of the General Partner’s notice. The General Partner further agrees to use its commercially reasonable efforts to file the registration statement within 90 days of its receipt of the written request described above, and to maintain the effectiveness of such registration statement for a period of no more than two years.  
(b)Listing on Securities Exchange.  If the General Partner shall list or maintain the listing of Class of REIT Shares on any securities exchange or national market system, it will at its expense and as necessary to permit the registration and sale of the Redemption Shares of such listed Class or Classes hereunder, list thereon, maintain and, when necessary, increase such listing to include such Redemption Shares.  
(c)Registration Not Required.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the General Partner shall not be required to file or maintain the effectiveness of a registration statement covering the resale of Redemption Shares if, in the opinion of counsel to the General

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Partner, such Redemption Shares could be sold by the holders thereof pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act, or any successor rule thereto.
8.7Distribution Reinvestment Plan.  OP Unitholders may have the opportunity to join the General Partner’s distribution reinvestment plan by completing an enrollment form which is available upon request.  A copy of the General Partner’s distribution reinvestment plan is also available upon request.  The shares of the General Partner’s common stock which may be issued under the General Partner’s distribution reinvestment plan are offered only by a prospectus.
Article 9

TRANSFERS OF LIMITED PARTNERSHIP INTERESTS
9.1Purchase for Investment.  
(a)Each Limited Partner hereby represents and warrants to the General Partner and to the Partnership that the acquisition of his Partnership Interest is made as a principal for his account for investment purposes only and not with a view to the resale or distribution of such Partnership Interest.  
(b)Each Limited Partner agrees that he will not sell, assign or otherwise transfer his Partnership Interest or any fraction thereof, whether voluntarily or by operation of law or at judicial sale or otherwise, to any Person who does not make the representations and warranties to the General Partner set forth in Section 9.1(a) above and similarly agree not to sell, assign or transfer such Partnership Interest or fraction thereof to any Person who does not similarly represent, warrant and agree.
9.2Restrictions on Transfer of Limited Partnership Interests.  
(a)Subject to the provisions of 9.2(b) and (c), no Limited Partner may offer, sell, assign, hypothecate, pledge or otherwise transfer all or any portion of his Limited Partnership Interest, or any of such Limited Partner’s economic rights as a Limited Partner, whether voluntarily or by operation of law or at judicial sale or otherwise (collectively, a “Transfer”) without the consent of the General Partner, which consent may be granted or withheld in its sole and absolute discretion; provided that each Sponsor Party may transfer all or any portion of its respective Partnership Interest, or any of its economic rights as a Limited Partner, to any of its Affiliates or any trust, limited liability company, partnership, or other entity established by or at the direction of such Sponsor Party or any of its Affiliates without the consent of the General Partner.  Any such purported transfer undertaken without such consent shall be considered to be null and void ab initio and shall not be given effect.  The General Partner may require, as a condition of any Transfer to which it consents, that the transferor assume all costs incurred by the Partnership in connection therewith.
(b)No Limited Partner may withdraw from the Partnership other than as a result of a permitted Transfer (i.e., a Transfer effected as contemplated by clause (a) above or clause (c) below or a Transfer pursuant to Section 9.5 below) of all of its Partnership Interest pursuant to this Article 9 or pursuant to a redemption of all of its Partnership Units

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pursuant to Section 8.5.  Upon the permitted Transfer or redemption of all of a Limited Partner’s Partnership Interest, such Limited Partner shall cease to be a Limited Partner.
(c)Notwithstanding Section 9.2(a) and subject to Sections 9.2(d), (e) and (f) below, a Limited Partner may Transfer, without the consent of the General Partner, all or a portion of its Partnership Interest to (i) a parent or parent’s spouse, natural or adopted descendant or descendants, spouse of such descendant, or brother or sister, or a trust created by such Limited Partner for the benefit of such Limited Partner and/or any such person(s), of which trust such Limited Partner or any such person(s) is a trustee, (ii) a corporation controlled by a Person or Persons named in (i) above, or (iii) if the Limited Partner is an entity, its beneficial owners.
(d)No Limited Partner may effect a Transfer of its Limited Partnership Interest, in whole or in part, if, in the opinion of legal counsel for the Partnership, such proposed Transfer would require the registration of the Limited Partnership Interest under the Securities Act or would otherwise violate any applicable federal or state securities or blue sky law (including investment suitability standards).
(e)No Transfer by a Limited Partner of its Partnership Interest, in whole or in part, may be made to any Person if (i) in the opinion of legal counsel for the Partnership, the transfer would result in the Partnership’s being treated as an association taxable as a corporation (other than a qualified REIT subsidiary within the meaning of Section 856(i) of the Code), (ii) in the opinion of legal counsel for the Partnership, it would adversely affect the ability of the General Partner to continue to qualify as a REIT or subject the General Partner to any additional taxes under Section 857 or Section 4981 of the Code, or (iii) such transfer is effectuated through an “established securities market” or a “secondary market (or the substantial equivalent thereof)” within the meaning of Section 7704 of the Code.  
(f)No transfer by a Limited Partner of any Partnership Interest may be made to a lender to the Partnership or any Person who is related (within the meaning of Regulations Section 1.752-4(b)) to any lender to the Partnership whose loan constitutes a nonrecourse liability (within the meaning of Regulations Section 1.752-1(a)(2)), without the consent of the General Partner, which may be withheld in its sole and absolute discretion, provided that as a condition to such consent the lender will be required to enter into an arrangement with the Partnership and the General Partner to exchange or redeem for the Cash Amount any Partnership Units in which a security interest is held simultaneously with the time at which such lender would be deemed to be a Partner in the Partnership for purposes of allocating liabilities to such lender under Section 752 of the Code.
(g)Any Transfer in contravention of any of the provisions of this Article 9 shall be void and ineffectual and shall not be binding upon, or recognized by, the Partnership.
(h)Prior to the consummation of any Transfer under this Article 9, the transferor and/or the transferee shall deliver to the General Partner such opinions,

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certificates and other documents as the General Partner shall request in connection with such Transfer.
9.3Admission of Substitute Limited Partner.  
(a)Subject to the other provisions of this Article 9, an assignee of the Limited Partnership Interest of a Limited Partner (which shall be understood to include any purchaser, transferee, donee, or other recipient of any disposition of such Limited Partnership Interest) shall be deemed admitted as a Limited Partner of the Partnership only with the consent of the General Partner and upon the satisfactory completion of the following:
(i)The assignee shall have accepted and agreed to be bound by the terms and provisions of this Agreement by executing a counterpart or an amendment thereof, including a revised Exhibit A, and such other documents or instruments as the General Partner may require in order to effect the admission of such Person as a Limited Partner.
(ii)To the extent required, an amended Certificate evidencing the admission of such Person as a Limited Partner shall have been signed, acknowledged and filed for record in accordance with the Act.
(iii)The assignee shall have delivered a letter containing the representation set forth in Section 9.1(a) hereof and the agreement set forth in Section 9.1(b) hereof.
(iv)If the assignee is a corporation, partnership or trust, the assignee shall have provided the General Partner with evidence satisfactory to counsel for the Partnership of the assignee’s authority to become a Limited Partner under the terms and provisions of this Agreement.
(v)The assignee shall have executed a power of attorney containing the terms and provisions set forth in Section 8.2 hereof.
(vi)The assignee shall have paid all legal fees and other expenses of the Partnership and the General Partner and filing and publication costs in connection with its substitution as a Limited Partner.
(vii)The assignee has obtained the prior written consent of the General Partner to its admission as a Substitute Limited Partner, which consent may be given or denied in the exercise of the General Partner’s sole and absolute discretion.
(b)For the purpose of allocating Profits and Losses and distributing cash received by the Partnership, a Substitute Limited Partner shall be treated as having become, and appearing in the records of the Partnership as, a Partner upon the filing of the Certificate described in Section 9.3(a)(ii) hereof or, if no such filing is required, the later of the date specified in the transfer documents or the date on which the General Partner has received all necessary instruments of transfer and substitution.

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(c)The General Partner shall cooperate with the Person seeking to become a Substitute Limited Partner by preparing the documentation required by this Section and making all official filings and publications.  The Partnership shall take all such action as promptly as practicable after the satisfaction of the conditions in this Article 9 to the admission of such Person as a Limited Partner of the Partnership.
9.4Rights of Assignees of Partnership Interests.  
(a)Subject to the provisions of Sections 9.1 and 9.2 hereof, except as required by operation of law, the Partnership shall not be obligated for any purposes whatsoever to recognize the assignment by any Limited Partner of its Partnership Interest until the Partnership has received notice thereof.  
(b)Any Person who is the assignee of all or any portion of a Limited Partner’s Limited Partnership Interest, but does not become a Substitute Limited Partner and desires to make a further assignment of such Limited Partnership Interest, shall be subject to all the provisions of this Article 9 to the same extent and in the same manner as any Limited Partner desiring to make an assignment of its Limited Partnership Interest.
9.5Effect of Bankruptcy, Death, Incompetence or Termination of a Limited Partner.  The occurrence of an Event of Bankruptcy as to a Limited Partner, the death of a Limited Partner or a final adjudication that a Limited Partner is incompetent (which term shall include, but not be limited to, insanity) shall not cause the termination or dissolution of the Partnership, and the business of the Partnership shall continue if an order for relief in a bankruptcy proceeding is entered against a Limited Partner, the trustee or receiver of his estate or, if he dies, his executor, administrator or trustee, or, if he is finally adjudicated incompetent, his committee, guardian or conservator, shall have the rights of such Limited Partner for the purpose of settling or managing his estate property and such power as the bankrupt, deceased or incompetent Limited Partner possessed to assign all or any part of his Partnership Interest and to join with the assignee in satisfying conditions precedent to the admission of the assignee as a Substitute Limited Partner.  
9.6Joint Ownership of Interests.  A Partnership Interest may be acquired by two individuals as joint tenants with right of survivorship, provided that such individuals either are married or are related and share the same home as tenants in common.  The written consent or vote of both owners of any such jointly held Partnership Interest shall be required to constitute the action of the owners of such Partnership Interest; provided, however, that the written consent of only one joint owner will be required if the Partnership has been provided with evidence satisfactory to the counsel for the Partnership that the actions of a single joint owner can bind both owners under the applicable laws of the state of residence of such joint owners.  Upon the death of one owner of a Partnership Interest held in a joint tenancy with a right of survivorship, the Partnership Interest shall become owned solely by the survivor as a Limited Partner and not as an assignee.  The Partnership need not recognize the death of one of the owners of a jointly-held Partnership Interest until it shall have received notice of such death.  Upon notice to the General Partner from either owner, the General Partner shall cause the Partnership Interest to be divided into two equal Partnership Interests, which shall thereafter be owned separately by each of the former owners.  

48


Article 10

BOOKS AND RECORDS; ACCOUNTING; TAX MATTERS
10.1Books and Records.  At all times during the continuance of the Partnership, the Partners shall keep or cause to be kept at the Partnership’s specified office true and complete books of account in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, including:  (a) a current list of the full name and last known business address of each Partner, (b) a copy of the Certificate of Limited Partnership and all Certificates of amendment thereto, (c) copies of the Partnership’s federal, state and local income tax returns and reports, (d) copies of this Agreement and amendments thereto and any financial statements of the Partnership for the three most recent years and (e) all documents and information required under the Act.  Any Partner or its duly authorized representative, upon paying the costs of collection, duplication and mailing, shall be entitled to inspect or copy such records during ordinary business hours.
10.2Custody of Partnership Funds; Bank Accounts.  
(a)All funds of the Partnership not otherwise invested shall be deposited in one or more accounts maintained in such banking or brokerage institutions as the General Partner shall determine, and withdrawals shall be made only on such signature or signatures as the General Partner may, from time to time, determine.
(b)All deposits and other funds not needed in the operation of the business of the Partnership may be invested by the General Partner in investment grade instruments (or investment companies whose portfolio consists primarily thereof), government obligations, certificates of deposit, bankers’ acceptances and municipal notes and bonds.  The funds of the Partnership shall not be commingled with the funds of any other Person except for such commingling as may necessarily result from an investment in those investment companies permitted by this Section 10.2(b).
10.3Fiscal and Taxable Year.  The fiscal and taxable year of the Partnership shall be the calendar year.
10.4Annual Tax Information and Report.  Within seventy-five (75) days after the end of each fiscal year of the Partnership, the General Partner shall furnish to each person who was a Limited Partner at any time during such year the tax information necessary to file such Limited Partner’s individual tax returns as shall be reasonably required by law.
10.5Tax Matters Partner; Tax Elections; Special Basis Adjustments.  
(a)The General Partner shall be the Tax Matters Partner of the Partnership within the meaning of Section 6231(a)(7) of the Code.  As Tax Matters Partner, the General Partner shall have the right and obligation to take all actions authorized and required, respectively, by the Code for the Tax Matters Partner.  The General Partner shall have the right to retain professional assistance in respect of any audit of the Partnership by the Service and all out-of-pocket expenses and fees incurred by the General Partner on behalf of the Partnership as Tax Matters Partner shall constitute Partnership expenses.  In the event the General Partner receives notice of a final Partnership adjustment under

49


Section 6223(a)(2) of the Code, the General Partner shall either (i) file a court petition for judicial review of such final adjustment within the period provided under Section 6226(a) of the Code, a copy of which petition shall be mailed to all Limited Partners on the date such petition is filed, or (ii) mail a written notice to all Limited Partners, within such period, that describes the General Partner’s reasons for determining not to file such a petition.
(b)All elections required or permitted to be made by the Partnership under the Code or any applicable state or local tax law shall be made by the General Partner in its sole and absolute discretion.
(c)In the event of a transfer of all or any part of the Partnership Interest of any Partner, the Partnership, at the option of the General Partner, may elect pursuant to Section 754 of the Code to adjust the basis of the Partnership’s assets.  Notwithstanding anything contained in Article 5, any adjustments made pursuant to Section 754 of the Code shall affect only the successor in interest to the transferring Partner and in no event shall be taken into account in establishing, maintaining or computing Capital Accounts for the other Partners for any purpose under this Agreement.  Each Partner will furnish the Partnership with all information necessary to give effect to such election.
(d) The Partners shall cause the Partnership to appoint the Tax Matters Partner or an affiliate thereof as the “partnership representative” to act on its behalf with respect to any audit, controversy, refund action, or other matter. Such “partnership representative” shall have the rights, power and authority to act as, and perform the duties and obligations of, the “partnership representative” (as such term is used in Section 6223 of the Code), as and when the role of a “partnership representative” becomes effective under Section 6223 of the Code, provided that, to the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, the “partnership representative” shall have the same obligations, be subject to the same restrictions and limitations, and granted the rights and protections, in each case, as imposed on or granted to, the Tax Matters Partner under this Section 10.5.  It is the intent of the Partners and the Partnership that, to the maximum extent permitted under applicable law, no income tax, interest, penalties or additions to tax shall ever be assessed against the Partnership pursuant to Sections 6221 or 6225 of the Code, and the Partnership, each of the Partners and any representative thereof shall take all actions (including but not limited to executing any election or consent) necessary to implement such intent.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, upon the request of all Partners with a Percentage Interest of fifty percent (50%) or more, the Partnership and the “partnership representative” shall (i) cause the Partnership to elect out of the application of Section 6221 of the Code by making an election, where permissible, under Section 6221(b) of the Code or (ii) in the event of a “partnership adjustment” within the meaning of Section 6225 of the Code, cause the Partnership to make an election, where permissible under Section 6226 of the Code, to treat such “partnership adjustment” as an adjustment to be taken into account by each Partner (or former Partner) in accordance with Section 6226(b) of the Code.  In the event the Partnership is liable for any imputed underpayment with respect to items of Partnership income, gain, loss, deduction or credit that should have been allocated to a Partner for the applicable year, such Partner shall promptly reimburse the Partnership for such amount and such reimbursement shall not be considered a Capital Contribution to the Partnership by such Partner.  The foregoing shall apply even if the applicable Partner is no

50


longer a Partner of the Partnership at the time the Partnership becomes liable for such imputed underpayment.  All references to Code sections in this Section 10.5(d) refer to such sections of the Code as in effect following the effective date of their amendment by Section 1101 of the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015 (P.L. 114).
10.6Reports to Limited Partners.  
(a)As soon as practicable after the close of each fiscal quarter (other than the last quarter of the fiscal year), the General Partner shall cause to be mailed to each Limited Partner a quarterly report containing financial statements of the Partnership, or of the General Partner if such statements are prepared solely on a consolidated basis with the General Partner, for such fiscal quarter, presented in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.  As soon as practicable after the close of each fiscal year, the General Partner shall cause to be mailed to each Limited Partner an annual report containing financial statements of the Partnership, or of the General Partner if such statements are prepared solely on a consolidated basis with the General Partner, for such fiscal year, presented in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.  The annual financial statements shall be audited by accountants selected by the General Partner.
(b)Any Partner shall further have the right to a private audit of the books and records of the Partnership at the expense of such Partner, provided such audit is made for Partnership purposes and is made during normal business hours.
10.7Safe Harbor Election. The Partners agree that, in the event the Safe Harbor Regulation is finalized, the Partnership shall be authorized and directed to make the Safe Harbor Election and the Partnership and each Partner (including any person to whom an interest in the Partnership is transferred in connection with the performance of services) agrees to comply with all requirements of the Safe Harbor with respect to all interests in the Partnership transferred in connection with the performance of services while the Safe Harbor Election remains effective. The Tax Matters Partner shall be authorized to (and shall) prepare, execute, and file the Safe Harbor Election.
Article 11

AMENDMENT OF AGREEMENT; MERGER

The General Partner’s consent shall be required for any amendment to this Agreement.  The General Partner, without the consent of the Limited Partners, may amend this Agreement in any respect or merge or consolidate the Partnership with or into any other partnership or business entity (as defined in Section 17-211 of the Act) in a transaction pursuant to Section 7.1(c), (d) or (e) hereof; provided, however, that (1) the following amendments described in Section 11(a), 11(b), 11(c) and 11(d),  and any other merger or consolidation of the Partnership, shall require the consent of Limited Partners holding more than 50% of the Percentage Interests of the Limited Partners and (2) the following amendments described in Section 11(e) shall require the consent of Special OP Unitholders holding more than 50% of the Percentage Interests of the Special OP Unitholders:  

51


(a)any amendment affecting the operation of the Conversion Factor or the Redemption Right (except as provided in Section  8.5(d) or 7.1(d)) in a manner adverse to the Limited Partners;
(b)any amendment that would adversely affect the rights of the Limited Partners to receive the distributions payable to them hereunder, other than with respect to the issuance of additional Partnership Units pursuant to Section 4.3;
(c)any amendment that would alter the Partnership’s allocations of Profit and Loss to the Limited Partners, other than with respect to the issuance of additional Partnership Units pursuant to Section 4.3;
(d)any amendment that would impose on the Limited Partners any obligation to make additional Capital Contributions to the Partnership; or
(e)any amendment that would adversely affect the rights of the Special OP Unitholders under this Agreement.
Article 12

GENERAL PROVISIONS
12.1Notices.  All communications required or permitted under this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been given when delivered personally or upon deposit in the United States mail, registered, postage prepaid return receipt requested, to the Partners at the addresses set forth in Exhibit A; provided, however, that any Partner may specify a different address by notifying the General Partner in writing of such different address.  Notices to the Partnership shall be delivered at or mailed to its specified office.
12.2Survival of Rights.  Subject to the provisions hereof limiting transfers, this Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the Partners and the Partnership and their respective legal representatives, successors, transferees and assigns.
12.3Additional Documents.  Each Partner agrees to perform all further acts and execute, swear to, acknowledge and deliver all further documents which may be reasonable, necessary, appropriate or desirable to carry out the provisions of this Agreement or the Act.
12.4Severability.  If any provision of this Agreement shall be declared illegal, invalid, or unenforceable in any jurisdiction, then such provision shall be deemed to be severable from this Agreement (to the extent permitted by law) and in any event such illegality, invalidity or unenforceability shall not affect the remainder hereof.
12.5Entire Agreement.  This Agreement and exhibits attached hereto constitute the entire Agreement of the Partners and supersede all prior written agreements (including the Prior Agreement) and prior and contemporaneous oral agreements, understandings and negotiations with respect to the subject matter hereof.

52


12.6Pronouns and Plurals.  When the context in which words are used in the Agreement indicates that such is the intent, words in the singular number shall include the plural and the masculine gender shall include the neuter or female gender as the context may require.
12.7Headings.  The Article headings or sections in this Agreement are for convenience only and shall not be used in construing the scope of this Agreement or any particular Article.
12.8Counterparts.  This Agreement may be executed in several counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original copy and all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument binding on all parties hereto, notwithstanding that all parties shall not have signed the same counterpart.
12.9Governing Law.  This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware; provided, however, that any cause of action for violation of federal or state securities laws shall not be governed by this Section 12.9.

53


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have hereunder affixed their signatures to this Eleventh Amended and Restated Limited Partnership Agreement, all as of the date first set forth above.

GENERAL PARTNER:

ARES REAL ESTATE INCOME TRUST INC., a Maryland corporation

By:

/s/ LAINIE P. MINNICK

Name: Lainie P. Minnick

Title: Chief Financial Officer


LIMITED PARTNERS:

ARES REAL ESTATE INCOME TRUST INC., a Maryland corporation, attorney-in-fact for all Limited Partners other than the Special OP Unitholder

By:

/s/ LAINIE P. MINNICK

Name: Lainie P. Minnick

Title: Chief Financial Officer

ARES COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE MANAGEMENT LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, as sole Special OP Unitholder

By:

/s/ ANTON FEINGOLD

Name: Anton Feingold

Title: Authorized Signatory


EXHIBIT A

As of November 1, 2021

Units

Units

Partner

Cash Contribution

Agreed Value of Capital Contribution

Series 1 Class E Units

Series 2 Class E Units

Series 1 Class T Units

Series 2 Class T Units

Series 1 Class S Units

Series 2 Class S Units

Class I Units

Class D Units

Special Partnership Units

Percentage Interest

Special Percentage Interest

GENERAL PARTNER:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ares Real Estate Income Trust Inc.

518 17th Street, 17th Floor

Denver, CO 80202

$2,000

$2,000

200

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

<0.01%

0%

LIMITED PARTNERS:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ares Real Estate Income Trust Inc.

518 17th Street, 17th Floor

Denver, CO 80202

$1,695,343,817

$1,695,343,817

$56,629,226

-

$15,452,925

-

$34,065,634

-

$52,893,075

$6,384,703

-

85.37%

0%

Other Limited Partners

$227,964,538

$227,964,538

$8,801,583

$1,192,463

-

$181,833

$12,187,707

-

$5,984,674

-

-

14.63%

0%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SPECIAL OP UNITHOLDER:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ares Commercial Real Estate Management LLC

2000 Avenue of the Stars, 12th Floor

Los Angeles, CA 90067

$1,000

$1,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

100

 

100%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Totals

$1,923,311,355

$1,923,311,355

$65,431,009

$1,192,463

$15,452,925

$181,833

$46,253,341

-

$58,877,749

$6,384,703

100

100%

100%


EXHIBIT B

NOTICE OF EXERCISE OF REDEMPTION RIGHT

In accordance with Section 8.5 of the Eleventh Amended and Restated Limited Partnership Agreement (the “Agreement”) of AREIT Operating Partnership LP, the undersigned hereby irrevocably (i) presents for redemption [number] [Series and/or Class] Partnership Units in AREIT Operating Partnership LP in accordance with the terms of the Agreement and the Redemption Right referred to in Section 8.5 thereof, (ii) surrenders such Partnership Units and all right, title and interest therein, and (iii) directs that the Cash Amount or REIT Shares (as defined in the Agreement) as determined by the General Partner deliverable upon exercise of the Redemption Right be delivered to the address specified below, and if REIT Shares (as defined in the Agreement) are to be delivered, such REIT Shares be registered or placed in the name(s) and at the address(es) specified below.

Dated:________ __, _____

​ ​

(Name of Limited Partner)

​ ​

(Signature of Limited Partner)

​ ​

(Mailing Address)

​ ​

(City) (State) (Zip Code)

​ ​

Signature Guaranteed by:

If REIT Shares are to be issued, issue to:

Name:​ ​

Social Security or

Tax I.D. Number:​ ​


Exhibit 10.20

Published Deal CUSIP Number: 09186EAD8

Published USD Revolver CUSIP Number: 09186EAE6

Published Multicurrency Revolver CUSIP Number: 09186EAH9

Published Term A-1 CUSIP Number: 09186EAE6

Published Term A-2 CUSIP Number: 09186EAE6

THIRD AMENDED AND RESTATED CREDIT AND TERM LOAN AGREEMENT

Dated as of November 22, 2021

among

BLACK CREEK DIVERSIFIED PROPERTY OPERATING PARTNERSHIP LP,

a Delaware limited partnership

and

CERTAIN OF ITS SUBSIDIARIES
as the Borrowers

BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.,
as Administrative Agent and an L/C Issuer,

The Other L/C Issuers Party Hereto,

WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,
JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
and
CAPITAL ONE, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,
as Co-Syndication Agents

REGIONS BANK and TRUIST BANK,
as Documentation Agents

The Other Lenders Party Hereto

BofA SECURITIES, INC.
WELLS FARGO SECURITIES, LLC
,
JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
CAPITAL ONE, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,
REGIONS CAPITAL MARKETS
and
TRUIST SECURITIES, INC.
as Joint Lead Arrangers

BofA SECURITIES, INC.
WELLS FARGO SECURITIES, LLC
,
JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
and
CAPITAL ONE, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,
as Joint Bookrunners


TABLE OF CONTENTS

Page

ARTICLE I.

DEFINITIONS AND ACCOUNTING TERMS

1

1.01

Defined Terms

1

1.02

Other Interpretive Provisions

54

1.03

Accounting Terms

55

1.04

Rounding

55

1.05

Times of Day

55

1.06

Letter of Credit Amounts

56

1.07

Interest Rates

56

1.08

Exchange Rates; Currency Equivalents

56

1.09

Additional Alternative Currencies

56

1.10

Change of Currency

58

ARTICLE II.

THE COMMITMENTS AND CREDIT EXTENSIONS

58

2.01

The Loans

58

2.02

Borrowings, Conversions and Continuations of Loans

61

2.03

Letters of Credit

63

2.04

[Intentionally Omitted]

73

2.05

Prepayments

73

2.06

Termination or Reduction of Commitments

74

2.07

Repayment of Loans

75

2.08

Interest

75

2.09

Fees

76

2.10

Computation of Interest and Fees; Retroactive Adjustments of Applicable Rate

78

2.11

Evidence of Debt

78

2.12

Payments Generally; Administrative Agent’s Clawback

79

2.13

Sharing of Payments by Lenders

81

2.14

Extension of Maturity Date in Respect of the Revolving Credit Facility

82

2.15

Increase in Total Credit Exposure

82

2.16

Cash Collateral

84

2.17

Defaulting Lenders

85

2.18

Addition and Removal of Unencumbered Properties

88

2.19

Designated Borrowers

88

ARTICLE III.

TAXES, YIELD PROTECTION AND ILLEGALITY

90

3.01

Taxes

90

3.02

Illegality

90

3.03

Inability to Determine Rates

94

3.04

Increased Costs; Additional Reserve Requirements

94

3.05

Compensation for Losses

94

3.06

Mitigation Obligations; Replacement of Lenders

102

3.07

Survival

103

ARTICLE IV.

CONDITIONS PRECEDENT

103

4.01

Conditions of Effectiveness

103

4.02

Conditions to all Credit Extensions

105

ARTICLE V.

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

106

5.01

Existence, Qualification and Power

106

5.02

Authorization; No Contravention

106

5.03

Governmental Authorization; Other Consents

106

5.04

Binding Effect

106

5.05

Financial Statements; No Material Adverse Effect

106

5.06

Litigation

107

5.07

No Default

107

5.08

Ownership of Property; Liens

107

i


5.09

Environmental Compliance

107

5.10

Taxes

107

5.11

ERISA Compliance

108

5.12

Subsidiaries; Equity Interests

109

5.13

Margin Regulations; Investment Company Act

109

5.14

Disclosure

109

5.15

Compliance with Laws

110

5.16

Taxpayer Identification Number

110

5.17

Intellectual Property; Licenses, Etc.

110

5.18

REIT Status

110

5.19

Unencumbered Properties

110

5.20

OFAC

112

5.21

Anti-Corruption

112

5.22

Solvency

113

5.23

Affected Financial Institutions

113

5.24

Covered Entities

113

5.25

Representations as to Foreign Obligors

113

ARTICLE VI.

AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS

114

6.01

Financial Statements and Other Information

114

6.02

Notices

115

6.03

Payment of Taxes

116

6.04

Preservation of Existence, Etc.

116

6.05

Maintenance of Properties

116

6.06

Maintenance of Insurance

116

6.07

Compliance with Laws

117

6.08

Books and Records

117

6.09

Inspection Rights

117

6.10

Use of Proceeds and Letters of Credit

117

6.11

REIT Status

117

6.12

Subsidiary Guarantees

117

6.13

Release of Guarantors

118

6.14

Investor Guaranties

119

6.15

Anti-Corruption Laws; Sanctions

119

6.16

Approvals and Authorizations

119

ARTICLE VII.

NEGATIVE COVENANTS

119

7.01

Liens

119

7.02

Investments

119

7.03

Fundamental Changes

120

7.04

Restricted Payments

120

7.05

Change in Nature of Business

121

7.06

Transactions with Affiliates

121

7.07

Sanctions

121

7.08

Use of Proceeds

121

7.09

Financial Covenants

121

7.10

Exchange Property; Exchange Fee Titleholders

123

7.11

Changes to Advisory Agreement

123

7.12

Sanctions

123

7.13

Anti-Corruption Laws

123

ARTICLE VIII.

EVENTS OF DEFAULT AND REMEDIES

123

8.01

Events of Default

123

8.02

Remedies Upon Event of Default

125

8.03

Application of Funds

125

ARTICLE IX.

ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT

126

9.01

Appointment and Authority

126

9.02

Rights as a Lender

127

9.03

Exculpatory Provisions

127

9.04

Reliance by Administrative Agent

128

ii


9.05

Delegation of Duties

128

9.06

Resignation or Removal of Administrative Agent

129

9.07

Non-Reliance on the Administrative Agent, the Arrangers and the Other Lenders

130

9.08

No Other Duties, Etc

131

9.09

Administrative Agent May File Proofs of Claim

131

9.10

Lender Reply Period

132

9.11

Certain ERISA Matters

132

9.12

Recovery of Erroneous Payments

133

9.13

Guaranty Matters

134

ARTICLE X.

MISCELLANEOUS

134

10.01

Amendments, Etc.

134

10.02

Notices; Effectiveness; Electronic Communication

137

10.03

No Waiver; Cumulative Remedies; Enforcement

139

10.04

Expenses; Indemnity; Damage Waiver

140

10.05

Payments Set Aside

142

10.06

Successors and Assigns

142

10.07

Treatment of Certain Information; Confidentiality

147

10.08

Right of Setoff

148

10.09

Interest Rate Limitation

149

10.10

Integration; Effectiveness

149

10.11

Survival of Representations and Warranties

150

10.12

Severability

150

10.13

Replacement of Lenders

150

10.14

Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Etc.

151

10.15

Waiver of Jury Trial

152

10.16

No Advisory or Fiduciary Responsibility

153

10.17

Electronic Execution; Electronic Records; Counterparts

153

10.18

USA PATRIOT Act

154

10.19

Time of the Essence

155

10.20

ENTIRE AGREEMENT

155

10.21

Acknowledgement and Consent to Bail-In of Affected Financial Institutions

155

10.22

Amendment and Restatement

155

10.23

Special Provisions regarding Permitted Tax Incentive Transactions

156

10.24

Judgment Currency

157

10.25

Acknowledgement Regarding Any Supported QFCs

158

ARTICLE XI.

CONTINUING GUARANTY

159

11.01

Guaranty

159

11.02

Rights of Lenders

159

11.03

Certain Waivers

160

11.04

Obligations Independent

160

11.05

Subrogation

160

11.06

Termination; Reinstatement

161

11.07

Subordination

161

11.08

Stay of Acceleration

161

11.09

Condition of Loan Parties

161

11.10

Contribution

161

iii


THIRD AMENDED AND RESTATED CREDIT AND TERM LOAN AGREEMENT

This THIRD AMENDED AND RESTATED CREDIT AND TERM LOAN AGREEMENT is entered into as of November 22, 2021, among BLACK CREEK DIVERSIFIED PROPERTY OPERATING PARTNERSHIP LP, a Delaware limited partnership (the “Company), certain Subsidiaries of the Company party hereto pursuant to Section 2.19 (each a “Designated Borrower” and, together with the Company, the “Borrowers” and each a “Borrower”), each lender from time to time party hereto (collectively, the “Lenders” and individually, a “Lender”), and BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., as Administrative Agent and an L/C Issuer, and the other L/C Issuers from time to time party hereto.

The Company has requested that the Lenders provide a credit facility, and the Lenders are willing to do so on the terms and conditions set forth herein.

In consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements herein contained, the parties hereto covenant and agree as follows:

ARTICLE I. DEFINITIONS AND ACCOUNTING TERMS
1.01Defined Terms.  As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the meanings set forth below:

Adjusted EBITDA” means Consolidated EBITDA less, with respect to Properties owned by the Consolidated Group, the Capital Expenditure Reserve, and less, with respect to Properties owned by Unconsolidated Affiliates, the Consolidated Group Pro Rata Share of the Capital Expenditure Reserve.

Administrative Agent” means Bank of America (through itself or through any of its designated branch offices or Affiliates) in its capacity as administrative agent under any of the Loan Documents, or any successor administrative agent.

Administrative Agent’s Office” means, with respect to any currency, the Administrative Agent’s address and, as appropriate, account as set forth on Schedule 10.02 with respect to such currency, or such other address or account with respect to such currency as the Administrative Agent may from time to time notify the Company and the Lenders.

Advisory Agreement” means that certain Second Amended and Restated Advisory Agreement (2021), dated as of July 1, 2021, by and among the Company, the Trust, and ARES Commercial Real Estate Management LLC, as the same may be amended, revised, supplemented or otherwise modified in accordance with the terms hereof.

Administrative Questionnaire” means an Administrative Questionnaire in substantially the form of Exhibit E-2 or any other form approved by the Administrative Agent.

Affected Financial Institution” means (a) any EEA Financial Institution, or (b) any UK Financial Institution.

Affiliate” means, with respect to any Person, another Person that directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, Controls or is Controlled by or is under common Control with

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the Person specified, provided, however, that in no event shall the Administrative Agent or any Lender or any of their respective Affiliates be deemed for purposes hereof to be an Affiliate of the Company or any other Loan Parties.

Agent Parties” has the meaning specified in Section  10.02.

Aggregate Commitments” means the Commitments of all the Lenders.

Agreed Currency” means Dollars or any Alternative Currency, as applicable.

Agreement” means this Third Amended and Restated Credit and Term Loan Agreement.

Agreement Currency” has the meaning specified in Section 10.24.

Alternative Currency” means each of the following currencies: Euro, Sterling, Canadian dollars, together with each other currency (other than Dollars) that is approved in accordance with Section 1.09; provided that for each Alternative Currency, such requested currency is an Eligible Currency.

Alternative Currency Daily Rate” means, for any day, with respect to any Credit Extension:

(a)denominated in Sterling, the rate per annum equal to SONIA determined pursuant to the definition thereof plus the SONIA Adjustment; and
(b)denominated in any other Alternative Currency (to the extent such Loans denominated in such currency will bear interest at a daily rate), the daily rate per annum as designated with respect to such Alternative Currency at the time such Alternative Currency is approved by the Administrative Agent and the relevant Lenders pursuant to Section 1.09 plus the adjustment (if any) determined by the Administrative Agent and the relevant Lenders pursuant to Section 1.09;

provided, that, if any Alternative Currency Daily Rate shall be less than zero, such rate shall be deemed zero for purposes of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents.  Any change in an Alternative Currency Daily Rate shall be effective from and including the date of such change without further notice.

Alternative Currency Daily Rate Loan” means a Loan that bears interest at a rate based on the definition of “Alternative Currency Daily Rate.”  All Alternative Currency Daily Rate Loans must be denominated in an Alternative Currency.

Alternative Currency Equivalent” means, at any time, with respect to any amount denominated in Dollars, the equivalent amount thereof in the applicable Alternative Currency as determined by the Administrative Agent or the applicable L/C Issuer, as the case may be, by reference to Bloomberg (or such other publicly available service for displaying exchange rates), to be the exchange rate for the purchase of such Alternative Currency with Dollars at approximately 11:00 a.m. on the date two (2) Business Days prior to the date as of which the foreign exchange computation is made; provided, however, that if no such rate is available, the “Alternative Currency Equivalent” shall be determined by the Administrative Agent or the applicable L/C

2


Issuer, as the case may be, using any reasonable method of determination that it deems appropriate in its sole discretion (and such determination shall be conclusive absent manifest error).

Alternative Currency Loan” means an Alternative Currency Daily Rate Loan or an Alternative Currency Term Rate Loan, as applicable.

Alternative Currency Sublimit” means an amount equal to $300,000,000. The Alternative Currency Sublimit is part of, and not in addition to, the Revolving Credit Facility and the Aggregate Commitments.

Alternative Currency Term Rate” means, for any Interest Period, with respect to any Credit Extension:

(a)denominated in Euros, the rate per annum equal to the Euro Interbank Offered Rate (“EURIBOR”), as published on the applicable Reuters screen page (or such other commercially available source providing such quotations as may be designated by the Administrative Agent from time to time in its reasonable discretion) on the day that is two TARGET Days preceding the first day of such Interest Period with a term equivalent to such Interest Period;
(b)denominated in Canadian dollars, the rate per annum equal to the Canadian Dollar Offered Rate (“CDOR”), as published on the applicable Reuters screen page (or such other commercially available source providing such quotations as may be designated by the Administrative Agent from time to time in its reasonable discretion) (in such case, the “CDOR Rate”) on the Rate Determination Date with a term equivalent to such Interest Period; and
(c)denominated in any other Alternative Currency (to the extent such Loans denominated in such currency will bear interest at a term rate), the term rate per annum as designated with respect to such Alternative Currency at the time such Alternative Currency is approved by the Administrative Agent and the relevant Lenders pursuant to Section 1.09 plus the adjustment (if any) determined by the Administrative Agent and the relevant Lenders pursuant to Section 1.09;

provided, that, if any Alternative Currency Term Rate shall be less than zero, such rate shall be deemed zero for purposes of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents.

Alternative Currency Term Rate Loan” means a Loan that bears interest at a rate based on the definition of “Alternative Currency Term Rate.”  All Alternative Currency Term Rate Loans must be denominated in an Alternative Currency.

Applicable Authority” means with respect to any Alternative Currency, the applicable administrator for the Relevant Rate for such Alternative Currency or any Governmental Authority having jurisdiction over the Administrative Agent or such administrator.

Applicable Law” means, as to any Person, all applicable Laws binding upon such Person or to which such a Person is subject.

Applicable Percentage” means (a) in respect of the Term A-1 Facility, with respect to any Term A-1 Lender at any time, the percentage (carried out to the ninth decimal place) of the Term A-1 Facility represented by (i) on or prior to the Term A-1 Termination Date, such Term A-1

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Lender’s Term A-1 Commitment at such time, and (ii) thereafter, the principal amount of such Term A-1 Lender’s Term A-1 Loans at such time, and (b) in respect of the Term A-2 Facility, with respect to any Term A-2 Lender at any time, the percentage (carried out to the ninth decimal place) of the Term A-2 Facility represented by (i) on or prior to the Term A-2 Termination Date, such Term A-2 Lender’s Term A-2 Commitment at such time, and (ii) thereafter, the principal amount of such Term A-2 Lender’s Term A-2 Loans at such time, and (c)(i) in respect of the Revolving Credit Facility other than L/C Obligations, with respect to any Revolving Credit Lender at any time, the percentage (carried out to the ninth decimal place) of the Revolving Credit Facility represented by such Revolving Credit Lender’s Revolving Credit Commitment at such time, (ii) in respect of matters relating to Multicurrency Tranche Commitments and Multicurrency Tranche Loans only, with respect to any Multicurrency Tranche Lender at any time, the percentage (carried out to the ninth decimal place) of the aggregate amount of all Lenders’ Multicurrency Tranche Commitments at such time, represented by such Multicurrency Tranche Lender’s Multicurrency Tranche Commitment at such time, and (iii) in respect of matters relating to Dollar Tranche Commitments (including L/C Obligations) and Dollar Tranche Loans only, with respect to any Dollar Tranche Lender at any time, the percentage (carried out to the ninth decimal place) of the aggregate amount of all Lenders’ Dollar Tranche Commitments at such time, represented by such Dollar Tranche Lender’s Dollar Tranche Commitment at such time; as any such Applicable Percentage for the respective Facility or Tranche may be adjusted as provided in Section 2.17.  If the commitment of each Lender to make Loans and the obligation of the L/C Issuers to make L/C Credit Extensions have been terminated pursuant to Section 8.02 or if the Aggregate Commitments have expired, then the Applicable Percentage of each Lender in respect of the applicable Facility or Tranche shall be determined based on the Applicable Percentage of such Lender in respect of such Facility or Tranche most recently in effect, giving effect to any subsequent assignments, and to any Lender’s status as a Defaulting Lender at the time of determination.  The initial Applicable Percentage of each Lender in respect of each Facility and Tranche is set forth opposite the name of such Lender on Schedule 2.01A or in the Assignment and Assumption or New Lender Joinder Agreement pursuant to which such Lender becomes a party hereto, as applicable.

Applicable Rate” means, in respect of the Revolving Credit Facility and each Term Facility, the applicable percentage per annum set forth below determined by reference to the

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Consolidated Leverage Ratio as set forth in the most recent Compliance Certificate received by the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section  6.01(c):

Revolving Credit Facility

Term Facilities

Pricing Level

Consolidated Leverage Ratio

Eurodollar Rate Loans, LIBOR Daily Floating Rate Loans and Alternative Currency Loans

Base Rate Loans

Letter of Credit Fee

Eurodollar Rate Loans and Alternative Currency Loans

Base Rate Loans

I

≤ 40%

1.25%

0.25%

1.25%

1.20%

0.20%

II

> 40% and ≤ 45%

1.35%

0.35%

1.35%

1.25%

0.25%

III

> 45% and ≤ 50%

1.45%

0.45%

1.45%

1.35%

0.35%

IV

> 50% and ≤ 55%

1.60%

0.60%

1.60%

1.50%

0.50%

V

> 55% and ≤ 60%

1.80%

0.80%

1.80%

1.70%

0.70%

VI

> 60%

2.00%

1.00%

2.00%

1.90%

0.90%

Any increase or decrease in the Applicable Rate resulting from a change in the Consolidated Leverage Ratio shall become effective as of the first Business Day immediately following the date a Compliance Certificate is delivered pursuant to Section 6.01(c); provided, however, that if a Compliance Certificate is not delivered when due in accordance with such Section, then, upon the request of the Required Lenders, Pricing Level VI shall apply as of the first Business Day after the date on which such Compliance Certificate was required to have been delivered and shall remain in effect until the date on which such Compliance Certificate is actually delivered.  The Applicable Rate in effect from the Closing Date through the date of the next change in the Applicable Rate pursuant to the preceding sentence shall be determined based upon Pricing Level I.

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this definition, the determination of the Applicable Rate for any period shall be subject to the provisions of Section 2.10(b).

If either the Company or the Trust has received two (2) Investment Grade Ratings, the Company shall have a one-time option to make an election to the effect that the Applicable Rate shall be the rate set forth in the tables below corresponding to the Pricing Level into which the

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Investment Grade Ratings then fall by sending written irrevocable notice to the Administrative Agent that either the Company or the Trust has received two (2) such Investment Grade Ratings.

Revolving Credit Facility

Term Facilities

Pricing Level

Rating

Eurodollar Rate Loans, LIBOR Daily Floating Rate Loans and Alternative Currency Loans and Letter of Credit Fee

Base Rate Loans

Facility Fee

Eurodollar Rate Loans and Alternative Currency Loans

Base Rate Loans

I

≥ A- / A3

0.725%

0.00%

0.125%

0.80%

0.00%

II

BBB+ / Baa1

0.775%

0.00%

0.15%

0.85%

0.00%

III

BBB / Baa2

0.85%

0.00%

0.20%

0.95%

0.00%

IV

BBB- / Baa3

1.05%

0.05%

0.25%

1.20%

0.20%

V

˂ BBB- / Baa3 (or unrated)

1.40%

0.40%

0.30%

1.60%

0.60%

Initially, the Applicable Rate shall be determined based upon the debt rating specified in the certificate delivered at the time the Company elects the Ratings Based Pricing Grid.

Thereafter, each change in the Applicable Rate resulting from a publicly announced change in the debt rating shall be effective, in the case of an upgrade, during the period commencing on the date of the public announcement thereof and ending on the date immediately preceding the effective date of the next such change and, in the case of a downgrade, during the period commencing on the date of the public announcement thereof and ending on the date immediately preceding the effective date of the next such change.  If the rating system of Moody’s or S&P shall change, or if either such rating agency shall cease to be in the business of rating corporate debt obligations, the Company and the Lenders shall negotiate in good faith to amend this definition to reflect such changed rating system or the unavailability of ratings from such rating agency and, pending the effectiveness of any such amendment, the Applicable Rate shall be determined by reference to the rating most recently in effect prior to such change or cessation.

If at any time when the Company or Trust, as applicable, has only two (2) debt ratings, and such debt ratings are split, then: (A) if the difference between such debt ratings is one ratings category (e.g., Baa2 by Moody’s and BBB- by S&P or Fitch), the Applicable Rate shall be the rate per annum that would be applicable if the higher of the debt ratings were used; and (B) if the difference between such debt ratings is two ratings categories (e.g. Baa1 by Moody’s and BBB- by S&P or Fitch) or more, the Applicable Rate shall be the rate per annum that would be applicable if the ratings category one category below the higher debt rating were used.  If at any time when the Company or Trust, as applicable, has three (3) debt ratings, and such debt ratings are split, then: (A) if the difference between the highest and the lowest such debt ratings is one ratings category (e.g., Baa2 by Moody’s and BBB- by S&P or Fitch), the Applicable Rate shall be the rate

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per annum that would be applicable if the highest of the debt ratings were used; and (B) if the difference between such debt ratings is two ratings categories (e.g., Baa1 by Moody’s and BBB- by S&P or Fitch) or more, the Applicable Rate shall be the rate per annum that would be applicable if the average of the two (2) highest debt ratings were used, provided that if such average is not a recognized rating category, then the Applicable Rate shall be the rate per annum that would be applicable if the second highest debt rating of the three were used.

Applicable Revolving Credit Percentage” means, with respect to any Revolving Credit Lender at any time, such Revolving Credit Lender’s Applicable Percentage in respect of its Dollar Tranche Commitment at such time.

Applicable Time” means, with respect to any Borrowings and payments in any Alternative Currency, the local time in the place of settlement for such Alternative Currency as may be determined by the Administrative Agent or the applicable L/C Issuer, as the case may be, to be necessary for timely settlement on the relevant date in accordance with normal banking procedures in the place of payment.

Applicant Borrower” has the meaning specified in Section 2.19(a).

Appropriate Lender” means, at any time, (a) with respect to either of the Term Facilities, a Lender that has a Commitment with respect to such Facility or holds a Term Loan made under such Facility at such time, (b) with respect to the Revolving Credit Facility, a Lender that has a Revolving Credit Commitment, Dollar Tranche Commitment, Multicurrency Tranche Commitments or holds or a Revolving Credit Loan, Dollar Tranche Loan or Multicurrency Tranche Loan, as the context may require, and (b) with respect to the Letter of Credit Sublimit, (i) the L/C Issuers and (ii) if any Letters of Credit have been issued pursuant to Section 2.03(a), the Dollar Tranche Lenders.

Approved Fund” means any Fund that is administered or managed by (a) a Lender, (b) an Affiliate of a Lender or (c) an entity or an Affiliate of an entity that administers or manages a Lender.

Arrangers” means BofA Securities, Inc., Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., Capital One, National Association, Regions Capital Markets and Truist Securities, Inc., in their capacity as joint lead arrangers.

Asset Under Development” means any Property (a) for which the Consolidated Group is actively pursuing construction, major renovation, or expansion of such Property or (b) for which no construction has commenced but all necessary entitlements (excluding foundation, building and similar permits) have been obtained in order to allow the Consolidated Group to commence constructing improvements on such Property.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, tenant improvements in a previously constructed Property shall not be considered an Asset Under Development and, with respect to any existing Property, only the major renovation or expansion portion of such Property shall be considered an Asset Under Development.

Assignee Group” means two or more Eligible Assignees that are Affiliates of one another or two or more Approved Funds managed by the same investment advisor.

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Assignment and Assumption” means an assignment and assumption entered into by a Lender and an assignee (with the consent of any party whose consent is required by Section 10.06(b)), and accepted by the Administrative Agent, in substantially the form of Exhibit E-1 or any other form (including electronic documentation generated by use of an electronic platform) approved by the Administrative Agent.

Audited Financial Statements” means the audited consolidated balance sheet of the Consolidated Group for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020, and the related consolidated statements of income or operations, shareholders’ equity and cash flows for such fiscal year of the Trust, the Company and its Subsidiaries, including the notes thereto.  From and after the Closing, Audited Financial Statements shall mean the most recent Audited Financial Statements delivered pursuant to Section 5.05(a).

Auto-Extension Letter of Credit” has the meaning specified in Section 2.03(b).

Availability Period” means in respect of the Revolving Credit Facility, the period from and including the Closing Date to the earliest of (i) the Maturity Date with respect to the Revolving Credit Facility, (ii) the date of termination of the Revolving Credit Commitments pursuant to Section 2.06, and (iii) the date of termination of the commitment of each Revolving Credit Lender to make Revolving Credit Loans and of the obligation of the L/C Issuers to make L/C Credit Extensions pursuant to Section 8.02.

Available Tenor” means, as of any date of determination and with respect to the then-current Benchmark, as applicable, (x) if the then-current Benchmark is a term rate, any tenor for such Benchmark that is or may be used for determining the length of an Interest Period or (y) otherwise, any payment period for interest calculated with reference to such Benchmark, as applicable, pursuant to this Agreement as of such date.

Bail-In Action” means the exercise of any Write-Down and Conversion Powers by the applicable Resolution Authority in respect of any liability of an Affected Financial Institution.

Bail-In Legislation” means, (a) with respect to any EEA Member Country implementing Article 55 of Directive 2014/59/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of the European Union, the implementing law, rule, regulation or requirement for such EEA Member Country from time to time which is described in the EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule, and (b) with respect to the United Kingdom, Part I of the United Kingdom Banking Act 2009 (as amended from time to time) and any other law, regulation or rule applicable in the United Kingdom relating to the resolution of unsound or failing banks, investment firms or other financial institutions or their affiliates (other than through liquidation, administration or other insolvency proceedings).

Bank of America” means Bank of America, N.A., and its successors.

Base Rate” means for any day a fluctuating rate of interest per annum equal to the highest of (a) the Federal Funds Rate plus 1/2 of 1%, (b) the rate of interest in effect for such day as publicly announced from time to time by Bank of America as its “prime rate,” (c) the Eurodollar Rate plus 1.00% and (d) 1.00%.  The “prime rate” is a rate set by Bank of America based upon various factors including Bank of America’s costs and desired return, general economic conditions and other factors, and is used as a reference point for pricing some loans, which may be priced at, above, or below such announced rate.  Any change in such prime rate announced by Bank of

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America shall take effect at the opening of business on the day specified in the public announcement of such change.  If the Base Rate is being used as an alternate rate of interest pursuant to Section 3.03 hereof, then the Base Rate shall be the greatest of clauses (a), (b) and (d) above and shall be determined without reference to clause (c) above.

Base Rate Loan” means a Revolving Credit Loan, a Term A-1 Loan or a Term A-2 Loan that bears interest based on the Base Rate.  All Base Rate Loans are only available to U.S. Borrowers and shall be denominated in Dollars.

Benchmark” means, initially, LIBOR; provided that if a replacement of the Benchmark has occurred pursuant to Section 3.03(c) then “Benchmark” means the applicable Benchmark Replacement to the extent that such Benchmark Replacement has replaced such prior benchmark rate. Any reference to “Benchmark” shall include, as applicable, the published component used in the calculation thereof.

Benchmark Replacement” means:

(1)For purposes of Section 3.03(c)(i), the first alternative set forth below that can be determined by the Administrative Agent:

(a)Term SOFR, or

(b)Daily SOFR;

provided that, if initially LIBOR is replaced with the rate contained in clause (b) above (Daily SOFR plus the applicable spread adjustment) and subsequent to such replacement, the Administrative Agent determines that Term SOFR has become available and is administratively feasible for the Administrative Agent in its sole discretion, and the Administrative Agent notifies the Company and each Lender of such availability, then the Administrative Agent may, with the consent of the Company, amend this Agreement to provide for the availability of Dollar-denominated Loans hereunder as Term SOFR Loans in a form reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent, together with any Benchmark Replacement Conforming Changes, and such amendment shall become effective no less than thirty (30) days after the date of such notice; and

(2)For purposes of Section 3.03(c)(ii), the sum of (a) the alternate benchmark rate and (b) an adjustment (which may be a positive or negative value or zero), in each case, that has been selected by the Administrative Agent and the Company as the replacement Benchmark giving due consideration to any evolving or then-prevailing market convention, including any applicable recommendations made by a Relevant Governmental Body, for Dollar-denominated syndicated credit facilities at such time;

provided that, if the Benchmark Replacement as determined pursuant to clause (1) or (2) above would be less than zero, the Benchmark Replacement will be deemed to be zero for the purposes of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents.

Any Benchmark Replacement shall be applied in a manner consistent with market practice; provided that to the extent such market practice is not administratively feasible for the Administrative Agent, such Benchmark Replacement shall be applied in a manner as otherwise reasonably determined by the Administrative Agent.

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Benchmark Replacement Conforming Changes” means, with respect to any Benchmark Replacement, any technical, administrative or operational changes (including changes to the definition of “Base Rate,” the definition of “Business Day,” the definition of “Interest Period,” timing and frequency of determining rates and making payments of interest, timing of borrowing requests or prepayment, conversion or continuation notices, the applicability and length of lookback periods, the applicability of breakage provisions, and other technical, administrative or operational matters) that the Administrative Agent decides may be appropriate to reflect the adoption and implementation of such Benchmark Replacement and to permit the administration thereof by the Administrative Agent in a manner substantially consistent with market practice (or, if the Administrative Agent decides that adoption of any portion of such market practice is not administratively feasible or if the Administrative Agent determines that no market practice for the administration of such Benchmark Replacement exists, in such other manner of administration as the Administrative Agent decides is reasonably necessary in connection with the administration of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents).

Benchmark Transition Event” means, with respect to any then-current Benchmark other than LIBOR, the occurrence of a public statement or publication of information by or on behalf of the administrator of the then-current Benchmark or a Governmental Authority with jurisdiction over such administrator announcing or stating that all Available Tenors are or will no longer be representative, or made available, or used for determining the interest rate of loans, or shall or will otherwise cease, provided that, at the time of such statement or publication, there is no successor administrator that is satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, that will continue to provide any representative tenors of such Benchmark after such specific date.

Beneficial Ownership Certification” means a certification regarding beneficial ownership required by the Beneficial Ownership Regulation, which certification shall be substantially similar in form and substance to the form of Certification Regarding Beneficial Owners of Legal Entity Customers published jointly, in May, 2018, by the Loan Syndications and Trading Association and Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association.

Beneficial Ownership Regulation” means 31 C.F.R. § 1010.230.

Benefit Plan” means any of (a) an “employee benefit plan” (as defined in ERISA) that is subject to Title I of ERISA, (b) a “plan” as defined in and subject to Section  4975 of the Code or (c) any Person whose assets include (for purposes of ERISA Section  3(42) or otherwise for purposes of Title I of ERISA or Section  4975 of the Code) the assets of any such “employee benefit plan” or “plan.”

“Board” has the meaning specified in the definition of the term “Change of Control” in this Section 1.01.

Bookrunners” means BofA Securities, Inc., Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., and Capital One, National Association, in their capacity as joint bookrunners.

Borrower” and “Borrowers” have the meaning specified in the introductory paragraph hereto.

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Borrower Guaranty” means the Guaranty made by the Company and each Designated Borrower that is a Domestic Subsidiary in favor of the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Lenders, pursuant to Article XI.

Borrower Materials” has the meaning specified in Section 10.02 (c).

Borrowing” means a Revolving Credit Borrowing, a Term A-1 Borrowing, or a Term A-2 Borrowing, as the context may require.

Business Day” means any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which commercial banks are authorized to close under the Laws of, or are in fact closed in, the state where the Administrative Agent’s Office is located; provided that;

(a)if such day relates to any interest rate settings as to an Alternative Currency Loan denominated in Euro, any fundings, disbursements, settlements and payments in Euro in respect of any such Alternative Currency Loan, or any other dealings in Euro to be carried out pursuant to this Agreement in respect of any such Alternative Currency Loan, means a Business Day that is also a TARGET Day;
(b)if such day relates to any interest rate settings as to an Alternative Currency Loan denominated in Sterling, means a day other than a day banks are closed for general business in London because such day is a Saturday, Sunday or a legal holiday under the laws of the United Kingdom; and
(c)if such day relates to any fundings, disbursements, settlements and payments in a currency other than Euro in respect of an Alternative Currency Loan denominated in a currency other than Euro, or any other dealings in any currency other than Euro to be carried out pursuant to this Agreement in respect of any such Alternative Currency Loan (other than any interest rate settings), means any such day on which banks are open for foreign exchange business in the principal financial center of the country of such currency.

Capital Expenditure Reserve” means (i) $0.10 per square foot of leasable space (as annualized for the applicable ownership period) for industrial Properties, (ii) $0.15 per square foot of leasable space (as annualized for the applicable ownership period) for retail Properties, (iii) $0.25 per square foot of leasable space (as annualized for the applicable ownership period) for office Properties and (iv) $200 per unit (as annualized for the applicable ownership period) for residential Properties.

Capital Lease Obligations” of any Person means the obligations of such Person to pay rent or other amounts under any lease of (or other arrangement conveying the right to use) real or personal property, or a combination thereof, which obligations are required to be classified and accounted for as capital leases on a balance sheet of such Person under GAAP, and the amount of such obligations shall be the capitalized amount thereof determined in accordance with GAAP.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in Section 1.03(b) or in this definition of “Capital Lease Obligations,” in the event of an accounting change requiring certain leases to be capitalized, only those leases that would have otherwise constituted capital leases in conformity with GAAP as of December 31, 2018, shall be considered capital leases.

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Cash Collateralize” means to pledge and deposit with or deliver to the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Administrative Agent, one or more of the L/C Issuers or the Lenders, as collateral for L/C Obligations or obligations of the Lenders to fund participations in respect of L/C Obligations, cash or deposit account balances or, if the Administrative Agent and the L/C Issuer(s) benefiting from such collateral shall agree in their sole discretion, other credit support, in each case pursuant to documentation in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and the applicable L/C Issuer(s).  “Cash Collateral” shall have a meaning correlative to the foregoing and shall include the proceeds of such cash collateral and other credit support.

Cash Collateral Account” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.03(o).  

Cash Equivalents” means, as of any date:

(i)securities issued or directly and fully guaranteed or insured by the United States Government or any agency or instrumentality thereof having maturities of not more than one year from such date;
(ii)mutual funds organized under the Investment Company Act rated AAm or AAm-G by S&P and P-1 by Moody’s;
(iii)certificates of deposit or other interest-bearing obligations of a bank or trust company which is a member in good standing of the Federal Reserve System having a short term unsecured debt rating of not less than A-1 by S&P and not less than P-1 by Moody’s (or in each case, if no bank or trust company is so rated, the highest comparable rating then given to any bank or trust company, but in such case only for funds invested overnight or over a weekend) provided that such investments shall mature or be redeemable upon the option of the holders thereof on or prior to a date one month from the date of their purchase;
(iv)certificates of deposit or other interest-bearing obligations of a bank or trust company which is a member in good standing of the Federal Reserve System having a short term unsecured debt rating of not less than A-1+ by S&P and not less than P-1 by Moody’s and which has a long term unsecured debt rating of not less than A1 by Moody’s (or in each case, if no bank or trust company is so rated, the highest comparable rating then given to any bank or trust company, but in such case only for funds invested overnight or over a weekend) provided that such investments shall mature or be redeemable upon the option of the holders thereof on or prior to a date three months from the date of their purchase;
(v)bonds or other obligations having a short term unsecured debt rating of not less than A-1+ by S&P and P-1+ by Moody’s and having a long term debt rating of not less than A1 by Moody’s issued by or by authority of any state of the United States, any territory or possession of the United States, including the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and agencies thereof, or any political subdivision of any of the foregoing;
(vi)repurchase agreements issued by an entity rated not less than A-1+ by S&P, and not less than P-1 by Moody’s which are secured by United States Government securities of the type described in clause (i) of this definition maturing on or prior to a date one month from the date the repurchase agreement is entered into;

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(vii)short term promissory notes rated not less than A-1+ by S&P, and not less than P-1 by Moody’s maturing or to be redeemable upon the option of the holders thereof on or prior to a date one month from the date of their purchase; and
(viii)commercial paper (having original maturities of not more than 365 days) rated at least A-1+ by S&P and P-1 by Moody’s and issued by a foreign or domestic issuer who, at the time of the investment, has outstanding long-term unsecured debt obligations rated at least A1 by Moody’s.

Change in Law” means the occurrence, after the Closing Date, of any of the following: (a) the adoption or taking effect of any law, rule, regulation or treaty, (b) any change in any law, rule, regulation (including without limitation Regulation D) or treaty or in the administration, interpretation, implementation or application thereof by any Governmental Authority or (c) the making or issuance of any request, rule, guideline or directive (whether or not having the force of law) by any Governmental Authority; provided that notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, (x) the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and all requests, rules, guidelines or directives thereunder or issued in connection therewith or in the implementation thereof, and (y) all requests, rules, guidelines or directives promulgated by the Bank for International Settlements, the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision (or any successor or similar authority) or the United States or foreign regulatory authorities, in each case pursuant to Basel III, shall in each case be deemed to be a “Change in Law,” regardless of the date enacted, adopted, issued, or implemented.

“Change of Control” means the occurrence of any one of the following events (other than to the extent permitted under Section 7.03):

(a)during any twelve (12) month period on or after the Closing Date, individuals who at the beginning of such period constituted the Board of Directors or Trustees of Trust (the “Board”) (together with any new directors whose election by the Board or whose nomination for election by the shareholders of Trust was approved by a vote of at least a majority of the members of the Board then in office who either were members of the Board at the beginning of such period or whose election or nomination for election was previously so approved) cease for any reason (other than death or disability) to constitute a majority of the members of the Board then in office;
(b)any Person or group (as that term is used in Section 13(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), but excluding any employee benefit plan of such Person or its subsidiaries, and any Person acting in its capacity as trustee, agent or other fiduciary or administrator of any such plan and the rules and regulations thereunder) shall have acquired beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act) of a percentage (based on voting power, in the event different classes of stock shall have different voting powers) of the voting stock of Trust equal to at least thirty percent (30%);
(c)Trust consolidates with, is acquired by, or merges into or with any Person (other than a consolidation or merger in which Trust is the continuing or surviving entity);
(d)Trust fails to own, directly or indirectly, fifty-one percent (51%) of the Ownership Interests of the Company and be the sole general partner of the Company; or

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(e)the Company ceases to own, directly or indirectly, all of the Equity Interests (except directors' qualifying shares) in any of the Designated Borrowers, free and clear of all Liens except Permitted Equity Encumbrances.

Closing Date” means the first date all the conditions precedent in Section 4.01 are satisfied or waived in accordance with Section 10.01.

Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.

Commitment” means a Term A-1 Commitment, a Term A-2 Commitment or a Revolving Credit Commitment, as the context may require.

Committed Loan Notice” means a notice of (a) a Term A-1 Borrowing, (b) a Term A-2 Borrowing, (c) a Revolving Credit Borrowing, (d) a conversion of Loans from one Type to another, (e) a continuation of Eurodollar Rate Loans, or (f) a continuation of Alternative Currency Term Rate Loans, pursuant to Section 2.02(a), which shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit A or such other form as may be approved by the Administrative Agent (including any form on an electronic platform or electronic transmission system as shall be approved by the Administrative Agent), appropriately completed and signed by a Responsible Officer of the Company.

Communication” means this Agreement, any Loan Document and any document, amendment, approval, consent, information, notice, certificate, request, statement, disclosure or authorization related to any Loan Document.

Company” has the meaning specified in the introductory paragraph hereto.

Compliance Certificate” means a certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit D.

Conforming Changes” means, with respect to the use, administration of or any conventions associated with SONIA or any proposed Successor Rate for an Agreed Currency, as applicable, any conforming changes to the definitions of “SONIA”, “Interest Period”, timing and frequency of determining rates and making payments of interest and other technical, administrative or operational matters (including, for the avoidance of doubt, the definition of “Business Day”, timing of borrowing requests or prepayment, conversion or continuation notices and length of lookback periods) as may be appropriate, in the discretion of the Administrative Agent, to reflect the adoption and implementation of such applicable rate(s) and to permit the administration thereof by the Administrative Agent in a manner substantially consistent with market practice for such Agreed Currency (or, if the Administrative Agent determines that adoption of any portion of such market practice is not administratively feasible or that no market practice for the administration of such rate for such Agreed Currency exists, in such other manner of administration as the Administrative Agent determines is reasonably necessary in connection with the administration of this Agreement and any other Loan Document).

Connection Income Taxes” means Other Connection Taxes that are imposed on or measured by net income (however denominated) or that are franchise Taxes or branch profits Taxes.

Consolidated Debt Service” means, for any period, without duplication, (a) Recurring Interest Expense for such period plus (b) the aggregate amount of scheduled principal payments

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attributable to Total Indebtedness (excluding optional prepayments and prepayment premiums and scheduled balloon principal payments in respect of any such Indebtedness which is not amortized through periodic installments of principal and interest over the term of such Indebtedness) required to be made during such period by any member of the Consolidated Group plus (c) a percentage of all such scheduled principal payments required to be made during such period by any Unconsolidated Affiliate on Indebtedness (excluding optional prepayments and prepayment premiums and scheduled balloon principal payments with respect to any such indebtedness which is not amortized through periodic installments of principal and interest over the term of such Indebtedness) taken into account in calculating Recurring Interest Expense, equal to the greater of (x) the percentage of the principal amount of such Indebtedness for which any member of the Consolidated Group is liable and (y) the Consolidated Group Pro Rata Share of such Unconsolidated Affiliate.

Consolidated EBITDA” means Consolidated Net Income plus (a) adjustments for straight line rent if not otherwise included in Consolidated Net Income plus (b) to the extent deducted from revenues in determining Consolidated Net Income, (i) interest expense, (ii) expense for taxes paid or accrued, (iii) depreciation, (iv) amortization, (v) impairment charges, (vi) amounts deducted as a result of the application of FASB ASC 805 as it pertains to above-market rents, (vii) non-cash expenses related to employee and trustee stock and stock option plans, (viii) non-recurring financing, acquisition and disposition related fees and costs, (ix) extraordinary losses incurred other than in the ordinary course of business, (x) Performance Fee expense, provided that any addback of such expense pursuant to this clause (x) will only be permitted if the Company, the Trust and the Advisor have executed a subordination agreement substantially in the form attached as Exhibit L hereto or otherwise on terms reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent (and such subordination agreement is in effect at the time of such addback) and the Performance Fee associated with such addback is not paid in contravention of the terms thereof (it being acknowledged and agreed that a subordination agreement is not required to be executed or in effect unless the Company desires to add back Performance Fee expense as provided in this clause (x)) and (xi) in the Company’s reasonable discretion, other non-cash charges for such period, minus (c) to the extent included in Consolidated Net Income, (i) amounts added as a result of the application of FASB ASC 805 as it pertains to below-market rents and (ii) extraordinary or non-recurring gains realized other than in the ordinary course of business.  For the avoidance of doubt, Consolidated EBITDA shall not include gains and losses from asset sales.

“Consolidated Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio” means the ratio of Adjusted EBITDA to Fixed Charges.

Consolidated Group” shall mean the Trust, the Company and all Subsidiaries which are required to be consolidated with them for financial reporting purposes under GAAP.

Consolidated Group Pro Rata Share” shall mean, with respect to any Unconsolidated Affiliate, the pro rata share of the ownership interests held by the Consolidated Group, in the aggregate, in such Unconsolidated Affiliate, without duplication.

Consolidated Leverage Ratio” means, at any date of determination, the sum of Total Indebtedness as of such date plus the Master Lease Obligations as of such date divided by Total Asset Value as of such date, expressed as a percentage.

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Consolidated Net Income” shall mean, for any period, the sum, without duplication, of (i) net earnings (or loss) after taxes of the Consolidated Group (adjusted by eliminating any such earnings or loss attributable to Unconsolidated Affiliates) plus (ii) the applicable Consolidated Group Pro Rata Share of net earnings (or loss) of all Unconsolidated Affiliates for such period, in each case determined in accordance with GAAP (provided, however, that lease payments attributable to Sale-Leaseback Master Leases which are generally excluded from “consolidated net income” in accordance with GAAP shall nonetheless be included as earnings for purposes of this definition).

Consolidated Tangible Net Worth” means, at any time, total assets (excluding accumulated depreciation and amortization and excluding intangible assets) of the Consolidated Group minus total liabilities of the Consolidated Group, calculated in accordance with GAAP.  However, for the purpose of this calculation, intangible assets resulting from the application of FASB ASC 805 shall not be excluded from Consolidated Tangible Net Worth.

Contractual Obligation” means, as to any Person, any provision of any security issued by such Person or of any material agreement, instrument or other undertaking to which such Person is a party or by which it or any of its property is bound.

Control” means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management or policies of a Person, whether through the ability to exercise voting power, by contract or otherwise.  “Controlling” and “Controlled” have meanings correlative thereto.

Covered Entity” has the meaning specified in Section 10.24(b).

Credit Extension” means each of the following: (a) a Borrowing and (b) an L/C Credit Extension.

“Creditor Parties” means, collectively, the Administrative Agent, the Lenders, the L/C Issuers and each co-agent or sub-agent appointed by the Administrative Agent from time to time pursuant to Section 9.05, and the other Persons to whom the Obligations are owing.

“Current Appraisal” has the meaning specified in the definition of the term “Property Value” in this Section 1.01.

“Daily SOFR” means the rate per annum equal to SOFR determined for any day pursuant to the definition thereof plus the SOFR Adjustment.  Any change in Daily SOFR shall be effective from and including the date of such change without further notice.  If the rate as so determined would be less than zero, such rate shall be deemed to be zero for purposes of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents.

Debt Instrument” means any instrument evidencing a debt, including mortgage notes and mezzanine notes.

Debtor Relief Laws” means the Bankruptcy Code of the United States, and all other liquidation, conservatorship, bankruptcy, assignment for the benefit of creditors, moratorium, rearrangement, receivership, insolvency, reorganization, or similar debtor relief Laws of the

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United States or other applicable jurisdictions from time to time in effect and affecting the rights of creditors generally.

Default” means any event or condition that constitutes an Event of Default or that, with the giving of any notice, the passage of time, or both, would be an Event of Default.

Default Rate” means (a) when used with respect to Obligations other than Letter of Credit Fees, an interest rate equal to (i) the Base Rate plus (ii) the Applicable Rate, if any, applicable to Base Rate Loans plus (iii) 2% per annum; provided, however, that with respect to a Eurodollar Rate Loan, a LIBOR Daily Floating Rate Loan or an Alternative Currency Loan, the Default Rate shall be an interest rate equal to the interest rate (including any Applicable Rate) otherwise applicable to such Loan plus 2% per annum, and (b) when used with respect to Letter of Credit Fees, a rate equal to the Applicable Rate plus 2% per annum.

Defaulting Lender” means, subject to Section 2.17(b), any Lender that (a) has failed to (i) fund all or any portion of its Loans within three Business Days of the date such Loans were required to be funded hereunder unless such Lender notifies the Administrative Agent and the Company in writing that such failure is the result of such Lender’s determination that one or more conditions precedent to funding (each of which conditions precedent, together with any applicable default, shall be specifically identified in such writing) has not been satisfied, or (ii) pay to the Administrative Agent, any L/C Issuer or any other Lender any other amount required to be paid by it hereunder (including in respect of its participation in Letters of Credit) within three Business Days of the date when due, (b) has notified the Company, the Administrative Agent or any L/C Issuer in writing that it does not intend to comply with its funding obligations hereunder, or has made a public statement to that effect (unless such writing or public statement relates to such Lender’s obligation to fund a Loan hereunder and states that such position is based on such Lender’s determination that a condition precedent to funding (which condition precedent, together with any applicable default, shall be specifically identified in such writing or public statement) cannot be satisfied), (c) has failed, within five Business Days after written request by the Administrative Agent or the Company, to confirm in writing to the Administrative Agent and the Company that it will comply with its prospective funding obligations hereunder subject to and in accordance with the terms hereof (provided that such Lender shall cease to be a Defaulting Lender pursuant to this clause (c) upon receipt of such written confirmation by the Administrative Agent and the Company), or (d) has, or has a direct or indirect parent company that has, (i) become the subject of a proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law, (ii) had appointed for it a receiver, custodian, conservator, trustee, administrator, assignee for the benefit of creditors or similar Person charged with reorganization or liquidation of its business or assets, including the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other state or federal regulatory authority acting in such a capacity, or (iii) become the subject of a Bail-In Action; provided that a Lender shall not be a Defaulting Lender solely by virtue of the ownership or acquisition of any Equity Interest in that Lender or any direct or indirect parent company thereof by a Governmental Authority so long as such ownership interest does not result in or provide such Lender with immunity from the jurisdiction of courts within the United States or from the enforcement of judgments or writs of attachment on its assets or permit such Lender (or such Governmental Authority) to reject, repudiate, disavow or disaffirm any contracts or agreements made with such Lender.  Any determination by the Administrative Agent that a Lender is a Defaulting Lender under any one or more of clauses (a) through (d) above, and of the effective date of such status, shall be prima facie evidence thereof, absent manifest error, and such Lender shall be deemed to be a Defaulting Lender (subject to Section 2.17(b)) as of the

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date established therefor by the Administrative Agent in a written notice of such determination, which shall be delivered by the Administrative Agent to the Company, each L/C Issuer and each other Lender promptly following such determination.

Designated Borrower” has the meaning specified in the introductory paragraph hereto.

Designated Borrower Notice” means the notice substantially in the form of Exhibit J.

Designated Borrower Request and Assumption Agreement” means the notice substantially in the form of Exhibit I.

Designated Jurisdiction” means any country or territory to the extent that such country or territory itself is the subject of any Sanction.

Disposition” or “Dispose” means the sale, transfer, assignment, contribution, license, lease or other disposition (in one transaction or in a series of transactions and whether effected pursuant to a Division or otherwise) of any property by any Person (including any sale and leaseback transaction and any issuance of Equity Interests by a Subsidiary of such Person), including any sale, assignment, transfer or other disposal, with or without recourse, of any notes or accounts receivable or any rights and claims associated therewith.

Dividing Person” has the meaning assigned to it in the definition of “Division.”

Division” means the division of the assets, liabilities and/or obligations of a Person (the “Dividing Person”) among two or more Persons (whether pursuant to a “plan of division” or similar arrangement), which may or may not include the Dividing Person and pursuant to which the Dividing Person may or may not survive.

Division Successor” means any Person that, upon the consummation of a Division of a Dividing Person, holds all or any portion of the assets, liabilities and/or obligations previously held by such Dividing Person immediately prior to the consummation of such Division.  A Dividing Person which retains any of its assets, liabilities and/or obligations after a Division shall be deemed a Division Successor upon the occurrence of such Division.

Dollar” and “$” mean lawful money of the United States.

Dollar Equivalent” means, for any amount, at the time of determination thereof, (a) if such amount is expressed in Dollars, such amount, (b) if such amount is expressed in an Alternative Currency, the equivalent of such amount in Dollars determined by using the rate of exchange for the purchase of Dollars with the Alternative Currency last provided (either by publication or otherwise provided to the Administrative Agent or the applicable L/C Issuer, as applicable) by the applicable Bloomberg source (or such other publicly available source for displaying exchange rates) on date that is two (2) Business Days immediately preceding the date of determination (or if such service ceases to be available or ceases to provide such rate of exchange, the equivalent of such amount in Dollars as determined by the Administrative Agent or the applicable L/C Issuer, as applicable using any method of determination it deems appropriate in its sole discretion) and (c) if such amount is denominated in any other currency, the equivalent of such amount in Dollars as determined by the Administrative Agent or the applicable L/C Issuer, as applicable, using any method of determination it deems appropriate in its sole discretion. Any determination by the

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Administrative Agent or the applicable L/C Issuer pursuant to clauses (b) or (c) above shall be conclusive absent manifest error.

Dollar Tranche Commitment” means, as to each Revolving Credit Lender, its obligation to (a) make Dollar Tranche Loans to the Company pursuant to Section 2.01(c)(i), and (b) purchase participations in L/C Obligations, in an aggregate principal amount at any one time outstanding not to exceed the Dollar Equivalent of the amount set forth opposite such Lender’s name on Schedule 2.01A under the caption “Dollar Tranche Commitment” or opposite such caption in the Assignment and Assumption or New Lender Joinder Agreement pursuant to which such Lender becomes a party hereto, as applicable, as such amount may be adjusted from time to time in accordance with this Agreement.

Dollar Tranche Lender” means a Revolving Credit Lender with a Dollar Tranche Commitment or an outstanding Dollar Tranche Loan.

Dollar Tranche Loan” has the meaning specified in Section 2.01(c)(i).

Domestic Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary that is organized under the laws of a state within the United States or the District of Columbia.

Early Opt-in Effective Date” means, with respect to any Early Opt-in Election, the sixth (6th) Business Day after the date notice of such Early Opt-in Election is provided to the Lenders, so long as the Administrative Agent has not received, by 5:00 p.m. (New York City time) on the fifth (5th) Business Day after the date notice of such Early Opt-in Election is provided to the Lenders, written notice of objection to such Early Opt-in Election from Lenders comprising the Required Lenders.

Early Opt-in Election” means the occurrence of:

(1)a determination by the Administrative Agent, or a notification by the Company to the Administrative Agent that the Company has made a determination, that Dollar-denominated syndicated credit facilities currently being executed, or that include language similar to that contained in Section 3.03(c), are being executed or amended (as applicable) to incorporate or adopt a new benchmark interest rate to replace LIBOR, and

(2)the joint election by the Administrative Agent and the Company to replace LIBOR with a Benchmark Replacement and the provision by the Administrative Agent of written notice of such election to the Lenders.

EEA Financial Institution” means (a) any credit institution or investment firm established in any EEA Member Country which is subject to the supervision of an EEA Resolution Authority, (b) any entity established in an EEA Member Country which is a parent of an institution described in clause (a) of this definition, or (c) any financial institution established in an EEA Member Country which is a Subsidiary of an institution described in clauses (a) or (b) of this definition and is subject to consolidated supervision with its parent.

EEA Member Country” means any of the member states of the European Union, Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway.

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EEA Resolution Authority” means any public administrative authority or any Person entrusted with public administrative authority of any EEA Member Country (including any delegee) having responsibility for the resolution of any EEA Financial Institution.

Electronic Copy” shall have the meaning specified in Section 10.17.

Electronic Record” and “Electronic Signature” shall have the meanings assigned to them, respectively, by 15 USC §7006, as it may be amended from time to time.  

Eligible Cash 1031 Proceeds” means the cash proceeds held by a “qualified intermediary” from the sale of a Property by the Company or a Subsidiary, which cash proceeds are intended to be used by the qualified intermediary to acquire one or more “replacement properties” that are of “like-kind” to such Property in an exchange that qualifies as a tax-deferred exchange under Section 1031 of the Code and the Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder (the “Regulations”), and no portion of which cash proceeds the Company or any Subsidiary has the right to receive, pledge, borrow or otherwise obtain the benefits of until the earlier of (i) such time as provided under Regulation Section 1.1031(k)-1(g)(6) and the applicable “exchange agreement” or (ii) such exchange is terminated in accordance with the “exchange agreement” and the Regulations.  Upon the cash proceeds no longer being held by the qualified intermediary pursuant to the Regulations or otherwise qualifying under the Regulations for like-kind exchange treatment, such proceeds shall cease being Eligible Cash 1031 Proceeds.  Terms in quotations in this definition shall have the meanings ascribed to such terms in the Regulations.

Eligible Currency” means any lawful currency other than Dollars that is readily available, freely transferable and convertible into Dollars in the international interbank market available to the Lenders in such market and as to which a Dollar Equivalent may be readily calculated. If, after the designation by the Lenders of any currency as an Alternative Currency, any change in currency controls or exchange regulations or any change in the national or international financial, political or economic conditions are imposed in the country in which such currency is issued, result in, in the reasonable opinion of the Administrative Agent (in the case of any Loans to be denominated in an Alternative Currency) or the applicable L/C Issuer(s) (in the case of any Letter of Credit to be denominated in an Alternative Currency), (a) such currency no longer being readily available, freely transferable and convertible into Dollars, (b) a Dollar Equivalent is no longer readily calculable with respect to such currency, (c) providing such currency is impracticable for the Lenders or (d) no longer a currency in which the Required Tranche Lenders are willing to make such Credit Extensions (each of clauses (a), (b), (c), and (d) a “Disqualifying Event”), then the Administrative Agent shall promptly notify the Lenders and the Company, and such country’s currency shall no longer be an Alternative Currency until such time as the Disqualifying Event(s) no longer exist(s). Within five (5) Business Days after receipt of such notice from the Administrative Agent, the Borrowers shall repay all Loans in such currency to which the Disqualifying Event applies or convert such Loans into the Dollar Equivalent of Loans in Dollars, subject to the other terms contained herein.

Environmental Laws” means any and all Federal, state, local, and foreign statutes, laws (including common law), regulations, ordinances, rules, judgments, orders, decrees or governmental restrictions relating to pollution and the protection of human health and safety, the environment and natural resources or the release of any materials into the environment, including

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those related to hazardous substances or wastes, air emissions and discharges to waste or public systems.

Environmental Liability” means any liability, contingent or otherwise (including any liability for damages, costs of environmental remediation, fines, penalties or indemnities), whether based in contract, tort, implied or express warranty, strict liability, criminal or civil statute or common law, directly or indirectly relating to (a) any Environmental Law, (b) the generation, use, handling, transportation, storage, treatment or disposal of any Hazardous Materials, (c) exposure to any Hazardous Materials, (d) the release or threatened release of any Hazardous Materials into the environment or (e) any contract, agreement or other consensual arrangement pursuant to which liability is assumed or imposed with respect to any of the foregoing.

Equity Interests” means, with respect to any Person, all of the shares of capital stock of (or other ownership or profit interests in) such Person, all of the warrants, options or other rights for the purchase or acquisition from such Person of shares of capital stock of (or other ownership or profit interests in) such Person, all of the securities convertible into or exchangeable for shares of capital stock of (or other ownership or profit interests in) such Person or warrants, rights or options for the purchase or acquisition from such Person of such shares (or such other interests), and all of the other ownership or profit interests in such Person (including partnership, member or trust interests therein), whether voting or nonvoting, and whether or not such shares, warrants, options, rights or other interests are outstanding on any date of determination.

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

ERISA Affiliate” means any trade or business (whether or not incorporated) under common control with the Company within the meaning of Section 414(b) or (c) of the Code (and Sections 414(m) and (o) of the Code for purposes of provisions relating to Section 412 of the Code).

ERISA Event” means (a) a Reportable Event with respect to a Pension Plan; (b) the withdrawal of the Company or any ERISA Affiliate from a Pension Plan subject to Section 4063 of ERISA during a plan year in which such entity was a “substantial employer” as defined in Section 4001(a)(2) of ERISA or a cessation of operations that is treated as such a withdrawal under Section 4062(e) of ERISA; (c) a complete or partial withdrawal by the Company or any ERISA Affiliate from a Multiemployer Plan or notification that a Multiemployer Plan is in reorganization; (d) the filing of a notice of intent to terminate a Pension Plan or the treatment of a Pension Plan amendment as a termination under Section 4041 or 4041A of ERISA; (e) the institution by the PBGC of proceedings to terminate a Pension Plan; (f) any event or condition which constitutes grounds under Section 4042 of ERISA for the termination of, or the appointment of a trustee to administer, any Pension Plan; (g) the determination that any Pension Plan is considered an at-risk plan within the meaning of Section 430 of the Code or Section 303 of ERISA or the determination that any Multiemployer Plan is considered a plan in endangered or critical status within the meaning of Sections 431 and 432 of the Code or Sections 304 and 305 of ERISA; or (h) the imposition of any liability under Title IV of ERISA, other than for PBGC premiums due but not delinquent under Section 4007 of ERISA, upon the Company or any ERISA Affiliate.

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EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule” means the EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule published by the Loan Market Association (or any successor person), as in effect from time to time.

Euro” and “” mean the single currency of the Participating Member States.

Eurodollar Rate” means:

(a)for any Interest Period with respect to a Eurodollar Rate Loan, the rate per annum equal to the London Interbank Offered Rate as administered by ICE Benchmark Administration (or any other Person that takes over the administration of such rate for Dollars) for a period equal in length to such Interest Period (“LIBOR”) as published on the applicable Reuters screen page (or such other commercially available source providing such quotations as may be designated by the Administrative Agent from time to time in its reasonable discretion) at approximately 11:00 a.m., London time, two Business Days prior to the commencement of such Interest Period, for Dollar deposits (for delivery on the first day of such Interest Period) with a term equivalent to such Interest Period; and
(b)for any interest calculation with respect to clause (c) of the definition of Base Rate on any date, the rate per annum equal to LIBOR, at or about 11:00 a.m., London time determined on such date for Dollar deposits with a term of one month commencing that day; and
(c)if the Eurodollar Rate shall be less than zero, such rate shall be deemed zero for purposes of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents.

Eurodollar Rate Loan” means a Revolving Credit Loan, a Term A-1 Loan or a Term A-2 Loan that bears interest at a rate based on clause (a) of the definition of the Eurodollar Rate.  All Eurodollar Rate Loans are only available to U.S. Borrowers and shall be denominated in Dollars.

Event of Default” has the meaning specified in Section 8.01.

“Exchange Act” has the meaning specified in the definition of the term “Change of Control” in this Section 1.01.

Exchange Beneficial Interest” means a beneficial interest in a Delaware statutory trust that owns an Exchange Property.

Exchange Debt Investments means purchase money financing provided to an Exchange Property Investor in connection with the Exchange Program, secured by the Exchange Beneficial Interests or tenant in common interest of the Exchange Property Investor.

Exchange Depositor” means each Subsidiary that is the depositor under a Delaware statutory trust that is part of the Exchange Program.

Exchange Fee Titleholder” means the entity which is the owner of a Property pursuant to an exchange that qualifies, qualified, or is intended to qualify, as a reverse exchange under Section 1031 of the Code, which Property is master leased to a Domestic Subsidiary of the Company during the period before the exchange is either completed or fails.

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Exchange Program” means the program whereby Affiliates of the Company will cause (a)(i) the formation of a Delaware statutory trust which will receive contributions of Properties from the Company or an Affiliate of the Company or acquire Properties from third parties, in each case which Properties will become Exchange Properties upon addition to the Exchange Program, and (ii) the sale of beneficial ownership interests in such Delaware statutory trust to Exchange Property Investors or (b) the sale of tenant in common interests in Properties owned by the Company or an Affiliate of the Company to Exchange Property Investors, and in each case will master lease such Properties to an Affiliate of the Company (which master leases may be guaranteed by the Company or the Trust).  

Exchange Property” means a Property owned directly or indirectly by a Delaware statutory trust or TIC Owners in connection with the Exchange Program, provided that any such Property shall constitute an Exchange Property only so long as it is master leased to an Affiliate of the Company which master lease may be guaranteed by the Company and/or the Trust.

Exchange Property Investor” means any owner of an Exchange Beneficial Interest or owners of tenant in common interests in Properties (“TIC Owners”).

Exchange Property Master Lease” means a Master Lease pursuant to which an Exchange Property is master leased to an Affiliate of the Company.

Exchange Property Owner” means the Delaware statutory trust or TIC Owners owning directly or indirectly an Exchange Property.

Excluded Taxes” means any of the following Taxes imposed on or with respect to any Recipient or required to be withheld or deducted from a payment to a Recipient: (a) Taxes imposed on or measured by net income (however denominated), franchise or similar Taxes, and branch profits or similar Taxes, in each case, (i) imposed as a result of such Recipient being organized under the laws of, or having its principal office or, in the case of any Lender, its Lending Office located in, the jurisdiction imposing such Tax (or any political subdivision thereof) or (ii) that are Other Connection Taxes, (b) in the case of a Lender, U.S. federal withholding Taxes imposed on amounts payable to or for the account of such Lender with respect to an applicable interest in a Loan or Commitment pursuant to a law in effect on the date on which (i) such Lender acquires such interest in the Loan or Commitment (other than pursuant to an assignment request by the Company under Section 10.13) or (ii) such Lender changes its Lending Office, except in each case to the extent that, pursuant to Section 3.01(b) or (d), amounts with respect to such Taxes were payable either to such Lender’s assignor immediately before such Lender became a party hereto or to such Lender immediately before it changed its Lending Office, (c) Taxes attributable to such Recipient’s failure or inability to comply with Section 3.01(g) and (d) any U.S. federal withholding Taxes imposed pursuant to FATCA.

Existing Credit Agreement” means that certain Second Amended and Restated Credit and Term Loan Agreement dated as of January 11, 2019, among the Company, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders parties thereto, as amended prior to the date hereof.

Existing Letters of Credit” means the letters of credit listed on Schedule 2.03.

Existing Maturity Date” has the meaning specified in Section 2.14(a).

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Existing Revolving Credit Loans” means the Loans listed on Schedule 2.01(b) under the heading “Existing Revolving Credit Loans”.

Existing Term Loans” means the Loans listed on Schedule 2.01(b) under the heading “Existing Term Loans”.

Exiting Lender” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.22.

Facility” means the Term A-1 Facility, the Term A-2 Facility or the Revolving Credit Facility, as the context may require, and “Facilities” means a collective reference to the Term A-1 Facility, the Term A-2 Facility and the Revolving Credit Facility.

FASB ASC” means the Accounting Standards Codification of the Financial Accounting Standards Board.

FATCAmeans Sections 1471 through 1474 of the Code, as of the Closing Date (or any amended or successor version that is substantively comparable and not materially more onerous to comply with), any current or future regulations or official interpretations thereof, any agreements entered into pursuant to Section 1471(b)(1) of the Code and any fiscal or regulatory legislation, rules or practices adopted pursuant to any intergovernmental agreement, treaty or convention among Governmental Authorities entered into in connection with the implementation of the foregoing.

Federal Funds Rate” shall mean, for any day, the rate per annum calculated by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York based on such day’s federal funds transactions by depository institutions (as determined in such manner as the Federal Reserve Bank of New York shall set forth on its public website from time to time) and published on the next succeeding Business Day by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York as the federal funds effective rate; provided that if the Federal Funds Rate as so determined would be less than zero, such rate shall be deemed to be zero for purposes of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents.

Fee Letter” means collectively the (a) letter agreement, dated September 13, 2021, among the Company, the Administrative Agent and BofA Securities, Inc., as an Arranger, and (b) any letter agreements entered into among the Company and the other Arrangers with respect to arranger fees payable to such other Arrangers in connection with the arrangement of commitments under this Agreement.

Federal Reserve System” means the Federal Reserve System of the United States.

Financeable Ground Lease” means, except as otherwise approved by the Required Lenders, a ground lease that provides reasonable and customary protections for a potential leasehold mortgagee (“Mortgagee”) which include, among other things, (a) a remaining term, including any optional extension terms exercisable unilaterally by the tenant, of no less than twenty-five (25) years from the Closing Date, (b) that the ground lease will not be terminated until the Mortgagee has received notice of a default, has had a reasonable opportunity to cure or complete foreclosure, and has failed to do so, (c) provision for a new lease on the same terms to the Mortgagee as tenant if the ground lease is terminated for any reason or other protective provisions reasonably acceptable to Administrative Agent, (d) non-merger of the fee and leasehold estates, (e) transferability of the tenant’s interest under the ground lease without any requirement

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for consent of the ground lessor unless based on reasonable objective criteria as to the creditworthiness or line of business of the transferee or delivery of customary assignment and assumption agreements from the transferor and transferee, and (f) that insurance proceeds and condemnation awards (from leasehold interest) will be applied pursuant to the terms of the applicable leasehold mortgage.

Financial Metrics” has the meaning specified in Section 7.09(i).

First Mortgage Investments” means any loan or advance from any member of the Consolidated Group to the First Mortgage Investment Mortgagor secured by any real estate owned by the First Mortgage Investment Mortgagor (or any related party) and secured by a first priority mortgage or deed of trust or similar security instrument in favor of the applicable lender.

First Mortgage Investment Mortgagor” means the mortgagor of the property financed by the First Mortgage Investment.

Fitch” means Fitch Ratings, Inc. and any successor thereto.

Fixed Charges” means, for any period, the sum of (i) Consolidated Debt Service and (ii) all dividends actually paid on account of preferred stock or preferred operating partnership units of the Company or any other Person in the Consolidated Group (including dividends actually paid to Unconsolidated Affiliates but excluding dividends paid to members of the Consolidated Group).

FMV Option” means, for each Exchange Property, the option, but not the obligation, of the Company to, directly or indirectly, purchase such Exchange Property or the Exchange Beneficial Interests relating to such Exchange Property at fair market value at any time (i) beginning on the first to occur of (A) the last day of the 24th month following the final closing of the sale of Exchange Beneficial Interests or tenant in common interests, as applicable, and (B) the last day of the 48th month following the date the Exchange Property Owner enters into the Exchange Property Master Lease (such earlier date is the “FMV Option Start Date”) and (ii) expiring on the last day of the 12th month following the FMV Option Start Date.  The consideration for any such purchase shall be the issuance of units in the Company.

Foreign Lender” means, with respect to any Borrower (a) if such Borrower is a U.S. Person, a Lender that is not a U.S. Person, and (b) if such Borrower is not a U.S. Person, a Lender that is resident or organized under the Laws of a jurisdiction other than that in which such Borrower is resident for tax purposes (including such a Lender when acting in the capacity of the L/C Issuer).  For purposes of this definition, the United States, each State thereof and the District of Columbia shall be deemed to constitute a single jurisdiction.

Foreign Obligor” means a Loan Party that is a Foreign Subsidiary.

Foreign Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary that is not a Domestic Subsidiary.

FRB” means the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System of the United States.

Fronting Exposure” means, at any time there is a Defaulting Lender, with respect to any L/C Issuer, such Defaulting Lender’s Applicable Percentage of the outstanding L/C Obligations

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other than L/C Obligations as to which such Defaulting Lender’s participation obligation has been reallocated to other Lenders or Cash Collateralized in accordance with the terms hereof.

Fund” means any Person (other than a natural person) that is (or will be) engaged in making, purchasing, holding or otherwise investing in commercial loans and similar extensions of credit in the ordinary course of its activities.

GAAP” means generally accepted accounting principles in the United States set forth in the opinions and pronouncements of the Accounting Principles Board and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and statements and pronouncements of the Financial Accounting Standards Board or such other principles as may be approved by a significant segment of the accounting profession in the United States, that are applicable to the circumstances as of the date of determination, consistently applied.

Governmental Authority” means the government of the United States or any other nation, or of any political subdivision thereof, whether state or local, and any agency, authority, instrumentality, regulatory body, court, central bank or other entity exercising executive, legislative, judicial, taxing, regulatory or administrative powers or functions of or pertaining to government (including the Financial Conduct Authority, the Prudential Regulation Authority and any supra-national bodies such as the European Union or the European Central Bank).

Guarantee Obligation” means, without duplication, any obligation of such Person guaranteeing (the “guaranteeing person”) or having the economic effect of guaranteeing any Indebtedness, leases, dividends or other obligations payable or performable by another Person (including, without limitation, any bank under any letter of credit)  (the “primary obligor”) then payable or performable in any manner, whether directly or indirectly, including, without limitation, any obligation of the guaranteeing person, whether or not contingent, (i) to purchase any such primary obligation or any property constituting direct or indirect security therefor, (ii) to advance or supply funds (1) for the purchase or payment of any such primary obligation or (2) to maintain working capital or equity capital of the primary obligor or otherwise to maintain the net worth or solvency of the primary obligor, (iii) to purchase property, securities or services primarily for the purpose of assuring the owner of any such primary obligation of the ability of the primary obligor to make payment of such primary obligation or (iv) otherwise to assure or hold harmless the owner of any such primary obligation against loss in respect thereof; provided, however, that the term Guarantee Obligation shall not include endorsements of instruments for deposit or collection in the ordinary course of business.  The amount of any Guarantee Obligation of any guaranteeing person shall be deemed to be the maximum stated amount of the primary obligation relating to such Guarantee Obligation (or, if less, the maximum stated liability set forth in the instrument embodying such Guarantee Obligation), provided, that in the absence of any such stated amount or stated liability, the amount of such Guarantee Obligation shall be such guaranteeing person’s maximum reasonably anticipated liability in respect thereof as determined by the Company in good faith.

Guarantors” means, collectively, the Trust, the Company, all Subsidiary Guarantors and all Investor Guarantors and, with respect to Obligations owing by any Designated Borrower, the Company and each Designated Borrower that is a Domestic Subsidiary.

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Guaranty” means collectively the guaranty from the Trust, and any Subsidiary Guaranty, substantially in the forms of Exhibits F-1, and F-2, respectively, the Borrower Guaranty and any Investor Guaranty, each made in favor of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders, as the same may be amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.

Hazardous Materials” means all explosive or radioactive substances or wastes and all hazardous or toxic substances, wastes or other pollutants, including petroleum or petroleum distillates, asbestos or asbestos-containing materials, polychlorinated biphenyls, radon gas, infectious or medical wastes and all other similar substances or wastes of any nature regulated pursuant to any Environmental Law.

Impacted Loans” has to meaning specified in Section 3.03(a).

Increase Effective Date” has the meaning given to such term in Section 2.15(d).

Indebtedness” of any Person at any date means, without duplication, (a) all indebtedness of such Person for borrowed money including without limitation any repurchase obligation or liability of such Person with respect to securities, accounts or notes receivable sold by such Person, (b) all obligations of such Person for the deferred purchase price of property or services (other than current trade liabilities incurred in the ordinary course of business and payable in accordance with customary practices), to the extent such obligations constitute indebtedness for the purposes of GAAP, (c) any other indebtedness of such Person which is evidenced by a note, bond, debenture or similar instrument and constitutes indebtedness for the purposes of GAAP, (d) all Capital Lease Obligations, (e) all Guarantee Obligations of such Person in respect of Indebtedness of another Person (excluding in any calculation of consolidated Indebtedness of the Consolidated Group Guarantee Obligations of one member of the Consolidated Group in respect of primary obligations of any other member of the Consolidated Group), (f) the face amount of all letters of credit issued for the account of such Person and, without duplication, all unreimbursed amounts drawn thereunder, but excluding the underlying obligation for which the letter of credit is being provided, if duplicative; and (g) all currently payable obligations of such Person with respect to any Swap Contracts.  The Indebtedness of any Person shall include the Indebtedness of any other entity (including any partnership in which such Person is a general partner) to the extent such Person is liable therefor as a result of such Person’s ownership interest in or other relationship with such entity, except to the extent the terms of such Indebtedness provide that such Person is not liable therefor (excluding customary limited exceptions for certain acts or types of liability such as environmental liability, fraud and other customary non-recourse carve-outs). Notwithstanding the foregoing, Indebtedness shall not include (a) any liability under an Exchange Property Master Lease (including any guaranty thereof by the Trust or the Company) that would otherwise constitute indebtedness for the purposes of GAAP, or (b) any Indebtedness associated with or attributed to an Exchange Property, other than the Consolidated Group’s pro rata share (corresponding to the pro rata share of the Exchange Beneficial Interests in the Exchange Property Owner or the tenant in common interests that are owned by the Consolidated Group) of such Indebtedness.

Indemnified Taxes” means (a) Taxes, other than Excluded Taxes, imposed on or with respect to any payment made by or on account of any obligation of any Loan Party under any Loan Document and (b) to the extent not otherwise described in (a), Other Taxes.

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Indemnitees” has the meaning specified in Section 10.04(b).

Information” has the meaning specified in Section 10.07.

Interest Payment Date” means, (a) as to any Eurodollar Rate Loan and any Alternative Currency Term Rate Loan, the last day of each Interest Period applicable to such Loan and the Maturity Date of the Facility under which such Loan was made; provided, however, that if any Interest Period for a Eurodollar Rate Loan or an Alternative Currency Term Rate Loan exceeds three (3) months, the respective dates that fall every three (3) months after the beginning of such Interest Period shall also be Interest Payment Dates; (b) as to any Alternative Currency Daily Rate Loan, the last Business Day of each month and the Maturity Date of the Facility under which such Loan was made, and (c) as to any Base Rate Loan or LIBOR Daily Floating Rate Loan, the last Business Day of each March, June, September and December and the Maturity Date of the Facility under which such Loan was made.

Interest Period” means, as to each Eurodollar Rate Loan and each Alternative Currency Term Rate Loan, the period commencing on the date such Loan is disbursed or converted to or continued as a Eurodollar Rate Loan or an Alternative Currency Term Rate Loan, as applicable, and ending on the date one (1), three (3) or six (6) months thereafter (in each case, subject to availability for the interest rate applicable to the relevant currency), as selected by the Company in its Committed Loan Notice; provided that:

(a)any Interest Period that would otherwise end on a day that is not a Business Day shall be extended to the next succeeding Business Day unless such Business Day falls in another calendar month, in which case such Interest Period shall end on the next preceding Business Day;

(b)any Interest Period that begins on the last Business Day of a calendar month (or on a day for which there is no numerically corresponding day in the calendar month at the end of such Interest Period) shall end on the last Business Day of the calendar month at the end of such Interest Period; and

(c)no Interest Period shall extend beyond the Maturity Date of the Facility under which such Loan was made.

Intermediate Subsidiary Owner Guarantor” has the meaning specified in Section 6.12.

Investment” means, as to any Person, without duplication, any direct or indirect acquisition or investment by such Person, whether by means of (a) the purchase or other acquisition of capital stock or other securities of another Person, (b) a loan, advance or capital contribution to, guarantee or assumption of debt of, or purchase or other acquisition of any other debt or equity participation or interest in, another Person, including any partnership or joint venture interest in such other Person and any arrangement pursuant to which the investor guarantees Indebtedness of such other Person, or (c) the purchase or other acquisition (in one transaction or a series of transactions) of assets of another Person that constitute a business unit.

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

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Investment Grade Rating” means a credit rating of BBB-/Baa3 (or the equivalent) or higher from Fitch, Moody’s or S&P.

Investor Guarantor” means any shareholders, members, partners or Affiliates of the Company or the Trust that are a party to the Investor Guaranty.

Investor Guaranty” means a guaranty which may be executed and delivered by one or more Investor Guarantors in accordance with Section 6.14, in a form approved by Administrative Agent, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld, delayed or conditioned, as the same may be amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.

IP Rights” has the meaning specified in Section  5.17.

IRS” means the United States Internal Revenue Service.

ISP” means the International Standby Practices-International Chamber of Commerce Publication No. 590 (or such later version thereof as may be in effect at the applicable time).

Issuer Documents” means, with respect to any Letter of Credit, the Letter of Credit Application, and any other document, agreement and instrument entered into by any L/C Issuer and any Borrower (or any Subsidiary) or in favor of such L/C Issuer and relating to such Letter of Credit.

Judgment Currency” has the meaning specified in Section 10.24.

Laws” means, collectively, all international, foreign, Federal, state and local statutes, treaties, rules, guidelines, regulations, ordinances, codes and administrative or judicial precedents or authorities, including the interpretation or administration thereof by any Governmental Authority charged with the enforcement, interpretation or administration thereof, and all applicable administrative orders, directed duties, requests, licenses, authorizations and permits of, and agreements with, any Governmental Authority, in each case whether or not having the force of law.

L/C Advance” means, with respect to each Dollar Tranche Lender, such Dollar Tranche Lender’s funding of its participation in any L/C Borrowing in accordance with its Applicable Revolving Credit Percentage.  All L/C Advances shall be denominated in Dollars.

L/C Borrowing” means an extension of credit resulting from a drawing under any Letter of Credit which has not been reimbursed on the date when made or refinanced as a Revolving Credit Borrowing.  All L/C Borrowings shall be denominated in Dollars.

“L/C Commitment” means, with respect to each L/C Issuer, the commitment of such L/C Issuer to issue Letters of Credit hereunder.  The initial amount of each L/C Issuer’s L/C Commitment is set forth on Schedule 2.01B, or if an L/C Issuer has entered into an Assignment and Assumption or has otherwise assumed an L/C Commitment after the Closing Date, the amount set forth for such L/C Issuer as its L/C Commitment in the Register maintained by the Administrative Agent.  The L/C Commitment of an L/C Issuer may be modified from time to time by agreement between such L/C Issuer and the Company, and notified to the Administrative Agent.

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L/C Credit Extension” means, with respect to any Letter of Credit, the issuance thereof or extension of the expiry date thereof, or the increase of the amount thereof.

L/C Disbursement” means a payment made by an L/C Issuer pursuant to a Letter of Credit.

L/C Issuer” means each of Bank of America (through itself or through any of its designated branch offices or, solely in connection with a Letter of Credit issued in an Alternative Currency or a Letter of Credit issued to a Foreign Obligor, any of its designated Affiliates), Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., and Capital One, National Association, in its capacity as issuer of Letters of Credit hereunder, and such other Lender (if any) as the Company may select as an L/C Issuer hereunder pursuant to Section 2.03; provided that such Lender has agreed to be an L/C Issuer.  Any L/C Issuer may, in its discretion, arrange for one or more Letters of Credit to be issued by Affiliates of such L/C Issuer, in which case the term “L/C Issuer” shall include any such Affiliate with respect to Letters of Credit issued by such Affiliate.  Each reference herein to the “L/C Issuer” in connection with a Letter of Credit or other matter shall be deemed to be a reference to the relevant L/C Issuer with respect thereto.

L/C Obligations” means, at any time, the sum of (a) the aggregate undrawn amount of all outstanding Letters of Credit at such time, including any automatic or scheduled increases provided for by the terms of such Letters of Credit, determined without regard to whether any conditions to drawing could be met at that time, plus (b) the aggregate amount of all Unreimbursed Amounts, including all L/C Borrowings.  The L/C Obligations of any Lender at any time shall be its Applicable Revolving Credit Percentage of the total L/C Obligations at such time.  For all purposes of this Agreement, if on any date of determination a Letter of Credit has expired by its terms but any amount may still be drawn thereunder by reason of the operation of Article 29(a) of the UCP or Rule 3.13 or Rule 3.14 of the ISP or similar terms of the Letter of Credit itself, or if compliant documents have been presented but not yet honored, such Letter of Credit shall be deemed to be “outstanding” and “undrawn” in the amount so remaining available to be paid, and the obligations of the Borrowers and each Lender shall remain in full force and effect until the L/C Issuers and the Lenders shall have no further obligations to make any payments or disbursements under any circumstances with respect to any Letter of Credit.

Lender” has the meaning specified in the introductory paragraph hereto.

Lender Parties” and “Lender Recipient Parties” mean, collectively, the Lenders and the L/C Issuers.

Lender Reply Period” has the meaning specified in Section 9.10.

Lending Office” means, as to any Lender, the office or offices of such Lender described as such in such Lender’s Administrative Questionnaire, or such other office or offices as a Lender may from time to time notify the Company and the Administrative Agent, which office may include any Affiliate of such Lender or any domestic or foreign branch of such Lender or such Affiliate. Unless the context otherwise requires each reference to a Lender shall include its applicable Lending Office.

Letter of Credit” means any standby letter of credit issued hereunder providing for the payment of cash upon the honoring of a presentation thereunder and shall include the Existing Letters of Credit.  Letters of Credit may be issued in Dollars or in an Alternative Currency.

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Letter of Credit Application” means an application and agreement for the issuance or amendment of a Letter of Credit in the form from time to time in use by the applicable L/C Issuer.

Letter of Credit Fee” has the meaning specified in Section 2.03(h).

Letter of Credit Sublimit” means an amount equal to the lesser of the aggregate amount of all Lenders’ Dollar Tranche Commitments and $50,000,000. The Letter of Credit Sublimit is part of, and not in addition to, the Revolving Credit Facility and the aggregate Dollar Tranche Commitments.

LIBOR” has the meaning specified in the definition of the term “Eurodollar Rate” in this Section 1.01.

LIBOR Daily Floating Rate” means, for any day, a fluctuating rate of interest per annum equal to LIBOR, as published on the applicable Reuters screen page (or such other commercially available source providing such quotations as may be designated by the Administrative Agent from time to time in its reasonable discretion), at or about 11:00 a.m., London time, two (2) London Banking Days prior to such day, for U.S. Dollar deposits with a term of one (1) month commencing that day; provided that if the LIBOR Daily Floating Rate shall be less than zero, such rate shall be deemed zero for purposes of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents.

LIBOR Daily Floating Rate Loan” means a Revolving Credit Loan that bears interest at a rate based upon the LIBOR Daily Floating Rate.  All LIBOR Daily Floating Rate Loans are only available to U.S. Borrowers and shall be denominated in Dollars.

Lien” means any mortgage, pledge, hypothecation, assignment, deposit arrangement, encumbrance, easement, right-of-way or other encumbrance on title to real property, lien (statutory or other), charge, or preference, priority or other security interest or preferential arrangement in the nature of a security interest of any kind or nature whatsoever (including any conditional sale or other title retention agreement, and any financing lease having substantially the same economic effect as any of the foregoing).

Loan” means an extension of credit by a Lender to a Borrower under Article II in the form of a Term A-1 Loan, a Term A-2 Loan or a Revolving Credit Loan.

Loan Documents” means this Agreement, including schedules and exhibits hereto, each Note, each Issuer Document, each Designated Borrower Request and Assumption Agreement, any agreement creating or perfecting rights in Cash Collateral pursuant to the provisions of Section 2.16 of this Agreement, the Fee Letter and the Guaranty, and any amendments, modifications or supplements hereto or to any other Loan Document or waivers hereof or to any other Loan Document.

Loan Parties” means, collectively, the Company, each Designated Borrower and each Guarantor.

London Banking Day” means any day on which dealings in Dollar deposits are conducted by and between banks in the London interbank eurodollar market.

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Master Agreement” has the meaning specified in the definition of the term “Swap Contract” in this Section 1.01.

Master Lease Obligations” means, as of any date of determination, the sum of all remaining obligations of the Consolidated Group, determined on a consolidated basis, to pay rent under all  Exchange Property Master Leases, which such obligations shall be determined with respect to each Exchange Property Master Lease (a) commencing on the date of the first sale of an Exchange Beneficial Interest in the applicable Exchange Property Owner to an Exchange Property Investor and (b) ending on (i) if the expiration of the FMV Option with respect to the Exchange Property that is the subject of such Exchange Property Master Lease is not yet known, the date that is five years after the date of the commencement of the applicable Exchange Property Master Lease with respect to such Exchange Property, or (ii) if the expiration of the FMV Option with respect to the Exchange Property that is the subject of such Exchange Property Master Lease is known, the date of the expiration of the applicable FMV Option with respect to such Exchange Property.

Material Acquisition” mean the acquisition of assets with a total cost that is more than ten percent (10%) of the Total Asset Value based on the most recent Compliance Certificate submitted prior to such acquisition.

Material Adverse Effect” means a material adverse effect on (i) the business, property or financial condition of the Consolidated Group (collectively taken as a whole), (ii) the ability of the Company or the Trust to perform its material obligations under the Loan Documents to which it is a party, (iii) the ability of the Loan Parties collectively taken as a whole to perform their material obligations under the Loan Documents, or (iv) the validity or enforceability of any of the material provisions of Loan Documents or the material rights or remedies of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders thereunder.

Material Indebtedness” means Indebtedness (other than the Loans and Letters of Credit) or obligations in respect of one or more Swap Contracts, of any one or more of the Company and its Subsidiaries in an aggregate principal amount exceeding $25,000,000 for Recourse Indebtedness and $125,000,000 for all other Indebtedness.  For purposes of determining Material Indebtedness, the “principal amount” of the obligations of the Company or any Subsidiary in respect of any Swap Contracts at any time shall be the aggregate amount (giving effect to any netting agreements) that the Company or such Subsidiary would be required to pay if such Swap Contract were terminated at such time.

Material Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary of the Company with assets having a fair market value of $1,000,000 or more.

Maturity Datemeans (a) with respect to the Revolving Credit Facility, November 22, 2025, subject to extension in accordance with Section 2.14; (b) with respect to the Term A-1 Facility, November 22, 2026; and (c) with respect to the Term A-2 Facility, January 22, 2027; provided, however, that, in each case, if such date is not a Business Day, the Maturity Date shall be the next preceding Business Day.

Maximum Rate” has the meaning specified in Section 10.09.

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Minimum Collateral Amount” means, at any time, with respect to Cash Collateral consisting of cash or deposit account balances, an amount equal to 102% of the Fronting Exposure of all L/C Issuers with respect to Letters of Credit issued and outstanding at such time.

Moody’s” means Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. and any successor thereto.

“Mortgagee” has the meaning specified in the definition of the term “Financeable Ground Lease” in this Section 1.01.

Multicurrency Tranche Commitment” means, as to each Revolving Credit Lender, its obligation to make Multicurrency Tranche Loans to the Borrowers pursuant to Section 2.01(c)(ii), in an aggregate principal amount at any one time outstanding not to exceed the Dollar Equivalent of the amount set forth opposite such Lender’s name on Schedule 2.01A under the caption “Multicurrency Tranche Commitment” or opposite such caption in the Assignment and Assumption or New Lender Joinder Agreement pursuant to which such Lender becomes a party hereto, as applicable, as such amount may be adjusted from time to time in accordance with this Agreement.

Multicurrency Tranche Lender” means a Lender with a Multicurrency Tranche Commitment or an outstanding Multicurrency Tranche Loan.

Multicurrency Tranche Loan” has the meaning specified in Section 2.01(c)(ii).

Multiemployer Plan” means any employee benefit plan of the type described in Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA, to which the Company or any ERISA Affiliate makes or is obligated to make contributions, or during the preceding five plan years, has made or been obligated to make contributions.

Multiple Employer Plan” means a Pension Plan which has two or more contributing sponsors (including the Company or any ERISA Affiliate) at least two of whom are not under common control, as such a plan is described in Section 4064 of ERISA.

Net Operating Income” means, with respect to any Property for any period, (i) revenues therefrom (including, without limitation, expense reimbursement, loss of rent income and lease termination fees appropriately amortized to the extent there is no new tenant in the space for which the lease termination fee was paid) calculated, in each case, in accordance with GAAP but excluding the effects of FASB ASC 805, less (ii) the costs of operating and maintaining such Property, including, without limitation, real estate taxes, insurance, repairs, maintenance, actual property management fees paid to third parties or charged internally at a market rate and bad debt expense but excluding depreciation, amortization, interest expense, tenant improvements, leasing commissions, and capital expenditures, calculated, in each case, in accordance with GAAP.  For such Properties owned for less than one full quarter, the Net Operating Income for such full quarter shall be determined on a proforma basis based on performance during such partial quarter, grossed up for the full calculation period, which performance information may be derived from information provided by the prior owner of such Property for that portion of such partial quarter prior to the acquisition of such Property, or if such information is not reasonably available, based on in place Net Operating Income.  

New Lender Joinder Agreement” has the meaning specified in Section 2.15(c).

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Non-Consenting Lender” means any Lender that does not approve any consent, waiver or amendment that (a) requires the approval of all Lenders or all affected Lenders in accordance with the terms of Section 10.01 and (b) has been approved by the Required Lenders.

Non-Defaulting Lender” means, at any time, each Lender that is not a Defaulting Lender at such time.

Non-Extension Notice Date” has the meaning specified in Section 2.03(b).

Non-US Jurisdictions” means each of Canada, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Netherlands, Germany, Belgium, France, Switzerland, Spain, Portugal, and Italy.

Note” means a Term A-1 Note, a Term A-2 Note or a Revolving Credit Note, as the context requires.

Notice of Additional L/C Issuer” means a certificate substantially the form of Exhibit K or any other form approved by the Administrative Agent.

Obligations” means all advances to, and debts, liabilities, obligations, covenants and duties of, any Loan Party arising under any Loan Document with respect to any Loan or Letter of Credit, whether direct or indirect (including those acquired by assumption), absolute or contingent, due or to become due, now existing or hereafter arising and including interest and fees that accrue after the commencement by or against any Loan Party or any Affiliate thereof of any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Laws naming such Person as the debtor in such proceeding, regardless of whether such interest and fees are allowed claims in such proceeding.  Without limiting the foregoing, the Obligations include (a) the obligation to pay principal, interest, Letter of Credit commissions, charges, expenses, fees, indemnities and other amounts payable by any Loan Party pursuant to the terms of any Loan Document and (b) the obligation of the Loan Parties to reimburse any amount in respect of any of the foregoing in clause (a) above that the Administrative Agent or any Lender, in each case in its sole discretion, may elect to pay or advance on behalf of the Loan Parties.

OFAC” means the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the United States Department of the Treasury.

Organization Documents” means, (a) with respect to any corporation, the charter or certificate or articles of incorporation and the bylaws (or equivalent or comparable constitutive documents with respect to any non-U.S. jurisdiction); (b) with respect to any limited liability company, the certificate or articles of formation or organization and operating or limited liability agreement (or equivalent or comparable constitutive documents with respect to any non-U.S. jurisdiction); and (c) with respect to any partnership, joint venture, trust or other form of business entity, the partnership, joint venture or other applicable agreement of formation or organization (or equivalent or comparable constitutive documents with respect to any non-U.S. jurisdiction) and any agreement, instrument, filing or notice with respect thereto filed in connection with its formation or organization with the applicable Governmental Authority in the jurisdiction of its formation or organization and, if applicable, any certificate or articles of formation or organization of such entity (or equivalent or comparable constitutive documents with respect to any non-U.S. jurisdiction).

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Other Connection Taxes” means, with respect to any Recipient, Taxes imposed as a result of a present or former connection between such Recipient and the jurisdiction imposing such Tax (other than connections arising from such Recipient having executed, delivered, become a party to, performed its obligations under, received payments under, received or perfected a security interest under, engaged in any other transaction pursuant to or enforced any Loan Document, or sold or assigned an interest in any Loan or Loan Document).

Other Debt Investments” means investments in debt instruments or preferred equity investments (other than First Mortgage Investments and Exchange Debt Investments), including but not limited to mezzanine loans, second lien loans, preferred equity investments and B notes.

Other Rate Early Opt-in” means the Administrative Agent and the Company have elected to replace LIBOR with a Benchmark Replacement other than a SOFR-based rate pursuant to (1) an Early Opt-in Election and (2) Section 3.03(c)(ii) and paragraph (2) of the definition of “Benchmark Replacement”.

Other Taxes” means all present or future stamp, court or documentary, intangible, recording, filing or similar Taxes that arise from any payment made under, from the execution, delivery, performance, enforcement or registration of, from the receipt or perfection of a security interest under, or otherwise with respect to, any Loan Document, except any such Taxes that are Other Connection Taxes imposed with respect to an assignment (other than an assignment made pursuant to Section 3.06).

Outstanding Amount” means (a) with respect to Term A-1 Loans, Term A-2 Loans and Revolving Credit Loans (or any Type or Tranche thereof) on any date, the Dollar Equivalent of the aggregate outstanding principal amount thereof after giving effect to any borrowings and prepayments or repayments of Term A-1 Loans, Term A-2 Loans, and Revolving Credit Loans, as the case may be, occurring on such date; and (b) with respect to any L/C Obligations on any date, the Dollar Equivalent of the aggregate outstanding amount of such L/C Obligations on such date after giving effect to any L/C Credit Extension occurring on such date and any other changes in the aggregate amount of the L/C Obligations as of such date, including as a result of any reimbursements by the Borrowers of Unreimbursed Amounts.

Overnight Rate” means, for any day, (a) with respect to any amount denominated in Dollars, the greater of (i) the Federal Funds Rate and (ii) an overnight rate determined by the Administrative Agent or the L/C Issuers, as the case may be, in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation, and (b) with respect to any amount denominated in an Alternative Currency, an overnight rate determined by the Administrative Agent or the L/C Issues, as the case may be, in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation.

Participant” has the meaning specified in Section 10.06(d).

Participant Register” has the meaning specified in Section 10.06(d).

Participating Member State” means any member state of the European Union that adopts or has adopted the Euro as its lawful currency in accordance with legislation of the European Union relating to Economic and Monetary Union.

PATRIOT Act” has the meaning specified in Section 10.18.

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PBGC” means the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation.

Pension Funding Rules” means the rules of the Code and ERISA regarding minimum funding standards with respect to Pension Plans and set forth in Sections 412, 430, 431, 432 and 436 of the Code and Sections 302, 303, 304 and 305 of ERISA.

Pension Plan” means any employee pension benefit plan (including a Multiple Employer Plan and other than a Multiemployer Plan) that is maintained or is contributed to by the Company and/or any ERISA Affiliate or with respect to which the Company or any ERISA Affiliate has any liability and is either covered by Title IV of ERISA or is subject to the minimum funding standards under Section 412 of the Code.

Performance Fee” means the Performance Component of the Advisory Fee (as both terms are defined in the Advisory Agreement on the Closing Date or as amended in accordance with Section 7.11).

Permitted Encumbrances” means:

(a)Liens imposed by Law for taxes, assessments or governmental charges or levies that are not yet due or are being contested in compliance with Section 6.03;
(b)landlords’, operators’, carriers’, warehousemen’s, mechanics’, materialmen’s, repairmen’s and other like Liens, arising in the ordinary course of business and securing obligations that are not overdue by more than 60 days, are being contested in good faith and by appropriate proceedings or for which a bond in the full amount thereof has been posted;
(c)pledges and deposits made in the ordinary course of business in compliance with workers’ compensation, unemployment insurance and other social security laws or regulations;
(d)deposits to secure the performance of bids, trade contracts, leases, statutory obligations, surety and appeal bonds, performance bonds and other obligations of a like nature, in each case in the ordinary course of business;
(e)judgment liens in respect of judgments that do not constitute an Event of Default under Section 8.01(h);
(f)easements, zoning restrictions, rights-of-way and similar encumbrances on real property imposed by law or arising in the ordinary course of business that do not secure any material monetary obligations and do not materially detract from the value of the affected property or materially interfere with the ordinary conduct of business of the Company or any Subsidiary;
(g)Liens in existence on the date hereof, and extensions, renewals and replacements of such Liens, as long as such extension, renewal and replacement Liens do not spread to any property other than property encumbered by such Liens on the date hereof;
(h)Liens on Properties first acquired by the Company or a Subsidiary after the date hereof and which are in place at the time such Properties are so acquired;

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(i)Liens and rights of setoff of banks and securities intermediaries in respect of deposit accounts and securities accounts maintained in the ordinary course of business and Liens of a collecting bank arising in the ordinary course of business under Section 4-210 of the UCC;
(j)assignments of past due receivables for collection purposes only;
(k)leases or subleases granted in the ordinary course of business;
(l)additional Liens on property or assets securing additional obligations not to exceed, in the aggregate, $3,000,000 at any time outstanding;
(m)Liens arising in connection with any Indebtedness permitted hereunder;
(n)Liens of any Subsidiary in favor of the Company or any of the other Loan Parties; and
(o)any netting or set-off right under any Swap Contract.

Permitted Equity Encumbrances” means:

(a)Liens imposed by Law for taxes, assessments or governmental charges or levies that are not yet due or are being contested in compliance with Section 6.03; and
(b)judgment liens in respect of judgments that do not constitute an Event of Default under Section 8.01(h).

Permitted Tax Incentive Transaction” means any transaction or series of related transactions relating to an issuance of all Indebtedness and other obligations (collectively, “Tax Incentive Indebtedness”) arising in connection with the issuance of bonds, notes or other obligations by a Governmental Authority located in the United States (each, a “Tax Incentive Issuer”) to mitigate real estate and/or ad valorem Taxes otherwise payable in connection with the ownership of any Property (each, a “Tax Incentive Property”), the fee title to which is owned (or leased) by a Tax Incentive Issuer, and subsequently leased (or subleased) by the Subsidiary from the Tax Incentive Issuer, such transaction or series of transactions being governed by, among other documents, any indenture or other agreement governing or evidencing the Tax Incentive Indebtedness, entered into by and between a Tax Incentive Issuer and the trustee of the bonds in connection with the issuance of such Tax Incentive Indebtedness, if applicable (each, an “Tax Incentive Indenture”), any lease agreement entered into by and between a Subsidiary and an Tax Incentive Issuer (or any affiliate thereof) in connection with the issuance by such Tax Incentive Issuer of Tax Incentive Indebtedness (each, a “Tax Incentive Lease Agreement”), any guaranty or similar agreement entered into by any Subsidiary to guaranty, for the benefit of the bondholder (which, pursuant to (iii) below, shall be the applicable Subsidiary, or an affiliate thereof), certain payments due in connection with the issuance of Tax Incentive Indebtedness, including, without limitation, the payment of principal and interest due under the bonds, notes, or other obligations evidencing the Tax Incentive Indebtedness, and Tax Incentive Issuer or trustees fees and expenses, if any, due under the trust indenture (each, an “Tax Incentive Guaranty”), PILOT agreements, tax incentive agreements, and any other certificate, agreement, document or instrument, in each case, executed and delivered by any Subsidiary, Tax Incentive Issuer, or the trustee of any bonds in connection with such issuance of Tax Incentive Indebtedness and related tax incentives  

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(collectively, “Tax Incentive Documents”) which satisfy the following criteria:  (i) any net cash proceeds of the Tax Incentive Indebtedness under such Tax Incentive Documents are used for the purpose of acquiring, constructing, developing, expanding, installing and/or upgrading an Tax Incentive Property, (ii) such Tax Incentive Indebtedness is non-recourse to the Loan Parties (other than as expressly provided in the applicable Tax Incentive Guaranty, if any), and any successors and/or assigns of such Loan Parties in the event of a transfer or assignment of the applicable Tax Incentive Lease Agreement and all of the rights and obligations of such Subsidiary under each other Tax Incentive Document (including any Tax Incentive Guaranty) to an assignee who is a Person that is not a Subsidiary, (iii) the applicable Subsidiary (or any affiliate thereof) is the purchaser of the taxable bonds, or holder of the applicable notes or other obligations issued or to be issued in connection with such Tax Incentive Indebtedness (and, so long as such Tax Incentive Property is an Unencumbered Property, at all times such Subsidiary (or any affiliate thereof) shall remain the owner or holder thereof), (iv) the base payments due under the Tax Incentive Lease Agreement are equivalent to the debt service due under any bonds, notes or other obligations evidencing the Tax Incentive Indebtedness (other than the payment of a nominal sum as additional annual base rent during the term of the Tax Incentive Lease Agreement),  (v) the applicable Tax Incentive Lease Agreement or another Tax Incentive Document grants to the applicable Subsidiary the option to re-acquire title to all or any portion of such Tax Incentive Property for a nominal sum at any time without further consent of the Tax Incentive Issuer or any other party other than the Subsidiary (of affiliate thereof) in its capacity as the bondholder or holder of the note or other obligation, either directly or through the trustee of the applicable bonds evidencing the Tax Incentive Indebtedness, (vi) no Tax Incentive Document entered into in connection with such Tax Incentive Indebtedness shall limit in any material respect the use by any Subsidiary of its property or assets (including the applicable Tax Incentive Property), except as may be required by applicable law to maintain the designation of the Tax Incentive Property as a “project” pursuant to the applicable legislation governing such tax incentive structures, (vii) no Tax Incentive Document entered into in connection with such Tax Incentive Indebtedness shall limit the ability of the Subsidiary to finance its interest in the Tax Incentive Property, including mortgaging the leasehold estate created under the Tax Incentive Lease Agreement, (viii) no Tax Incentive Document entered into in connection with such Tax Incentive Indebtedness shall limit the ability of the Subsidiary to transfer its interest in the Tax Incentive Property, except for any requirement for a consent from the Tax Incentive Issuer that is considered administrative and which can reasonably expected to be obtained in the ordinary course of business, and (ix) no Tax Incentive Document shall contain a “clawback” provision pursuant to which there could be an obligation by the Company or the applicable Subsidiary to repay a material portion of prior tax benefits received other than due to material breach by the Company or the applicable Subsidiary.

Person” means any natural person, corporation, limited liability company, trust, joint venture, association, company, partnership, Governmental Authority or other entity.

Platform” has the meaning specified in Section 10.02(c).

Property” means any real estate (including any leasehold estate created pursuant to a Financeable Ground Lease or a Tax Incentive Lease Agreement) or infrastructure asset owned by the Company, any of the Guarantors, any Subsidiary, any Unconsolidated Affiliate, any Exchange Fee Titleholder, any Exchange Property Owner or any other member of the Consolidated Group, and operated or intended to be operated as an investment property.

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Property Investment Value” means, at any time with respect to any Property, the undepreciated book value of such interest determined in accordance with GAAP.

Property Value” means for a Property, as of any date of determination, the most recent estimated “as is” fair market value for such Property as determined by Altus Group or other third party valuation firm engaged by the Company or applicable member of the Consolidated Group, but only if, as of such date, a full appraisal report has been performed by Altus Group or such other third party valuation firm during the calendar year in which such date occurs or during the immediately preceding calendar year (such full appraisal report, a “Current Appraisal”).  For the avoidance of doubt, the estimated “as is” fair market value may be updated periodically in between the “as of” dates of any Current Appraisal report provided by Altus Group or such other third party valuation firm to reflect changes in market conditions and/or leasing activity since the date the last Current Appraisal was performed; provided, however, that if, as of any date of determination, the Company does not have a Current Appraisal for a certain Property, then the Property Value of such Property as of such date will be (i) 90% of the most recent Current Appraisal for such Property during the period beginning on January 1 of the calendar year in which such date occurs and ending on March 31 of such calendar year, unless and until a new Current Appraisal is obtained, or (ii) 75% of the most recent Current Appraisal for such Property during the period beginning on April 1 of the calendar year in which such date occurs until a new Current Appraisal is obtained. A Property contributed to a joint venture by the Company, or any Subsidiary shall be deemed to have been owned by such joint venture from the date of such contribution and any Property acquired by the Company, or any Subsidiary from an affiliated joint venture shall be deemed to have been acquired by the Company, or any Subsidiary on the date of such acquisition from such joint venture.

PTE” means a prohibited transaction class exemption issued by the U.S. Department of Labor, as any such exemption may be amended from time to time.

Public REIT Securities” means common stock or preferred shares issued by a publicly traded real estate investment trust.

Rate Determination Date” means, with respect to any Interest Period, two (2) Business Days  prior to the commencement of such Interest Period (or such other day as is generally treated as the rate fixing day by market practice in such interbank market, as determined by the Administrative Agent; provided that, to the extent such market practice is not administratively feasible for the Administrative Agent, then “Rate Determination Date” means such other day as otherwise reasonably determined by the Administrative Agent).  

Recipient” means the Administrative Agent, any Lender, any L/C Issuer or any other recipient of any payment to be made by or on account of any obligation of any Loan Party hereunder.

Recourse Indebtedness” means any Indebtedness of the Company or any other member of the Consolidated Group with respect to which the liability of the obligor is not limited to the obligor’s interest in specified assets securing such Indebtedness, subject to customary limited exceptions for certain acts or types of liability.

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Recurring Interest Expense” means, for any period without duplication, the sum of (a) the amount of interest (without duplication, whether accrued, paid or capitalized) on Total Indebtedness actually payable by members of the Consolidated Group during such period, plus (b) the applicable Consolidated Group Pro Rata Share of any interest (without duplication, whether accrued, paid or capitalized) on Indebtedness actually payable by Unconsolidated Affiliates during such period, whether recourse or non-recourse, but excluding amortized financing related expenses.

Register” has the meaning specified in Section 10.06(c).

Regulation D” means Regulation D, promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

Regulation U” means Regulation U of the FRB, as in effect from time to time and all official rulings and interpretations thereunder or thereof.

Related Parties” means, with respect to any Person, such Person’s Affiliates and the partners, directors, officers, employees, agents, trustees, administrators, managers, advisors, consultants, service providers and representatives of such Person and of such Person’s Affiliates.

Relevant Governmental Body” means the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System or the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, or a committee officially endorsed or convened by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System or the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, or any successor thereto.

Relevant Rate” means with respect to any Credit Extension denominated in (a) Sterling, SONIA, (b) Euros, EURIBOR, and (c) Canadian Dollars, the CDOR Rate, as applicable.  

Removal Effective Date” has the meaning specified in Section 9.06(b).

Reportable Event” means any of the events set forth in Section 4043(c) of ERISA, other than events for which the 30 day notice period has been waived.

Request for Credit Extension” means (a) with respect to a Borrowing, conversion or continuation of Term A-1 Loans, Term A-2 Loans or Revolving Credit Loans, a Committed Loan Notice, and (b) with respect to an L/C Credit Extension, a Letter of Credit Application.

Required Lenders” means, at any time, at least two Lenders having Total Credit Exposures representing more than 50% of the Total Credit Exposures of all Lenders (with the aggregate amount of each Lender’s risk participation and funded participation in L/C Obligations being deemed “held” by such Lender for purposes of this definition).  The Total Credit Exposure of any Defaulting Lender shall be disregarded in determining Required Lenders at any time; provided that the amount of any participation in any Unreimbursed Amounts that such Defaulting Lender has failed to fund that have not been reallocated to and funded by another Lender shall be deemed to be held by the Lender that is the applicable L/C Issuer in making such determination.

Required Revolving Lenders” means, as of any date of determination, Revolving Credit Lenders holding more than 50% of the sum of (a) the Total Revolving Credit Outstandings (with the aggregate amount of each Revolving Credit Lender’s risk participation and funded

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participation in L/C Obligations being deemed “held” by such Revolving Credit Lender for purposes of this definition) and (b) the aggregate unused Revolving Credit Facility; provided that the unused Revolving Credit Commitment of, and the portion of the Total Revolving Credit Outstandings of, any Defaulting Lender shall be disregarded in determining Required Revolving Lenders at any time; provided further that, the amount of any participation in any Unreimbursed Amounts that such Defaulting Lender has failed to fund that have not been reallocated to and funded by another Lender shall be deemed to be held by the Lender that is the L/C Issuer in making such determination.

Required Term A-1 Lenders” means, as of any date of determination, Term A-1 Lenders holding more than 50% of the sum of the Term A-1 Facility on such date; provided that the portion of the Term A-1 Facility held by any Defaulting Lender shall be disregarded in determining Required Term A-1 Lenders at any time.

Required Term A-2 Lenders” means, as of any date of determination, Term A-2 Lenders holding more than 50% of the sum of the Term A-2 Facility on such date; provided that the portion of the Term A-2 Facility held by any Defaulting Lender shall be disregarded in determining Required Term A-2 Lenders at any time.

Required Tranche Lenders” means, as of any date of determination, (a) with respect to matters relating to Multicurrency Revolving Commitments and Multicurrency Revolving Tranche Loans only, Revolving Credit Lenders holding more than 50% of the sum of (i) the aggregate Outstanding Amount of all Multicurrency Tranche Loans and (ii) the aggregate unused Multicurrency Tranche Commitments of all Revolving Credit Lenders and (b) with respect to matters relating to Dollar Tranche Commitments (including the purchase of participations in L/C Obligations) and Dollar Tranche Loans only, Revolving Credit Lenders holding more than 50% of the sum of (i) the aggregate Outstanding Amount of all Dollar Tranche Loans (with the aggregate amount of each Revolving Credit Lender’s risk participation and funded participation in L/C Obligations being deemed “held” by such Revolving Credit Lender for purposes of this definition) and (ii) the aggregate unused Dollar Tranche Commitments of all Revolving Credit Lenders; provided that the unused Multicurrency Tranche Commitment or Dollar Tranche Commitment, as applicable, of, and the Multicurrency Tranche Loans and Dollar Tranche Loans, as applicable, of, any Defaulting Lender shall be disregarded in determining Required Tranche Lenders at any time; provided further that, the amount of any participation in any Unreimbursed Amounts that such Defaulting Lender has failed to fund that have not been reallocated to and funded by another Lender shall be deemed to be held by the Lender that is the L/C Issuer in making such determination.

Rescindable Amount” has the meaning as defined in Section 2.12(b)(ii).

Resignation Effective Date” has the meaning specified in Section 9.06(a).

Resolution Authority” means an EEA Resolution Authority or, with respect to any UK Financial Institution, a UK Resolution Authority.

Responsible Officer” means the Managing Director, Chief Financial Officer &Treasurer or Senior Vice President, Debt Capital Markets of the Trust, or such other Persons proposed by the Trust and reasonably approved by Administrative Agent in writing, and solely for purposes of

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the delivery of incumbency certificates pursuant to Section 4.01, the secretary or any assistant secretary of a Loan Party and, solely for purposes of notices given pursuant to Article II, any other officer or employee of the applicable Loan Party so designated by any of the foregoing officers in a notice to the Administrative Agent or any other officer or employee of the applicable Loan Party designated in or pursuant to an agreement from the applicable Loan Party for the benefit of the Administrative Agent.  Any document delivered hereunder that is signed by a Responsible Officer of a Loan Party shall be conclusively presumed to have been authorized by all necessary corporate, partnership and/or other action on the part of such Loan Party and such Responsible Officer shall be conclusively presumed to have acted on behalf of such Loan Party and such Responsible Officer shall be deemed to be acting solely in such person’s representative capacity and not in his or her individual capacity.  Unless otherwise specified, all references herein to a “Responsible Officer” shall refer to a Responsible Officer of the Company.

Restricted Payment” means any cash dividend, cash distribution or other cash payment with respect to any equity interests in the Company or any Subsidiary, excluding (i) any dividend, distribution or other payment by a member of the Consolidated Group to another member of the Consolidated Group (including in connection with the issuance of equity interests), (ii) any redemption of equity interests by a member of the Consolidated Group (including pursuant to a share buyback program); (iii) any distribution or other payment by an Unconsolidated Affiliate to a member of the Consolidated Group (including promote payments in connection with development joint ventures and regular distributions of cash flow from Unconsolidated Affiliates); and (iv) any distribution or other payment by any Subsidiary or Unconsolidated Affiliate which is a partnership, limited liability company or joint venture or mezzanine lender and operated in the ordinary course of business.

Revaluation Date” means (a) with respect to any Loan, each of the following: (i) each date of a Borrowing of an Alternative Currency Loan, (ii) each date of a continuation of an Alternative Currency Term Rate Loan pursuant to Section 2.02, and (iii) such additional dates as the Administrative Agent shall determine or the Required Lenders shall require, in each case under this clause (iii) in its or their reasonable discretion; and (b) with respect to any Letter of Credit, each of the following: (i) each date of issuance, amendment and/or extension of a Letter of Credit denominated in an Alternative Currency, (ii) each date of any payment by the applicable L/C Issuer under any Letter of Credit denominated in an Alternative Currency, and (iii) such additional dates as the Administrative Agent or the applicable L/C Issuer shall determine or the Required Lenders shall require.

Revolving Credit Borrowing” means a borrowing consisting of simultaneous Revolving Credit Loans of the same Type, in the same currency and, in the case of Eurodollar Rate Loans and Alternative Currency Term Rate Loans, having the same Interest Period made by each of the Dollar Tranche Lenders or each of the Multicurrency Tranche Lenders, as the case may be, pursuant to Section 2.01(c).

Revolving Credit Commitment” means, as to each Revolving Credit Lender, its obligation to (a) make Revolving Credit Loans to the Borrowers pursuant to Section 2.01(c), and (b) in the case of a Dollar Tranche Lender, purchase participations in L/C Obligations, in an aggregate principal amount at any one time outstanding not to exceed the Dollar Equivalent of the amount set forth opposite such Lender’s name on Schedule 2.01A under the caption “Revolving Credit Commitment” or opposite such caption in the Assignment and Assumption or New Lender Joinder

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Agreement pursuant to which such Lender becomes a party hereto, as applicable, as such amount may be adjusted from time to time in accordance with this Agreement.

Revolving Credit Exposure” means, as to any Lender at any time, the aggregate principal amount at such time of such Lender’s outstanding Revolving Credit Loans and such Lender’s participation in L/C Obligations at such time.

Revolving Credit Facility” means, at any time, the aggregate amount of the Revolving Credit Lenders’ Revolving Credit Commitments (inclusive of the Dollar Tranche Commitments and the Multicurrency Tranche Commitments) at such time.  On the Closing Date the Revolving Credit Facility is $700,000,000.

Revolving Credit Lender” means (a) at any time prior to the last day of the Availability Period in respect of the Revolving Credit Facility, any Lender that has a Revolving Credit Commitment at such time and (b) at any time thereafter, any Lender that holds Revolving Credit Loans at such time.

Revolving Credit Loan” means a Dollar Tranche Loan or a Multicurrency Revolving Tranche Loan.

Revolving Credit Note” means a promissory note made by the Borrowers in favor of a Revolving Credit Lender evidencing Revolving Credit Loans made by such Revolving Credit Lender, substantially in the form of Exhibit C-3.

Revolving Credit Unused Fee” has the meaning specified in Section 2.09(a).

S&P” means S&P Global Ratings, a division of S&P Global, and any successor to its rating agency business.

Sale-Leaseback Master Lease” shall mean a master lease entered into by a buyer of a Property, as lessor, and the seller of such Property, as lessee, in connection with a transaction whereby such seller leases all or a portion of such Property after closing.

Same Day Funds” means (a) with respect to disbursements and payments in Dollars, immediately available funds, and (b) with respect to disbursements and payments in an Alternative Currency, same day or other funds as may be determined by the Administrative Agent or the L/C Issuers, as the case may be, to be customary in the place of disbursement or payment for the settlement of international banking transactions in the relevant Alternative Currency.

Sanction(s)means any sanction administered or enforced by the United States Government (including without limitation, OFAC), the United Nations Security Council, the European Union, Her Majesty’s Treasury or any other relevant sanctions authority.

Scheduled Unavailability Date” has the meaning specified in Section 3.03(e).

SEC” means the Securities and Exchange Commission, or any Governmental Authority succeeding to any of its principal functions.

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SOFR” means, with respect to any applicable determination date, the Secured Overnight Financing Rate published on the fifth U.S. Government Securities Business Day preceding such date by the SOFR Administrator on the Federal Reserve Bank of New York’s website (or any successor source); provided, however, that if such determination date is not a U.S. Government Securities Business Day, then SOFR means such rate that applied on the first U.S. Government Securities Business Day immediately prior thereto.

SOFR Adjustment” means, with respect to Daily SOFR, 0.11448% (11.448 basis points); and with respect to Term SOFR, 0.11448% (11.448 basis points) per annum for an Available Tenor of one-month’s duration, 0.26161% (26.161 basis points) per annum for an Available Tenor of three-months’ duration, 0.42826% (42.826 basis points) per annum for an Available Tenor of six-months’ duration, and 0.71513% (71.513 basis points) per annum for an Available Tenor of twelve-months’ duration.

SOFR Administrator” means the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, as the administrator of SOFR, or any successor administrator of SOFR designated by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York or other Person acting as the SOFR Administrator at such time.  

SOFR Early Opt-in” means the Administrative Agent and the Company have elected to replace LIBOR pursuant to (1) an Early Opt-in Election and (2) Section 3.03(c)(i) and paragraph (1) of the definition of “Benchmark Replacement”.

Solvent” and “Solvency” mean, with respect to any Person on any date of determination, that on such date (a) the fair value of the property of such Person is greater than the total amount of liabilities, including contingent liabilities, of such Person, (b) the present fair salable value of the assets of such Person is not less than the amount that will be required to pay the probable liability of such Person on its debts as they become absolute and matured, (c) such Person does not intend to, and does not believe that it will, incur debts or liabilities beyond such Person’s ability to pay such debts and liabilities as they mature, (d) such Person is not engaged in business or a transaction, and is not about to engage in business or a transaction, for which such Person’s property would constitute an unreasonably small capital, and (e) such Person is able to pay its debts and liabilities, contingent obligations and other commitments as they mature in the ordinary course of business.  The amount of contingent liabilities at any time shall be computed as the amount that, in the light of all the facts and circumstances existing at such time, represents the amount that can reasonably be expected to become an actual or matured liability.

SONIA” shall mean, with respect to any applicable determination date, the Sterling Overnight Index Average Reference Rate published on the fifth Business Day preceding such date on the applicable Reuters screen page (or such other commercially available source providing such quotations as may be designated by the Administrative Agent from time to time in its reasonable discretion); provided however that if such determination date is not a Business Day, SONIA means such rate that applied on the first Business Day immediately prior thereto; provided further that if SONIA as determined in accordance with the foregoing shall be less than zero, such rate shall be deemed zero for purposes of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents.

SONIA Adjustment” means, with respect to SONIA, 0.0326% per annum.

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Special Notice Currency” means at any time an Alternative Currency, other than the currency of a country that is a member of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development at such time located in North America or Europe.

Subsidiary” of a Person means a corporation, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company or other business entity of which a majority of the shares of securities or other interests having ordinary voting power for the election of directors or other governing body (other than securities or interests having such power only by reason of the happening of a contingency) are at the time beneficially owned, or the management of which is otherwise controlled, directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, or both, by such Person. Unless otherwise specified, all references herein to a “Subsidiary” or to “Subsidiaries” shall refer to a Subsidiary or Subsidiaries of the Company.

Subsidiary Guarantor” means (a) each Subsidiary Owner that is a Domestic Subsidiary, (b) each Domestic Subsidiary that is master leasing an Unencumbered Property from an Exchange Fee Titleholder, (c) each Intermediate Subsidiary Owner Guarantor, (d) each Exchange Depositor, and (e) any other Subsidiary that elects to become a party to the Subsidiary Guaranty.

Subsidiary Guaranty” means the guaranty to be executed and delivered by the Subsidiary Guarantors, substantially in the form of Exhibit F-2, as the same may be amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.

Subsidiary Owner” means the Subsidiary that is the owner of the applicable Unencumbered Property (including the lessee of the applicable Unencumbered Property pursuant to a Financeable Ground Lease, as applicable), and any Exchange Depositor under a Delaware statutory trust that owns any applicable Unencumbered Property and is part of the Exchange Program or, after the FMV Option has been exercised, an Affiliate of the Company that is also the owner of 100% of the Exchange Beneficial Interests.

Successor Rate” has the meaning specified in Section 3.03(e).

Swap Contract” means (a) any and all rate swap transactions, basis swaps, credit derivative transactions, forward rate transactions, commodity swaps, commodity options, forward commodity contracts, equity or equity index swaps or options, bond or bond price or bond index swaps or options or forward bond or forward bond price or forward bond index transactions, interest rate options, forward foreign exchange transactions, cap transactions, floor transactions, collar transactions, currency swap transactions, cross-currency rate swap transactions, currency options, spot contracts, or any other similar transactions or any combination of any of the foregoing (including any options to enter into any of the foregoing), whether or not any such transaction is governed by or subject to any master agreement, and (b) any and all transactions of any kind, and the related confirmations, which are subject to the terms and conditions of, or governed by, any form of master agreement published by the International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc., any International Foreign Exchange Master Agreement, or any other master agreement (any such master agreement, together with any related schedules, a “Master Agreement”), including any such obligations or liabilities under any Master Agreement.

SWIFT” has the meaning specified in Section 2.03(f).

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TARGET2” means the Trans-European Automated Real-time Gross Settlement Express Transfer payment system which utilizes a single shared platform and which was launched on November 19, 2007.

TARGET Day” means any day on which TARGET2 (or, if such payment system ceases to be operative, such other payment system, if any, determined by the Administrative Agent to be a suitable replacement) is open for the settlement of payments in Euro.

Taxes” means all present or future taxes, levies, imposts, duties, deductions, withholdings (including backup withholding), assessments, fees or other charges imposed by any Governmental Authority, including any interest, additions to tax or penalties applicable thereto.

Term A-1 Borrowing” means a borrowing consisting of simultaneous Term A-1 Loans of the same Type, in the same currency and, in the case of Eurodollar Rate Loans and Alternative Currency Term Rate Loans, having the same Interest Period made by each of the Term A-1 Lenders pursuant to Section 2.01(a).

Term A-1 Commitment” means, as to each Term A-1 Lender, its obligation to make Term A-1 Loans to the Company pursuant to Section 2.01(a) in an aggregate principal amount at any one time outstanding not to exceed the amount set forth opposite such Term A-1 Lender’s name on Schedule 2.01A under the caption “Term A-1 Commitment” or opposite such caption in the Assignment and Assumption or New Lender Joinder Agreement pursuant to which such Term A-1 Lender becomes a party hereto, as applicable, as such amount may be adjusted from time to time in accordance with this Agreement.

Term A-1 Facility” means (a) at any time on or prior to the Term A-1 Loan Draw Deadline, the sum of (i) the aggregate amount of the unfunded Term A-1 Commitments at such time and (ii) the aggregate principal amount of the Term A-1 Loans of all Term A-1 Lenders outstanding at such time and (b) thereafter, the aggregate principal amount of the Term A-1 Loans of all Term A-1 Lenders outstanding at such time.  On the Closing Date the Term A-1 Facility is $400,000,000, and, on any Term A-1 Funding Date on which a Term A-1 Borrowing denominated in an Alternative Currency is made, will be adjusted as described in Section 2.01(a).

Term A-1 Lender” means (a) at any time prior to the Term A-1 Loan Draw Deadline, any Lender that has a Term A-1 Commitment or holds Term A-1 Loans at such time and (b) at any time thereafter, any Lender that holds Term A-1 Loans at such time.

Term A-1 Loan” means an advance made by any Term A-1 Lender under the Term A-1 Commitments.

Term A-1 Loan Draw Deadline” means the earliest of (i) the first anniversary of the Closing Date, (ii) the date of the fourth Term A-1 Funding Date (if any) occurring after the Closing Date (after giving effect to the Term A-1 Borrowing made on such date), (iii) the Term A-1 Funding Date on which a Term A-1 Borrowing of Alternative Currency Loans (if any) is made (after giving effect thereto); and (iii) the date of termination of the commitment of each Term A-1 Lender to make Term A-1 Loans pursuant to Section 2.06 or Section 8.02.

Term A-1 Loan Unused Fee” has the meaning specified in Section 2.09(c).

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Term A-1 Note” means a promissory note made by the Company in favor of a Term A-1 Lender evidencing Term A-1 Loans made by such Term A-1 Lender, substantially in the form of Exhibit C-1.

Term A-2 Borrowing” means a borrowing consisting of simultaneous Term A-2 Loans of the same Type, in the same currency and, in the case of Eurodollar Rate Loans and Alternative Currency Term Rate Loans, having the same Interest Period made by each of the Term A-2 Lenders pursuant to Section 2.01(a).

Term A-2 Commitment” means, as to each Term A-2 Lender, its obligation to make Term A-2 Loans to the Company pursuant to Section 2.01(a) in an aggregate principal amount at any one time outstanding not to exceed the amount set forth opposite such Term A-2 Lender’s name on Schedule 2.01A under the caption “Term A-2 Commitment” or opposite such caption in the Assignment and Assumption or New Lender Joinder Agreement pursuant to which such Term A-2 Lender becomes a party hereto, as applicable, as such amount may be adjusted from time to time in accordance with this Agreement.

Term A-2 Facility” means (a) at any time on or prior to the Term A-2 Loan Draw Deadline, the sum of (i) the aggregate amount of the unfunded Term A-2 Commitments at such time and (ii) the aggregate principal amount of the Term A-2 Loans of all Term A-2 Lenders outstanding at such time and (b) thereafter, the aggregate principal amount of the Term A-2 Loans of all Term A-2 Lenders outstanding at such time.  On the Closing Date the Term A-2 Facility is $400,000,000, and on any Term A-2 Funding Date on which a Term A-2 Borrowing of Alternative Currency Loans (if any) is made, will be adjusted as described in Section 2.01(b).

Term A-2 Lender” means (a) at any time prior to the Term A-2 Loan Draw Deadline, any Lender that has a Term A-2 Commitment or holds Term A-2 Loans at such time and (b) at any time thereafter, any Lender that holds Term A-2 Loans at such time.

Term A-2 Loan” means an advance made by any Term A-2 Lender under the Term A-2 Commitments.

Term A-2 Loan Draw Deadline” means the earliest of (i) the first anniversary of the Closing Date, (ii) the date of the fourth Term A-2 Funding Date (if any) occurring after the Closing Date (after giving effect to the Term A-2 Borrowing made on such date), (iii) the Term A-2 Funding Date on which a Term A-2 Borrowing denominated in an Alternative Currency (if any) is made (after giving effect thereto); and (iii) the date of termination of the commitment of each Term A-2 Lender to make Term A-2 Loans pursuant to Section 2.06 or Section 8.02.

Term A-2 Loan Unused Fee” has the meaning specified in Section 2.09(d).

Term A-2 Note” means a promissory note made by the Company in favor of a Term A-2 Lender evidencing Term A-2 Loans made by such Term A-2 Lender, substantially in the form of Exhibit C-2.

Term Facility” means the Term A-1 Facility and/or the Term A-2 Facility, as the context may require, and “Term Facilities” means a collective reference to the Term A-1 Facility and the Term A-2 Facility.

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Term SOFR” means a forward-looking term rate for SOFR, if any, identified by the SOFR Administrator as reflecting term-based quotations of SOFR that has been selected or recommended by the Relevant Governmental Body, in each case as published on an information service as selected by the Administrative Agent from time to time in its reasonable discretion, plus the SOFR Adjustment.

Total Asset Value” means, as of the date of calculation, the aggregate, without duplication, of:  (i) an amount equal to one hundred percent (100%) of the Property Value of all Properties (other than land assets and Assets Under Development) owned by any member of the Consolidated Group, any Exchange Property Owner or any Exchange Fee Titleholders; plus (ii) the Consolidated Group’s Pro Rata Share of the Property Value of all Properties (other than land assets and Assets Under Development) owned by Unconsolidated Affiliates, or any non-wholly owned Exchange Fee Titleholder; plus (iii) an amount equal to one hundred percent (100%) of the Property Investment Value of each land asset and Asset Under Development owned by any member of the Consolidated Group, any Exchange Property Owner or any Exchange Fee Titleholder; plus (iv) an amount equal to the Consolidated Group Pro Rata Share of the Property Investment Value of each land asset and Asset Under Development owned by an Unconsolidated Affiliate, or any non-wholly owned Exchange Fee Titleholder; plus (v) unrestricted cash and Cash Equivalents owned directly or indirectly by any member of the Consolidated Group, any Exchange Property Owner or any Exchange Fee Titleholder; plus (vi) the applicable Consolidated Group Pro Rata Share of unrestricted cash and cash equivalents owned directly or indirectly by any Exchange Fee Titleholder or by any Borrower or any Guarantor through an Unconsolidated Affiliate; plus (vii) an amount equal to one hundred percent (100%) of any Borrower’s and any Guarantor’s investments in First Mortgage Investments (based on current book value), Other Debt Investments (based on current book value), and Exchange Debt Investments (based on current book value) provided that no Exchange Debt Investment shall be included under this clause if it relates to an Exchange Property already included in the calculation of Total Asset Value; plus (viii) Public REIT stocks and Public REIT Preferred Securities (based on current market value); plus (ix) an amount equal to the Consolidated Group Pro Rata Share of investments in First Mortgage Investments, Other Debt Investments, Exchange Debt Investments, Public REIT Stocks and Public REIT Preferred Securities owned by an Unconsolidated Affiliate or any Exchange Fee Titleholder (based on values as defined in (vii) and (viii) above) provided that no Exchange Debt Investment shall be included under this clause if it relates to an Exchange Property already included in the calculation of Total Asset Value; plus (x) proceeds due from transfer agents; plus (xi) the amount of all Eligible Cash 1031 Proceeds.  If the FMV Option for any Exchange Property owned by an Exchange Property Owner has expired, then for purposes of calculating Total Asset Value for such Exchange Property, only the pro rata share of the Property Value for such Exchange Property (corresponding to the pro rata share of the Exchange Beneficial Interests in such Exchange Property Owner or the tenant in common interests that are still owned by the Consolidated Group) for such Exchange Property shall be counted.

Total Credit Exposure” means, as to any Lender at any time, the unused Commitments and Total Outstandings of such Lender at such time.

Total Indebtedness” shall mean, as of any date of determination, without duplication, the sum of: (a) all Indebtedness of the Consolidated Group outstanding at such date, determined on a consolidated basis; plus (b) the greater of (i) the applicable Consolidated Group Pro Rata Share of all Indebtedness of each Unconsolidated Affiliate (other than Indebtedness of such Unconsolidated

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Affiliate to a member of the Consolidated Group) and (ii) the amount of Indebtedness of such Unconsolidated Affiliate which is also Recourse Indebtedness of a member of the Consolidated Group.

Total Outstandings” means the aggregate Outstanding Amount of all Loans and all L/C Obligations.

Total Revolving Credit Outstandings” means the aggregate Outstanding Amount of all Revolving Credit Loans and all L/C Obligations.

Total Secured Indebtedness” means, as of any date of determination, that portion of Total Indebtedness (excluding (i) the Obligations under the Loan Documents, (ii) obligations under Swap Contracts, (iii) completion and similar guarantees with respect to a construction loan facility (except to the extent that any member of the Consolidated Group has a secured recourse obligation with respect to such construction loan facility) and (iv) indemnity obligations relating to performance or surety bonds in the ordinary course of business) which is secured by a Lien on a Property, any ownership interests in any Subsidiary or Unconsolidated Affiliate or any other assets which had, in each case, in the aggregate, a value in excess of the amount of the applicable Indebtedness at the time such Indebtedness was incurred.  Such Indebtedness that is secured only with a pledge of ownership interests and is also recourse to a Borrower or any Guarantor shall not be treated as Secured Indebtedness.

Total Unencumbered Property Pool Value” means, as of any date of calculation, the aggregate, without duplication, of: (a) the Property Values of all Unencumbered Properties (other than any that are Assets Under Development); provided that for purposes of calculating the Property Value for (i) any Exchange Property that constitutes an Unencumbered Property, only the pro rata share of the Property Value for such Exchange Property (corresponding to the pro rata share of the Exchange Beneficial Interests in the Exchange Property Owner or the tenant in common interests that are still owned by the Consolidated Group) shall be counted and (ii) any Unencumbered Property that is owned by a Subsidiary that is not wholly owned directly or indirectly by the Company, only the pro rata share of Property Value for such Unencumbered Property (corresponding to the pro rata share of such Subsidiary that is owned by the Company) shall be counted; plus (b) any unrestricted cash; plus (c) an amount equal to one hundred percent (100%) of the Property Investment Value of each Unencumbered Property that is an Asset Under Development; plus (d) an amount equal to one hundred percent (100%) of the then current book value of each First Mortgage Investment, provided that such First Mortgage Investment is not subject to any Liens or encumbrances and so long as the mortgagor with respect to such First Mortgage Investment is not delinquent thirty (30) days or more in any payment of interest or principal payments thereunder; plus (e) an amount equal to one hundred percent (100%) of the Company’s or any Guarantor’s investment (based on then current book value) of each Other Debt Investment, provided that such Other Debt Investment is not subject to any Liens or encumbrances and so long as the borrower with respect to such Other Debt Investment is not delinquent thirty (30) days or more in any payment of interest or principal payments thereunder; plus (f) an amount equal to one hundred percent (100%) of the then current book value of each Exchange Debt Investment, provided that such Exchange Debt Investment is not subject to any Liens or encumbrances and so long as the Exchange Property Investor with respect to such Exchange Debt Investment is not delinquent thirty (30) days or more in any payment of interest or principal payments thereunder; plus (g) the amount of all Eligible Cash 1031 Proceeds resulting from the

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sale of Unencumbered Properties: provided that no more than thirty-five percent (35%) of Total Unencumbered Property Pool Value may be attributable in the aggregate to, (i) Assets Under Development, (ii) Exchange Properties, (iii) First Mortgage Investments and Other Debt Investments, (iv) Exchange Debt Investments, or (v) Unencumbered Properties (other than Exchange Properties) that are owned by Subsidiaries that are at least 90% but less than 100% owned (directly or indirectly) by the Company with any such Unencumbered Properties that are not 100% owned comprising no more than ten percent (10%) of Total Unencumbered Property Pool Value.

Total Unsecured Indebtedness” means, as of any date of determination, that portion of Total Indebtedness which does not constitute Total Secured Indebtedness; provided that for purposes of calculating Total Unsecured Indebtedness, the amount of the Consolidated Group Pro Rata Share of all Indebtedness of each Unconsolidated Affiliate (other than Indebtedness of such Unconsolidated Affiliate owed to a member of the Consolidated Group) shall be excluded for all purposes of this definition.  For the avoidance of doubt, the Obligations under the Loan Documents and currently payable obligations under Swap Contracts shall be included in Total Unsecured Indebtedness, and completion and similar Guarantees shall not be included in Total Unsecured Indebtedness.

Tranche” means a category of Revolving Credit Commitments and the related extensions of credit thereunder.  For purposes hereof, each of the following comprises a separate Tranche: (a) Multicurrency Revolving Commitments and Multicurrency Revolving Tranche Loans, and (b) Dollar Tranche Commitments and Dollar Tranche Revolving Credit Loans.

Trust” means Black Creek Diversified Property Fund Inc., the general partner of the Company.

Type” means, with respect to a Loan, its character as a Base Rate Loan, a LIBOR Daily Floating Rate Loan, a Eurodollar Rate Loan, an Alternative Currency Daily Rate Loan or an Alternative Currency Term Rate Loan.

UCP” means the Uniform Customs and Practice for Documentary Credits, International Chamber of Commerce Publication No. 600 (or such later version thereof as may be in effect at the applicable time).

UK Financial Institution” means any BRRD Undertaking (as such term is defined under the PRA Rulebook (as amended form time to time) promulgated by the United Kingdom Prudential Regulation Authority) or any person subject to IFPRU 11.6 of the FCA Handbook (as amended from time to time) promulgated by the United Kingdom Financial Conduct Authority, which includes certain credit institutions and investment firms, and certain affiliates of such credit institutions or investment firms.

UK Resolution Authority” means the Bank of England or any other public administrative authority having responsibility for the resolution of any UK Financial Institution.

Unconsolidated Affiliate” means any Person in which the Consolidated Group, directly or indirectly, has any ownership interest of $1,000,000 or more (valued as of the most recent quarterly financial statement), whose financial results are not consolidated under GAAP with the financial results of the Consolidated Group.

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Unencumbered Asset Pool Leverage Ratio” means, for any period, Total Unsecured Indebtedness to Total Unencumbered Property Pool Value.

Unencumbered Property” means a Property (other than (a) an Exchange Property except as hereinafter provided and (b) infrastructure assets) that is designated by the Company as an Unencumbered Property and:  (i) is completed or, subject to the limitation in the definition of Total Unencumbered Property Pool Value, is an Asset Under Development; (ii) is located in a state within the United States (or the District of Columbia) or, subject to the limitation set forth in Section 7.09(g)(vii), in a Non-US Jurisdiction, (iii) is 100% owned in fee simple (or is ground leased pursuant to a Financeable Ground Lease or a Tax Incentive Lease Agreement) by the Company, a wholly owned Subsidiary, an Exchange Fee Titleholder, or subject to the limitation set forth in the definition of Total Unencumbered Property Pool Value, a Subsidiary that is at least 90% owned directly or indirectly by the Company provided no consent from a minority owner is required in order for the Company to cause a sale or refinancing of such Property, and so long as any such Subsidiary (whether or not wholly owned) is a Guarantor (to the extent required by Section 6.13); (iv) is not subject to any Liens or encumbrances other than clauses (a), (b), (c), (d), (f), (j), (k), and (n) of the definition of Permitted Encumbrances or a Lien securing bonds, notes or other obligations issued pursuant to a Permitted Tax Incentive Transaction; (v) is not subject to any agreement (including (a) any agreement governing Indebtedness incurred in order to finance or refinance the acquisition of such Property, and (b) if applicable, the organizational documents of the Company or any applicable Subsidiary Owner) which prohibits or limits the ability of the Company or any applicable Subsidiary Owner, as the case may be, to create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any Lien upon any such Property or any Equity Interests of any applicable Subsidiary Owner, except for covenants that are not materially more restrictive than the covenants contained in this Agreement, in favor of holders of unsecured Indebtedness of the Company and such Subsidiary Owner not prohibited hereunder; (vi) is not subject to any agreement (including (a) any agreement governing Indebtedness incurred in order to finance or refinance the acquisition of such Property, and (b) if applicable, the organizational documents of the Company or any applicable Subsidiary Owner) which entitles any Person to the benefit of any Lien on such Property or the Equity Interests in any applicable Subsidiary Owner or Exchange Fee Titleholder, or would entitle any Person to the benefit of any Lien on such Property (other than, in each case, the Lien securing repayment of bonds, notes or other obligations issued pursuant to, or fees and expenses of the Tax Incentive Issuer or trustee incurred in connection with, a Permitted Tax Incentive Transaction) upon the occurrence of any contingency (including, without limitation, pursuant to an “equal and ratable” clause) other than any agreement entered into in connection with the financing of such Property and the pledge of such Property as security for any financing pending the closing of such financing, provided that such Property shall cease to be an Unencumbered Property upon the closing of such financing; (vii) is not subject to any agreement (including (a) any agreement governing Indebtedness incurred in order to finance or refinance the acquisition of such Property, and (b) if applicable, the organizational documents of the Company or any applicable Subsidiary Owner) which prohibits or limits the ability of the Company or any applicable Subsidiary Owner or Exchange Fee Titleholder, as the case may be, to make pro rata Restricted Payments to the Company or any applicable Subsidiary Owner of income arising out of such Property or prevents such Subsidiary Owner from transferring such Property (other than (x) any restriction with respect to a Property imposed pursuant to an agreement entered into for the sale or disposition of such Property pending the closing of such sale or disposition or in connection with a 1031 exchange or any restriction in connection with a Permitted Tax Incentive Transaction that complies with the condition set forth in clause (viii) of the criteria for such transactions, and (y) any restriction with

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respect to a Subsidiary Owner that owns such Property imposed pursuant to an agreement entered into for the sale or disposition of all or substantially all the Equity Interests or assets of such Subsidiary Owner pending the closing of such sale or disposition); and (viii) is not the subject of any issues which would materially and adversely impact the operation of such Property.  No Property owned by a Subsidiary Owner shall be deemed to be an Unencumbered Property unless (1) both such Property and all Equity Interests of such Subsidiary Owner held directly or indirectly by the Company are not subject to any Lien, except as otherwise expressly permitted herein, including without limitation, in connection with a Permitted Tax Incentive Transaction, (2) each intervening entity between the entity immediately below DCTRT Real Estate Holdco LLC and such Subsidiary Owner is not a borrower or guarantor of, or otherwise obligated in respect of, any Indebtedness for borrowed money or, if such entity is a borrower or guarantor of, or otherwise is obligated in respect of, any Indebtedness, such Indebtedness is unsecured, and (3) neither such Subsidiary Owner nor any intervening entity between the entity immediately below DCTRT Real Estate Holdco LLC and such Subsidiary Owner is subject to insolvency proceedings, unable to pay debts or subject to any writ or warrant of attachment.  A Property that is subject to an option to purchase shall not be disqualified by the requirement in clause (vii) from being an Unencumbered Property so long as the Property can be transferred subject to the rights of the optionee; provided that if the option to purchase is for a fixed price as distinguished from a market price, the Property Value for such Property shall be equal to the lesser of (x) the amount determined in accordance with the definition of Property Value, and (y) the option price for such Property.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, Exchange Properties that are part of the Exchange Program may be included as Unencumbered Properties during the period of time that the Exchange Beneficial Interests or tenant in common interests are being marketed if all of the requirements set forth in this definition for an Unencumbered Property are met other than (A) the ownership percentage requirement (including without limitation the requirement set forth in clause (iii) of this definition), (B) the requirement that they not be Exchange Properties, (C) any requirement that the owner of such Property become a Subsidiary Guarantor (so long as the applicable Exchange Depositor is a Subsidiary Guarantor), (D) any requirement that the Property not be subject to any agreement which prohibits or limits the ability of the Company or any applicable Subsidiary Owner, as the case may be, to create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any Lien upon such Property; provided that (for the avoidance of doubt), with respect to Exchange Properties, the Equity Interests of any applicable Subsidiary Owner shall not be subject to any agreement that prohibits or limits the ability of the Company or such Subsidiary Owner, as the case may be, to create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any Lien on such Equity Interests, or (E) any requirement set forth in clauses (1), (2) or (3) above, except that for purposes of calculating unencumbered pool financial covenants, only the pro rata share of value and income (corresponding to the pro rata share of the Exchange Beneficial Interests in the Exchange Property Owner or the tenant in common interests that are still owned by the Consolidated Group) shall be counted. Nothing herein shall prohibit an Unencumbered Property hereunder from constituting an unencumbered asset in connection with any other Indebtedness; provided that such Indebtedness is otherwise not prohibited pursuant to the terms of this Agreement.

Unencumbered Property NOI” means, with respect to any Unencumbered Property for any period, the Net Operating Income for such Unencumbered Property for such period, less the applicable Capital Expenditure Reserve.  For purposes of calculating Unencumbered Property NOI for any Exchange Property that constitutes an Unencumbered Property, only the pro rata share of Unencumbered Property NOI (corresponding to the pro rata share of the Exchange Beneficial Interests in the Exchange Property Owner or the tenant in common interests that are still owned

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by the Consolidated Group) shall be counted.  For purposes of calculating Unencumbered Property NOI for any other Unencumbered Property that is owned by a Subsidiary that is not wholly owned directly or indirectly by the Company, only the pro rata share of Unencumbered Property NOI (corresponding to the pro rata share of such Subsidiary that is owned by the Company) shall be counted.

United States” and “U.S.” mean the United States of America.

Unreimbursed Amount” has the meaning specified in Section 2.03(f).

Unrestricted Cash and Cash Equivalents” means, in the aggregate, all cash and Cash Equivalents which are not pledged for the benefit of any party (whether a creditor, seller or otherwise) having a claim (whether liquidated or not) against a member of the Consolidated Group, to be valued for purposes of this Agreement at 100% of its then-current book value, as determined under GAAP.

Unsecured Interest Coverage Ratio” means (i) Unencumbered Property NOI for all Unencumbered Properties plus interest income from unencumbered First Mortgage Investments and Exchange Debt Investments, divided by (ii) Unsecured Interest Expense in each case for the most recent quarter annualized.

Unsecured Interest Expense”  means, for any period without duplication, the amount of interest (without duplication, whether accrued, paid or capitalized) on Total Unsecured Indebtedness, but excluding amortized financial related expenses.

Unused Fee Rate” means (i) with respect to the Revolving Credit Facility (a) a percentage per annum equal to twenty basis points (0.20%) if the weighted average Total Revolving Credit Outstandings during the applicable quarter based on the daily Revolving Credit Outstandings during such quarter are less than fifty percent (50%) of the Revolving Credit Facility and (b) a percentage per annum equal to fifteen basis points (0.15%) if the weighted average Total Revolving Credit Outstandings during the applicable quarter based on the daily Revolving Credit Outstandings during such quarter are equal to or greater than fifty percent (50.0%) of the Revolving Credit Facility, and (ii) with respect to each Term Facility a percentage equal to twenty basis points (0.20%) per annum.

U.S. Borrower” means any Borrower that is organized under the laws of any state within the United States or the District of Columbia.

U.S. Government Securities Business Day” means any Business Day, except any Business Day on which any of the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association, the New York Stock Exchange or the Federal Reserve Bank of New York is not open for business because such day is a legal holiday under the federal laws of the United States or the laws of the State of New York, as applicable.

U.S. Person” means any Person that is a “United States person” as defined in Section 7701(a) (30) of the Code.

U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate” has the meaning specified in Section 3.01(g)(ii)(B)(III).

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Withholding Agent” means the Borrowers and the Administrative Agent.

Write-Down and Conversion Powers” means, (a) with respect to any EEA Resolution Authority, the write-down and conversion powers of such EEA Resolution Authority from time to time under the Bail-In Legislation for the applicable EEA Member Country, which write-down and conversion powers are described in the EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule, and (b) with respect to the United Kingdom, any powers of the applicable Resolution Authority under the Bail-In Legislation to cancel, reduce, modify or change the form of a liability of any UK Financial Institution or any contract or instrument under which that liability arises, to convert all or part of that liability into shares, securities or obligations of that person or any other person, to provide that any such contract or instrument is to have effect as if a right had been exercised under it or to suspend any obligation in respect of that liability or any of the powers under that Bail-In Legislation that are related to or ancillary to any of those powers.

1.02Other Interpretive Provisions.  With reference to this Agreement and each other Loan Document, unless otherwise specified herein or in such other Loan Document:
(a)The definitions of terms herein shall apply equally to the singular and plural forms of the terms defined.  Whenever the context may require, any pronoun shall include the corresponding masculine, feminine and neuter forms.  The words “include,” “includes” and “including” shall be deemed to be followed by the phrase “without limitation.”  The word “will” shall be construed to have the same meaning and effect as the word “shall.”  Unless the context requires otherwise, (i) any definition of or reference to any agreement, instrument or other document (including any Organization Document) shall be construed as referring to such agreement, instrument or other document as from time to time amended, supplemented or otherwise modified (subject to any restrictions on such amendments, supplements or modifications set forth herein or in any other Loan Document), (ii) any reference herein to any Person shall be construed to include such Person’s successors and assigns, (iii) the words “hereto,” “herein,” “hereof” and “hereunder,” and words of similar import when used in any Loan Document, shall be construed to refer to such Loan Document in its entirety and not to any particular provision thereof, (iv) all references in a Loan Document to Articles, Sections, Exhibits and Schedules shall be construed to refer to Articles and Sections of, and Exhibits and Schedules to, the Loan Document in which such references appear, (v) any reference to any law shall include all statutory and regulatory provisions consolidating, amending, replacing or interpreting such law and any reference to any law, rule or regulation shall, unless otherwise specified, refer to such law, rule or regulation as amended, modified or supplemented from time to time, and (vi) unless the context otherwise requires, the words “asset” and “property” shall be construed to have the same meaning and effect and to refer to any and all tangible and intangible assets and properties, including cash, securities, accounts and contract rights, and (vii) the word “owned” when used with respect to a Property, shall include ownership of a leasehold estate pursuant to a Financeable Ground Lease.
(b)In the computation of periods of time from a specified date to a later specified date, the word “from” means “from and including”; the words “to” and “until” each mean “to but excluding”; and the word “through” means “to and including.”
(c)Section headings herein and in the other Loan Documents are included for convenience of reference only and shall not affect the interpretation of this Agreement or any other Loan Document.

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(d)Any reference herein to a merger, transfer, consolidation, amalgamation, assignment, sale, disposition or transfer, or similar term, shall be deemed to apply to a Division as if it were a merger, transfer, consolidation, amalgamation, assignment, sale, disposition or transfer, or similar term, as applicable, to, of or with a separate Person. Any Division Successor shall constitute a separate Person hereunder (and each Division of any Person that is a Subsidiary, joint venture or any other like term shall also constitute such a Person or entity).
1.03Accounting Terms.
(a)Generally.  All accounting terms not specifically or completely defined herein shall be construed in conformity with, and all financial data (including financial ratios and other financial calculations) required to be submitted pursuant to this Agreement shall be prepared in conformity with, GAAP applied on a consistent basis, as in effect from time to time, applied in a manner consistent with that used in preparing the Audited Financial Statements, except as otherwise specifically prescribed herein.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, for purposes of determining compliance with any covenant (including the computation of any financial covenant) contained herein, Indebtedness of the Company and its Subsidiaries shall be deemed to be carried at 100% of the outstanding principal amount thereof, and the effects of FASB ASC 825 and FASB ASC 470-20 on financial liabilities shall be disregarded.
(b)Changes in GAAP.  If at any time any change in GAAP would affect the computation of any financial ratio or requirement set forth in any Loan Document, and either the Company or the Required Lenders shall so request, the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and the Company shall negotiate in good faith to amend such ratio or requirement to preserve the original intent thereof in light of such change in GAAP (subject to the reasonable approval of the Required Lenders if such change would have a material effect on the computation of any financial ratio or requirement); provided that, until so amended, (i) such ratio or requirement shall continue to be computed in accordance with GAAP prior to such change therein and (ii) the Company shall provide to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders financial statements and other documents required under this Agreement or as reasonably requested hereunder setting forth a reconciliation between calculations of such ratio or requirement made immediately before and after giving effect to such change in GAAP.  
(c)Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities.  All references herein to consolidated financial statements of the Trust, the Company and its Subsidiaries or to the determination of any amount for the Trust, the Company and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis or any similar reference shall, in each case, be deemed to include each variable interest entity that the Trust or the Company, as applicable, is required to consolidate pursuant to FASB ASC 810 as if such variable interest entity were a Subsidiary as defined herein.
1.04Rounding
.  Any financial ratios required to be maintained by the Company pursuant to this Agreement shall be calculated by dividing the appropriate component by the other component, carrying the result to one place more than the number of places by which such ratio is expressed herein and rounding the result up or down to the nearest number (with a rounding-up if there is no nearest number).
1.05Times of Day.  Unless otherwise specified, all references herein to times of day shall be references to Eastern time (daylight or standard, as applicable).

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1.06Letter of Credit Amounts.  Unless otherwise specified herein, the amount of a Letter of Credit at any time shall be deemed to be the Dollar Equivalent of the stated amount of such Letter of Credit in effect at such time; provided, however, that with respect to any Letter of Credit that, by its terms or the terms of any Issuer Document related thereto, provides for one or more automatic increases in the stated amount thereof, the amount of such Letter of Credit shall be deemed to be the Dollar Equivalent of the maximum stated amount of such Letter of Credit after giving effect to all such increases, whether or not such maximum stated amount is in effect at such time.
1.07Interest Rates.  The Administrative Agent and Lenders do not warrant, or accept responsibility, nor shall the Administrative Agent have any liability with respect to the administration, submission or any other matter related to the rates in the definition of “Eurodollar Rate”, “LIBOR Daily Floating Rate”, “Alternative Currency Daily Rate”, “Alternative Currency Term Rate” or with respect to any rate (including, for the avoidance of doubt, the selection of such rate and any related spread or other adjustment) that is an alternative or replacement for or successor to any such rate (including, without limitation, any Benchmark Replacement or Successor Rate) or the effect of any of the foregoing, or of any Benchmark Replacement Conforming Changes or any Conforming Changes or with respect to any comparable or successor rate thereto, other than liability to the Company for gross negligence or willful misconduct as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction in a final non-appealable order.
1.08Exchange Rates; Currency Equivalents.
(a)The Administrative Agent or the applicable L/C Issuer, as applicable, shall determine the Dollar Equivalent amounts of Credit Extensions and Outstanding Amounts denominated in Alternative Currencies on each Revaluation Date. Such Dollar Equivalent shall become effective as of such Revaluation Date and shall be the Dollar Equivalent of such amounts until the next Revaluation Date to occur. Except for purposes of financial statements delivered by Loan Parties hereunder or calculating financial covenants hereunder (which shall be, unless otherwise agreed by the Administrative Agent and the Company, based on currency conversions used for the Company’s or the Trust’s, as applicable, GAAP reporting) or except as otherwise provided in the Loan Documents, the applicable amount of any currency (other than Dollars) for purposes of the Loan Documents shall be such Dollar Equivalent amount as so determined by the Administrative Agent or the applicable L/C Issuer, as applicable.
(b)Wherever in this Agreement in connection with a Borrowing, conversion, continuation or prepayment of an Alternative Currency Loan or the issuance, amendment or extension of a Letter of Credit, an amount, such as a required minimum or multiple amount, is expressed in Dollars, but such Borrowing, Loan or Letter of Credit is denominated in an Alternative Currency, such amount shall be the relevant Alternative Currency Equivalent of such Dollar amount (rounded to the nearest unit of such Alternative Currency, with 0.5 of a unit being rounded upward), as determined by the Administrative Agent or the L/C Issuer, as the case may be.
1.09Additional Alternative Currencies
.
(a)The Company may from time to time request that Multicurrency Tranche Loans be made and/or Letters of Credit be issued in a currency other than those specifically listed in the

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definition of “Alternative Currency”; provided that such requested currency is an Eligible Currency. In the case of any such request with respect to the making of Multicurrency Tranche Loans, such request shall be subject to the approval of the Administrative Agent and each Multicurrency Tranche Lender; and in the case of any such request with respect to the issuance of Letters of Credit, such request shall be subject to the approval of the Administrative Agent and the applicable L/C Issuer issuing such Letters of Credit.
(b)Any such request shall be made to the Administrative Agent not later than 11:00 a.m., twenty (20) Business Days prior to the date of the desired Credit Extension (or such other time or date as may be agreed by the Administrative Agent and, in the case of any such request pertaining to Letters of Credit, the applicable L/C Issuer, in its or their sole discretion). In the case of any such request pertaining to Multicurrency Tranche Loans, the Administrative Agent shall promptly notify each Multicurrency Tranche Lender thereof; and in the case of any such request pertaining to Letters of Credit, the Administrative Agent shall promptly notify the L/C Issuers thereof. Each Multicurrency Tranche Lender (in the case of any such request pertaining to Multicurrency Tranche Loans) or the applicable L/C Issuer (in the case of a request pertaining to Letters of Credit) shall notify the Administrative Agent, not later than 11:00 a.m., ten (10) Business Days after receipt of such request whether it consents, in its sole discretion, to the making of Multicurrency Tranche Loans or the issuance of Letters of Credit, as the case may be, in such requested currency.
(c)Any failure by a Multicurrency Tranche Lender or an L/C Issuer, as the case may be, to respond to such request within the time period specified in the preceding sentence shall be deemed to be a refusal by such Multicurrency Tranche Lender or such L/C Issuer, as the case may be, to permit Multicurrency Tranche Loans to be made or Letters of Credit to be issued in such requested currency. If the Administrative Agent and all the Multicurrency Tranche Lenders consent to making Multicurrency Tranche Loans in such requested currency and the Administrative Agent and such Multicurrency Tranche Lenders reasonably determine that an appropriate interest rate is available to be used for such requested currency, the Administrative Agent shall so notify the Company and (i) the Administrative Agent and the Multicurrency Tranche Lenders may amend the definition of Alternative Currency Daily Rate or Alternative Currency Term Rate to the extent necessary to add the applicable rate for such currency and any applicable adjustment for such rate and (ii) to the extent the definition of Alternative Currency Daily Rate or Alternative Currency Term Rate, as applicable, has been amended to reflect the appropriate rate for such currency, such currency shall thereupon be deemed for all purposes to be an Alternative Currency for purposes of any Borrowings of Multicurrency Tranche Loans. If the Administrative Agent and any L/C Issuer consent to the issuance of Letters of Credit in such requested currency, the Administrative Agent shall so notify the Company and (iii) the Administrative Agent and such L/C Issuer may amend the definition of Alternative Currency Daily Rate or Alternative Currency Term Rate, as applicable, to the extent necessary to add the applicable rate for such currency and any applicable adjustment for such rate and (iv) to the extent the definition of Alternative Currency Daily Rate or Alternative Currency Term Rate, as applicable, has been amended to reflect the appropriate rate for such currency, such currency shall thereupon be deemed for all purposes to be an Alternative Currency, for purposes of any Letter of Credit issuances. If the Administrative Agent shall fail to obtain consent to any request for an additional currency under this Section 1.09, the Administrative Agent shall promptly so notify the Company.

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1.10Change of Currency
.
(a)Each obligation of the Borrowers to make a payment denominated in the national currency unit of any member state of the European Union that adopts the Euro as its lawful currency after the date hereof shall be redenominated into Euro at the time of such adoption. If, in relation to the currency of any such member state, the basis of accrual of interest expressed in this Agreement in respect of that currency shall be inconsistent with any convention or practice in the interbank market for the basis of accrual of interest in respect of the Euro, such expressed basis shall be replaced by such convention or practice with effect from the date on which such member state adopts the Euro as its lawful currency; provided that, if any Borrowing in the currency of such member state is outstanding immediately prior to such date, such replacement shall take effect, with respect to such Borrowing, at the end of the then current Interest Period.
(b)Each provision of this Agreement shall be subject to such reasonable changes of construction as the Administrative Agent may from time to time specify to be appropriate to reflect the adoption of the Euro by any member state of the European Union and any relevant market conventions or practices relating to the Euro.
(c)Each provision of this Agreement also shall be subject to such reasonable changes of construction as the Administrative Agent may from time to time specify to be appropriate to reflect a change in currency of any other country and any relevant market conventions or practices relating to the change in currency.
ARTICLE II. THE COMMITMENTS AND CREDIT EXTENSIONS
2.01The Loans
.  
(a)The Term A-1 Borrowing.  
(i)Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, each Term A-1 Lender severally agrees to make a Term A-1 Loan to the Company on the Closing Date in Dollars and up to four (4) additional Term A-1 Loans, in the aggregate, in Dollars to the Company (or any other U.S. Borrower as specified by the Company) or in an Alternative Currency to the Company (or any other Borrower as specified by the Company) from time to time on any Business Day thereafter (each such Business Day after the Closing Date, a “Term A-1 Funding Date”) prior to the Term A-1 Loan Draw Deadline, in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed such Term A-1 Lender’s Term A-1 Commitment.  All unfunded Term A-1 Commitments shall expire on the Term A-1 Loan Draw Deadline.  Each Term A-1 Borrowing on the Closing Date and on each Term A-1 Funding Date shall consist of Term A-1 Loans made simultaneously by the Term A-1 Lenders in the same currency in accordance with their respective Applicable Percentage of the Term A-1 Facility at such time. Amounts may only be drawn under this Section 2.01(a) on or before the Term A-1 Loan Draw Deadline.  Amounts borrowed under this Section 2.01(a) and repaid or prepaid may not be reborrowed. Term A-1 Loans may be Base Rate Loans, Eurodollar Rate Loans, Alternative Currency Daily Rate Loans or Alternative Currency Term Rate Loans as further provided herein. For the avoidance of doubt, a conversion of a Term A-1 Loan from one Type to another or a continuation of a Eurodollar Rate Loan or an Alternative Currency Term Rate Loan will not constitute an additional Term A-1 Loan for the purpose of the

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first sentence of this Section 2.01(a)(i).  A principal amount equal to $325,000,000 of the Existing Term Loans outstanding as of the Closing Date shall be deemed to have been funded pursuant hereto, and part of the Term A-1 Borrowing made on the Closing Date and from and after the Closing Date shall be subject to and governed by the terms and conditions hereof.
(ii)If a Term A-1 Borrowing of Alternative Currency Loans is requested, then on such Term A-1 Funding Date each Term A-1 Lender’s Term A-1 Commitment and the Term A-1 Facility shall be allocated by the Administrative Agent into tranches to reflect the Term A-1 Loans made by such Term A-1 Lender in each currency and the Administrative Agent shall restate Schedule 2.01A to reflect the Term A-1 Facility as so tranched (which restated schedule the Administrative Agent will make available to the Lenders and the Company).  The Administrative Agent and the Company may, without the consent of any Lenders, effect such amendments to this Agreement and the other Loan Documents as may be necessary or appropriate, in the reasonable opinion of the Administrative Agent and the Company, to reflect any tranching of the Term A-1 Facility as contemplated above.
(b)The Term A-2 Borrowing.  
(i)Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, each Term A-2 Lender severally agrees to make a Term A-2 Loan to the Company on the Closing Date in Dollars and up to four (4) additional Term A-2 Loans, in the aggregate, in Dollars to the Company (or any other U.S. Borrower as specified by the Company) or in an Alternative Currency to the Company (or any other Borrower as specified by the Company) from time to time on any Business Day thereafter (each such Business Day after the Closing Date, a “Term A-2 Funding Date”) prior to the Term A-2 Loan Draw Deadline, in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed such Term A-2 Lender’s Term A-2 Commitment.  All unfunded Term A-2 Commitments shall expire on the Term A-2 Loan Draw Deadline.  Each Term A-2 Borrowing on the Closing Date and on each Term A-2 Funding Date shall consist of Term A-2 Loans made simultaneously by the Term A-2 Lenders in the same currency in accordance with their respective Applicable Percentage of the Term A-2 Facility at such time. Amounts may only be drawn under this Section 2.01(b) on or before the Term A-2 Loan Draw Deadline.  Amounts borrowed under this Section 2.01(b) and repaid or prepaid may not be reborrowed. Term A-2 Loans may be Base Rate Loans, Eurodollar Rate Loans, Alternative Currency Daily Rate Loans or Alternative Currency Term Rate Loans as further provided herein. For the avoidance of doubt, a conversion of a Term A-2 Loan from one Type to another or a continuation of a Eurodollar Rate Loan or an Alternative Currency Term Rate Loan will not constitute an additional Term A-2 Loan for the purpose of the first sentence of this Section 2.01(b)(i).
(ii)If a Term A-2 Borrowing of Alternative Currency Loans is requested, then on such Term A-2 Funding Date each Term A-1 Lender’s Term A-1 Commitment and the Term A-2 Facility shall be allocated by the Administrative Agent into tranches to reflect the Term A-2 Loans made by such Term A-2 Lender in each currency and the Administrative Agent shall restate Schedule 2.01A to reflect the Term A-2 Facility as so tranched (which restated schedule the Administrative Agent will make available to the Lenders and the Company).  The Administrative Agent and the Company may, without the

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consent of any Lenders, effect such amendments to this Agreement and the other Loan Documents as may be necessary or appropriate, in the reasonable opinion of the Administrative Agent and the Company, to reflect any tranching of the Term A-2 Facility as contemplated above.
(c)The Revolving Credit Borrowings.  
(i)Dollar Tranche Loans.  Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, each Revolving Credit Lender severally agrees to make revolving loans (each such loan, a “Dollar Tranche Loan”) in Dollars to the Company (or any other U.S. Borrower as specified by the Company) from time to time, on any Business Day during the Availability Period in respect of the Revolving Credit Facility, in an aggregate amount not to exceed at any time outstanding the amount of such Lender’s Dollar Tranche Commitment; provided, however, that, after giving effect to any Revolving Credit Borrowing of Dollar Tranche Loans, (i) the Total Revolving Credit Outstandings shall not exceed the Revolving Credit Facility, (ii) the aggregate Outstanding Amount of all Dollar Tranche Loans, plus the Outstanding Amount of all L/C Obligations shall not exceed the aggregate amount of the Dollar Tranche Commitments of all Lenders, (iii) the Revolving Credit Exposure of any Lender shall not exceed such Revolving Credit Lender’s Revolving Credit Commitment, (iv) the aggregate Outstanding Amount of Dollar Tranche Loans of any Lender plus such Lender’s participation in L/C Obligations at such time shall not exceed the such Lender’s Dollar Tranche Commitment.
(ii)Multicurrency Tranche Loans.  Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, each Revolving Credit Lender severally agrees to make revolving loans (each such loan, a “Multicurrency Tranche Loan”) in Dollars to the Company (or any other U.S. Borrower as specified by the Company) or in one or more Alternative Currencies to the Company (or any other Borrower as specified by the Company) from time to time, on any Business Day during the Availability Period in respect of the Revolving Credit Facility, in an aggregate amount not to exceed at any time outstanding the amount of such Lender’s Multicurrency Tranche Commitment; provided, however, that, after giving effect to any Revolving Credit Borrowing of Multicurrency Tranche Loans, (i) the Total Revolving Credit Outstandings shall not exceed the Revolving Credit Facility, (ii) the aggregate Outstanding Amount of all Multicurrency Tranche Loans shall not exceed the aggregate amount of the Multicurrency Tranche Commitments of all Lenders, (iii) the Revolving Credit Exposure of any Lender shall not exceed such Lender’s Revolving Credit Commitment, and (iv) the aggregate Outstanding Amount of all Revolving Credit Loans and L/C Obligations denominated in Alternative Currencies shall not exceed the Alternative Currency Sublimit.  
(iii)General.  Within the limits of each Revolving Credit Lender’s Revolving Credit Commitment, and subject to the other terms and conditions hereof, the Borrowers may borrow under this Section 2.01(c), prepay under Section 2.05, and reborrow under this Section 2.01(c).  Revolving Credit Loans may be Base Rate Loans, Eurodollar Rate Loans, LIBOR Daily Floating Rate Loans, Alternative Currency Daily Rate Loans or Alternative Currency Term Rate Loans, as further provided herein.  All Existing Revolving Credit Loans shall be deemed to have been funded pursuant hereto, and from and after the Closing Date shall be subject to and governed by the terms and conditions hereof.

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2.02Borrowings, Conversions and Continuations of Loans.
(a)Each Term A-1 Borrowing, each Term A-2 Borrowing, each Revolving Credit Borrowing, each conversion of Term Loans or Revolving Credit Loans from one Type to another, and each continuation of a Eurodollar Rate Loan or an Alternative Currency Term Rate Loan shall be made upon the Company’s irrevocable notice to the Administrative Agent, which may be given by (A) telephone or (B) a Committed Loan Notice; provided that any telephonic notice must be confirmed promptly by delivery to the Administrative Agent of a Committed Loan Notice.  Each such Committed Loan Notice must be received by the Administrative Agent not later than 12:00 noon (i) three Business Days prior to the requested date of any Borrowing of, conversion to or continuation of Eurodollar Rate Loans or of any conversion of Eurodollar Rate Loans to Base Rate Loans or LIBOR Daily Floating Rate Loans, (ii) three Business Days (or five Business Days in the case of a Special Notice Currency) prior to the requested date of any Borrowing of Alternative Currency Loans or any continuation of Alternative Currency Term Rate Loans, and (iii) on the requested date of any Borrowing of Base Rate Loans or LIBOR Daily Floating Rate Loans and for any conversion of Base Rate Loans to LIBOR Daily Floating Rate Loans or of LIBOR Daily Floating Rate Loans to Base Rate Loans. Each Borrowing of, conversion to or continuation of Loans other than Base Rate Loans and LIBOR Daily Floating Rate Loans shall be in a principal amount of the Dollar Equivalent of $500,000 or a whole multiple of the Dollar Equivalent of $100,000 in excess thereof.  Except as provided in Sections 2.03(c) and 2.04(c), each Borrowing of or conversion to Base Rate Loans or LIBOR Daily Floating Rate Loans shall be in a principal amount of the Dollar Equivalent of $500,000 or a whole multiple of the Dollar Equivalent of $100,000 in excess thereof provided that the amount of a Base Rate Loan or a LIBOR Daily Floating Rate Loan may be in an amount equal to the entire unpaid balance of the Commitments or the amount that is required to finance the reimbursement of an L/C Borrowing.  Each Committed Loan Notice shall specify (i) whether the applicable Borrower is requesting a Term A-1 Borrowing, a Term A-2 Borrowing, a Revolving Credit Borrowing, a conversion of Term A-1 Loans, Term A-2 Loans or Revolving Credit Loans from one Type to another, or a continuation of Eurodollar Rate Loans or Alternative Currency Term Rate Loans, (ii) the requested date of the Borrowing, conversion or continuation, as the case may be (which shall be a Business Day), (iii) the currency and principal amount of Loans to be borrowed, converted or continued, (iv) the Type of Loans to be borrowed or to which existing Term A-1 Loans, Term A-2 Loans or Revolving Credit Loans are to be converted, (v) if applicable, the duration of the Interest Period with respect thereto, (vi) if applicable, the Tranche with respect thereto, and (vi) if applicable, the Designated Borrower.  If the Company fails to specify a currency in a Committed Loan Notice requesting a Borrowing, then the Loans so requested shall be made in Dollars.  If the Company fails to specify a Tranche in a Committed Loan Notice requesting a Revolving Credit Borrowing, then the Loans so requested shall be made as Dollar Tranche Loans if the request specifies Dollars (or does not specify a currency) and as Multicurrency Tranche Loans if the request specifies an Alternative Currency or if no unused Dollar Tranche Commitment exists.  If the Company fails to specify a Type of Loan in a Committed Loan Notice or if the Company fails to give a timely notice requesting a conversion or continuation, then the applicable Term A-1 Loans, Term A-2 Loans or Revolving Credit Loans shall be made as, or converted to, Eurodollar Rate Loans having an Interest Period of one (1) month; provided, however, that in the case of a failure to timely request a continuation of Alternative Currency Term Rate Loans, such Loans shall be continued as Alternative Currency Term Rate Loans in their original currency with an Interest Period of one (1) month.  Any such automatic conversion to Eurodollar Rate Loans with an Interest Period of one (1) month or continuation as Alternative Currency Term Rate Loans with an Interest Period of one

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(1) month shall be effective as of the last day of the Interest Period then in effect with respect to the applicable Eurodollar Rate Loans or Alternative Currency Term Rate Loans, as applicable.  If the Company requests a Borrowing of, conversion to, or continuation of Eurodollar Rate Loans or Alternative Currency Term Rate Loans in any such Committed Loan Notice, but fails to specify an Interest Period, it will be deemed to have specified an Interest Period of one (1) month.  Except as provided pursuant to Section 2.02(c), 2.12(a) and 3.03, no Loan may be converted into or continued as a Loan denominated in a different currency or in a different Tranche, but instead must be repaid in the original currency of such Loan and reborrowed in the other currency or reborrowed in a different Tranche.
(b)Following receipt of a Committed Loan Notice, the Administrative Agent shall promptly notify each Lender of the amount and currency of its Applicable Percentage of the applicable Term A-1 Loans, Term A-2 Loans or Revolving Credit Loans, and if no timely notice of a conversion or continuation is provided by the Company, the Administrative Agent shall notify each Lender of the details of any automatic conversion to Eurodollar Rate Loans with an Interest Period of one (1) month or continuation of Alternative Currency Term Rate Loans described in the preceding subsection.  In the case of a Term A-1 Borrowing, a Term A-2 Borrowing or a Revolving Credit Borrowing, each Appropriate Lender shall make the amount of its Loan available to the Administrative Agent in Same Day Funds at the Administrative Agent’s Office for the applicable currency not later than 2:00 p.m. in the case of Loans denominated in Dollars, and not later than the Applicable Time in the case of Alternative Currency Loans, in each case, on the Business Day specified in the applicable Committed Loan Notice.  Upon satisfaction in all material respects of the applicable conditions set forth in Section 4.02 (and, if such Borrowing is the initial Credit Extension, Section 4.01), the Administrative Agent shall make all funds so received promptly available to the applicable Borrower in like funds as received by the Administrative Agent either by (i) crediting the account of such Borrower on the books of Bank of America with the amount of such funds or (ii) wire transfer of such funds, in each case in accordance with instructions provided to (and reasonably acceptable to) the Administrative Agent by the Company or such Borrower; provided, however, that if, on the date the Committed Loan Notice with respect to a Revolving Credit Borrowing denominated in Dollars is given by the Company, there are L/C Borrowings outstanding, then the proceeds of such Revolving Credit Borrowing, first, shall be applied to the payment in full of any such L/C Borrowings, and second, shall be made available to such Borrower as provided above.
(c)Except as otherwise provided herein, a Eurodollar Rate Loan may be continued or converted, and an Alternative Currency Term Rate Loan may be continued, only on the last day of an Interest Period for such Loan.  During the existence of an Event of Default, no Loans may be requested as, converted to or continued as Eurodollar Rate Loans without the consent of the Required Lenders and no Loans may be requested as Alternative Currency Daily Rate Loans, or requested as or continued as Alternative Currency Term Rate Loans, if the Administrative Agent has notified the Company that the Required Lenders have determined that such a request or continuation is not appropriate, and the Required Lenders may require that any or all of the affected outstanding Alternative Currency Loans be prepaid, or be converted into a Borrowing of LIBOR Daily Floating Rate Loans in the Dollar Equivalent of the amount of such outstanding Alternative Currency Loan immediately, in the case of an Alternative Currency Daily Rate Loan, or at the end of the applicable Interest Period, in the case of an Alternative Currency Term Rate Loan.

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(d)The Administrative Agent shall promptly notify the Company and the Lenders of the interest rate applicable to any Interest Period for Eurodollar Rate Loans upon determination of such interest rate.
(e)After giving effect to (i) all Term A-1 Borrowings, all conversions of Term A-1 Loans from one Type to another, and all continuations of Term A-1 Loans as the same Type, (ii) all Term A-2 Borrowings, all conversions of Term A-2 Loans from one Type to another, and all continuations of Term A-2 Loans as the same Type and (iii) all Revolving Credit Borrowings, all conversions of Revolving Credit Loans from one Type to another, and all continuations of Revolving Credit Loans as the same Type, there shall not be more than ten (10) Interest Periods in effect with respect to the Term Facilities and the Revolving Credit Facility.
(f)Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, any Lender may exchange, continue or rollover all of the portion of its Loans in connection with any refinancing, extension, loan modification or similar transaction permitted by the terms of this Agreement, pursuant to a cashless settlement mechanism approved by the Company, the Administrative Agent, and such Lender.
(g)With respect to any Benchmark Replacement, Alternative Currency Daily Rate or Alternative Currency Term Rate, the Administrative Agent will have the right to make Benchmark Replacement Conforming Changes or Conforming Changes, as applicable, from time to time and, notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein or in any other Loan Document, any amendments implementing such Benchmark Replacement Conforming Changes and Conforming Changes will become effective without any further action or consent of any other party to this Agreement or any other Loan Document; provided that, with respect to any such amendment effected, the Administrative Agent shall post each such amendment implementing such Benchmark Replacement Conforming Changes or Conforming Changes to the Company and the Lenders reasonably promptly after such amendment becomes effective.
2.03Letters of Credit.
(a)General.  Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, in addition to the Loans provided for in Section 2.01, the Company may request any L/C Issuer, in reliance on the agreements of the Dollar Tranche Lenders set forth in this Section 2.03, to issue, at any time and from time to time during the Availability Period, and such L/C Issuer agrees to issue, subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, Letters of Credit denominated in Dollars or an Alternative Currency for the Company’s own account or the account of any of its Subsidiaries in such form as is acceptable to the Administrative Agent and such L/C Issuer in its reasonable determination.  Letters of Credit issued hereunder shall constitute utilization of the Revolving Credit Commitments and the Dollar Tranche Commitments.  
(b)Notice of Issuance, Amendment, Extension, Reinstatement or Renewal.  To request the issuance of a Letter of Credit (or the amendment of the terms and conditions, extension of the terms and conditions, extension of the expiration date, or reinstatement of amounts paid, or renewal of an outstanding Letter of Credit), subject to the next sentence of this Section 2.03(b), the Company shall deliver (or transmit by electronic communication, if arrangements for doing so have been approved by the applicable L/C Issuer) to an L/C Issuer selected by it and to the Administrative Agent not later than 1:00 p.m. at least two Business Days (or such later date and

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time as the Administrative Agent and such L/C Issuer may agree in a particular instance in their sole discretion) prior to the proposed issuance date or date of amendment, as the case may be, a notice requesting the issuance of a Letter of Credit, or identifying the Letter of Credit to be amended, extended, reinstated or renewed, and specifying the date of issuance, amendment, extension, reinstatement or renewal (which shall be a Business Day), the date on which such Letter of Credit is to expire (which shall comply with paragraph (d) of this Section 2.03), the currency and amount of such Letter of Credit, the name and address of the beneficiary thereof, the purpose and nature of the requested Letter of Credit and such other information as shall be necessary to prepare, amend, extend, reinstate or renew such Letter of Credit.  All requests for Letters of Credit denominated in an Alternative Currency shall, in the first instance, be directed to Bank of America in its capacity as an L/C Issuer, and, if Bank of America declines to issue a Letter of Credit denominated in an Alternative Currency (or fails to issue such Letter of Credit within five Business Days of any request therefor), the Company may then deliver a request for such Letter of Credit denominated in an Alternative Currency to another L/C Issuer; provided further that there shall not be more than two L/C Issuers, in addition to Bank of America, with Letters of Credit outstanding in an Alternative Currency at any time.  If requested by the applicable L/C Issuer, the Company also shall submit a letter of credit application and reimbursement agreement on such L/C Issuer’s standard form in connection with any request for a Letter of Credit.  In the event of any inconsistency between the terms and conditions of this Agreement and the terms and conditions of any form of letter of credit application and reimbursement agreement or other agreement submitted by the Company to, or entered into by the Company with, an L/C Issuer relating to any Letter of Credit, the terms and conditions of this Agreement shall control.  

If the Company so requests in any applicable Letter of Credit Application (or the amendment of an outstanding Letter of Credit), the applicable L/C Issuer may, in its sole discretion, agree to issue a Letter of Credit that has automatic extension provisions (each, an “Auto-Extension Letter of Credit”); provided that any such Auto-Extension Letter of Credit shall permit such L/C Issuer to prevent any such extension at least once in each twelve-month period (commencing with the date of issuance of such Letter of Credit) by giving prior notice to the beneficiary thereof not later than a day (the “Non-Extension Notice Date”) in each such twelve-month period to be agreed upon by the Company and the applicable L/C Issuer at the time such Letter of Credit is issued.  Unless otherwise directed by the applicable L/C Issuer, the Company shall not be required to make a specific request to such L/C Issuer for any such extension.  Once an Auto-Extension Letter of Credit has been issued, the Dollar Tranche Lenders shall be deemed to have authorized (but may not require) the applicable L/C Issuer to permit the extension of such Letter of Credit at any time to an expiration date not later than the date permitted pursuant to Section 2.03(d); provided, that such L/C Issuer shall not (i) permit any such extension if (A) such L/C Issuer has determined that it would not be permitted, or would have no obligation, at such time to issue such Letter of Credit in its extended form under the terms hereof (except that the expiration date may be extended to a date that is no more than one year from the then-current expiration date), or (B) it has received notice (which may be in writing or by telephone (if promptly confirmed in writing)) on or before the day that is seven Business Days before the Non-Extension Notice Date from the Administrative Agent that the Required Tranche Lenders have elected not to permit such extension or (ii) be obligated to permit such extension if it has received notice (which may be in writing or by telephone (if promptly confirmed in writing)) on or before the day that is seven Business Days before the Non-Extension Notice Date from the Administrative Agent, any Dollar Tranche Lender or any Borrower that one or more of the applicable conditions set forth in Section 4.02 is not then satisfied, and in each such case directing such L/C Issuer not to permit such extension.

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(c)Limitations on Amounts, Issuance and Amendment.  A Letter of Credit shall be issued, amended, extended, reinstated or renewed only if (and upon issuance, amendment, extension, reinstatement or renewal of each Letter of Credit the Company shall be deemed to represent and warrant that), after giving effect to such issuance, amendment, extension, reinstatement or renewal (i) the aggregate amount of the outstanding Letters of Credit issued by any L/C Issuer shall not exceed its L/C Commitment; provided that, subject to the limitations set forth in this Section 2.03(c), any L/C Issuer in its sole discretion may issue Letters of Credit in excess of such L/C Issuer’s L/C Commitment, (ii) the aggregate L/C Obligations shall not exceed the Letter of Credit Sublimit, (iii) the Revolving Credit Exposure of any Lender shall not exceed its Revolving Credit Commitment, (iv) the Total Revolving Credit Outstandings shall not exceed the Revolving Credit Facility, (v) the aggregate Outstanding Amount of all Dollar Tranche Loans, plus the Outstanding Amount of all L/C Obligations shall not exceed the aggregate amount of the Dollar Tranche Commitments of all Lenders, and (vi) the aggregate Outstanding Amount of Dollar Tranche Loans of any Lender plus such Lender’s participation in L/C Obligations at such time shall not exceed such Lender’s Dollar Tranche Commitment.
(i)No L/C Issuer shall be under any obligation to issue any Letter of Credit if:
(A)any order, judgment or decree of any Governmental Authority or arbitrator shall by its terms purport to enjoin or restrain such L/C Issuer from issuing the Letter of Credit, or any Law applicable to such L/C Issuer or any request or directive (whether or not having the force of law) from any Governmental Authority with jurisdiction over such L/C Issuer shall prohibit, or request that such L/C Issuer refrain from, the issuance of letters of credit generally or the Letter of Credit in particular or shall impose upon such L/C Issuer with respect to the Letter of Credit any restriction, reserve or capital requirement (for which such L/C Issuer is not otherwise compensated hereunder) not in effect on the Closing Date, or shall impose upon such L/C Issuer any unreimbursed loss, cost or expense which was not applicable on the Closing Date and which such L/C Issuer in good faith deems material to it;
(B)the issuance of such Letter of Credit would violate one or more policies of such L/C Issuer applicable to letters of credit generally;
(C)except as otherwise agreed by the Administrative Agent and such L/C Issuer, the Letter of Credit is in an initial stated amount less than $500,000;
(D)any Revolving Credit Lender is at that time a Defaulting Lender, unless such L/C Issuer has entered into arrangements, including the delivery of Cash Collateral, satisfactory to such L/C Issuer (in its sole discretion) with the Company or such Lender to eliminate such L/C Issuer’s actual or potential Fronting Exposure (after giving effect to Section 2.17(a)(iv)) with respect to the Defaulting Lender arising from either the Letter of Credit then proposed to be issued or that Letter of Credit and all other L/C Obligations as to which such L/C Issuer has actual or potential Fronting Exposure, as it may elect in its sole discretion; or
(E)the Letter of Credit contains any provisions for automatic reinstatement of the stated amount after any drawing thereunder.

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(ii)No L/C Issuer shall be under any obligation to amend any Letter of Credit if (A) such L/C Issuer would have no obligation at such time to issue the Letter of Credit in its amended form under the terms hereof, or (B) the beneficiary of the Letter of Credit does not accept the proposed amendment to the Letter of Credit.
(d)Expiration Date.  Each Letter of Credit shall have a stated expiration date no later than the earlier of (i) the date twelve months after the date of the issuance of such Letter of Credit (or, in the case of any extension of the expiration date thereof, whether automatic or by amendment, twelve months after the then-current expiration date of such Letter of Credit) and (ii) the date that is five Business Days prior to the Maturity Date.
(e)Participations.  By the issuance of a Letter of Credit (or an amendment to a Letter of Credit increasing the amount or extending the expiration date thereof), and without any further action on the part of the applicable L/C Issuer or the Dollar Tranche Lenders, such L/C Issuer hereby grants to each Dollar Tranche Lender, and each Dollar Tranche Lender hereby acquires from such L/C Issuer, a participation in such Letter of Credit equal to such Dollar Tranche Lender’s Applicable Revolving Credit Percentage of the aggregate amount available to be drawn under such Letter of Credit.  Each Dollar Tranche Lender acknowledges and agrees that its obligation to acquire participations pursuant to this paragraph (e) in respect of Letters of Credit is absolute, unconditional and irrevocable and shall not be affected by any circumstance whatsoever, including any amendment, extension, reinstatement or renewal of any Letter of Credit or the occurrence and continuance of a Default or reduction or termination of the Commitments.

In consideration and in furtherance of the foregoing, each Dollar Tranche Lender hereby absolutely, unconditionally and irrevocably agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent, for account of the applicable L/C Issuer, such Dollar Tranche Lender’s Applicable Revolving Credit Percentage of each L/C Disbursement made by an L/C Issuer not later than 1:00 p.m. on the Business Day specified in the notice provided by the Administrative Agent to the Dollar Tranche Lenders pursuant to Section 2.03(f) until such L/C Disbursement is reimbursed by the applicable Borrower or at any time after any reimbursement payment is required to be refunded to such Borrower for any reason, including after the Maturity Date.  Such payment shall be made without any offset, abatement, withholding or reduction whatsoever.  Each such payment shall be made in the same manner as provided in Section 2.02 with respect to Revolving Credit Loans made by such Dollar Tranche Lender (and Section 2.02 shall apply, mutatis mutandis, to the payment obligations of the Dollar Tranche Lenders), and the Administrative Agent shall promptly pay to the applicable L/C Issuer the amounts so received by it from the Dollar Tranche Lenders.  Promptly following receipt by the Administrative Agent of any payment from the applicable Borrower pursuant to Section 2.03(f), the Administrative Agent shall distribute such payment to the applicable L/C Issuer or, to the extent that the Dollar Tranche Lenders have made payments pursuant to this paragraph to reimburse such L/C Issuer, then to such Dollar Tranche Lenders and such L/C Issuer as their interests may appear.  Any payment made by a Dollar Tranche Lender pursuant to this paragraph to reimburse an L/C Issuer for any L/C Disbursement shall not constitute a Loan and shall not relieve the applicable Borrower of its obligation to reimburse such L/C Disbursement.

Each Dollar Tranche Lender further acknowledges and agrees that its participation in each Letter of Credit will be automatically adjusted to reflect such Dollar Tranche Lender’s Applicable Revolving Credit Percentage of the aggregate amount available to be drawn under such Letter of Credit at each time such Dollar Tranche Lender’s Revolving Credit Commitment is amended

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pursuant to the operation of Section 2.14 or 2.15, as a result of an assignment in accordance with Section 10.06 or otherwise pursuant to this Agreement.

If any Dollar Tranche Lender fails to make available to the Administrative Agent for the account of the applicable L/C Issuer any amount required to be paid by such Dollar Tranche Lender pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this Section 2.03(e), then, without limiting the other provisions of this Agreement, the applicable L/C Issuer shall be entitled to recover from such Dollar Tranche Lender (acting through the Administrative Agent), on demand, such amount with interest thereon for the period from the date such payment is required to the date on which such payment is immediately available to such L/C Issuer at a rate per annum equal to the greater of the applicable Overnight Rate and a rate determined by the applicable L/C Issuer in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation, plus any administrative, processing or similar fees customarily charged by such L/C Issuer in connection with the foregoing.  If such Dollar Tranche Lender pays such amount (with interest and fees as aforesaid), the amount so paid (other than such fees and any interest in excess of the interest rate otherwise applicable to such borrowing) shall constitute such Dollar Tranche Lender’s Revolving Credit Loan included in the relevant Revolving Credit Borrowing or L/C Advance in respect of the relevant L/C Borrowing, as the case may be.  A certificate of any L/C Issuer submitted to any Dollar Tranche Lender (through the Administrative Agent) with respect to any amounts owing under this clause (vi) shall be conclusive absent demonstrable error.

(f)Reimbursement.  If an L/C Issuer shall make any L/C Disbursement in respect of a Letter of Credit, the Borrowers shall reimburse such L/C Issuer in respect of such L/C Disbursement by paying to the Administrative Agent an amount equal to such L/C Disbursement not later than 1:00 p.m. on (i) the Business Day that the Company receives notice of such L/C Disbursement, if such notice is received prior to 10:00 a.m. or (ii) the Business Day immediately following the day that the Company receives such notice, if such notice is not received prior to such time, provided that, if such L/C Disbursement is not less than $1,000,000, the Borrowers may, subject to the conditions to borrowing set forth herein, request in accordance with Section 2.02 or Section 2.04 that such payment be financed with a Borrowing of Dollar Tranche Loans that are Base Rate Loans in an equivalent amount and, to the extent so financed, the Borrowers’ obligation to make such payment shall be discharged and replaced by the resulting Borrowing of Base Rate Loans.  If the Borrowers fail to make such payment when due, the Administrative Agent shall notify each Dollar Tranche Lender of the applicable L/C Disbursement, the payment then due from the Borrowers in respect thereof (the “Unreimbursed Amount”) and such Dollar Tranche Lender’s Applicable Percentage thereof.  In such event, the Borrowers shall be deemed to have requested a Revolving Credit Borrowing of Dollar Tranche Loans that are Base Rate Loans to be disbursed on the date of payment by the applicable L/C Issuer under a Letter of Credit in an amount equal to the Unreimbursed Amount, without regard to the minimum and multiples specified in Section 2.02 for the principal amount of Base Rate Loans, but subject to the amount of the unutilized portion of the Dollar Tranche Commitments and the Revolving Credit Facility and the conditions set forth in Section 4.02 (other than the delivery of a Committed Loan Notice).  Any notice given by any L/C Issuer or the Administrative Agent pursuant to this Section 2.03(f) may be given by telephone if immediately confirmed in writing; provided that the lack of such an immediate confirmation shall not affect the conclusiveness or binding effect of such notice.

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(g)Obligations Absolute.  The Borrowers’ obligation to reimburse L/C Disbursements as provided in paragraph (f) of this Section 2.03 shall be absolute, unconditional and irrevocable, and shall be performed strictly in accordance with the terms of this Agreement under any and all circumstances whatsoever and irrespective of:
(i)any lack of validity or enforceability of this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any Letter of Credit, or any term or provision herein or therein;
(ii)the existence of any claim, counterclaim, setoff, defense or other right that any Borrower or any Subsidiary may have at any time against any beneficiary or any transferee of such Letter of Credit (or any Person for whom any such beneficiary or any such transferee may be acting), any L/C Issuer (other than the defense that all amounts required to reimburse the L/C Issuer have already been paid) or any other Person, whether in connection with this Agreement, the transactions contemplated hereby or by such Letter of Credit or any agreement or instrument relating thereto, or any unrelated transaction;
(iii)any draft, demand, certificate or other document presented under a Letter of Credit proving to be forged, fraudulent, invalid or insufficient in any respect or any statement in such draft or other document being untrue or inaccurate in any respect; or any loss or delay in the transmission or otherwise of any document required in order to make a drawing under such Letter of Credit;
(iv)waiver by any L/C Issuer of any requirement that exists for such L/C Issuer’s protection and not the protection of any Borrower or any waiver by such L/C Issuer which does not in fact materially prejudice any Borrower;
(v)honor of a demand for payment presented electronically even if such Letter of Credit required that demand be in the form of a draft;
(vi)any payment made by any L/C Issuer in respect of an otherwise complying item presented after the date specified as the expiration date of, or the date by which documents must be received under such Letter of Credit if presentation after such date is authorized by the UCC, the ISP or the UCP, as applicable;
(vii)payment by the applicable L/C Issuer under a Letter of Credit against presentation of a draft or other document that does not comply strictly with the terms of such Letter of Credit; or any payment made by any L/C Issuer under such Letter of Credit to any Person purporting to be a trustee in bankruptcy, debtor-in-possession, assignee for the benefit of creditors, liquidator, receiver or other representative of or successor to any beneficiary or any transferee of such Letter of Credit, including any arising in connection with any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law;
(viii)any other event or circumstance whatsoever, whether or not similar to any of the foregoing, that might, but for the provisions of this Section 2.03, constitute a legal or equitable discharge of, or provide a right of setoff against, any Borrower’s obligations hereunder; or

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(ix)any adverse change in the relevant exchange rates or in the availability of the relevant Alternative Currency to the Borrowers or any Subsidiary or in the relevant currency markets generally.

The Company shall promptly examine a copy of each Letter of Credit and each amendment thereto that is delivered to it and, in the event of any claim of noncompliance with the Company’s instructions or other irregularity, the Company will promptly notify the applicable L/C Issuer.  The Company shall be conclusively deemed to have waived any such claim against each L/C Issuer and its correspondents unless such notice is given as aforesaid.

None of the Administrative Agent, the Lenders, any L/C Issuer, or any of their Related Parties shall have any liability or responsibility by reason of or in connection with the issuance or transfer of any Letter of Credit by the applicable L/C Issuer or any payment or failure to make any payment thereunder (irrespective of any of the circumstances referred to in the preceding sentence), or any error, omission, interruption, loss or delay in transmission or delivery of any draft, notice or other communication under or relating to any Letter of Credit (including any document required to make a drawing thereunder), any error in interpretation of technical terms, any error in translation or any consequence arising from causes beyond the control of the applicable L/C Issuer; provided that the foregoing shall not be construed to excuse an L/C Issuer from liability to the Borrowers to the extent of any direct damages (as opposed to consequential damages, claims in respect of which are hereby waived by each Borrower to the extent permitted by Applicable Law) suffered by any Borrower that are caused by such L/C Issuer’s failure to exercise care when determining whether drafts and other documents presented under a Letter of Credit comply with the terms thereof.  The parties hereto expressly agree that, in the absence of gross negligence or willful misconduct on the part of an L/C Issuer (as finally determined by a court of competent jurisdiction), an L/C Issuer shall be deemed to have exercised care in each such determination, and that:

(i)an L/C Issuer may replace a purportedly lost, stolen, or destroyed original Letter of Credit or missing amendment thereto with a certified true copy marked as such or waive a requirement for its presentation;
(ii)an L/C Issuer may accept documents that appear on their face to be in substantial compliance with the terms of a Letter of Credit without responsibility for further investigation, regardless of any notice or information to the contrary, and may make payment upon presentation of documents that appear on their face to be in substantial compliance with the terms of such Letter of Credit and without regard to any non-documentary condition in such Letter of Credit;
(iii)an L/C Issuer shall have the right, in its sole discretion, to decline to accept such documents and to make such payment if such documents are not in strict compliance with the terms of such Letter of Credit; and
(iv)this sentence shall establish the standard of care to be exercised by an L/C Issuer when determining whether drafts and other documents presented under a Letter of Credit comply with the terms thereof (and the parties hereto hereby waive, to the extent permitted by Applicable Law, any standard of care inconsistent with the foregoing).

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Without limiting the foregoing, none of the Administrative Agent, the Lenders, any L/C Issuer, or any of their Related Parties shall have any liability or responsibility by reason of (i) any presentation that includes forged or fraudulent documents or that is otherwise affected by the fraudulent, bad faith, or illegal conduct of the beneficiary or other Person, (ii) an L/C Issuer declining to take-up documents and make payment (A) against documents that are fraudulent, forged, or for other reasons by which that it is entitled not to honor or (B) following the Company’s waiver of discrepancies with respect to such documents or request for honor of such documents or (iii) an L/C Issuer retaining proceeds of a Letter of Credit based on an apparently applicable attachment order, blocking regulation, or third-party claim notified to such L/C Issuer.

(h)Applicability of ISP and UCP; Limitation of Liability.  Unless otherwise expressly agreed by the applicable L/C Issuer and the Company when a Letter of Credit is issued by it (including any such agreement applicable to an Existing Letter of Credit), the rules of the ISP shall apply to each Letter of Credit.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, no L/C Issuer shall be responsible to any Borrower for, and no L/C Issuer’s rights and remedies against any Borrower shall be impaired by, any action or inaction of any L/C Issuer required or permitted under any law, order, or practice that is required or permitted to be applied to any Letter of Credit or this Agreement, including the Law or any order of a jurisdiction where any L/C Issuer or the beneficiary is located, the practice stated in the ISP or UCP, as applicable, or in the decisions, opinions, practice statements, or official commentary of the ICC Banking Commission, the Bankers Association for Finance and Trade - International Financial Services Association (BAFT-IFSA), or the Institute of International Banking Law & Practice, whether or not any Letter of Credit chooses such law or practice.
(i)Each L/C Issuer shall act on behalf of the Lenders with respect to any Letters of Credit issued by it and the documents associated therewith, and each L/C Issuer shall have all of the benefits and immunities (A) provided to the Administrative Agent in Article IX with respect to any acts taken or omissions suffered by such L/C Issuer in connection with Letters of Credit issued by it or proposed to be issued by it and Issuer Documents pertaining to such Letters of Credit as fully as if the term “Administrative Agent” as used in Article IX included such L/C Issuer with respect to such acts or omissions, and (B) as additionally provided herein with respect to such L/C Issuer.
(j)Letter of Credit Fees.  The Borrowers shall pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of each Dollar Tranche Lender in accordance, subject to Section 2.17, with its Applicable Revolving Credit Percentage a Letter of Credit fee (the “Letter of Credit Fee”) for each Letter of Credit equal to the Applicable Rate times the Dollar Equivalent of the daily amount available to be drawn under such Letter of Credit.  For purposes of computing the daily amount available to be drawn under any Letter of Credit, the amount of such Letter of Credit shall be determined in accordance with Section 1.06.  Letter of Credit Fees shall be (i) due and payable on the first Business Day after the end of each March, June, September and December, commencing with the first such date to occur after the issuance of such Letter of Credit, on the Maturity Date and thereafter on demand and (ii) computed on a quarterly basis in arrears.  If there is any change in the Applicable Rate during any quarter, the daily amount available to be drawn under each Letter of Credit shall be computed and multiplied by the Applicable Rate separately for each period during such quarter that such Applicable Rate was in effect.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, upon the request of the Required Tranche Lenders, while any Event of Default exists, all Letter of Credit Fees shall accrue at the Default Rate.

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(k)Fronting Fee and Documentary and Processing Charges Payable to L/C Issuers.  The Borrowers shall pay directly to the applicable L/C Issuer for its own account a fronting fee with respect to each Letter of Credit, at the rate per annum equal to the percentage separately agreed upon between the Company and such L/C Issuer, computed on the Dollar Equivalent of the daily amount available to be drawn under such Letter of Credit on a quarterly basis in arrears  Such fronting fee shall be due and payable on the first Business Day after the end of each March, June, September and December in respect of the most recently-ended quarterly period (or portion thereof, in the case of the first payment), commencing with the first such date to occur after the issuance of such Letter of Credit, on the Maturity Date and thereafter on demand.  For purposes of computing the daily amount available to be drawn under any Letter of Credit, the amount of such Letter of Credit shall be determined in accordance with Section 1.06.  In addition, the Borrowers shall pay directly to the applicable L/C Issuer for its own account, in Dollars, the reasonable and customary issuance, presentation, amendment and other processing fees, and other standard costs and charges, of such L/C Issuer relating to letters of credit as from time to time in effect.  Such reasonable and customary fees and standard costs and charges are due and payable on demand and are nonrefundable.
(l)Disbursement Procedures.  The L/C Issuer for any Letter of Credit shall, within the time allowed by Applicable Laws or the specific terms of the Letter of Credit following its receipt thereof, examine all documents purporting to represent a demand for payment under such Letter of Credit.  Such L/C Issuer shall promptly after such examination notify the Administrative Agent and the Company in writing of such demand for payment if such L/C Issuer has made or will make an L/C Disbursement thereunder; provided that any failure to give or delay in giving such notice shall not relieve any Borrower of its obligation to reimburse such L/C Issuer and the Dollar Tranche Lenders with respect to any such L/C Disbursement.
(m)Interim Interest.  If the L/C Issuer for any Letter of Credit shall make any L/C Disbursement, then, unless the Borrowers shall reimburse such L/C Disbursement in full on the date such L/C Disbursement is made, the unpaid amount thereof shall bear interest, for each day from and including the date such L/C Disbursement is made to but excluding the date that the Borrowers reimburse such L/C Disbursement, at the rate per annum then applicable to Base Rate Loans; provided that if the Borrowers fail to reimburse such L/C Disbursement when due pursuant to paragraph (f) of this Section 2.03, then Section 2.08(b) shall apply.  Interest accrued pursuant to this paragraph (m) shall be for account of such L/C Issuer, except that interest accrued on and after the date of payment by any Lender pursuant to paragraph (f) of this Section 2.03 to reimburse such L/C Issuer shall be for account of such Lender to the extent of such payment.
(n)Replacement of any L/C Issuer.  Any L/C Issuer may be replaced at any time by written agreement between the Company, the Administrative Agent, the replaced L/C Issuer and the successor L/C Issuer.  The Administrative Agent shall notify the Lenders of any such replacement of an L/C Issuer.  At the time any such replacement shall become effective, the Borrowers shall pay all unpaid fees accrued for the account of the replaced L/C Issuer pursuant to Section 2.03(j).  From and after the effective date of any such replacement, (i) the successor L/C Issuer shall have all the rights and obligations of an L/C Issuer under this Agreement with respect to Letters of Credit to be issued by it thereafter and (ii) references herein to the term “L/C Issuer” shall be deemed to include such successor or any previous L/C Issuer, or such successor and all previous L/C Issuer, as the context shall require.  After the replacement of an L/C Issuer hereunder, the replaced L/C Issuer shall remain a party hereto and shall continue to have all the rights and

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obligations of an L/C Issuer under this Agreement with respect to Letters of Credit issued by it prior to such replacement, but shall not be required to issue additional Letters of Credit.
(o)Cash Collateralization.  If any Event of Default shall occur and be continuing, on the Business Day that the Company receives notice from the Administrative Agent or the Required Tranche Lenders (or, if the maturity of the Loans has been accelerated, Lenders with L/C Obligations representing at least 66-2/3% of the total L/C Obligations) demanding the deposit of cash collateral pursuant to this paragraph (o), the Borrowers shall immediately deposit into an account established and maintained on the books and records of the Administrative Agent (the “Cash Collateral Account”) an amount in cash equal to 105% of the total L/C Obligations as of such date plus any accrued and unpaid interest thereon, provided that the obligation to deposit such cash collateral shall become effective immediately, and such deposit shall become immediately due and payable, without demand or other notice of any kind, upon the occurrence of any Event of Default with respect to any Borrower described in clause (f) of Section 8.01.  Such deposit shall be held by the Administrative Agent as collateral for the payment and performance of the obligations of the Borrowers under this Agreement.  In addition, and without limiting the foregoing or paragraph (d) of this Section 2.03, if any L/C Obligations remain outstanding after the expiration date specified in said paragraph (d), the Borrowers shall immediately deposit into the Cash Collateral Account an amount in cash equal to 105% of such L/C Obligations as of such date plus any accrued and unpaid interest thereon.

The Administrative Agent shall have exclusive dominion and control, including the exclusive right of withdrawal, over the Cash Collateral Account.  Other than any interest earned on the investment of such deposits, which investments shall be made at the option and sole discretion of the Administrative Agent and at the Borrowers’ risk and expense, such deposits shall not bear interest.  Interest or profits, if any, on such investments shall accumulate in the Cash Collateral Account.  Moneys in the Cash Collateral Account shall be applied by the Administrative Agent to reimburse each L/C Issuer for L/C Disbursements for which it has not been reimbursed, together with related fees, costs, and customary processing charges, and, to the extent not so applied, shall be held for the satisfaction of the reimbursement obligations of the Borrowers for the L/C Obligations at such time or, if the maturity of the Loans has been accelerated (but subject to the consent of Lenders with L/C Obligations representing 66-2/3% of the total L/C Obligations), be applied to satisfy other obligations of the Borrowers under this Agreement.  If the Borrowers are required to provide an amount of cash collateral hereunder as a result of the occurrence of an Event of Default, such amount (to the extent not applied as aforesaid) shall be returned to the Borrowers within three Business Days after all Events of Default have been cured or waived.

(p)Additional L/C Issuers. Any Lender hereunder may become an L/C Issuer upon receipt by the Administrative Agent of a fully executed Notice of Additional L/C Issuer which shall be signed by the Company, the Administrative Agent and the applicable L/C Issuer. Such new L/C Issuer shall provide its L/C Commitment in such Notice of Additional L/C Issuer and upon the receipt by the Administrative Agent of the fully executed Notice of Additional L/C Issuer, the defined term L/C Commitment shall be deemed amended to incorporate the L/C Commitment of such new L/C Issuer.
(q)Letters of Credit Issued for Subsidiaries.  Notwithstanding that a Letter of Credit issued or outstanding hereunder is in support of any obligations of, or is for the account of, a Subsidiary, the Borrowers shall be obligated to reimburse, indemnify and compensate the

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applicable L/C Issuer hereunder for any and all drawings under such Letter of Credit as if such Letter of Credit had been issued solely for the account of a Borrower.  Each Borrower irrevocably waives any and all defenses that might otherwise be available to it as a guarantor or surety of any or all of the obligations of such Subsidiary in respect of such Letter of Credit.  Each Borrower hereby acknowledges that the issuance of Letters of Credit for the account of Subsidiaries inures to the benefit of such Borrower, and that such Borrower’s business derives substantial benefits from the businesses of such Subsidiaries.
(r)L/C Issuer Reporting Requirements.  Each L/C Issuer shall, no later than the fifth (5th) Business Day following the last day of each month, provide to the Administrative Agent a schedule of the Letters of Credit issued by it, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, showing the date of issuance of each Letter of Credit, the account party, the original face amount (if any), the expiration date, and the reference number of any Letter of Credit outstanding at any time during such month, and showing the aggregate amount (if any) payable by the Borrowers to such L/C Issuer during such month pursuant to Section 2.03(j).  Promptly after the receipt of such schedule from each L/C Issuer, Administrative Agent shall provide to the Lenders and the Company a summary of such schedules.
(s)Conflict with Issuer Documents.  In the event of any conflict between the terms hereof and the terms of any Issuer Document, the terms hereof shall control.
2.04[Intentionally Omitted].
2.05Prepayments.
(a)The Borrowers may, upon notice to the Administrative Agent, at any time or from time to time voluntarily prepay Term A-1 Loans, Term A-2 Loans and Revolving Credit Loans in whole or in part without premium or penalty; provided that (i) such notice must be received by the Administrative Agent not later than (A) 11:00 a.m. on the date of prepayment of Eurodollar Rate Loans, (B) 11:00 a.m. four Business Days (or five, in the case of prepayment of Loans denominated in Special Notice Currencies) prior to any date of prepayment of any Alternative Currency Loans, and (C) 1:00 p.m. on the date of prepayment of Base Rate Loans and LIBOR Daily Floating Rate Loans; (ii) any prepayment of Eurodollar Rate Loans or Alternative Currency Loans shall be in a principal amount of the Dollar Equivalent of $5,000,000 or a whole multiple of the Dollar Equivalent of $100,000 in excess thereof; and (iii) any prepayment of Base Rate Loans or LIBOR Daily Floating Rate Loans shall be in a principal amount of $500,000 or a whole multiple of $100,000 in excess thereof or, in each case, if less, the entire principal amount thereof then outstanding. Each such notice shall specify the date, currency and amount of such prepayment and the Type(s) of Loans, the Facility and if applicable, the Tranche, to be prepaid and, if Eurodollar Rate Loans or Alternative Currency Term Rate Loans are to be prepaid, the Interest Period(s) of such Loans. The Administrative Agent will promptly notify each Appropriate Lender of its receipt of each such notice, and of the amount of such Lender’s ratable portion of such prepayment (based on such Lender’s Applicable Percentage in respect of the relevant Facility).  If such notice is given by a Borrower, such Borrower shall make such prepayment and the payment amount specified in such notice shall be due and payable on the date specified therein.  Any prepayment of any Loan shall be accompanied by all accrued interest on the amount prepaid, together with, in the case of any Eurodollar Rate Loan and any Alternative Currency Term Rate Loan, any additional amounts required pursuant to Section 3.05.  Subject to Section 2.17, each such prepayment shall be applied

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to the Loans of the Lenders in accordance with their respective Applicable Percentages in respect of each of the relevant Facilities.
(b)If for any reason the Total Revolving Credit Outstandings at any time exceed the Revolving Credit Facility at such time, then the Borrowers shall immediately prepay the Revolving Credit Loans and L/C Borrowings and/or Cash Collateralize the L/C Obligations (other than the L/C Borrowings) in an aggregate amount equal to such excess; provided, however, that the Borrowers shall not be required to Cash Collateralize the L/C Obligations pursuant to this Section 2.05(b) unless after the prepayment in full of the Revolving Credit Loans the Total Revolving Credit Outstandings exceed the Revolving Credit Facility at such time.
(c)If the Administrative Agent notifies the Company at any time that the Outstanding Amount of all Revolving Credit Loans and L/C Obligations denominated in Alternative Currencies at such time exceeds an amount equal to 105% of the Alternative Currency Sublimit then in effect, then, within five (5) Business Days after receipt of such notice, the Borrowers shall prepay the Revolving Credit Loans and L/C Borrowings and/or Cash Collateralize the L/C Obligations (other than the L/C Borrowings) in an aggregate amount sufficient to reduce such Outstanding Amount as of such date of payment to an amount not to exceed 100% of the Alternative Currency Sublimit then in effect.
2.06Termination or Reduction of Commitments.  
(a)Optional. The Company may, upon notice to the Administrative Agent, terminate the Revolving Credit Facility, the Alternative Currency Sublimit or the Letter of Credit Sublimit, or from time to time permanently reduce the Revolving Credit Facility, the Alternative Currency Sublimit or the Letter of Credit Sublimit.  Any such reduction of the Revolving Credit Facility shall be applied to the Revolving Credit Commitment of each Revolving Credit Lender according to its Applicable Percentage; provided that (i) any such notice shall be received by the Administrative Agent not later than 1:00 p.m. five (5) Business Days prior to the date of termination or reduction, (ii) any such partial reduction shall be in an aggregate amount of $10,000,000 or any whole multiple of $1,000,000 in excess thereof, (iii) the Company shall not terminate or reduce (A) the Revolving Credit Facility if, after giving effect thereto and to any concurrent prepayments hereunder, (x) the Total Revolving Credit Outstandings would exceed the Revolving Credit Facility, (B) the Alternative Currency Sublimit if, after giving effect thereto, the Outstanding Amount of all Revolving Credit Loans and L/C Obligations denominated in Alternative Currencies would exceed the Alternative Currency Sublimit, or (C) the Letter of Credit Sublimit if, after giving effect thereto, the Outstanding Amount of L/C Obligations not fully Cash Collateralized hereunder would exceed the Letter of Credit Sublimit and (iv) if, after giving effect to any reduction of the Revolving Credit Facility, the Alternative Currency Sublimit exceeds the amount of the Revolving Credit Facility, the Alternative Currency Sublimit shall be automatically reduced by the amount of such excess.  In addition, prior to the Term A-1 Loan Draw Deadline, the Company may, upon notice to the Administrative Agent as set forth above, from time to time terminate (in whole or in part) the unused portion of the aggregate Term A-1 Commitments, and prior to the Term A-2 Loan Draw Deadline, the Company may, upon notice to the Administrative Agent as set forth above, from time to time terminate (in whole or in part) the unused portion of the aggregate Term A-2 Commitments.

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(b)Mandatory.  (i) The aggregate Term A-1 Commitments shall be automatically and permanently reduced to zero on the Term A-1 Loan Draw Deadline, and (ii) the aggregate Term A-2 Commitments shall be automatically and permanently reduced to zero on the Term A-2 Loan Draw Deadline.
(c)Application of Commitment Reductions, Payment of Fees.  The Administrative Agent will promptly notify the Appropriate Lenders of any such notice of termination or reduction of the Letter of Credit Sublimit, the Alternative Currency Sublimit, the Revolving Credit Commitments, the Term A-1 Commitments or the Term A-2 Commitments under this Section 2.06.  Upon any reduction of a Facility, the Commitment of each Appropriate Lender shall be reduced by such Lender’s Applicable Percentage in respect of the relevant Facility of such reduction amount.  All fees in respect of any Facility accrued until the effective date of any termination of such Facility shall be paid on the effective date of such termination.
2.07Repayment of Loans.
(a)Term A-1 Loans.  The Company shall repay to the Term A-1 Lenders on the Maturity Date with respect to the Term A-1 Facility the aggregate principal amount of all Term A-1 Loans outstanding on such date.
(b)Term A-2 Loans.  The Company shall repay to the Term A-2 Lenders on the Maturity Date with respect to the Term A-2 Facility the aggregate principal amount of all Term A-2 Loans outstanding on such date.
(c)Revolving Credit Loans.  The Borrowers shall repay to the Revolving Credit Lenders on the Maturity Date with respect to the Revolving Credit Facility the aggregate principal amount of all Revolving Credit Loans outstanding on such date.
2.08Interest.
(a)Subject to the provisions of subsection (b) below, (i) each Eurodollar Rate Loan under a Facility shall bear interest on the outstanding principal amount thereof for each Interest Period at a rate per annum equal to the Eurodollar Rate for such Interest Period plus the Applicable Rate for such Facility; (ii) each Base Rate Loan under a Facility shall bear interest on the outstanding principal amount thereof from the applicable borrowing date at a rate per annum equal to the Base Rate plus the Applicable Rate for such Facility, (iii) each LIBOR Daily Floating Rate Loan under a Facility shall bear interest on the outstanding principal amount thereof from the applicable borrowing date at a rate per annum equal to the LIBOR Daily Floating Rate plus the Applicable Rate for such Facility, (iv) each Alternative Currency Daily Rate Loan shall bear interest on the outstanding principal amount thereof from the applicable borrowing date at a rate per annum equal to the Alternative Currency Daily Rate plus the Applicable Rate for such Facility; and (v) each Alternative Currency Term Rate Loan shall bear interest on the outstanding principal amount thereof for each Interest Period at a rate per annum equal to the Alternative Currency Term Rate for such Interest Period plus the Applicable Rate for such Facility.
(b)(i)If any amount of principal of any Loan is not paid when due (without regard to any applicable grace periods), whether at stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise, such amount shall thereafter bear interest at a fluctuating interest rate per annum at all times equal to the Default Rate to the fullest extent permitted by Applicable Law.

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(ii)If any amount (other than principal of any Loan) payable by any Borrower under any Loan Document is not paid when due (without regard to any applicable grace periods), whether at stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise, then upon the request of the Required Lenders, such amount shall thereafter bear interest at a fluctuating interest rate per annum at all times equal to the Default Rate to the fullest extent permitted by Applicable Law.
(iii)Upon the request of the Required Lenders, while any Event of Default exists (other than as set forth in clauses (b)(i) and (b)(ii) above), the Borrowers shall pay interest on the principal amount of all outstanding Obligations hereunder at a fluctuating interest rate per annum at all times equal to the Default Rate to the fullest extent permitted by Applicable Law.
(iv)Accrued and unpaid interest on past due amounts (including interest on past due interest) shall be due and payable upon demand.
(c)Interest on each Loan shall be due and payable in arrears on each Interest Payment Date applicable thereto and at such other times as may be specified herein.  Interest hereunder shall be due and payable in accordance with the terms hereof before and after judgment, and before and after the commencement of any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law.
2.09Fees.  In addition to certain fees described in subsections (h) and (i) of Section 2.03:
(a)Revolving Credit Unused Fee
.  The Company shall pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of each Revolving Credit Lender holding Revolving Credit Commitments (in accordance with such Revolving Credit Lender’s Applicable Percentage) an unused fee in Dollars (the “Revolving Credit Unused Fee”) equal to the Unused Fee Rate with respect to the Revolving Credit Facility times the actual daily amount by which the Revolving Credit Facility exceeds the sum of (i) the Outstanding Amount of Revolving Credit Loans as of such date and (ii) the Outstanding Amount of L/C Obligations, subject to adjustment as provided in Section 2.17.  The Revolving Credit Unused Fee shall accrue at all times from the Closing Date until the earlier of the Facility Fee Effective Date (defined below) and the last day of the Availability Period, including at any time during which one or more of the conditions in Article IV is not met, and shall be due and payable, until such fee terminates as set forth above, quarterly in arrears on the last Business Day of each March, June, September and December, commencing with the first such date to occur after the Closing Date, and on the earlier of the Facility Fee Effective Date and the last day of the Availability Period.  The Revolving Credit Unused Fee shall be calculated quarterly in arrears, in accordance with the definition of Unused Fee Rate, and if there is any change in the Unused Fee Rate during any quarter, the actual daily amount shall be computed and multiplied by the Unused Fee Rate separately for each period during such quarter that such Unused Fee Rate was in effect.
(b)Facility Fee
.  Commencing at such time as the Ratings Based Pricing Grid becomes effective (the “Facility Fee Effective Date”), the Company shall pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of each Revolving Credit Lender in accordance with its Applicable Percentage, a facility fee in Dollars (the “Facility Fee”) equal to the applicable Facility Fee in the definition of Applicable Rate times the actual daily amount of the aggregate Revolving Credit Commitments (or, if the Revolving Credit Commitments have terminated, on the Outstanding Amount of all

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Revolving Credit Loans and L/C Obligations), regardless of usage, subject to adjustment as provided in Section 2.17.  The Facility Fee shall accrue at all times during the Availability Period commencing on the Facility Fee Effective Date (and thereafter so long as any Revolving Credit Loans or L/C Obligations remain outstanding), including at any time during which one or more of the conditions in Article IV is not met, and shall be due and payable quarterly in arrears on the last Business Day of each March, June, September and December, commencing with the first such date to occur after the Facility Fee Effective Date, and on the last day of the Availability Period (and, if applicable, thereafter on demand).  The Facility Fee shall be calculated quarterly in arrears, and if there is any change in the Applicable Rate during any quarter, the actual daily amount shall be computed and multiplied by the Applicable Rate separately for each period during such quarter that such Applicable Rate was in effect.

(c)Term A-1 Loan Unused Fee
. The Company shall pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of each Term A-1 Lender holding Term A-1 Commitments (in accordance with each Term A-1 Lender’s Applicable Percentage) an unused fee in Dollars (the “Term A-1 Loan Unused Fee”) equal to the Unused Fee Rate with respect to the Term Facilities times the undrawn portion of the Term A-1 Facility. The Term A-1 Loan Unused Fee shall accrue at all times from the Closing Date until the Term A-1 Loan Draw Deadline, including at any time during which one or more of the conditions in Article IV is not met, and shall be due and payable quarterly in arrears on the last Business Day of each March, June, September and December, commencing with the first such date to occur after the Closing Date, and on the Term Loan Draw Deadline. The Term A-1 Loan Unused Fee shall be calculated quarterly in arrears, in accordance with the definition of Unused Fee Rate.
(d)Term A-2 Loan Unused Fee
. The Company shall pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of each Term A-2 Lender holding Term A-2 Commitments (in accordance with each Term A-2 Lender’s Applicable Percentage) an unused fee in Dollars (the “Term A-2 Loan Unused Fee”) equal to the Unused Fee Rate with respect to the Term Facilities times the undrawn portion of the Term A-2 Facility. The Term A-2 Loan Unused Fee shall accrue at all times from the Closing Date until the Term A-2 Loan Draw Deadline, including at any time during which one or more of the conditions in Article IV is not met, and shall be due and payable quarterly in arrears on the last Business Day of each March, June, September and December, commencing with the first such date to occur after the Closing Date, and on the Term Loan Draw Deadline. The Term A-2 Loan Unused Fee shall be calculated quarterly in arrears, in accordance with the definition of Unused Fee Rate.
(e)Other Fees.
(i)The Company shall pay to the Arrangers and the Administrative Agent for their own respective accounts, in Dollars, fees in the amounts and at the times specified in the Fee Letter.  Such fees shall be fully earned when paid and shall not be refundable for any reason whatsoever.
(ii)The Company shall pay to the Lenders, in Dollars, such fees as shall have been separately agreed upon in writing in the amounts and at the times so specified.  Such fees shall be fully earned when paid and shall not be refundable for any reason whatsoever.

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2.10Computation of Interest and Fees; Retroactive Adjustments of Applicable Rate.  
(a)All computations of interest for Base Rate Loans (including Base Rate Loans determined by reference to the Eurodollar Rate) and for Loans denominated in Alternative Currencies shall be made on the basis of a year of 365 or 366 days, as the case may be, and actual days elapsed, or, in the case of interest in respect of Loans denominated in Alternative Currencies as to which market practice differs from the foregoing, in accordance with such market practice.  All other computations of fees and interest shall be made on the basis of a 360-day year and actual days elapsed (which results in more fees or interest, as applicable, being paid than if computed on the basis of a 365-day year).  Interest shall accrue on each Loan for the day on which the Loan is made, and shall not accrue on a Loan, or any portion thereof, for the day on which the Loan or such portion is paid, provided that any Loan that is repaid on the same day on which it is made shall, subject to Section 2.12(a), bear interest for one day.  Each determination by the Administrative Agent of an interest rate or fee hereunder shall be prima facie evidence thereof.
(b)If, as a result of any restatement of or other adjustment to the financial statements of the Company or for any other reason, the Company or the Lenders determine that (i) the Consolidated Leverage Ratio as calculated by the Company as of any applicable date was inaccurate and (ii) a proper calculation of the Consolidated Leverage Ratio would have resulted in higher pricing for such period, the Borrowers shall immediately and retroactively be obligated to pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of the applicable Lenders or the applicable L/C Issuers, as the case may be, promptly on demand by the Administrative Agent (or, after the occurrence of an actual or deemed entry of an order for relief with respect to any Borrower under the Bankruptcy Code of the United States, automatically and without further action by the Administrative Agent, any Lender or any L/C Issuer), an amount equal to the excess of the amount of interest and fees that should have been paid for such period over the amount of interest and fees actually paid for such period.  This paragraph (b) shall not limit the rights of the Administrative Agent, any Lender or any L/C Issuer, as the case may be, under Section 2.03(c)(iii), 2.03(h) or 2.08(b) or under Article VIII.  Each Borrower’s obligations under this paragraph (b) shall survive the termination of the Aggregate Commitments and the repayment of all other Obligations hereunder for a period of 180 days.
2.11Evidence of Debt.
(a)The Credit Extensions made by each Lender shall be evidenced by one or more accounts or records maintained by such Lender in the ordinary course of business.  The Administrative Agent shall maintain the Register in accordance with Section 10.06(c).  The accounts or records maintained by each Lender shall be prima facie evidence of the amount of the Credit Extensions made by the Lenders to the Borrowers and the interest and payments thereon.  Any failure to so record or any error in doing so shall not, however, limit or otherwise affect the obligation of the Borrowers hereunder to pay any amount owing with respect to the Obligations.  In the event of any conflict between the accounts and records maintained by any Lender and the Register, the Register shall control in the absence of demonstrable error.  Upon the request of any Lender to a Borrower made through the Administrative Agent, such Borrower shall execute and deliver to such Lender (through the Administrative Agent) a Note, which shall evidence such Lender’s Loans to such Borrower in addition to such accounts or records.  Each Lender may attach

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schedules to its Note and endorse thereon the date, Type (if applicable), amount and maturity of its Loans and payments with respect thereto.
(b)In addition to the accounts and records referred to in subsection (a), each Lender and the Administrative Agent shall maintain in accordance with its usual practice accounts or records evidencing the purchases and sales by such Lender of participations in Letters of Credit.  In the event of any conflict between the accounts and records maintained by the Administrative Agent and the accounts and records of any Lender in respect of such matters, the accounts and records of the Administrative Agent shall control in the absence of demonstrable error.
2.12Payments Generally; Administrative Agent’s Clawback.
(a)General
.  All payments to be made by the Borrowers shall be made free and clear of and without condition or deduction for any counterclaim, defense, recoupment or setoff.  Except as otherwise expressly provided herein and, except with respect to principal of and interest on Loans denominated in an Alternative Currency, all payments by the Borrowers hereunder shall be made to the Administrative Agent, for the account of the respective Lenders to which such payment is owed, at the Administrative Agent’s Office in Dollars and in Same Day Funds not later than 2:00 p.m. on the date specified herein.  Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, all payments by the Borrowers hereunder with respect to principal and interest on Loans denominated in an Alternative Currency shall be made to the Administrative Agent, for the account of the respective Lenders to which such payment is owed, at the applicable Administrative Agent’s Office in such Alternative Currency and in Same Day Funds not later than the Applicable Time specified by the Administrative Agent on the dates specified herein.  If, for any reason, any Borrower is prohibited by any Law from making any required payment hereunder in an Alternative Currency, such Borrower shall make such payment in Dollars in the Dollar Equivalent of the Alternative Currency payment amount.  The Administrative Agent will promptly distribute to each Lender its Applicable Percentage in respect of the relevant Facility (or other applicable share as provided herein) of such payment in like funds as received by wire transfer to such Lender’s Lending Office.  All payments received by the Administrative Agent after (i) 2:00 p.m., in the case of payments in Dollars, or (ii) after the Applicable Time specified by the Administrative Agent, in the case of payments in an Alternative Currency, shall, in each case, be deemed received on the next succeeding Business Day and any applicable interest or fee shall continue to accrue.  If any payment to be made by any Borrower shall come due on a day other than a Business Day, payment shall be made on the next following Business Day, and such extension of time shall be reflected in computing interest or fees, as the case may be.
(b)(i)  Funding by Lenders; Presumption by Administrative Agent
.  Unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from a Lender prior to the proposed date of any Borrowing of Eurodollar Rate Loans or Alternative Currency Loans (or, in the case of any Borrowing of Base Rate Loans or LIBOR Daily Floating Rate Loans, prior to 12:00 noon on the date of such Borrowing) that such Lender will not make available to the Administrative Agent such Lender’s share of such Borrowing, the Administrative Agent may assume that such Lender has made such share available on such date in accordance with Section 2.02 (or, in the case of a Borrowing of Base Rate Loans or LIBOR Daily Floating Rate Loans, that such Lender has made such share available in accordance with and at the time required by Section 2.02) and may, in reliance upon such assumption, make available to the applicable Borrower a corresponding amount.  In such event, if a Lender has not in fact made its share of the applicable Borrowing

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available to the Administrative Agent, then the applicable Lender and the applicable Borrower severally agree to pay to the Administrative Agent forthwith on demand such corresponding amount in Same Day Funds with interest thereon, for each day from and including the date such amount is made available to such Borrower to but excluding the date of payment to the Administrative Agent, at (A) in the case of a payment to be made by such Lender, the greater of the applicable Overnight Rate and a rate determined by the Administrative Agent in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation, plus any administrative, processing or similar fees customarily charged by the Administrative Agent in connection with the foregoing, and (B) in the case of a payment to be made by a Borrower, the interest rate applicable to the applicable Borrowing.  If such Borrower and such Lender shall pay such interest to the Administrative Agent for the same or an overlapping period, the Administrative Agent shall promptly remit to such Borrower the amount of such interest paid by such Borrower for such period.  If such Lender pays its share of the applicable Borrowing to the Administrative Agent, then the amount so paid (but not in excess of the interest rate otherwise applicable to such borrowing) shall constitute such Lender’s Loan included in such Borrowing.  Any payment by such Borrower shall be without prejudice to any claim the Borrower may have against a Lender that shall have failed to make such payment to the Administrative Agent.

(2)Payments by Borrowers; Presumptions by Administrative Agent.  Unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from a Borrower prior to the date on which any payment is due to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Lenders or any L/C Issuer hereunder that such Borrower will not make such payment, the Administrative Agent may assume that such Borrower has made such payment on such date in accordance herewith and may, in reliance upon such assumption, distribute to the Appropriate Lenders or the applicable L/C Issuer, as the case may be, the amount due.  

With respect to any payment that the Administrative Agent makes for the account of the Lenders or any L/C Issuer hereunder as to which the Administrative Agent determines (which determination shall be conclusive absent manifest error) that any of the following applies (such payment referred to as the “Rescindable Amount”): (1) the applicable Borrower has not in fact made such payment; (2) the Administrative Agent has made a payment in excess of the amount so paid by such Borrower (whether or not then owed); or (3) the Administrative agent has for any reason otherwise erroneously made such payment; then each of the Lenders or the applicable L/C Issuers, as the case may be, severally agrees to repay to the Administrative Agent forthwith on demand the Rescindable Amount so distributed to such Lender or such L/C Issuer, in Same Day Funds with interest thereon, for each day from and including the date such amount is distributed to it to but excluding the date of payment to the Administrative Agent, at the greater of the applicable Overnight Rate and a rate determined by the Administrative Agent in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation

A notice of the Administrative Agent to any Lender or Borrower with respect to any amount owing under this subsection (b) shall be conclusive, absent demonstrable error.

(c)Failure to Satisfy Conditions Precedent
.  If any Lender makes available to the Administrative Agent funds for any Loan to be made by such Lender as provided in the foregoing provisions of this Article II, and such funds are not made available to any Borrower by the Administrative Agent because the conditions to the applicable Credit Extension set forth in

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Article IV are not satisfied or waived in accordance with the terms hereof, the Administrative Agent shall return such funds (in like funds as received from such Lender) to such Lender, without interest.

(d)Obligations of Lenders Several
.  The obligations of the Lenders hereunder to make Term A-1 Loans, Term A-2 Loans and Revolving Credit Loans, to fund participations in Letters of Credit and to make payments pursuant to Section 10.04(c) are several and not joint.  The failure of any Lender to make any Loan, to fund any such participation or to make any payment under Section 10.04(c) on any date required hereunder shall not relieve any other Lender of its corresponding obligation to do so on such date, and no Lender shall be responsible for the failure of any other Lender to so make its Loan, to purchase its participation or to make its payment under Section 10.04(c).
(e)Funding Source
.  Nothing herein shall be deemed to obligate any Lender to obtain the funds for any Loan in any particular place or manner or to constitute a representation by any Lender that it has obtained or will obtain the funds for any Loan in any particular place or manner.
2.13Sharing of Payments by Lenders.  If any Lender shall, by exercising any right of setoff or counterclaim or otherwise, obtain payment in respect of any principal of or interest on any of the Loans made by it, or the participations in L/C Obligations held by it resulting in such Lender’s receiving payment of a proportion of the aggregate amount of such Loans or participations and accrued interest thereon greater than its pro rata share thereof as provided herein, then the Lender receiving such greater proportion shall (a) notify the Administrative Agent of such fact, and (b) purchase (for cash at face value) participations in the Loans and subparticipations in L/C Obligations of the other Lenders, or make such other adjustments as shall be equitable, so that the benefit of all such payments shall be shared by the Lenders ratably in accordance with the aggregate amount of principal of and accrued interest on their respective Loans and other amounts owing them, provided that:
(i)if any such participations or subparticipations are purchased and all or any portion of the payment giving rise thereto is recovered, such participations or subparticipations shall be rescinded and the purchase price restored to the extent of such recovery, without interest; and
(ii)the provisions of this Section 2.13 shall not be construed to apply to (x) any payment made by or on behalf of any Borrower pursuant to and in accordance with the express terms of this Agreement (including the application of funds arising from the existence of a Defaulting Lender), (y) the application of Cash Collateral provided for in Section 2.16, or (z) any payment obtained by a Lender as consideration for the assignment of or sale of a participation in any of its Loans or subparticipations in L/C Obligations to any assignee or participant, other than an assignment to the Company or any Affiliate thereof (as to which the provisions of this Section 2.13 shall apply).

Each Loan Party consents to the foregoing and agrees, to the extent it may effectively do so under Applicable Law, that any Lender acquiring a participation pursuant to the foregoing arrangements may exercise against such Loan Party rights of setoff and counterclaim with respect to such participation as fully as if such Lender were a direct creditor of such Loan Party in the amount of such participation.

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2.14Extension of Maturity Date in Respect of the Revolving Credit Facility.
(a)Requests for Extension.  The Company may, up to two times with respect to the Revolving Credit Facility, by notice to the Administrative Agent (who shall promptly notify the Revolving Credit Lenders not earlier than one hundred and twenty (120) days and not later than thirty (30) days prior to the Maturity Date in respect of the Revolving Credit Facility then in effect hereunder (the “Existing Maturity Date”), request that the Existing Maturity Date be extended for an additional six month period from the Existing Maturity Date.
(b)Conditions to Effectiveness of Extensions.  As a condition precedent to each such extension, the Borrowers shall pay to Administrative Agent for the pro rata benefit of the Revolving Credit Lenders with respect to the Revolving Credit Facility, an extension fee equal to (A) 0.075% (7.5 basis points) multiplied by (B) the Revolving Credit Commitments of all Revolving Credit Lenders at the time of extension and deliver to the Administrative Agent a certificate of each Loan Party dated as of the Existing Maturity Date (in sufficient copies for each Lender) signed by a Responsible Officer of such Loan Party (i) approving or consenting to such extension (and attaching resolutions adopted by such Loan Party approving or consenting to such extension to the extent required under such Loan Party’s Organization Documents) and (ii) in the case of the Company, certifying that, immediately before and after giving effect to such extension, (A) the representations and warranties contained in Article V and the other Loan Documents are true and correct in all material respects (or, in the case of any representation and warranty that is qualified by materiality, in all respects) on and as of the Existing Maturity Date, except to the extent that such representations and warranties specifically refer to an earlier date or period, in which case they were true and correct in all material respects (or, in the case of Section 5.14(b) or any representation and warranty that is qualified by materiality, in all respects) as of such earlier date or the respective period, as the case may be, and except that for purposes of this Section 2.14, the representations and warranties contained in subsections (a) and (b) of Section 5.05 shall be deemed to refer to the most recent statements furnished pursuant to subsections (a) and (b), respectively, of Section 6.01, (B) the Borrowers are in compliance with all of the financial covenants set forth in Section 7.09, and (C) no Default exists.  
2.15Increase in Total Credit Exposure.
(a)Request for Increase.  Provided there exists no Default, upon notice to the Administrative Agent (which shall promptly notify the Lenders), the Company may, from time to time, request an increase in the Total Credit Exposure of all Lenders (which increase may take the form of additional Dollar Tranche Commitments or Multicurrency Tranche Commitments under the Revolving Credit Facility, an increase to the Term A-1 Facility, an increase to the Term A-2 Facility, or one or more additional term loan tranches) by an amount (for all such requests) not exceeding $450,000,000; provided that any such request for an increase shall be in a minimum amount of $25,000,000, or such other amount as may be agreed upon by Company and Administrative Agent; provided, further, that, after giving effect to such increase, the Total Credit Exposure of all Lenders shall not exceed $1,750,000,000 less the amount of any prepayments of the Outstanding Amount of the Term Facilities. At the time of sending such notice, the Company (in consultation with the Administrative Agent) shall specify the time period within which each Lender is requested to respond (which shall in no event be less than ten Business Days from the date of delivery of such notice to the Lenders) as to whether it intends to seek approval for increasing its Total Credit Exposure.

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(b)Lender Elections to Increase.  Each Lender may decline or elect to participate in such requested increase in the Total Credit Exposure of all Lenders in its sole discretion, and each Lender shall notify the Administrative Agent within such time period whether or not it agrees to increase its Total Credit Exposure and, if so, whether by an amount equal to, greater than, or less than its Applicable Percentage of such requested increase.  Any Lender not responding within such time period shall be deemed to have declined to increase its Total Credit Exposure.
(c)Notification by Administrative Agent; Additional Lenders.  The Administrative Agent shall notify the Company and each Lender of the Lenders’ responses to each request made hereunder.  To achieve the full amount of a requested increase and subject to the approval of the Administrative Agent and, in the case of an increase in the form of additional Dollar Tranche Commitments under the Revolving Credit Facility, each L/C Issuer, the Company may also invite additional Eligible Assignees to become Lenders pursuant to a joinder agreement in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and its counsel (a “New Lender Joinder Agreement”).
(d)Effective Date and Allocations. If the Total Credit Exposure of any Lenders is increased in accordance with this Section 2.15, the Administrative Agent and the Company shall determine the effective date (the “Increase Effective Date”) and the final allocation of such increase.  The Administrative Agent shall promptly notify the Company and the Lenders of the final allocation of such increase and the Increase Effective Date.  
(e)Conditions to Effectiveness of Increase.  As a condition precedent to such increase, (i) the Company shall deliver to the Administrative Agent a certificate of each Loan Party dated as of the Increase Effective Date (in sufficient copies for each Lender) signed by a Responsible Officer of such Loan Party (x) certifying and attaching the resolutions adopted by such Loan Party approving or consenting to such increase to the extent required under such Loan Party’s Organization Documents, and (y) in the case of the Company, certifying that, before and after giving effect to such increase, (A) the representations and warranties contained in Article V and the other Loan Documents are true and correct in all material respects (or, in the case of any representation and warranty that is qualified by materiality, in all respects) on and as of the Increase Effective Date, except to the extent that such representations and warranties specifically refer to an earlier date or period, in which case they were true and correct in all material respects (or, in the case of Section 5.14(b) or any representation and warranty that is qualified by materiality, in all respects) as of such earlier date or for the respective period, as applicable, and except that for purposes of this Section 2.15, the representations and warranties contained in subsections (a) and (b) of Section 5.05 shall be deemed to refer to the most recent statements furnished pursuant to clauses (a) and (b), respectively, of Section 6.01, and (B) no Default exists or would result therefrom, (ii) (x) upon the reasonable request of any Lender participating in such increase made at least ten (10) days prior to the Increase Effective Date, the Borrowers shall have provided to such Lender, and such Lender shall be reasonably satisfied with, the documentation and other information so requested in connection with applicable “know your customer” and anti-money-laundering rules and regulations, including, without limitation, the PATRIOT Act, in each case at least five (5) days prior to the Increase Effective Date and (y) at least five (5) days prior to the Increase Effective Date, if any Loan Party qualifies as a “legal entity customer” under the Beneficial Ownership Regulation, then the Company shall have delivered, to each Lender participating in such increase that so requests, a Beneficial Ownership Certification in relation to such Loan Party and (iii) to the extent that the increase of the Commitments shall take the form of

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a new term loan tranche, this Agreement shall be amended, in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and the Company.  The Borrowers shall prepay any Loans outstanding on the Increase Effective Date (and pay any additional amounts required pursuant to Section 3.05) to the extent necessary to keep the outstanding Loans ratable with any revised Applicable Percentages arising from any nonratable increase in the Total Credit Exposure of any Lender under this Section 2.15, and each Loan Party shall execute and deliver such documents or instruments as the Administrative Agent may require to evidence such increase in the Total Credit Exposure of any Lender and to ratify each such Loan Party’s continuing obligations hereunder and under the other Loan Documents, and shall pay such fees as may be due pursuant to the terms of the Fee Letters.

(f)Conflicting Provisions.  This Section 2.15 shall supersede any provisions in Section 2.13 or Section 10.01 to the contrary.
2.16Cash Collateral.  
(a)Obligation to Cash Collateralize.  At any time that there shall exist a Defaulting Lender, within one Business Day following the written request of the Administrative Agent or any L/C Issuer (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), the Company shall Cash Collateralize the L/C Issuers’ Fronting Exposure with respect to such Defaulting Lender (determined after giving effect to Section 2.17(a)(iv) and any Cash Collateral provided by such Defaulting Lender) in an amount not less than the Minimum Collateral Amount.  Additionally, if the Administrative Agent notifies the Company at any time that the Outstanding Amount of all L/C Obligations at such time exceeds 105% of the Letter of Credit Sublimit then in effect, then within two (2) Business Days after receipt of such notice, the Company shall provide Cash Collateral for the Outstanding Amount of the L/C Obligations in an amount not less than the amount by which the Outstanding Amount of all L/C Obligations exceeds the Letter of Credit Sublimit.
(b)Grant of Security Interest.  The Company, and to the extent provided by any Defaulting Lender, such Defaulting Lender, hereby grants to (and subjects to the control of) the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuers and the Lenders, and agrees to maintain, a first priority security interest in all such cash, deposit accounts and all balances therein, and all other property so provided as collateral pursuant hereto, and in all proceeds of the foregoing, all as security for the obligations to which such Cash Collateral may be applied pursuant to Section 2.16(c).  If at any time the Administrative Agent determines that Cash Collateral is subject to any right or claim of any Person other than the Administrative Agent or the applicable L/C Issuer as herein provided, or that the total amount of such Cash Collateral is less than the Minimum Collateral Amount, the Company will, promptly upon demand by the Administrative Agent, pay or provide to the Administrative Agent additional Cash Collateral in an amount sufficient to eliminate such deficiency (determined in the case of Cash Collateral provided pursuant to Section 2.16(a) above, after giving effect to Section 2.17(a)(iv) and any Cash Collateral provided by the Defaulting Lender). All Cash Collateral (other than credit support not constituting funds subject to deposit) shall be maintained in blocked, non-interest bearing deposit accounts at Bank of America. The Company shall pay on demand therefor from time to time all customary account opening, activity and other administrative fees and charges in connection with the maintenance and disbursement of Cash Collateral.

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(c)Application.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, Cash Collateral provided under any of this Section 2.16 or Sections 2.03, 2.05, 2.17 or 8.02 in respect of Letters of Credit shall be held and applied to the satisfaction of the specific L/C Obligations, obligations to fund participations therein (including, as to Cash Collateral provided by a Defaulting Lender, any interest accrued on such obligation) and other obligations for which the Cash Collateral was so provided, prior to any other application of such property as may otherwise be provided for herein.
(d)Release.  Cash Collateral (or the appropriate portion thereof) provided to reduce Fronting Exposure or to secure other obligations shall be released promptly following (i) the elimination of the applicable Fronting Exposure or other obligations giving rise thereto (including by the termination of Defaulting Lender status of the applicable Lender (or, as appropriate, its assignee following compliance with Section 10.06(b)(vi))) or (ii) the good faith determination by the Administrative Agent and the applicable L/C Issuer that there exists excess Cash Collateral; provided, however, that (x) Cash Collateral furnished by or on behalf of the Company or the Borrowers (including any interest thereon) shall not be released during the continuance of an Event of Default (and following application as provided in this Section 2.16 may be otherwise applied in accordance with Section 8.03 during the continuance of an Event of Default), and (y) the Person providing Cash Collateral and the applicable L/C Issuer may agree that Cash Collateral shall not be released but instead held to support future anticipated Fronting Exposure or other obligations.
2.17Defaulting Lenders.  
(a)Adjustments
.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, if any Lender becomes a Defaulting Lender, then, until such time as that Lender is no longer a Defaulting Lender, to the extent permitted by Applicable Law:
(i)Waivers and Amendments.  Such Defaulting Lender’s right to approve or disapprove any amendment, waiver or consent with respect to this Agreement shall be restricted as set forth in the definition of “Required Lenders” and Section 10.01.
(ii)Defaulting Lender Waterfall.  Any payment of principal, interest, fees or other amounts received by the Administrative Agent for the account of such Defaulting Lender (whether voluntary or mandatory, at maturity, pursuant to Article VIII or otherwise) or received by the Administrative Agent from a Defaulting Lender pursuant to Section 10.08 shall be applied at such time or times as may be determined by the Administrative Agent as follows: first, to the payment of any amounts owing by such Defaulting Lender to the Administrative Agent hereunder; second, to the payment on a pro rata basis of any amounts owing by such Defaulting Lender to any L/C Issuer hereunder; third, to Cash Collateralize any L/C Issuer’s Fronting Exposure with respect to such Defaulting Lender in accordance with Section 2.16; fourth, as the Company may request (so long as no Default or Event of Default exists), to the funding of any Loan in respect of which such Defaulting Lender has failed to fund its portion thereof as required by this Agreement, as determined by the Administrative Agent; fifth, if so determined by the Administrative Agent and, if no Event of Default is continuing, the Company, to be held in a deposit account and released pro rata in order to (x) satisfy such Defaulting Lender’s potential future funding obligations with respect to Loans under this Agreement and (y) Cash Collateralize any L/C Issuer’s future Fronting Exposure with respect to such

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Defaulting Lender with respect to future Letters of Credit issued under this Agreement, in accordance with Section 2.16; sixth, to the payment of any amounts owing to the Lenders or any L/C Issuer as a result of any judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction obtained by any Lender or any L/C Issuer against such Defaulting Lender as a result of such Defaulting Lender’s breach of its obligations under this Agreement; seventh, so long as no Default or Event of Default exists, to the payment of any amounts owing to the Company as a result of any judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction obtained by the Company against such Defaulting Lender as a result of such Defaulting Lender’s breach of its obligations under this Agreement; and eighth, to such Defaulting Lender or as otherwise directed by a court of competent jurisdiction; provided that if (x) such payment is a payment of the principal amount of any Loans or L/C Borrowings in respect of which such Defaulting Lender has not fully funded its appropriate share, and (y) such Loans were made or the related Letters of Credit were issued at a time when the conditions set forth in Section 4.02 were satisfied or waived, such payment shall be applied solely to pay the Loans of, and L/C Obligations owed to, all Non-Defaulting Lenders on a pro rata basis prior to being applied to the payment of any Loans of, or L/C Obligations owed to, such Defaulting Lender until such time as all Loans and funded and unfunded participations in L/C Obligations are held by the Lenders pro rata in accordance with the Commitments hereunder without giving effect to Section 2.17(a)(iv).  Any payments, prepayments or other amounts paid or payable to a Defaulting Lender that are applied (or held) to pay amounts owed by a Defaulting Lender or to post Cash Collateral pursuant to this Section 2.17(a)(ii) shall be deemed paid to and redirected by such Defaulting Lender, and each Lender irrevocably consents hereto.  
(iii)Certain Fees.
(A)No Defaulting Lender shall be entitled to receive any fee payable under Section 2.09(a), (c) or (d) for any period during which that Lender is a Defaulting Lender (and the Company shall not be required to pay any such fee that otherwise would have been required to have been paid to that Defaulting Lender), and each Defaulting Lender shall be entitled to receive fees payable under Section 2.09(b) for any period during which that Lender is a Defaulting Lender only to the extent allocable to the sum of (1) the outstanding principal amount of the Revolving Credit Loans funded by it, and (2) its Applicable Revolving Credit Percentage of the stated amount of Letters of Credit for which it has provided Cash Collateral pursuant to Section 2.16.
(B)Each Defaulting Lender shall be entitled to receive Letter of Credit Fees for any period during which that Lender is a Defaulting Lender only to the extent allocable to its Applicable Revolving Credit Percentage of the stated amount of Letters of Credit for which such Defaulting Lender has provided Cash Collateral pursuant to Section 2.16.
(C)With respect to any fee payable under Section 2.09(a) or (b) or any Letter of Credit Fee not required to be paid to any Defaulting Lender pursuant to clause (A) or (B) above, the Company shall (x) pay to each Non-Defaulting Lender that portion of any such fee otherwise payable to such Defaulting Lender with respect to such Defaulting Lender’s participation in L/C Obligations that has been

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reallocated to such Non-Defaulting Lender pursuant to clause (iv) below, (y) pay to each L/C Issuer the amount of any such fee otherwise payable to such Defaulting Lender to the extent allocable to such L/C Issuer’s Fronting Exposure to such Defaulting Lender, and (z) not be required to pay the remaining amount of any such fee.
(iv)Reallocation of Applicable Percentages to Reduce Fronting Exposure.  All or any part of such Defaulting Lender’s participation in L/C Obligations shall be reallocated among the Non-Defaulting Lenders in accordance with their respective Applicable Revolving Credit Percentages (calculated without regard to such Defaulting Lender’s Revolving Credit Commitment) but only to the extent that such reallocation does not cause (x) the aggregate Revolving Credit Exposure of any Non-Defaulting Lender to exceed such Non-Defaulting Lender’s Revolving Credit Commitment or (y) the aggregate Outstanding Amount of Dollar Tranche Loans of any Non-Defaulting Lender plus such Lender’s participation in L/C Obligations at such time to exceed the such Non-Defaulting Lender’s Dollar Tranche Commitment.  Subject to Section 10.21, no reallocation hereunder shall constitute a waiver or release of any claim of any party hereunder against a Defaulting Lender arising from that Lender having become a Defaulting Lender, including any claim of a Non-Defaulting Lender as a result of such Non-Defaulting Lender’s increased exposure following such reallocation.
(v)Cash Collateral.  If the reallocation described in clause (a)(iv) above cannot, or can only partially, be effected, the Company shall, without prejudice to any right or remedy available to it hereunder or under Applicable Law, Cash Collateralize the L/C Issuers’ Fronting Exposure in accordance with the procedures set forth in Section 2.16.
(b)Defaulting Lender Cure
.  If the Company, the Administrative Agent and each L/C Issuer agree in writing that a Lender is no longer a Defaulting Lender, the Administrative Agent will so notify the parties hereto, whereupon as of the effective date specified in such notice and subject to any conditions set forth therein (which may include arrangements with respect to any Cash Collateral), that Lender will, to the extent applicable, purchase at par that portion of outstanding Loans of the other Lenders or take such other actions as the Administrative Agent may determine to be necessary to cause the Revolving Credit Loans and funded and unfunded participations in Letters of Credit to be held pro rata by the Lenders in accordance with their Revolving Credit Commitments (without giving effect to Section 2.17(a)(iv)), whereupon such Lender will cease to be a Defaulting Lender; provided that no adjustments will be made retroactively with respect to fees accrued or payments made by or on behalf of the Company while that Lender was a Defaulting Lender; and provided, further, that except to the extent otherwise expressly agreed by the affected parties, no change hereunder from Defaulting Lender to Lender will constitute a waiver or release of any claim of any party hereunder arising from that Lender’s having been a Defaulting Lender.
(c)New Letters of Credit.  So long as any Lender is a Defaulting Lender, no L/C Issuer shall be required to issue, extend, increase, reinstate or renew any Letter of Credit unless it is satisfied that it will have no Fronting Exposure after giving effect thereto.

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2.18Addition and Removal of Unencumbered Properties.
(a)Addition of Unencumbered Properties
.  The Company may at any time and from time to time designate additional Unencumbered Properties meeting the definition of Unencumbered Properties by providing an updated Schedule 5.19 and the appropriate Subsidiary Guarantees, at which time such additional Unencumbered Properties shall be included for purposes of determining the Company’s compliance with the financial covenants under Sections 7.09(f), (g) and (h) and the amount that may be borrowed hereunder.
(b)Removal of Unencumbered Properties
(d).  The Company may at any time and from time to time remove Unencumbered Properties by providing an updated Schedule 5.19 reflecting which Properties will no longer constitute Unencumbered Properties; provided that in connection therewith the Company shall, following removal of such Unencumbered Property, continue to comply with Sections 7.09(f), (g) and (h) and so long as the Company complies with Sections 7.09(f), (g) and (h) and there is no Event of Default at such time, such Property shall no longer constitute an Unencumbered Property for purposes hereof.
2.19Designated Borrowers.
(a)Designated Borrowers. The Company may at any time, upon not less than fifteen (15) Business Days' notice from the Company to the Administrative Agent (or such shorter period as may be agreed by the Administrative Agent in its reasonable discretion), request to designate any wholly owned Subsidiary of the Company (an “Applicant Borrower”) as a Designated Borrower to receive Revolving Credit Loans and/or one or more Term Loans (including one or more additional term loan tranches provided pursuant to Section 2.15) by delivering to the Administrative Agent (which shall promptly deliver counterparts thereof to each Lender) a duly executed notice and agreement in substantially the form of Exhibit I (a “Designated Borrower Request and Assumption Agreement”). The parties hereto acknowledge and agree that prior to any Applicant Borrower becoming entitled to utilize the credit facilities provided for herein (i) the Administrative Agent and the Lenders that are to provide Commitments and/or Loans in favor of an Applicant Borrower must each agree, in its and their reasonable discretion, to such Applicant Borrower becoming a Designated Borrower, (ii) the Administrative Agent and such Lenders shall have received such supporting resolutions, incumbency certificates, opinions of counsel and other documents or information, in form, content and scope reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, as may be required by the Administrative Agent, and Notes signed by such new Borrowers to the extent any Lender so requires, and (iii) upon the reasonable request of any Lender, the Applicant Borrowers shall have provided to such Lender, and such Lender shall be reasonably satisfied with, the documentation and other information so requested in connection with applicable “know your customer” and anti-money-laundering rules and regulations, including, without limitation, the PATRIOT Act and any Applicant Borrower that qualifies as a “legal entity customer” under the Beneficial Ownership Regulation shall have delivered, to each Lender that so requests, a Beneficial Ownership Certification in relation to such Applicant Borrower (the requirements in clauses (i), (ii) and (iii) hereof, the “Designated Borrower Requirements”). If the Designated Borrower Requirements are met, the Administrative Agent shall send a notice in substantially the form of Exhibit J (a “Designated Borrower Notice”) to the Company and the Lenders specifying the effective date upon which the Applicant Borrower shall constitute a Designated Borrower for purposes hereof, whereupon each of the Lenders agrees to permit such Designated Borrower to receive Loans hereunder, on the terms and conditions set forth herein, and

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each of the parties agrees that such Designated Borrower otherwise shall be a Borrower for all purposes of this Agreement; provided that no Committed Loan Notice or Letter of Credit Application may be submitted by or on behalf of such Designated Borrower until the date five (5) Business Days after such effective date.
(b)Obligations. Except as specifically provided herein, the Obligations of the Company and each of the Borrowers shall be joint and several in nature (unless such joint and several liability (i) shall result in adverse tax consequences to any such Designated Borrower or (ii) is not permitted by any Law applicable to such Designated Borrower, in which either such case, the liability of such Designated Borrower shall be several in nature) regardless of which such Person actually receives Credit Extensions hereunder or the amount of such Credit Extensions received or the manner in which the Administrative Agent, any L/C Issuer or any Lender accounts for such Credit Extensions on its books and records. Notwithstanding anything herein or in any Loan Document (including any Designated Borrower Request and Assumption Agreement) to the contrary, (i) no Designated Borrower that is a Foreign Subsidiary shall be obligated with respect to any Obligations of the Company or of any Domestic Subsidiary, (ii) the Obligations owed by a Designated Borrower that is a Foreign Subsidiary shall be several and not joint with the Obligations of the Company or of any Designated Borrower that is a Domestic Subsidiary and (iii) no Designated Borrower that is a Foreign Subsidiary shall be obligated as a Subsidiary Guarantor under the Subsidiary Guaranty with respect to the Obligations of the Company or any Domestic Subsidiary.
(c)Appointment. Each Subsidiary of the Company that is or becomes a Designated Borrower pursuant to this Section 2.19 hereby irrevocably appoints the Company to act as its agent for all purposes of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents and agrees that (i) the Company may execute such documents on behalf of such Designated Borrower as the Company deems appropriate in its sole discretion and each Designated Borrower shall be obligated by all of the terms of any such document executed on its behalf, (ii) any notice or communication delivered by the Administrative Agent or the Lender to the Company shall be deemed delivered to each Designated Borrower and (iii) the Administrative Agent or the Lenders may accept, and be permitted to rely on, any document, instrument or agreement executed by the Company on behalf of each of the Loan Parties.
(d)Termination of Designated Borrower Status.  The Company may from time to time, upon not less than 15 Business Days’ notice from the Company to the Administrative Agent (or such shorter period as may be agreed by the Administrative Agent in its reasonable discretion), terminate a Designated Borrower’s status as such, provided that there are no outstanding Loans that were advanced to such Designated Borrower, or other amounts payable by such Designated Borrower on account of any Loans advanced to it, as of the effective date of such termination.  Such Designated Borrower shall also be released from its obligations under the Guaranty and the other Loan Documents, provided that such Designated Borrower (or if such Designated Borrower is not a Domestic Subsidiary, the most immediate parents of such Subsidiary that are Domestic Subsidiaries of the Company (if any)) is not, or substantially contemporaneously with the termination of such Designated Borrower’s status as such would not be, required to be a Subsidiary Guarantor under this Agreement. The Administrative Agent will (at the sole cost of the Borrowers), and each of the Lenders and the L/C Issuers irrevocably authorizes the Administrative Agent to, execute and deliver such documents as the Company or such terminated Designated Borrower may reasonably request to evidence the release of such Designated Borrower from its

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obligations hereunder, including under the Guaranty, and under the other Loan Documents, which documents shall be reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent. The Administrative Agent will promptly notify the Lenders of any such termination of a Designated Borrower’s status.
ARTICLE III. TAXES, YIELD PROTECTION AND ILLEGALITY
3.01Taxes.
(a)Defined Terms.  For purposes of this Section 3.01, the term “Applicable Law” includes FATCA and the term “Lender” includes any L/C Issuer.
(b)Payments Free of Taxes.  Any and all payments by or on account of any obligation of any Loan Party under any Loan Document shall be made without deduction or withholding for any Taxes, except as required by Applicable Law.  If any Applicable Law (as determined in the good faith discretion of an applicable Withholding Agent) requires the deduction or withholding of any Tax from any such payment by a Withholding Agent, then the applicable Withholding Agent shall be entitled to make such deduction or withholding and shall timely pay the full amount deducted or withheld to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with Applicable Law and, if such Tax is an Indemnified Tax, then the sum payable by the applicable Loan Party shall be increased as necessary so that after such deduction or withholding has been made (including such deductions and withholdings applicable to additional sums payable under this Section 3.01) the applicable Recipient receives an amount equal to the sum it would have received had no such deduction or withholding been made.
(c)Payment of Other Taxes by the Borrowers.  Each of the Borrowers shall timely pay to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with Applicable Law, or at the option of the Administrative Agent timely reimburse it for the payment of, any Other Taxes.
(d)Indemnifications by Borrowers.  Each of the Borrowers shall indemnify each Recipient, within 10 days after demand therefor, for the full amount of any Indemnified Taxes (including Indemnified Taxes imposed or asserted on or attributable to amounts payable under this Section 3.01) payable or paid by such Recipient or required to be withheld or deducted from a payment to such Recipient and any reasonable expenses arising therefrom or with respect thereto, whether or not such Indemnified Taxes were correctly or legally imposed or asserted by the relevant Governmental Authority.  A certificate as to the amount of such payment or liability delivered to the Company by a Lender (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), or by the Administrative Agent on its own behalf or on behalf of a Lender, shall be conclusive absent demonstrable error.
(e)Indemnification by the Lenders.  Each Lender shall severally indemnify the Administrative Agent, within 10 days after demand therefor, for (i) any Indemnified Taxes attributable to such Lender (but only to the extent that any Borrower has not already indemnified the Administrative Agent for, or paid, such Indemnified Taxes and without limiting the obligation of the Borrowers to do so), (ii) any Taxes attributable to such Lender’s failure to comply with the provisions of Section 10.06(d) relating to the maintenance of a Participant Register and (iii) any Excluded Taxes attributable to such Lender, in each case, that are payable or paid by the Administrative Agent in connection with any Loan Document, and any reasonable expenses arising therefrom or with respect thereto, whether or not such Taxes were correctly or legally

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imposed or asserted by the relevant Governmental Authority.  A certificate as to the amount of such payment or liability delivered to any Lender by the Administrative Agent shall be conclusive absent manifest error.  Each Lender hereby authorizes the Administrative Agent to set off and apply any and all amounts at any time owing to such Lender under any Loan Document or otherwise payable by the Administrative Agent to the Lender from any other source against any amount due to the Administrative Agent under this paragraph (e).
(f)Evidence of Payments.  Upon request by the Company or the Administrative Agent, as the case may be, after any payment of Taxes by the Company or by the Administrative Agent to a Governmental Authority as provided in this Section 3.01, the Company shall deliver to the Administrative Agent or the Administrative Agent shall deliver to the Company, as the case may be, the original or a certified copy of a receipt issued by such Governmental Authority evidencing such payment, a copy of any return required by Laws to report such payment or other evidence of such payment reasonably satisfactory to the Company or the Administrative Agent, as the case may be.
(g)Status of Lenders; Tax Documentation.
(i)Any Lender that is entitled to an exemption from or reduction of withholding Tax with respect to payments made under any Loan Document shall deliver to the Company and the Administrative Agent, at the time or times reasonably requested by the Company or the Administrative Agent, such properly completed and executed documentation reasonably requested by the Company or the Administrative Agent as will permit such payments to be made without withholding or at a reduced rate of withholding.  In addition, any Lender, if reasonably requested by the Company or the Administrative Agent, shall deliver such other documentation prescribed by applicable law or reasonably requested by the Company or the Administrative Agent as will enable the Company or the Administrative Agent to determine whether or not such Lender is subject to backup withholding or information reporting requirements.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the preceding two sentences, the completion, execution and submission of such documentation (other than such documentation set forth in Section 3.01(g)(ii)(A), (ii)(B) and (ii)(D) below) shall not be required if in the Lender’s reasonable judgment such completion, execution or submission would subject such Lender to any material unreimbursed cost or expense or would materially prejudice the legal or commercial position of such Lender.
(ii)Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, in the event that a Borrower is a U.S. Person,
(A)any Lender that is a U.S. Person shall deliver to the Company and the Administrative Agent on or prior to the date on which such Lender becomes a Lender under this Agreement (and from time to time thereafter upon the reasonable request of the Company or the Administrative Agent), executed copies of IRS Form W-9 certifying that such Lender is exempt from U.S. federal backup withholding tax;
(B)any Foreign Lender shall, to the extent it is legally entitled to do so, deliver to the Company and the Administrative Agent (in such number of copies as

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described below or as shall be requested by the recipient) on or prior to the date on which such Foreign Lender becomes a Lender under this Agreement (and from time to time thereafter upon the reasonable request of the Company or the Administrative Agent), whichever of the following is applicable:
(I)in the case of a Foreign Lender claiming the benefits of an income tax treaty to which the United States is a party (x) with respect to payments of interest under any Loan Document, two (2) properly completed and executed copies of IRS Form W-8BEN-E (or W-8BEN, as applicable) establishing an exemption from, or reduction of, U.S. federal withholding Tax pursuant to the “interest” article of such tax treaty and (y) with respect to any other applicable payments under any Loan Document, IRS Form W-8BEN-E (or W-8BEN, as applicable) establishing an exemption from, or reduction of, U.S. federal withholding Tax pursuant to the “business profits” or “other income” article of such tax treaty;
(II)two (2) properly completed and executed copies of IRS Form W-8ECI;
(III)in the case of a Foreign Lender claiming the benefits of the exemption for portfolio interest under Section 881(c) of the Code, (x) a certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit H-1 to the effect that such Foreign Lender is not a “bank” within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Code, a “10 percent shareholder” of the Company within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(B) of the Code, or a “controlled foreign corporation” described in Section 881(c)(3)(C) of the Code (a “U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate”) and (y) two (2) properly completed and executed copies of IRS Form W-8BEN-E (or W-8BEN, as applicable); or
(IV)to the extent a Foreign Lender is not the beneficial owner, two (2) properly completed and executed copies of IRS Form W-8IMY, accompanied by IRS Form W-8ECI, IRS Form W-8BEN-E (or W-8BEN, as applicable), a U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit H-2 or Exhibit H-3, IRS Form W-9, and/or other certification documents from each beneficial owner, as applicable; provided that if the Foreign Lender is a partnership and one or more direct or indirect partners of such Foreign Lender are claiming the portfolio interest exemption, such Foreign Lender may provide a U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit H-4 on behalf of each such direct and indirect partner;
(C)any Foreign Lender shall, to the extent it is legally entitled to do so, deliver to the Company and the Administrative Agent (in such number of copies as shall be requested by the recipient) on or prior to the date on which such Foreign Lender becomes a Lender under this Agreement (and from time to time thereafter upon the reasonable request of the Company or the Administrative Agent), executed copies of any other form prescribed by applicable law as a basis for claiming exemption from or a reduction in U.S. federal withholding Tax, duly

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completed, together with such supplementary documentation as may be prescribed by applicable law to permit the Company or the Administrative Agent to determine the withholding or deduction required to be made; and
(D)if a payment made to a Lender under any Loan Document would be subject to U.S. federal withholding Tax imposed by FATCA if such Lender were to fail to comply with the applicable reporting requirements of FATCA (including those contained in Section 1471(b) or 1472(b) of the Code, as applicable), such Lender shall deliver to the Company and the Administrative Agent at the time or times prescribed by law and at such time or times reasonably requested by the Company or the Administrative Agent such documentation prescribed by applicable law (including as prescribed by Section 1471(b)(3)(C)(i) of the Code) and such additional documentation reasonably requested by the Company or the Administrative Agent as may be necessary for the Company and the Administrative Agent to comply with their obligations under FATCA and to determine that such Lender has complied with such Lender’s obligations under FATCA or to determine the amount to deduct and withhold from such payment.  Solely for purposes of this clause (D), “FATCA” shall include any amendments made to FATCA after the Closing Date.
(iii)Each Lender agrees that if any form or certification it previously delivered pursuant to this Section 3.01 expires or becomes obsolete or inaccurate in any respect, it shall update such form or certification or promptly notify the Company and the Administrative Agent in writing of its legal inability to do so.
(h)Treatment of Certain Refunds.  Unless required by Applicable Law, at no time shall the Administrative Agent have any obligation to file for or otherwise pursue on behalf of a Lender or an L/C Issuer, or have any obligation to pay to any Lender or any L/C Issuer, any refund of Taxes withheld or deducted from funds paid for the account of such Lender or such L/C Issuer, as the case may be.  If any Recipient determines, in its sole discretion exercised in good faith, that it has received a refund of any Taxes as to which it has been indemnified by any Borrower or with respect to which any Borrower has paid additional amounts pursuant to this Section 3.01, it shall pay to such Borrower an amount equal to such refund (but only to the extent of indemnity payments made, or additional amounts paid, by such Borrower under this Section 3.01 with respect to the Taxes giving rise to such refund), net of all out-of-pocket expenses (including Taxes) incurred by such Recipient, and without interest (other than any interest paid by the relevant Governmental Authority with respect to such refund), provided that such Borrower, upon the request of the Recipient, agrees to repay the amount paid over to such Borrower (plus any penalties, interest or other charges imposed by the relevant Governmental Authority) to the Recipient in the event the Recipient is required to repay such refund to such Governmental Authority.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this subsection (h), in no event will the applicable Recipient be required to pay any amount to any Borrower pursuant to this subsection (h) the payment of which would place the Recipient in a less favorable net after-Tax position than such Recipient would have been in if the Tax subject to indemnification and giving rise to such refund had not been deducted, withheld or otherwise imposed and the indemnification payments or additional amounts with respect to such Tax had never been paid.  This subsection (h) shall not be construed to require any Recipient to make available its Tax returns (or any other information relating to its Taxes that it deems confidential) to any Borrower or any other Person.

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(i)Survival.  Each party’s obligations under this Section 3.01 shall survive the resignation or replacement of the Administrative Agent or any assignment of rights by, or the replacement of, a Lender or an L/C Issuer, the termination of the Aggregate Commitments and the repayment, satisfaction or discharge of all other Obligations.
3.02Illegality.  If any Lender reasonably determines that any Law has made it unlawful, or that any Governmental Authority has asserted that it is unlawful, for any Lender or its applicable Lending Office to make, maintain or fund Loans whose interest is determined by reference to a Relevant Rate, the Eurodollar Rate or the LIBOR Daily Floating Rate, or to determine or charge interest rates based upon a Relevant Rate, the Eurodollar Rate or the LIBOR Daily Floating Rate, or any Governmental Authority has imposed material restrictions on the authority of such Lender to purchase or sell, or to take deposits of, Dollars or any Alternative Currency in the applicable interbank market (provided that such Lender has made such determination in good faith and not in an arbitrary and capricious manner after consideration of such factors as such Lender then reasonably determines to be relevant), then, upon notice thereof by such Lender to the Company (through the Administrative Agent), (a) any obligation of such Lender to make or maintain Alternative Currency Loans in the affected currency or currencies or, in the case of Loans denominated in Dollars, to make or maintain Eurodollar Rate Loans or LIBOR Daily Floating Rate Loans or to convert Base Rate Loans or LIBOR Daily Floating Rate Loans to Eurodollar Rate Loans or Base Rate Loans or Eurodollar Rate Loans to LIBOR Daily Floating Rate Loans shall be, in each case, suspended, and (b) if such notice asserts the illegality of such Lender making or maintaining Base Rate Loans the interest rate on which is determined by reference to the Eurodollar Rate component of the Base Rate, the interest rate on which Base Rate Loans of such Lender shall, if necessary to avoid such illegality, be determined by the Administrative Agent without reference to the Eurodollar Rate component of the Base Rate, in each case until such Lender notifies the Administrative Agent and the Company that the circumstances giving rise to such determination no longer exist.  Upon receipt of such notice, (i) the Company shall, upon demand from such Lender (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), prepay all Eurodollar Rate Loans, LIBOR Daily Floating Rate Loans and/or Alternative Currency Loans, as applicable, in the affected currency or currencies or, if applicable, and such Loans are denominated in Dollars, convert all Eurodollar Rate Loans and/or LIBOR Daily Floating Rate Loans of such Lender to Base Rate Loans (the interest rate on which Base Rate Loans of such Lender shall, if necessary to avoid such illegality, be determined by the Administrative Agent without reference to the Eurodollar Rate component of the Base Rate), in each case, immediately, or in the case of Eurodollar Rate Loans and Alternative Currency Term Rate Loans on the last day of the Interest Period therefor if such Lender may lawfully continue to maintain such Eurodollar Rate Loans or Alternative Currency Term Rate Loans, as applicable, to such day and (ii) if such notice asserts the illegality of such Lender determining or charging interest rates based upon the Eurodollar Rate, the Administrative Agent shall during the period of such suspension compute the Base Rate applicable to such Lender without reference to the Eurodollar Rate component thereof until the Administrative Agent is advised in writing by such Lender that it is no longer illegal  for such Lender to determine or charge interest rates based upon the Eurodollar Rate.  Upon any such prepayment or conversion, the Borrowers shall also pay accrued interest on the amount so prepaid or converted, together with any additional amounts required pursuant to Section 3.05.
3.03Inability to Determine Rates.  

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(a)If in connection with any request for a Eurodollar Rate Loan or a LIBOR Daily Floating Rate Loan or a conversion of a Base Rate Loans to a Eurodollar Rate Loan or a LIBOR Daily Floating Rate Loan or a continuation of any Eurodollar Rate Loan, (i) the Administrative Agent reasonably determines (and makes a similar determination with respect to other similar facilities with respect to which it is acting as agent) (which determination shall be conclusive absent manifest error) that (A) Dollar deposits are not being offered to banks in the London interbank market for the applicable amount and Interest Period of such Eurodollar Rate Loan or for the applicable term with respect to such LIBOR Daily Floating Rate Loan, or (B) (x) adequate and reasonable means do not exist for determining the Eurodollar Rate for any requested Interest Period with respect to a proposed Eurodollar Rate Loan or in connection with an existing or proposed Base Rate Loan or for determining the LIBOR Daily Floating Rate for any determination date with respect to an existing or proposed LIBOR Daily Floating Rate Loan and (y) the circumstances described in Section 3.03(c) do not apply (in each case with respect to this clause (i), “Impacted Loans”), or (ii) the Administrative Agent or the Required Lenders determine that for any reason the Eurodollar Rate for any requested Interest Period with respect to a proposed Eurodollar Rate Loan, or the LIBOR Daily Floating Rate with respect to an existing or proposed LIBOR Daily Floating Rate Loan, as the case may be, does not adequately and fairly reflect the cost to such Lenders of funding such Loan, the Administrative Agent will promptly so notify the Company and each Lender.  Thereafter, (A) the obligation of the Lenders to make or maintain Eurodollar Rate Loans and/or to make LIBOR Daily Floating Rate Loans, as applicable, shall be suspended, (to the extent of the affected Eurodollar Rate Loans, LIBOR Daily Floating Rate Loans or Interest Periods), and (B) in the event of a determination described in the preceding sentence with respect to the Eurodollar Rate component of the Base Rate, the utilization of the Eurodollar Rate component in determining the Base Rate shall be suspended, in each case until the Administrative Agent (or, in the case of a determination by the Required Lenders described in clause (ii) of Section 3.03(a), until the Administrative Agent upon instruction of the Required Lenders) revokes such notice.  Upon receipt of such notice, the Company may revoke any pending request for a Borrowing of, conversion to or continuation of Eurodollar Rate Loans or a Borrowing of or conversion to LIBOR Daily Floating Rate Loans (to the extent of the affected Eurodollar Rate Loans, LIBOR Daily Floating Rate Loans or Interest Periods) or, failing that, will be deemed to have converted such request into a request for a Borrowing of Base Rate Loans in the amount specified therein.
(b)Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Administrative Agent has made the determination described in clause (i) of Section 3.03(a), the Administrative Agent, in consultation with the Company, may establish a reasonable alternative interest rate for the Impacted Loans, in which case, such alternative rate of interest shall apply with respect to the Impacted Loans until (1) the Administrative Agent revokes the notice delivered with respect to the Impacted Loans under clause (i) of the first sentence of Section 3.03(a), (2) the Administrative Agent or the Required Lenders notify the Administrative Agent and the Company that such alternative interest rate does not adequately and fairly reflect the cost to such Lenders of funding the Impacted Loans, or (3) any Lender determines that any Law has made it unlawful, or that any Governmental Authority has asserted that it is unlawful, for such Lender or its applicable Lending Office to make, maintain or fund Loans whose interest is determined by reference to such alternative rate of interest or to determine or charge interest rates based upon such rate or any Governmental Authority has imposed material restrictions on the authority of such Lender to do any of the foregoing and provides the Administrative Agent and the Company written notice thereof.

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(c)Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement or any other Loan Documents:
(i)On March 5, 2021 the Financial Conduct Authority (“FCA”), the regulatory supervisor of LIBOR’s administrator (“IBA”), announced in a public statement the future cessation or loss of representativeness of overnight/Spot Next, 1-week, 1-month, 2-month, 3-month, 6-month and 12- month LIBOR tenor settings. On the earliest of (A) the date that all Available Tenors of LIBOR have permanently or indefinitely ceased to be provided by IBA or have been announced by the FCA pursuant to public statement or publication of information to be no longer representative, (B) June 30, 2023 and (C) the Early Opt-in Effective Date in respect of a SOFR Early Opt-in, if the then-current Benchmark is LIBOR, the Benchmark Replacement will replace such Benchmark for all purposes hereunder and under any Loan Document in respect of any setting of such Benchmark on such day and all subsequent settings without any amendment to, or further action or consent of any other party to this Agreement or any other Loan Document. If the Benchmark Replacement is Daily SOFR, all interest payments will be payable on a monthly basis.
(ii)(x)  Upon (A) the occurrence of a Benchmark Transition Event or (B) a determination by the Administrative Agent that neither of the alternatives under clause (1) of the definition of Benchmark Replacement are available, the Benchmark Replacement will replace the then-current Benchmark for all purposes hereunder and under any Loan Document in respect of any Benchmark setting at or after 5:00 p.m. on the fifth (5th) Business Day after the date notice of such Benchmark Replacement is provided to the Lenders without any amendment to, or further action or consent of any other party to, this Agreement or any other Loan Document so long as the Administrative Agent has not received, by such time, written notice of objection to such Benchmark Replacement from Lenders comprising the Required Lenders (and any such objection shall be conclusive and binding absent manifest error); provided that solely in the event that the then-current Benchmark at the time of such Benchmark Transition Event is not a SOFR-based rate, the Benchmark Replacement therefor shall be determined in accordance with clause (1) of the definition of Benchmark Replacement unless the Administrative Agent determines that neither of such alternative rates is available.

(y)  On the Early Opt-in Effective Date in respect of an Other Rate Early Opt-in, the Benchmark Replacement will replace LIBOR for all purposes hereunder and under any Loan Document in respect of any setting of such Benchmark on such day and all subsequent settings without any amendment to, or further action or consent of any other party to this Agreement or any other Loan Document.

(iii)At any time that the administrator of the then-current Benchmark has permanently or indefinitely ceased to provide such Benchmark or such Benchmark has been announced by the regulatory supervisor for the administrator of such Benchmark pursuant to public statement or publication of information to be no longer representative of the underlying market and economic reality that such Benchmark is intended to measure and that representativeness will not be restored, the Company may revoke any request for a borrowing of, conversion to or continuation of Loans to be made, converted or continued that would bear interest by reference to such Benchmark until the Company’s receipt of notice from the Administrative Agent that a Benchmark Replacement has replaced such

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Benchmark, and, failing that, the Company will be deemed to have converted any such request into a request for a borrowing of or conversion to Base Rate Loans. During the period referenced in the foregoing sentence, the component of Base Rate based upon the Benchmark will not be used in any determination of Base Rate.
(iv)In connection with the implementation and administration of a Benchmark Replacement, the Administrative Agent will have the right to make Benchmark Replacement Conforming Changes from time to time and, notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein or in any other Loan Document, any amendments implementing such Benchmark Replacement Conforming Changes will become effective without any further action or consent of any other party to this Agreement.
(v)The Administrative Agent will promptly notify the Company and the Lenders of (A) the implementation of any Benchmark Replacement and (B) the effectiveness of any Benchmark Replacement Conforming Changes. Any determination, decision or election that may be made by the Administrative Agent pursuant to this Section 3.03(c), including any determination with respect to a tenor, rate or adjustment or of the occurrence or non-occurrence of an event, circumstance or date and any decision to take or refrain from taking any action, will be conclusive and binding absent manifest error and may be made in its  sole discretion and without consent from any other party hereto, except, in each case, as expressly required pursuant to this Section 3.03(c).  
(vi)At any time (including in connection with the implementation of a Benchmark Replacement), (A) if the then-current Benchmark is a term rate (including Term SOFR or LIBOR), then the Administrative Agent may remove any tenor of such Benchmark that is unavailable or non-representative for Benchmark (including Benchmark Replacement) settings and (B) the Administrative Agent may reinstate any such previously removed tenor for Benchmark (including Benchmark Replacement) settings.
(d)If in connection with any request for an Alternative Currency Loan or a continuation of any of such Loans, (i) the Administrative Agent determines (which determination shall be conclusive absent manifest error) that (A) no Successor Rate for the Relevant Rate for the applicable Agreed Currency has been determined in accordance with Section 3.03(e) and the circumstances under clause (i) of Section 3.03(e) or the Scheduled Unavailability Date has occurred with respect to such Relevant Rate (as applicable), or (B) adequate and reasonable means do not otherwise exist for determining the Relevant Rate for the applicable Agreed Currency for any determination date(s) or requested Interest Period, as applicable, with respect to a proposed Alternative Currency Loan, or (ii) the Administrative Agent or the Required Lenders determine that for any reason that the Relevant Rate with respect to a proposed Loan denominated in an Agreed Currency for any requested Interest Period or determination date(s) does not adequately and fairly reflect the cost to such Lenders of funding such Loan, the Administrative Agent will promptly so notify the Company and each Lender.  

Thereafter, the obligation of the Lenders to make or maintain Loans in the affected currencies, as applicable, shall be suspended in each case to the extent of the affected Alternative Currency Loans or Interest Period or determination date(s), as applicable, until the Administrative Agent (or, in the case of a determination by the Required Lenders described in clause (ii) of

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Section 3.03(d), until the Administrative Agent upon instruction of the Required Lenders) revokes such notice.  

Upon receipt of such notice, (i) the Company may revoke any pending request for a Borrowing of, or continuation of, Alternative Currency Loans to the extent of the affected Alternative Currency Loans or Interest Period or determination date(s), as applicable or, failing that, will be deemed to have converted such request into a request for a Borrowing of Base Rate Loans denominated in Dollars in the Dollar Equivalent of the amount specified therein and (ii) any outstanding affected Alternative Currency Loans, at the Company's election, shall either (1) be converted into a Borrowing of Base Rate Loans denominated in Dollars in the Dollar Equivalent of the amount of such outstanding Alternative Currency Loan immediately, in the case of an Alternative Currency Daily Rate Loan or at the end of the applicable Interest Period, in the case of an Alternative Currency Term Rate Loan or (2) be prepaid in full immediately, in the case of an Alternative Currency Daily Rate Loan, or at the end of the applicable Interest Period, in the case of an Alternative Currency Term Rate Loan; provided that if no election is made by the Company (x) in the case of an Alternative Currency Daily Rate Loan, by the date that is three Business Days after receipt by the Company of such notice or (y) in the case of an Alternative Currency Term Rate Loan, by the last day of the current Interest Period for the applicable Alternative Currency Term Rate Loan, the Company shall be deemed to have elected clause (1) above.

(e)Replacement of Relevant Rate or Successor Rate.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement or any other Loan Documents, if the Administrative Agent determines (which determination shall be conclusive absent manifest error), or the Company or Required Lenders notify the Administrative Agent (with, in the case of the Required Lenders, a copy to the Company) that the Company or Required Lenders (as applicable) have determined, that:
(i)adequate and reasonable means do not exist for ascertaining the Relevant Rate for an Agreed Currency because none of the tenors of such Relevant Rate (including any forward-looking term rate thereof) is available or published on a current basis and such circumstances are unlikely to be temporary; or
(ii)the Applicable Authority has made a public statement identifying a specific date after which all tenors of the Relevant Rate for an Agreed Currency (including any forward-looking term rate thereof) shall or will no longer be representative or made available, or used for determining the interest rate of loans denominated in such Agreed Currency, or shall or will otherwise cease, provided that, in each case, at the time of such statement, there is no successor administrator that is satisfactory to the Administrative Agent that will continue to provide such representative tenor(s) of the Relevant Rate for such Agreed Currency (the latest date on which all tenors of the Relevant Rate for such Agreed Currency (including any forward-looking term rate thereof) are no longer representative or available permanently or indefinitely, the “Scheduled Unavailability Date”);  or
(iii)syndicated loans currently being executed and agented in the U.S., are being executed or amended (as applicable) to incorporate or adopt a new benchmark interest rate to replace the Relevant Rate for an Agreed Currency;

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or if the events or circumstances of the type described in Section 3.03(e)(i), (ii) or (iii) have occurred with respect to the Successor Rate then in effect, then, the Administrative Agent and the Company may amend this Agreement solely for the purpose of replacing the Relevant Rate for an Agreed Currency or any then current Successor Rate for an Agreed Currency in accordance with this Section 3.03 with an alternative benchmark rate giving due consideration to any evolving or then existing convention for similar credit facilities syndicated and agented in the U.S. and denominated in such Agreed Currency for such alternative benchmarks, and, in each case, including any mathematical or other adjustments to such benchmark giving due consideration to any evolving or then existing convention for similar credit facilities syndicated and agented in the U.S. and denominated in such Agreed Currency for such benchmarks, which adjustment or method for calculating such adjustment shall be published on an information service as selected by the Administrative Agent from time to time in its reasonable discretion and may be periodically updated in its reasonable discretion (and any such proposed rate, including for the avoidance of doubt, any adjustment thereto, a “Successor Rate”), and any such amendment shall become effective at 5:00 p.m. on the fifth Business Day after the Administrative Agent shall have posted such proposed amendment to all Lenders and the Company unless, prior to such time, Lenders comprising the Required Lenders have delivered to the Administrative Agent written notice that such Required Lenders object to such amendment.

The Administrative Agent will promptly (in one or more notices) notify the Company and each Lender of the implementation of any Successor Rate.

Any Successor Rate shall be applied in a manner consistent with market practice; provided that to the extent such market practice is not administratively feasible for the Administrative Agent, such Successor Rate shall be applied in a manner as otherwise reasonably determined by the Administrative Agent.

Notwithstanding anything else herein, if at any time any Successor Rate as so determined would otherwise be less than zero, the Successor Rate will be deemed to be zero for the purposes of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents.

In connection with the implementation of a Successor Rate, the Administrative Agent will have the right to make Conforming Changes from time to time and, notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein or in any other Loan Document, any amendments implementing such Conforming Changes will become effective without any further action or consent of any other party to this Agreement; provided that, with respect to any such amendment effected, the Administrative Agent shall post each such amendment implementing such Conforming Changes to the Company and the Lenders reasonably promptly after such amendment becomes effective.

3.04Increased Costs; Additional Reserve Requirements.  
(a)Increased Costs Generally.  If any Change in Law shall:
(i)impose, modify or deem applicable any reserve, special deposit, compulsory loan, insurance charge or similar requirement against assets of, deposits with or for the account of, or credit extended or participated in by, any Lender (except any reserve requirement contemplated by Section 3.04(e)) or any L/C Issuer;

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(ii)subject any Recipient to any Taxes (other than (A) Indemnified Taxes, (B) Taxes described in clauses (b) through (d) of the definition of Excluded Taxes, and (C) Connection Income Taxes) on its loans, loan principal, letters of credit, commitments, or other obligations, or its deposits, reserves, other liabilities or capital attributable thereto; or
(iii)impose on any Lender or any L/C Issuer or any applicable interbank market any other condition, cost or expense affecting this Agreement or Eurodollar Rate Loans, LIBOR Daily Floating Rate Loans or Alternative Currency Loans made by such Lender or any Letter of Credit or participation therein;

and the result of any of the foregoing shall be to increase the cost to such Lender of making, converting, continuing or maintaining any Loan (or of maintaining its obligation to make any such Loan), or to increase the cost to such Lender or such L/C Issuer of participating in, issuing or maintaining any Letter of Credit (or of maintaining its obligation to participate in or to issue any Letter of Credit), or to reduce the amount of any sum received or receivable by such Lender or such L/C Issuer hereunder (whether of principal, interest or any other amount) then, upon request of such Lender or such L/C Issuer, the Company will pay (or cause the applicable Designated Borrower to pay) to such Lender or such L/C Issuer, as the case may be, such additional amount or amounts as will compensate such Lender or such L/C Issuer, as the case may be, for such additional costs incurred or reduction suffered; provided, however, that such Lender’s or such L/C Issuer’s determination of any such amounts assessed against the Company shall be consistent with the determination of amounts assessed against other (but not necessarily all) borrowers that are similarly situated to the Company after consideration of such factors as such Lender then reasonably determines to be relevant; provided that in no event shall any Lender be required to disclose information of other borrowers.  

(2)Capital Requirements.  If any Lender or any L/C Issuer determines that any Change in Law affecting such Lender or such L/C Issuer or any Lending Office of such Lender or such Lender’s or such L/C Issuer’s holding company, if any, regarding capital or liquidity requirements has or would have the effect of reducing the rate of return on such Lender’s or such L/C Issuer’s capital or on the capital of such Lender’s or such L/C Issuer’s holding company, if any, as a consequence of this Agreement, the Commitments of such Lender or the Loans made by, or participations in Letters of Credit or held by, such Lender, or the Letters of Credit issued by such L/C Issuer, to a level below that which such Lender or such L/C Issuer or such Lender’s or such L/C Issuer’s holding company could have achieved but for such Change in Law (taking into consideration such Lender’s or such L/C Issuer’s policies and the policies of such Lender’s or such L/C Issuer’s holding company with respect to capital adequacy), then from time to time the Company will pay (or cause the applicable Designated Borrower to pay) to such Lender or such L/C Issuer, as the case may be, such additional amount or amounts as will compensate such Lender or such L/C Issuer or such Lender’s or such L/C Issuer’s holding company for any such reduction suffered.  Each L/C Issuer and each Lender agrees that, in the event that it submits any demand for payment under this Section 3.04(b) it shall, as part of making such demand, have made a good faith determination (which determination shall be conclusive) that it is concurrently making similar demands of other (but not necessarily all) customers similarly situated to the Company after consideration of such factors as such Lender then reasonably determines to be relevant; provided that in no event shall any Lender be required to disclose information of other borrowers.  

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(t)Certificates for Reimbursement.  A certificate of a Lender or an L/C Issuer setting forth the amount or amounts necessary to compensate such Lender or such L/C Issuer or its holding company, as the case may be, as specified in subsection (a) or (b) of this Section 3.04 and delivered to the Company shall be conclusive absent demonstrable error.  Subject to Section 3.04(d) below, the Company shall pay (or cause the applicable Designated Borrower to pay) such Lender or such L/C Issuer, as the case may be, the amount shown as due on any such certificate within ten (10) days after receipt thereof.
(u)Delay in Requests.  Failure or delay on the part of any Lender or any L/C Issuer to demand compensation pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this Section 3.04 shall not constitute a waiver of such Lender’s or such L/C Issuer’s right to demand such compensation, provided that no Borrower shall be required to compensate a Lender or such L/C Issuer pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this Section 3.04 for any increased costs incurred or reductions suffered more than six months prior to the date that such Lender or such L/C Issuer, as the case may be, notifies the Company of the Change in Law giving rise to such increased costs or reductions and of such Lender’s or such L/C Issuer’s intention to claim compensation therefor (except that, if the Change in Law giving rise to such increased costs or reductions is retroactive, then the six-month period referred to above shall be extended to include the period of retroactive effect thereof).
(v)Additional Reserve Requirements.  The Company shall pay to each Lender, as long as such Lender shall be required to maintain reserves with respect to liabilities or assets consisting of or including Eurocurrency funds or deposits (currently known as “Eurocurrency liabilities”), additional interest on the unpaid principal amount of each Eurodollar Rate Loan and/or LIBOR Daily Floating Rate Loan equal to the actual costs of such reserves allocated to such Loan by such Lender (as determined by such Lender in good faith, which determination shall be binding absent demonstrable error), which shall be due and payable on each date on which interest is payable on such Loan, provided the Company shall have received at least 10 days’ prior notice (with a copy to the Administrative Agent) of such additional interest from such Lender.  If a Lender fails to give notice 10 days prior to the relevant Interest Payment Date, such additional interest shall be due and payable 10 days from receipt of such notice, provided the period for which such interest is due shall not be more than ninety days prior to such notice.
3.05Compensation for Losses.  Upon demand of any Lender (with a copy to the Administrative Agent) from time to time, the Company shall promptly compensate (or cause the applicable Designated Borrower to compensate) such Lender for and hold such Lender harmless from any out-of-pocket loss, cost or expense incurred by it as a result of:
(a)any continuation, conversion, payment or prepayment of any Loan, other than a Base Rate Loan, a LIBOR Daily Rate Loan or an Alternative Currency Daily Rate Loan, on a day other than the last day of any Interest Period, relevant interest payment date or payment period, as applicable, for such Loan, if applicable (whether voluntary, mandatory, automatic, by reason of acceleration, or otherwise);
(b)any failure by the Company (or the applicable Designated Borrower) (for a reason other than the failure of such Lender to make a Loan) to prepay, borrow, continue or convert any Loan, other than a Base Rate Loan, a LIBOR Daily Rate Loan or an Alternative Currency Daily Rate Loan, on the date or in the amount notified by the Company or the applicable Designated Borrower;

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(c)any assignment of a Eurodollar Rate Loan or an Alternative Currency Term Rate Loan on a day other than the last day of the Interest Period therefor as a result of a request by the Company pursuant to Section 10.13; or
(d)any failure by any Borrower to make any payment of any Loan or drawing under any Letter of Credit (or interest due thereof) denominated in an Alternative Currency on its scheduled due date or any payment thereof in a different currency;

including any loss or expense arising from the liquidation or reemployment of funds obtained by it to maintain such Loan or from fees payable to terminate the deposits from which such funds were obtained but excluding any loss of anticipated profits or from the performance of any foreign exchange contract.  The Company shall also pay (or cause the applicable Designated Borrower to pay) any customary administrative fees charged by such Lender in connection with the foregoing.

For purposes of calculating amounts payable by the Company (or the applicable Designated Borrower) to the Lenders under this Section 3.05, each Lender shall be deemed to have funded each Eurodollar Rate Loan and Alternative Currency Term Rate Loan made by it at the Eurodollar Rate or Alternative Currency Term Rate, as applicable, for such Loan by a matching deposit or other borrowing in the offshore interbank eurodollar market for such currency for a comparable amount and for a comparable period, whether or not such Eurodollar Rate Loan or Alternative Currency Term Rate Loan was in fact so funded.

3.06Mitigation Obligations; Replacement of Lenders.
(a)Designation of a Different Lending Office
.  Each Lender may make any Credit Extension to a Borrower through any Lending Office, provided that the exercise of this option shall not affect the obligation of such Borrower to repay the Credit Extension in accordance with the terms of this Agreement. If any Lender requests compensation under Section 3.04, or requires a Borrower to pay any Indemnified Taxes or additional amounts to any Lender, any L/C Issuer, or any Governmental Authority for the account of any Lender or any L/C Issuer pursuant to Section 3.01, or if any Lender gives a notice pursuant to Section 3.02, then at the request of the Company such Lender or such L/C Issuer shall, as applicable, use reasonable efforts to designate a different Lending Office for funding or booking its Loans hereunder or to assign its rights and obligations hereunder to another of its offices, branches or affiliates, if, in the judgment of such Lender or such L/C Issuer, such designation or assignment (i) would eliminate or reduce amounts payable pursuant to Section 3.01 or 3.04, as the case may be, in the future, or eliminate the need for the notice pursuant to Section 3.02, as applicable, and (ii) in each case, would not subject such Lender or such L/C Issuer, as the case may be, to any unreimbursed cost or expense and would not otherwise be disadvantageous to such Lender or such L/C Issuer, as the case may be.  The Company hereby agrees to pay (or to cause the applicable Designated Borrower to pay) all reasonable costs and expenses incurred by any Lender or any L/C Issuer in connection with any such designation or assignment.
(b)Replacement of Lenders
.  If any Lender requests compensation under Section 3.04, or if a Borrower is required to pay any Indemnified Taxes or additional amounts to any Lender or any Governmental Authority for the account of any Lender pursuant to Section 3.01, and, in each case, such Lender has declined or is unable to designate a different lending office in accordance with Section 3.06(a), the Company may replace such Lender in accordance with Section 10.13.

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3.07Survival.  All of the Borrowers’ obligations under this Article III shall survive termination of the Aggregate Commitments, repayment of all other Obligations hereunder, and resignation of the Administrative Agent.
ARTICLE IV. CONDITIONS PRECEDENT
4.01Conditions of Effectiveness.  The effectiveness of this Agreement and the obligation of each L/C Issuer and each Lender to make any Credit Extensions hereunder on the Closing Date is subject to satisfaction of the following conditions precedent:
(a)The Administrative Agent’s receipt of the following, each of which shall be originals or pdf copies (followed promptly by originals) unless otherwise specified, each properly executed by a Responsible Officer of the signing Loan Party, each dated the Closing Date (or, in the case of certificates of governmental officials, a recent date before the Closing Date) and each in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent:
(i)executed counterparts of this Agreement and the Guaranty, sufficient in number for distribution to the Administrative Agent, each Lender and the Borrowers;
(ii)Notes executed by the Borrowers in favor of each Lender requesting Notes;
(iii)such certificates of resolutions or other action, incumbency certificates and/or other certificates of Responsible Officers of each Loan Party as the Administrative Agent may reasonably require evidencing the identity, authority and capacity of each Responsible Officer thereof authorized to act as a Responsible Officer in connection with this Agreement and the other Loan Documents to which such Loan Party is a party;
(iv)such documents and certifications as the Administrative Agent may reasonably require to evidence that each Loan Party is duly organized or formed, and that each of the Borrowers and the Trust is validly existing, in good standing and qualified to engage in business in its jurisdiction of organization;
(v)a favorable opinion of counsel to the Loan Parties, addressed to the Administrative Agent and each Lender, as to the matters set forth in Exhibit H and such other matters concerning the Loan Parties and the Loan Documents as the Required Lenders may reasonably request;
(vi)a certificate of a Responsible Officer of each Loan Party either (A) attaching copies of all consents, licenses and approvals required in connection with the execution, delivery and performance by such Loan Party and the validity against such Loan Party of the Loan Documents to which it is a party, and such consents, licenses and approvals shall be in full force and effect, or (B) stating that no such consents, licenses or approvals are so required;
(vii)a certificate signed by a Responsible Officer of the Company certifying (A) that the representations and warranties of the Borrowers and each other Loan Party contained in Article V or any other Loan Document, or which are contained in any document furnished under or in connection herewith or therewith, are true and correct in all material respects (or, in the case of Section 5.14(b) or any representation and warranty

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that is qualified by materiality, in all respects) on and as of the date of the Closing Date, except to the extent that such representations and warranties specifically refer to an earlier date or period, in which case they shall have been true and correct in all material respects (or, in the case of any representation and warranty that is qualified by materiality, in all respects) as of such earlier date or for the respective period, as applicable, (B) that no Default exists, or would result from the consummation of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents and the transactions contemplated to occur thereby on the Closing Date (including, without limitation, any proposed Credit Extension or from the application of the proceeds thereof), (C) that there has been no event or circumstance since the date of the Audited Financial Statements that has had or would be reasonably expected to have, either individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect and (D) a calculation of the Consolidated Leverage Ratio as of the last day of the fiscal quarter for which financial statements have been publicly filed prior to the Closing Date;
(viii)a duly completed Compliance Certificate as of the last day of the fiscal quarter of the Company ended on September 30, 2021, giving pro forma effect to the transactions to occur on the Closing Date (including, without limitation, all Credit Extensions to occur on the Closing Date), signed by a Responsible Officer of the Company;
(ix)the Audited Financial Statements and the unaudited financial statements of the Consolidated Group referred to in Section 5.05(a) and (b);
(x)evidence that the Swing Line Loans (if any) outstanding under (and as defined in the Existing Credit Agreement) have been or concurrently with the Closing Date are being repaid in full; and
(xi)such other assurances, certificates, documents, consents or opinions as the Administrative Agent, any L/C Issuer or the Required Lenders may reasonably require.
(b)(i) Upon the reasonable request of any Lender made at least ten (10) days prior to the Closing Date, the Company shall have provided to such Lender, and such Lender shall be reasonably satisfied with, the documentation and other information so requested in connection with applicable “know your customer” and anti-money-laundering rules and regulations, including, without limitation, the PATRIOT Act, in each case at least five (5) days prior to the Closing Date and (ii) at least five (5) days prior to the Closing Date, if any Loan Party qualifies as a “legal entity customer” under the Beneficial Ownership Regulation, then the Company shall have delivered, to each Lender that so requests, a Beneficial Ownership Certification in relation to such Loan Party.
(c)Any fees required to be paid to the Administrative Agent or any Lender in connection with this Agreement or the Fee Letter on or before the Closing Date shall have been paid.
(d)Unless waived by the Administrative Agent, the Company shall have paid all reasonable and documented fees, charges and disbursements of counsel to the Administrative Agent (directly to such counsel if requested by the Administrative Agent) to the extent invoiced prior to or on the date that is three Business Days prior to the Closing Date, plus such additional amounts of such fees, charges and disbursements as shall constitute its reasonable estimate of such

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fees, charges and disbursements incurred or to be incurred by it through the closing proceedings (provided that such estimate shall not thereafter preclude a final settling of accounts between the Company and the Administrative Agent).

Without limiting the generality of the provisions of the last paragraph of Section 9.03, for purposes of determining compliance with the conditions specified in this Section 4.01, each Lender that has signed this Agreement shall be deemed to have consented to, approved or accepted or to be satisfied with, each document or other matter required thereunder to be consented to or approved by or acceptable or satisfactory to a Lender unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from such Lender prior to the proposed Closing Date specifying its objection thereto.  

4.02Conditions to all Credit Extensions.  The obligation of each Lender to honor any Request for Credit Extension (other than a Committed Loan Notice requesting only a conversion of Loans to the other Type, or a continuation of Eurodollar Rate Loans or Alternative Currency Term Rate Loans) is subject to the following conditions precedent:
(a)The representations and warranties of the Borrowers and each other Loan Party contained in Article V or any other Loan Document, or which are contained in any document furnished at any time under or in connection herewith or therewith, shall be true and correct in all material respects (or, in the case of any representation and warranty that is qualified by materiality, in all respects) on and as of the date of such Credit Extension, except to the extent that such representations and warranties specifically refer to an earlier date or period, in which case they shall have been true and correct in all material respects (or, in the case of Section 5.14(b) or any representation and warranty that is qualified by materiality, in all respects) as of such earlier date or for the respective period, as applicable, and except that for purposes of this Section 4.02, the representations and warranties contained in subsections (a) and (b) of Section 5.05 shall be deemed to refer to the most recent statements furnished pursuant to clauses (a) and (b), respectively, of Section 6.01.
(b)No Default shall exist, or would result from such proposed Credit Extension or from the application of the proceeds thereof.
(c)The Administrative Agent and, if applicable, the applicable L/C Issuer shall have received a Request for Credit Extension in accordance with the requirements hereof.
(d)Assuming the effectiveness of the requested Credit Extension, the Total Revolving Credit Outstandings shall not exceed the Revolving Credit Facility.
(e)If the applicable Borrower is a Designated Borrower, then the conditions of Section 2.19 to the designation of such Borrower as a Designated Borrower shall have been met to the reasonable satisfaction of the Administrative Agent.
(f)In the case of a Credit Extension to be denominated in an Alternative Currency, such currency remains an Eligible Currency.

Each Request for Credit Extension (other than a Committed Loan Notice requesting only a conversion of Loans to another Type or a continuation of Eurodollar Rate Loans or Alternative Currency Term Rate Loans) submitted by the Company shall be deemed to be a representation and

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warranty by the Company that the conditions specified in Sections 4.02(a), (b) and (d) have been satisfied on and as of the date of the applicable Credit Extension.

ARTICLE V. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

Each Borrower represents and warrants to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders that:

5.01Existence, Qualification and Power.  Each Loan Party and each Subsidiary thereof (a) is duly organized or formed, validly existing and, as applicable, in good standing under the Laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation or organization, (b) has all requisite power and authority and all requisite governmental licenses, authorizations, consents and approvals to (i) own or lease its assets and carry on its business and (ii) execute, deliver and perform its obligations under the Loan Documents to which it is a party, and (c) is duly qualified and is licensed and, as applicable, in good standing under the Laws of each jurisdiction where its ownership, lease or operation of properties or the conduct of its business requires such qualification or license; except in each case referred to in clause (b)(i) or (c), to the extent that failure to do so would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
5.02Authorization; No Contravention.  The execution, delivery and performance by each Loan Party of each Loan Document to which such Person is party, have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate or other organizational action, and do not and will not (a) contravene the terms of any of such Person’s Organization Documents; (b) conflict with or result in any breach or contravention of, or the creation of (or the requirement to create) any Lien under, or require any payment to be made under (i) any Contractual Obligation to which such Person is a party or affecting such Person or the properties of such Person or any of its Subsidiaries or (ii) any order, injunction, writ or decree of any Governmental Authority or any arbitral award to which such Person or its property is subject, the conflict or breach of which under the foregoing clauses (i) and/or (ii) would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; or (c) violate any Law.
5.03Governmental Authorization; Other Consents.  No approval, consent, exemption, authorization, or other action by, or notice to, or filing with, any Governmental Authority or any other Person is necessary or required in connection with the execution, delivery or performance by, or enforcement against, any Loan Party of this Agreement or any other Loan Document, except with respect to notices which have already been given or where the failure to obtain any of the foregoing would not have a Material Adverse Effect.
5.04Binding Effect.  This Agreement has been, and each other Loan Document, when delivered hereunder, will have been, duly executed and delivered by each Loan Party that is party thereto.  This Agreement constitutes, and each other Loan Document when so delivered will constitute, a legal, valid and binding obligation of such Loan Party, enforceable against each Loan Party that is party thereto in accordance with its terms.
5.05Financial Statements; No Material Adverse Effect.
(a)The Audited Financial Statements (i) were prepared in accordance with GAAP consistently applied throughout the period covered thereby, except as otherwise expressly noted therein; and (ii) fairly present, in all material respects, the financial condition of the Consolidated Group as of the date thereof and their results of operations for the period covered thereby in

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accordance with GAAP consistently applied throughout the period covered thereby, except as otherwise expressly noted therein.
(b)The unaudited consolidated balance sheets of the Consolidated Group dated September 30, 2021, and the related consolidated statements of income or operations, shareholders’ equity and cash flows for the fiscal quarter ended on that date (i) were prepared in accordance with GAAP consistently applied throughout the period covered thereby, except as otherwise expressly noted therein, and (ii) fairly present in all material respects the financial condition of the Consolidated Group as of the date thereof and their results of operations for the period covered thereby, subject, in the case of clauses (i) and (ii), to the absence of footnotes and to normal year-end audit adjustments.
(c)Since the date of the Audited Financial Statements, there has been no event or circumstance, either individually or in the aggregate, that has had a Material Adverse Effect.
5.06Litigation.  There are no actions, suits, proceedings, claims or disputes pending or, to the knowledge of the Company after due and diligent investigation, threatened or contemplated, at law, in equity, in arbitration or before any Governmental Authority, by or against the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or against any of their properties or revenues that (a) purport to affect or pertain to this Agreement or any other Loan Document, or any of the transactions contemplated hereby, or (b) except as specifically disclosed in Schedule 5.06, either individually or in the aggregate, would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
5.07No Default.  Neither any Loan Party nor any Subsidiary thereof is in default under or with respect to any Contractual Obligation that would, either individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.  No Default has occurred and is continuing or would result from the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or any other Loan Document.
5.08Ownership of Property; Liens.  Each of the Company and each Subsidiary has good record and marketable title in fee simple to, or valid leasehold interests in, all real property material to its business, except for such defects in title as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.  No Unencumbered Property is subject to any Liens, other than Liens permitted by Section 7.01.
5.09Environmental Compliance.  The Company and its Subsidiaries normally conduct, prior to the acquisition of any Property, a customary review of the effect of existing Environmental Laws and claims alleging potential liability or responsibility for violation of any Environmental Law on such Property, and as a result thereof the Company has reasonably concluded that such Environmental Laws and claims would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
5.10Taxes.  The Company and its Subsidiaries have filed all Federal, state and other material tax returns and reports required to be filed, and have paid all Federal, state and other material taxes, assessments, fees and other governmental charges levied or imposed upon them or their properties, income or assets otherwise due and payable, except (a) those which are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted and for which adequate

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reserves have been provided in accordance with GAAP, or (b) to the extent that the failure to do so would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.  

5.11ERISA Compliance.
(a)Except as would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, (i) each Pension Plan is in compliance in all material respects with the applicable provisions of ERISA, the Code and other Federal or state laws and (ii) each Pension Plan that is intended to be a qualified plan under Section 401(a) of the Code has received a favorable determination, opinion or advisory letter from the Internal Revenue Service to the effect that the form of such Pension Plan is qualified under Section 401(a) of the Code and the trust related thereto has been determined by the Internal Revenue Service to be exempt from federal income tax under Section 501(a) of the Code, or an application for such a letter is currently being processed by, or shall be timely submitted to, the Internal Revenue Service, and, to the best knowledge of the Company, nothing has occurred that would prevent or cause the loss of such tax-qualified status.
(b)There are no pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened claims, actions or lawsuits, or action by any Governmental Authority, with respect to any Pension Plan that would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.  There has been no prohibited transaction, as defined in Section 406 of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code, nor  violation of the fiduciary responsibility rules under ERISA with respect to any Pension Plan that has resulted or would reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.
(c)Except as would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, (i) no ERISA Event has occurred, and neither the Company nor any ERISA Affiliate is aware of any fact, event or circumstance that would reasonably be expected to constitute or result in an ERISA Event with respect to any Pension Plan; (ii) the Company and each ERISA Affiliate has met all applicable requirements under the Pension Funding Rules in respect of each Pension Plan, and no waiver of the minimum funding standards under the Pension Funding Rules has been applied for or obtained; (iii) as of the most recent valuation date for any Pension Plan, the funding target attainment percentage (as defined in Section 430(d)(2) of the Code) is 60% or higher and neither the Company nor any ERISA Affiliate knows of any facts or circumstances that could reasonably be expected to cause the funding target attainment percentage for any such plan to drop below 60% as of the most recent valuation date; (iv) neither the Company nor any ERISA Affiliate has incurred any liability to the PBGC other than for the payment of premiums, and there are no premium payments which have become due that are unpaid; (v) neither the Company nor any ERISA Affiliate has engaged in a transaction that could be subject to Section 4069 or Section 4212(c) of ERISA; and (vi) no Pension Plan has been terminated by the plan administrator thereof nor by the PBGC, and no event or circumstance has occurred or exists that would reasonably be expected to cause the PBGC to institute proceedings under Title IV of ERISA to terminate any Pension Plan.
(d)Neither the Company nor, to the Company’s knowledge, any ERISA Affiliate, maintains or contributes to, or has any unsatisfied obligation to contribute to, or liability under, any active or terminated Pension Plan other than (A) on the Closing Date, those listed on Schedule 5.11(d) hereto and (B) thereafter, Pension Plans not otherwise prohibited by this Agreement.

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(e)Each Borrower represents and warrants as of the Closing Date that such Borrower is not and will not be using “plan assets” (within the meaning of 29 C.F.R. § 2510.3-101, as modified by Section 3(42) of ERISA or otherwise) of one or more Benefit Plans in connection with the Loans, the Letters of Credit or the Commitments.
5.12Subsidiaries; Equity Interests.  As of the Closing Date, Schedule 5.12 sets forth the owners of outstanding Equity Interests in each Subsidiary Guarantor and such Equity Interests have been validly issued, are fully paid and nonassessable and are owned by the party shown on Schedule 5.12 free and clear of all Liens, other than Permitted Encumbrances.  A majority of the Equity Interests in the Company are owned by the Trust.
5.13Margin Regulations; Investment Company Act.
(a)No Borrower is engaged or will engage, principally or as one of its important activities, in the business of purchasing or carrying margin stock (within the meaning of Regulation U issued by the FRB), or extending credit for the purpose of purchasing or carrying margin stock.  Following the application of the proceeds of each Borrowing or drawing under each Letter of Credit, not more than 25% of the value of the assets (either of the applicable Borrower only or of the Company and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis) subject to the provisions of Section 7.01 or subject to any restriction contained in any agreement or instrument between any Borrower and any Lender or any Affiliate of any Lender relating to Indebtedness and within the scope of Section 8.01(e) will be margin stock.
(b)None of the Company, any Person Controlling the Company, or any Subsidiary is or is required to be registered as an “investment company” under the Investment Company Act.
5.14Disclosure.  (a)  Each Borrower has disclosed to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders all agreements, instruments and corporate or other restrictions to which it or any of its Subsidiaries is subject, and all other matters known to it, that, individually or in the aggregate, would reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.  The reports, financial statements, certificates and other information furnished in writing by or on behalf of any Loan Party to the Administrative Agent or any Lender (in each case other than projected financial information, other forward-looking information and information of a general economic or industry-specific nature) in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby and the negotiation of this Agreement or delivered hereunder or under any other Loan Document (in each case, as modified or supplemented by other information so furnished), taken as a whole, do not contain any material misstatement of fact or omits to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not materially misleading; provided that as to such written information supplied by third parties, each Borrower represents only that it has no actual knowledge of any material misstatement or material omission therein; provided further that, with respect to financial projections concerning the Company and its Subsidiaries that have been or are hereafter made available to the Administrative Agent or any Lender by the Company or any of its representatives (or on the Company’s or such representative’s behalf) in connection herewith (the “Projections”), each Borrower represents only that such Projections were prepared in good faith based upon assumptions believed to have been reasonable at the time such Projections were prepared (it being recognized that (i) actual results during the period or periods covered by any such Projections may differ from the projected or forecasted results and the differences may be material, and (ii) any such Projections are subject to the risks

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detailed in the public filings of the Trust, and the Company can give no assurance that the expectations can be obtained).

(b)As of the Closing Date, the information included in each Beneficial Ownership Certification, if applicable, is true and correct in all respects.
5.15Compliance with Laws.  Each Loan Party and each Subsidiary thereof is in compliance in all material respects with the requirements of all Laws and all orders, writs, injunctions and decrees applicable to it or to its properties, except in such instances in which (a) such requirement of Law or order, writ, injunction or decree is being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted or (b) the failure to comply therewith, either individually or in the aggregate, with respect to all such non-compliance by all such Subsidiaries would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
5.16Taxpayer Identification Number.  The Company’s true and correct U.S. taxpayer identification number is set forth on Schedule 10.02.  
5.17Intellectual Property; Licenses, Etc. The Company and its Subsidiaries own, or are licensed to use, all of the trademarks, service marks, trade names, copyrights, patents, patent rights, trade secrets, know-how, franchises, licenses and other intellectual property rights (collectively, “IP Rights”) that are material to their respective businesses, except where the failure would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.  To the best knowledge of the Company, no product, service, process, method, substance, part or other material now employed, or now contemplated to be employed, by the Company or any Subsidiary infringes upon, misappropriates or otherwise violates any rights held by any other Person, except for any infringement that individually or in the aggregate would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.  To the best knowledge of the Company, there has been no unauthorized use, access, interruption, modification, corruption or malfunction of any information technology assets or systems (or any information or transactions stored or contained therein or transmitted thereby) owned or used by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, which, either individually or in the aggregate, would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
5.18REIT Status.  The Trust is qualified to elect or has elected status as a real estate investment trust under Section 856 of the Code and currently is in compliance in all material respects with all provisions of the Code applicable to the qualification of the Trust as a real estate investment trust.
5.19Unencumbered Properties.  Schedule 5.19 hereto contains a complete and accurate description of Unencumbered Properties designated by the Company to constitute Unencumbered Properties hereunder as of the Closing Date and as supplemented from time to time in connection with the delivery of a Compliance Certificate pursuant to Section 6.01(c) hereof or as set forth in Section 2.18 and upon the inclusion or removal of a Property as an Unencumbered Property for purposes of the financial covenants contained in Section 7.09, including the entity that owns each Unencumbered Property.  With respect to each Property identified from time to time as an Unencumbered Property, each Borrower hereby represents and warrants as follows except to the extent the failure to comply with any of the following would not have a material adverse effect on the value of the Unencumbered Property or to the extent disclosed in writing to

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the Lenders and approved by the Required Lenders (which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld):

(a)No portion of any improvement on the Unencumbered Property is located in an area identified by the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development or any successor thereto as an area having special flood hazards pursuant to the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 or the Flood Disaster Protection Act of 1973, as amended, or any successor law, or, if located within any such area, the Company or the applicable Subsidiary, to the extent the same is available on commercially reasonable terms, has obtained and will maintain insurance coverage for flood and other water damage in the amount of the replacement cost of the improvements at the Unencumbered Property.
(b)To such Borrower’s knowledge, the Unencumbered Property and the present use and occupancy thereof are in material compliance with all applicable zoning ordinances (without reliance upon adjoining or other properties), building codes, land use and Environmental Laws.
(c)The Unencumbered Property is served by all utilities required for the current use thereof.  All utility service is provided by public utilities and the Unencumbered Property has accepted or is equipped to accept such utility service.
(d)Except with respect to Assets Under Development, all public roads and streets necessary for service of and access to the Unencumbered Property for the current use thereof have been completed, are serviceable and all-weather and are physically and legally open for use by the public.
(e)The Unencumbered Property is served by public water and sewer systems or, if the Unencumbered Property is not serviced by a public water and sewer system, such alternate systems are adequate and meet, in all material respects, all requirements and regulations of, and otherwise complies in all material respects with, all Applicable Laws with respect to such alternate systems.
(f)Such Borrower is not aware of any material latent or patent structural defect in the Unencumbered Property.  The Unencumbered Property is free of damage and waste that would materially and adversely affect the value of the Unencumbered Property (other than any casualty loss being handled in accordance with the Loan Documents or condemnation proceedings being handled in accordance with Loan Documents) and is in adequate repair for its intended use.  The Unencumbered Property is free from material damage caused by fire or other casualty (other than any casualty loss being handled in accordance with the Loan Documents).  There is no pending or, to the actual knowledge of any Borrower, threatened condemnation proceedings affecting the Unencumbered Property, or any material part thereof, in each case that would materially detract from the value of such Unencumbered Property, impair the use or operation thereof, or interfere with the ordinary conduct of business of any Loan Party.
(g)To such Borrower’s knowledge, all liquid and solid waste disposal, septic and sewer systems located on the Unencumbered Property are in a condition and repair adequate for its intended use and, to such Borrower’s knowledge, in material compliance with all Applicable Laws with respect to such systems.
(h)All improvements on the Unencumbered Property lie within the boundaries and building restrictions of the legal description of record of the Unencumbered Property other than

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encroachments that do not materially adversely affect the use or occupancy of the Unencumbered Property, no such improvements encroach upon easements benefiting the Unencumbered Property other than encroachments that do not materially adversely affect the use or occupancy of the Unencumbered Property and no improvements on adjoining properties encroach upon the Unencumbered Property or easements benefiting the Unencumbered Property other than encroachments that do not materially adversely affect the use or occupancy of the Unencumbered Property.  All access routes that materially benefit the Unencumbered Property are available to the Company or the applicable Subsidiary of the Company, constitute permanent easements that benefit all or part of the Unencumbered Property or are public property, and the Unencumbered Property, by virtue of such easements or otherwise, is contiguous to a physically open, dedicated all weather public street, and has any necessary permits for ingress and egress.
(i)There are no material delinquent taxes, ground rents, water charges, sewer rents, assessments, insurance premiums, leasehold payments, or other outstanding charges affecting the Unencumbered Property except to the extent such items are being contested in good faith and as to which adequate reserves have been provided.
(j)Each Unencumbered Property satisfies each of the requirements set forth in the definition of “Unencumbered Property”.

A breach of any of the representations and warranties contained in this Section 5.19 with respect to a Property shall disqualify such Property from being an Unencumbered Property for so long as such breach continues (unless otherwise approved by the Required Lenders) but shall not constitute a Default (unless the elimination of such Property as an Unencumbered Property results in a Default under one of the other provisions of this Agreement).

5.20OFAC.  Neither the Company, nor any of its Subsidiaries, nor, to the knowledge of the Company and its Subsidiaries, any director, officer, employee, agent, affiliate or representative thereof, is an individual or entity that is, or is owned or controlled by, one or more individuals or entities that are (i) currently the subject or target of any Sanctions, (ii) included on OFAC’s List of Specially Designated Nationals, HMT’s Consolidated List of Financial Sanctions Targets or any similar list enforced by any other relevant sanctions authority or (iii) located, organized or resident in a Designated Jurisdiction. The representations set forth in this Section 5.20 do not apply to any shareholders of a public reporting company.  Neither the making of the Loans nor the use of the proceeds thereof will violate the PATRIOT Act, the Trading with the Enemy Act, as amended, or any of the foreign assets control regulations of the United States Treasury Department (31 C.F.R., Subtitle B, Chapter V, as amended) or any enabling legislation or executive order relating thereto or successor statute thereto.  The Company and its Subsidiaries are in compliance in all material respects with the PATRIOT Act.  The Company and its Subsidiaries have conducted their businesses in compliance in all material respects with all applicable Sanctions and have instituted and maintained policies and procedures designed to promote and achieve compliance with such Sanctions.
5.21Anti-Corruption.  The Company and its Subsidiaries have conducted their businesses in compliance with the United States Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, the UK Bribery Act 2010, and other applicable anti-corruption legislation in other jurisdictions and have instituted and maintained policies and procedures designed to promote and achieve compliance with such laws.

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5.22Solvency.  The Company is Solvent, and the Company, each other Loan Party, and the other members of the Consolidated Group, on a consolidated basis, are Solvent.
5.23Affected Financial Institutions.  No Loan Party is an Affected Financial Institution.
5.24Covered Entities.  No Loan Party is a Covered Entity.
5.25Representations as to Foreign Obligors.  
(a)Each Foreign Obligor is subject to civil and commercial Laws with respect to its obligations under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents to which it is a party (collectively as to such Foreign Obligor, the “Applicable Foreign Obligor Documents”), and the execution, delivery and performance by such Foreign Obligor of the Applicable Foreign Obligor Documents constitute and will constitute private and commercial acts and not public or governmental acts.  Neither such Foreign Obligor nor any of its property has any immunity from jurisdiction of any court or from any legal process (whether through service or notice, attachment prior to judgment, attachment in aid of execution, execution or otherwise) under the laws of the jurisdiction in which such Foreign Obligor is organized and existing in respect of its obligations under the Applicable Foreign Obligor Documents.
(b)The Applicable Foreign Obligor Documents are in proper legal form under the Laws of the jurisdiction in which each Foreign Obligor is organized and existing for the enforcement thereof against such Foreign Obligor under the Laws of such jurisdiction, and to ensure the legality, validity, enforceability, priority or admissibility in evidence of the Applicable Foreign Obligor Documents.  It is not necessary to ensure the legality, validity, enforceability, priority or admissibility in evidence of the Applicable Foreign Obligor Documents that the Applicable Foreign Obligor Documents be filed, registered or recorded with, or executed or notarized before, any court or other authority in the jurisdiction in which such Foreign Obligor is organized and existing or that any registration charge or stamp or similar tax be paid on or in respect of the Applicable Foreign Obligor Documents or any other document, except for (i) any such filing, registration, recording, execution or notarization as has been made or is not required to be made until the Applicable Foreign Obligor Document or any other document is sought to be enforced and (ii) any charge or tax as has been timely paid.
(c)There is no tax, levy, impost, duty, fee, assessment or other governmental charge, or any deduction or withholding, imposed by any Governmental Authority in or of the jurisdiction in which any Foreign Obligor is organized and existing either (i) on or by virtue of the execution or delivery of the Applicable Foreign Obligor Documents or (ii) on any payment to be made by such Foreign Obligor pursuant to the Applicable Foreign Obligor Documents, except as has been disclosed to the Administrative Agent.
(d)The execution, delivery and performance of the Applicable Foreign Obligor Documents executed by such Foreign Obligor are, under applicable foreign exchange control regulations of the jurisdiction in which such Foreign Obligor is organized and existing, not subject to any notification or authorization except (i) such as have been made or obtained or (ii) such as cannot be made or obtained until a later date (provided that any notification or authorization described in clause (ii) shall be made or obtained as soon as is reasonably practicable).

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ARTICLE VI. AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS

So long as any Lender shall have any Commitment hereunder, any Loan or other Obligation (other than unasserted contingent indemnification obligations) hereunder shall remain unpaid or unsatisfied, or any Letter of Credit shall remain outstanding, the Company shall, and shall (except in the case of the covenants set forth in Sections 6.01, 6.02, and 6.03) cause each Subsidiary and the Trust to:

6.01Financial Statements and Other Information.  The Company will furnish to the Administrative Agent and each Lender:
(a)as soon as available, but in any event not later than 120 days after the close of each fiscal year, for the Consolidated Group, audited financial statements, including a consolidated balance sheet as at the end of such year and the related consolidated statements of income and retained earnings and of cash flows for such year, setting forth in each case in comparative form the figures for the previous year, without a “going concern” or like qualification or exception, or qualification arising out of the scope of the audit, prepared by KPMG LLC or other independent certified public accountants of nationally recognized standing;
(b)as soon as available, but in any event not later than 60 days after the close of each of the first three fiscal quarters and not later than 90 days after the close of the last fiscal quarter of any fiscal year, for the Consolidated Group, an unaudited internally prepared consolidated balance sheet as of the close of each such period and the related unaudited internally prepared consolidated statements of income and retained earnings and of cash flows of the Consolidated Group for such period and the portion of the fiscal year through the end of such period, setting forth in each case in comparative form the figures for the previous year, all certified by the Company’s chief financial officer or chief accounting officer;
(c)concurrently with any delivery of financial statements under clause (a) or (b) above, a Compliance Certificate (i) certifying as to whether a Default has occurred and, if a Default has occurred, specifying the details thereof and any action taken or proposed to be taken with respect thereto, (ii) setting forth reasonably detailed calculations demonstrating whether the Company is in compliance with Sections 7.02 and 7.09, including an update of Schedule 5.19 listing all of the Unencumbered Properties as of such date, and (iii) stating whether any material change in GAAP or in the application thereof has occurred since the date of the Audited Financial Statements referred to in Section 5.05 and, if any such change has occurred, specifying the effect of such change on the financial statements accompanying such certificate;
(d)concurrently with the quarterly financial statements required under clause (b) above, a schedule of the Unencumbered Properties comprising the Total Unencumbered Property Pool Value, summarizing total revenues, expenses, and Unencumbered Property NOI.
(e)promptly following any request thereafter, copies of all periodic and regular reports, registration statements (without exhibits unless expressly requested by Administrative Agent) and prospectuses and all amendments thereto filed by the Trust, the Company or any Subsidiary with the SEC, or any Governmental Authority succeeding to any or all of the functions of the SEC, or with any national securities exchange, or distributed by the Trust to its shareholders generally, as the case may be;

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(f)within 30 days after the close of each fiscal year, annual projections (cash flow and operating income) for the Company in a form and content reasonably acceptable to Administrative Agent;
(g)promptly following any reasonable request therefor, provide information and documentation reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent or any Lender for purposes of compliance with applicable “know your customer” and anti-money-laundering rules and regulations, including, without limitation, the PATRIOT Act and the Beneficial Ownership Regulation; and
(h)promptly following any request therefor, such other information regarding the operations, business affairs and financial condition of the Trust, the Company or any Subsidiary, or compliance with the terms of this Agreement, pursuant to a reasonable and customary request from the Administrative Agent or any Lender.

The Company may, in its sole discretion, satisfy its obligations under Sections 6.01(a) and (b) by filing with the SEC Annual Reports on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and such other reports on other forms as may be appropriate at such times and in accordance with the SEC’s rules and the instructions accompanying such forms.

Documents required to be delivered pursuant to Section 6.01(a) or (b) or Section 6.01(e) (to the extent any such documents are included in materials otherwise filed with the SEC) may be delivered electronically and if so delivered, shall be deemed to have been delivered on the date (i) on which the Company posts such documents, or provides a link thereto on the Company’s website on the Internet at the website address listed on Schedule 10.02; or (ii) on which such documents are posted on the Company’s behalf on an Internet or intranet website, if any, to which each Lender and the Administrative Agent have access (whether a commercial, third-party website or whether sponsored by the Administrative Agent); provided that: (i) the Company shall deliver paper copies of such documents to the Administrative Agent or any Lender upon its request to the Company to deliver such paper copies until a written request to cease delivering paper copies is given by the Administrative Agent or such Lender and (ii) the Company shall notify the Administrative Agent and each Lender (by facsimile or electronic mail) of the posting of any such documents and provide to the Administrative Agent by electronic mail electronic versions (i.e., soft copies) of such documents. The Administrative Agent shall have no obligation to request the delivery of or to maintain paper copies of the documents referred to above, and in any event shall have no responsibility to monitor compliance by the Company with any such request by a Lender for delivery, and each Lender shall be solely responsible for requesting delivery to it or maintaining its copies of such documents.

6.02Notices.  Promptly notify the Administrative Agent and each Lender:
(a)of the occurrence of any Default;
(b)of any matter that has resulted in a Material Adverse Effect, including any of the following that has resulted in a Material Adverse Effect:  (i) breach or non-performance of, or any default under, a Contractual Obligation of the Company or any Subsidiary; (ii) any action, suit, dispute, litigation, investigation, proceeding or suspension involving the Company or any Subsidiary and any Governmental Authority (including, without limitation pursuant to anti-money

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laundering Laws); or (iii) the commencement of, or any material development in, any litigation or proceeding affecting the Company or any Subsidiary, including pursuant to any applicable Environmental Laws;
(c)of the occurrence of any ERISA Event that would reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect;
(d)of any material change in accounting policies or financial reporting practices by the Company or any Subsidiary, including any determination by the Company referred to in Section 2.10(b); and
(e)of any announcement by Moody’s, S&P or Fitch Inc. of any change in any existing debt rating of the Company or the Trust.

Each notice pursuant to this Section 6.02 (other than Section 6.02(e)) shall be accompanied by a statement of a Responsible Officer of the Company setting forth details of the occurrence referred to therein and stating what action the Company has taken and proposes to take with respect thereto.  Each notice pursuant to Section 6.02(a) shall describe with particularity any and all provisions of this Agreement and any other Loan Document that have been breached.

6.03Payment of Taxes.  Pay and discharge as the same shall become due and payable all tax liabilities, assessments and governmental charges or levies upon it or its properties or assets, unless (a) the same are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted and adequate reserves in accordance with GAAP are being maintained by the Company or such Subsidiary or (b) the failure to do so would not have a Material Adverse Effect.  
6.04Preservation of Existence, Etc. (a) Preserve, renew and maintain in full force and effect its legal existence and good standing under the Laws of the jurisdiction of its organization except in a transaction permitted by Section 7.03; (b) take all reasonable action to maintain all rights, privileges, permits, licenses and franchises necessary or desirable in the normal conduct of its business, except to the extent that failure to do so would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; and (c) preserve or renew all of its registered patents, trademarks, trade names and service marks, the non-preservation of which would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
6.05Maintenance of Properties.  Maintain, preserve and protect all of its material properties and equipment necessary in the operation of its business in good working order and condition, ordinary wear and tear excepted; provided that this Section 6.05 shall not prevent the Company or any Subsidiary from discontinuing the operation and the maintenance of any of its properties if such discontinuance is desirable in the conduct of its business and the Company has concluded that such discontinuance would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
6.06Maintenance of Insurance.  Maintain with insurance companies not Affiliates of the Company that the Company reasonably believes to be financially sound and reputable, insurance with respect to its properties and business against loss or damage of the kinds customarily insured against by Persons engaged in the same or similar business, of such types and in such amounts as are customarily carried under similar circumstances by such other Persons.

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6.07Compliance with Laws.  Comply in all material respects with the requirements of all Laws and all orders, writs, injunctions and decrees applicable to it or to its business or property, except in such instances in which (a) such requirement of Law or order, writ, injunction or decree is being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted; or (b) the failure to comply therewith would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
6.08Books and Records.  Maintain proper books of record and account, in which full, true and correct entries in conformity with GAAP consistently applied shall be made of all financial transactions and matters involving the assets and business of the Trust, the Company or such Subsidiary, as the case may be.
6.09Inspection Rights.  Permit representatives and independent contractors of the Administrative Agent and each Lender to visit and inspect any of its properties, to examine its corporate, financial and operating records, and make copies thereof or abstracts therefrom, and to discuss its affairs, finances and accounts with its directors, officers, and independent public accountants (provided the Company is given the opportunity to be present for such discussions), all at such reasonable times during normal business hours and as often as may be reasonably desired, upon reasonable advance notice to the Company; provided, however, that unless an Event of Default exists the Company shall not be required to pay for such inspection.  
6.10Use of Proceeds and Letters of Credit.  The Letters of Credit and the proceeds of the Loans will be used only for general business purposes of the Company (including, but not limited to debt refinancing, property acquisitions, new construction, renovations, capital expenditures, expansions, tenant improvement, leasing commissions, refinancing of existing lines, financing acquisition of Investments permitted under Section 7.02, dividends, redemptions and closing costs and equity investments primarily associated with commercial real estate property acquisitions or refinancings).  No part of the proceeds of any Loan will be used, whether directly or indirectly, for any purpose that entails a violation by any Person of any of the Regulations of the FRB, including Regulations T, U and X.
6.11REIT Status.  The Trust will at all times comply with all applicable provisions of the Code necessary to allow the Trust to qualify for status as a real estate investment trust.
6.12Subsidiary Guarantees.  The Company shall cause each of its Subsidiaries that owns a Property that is included as an Unencumbered Property and so designated by the Company for purposes of determining the Company’s compliance with the financial covenants contained in this Agreement on the Closing Date, if such Subsidiary is a Domestic Subsidiary of the Company (and if such Subsidiary is not a Domestic Subsidiary of the Company, shall cause the most immediate parent(s) of such Subsidiary that are Domestic Subsidiaries of the Company (if any) (each parent an “Intermediate Subsidiary Owner Guarantor”)), to execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent the Subsidiary Guaranty as required under Article IV above.  For any Property added to the pool of Unencumbered Properties after the date hereof (unless owned by a Loan Party or an Exchange Fee Titleholder), the Company shall cause the Subsidiary owning such Unencumbered Property, if it is a Domestic Subsidiary of the Company (and if such Subsidiary is not a Domestic Subsidiary of the Company, shall cause the Intermediate Subsidiary Owner Guarantor(s) of such Subsidiary (if any)), to execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent, on or prior to the date that such Property is included as an Unencumbered Property for purposes of determining Company’s compliance with the financial covenants contained in this Agreement, a

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joinder to the Subsidiary Guaranty, together with supporting organizational and authority documents and opinions similar to those provided with respect to the Company and the initial Subsidiary Guarantors under Section 4.01.  If the Company designates a Property that is owned by an Exchange Fee Titleholder to be included as an Unencumbered Property, then the Subsidiary of the Company that is master leasing such Property shall execute a joinder to the Subsidiary Guaranty and shall be a Subsidiary Guarantor during the period of time that the exchange is pending.  If the Company designates a Property that is owned by an Exchange Property Owner to be included as an Unencumbered Property during the period of time that the Exchange Beneficial Interests or tenant in common interests are being marketed, then the Exchange Depositor or the Subsidiary owning tenant in common interests that have not been sold, as the case may be, shall execute a joinder to the Subsidiary Guaranty and shall be a Subsidiary Guarantor during the period of time (not to exceed 24 months) during which the sale of Exchange Beneficial Interests or tenant in common interests is pending, but only for so long as such Property remains an Unencumbered Property.  For Unencumbered Properties owned by an Exchange Fee Titleholder, upon completion or termination of the reverse exchange, if the Company desires the applicable Property to remain an Unencumbered Property, the Company, or a Subsidiary of the Company shall acquire all of the ownership interests of the Exchange Fee Titleholder or title to such Unencumbered Property and at such time the entity that was previously the Exchange Fee Titleholder, but has become a Subsidiary of the Company, or if fee title is acquired, the Subsidiary acquiring fee title will execute a joinder to the Subsidiary Guaranty and become a Subsidiary Guarantor, and the entity that had previously been master leasing such Property shall be automatically released from the Subsidiary Guaranty.

6.13Release of Guarantors.  The Subsidiary Guarantors may be released at the request of the Company once the Company or the Trust receives Investment Grade Ratings from two of S&P, Moody’s or Fitch, provided that such Subsidiary Guarantors are also released from any other unsecured debt or guaranties of Indebtedness. Following such release, any Subsidiary that (x) owns any property that is an Unencumbered Property and (y) has any outstanding recourse Indebtedness shall be required to be a Subsidiary Guarantor in order for such property to be treated as an Unencumbered Property.  In addition, once the Company or the Trust receives Investment Grade Ratings from two of S & P, Moody’s or Fitch, the Subsidiary or master lessee if such property is owned by an Exchange Fee Titleholder owning any Unencumbered Property shall no longer be required to be a Subsidiary Guarantor unless such entity has outstanding recourse indebtedness.

A Subsidiary Guarantor shall be automatically released from its obligations under the Subsidiary Guaranty if (i) there is no Event of Default (or event which, upon expiration of an applicable cure period, will become an Event of Default), and (ii) the Company delivers an updated Compliance Certificate to Administrative Agent demonstrating compliance with all financial covenants contained in Section 7.09(f), (g) and (h) of this Agreement without the inclusion of the Unencumbered Property owned by such Subsidiary (or Exchange Fee Titleholder if the Subsidiary Guarantor is the master lessee) in the calculation of the Company’s compliance with any of the foregoing covenants pertaining to Unencumbered Properties, and representing and warranting that based on the information as of the end or the prior quarter, but without counting the Unencumbered Property owned by the Subsidiary Guarantor being released (or owned by the Exchange Fee Titleholder if the Subsidiary Guarantor being released is the master lessee) as an Unencumbered Property, the Company will continue to comply with all of the financial covenants in this Agreement upon release of such Unencumbered Property and such Subsidiary Guarantor.   A Subsidiary that became a party to the Subsidiary Guaranty because it was master leasing a Property

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owned by an Exchange Fee Titleholder shall be released in accordance with Section 6.12 upon delivery of a joinder to the Subsidiary Guaranty by the Exchange Fee Titleholder once it becomes a Subsidiary of the Company, or an election by the Company to cause such Property to cease to be an Unencumbered Property in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.  A Subsidiary that became a party to the Subsidiary Guaranty because it was an Exchange Depositor or a Subsidiary owning tenant in common interests that have not been sold with respect to an Exchange Property shall be released in accordance with Section 6.12 upon the earlier of the end of the marketing period described therein or 24 months, at which point such Property shall cease to be an Unencumbered Property or an election by the Company to cause such Property to cease to be an Unencumbered Property in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.  Subject to the foregoing, the Administrative Agent shall, from time to time, upon request from the Company, execute and deliver to the Company a written acknowledgement that a Subsidiary Guarantor has been released from its obligations under the Subsidiary Guaranty and the Lenders and the L/C Issuer hereby authorize the Administrative Agent to deliver such acknowledgement.  

6.14Investor Guaranties.  The Administrative Agent and the Lenders have agreed to accept from time to time, upon the request of the Company, one or more Investor Guaranties.  No Investor Guarantor shall be a person with whom Administrative Agent or any Lender is prohibited by applicable law from doing business, and the Company shall deliver such information as Administrative Agent may reasonably request to verify the foregoing.
6.15Anti-Corruption Laws; Sanctions.  Conduct its businesses in compliance with the United States Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, the UK Bribery Act 2010, and other applicable anti-corruption legislation in other jurisdictions and with all applicable Sanctions, and maintain policies and procedures designed to promote and achieve compliance with such laws and Sanctions.
6.16Approvals and Authorizations.  Maintain all authorizations, consents, approvals and licenses from, exemptions of, and filings and registrations with, each Governmental Authority of the jurisdiction in which each Foreign Obligor is organized and existing, and all approvals and consents of each other Person in such jurisdiction, in each case that are required in connection with the Loan Documents.
ARTICLE VII. NEGATIVE COVENANTS

So long as any Lender shall have any Commitment hereunder, any Loan or other Obligation (other than unasserted contingent indemnification obligations) hereunder shall remain unpaid or unsatisfied, or any Letter of Credit shall remain outstanding, the Company shall not, nor shall it permit the Trust or any Subsidiary to, directly or indirectly:

7.01Liens.  Create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any Lien upon any Unencumbered Property, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, other than Permitted Encumbrances.
7.02Investments.  Make any Investments other than commercial Properties, Cash Equivalents, deposit accounts and securities accounts (and investments in Subsidiaries that own such Investments) maintained in the ordinary course of business, except that an aggregate 35% of Total Asset Value, subject to individual limits set forth below, may be invested in the following categories of assets (and investments in Persons that own such assets):

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(a)Ownership of unimproved land on which no material improvements have been commenced up to 5% of Total Asset Value;
(b)Ownership of Assets Under Development (which for this purpose shall be the book value plus the budgeted cost to complete) up to 10% of Total Asset Value;
(c)Ownership of First Mortgage Investments and Other Debt Investments up to 17.5% of Total Asset Value;
(d)Exchange Debt Investments up to 12.5% of Total Asset Value;
(e)Investments in Unconsolidated Affiliates (including real estate funds or privately held companies) up to 15% of Total Asset Value; and
(f)Investments in Public REIT Securities up to 10% of Total Asset Value.

In the event that any Investments exceed the maximum amounts set forth above, such excess Investments shall not constitute a Default but shall be excluded from the calculation of the financial covenants in Section 7.09.

7.03Fundamental Changes.  Merge, dissolve, liquidate, consolidate with or into another Person, or Dispose of (whether in one transaction or in a series of transactions) all or substantially all of its assets (whether now owned or hereafter acquired) to or in favor of any Person (including, in each case, pursuant to a Division), except that, so long as no Default exists or would result therefrom:
(a)any Person may merge or consolidate with or into (i) the Company or the Trust, provided that the Company or the Trust, as applicable, shall be the continuing or surviving Person and there is no Change of Control, or (ii) any one or more other Subsidiaries, including newly formed Subsidiaries, provided that (x) when any Subsidiary that is a Borrower is merging or consolidating with or into another Subsidiary that is not a Borrower, the Borrower shall be the continuing or surviving Person and (y) when any Subsidiary Guarantor is merging or consolidating with or into another Subsidiary that is not a Borrower or a Subsidiary Guarantor, the Subsidiary Guarantor shall be the continuing or surviving Person;
(b)any Subsidiary may dissolve or liquidate, or Dispose of any, all or substantially all of its assets (upon voluntary liquidation or otherwise), and the Company may Dispose of any or all of its direct or indirect Equity Interests in any Subsidiary, provided that if such Subsidiary owns a Property that had been included as an Unencumbered Property the Company must be in compliance with all of its covenants hereunder without including such Property as an Unencumbered Property after giving effect to such disposition and taking into account any consideration received and/or Indebtedness repaid in connection therewith; and
(c)the Company or Trust may enter into a merger in which such entity is the survivor.  
7.04Restricted Payments.  Make any Restricted Payments without the consent of the Required Lenders at any time during which an Event of Default (other than an Event of Default under clause (c) of Section 8.01) is continuing, except to the extent necessary for the Trust to maintain its status as a real estate investment trust.

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7.05Change in Nature of Business.  Engage to any material extent in any business if, as a result, the general nature of the business in which the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, would then be engaged would be substantially changed from the general nature of the business in which the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, are engaged on the date of this Agreement.
7.06Transactions with Affiliates.  Sell, lease or otherwise transfer any property or assets to, or purchase, lease or otherwise acquire any property or assets from, or otherwise engage in any other transactions with, any of its Affiliates, except (a) at prices and on terms and conditions not less favorable to the Company or such Subsidiary than could be obtained on an arm’s-length basis from unrelated third parties, (b) transactions between or among the Company and its Subsidiaries not involving any other Affiliate, (c) Restricted Payments permitted by Section 7.04 and (d) pursuant to each of the agreements listed on Schedule 7.06 attached hereto together with any amendment, modification, renewal, replacement or similar agreement entered into on terms which are not materially less favorable (taken as a whole) to the Company or the Trust than the agreements set forth on Schedule 7.06.  
7.07Sanctions.  Permit any Loan or the proceeds of any Loan, directly or indirectly, (a) to be lent, contributed or otherwise made available to fund any activity or business in any Designated Jurisdiction, (b) to knowingly fund any activity or business of any Person located, organized or residing in any Designated Jurisdiction or who is the subject of any Sanctions, or (c) in any other manner that will knowingly result in any violation by any Person (including any Lender, any Arranger, the Administrative Agent or the L/C Issuer) of any Sanctions.
7.08Use of Proceeds.  Use the proceeds of any Credit Extension, whether directly or indirectly, and whether immediately, incidentally or ultimately, to purchase or carry margin stock (within the meaning of Regulation U of the FRB) or to extend credit to others for the purpose of purchasing or carrying margin stock or to refund indebtedness originally incurred for such purpose.
7.09Financial Covenants.
(a)Consolidated Tangible Net Worth. Permit Consolidated Tangible Net Worth as of the last day of any fiscal quarter to be less than $824,392,000 plus seventy percent (70%) of the aggregate net proceeds received by the Company or the Trust (net of reasonable related fees and expenses and net of any redemption of shares, units or other ownership interests in the Company or the Trust during such period) in connection with any offering of stock or other equity after September 30, 2021.
(b)Consolidated Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio.  Permit the Consolidated Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio to be less than 1.5 to 1.0 as of the last day of any fiscal quarter, determined based on information for the most recent quarter annualized.
(c)Consolidated Leverage Ratio.  Permit Consolidated Leverage Ratio to be more than sixty percent (60%) as of the last day of any fiscal quarter, provided that the Consolidated Leverage Ratio may increase to up to sixty five percent (65%) for up to four (4) consecutive fiscal quarters commencing with the fiscal quarter during which a Material Acquisition occurs; provided further that in no event shall the Consolidated Leverage Ratio exceed sixty five percent (65%) at any time

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or exceed sixty percent (60%) for more than four consecutive fiscal quarters in any consecutive five fiscal quarter period.
(d)Secured Indebtedness.  Permit Total Secured Indebtedness to exceed fifty percent (50%) of Total Asset Value as of the last day of any fiscal quarter.  
(e)Unsecured Interest Coverage Ratio.  Permit the Unsecured Interest Coverage Ratio to be less than 2.0 to 1.0 at any date of determination.
(f)Maximum Unencumbered Asset Pool Leverage Ratio.  Permit the Unencumbered Asset Pool Leverage Ratio on the date of determination to be more than sixty-five percent (65%).
(g)Unencumbered Property Pool Criteria.  The Company shall comply with the following requirements regarding Unencumbered Properties:
(i)No single Unencumbered Property shall account for more than twenty five percent (25%) of Total Unencumbered Property Pool Value except that with respect to any Property leased to tenant(s) with an Investment Grade Rating, any such Property may account for up to thirty percent (30%) of Total Unencumbered Property Pool Value;
(ii)The percentage of Total Unencumbered Property Pool Value attributable to Unencumbered Property NOI from a single tenant shall not exceed thirty percent (30%) if the tenant has an Investment Grade Rating (or another comparable tenant reasonably approved by the Required Lenders for treatment as an investment grade tenant for the purpose of this provision) and twenty percent (20%) for all other tenants;
(iii)No single metropolitan statistical area shall comprise more than thirty-five percent (35%) of the Total Unencumbered Property Pool Value;
(iv)The percentage of the Total Unencumbered Property Pool Value attributable to Other Debt Investments shall not exceed seven and one half percent (7.5%) or to First Mortgage Investments and Other Debt Investments in the aggregate shall not exceed seventeen and one half percent (17.5%);
(v)The Total Unencumbered Property Pool Value attributable to Exchange Debt Investments shall not exceed twelve and one half percent (12.5%);
(vi)The Total Unencumbered Property Pool Value attributable to Exchange Properties shall not exceed fifteen percent (15%); and
(vii)The Total Unencumbered Property Pool Value attributable to Unencumbered Properties located in Non-US Jurisdictions shall not exceed twenty percent (20%).

Any amounts in excess of the limitations above shall be disregarded for purposes of determining Total Unencumbered Property Pool Value and Unencumbered Property NOI, but shall not constitute a Default hereunder.

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7.10Exchange Property; Exchange Fee Titleholders. For purposes of calculation of the applicable financial covenants set forth in Section 7.09, the Company and its Subsidiaries shall be given credit for Exchange Properties and properties held by an Exchange Fee Titleholder pursuant to an exchange that qualifies, qualified or is intended to qualify as a reverse exchange under Section 1031 of the Code (including in the event any such property is subject to a mortgage in favor of, or for the benefit of, the Company or any of its Subsidiaries) as described herein.  
7.11Changes to Advisory Agreement.  Except to the extent otherwise permitted pursuant to Section 7.06(a) above, amend, supplement or otherwise modify in any material respect the Advisory Agreement on terms which are materially less favorable to the Trust than the terms prior to such amendment or supplement (considering all such amendments and supplements taken as a whole) without the prior written consent of the Required Lenders (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld).  Solely for purposes of Section 7.06(a)-(d), the Advisory Agreement shall be considered an agreement with an Affiliate.
7.12Sanctions.  Directly or indirectly, use the proceeds of any Credit Extension, or lend, contribute or otherwise make available such proceeds to any Subsidiary, joint venture partner or other Person, to fund any activities of or business with any Person, that, at the time of such funding, is the subject of Sanctions, or in any other manner that will result in a violation by any Person (including any Person, participating in the transaction, whether as Lender, Arranger, Administrative Agent, L/C Issuer, or otherwise) of Sanctions or of the United States Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, the UK Bribery Act 2010, and other similar anti-corruption legislation in other jurisdictions.
7.13Anti-Corruption Laws.  Directly or, to its knowledge, indirectly use the proceeds of any Credit Extension for any purpose which would breach the United States Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, the UK Bribery Act 2010, and other anti-corruption legislation in other jurisdictions.
ARTICLE VIII. EVENTS OF DEFAULT AND REMEDIES
8.01Events of Default.  Any of the following shall constitute an event of default (each an “Event of Default”):
(a)Non-Payment
.  The Company or any other Loan Party fails to pay (i) when and as required to be paid herein and in the currency required hereunder (taking into account Section 2.12(a)), any amount of principal of any Loan or any L/C Obligation, or (ii) within five (5) Business Days after the same becomes due, any interest on any Loan or on any L/C Obligation, or any fee due hereunder, or (iii) within five days after written notice of such failure, any other amount payable hereunder or under any other Loan Document; or
(b)Specific Covenants
.  (i) The Company or any other Loan Party fails to perform or observe any term, covenant or agreement contained in any of Section 6.04 (with respect to the Company’s existence), 6.10, 7.02, 7.03, 7.04, 7.05, 7.06, 7.07, or 7.09 or (ii) any Guarantor fails to perform or observe any term, covenant or agreement contained in the applicable Guaranty or the Company fails to perform or observe any term, covenant or agreement contained in any of Section 7.01 or 7.08 and, in each case, such failure continues for 15 days after the Company’s knowledge of such failure; or

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(c)Other Defaults
.  Any Loan Party fails to perform or observe any other covenant or agreement (not specified in subsection (a) or (b) above) contained in any Loan Document on its part to be performed or observed and such failure continues for 30 days after written notice from the Administrative Agent provided that such period shall be extended for up to an additional 30 days so long as such breach is reasonably susceptible of cure within such additional period and the Company diligently and in good faith continues to attempt to cure such breach; or
(d)Representations and Warranties
.  Any representation, warranty, certification or statement of fact made or deemed made by or on behalf of the Company or any other Loan Party herein, in any other Loan Document, or in any document delivered by or on behalf of the Company or any other Loan Party pursuant to the requirements contained herein, shall be materially incorrect or materially misleading when made or deemed made; or
(e)Cross-Default
.  Any event or condition occurs that results in any Material Indebtedness becoming due prior to its scheduled maturity or an event or condition has occurred at the time of the determination of default under this clause (e) that enables or permits (with or without the giving of notice, the lapse of time or both) the holder or holders of any Material Indebtedness or any trustee or agent on its or their behalf to cause any Material Indebtedness to become due, or to require the prepayment, repurchase, redemption or defeasance thereof, prior to its scheduled maturity; provided, that this clause (e) shall not apply to secured Indebtedness that becomes due as a result of the voluntary sale or transfer of the property or assets securing such Indebtedness; or
(f)Insolvency Proceedings, Etc.
Any Loan Party institutes or consents to the institution of any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law, or makes an assignment for the benefit of creditors; or applies for or consents to the appointment of any receiver, trustee, custodian, conservator, liquidator, rehabilitator or similar officer for it or for all or any material part of its property; or any receiver, trustee, custodian, conservator, liquidator, rehabilitator or similar officer is appointed without the application or consent of such Person and the appointment continues undischarged or unstayed for 90 calendar days; or any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law relating to any such Person or to all or any material part of its property is instituted without the consent of such Person and continues undismissed or unstayed for 90 calendar days, or an order for relief is entered in any such proceeding; or
(g)Inability to Pay Debts; Attachment
.  (i) The Company or any Loan Party becomes unable or admits in writing its inability or fails generally to pay its debts as they become due, or (ii) any writ or warrant of attachment or execution or similar process is issued or levied against all or any material part of the property of any such Person and is not released, vacated or fully bonded within 30 days after its issue or levy; or
(h)Judgments
.  There is entered against the Company or any Loan Party (i) one or more final judgments or orders for the payment of money in an aggregate amount (as to all such judgments or orders) exceeding $25,000,000 (to the extent not covered by independent third-party insurance as to which the insurer does not dispute coverage), or (ii) any one or more non-monetary final judgments that have, or would reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect and, in either case, (A) enforcement proceedings are commenced by any creditor upon such judgment or order, or (B) there is a period of 60 consecutive days during which a stay of enforcement of such judgment, by reason of a pending appeal or

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otherwise is not in effect, but only if the Company or the applicable party has not paid such judgment or otherwise set aside such judgment within 30 days after the commencement of enforcement proceedings; or

(i)ERISA
.  (i) An ERISA Event occurs with respect to a Pension Plan or Multiemployer Plan which when taken together with all other ERISA Events that have occurred has resulted or would reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, or (ii) the Company or any ERISA Affiliate fails to pay when due, after the expiration of any applicable grace period, any installment payment with respect to its withdrawal liability under Section 4201 of ERISA under a Multiemployer Plan in an aggregate amount in excess of $25,000,000; or
(j)Invalidity of Loan Documents
.  Any Loan Document, at any time after its execution and delivery and for any reason other than as expressly permitted hereunder or thereunder or satisfaction in full of all the Obligations, ceases to be in full force and effect; or any Loan Party or any other Person contests in any manner the validity or enforceability of any Loan Document; or any Loan Party denies that it has any or further liability or obligation under any Loan Document, or purports to revoke, terminate or rescind any Loan Document; or
(k)Change of Control
.  There occurs any Change of Control.
8.02Remedies Upon Event of Default.  If any Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Administrative Agent shall, at the request of, or may, with the consent of, the Required Lenders, take any or all of the following actions:
(a)declare the commitment of each Lender to make Loans and any obligation of each L/C Issuer to make L/C Credit Extensions to be terminated, whereupon such commitments and obligation shall be terminated;
(b)declare the unpaid principal amount of all outstanding Loans, all interest accrued and unpaid thereon, and all other amounts owing or payable hereunder or under any other Loan Document to be immediately due and payable, without presentment, demand, protest or other notice of any kind, all of which are hereby expressly waived by each Borrower;
(c)require that the Borrowers Cash Collateralize the L/C Obligations (in an amount equal to the then Outstanding Amount thereof); and
(d)exercise on behalf of itself, the Lenders and the L/C Issuers all rights and remedies available to it, the Lenders and the L/C Issuers under the Loan Documents;

provided, however, that upon the occurrence of an actual or deemed entry of an order for relief with respect to any Borrower under the Bankruptcy Code of the United States, the obligation of each Lender to make Loans and any obligation of each L/C Issuer to make L/C Credit Extensions shall automatically terminate, the unpaid principal amount of all outstanding Loans and all interest and other amounts as aforesaid shall automatically become due and payable, and the obligation of the Borrowers to Cash Collateralize the L/C Obligations as aforesaid shall automatically become effective, in each case without further act of the Administrative Agent or any Lender.

8.03Application of Funds.  After the exercise of remedies provided for in Section 8.02 (or after the Loans have automatically become immediately due and payable and the L/C

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Obligations have automatically been required to be Cash Collateralized as set forth in the proviso to Section 8.02), any amounts received on account of the Obligations shall, subject to the provisions of Sections 2.16 and 2.17, be applied by the Administrative Agent in the following order:

First, to payment of that portion of the Obligations constituting fees, indemnities, expenses and other amounts (including fees, charges and disbursements of counsel to the Administrative Agent and amounts payable under Article III) then due and payable to the Administrative Agent in its capacity as such;

Second, to payment of that portion of the Obligations constituting fees, indemnities and other amounts (other than principal, interest and Letter of Credit Fees) then due and payable to the Lenders and the L/C Issuers (including fees, charges and disbursements of counsel to the respective Lenders and the L/C Issuers (including fees and time charges for attorneys who may be employees of any Lender or any L/C Issuer) and amounts payable under Article III), ratably among them in proportion to the respective amounts described in this clause Second payable to them;

Third, to payment of that portion of the Obligations constituting accrued and unpaid Letter of Credit Fees and interest on the Loans, L/C Borrowings and other Obligations then due and payable, ratably among the Lenders and the L/C Issuer in proportion to the respective amounts described in this clause Third payable to them;

Fourth, to payment of that portion of the Obligations constituting unpaid principal of the Loans and L/C Borrowings, ratably among the Lenders and the L/C Issuer in proportion to the respective amounts described in this clause Fourth held by them;

Fifth, to the Administrative Agent for the account of the applicable L/C Issuers, to Cash Collateralize that portion of L/C Obligations comprised of the aggregate undrawn amount of Letters of Credit to the extent not otherwise Cash Collateralized by the Borrowers pursuant to Sections 2.03 and 2.16; and

Last, the balance, if any, after all of the Obligations then due and payable have been paid in full, to the Company or as otherwise required by Law.

Subject to Sections 2.03(c) and 2.16, amounts used to Cash Collateralize the aggregate undrawn amount of Letters of Credit pursuant to clause Fifth above shall be applied to satisfy drawings under such Letters of Credit as they occur.  If any amount remains on deposit as Cash Collateral after all Letters of Credit have either been fully drawn or expired, such remaining amount shall be applied to the other Obligations, if any, in the order set forth above.

ARTICLE IX. ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
9.01Appointment and Authority.  Each of the Lenders and the L/C Issuer hereby irrevocably appoints Bank of America to act on its behalf as the Administrative Agent hereunder and under the other Loan Documents and authorizes the Administrative Agent to take such actions on its behalf and to exercise such powers as are delegated to the Administrative Agent by the terms hereof or thereof, together with such actions and powers as are reasonably incidental thereto.  The provisions of this Article are solely for the benefit of the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and the L/C Issuers, and neither the Company nor any other Loan Party shall have rights as a third

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party beneficiary of any of such provisions.  It is understood and agreed that the use of the term “agent” herein or in any other Loan Documents (or any other similar term) with reference to the Administrative Agent is not intended to connote any fiduciary or other implied (or express) obligations arising under agency doctrine of any Applicable Law.  Instead such term is used as a matter of market custom, and is intended to create or reflect only an administrative relationship between contracting parties.

9.02Rights as a Lender.  The Person serving as the Administrative Agent hereunder shall have the same rights and powers in its capacity as a Lender as any other Lender and may exercise the same as though it were not the Administrative Agent and the term “Lender” or “Lenders” shall, unless otherwise expressly indicated or unless the context otherwise requires, include the Person serving as the Administrative Agent hereunder in its individual capacity.  Such Person and its Affiliates may accept deposits from, lend money to, own securities of, act as the financial advisor or in any other advisory capacity for and generally engage in any kind of banking, trust, financial, advisory, underwriting or other business with any Loan Party or any Subsidiary or other Affiliate thereof as if such Person were not the Administrative Agent hereunder and without any duty to account therefor to the Lenders or to provide notice or consent of the Lenders with respect thereto.
9.03Exculpatory Provisions.  The Administrative Agent or the Arrangers, as applicable, shall not have any duties or obligations except those expressly set forth herein and in the other Loan Documents and its duties hereunder shall be administrative in nature.  Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Administrative Agent or the Arrangers, as applicable, and its Related Parties:
(a)shall not be subject to any fiduciary or other implied duties, regardless of whether a Default has occurred and is continuing;
(b)may, but shall not have any duty to take any discretionary action or exercise any discretionary powers, except discretionary rights and powers expressly contemplated hereby or by the other Loan Documents that the Administrative Agent is required to exercise as directed in writing by the Required Lenders (or such other number or percentage of the Lenders as shall be expressly provided for herein or in the other Loan Documents), provided that the Administrative Agent shall not be required to take any action that, in its reasonable opinion or the reasonable opinion of its counsel, may expose the Administrative Agent to liability or that is contrary to any Loan Document or Applicable Law, including for the avoidance of doubt any action that may be in violation of the automatic stay under any Debtor Relief Law or that may effect a forfeiture, modification or termination of property of a Defaulting Lender in violation of any Debtor Relief Law;
(c)shall not, except as expressly set forth herein and in the other Loan Documents, have any duty or responsibility to disclose, and shall not be liable for the failure to disclose, to any Lender or any L/C Issuer, any credit or other information concerning the business, prospects, operations, property, financial and other condition or creditworthiness of any of the Loan Parties or any of their Affiliates, that is communicated to, obtained or in the possession of, the Administrative Agent, Arrangers or any of their Related Parties in any capacity, except for notices, reports and other documents expressly required to be furnished to the Lenders by the Administrative Agent herein;

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(d)shall not be liable for any action taken or not taken by the Administrative Agent under or in connection with this Agreement or any other Loan Document or the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby (i) with the consent or at the request of the Required Lenders (or such other number or percentage of the Lenders as shall be necessary, or as the Administrative Agent shall believe in good faith shall be necessary, under the circumstances as provided in Sections 10.01 and 8.02) or (ii) in the absence of its own bad faith, gross negligence or willful misconduct as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction by final and nonappealable judgment.  Except for knowledge of a Default under Section 8.01(a), the Administrative Agent shall be deemed not to have knowledge of any Default unless and until notice describing such Default is given in writing to the Administrative Agent by the Company, a Lender or an L/C Issuer; and
(e)shall not be responsible for or have any duty or obligation to any Lender or participant or any other Person to ascertain or inquire into (i) any statement, warranty or representation made in or in connection with this Agreement or any other Loan Document, (ii) the contents of any certificate, report or other document delivered hereunder or thereunder or in connection herewith or therewith, (iii) the performance or observance of any of the covenants, agreements or other terms or conditions set forth herein or therein or the occurrence of any Default, (iv) the validity, enforceability, effectiveness or genuineness of this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any other agreement, instrument or document or (v) the satisfaction of any condition set forth in Article IV or elsewhere herein, other than to confirm receipt of items expressly required to be delivered to the Administrative Agent;
9.04Reliance by Administrative Agent.  The Administrative Agent shall be entitled to rely upon, and shall not incur any liability for relying upon, any notice, request, certificate, consent, statement, instrument, document or other writing (including any electronic message, Internet or intranet website posting or other distribution) believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed, sent or otherwise authenticated by the proper Person.  The Administrative Agent also may rely upon any statement made to it orally or by telephone and believed by it to have been made by the proper Person, and shall not incur any liability for relying thereon.  In determining compliance with any condition hereunder to the making of a Loan, or the issuance, extension, renewal or increase of a Letter of Credit, that by its terms must be fulfilled to the satisfaction of a Lender or an L/C Issuer, the Administrative Agent may presume that such condition is satisfactory to such Lender or such L/C Issuer unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice to the contrary from such Lender or such L/C Issuer prior to the making of such Loan or the issuance of such Letter of Credit.  The Administrative Agent may consult with legal counsel (who may be counsel for the Company), independent accountants and other experts selected by it, and shall not be liable for any action taken or not taken by it in accordance with the written advice of any such counsel, accountants or experts.
9.05Delegation of Duties.  The Administrative Agent may perform any and all of its duties and exercise its rights and powers hereunder or under any other Loan Document by or through any one or more sub agents appointed by the Administrative Agent.  The Administrative Agent and any such sub agent may perform any and all of its duties and exercise its rights and powers by or through their respective Related Parties.  The exculpatory provisions of this Article IX shall apply to any such sub agent and to the Related Parties of the Administrative Agent and any such sub agent, and shall apply to their respective activities in connection with the syndication of the credit facilities provided for herein as well as activities as Administrative Agent.  

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The Administrative Agent shall not be responsible for the negligence or misconduct of any sub-agents except to the extent that a court of competent jurisdiction determines in a final and non-appealable judgment that the Administrative Agent acted with bad faith, gross negligence or willful misconduct in the selection of such sub-agents.

9.06Resignation or Removal of Administrative Agent.  
(a)The Administrative Agent may at any time give notice of its resignation to the Lenders, the L/C Issuers and the Company.  Upon receipt of any such notice of resignation, the Required Lenders shall have the right, with the reasonable consent of the Company so long as no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, to appoint a successor, which shall be a bank with an office in the United States, or an Affiliate of any such bank with an office in the United States.  If no such successor shall have been so appointed by the Required Lenders and shall have accepted such appointment within 30 days after the retiring Administrative Agent gives notice of its resignation (or such earlier day as shall be agreed by the Required Lenders) (the “Resignation Effective Date”), then the retiring Administrative Agent may (but shall not be obligated to) on behalf of the Lenders and the L/C Issuers, appoint a successor Administrative Agent meeting the qualifications set forth above; provided that in no event shall any such successor Administrative Agent be a Defaulting Lender.  Whether or not a successor has been appointed, such resignation shall become effective in accordance with such notice on the Resignation Effective Date.  If the initial Administrative Agent at any time is no longer a Lender then the Administrative Agent will upon the request of the Company made with the consent of the Required Lenders, which the Company may make so long as no Event of Default exists and is continuing, resign as Administrative Agent in which event a new Administrative Agent shall be appointed in accordance with the terms hereof.
(b)If the Person serving as Administrative Agent is a Defaulting Lender pursuant to clause (d) of the definition thereof, or if there is cause (which shall be gross negligence or willful misconduct by such Person), the Required Lenders may, to the extent permitted by Applicable Law, by notice in writing to the Company and such Person, remove such Person as Administrative Agent and, with the reasonable consent of the Company so long as no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, appoint a successor.  If no such successor shall have been so appointed by the Required Lenders and shall have accepted such appointment within 30 days (or such earlier day as shall be agreed by the Required Lenders) (the “Removal Effective Date”), then such removal shall nonetheless become effective in accordance with such notice on the Removal Effective Date.
(c)With effect from the Resignation Effective Date or the Removal Effective Date (as applicable) (1) the retiring or removed Administrative Agent shall be discharged from its duties and obligations hereunder and under the other Loan Documents arising from and after such date (except that in the case of any collateral security held by the Administrative Agent on behalf of the Lenders or the L/C Issuers under any of the Loan Documents, the retiring or removed Administrative Agent shall continue to hold such collateral security until such time as a successor Administrative Agent is appointed) and (2) except for any indemnity payments or other amounts then owed to the retiring or removed Administrative Agent, all payments, communications and determinations provided to be made by, to or through the Administrative Agent shall instead be made by or to each Lender and each L/C Issuer directly, until such time, if any, as the Required Lenders appoint a successor Administrative Agent as provided for above.  Upon the acceptance of

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a successor’s appointment as Administrative Agent hereunder, such successor shall succeed to and become vested with all of the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the retiring (or removed) Administrative Agent (other than as provided in Section 3.01(g) and other than any rights to indemnity payments or other amounts owed to the retiring or removed Administrative Agent as of the Resignation Effective Date or the Removal Effective Date, as applicable), and the retiring or removed Administrative Agent shall be discharged from all of its duties and obligations hereunder or under the other Loan Documents (if not already discharged therefrom as provided above in this Section 9.06).  The fees payable by the Company to a successor Administrative Agent shall be the same as those payable to its predecessor unless otherwise agreed between the Company and such successor.  After the retiring or removed Administrative Agent’s resignation or removal hereunder and under the other Loan Documents, the provisions of this Article and Section 10.04 shall continue in effect for the benefit of such retiring or removed Administrative Agent, its sub agents and their respective Related Parties in respect of any actions taken or omitted to be taken by any of them (i) while the retiring or removed Administrative Agent was acting as Administrative Agent, and (ii) after such resignation or removal for as long as any of them continues to act in any capacity as Administrative Agent hereunder or under the other Loan Documents, including in respect of any actions taken in connection with transferring the agency to any successor Administrative Agent.
(d)Any resignation or removal of by Bank of America as Administrative Agent pursuant to this Section 9.06 shall also constitute its resignation or removal as an L/C Issuer.  If Bank of America resigns as an L/C Issuer, it shall retain all the rights, powers, privileges and duties of an L/C Issuer hereunder with respect to all Letters of Credit outstanding as of the effective date of its resignation as an L/C Issuer and all L/C Obligations with respect thereto, including the right to require the Lenders to make Base Rate Loans or fund risk participations in Unreimbursed Amounts pursuant to Section 2.03(c).  Upon the appointment by the Company of a successor L/C Issuer hereunder (which successor shall in all cases be a Lender other than a Defaulting Lender), (a) such successor shall succeed to and become vested with all of the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the retiring L/C Issuer, (b) the retiring or removed L/C Issuer shall be discharged from all of their respective duties and obligations hereunder or under the other Loan Documents, and (c) the successor L/C Issuer shall issue letters of credit in substitution for the Letters of Credit, if any, outstanding at the time of such succession or make other arrangements satisfactory to Bank of America to effectively assume the obligations of Bank of America with respect to such Letters of Credit.
9.07Non-Reliance on the Administrative Agent, the Arrangers and the Other Lenders.  Each Lender and each L/C Issuer expressly acknowledges that none of the Administrative Agent nor any Arranger has made any representation or warranty to it, and that no act by the Administrative Agent or any Arranger hereafter taken, including any consent to, and acceptance of any assignment or review of the affairs of any Loan Party of any Affiliate thereof, shall be deemed to constitute any representation or warranty by the Administrative Agent or any Arranger to any Lender or any L/C Issuer as to any matter, including whether the Administrative Agent or any Arranger have disclosed material information in their (or their Related Parties’) possession.  Each Lender and each L/C Issuer represents to the Administrative Agent and each Arranger that it has, independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent, any Arranger or any other Lender or any of their Related Parties and based on such documents and information as it has deemed appropriate, made its own credit analysis of, appraisal of, and investigation into, the business, prospects, operations, property, financial and other condition and

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creditworthiness of the Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries, and all applicable bank or other regulatory Laws relating to the transactions contemplated hereby, and made its own decision to enter into this Agreement and to extend credit to the Borrowers hereunder.  Each Lender and each L/C Issuer also acknowledges that it will, independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent, any Arranger, any other Lender or any of their Related Parties and based on such documents and information as it shall from time to time deem appropriate, continue to make its own credit analysis, appraisals and decisions in taking or not taking action under or based upon this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any related agreement or any document furnished hereunder or thereunder, and to make such investigations as it deems necessary to inform itself as to the business, prospects, operations, property, financial and other condition and creditworthiness of the Loan Parties.  Each Lender and each L/C Issuer represents and warrants that (i) the Loan Documents set forth the terms of a commercial lending facility and (ii) it is engaged in making, acquiring or holding commercial loans in the ordinary course and is entering into this Agreement as a Lender or an L/C Issuer for the purpose of making, acquiring or holding commercial loans and providing other facilities set forth herein as may be applicable to such Lender or L/C Issuer, and not for the purpose of purchasing, acquiring or holding any other type of financial instrument, and each Lender and each L/C Issuer agrees not to assert a claim in contravention of the foregoing. Each Lender and each L/C Issuer represents and warrants that it is sophisticated with respect to decisions to make, acquire and/or hold commercial loans and to provide other facilities set forth herein, as may be applicable to such Lender or such L/C Issuer, and either it, or the Person exercising discretion in making its decision to make, acquire and/or hold such commercial loans or to provide such other facilities, is experienced in making, acquiring or holding such commercial loans or providing such other facilities.

9.08No Other Duties, Etc.  Anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, none of the Bookrunners, Arrangers, Syndication Agents or Documentation Agents listed on the cover page hereof shall have any powers, duties or responsibilities under this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents, except in its capacity, as applicable, as the Administrative Agent, a Lender or an L/C Issuer hereunder.
9.09Administrative Agent May File Proofs of Claim.  In case of the pendency of any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law or any other judicial proceeding relative to any Loan Party, the Administrative Agent (irrespective of whether the principal of any Loan or L/C Obligation shall then be due and payable as herein expressed or by declaration or otherwise and irrespective of whether the Administrative Agent shall have made any demand on any Borrower) shall be entitled and empowered, by intervention in such proceeding or otherwise
(a)to file and prove a claim for the whole amount of the principal and interest owing and unpaid in respect of the Loans, L/C Obligations and all other Obligations that are owing and unpaid and to file such other documents as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of the Lenders, the L/C Issuers and the Administrative Agent (including any claim for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Lenders, the L/C Issuers and the Administrative Agent and their respective agents and counsel and all other amounts due the Lenders, the L/C Issuers and the Administrative Agent under Sections 2.03(i) and (j), 2.09 and 10.04) allowed in such judicial proceeding; and
(b)to collect and receive any monies or other property payable or deliverable on any such claims and to distribute the same;

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and any custodian, receiver, assignee, trustee, liquidator, sequestrator or other similar official in any such judicial proceeding is hereby authorized by each Lender and each L/C Issuer to make such payments to the Administrative Agent and, in the event that the Administrative Agent shall consent to the making of such payments directly to the Lenders and the L/C Issuers, to pay to the Administrative Agent any amount due for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Administrative Agent and its agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the Administrative Agent under Sections 2.09 and 10.04.

Nothing contained herein shall be deemed to authorize the Administrative Agent to authorize or consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of any Lender or any L/C Issuer any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Obligations or the rights of any Lender or any L/C Issuer to authorize the Administrative Agent to vote in respect of the claim of any Lender or any L/C Issuer in any such proceeding.

9.10Lender Reply Period.  All communications from the Administrative Agent to Lenders requesting Lenders’ determination, consent or approval (i) shall be given in the form of a written notice to each Lender, (ii) shall be accompanied by a description of the matter as to which such determination, consent or approval is requested, (iii) shall include a legend substantially as follows, printed in capital letters or boldface type:

“THIS COMMUNICATION REQUIRES IMMEDIATE RESPONSE.  FAILURE TO RESPOND WITHIN TEN (10) BUSINESS DAYS AFTER THE DELIVERY OF THIS COMMUNICATION SHALL CONSTITUTE A DEEMED APPROVAL BY THE ADDRESSEE OF THE MATTER DESCRIBED ABOVE.”

and (iv) shall include Administrative Agent’s recommended course of action or determination in respect thereof.  Each Lender shall reply promptly to any such request, but in any event within ten (10) Business Days after the delivery of such request by the Administrative Agent (the “Lender Reply Period”).  Unless a Lender shall give written notice to the Administrative Agent that it objects to the recommendation or determination of Administrative Agent (together with a written explanation of the reasons behind such objection) within the Lender Reply Period, such Lender shall be deemed to have approved of or consented to such recommendation or determination.  With respect to decisions requiring the approval of the Required Lenders or all Lenders, Administrative Agent shall timely submit any required written notices to all Lenders and upon receiving the required approval or consent shall follow the course of action or determination recommended by Administrative Agent or such other course of action recommended by the Required Lenders or all of the Lenders, as the case may be, and each non-responding Lender shall be deemed to have concurred with such recommended course of action.  Nothing in this Section 9.10 shall restrict the Administrative Agent from requesting a reply to a request for an approval in less than ten Business Days but the deemed approval provided in this Section 9.10 shall not apply until the expiration of a ten Business Day period.

9.11Certain ERISA Matters.
(a)Each Lender (x) represents and warrants, as of the date such Person became a Lender party hereto, to, and (y) covenants, from the date such Person became a Lender party hereto to the date such Person ceases being a Lender party hereto, for the benefit of, the Administrative Agent, the Arrangers and their respective Affiliates and not, for the avoidance of doubt, to or for

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the benefit of the Company or any other Loan Party, that at least one of the following is and will be true:
(i)such Lender is not using “plan assets” (within the meaning of Section 3(42) of ERISA or otherwise) of one or more Benefit Plans with respect to such Lender’s entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Loans, the Letters of Credit, the Commitments or this Agreement,
(ii)the transaction exemption set forth in one or more PTEs, such as PTE 84-14 (a class exemption for certain transactions determined by independent qualified professional asset managers), PTE 95-60 (a class exemption for certain transactions involving insurance company general accounts), PTE 90-1 (a class exemption for certain transactions involving insurance company pooled separate accounts), PTE 91-38 (a class exemption for certain transactions involving bank collective investment funds) or PTE 96-23 (a class exemption for certain transactions determined by in-house asset managers), is applicable with respect to such Lender’s entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Loans, the Letters of Credit, the Commitments and this Agreement,
(iii)(A) such Lender is an investment fund managed by a “Qualified Professional Asset Manager” (within the meaning of Part VI of PTE 84-14), (B) such Qualified Professional Asset Manager made the investment decision on behalf of such Lender to enter into, participate in, administer and perform the Loans, the Letters of Credit, the Commitments and this Agreement, (C) the entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Loans, the Letters of Credit, the Commitments and this Agreement satisfies the requirements of sub-sections (b) through (g) of Part I of PTE 84-14 and (D) to the best knowledge of such Lender, the requirements of subsection (a) of Part I of PTE 84-14 are satisfied with respect to such Lender’s entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Loans, the Letters of Credit, the Commitments and this Agreement, or
(iv)such other representation, warranty and covenant as may be agreed in writing between the Administrative Agent, in its sole discretion, and such Lender.
(b)In addition, unless either (1) sub-clause (i) in the immediately preceding clause (a) is true with respect to a Lender or (2) a Lender has provided another representation, warranty and covenant in accordance with sub-clause (iv) in the immediately preceding clause (a), such Lender further (x) represents and warrants, as of the date such Person became a Lender party hereto, to, and (y) covenants, from the date such Person became a Lender party hereto to the date such Person ceases being a Lender party hereto, for the benefit of, the Administrative Agent, the Arrangers and their respective Affiliates, and not, for the avoidance of doubt, to or for the benefit of the Company or any other Loan Party, that none of the Administrative Agent or any Arranger or any of their respective Affiliates is a fiduciary with respect to the assets of such Lender involved in such Lender’s entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Loans, the Letters of Credit, the Commitments and this Agreement (including in connection with the reservation or exercise of any rights by the Administrative Agent under this Agreement, any Loan Document or any documents related hereto or thereto).
9.12Recovery of Erroneous Payments.

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Without limitation of any other provision in this Agreement, if at any time the Administrative Agent makes a payment hereunder in error to any Lender Recipient Party, whether or not in respect of an Obligation due and owing by any Borrower at such time, where such payment is a Rescindable Amount, then in any such event, each Lender Recipient Party receiving a Rescindable Amount severally agrees to repay to the Administrative Agent forthwith on demand the Rescindable Amount received by such Lender Recipient Party  in Same Day Funds in the currency so received, with interest thereon, for each day from and including the date such Rescindable Amount is received by it to but excluding the date of payment to the Administrative Agent, at the applicable Overnight Rate. Each Lender Recipient Party irrevocably waives any and all defenses, including any “discharge for value” (under which a creditor might otherwise claim a right to retain funds mistakenly paid by a third party in respect of a debt owed by another) or similar defense to its obligation to return any Rescindable Amount.  The Administrative Agent shall inform each Lender Recipient Party promptly upon determining that any payment made to such Lender Recipient Party comprised, in whole or in part, a Rescindable Amount. .

9.13Guaranty Matters.

Without limiting the provisions of Section 9.09, the Lenders and the L/C Issuers irrevocably authorize the Administrative Agent, at its option and in its discretion, to release any Subsidiary Guarantor from its obligations under the Subsidiary Guaranty if such Person ceases to be a Subsidiary as a result of a transaction permitted under the Loan Documents.

Upon request by the Administrative Agent at any time, the Required Lenders will confirm in writing the Administrative Agent’s authority to release any Subsidiary Guarantor from its obligations under the Subsidiary Guaranty pursuant to this Section 9.13.

ARTICLE X. MISCELLANEOUS
10.01Amendments, Etc. Subject to Section 3.03 and the last paragraph of this Section 10.01, no amendment or waiver of any provision of this Agreement or any other Loan Document, and no consent to any departure by the Company or any other Loan Party therefrom, shall be effective unless in writing signed by the Required Lenders and the Company or the applicable Loan Party, as the case may be, and acknowledged by the Administrative Agent, and each such waiver or consent shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the specific purpose for which given; provided, however, that no such amendment, waiver or consent shall:
(a)waive any condition set forth in Section 4.01(a) without the written consent of each Lender;
(b)without limiting the generality of clause (a) above, waive, amend or modify any condition set forth in Section 4.02 as to any Credit Extension under a particular Facility without the written consent of the Required Revolving Lenders, the Required Term A-1 Lenders, the Required Term A-2 Lenders or the Required Tranche Lenders, as the case may be;
(c)extend or increase the Commitment of any Lender (or reinstate any Commitment terminated pursuant to Section 8.02) without the written consent of such Lender;

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(d)postpone any date fixed by this Agreement or any other Loan Document for any payment hereunder or under any other Loan Document without the written consent of each Lender directly affected thereby (except as provided in Section 2.14);
(e)reduce the principal of, or the rate of interest specified herein on, any Loan or L/C Borrowing, or (subject to clause (iii) of the second proviso to this Section 10.01) any fees or other amounts payable hereunder or under any other Loan Document without the written consent of each Lender directly affected thereby; provided, however, that only the consent of the Required Lenders shall be necessary (i) to amend the definition of “Default Rate” or to waive any obligation of the Borrowers to pay interest or Letter of Credit Fees at the Default Rate or (ii) to amend or waive any financial covenant hereunder (or any defined term used therein) even if the effect of such amendment would be to reduce the rate of interest on any Loan or L/C Borrowing or to reduce any fee payable hereunder;
(f) (i) modify Section 2.13 or 8.03 or any other provision hereof in a manner that would have the effect of altering the ratable reduction of Commitments or the pro rata sharing of payments otherwise required hereunder or (ii) subordinate, or have the effect of subordinating, the Obligations hereunder to any other Indebtedness or other obligation, in each case, without the written consent of each Lender; provided, that with the consent of the Required Lenders, such terms and provisions may be amended on customary terms in connection with an “amend and extend” transaction, but only if all Lenders that consent to such “amend and extend” transaction are treated on a pro rata basis;
(g)change the definition of “Applicable Percentage” or “Applicable Revolving Credit Percentage”;
(h)change (i) any provision of this Section 10.01 or the definition of “Required Lenders” or any other provision hereof specifying the number or percentage of Lenders required to amend, waive or otherwise modify any rights hereunder or make any determination or grant any consent hereunder (other than the definitions specified in clause (ii) of this Section 10.01(h)), without the written consent of each Lender or (ii) the definition of “Required Revolving Lenders”, “Required Term A-1 Lenders”, “Required Term A-2 Lenders” or “Required Tranche Lenders” without the written consent of each Lender under the applicable Facility or Tranche;
(i)release the Trust as a Guarantor or, except as permitted by Section 6.13, release all or substantially all of the Subsidiary Guarantors without the written consent of each Lender;
(j)release (i) the Company (from its obligations as a Borrower or as a Guarantor hereunder) or (ii) any Designated Borrower, except in connection with the termination of a Designated Borrower’s status as such under Section 2.19, without the consent of each Lender;
(k)amend Section 1.09 or the definition of “Alternative Currency” without the written consent of each Lender directly affected thereby; or
(l)impose any greater restriction on the ability of any Lender under a Facility or Tranche to assign any of its rights or obligations hereunder without the written consent of (i) if such Facility is the Term A-1 Facility, the Required Term A-1 Lenders, (ii) if such Facility is the Term A-2 Facility, the Required Term A-2 Lenders, (iii) if such Facility is the Revolving Credit

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Facility, the Required Revolving Lenders, and (iv) if with respect to a Tranche, the Required Tranche Lenders;

and, provided further, that (i) no amendment, waiver or consent shall, unless in writing and signed by the L/C Issuers in addition to the Lenders required above, affect the rights or duties of the L/C Issuers under this Agreement or any Issuer Document relating to any Letter of Credit issued or to be issued by it; (ii) no amendment, waiver or consent shall, unless in writing and signed by the Administrative Agent in addition to the Lenders required above, (x) affect the rights or duties of the Administrative Agent under this Agreement or any other Loan Document or (y) amend or waive or consent to any departure from, or have the effect of amending, waiving or consent to any departure from, Section 3.03 or any term defined in such section or any other term or provision in this Agreement relating to a Benchmark Replacement or the replacement of Relevant Rates or Successor Rates; (iii) the Fee Letter may be amended, or rights or privileges thereunder waived, in a writing executed only by the parties thereto; and (iv) the term L/C Commitment may be amended pursuant to a fully executed (and delivered to the Administrative Agent) Notice of Additional L/C Issuer.

Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary,

(i)any amendment that would extend the Maturity Date with respect to Loans or Commitments, provide for any increased pricing (including fees) for any Lenders agreeing to extend their Loans or Commitments pursuant to the terms of such amendment and any corresponding modifications under this Agreement related thereto may be effected pursuant to an agreement or agreements in writing entered into by the Company, the Administrative Agent, and the extending Lenders;  
(ii)no Defaulting Lender shall have any right to approve or disapprove any amendment, waiver or consent hereunder (and any amendment, waiver or consent which by its terms requires the consent of all Lenders or each affected Lender may be effected with the consent of the applicable Lenders other than Defaulting Lenders), except that (x) the Commitment of any Defaulting Lender may not be increased or extended or the maturity of any of its Loans may not be extended (except as provided in Section 2.14), the rate of interest on any of its Loans may not be reduced and the principal amount of any of its Loans may not be forgiven, in each case without the consent of such Defaulting Lender and (y) any waiver, amendment, consent or modification requiring the consent of all Lenders or each affected Lender that by its terms affects any Defaulting Lender more adversely relative to other affected Lenders shall require the consent of such Defaulting Lender;
(iii)this Agreement may be amended with the written consent of the Administrative Agent, the Company and the Lenders and L/C Issuers affected thereby to amend the definition of “Alternative Currency” or “Alternative Currency Daily Rate” or “Alternative Currency Term Rate” or Section 1.09 solely to add additional currency options and the applicable interest rate with respect thereto, in each case solely to the extent permitted pursuant to Section 1.09;
(iv)this Agreement and the other Loan Documents may be amended or amended and restated without the consent of any Lender (but with the consent of the Company and

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the Administrative Agent) if, upon giving effect to such amendment or amendment and restatement, such Lender shall no longer be a party to this Agreement (as so amended or amended and restated), the Commitments of such Lender shall have terminated, such Lender shall have no other commitment or other obligation hereunder and shall have been paid in full all principal, interest and other amounts owing to it or accrued for its account under this Agreement;
(v)this Agreement may be amended with the written consent of the Administrative Agent and the Company (i) to add one or more additional term loan facilities to this Agreement subject to the limitations in Section 2.15 and to permit the extensions of credit and all related obligations and liabilities arising in connection therewith from time to time outstanding to share ratably (or on a basis subordinated to the existing Facilities hereunder) in the benefits of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents with the obligations and liabilities from time to time outstanding in respect of the existing Facilities hereunder, and (ii) in connection with the foregoing, to permit, as deemed appropriate by the Administrative Agent, the Lenders providing such additional credit facilities to participate in any required vote or action required to be approved by the Required Lenders or by any other number, percentage or class of Lenders hereunder;
(vi)the Administrative Agent and the Company may, without the consent of any Lender or any Loan Party then party hereto, amend this Agreement to add a Designated Borrower pursuant to a Designated Borrower Request and Assumption Agreement and Designated Borrower Notice;
(vii)if the Administrative Agent and the Company acting together identify any ambiguity, omission, mistake, typographical error or other defect in any provision of this Agreement or any other Loan Document (including the schedules and exhibits thereto), then the Administrative Agent and the Company shall be permitted to amend, modify or supplement such provision to cure such ambiguity, omission, mistake, typographical error or other defect, and such amendment shall become effective without any further action or consent of any other party to this Agreement.
10.02Notices; Effectiveness; Electronic Communication.
(a)Notices Generally
.  Except in the case of notices and other communications expressly permitted to be given by telephone (and except as provided in subsection (b) below), all notices and other communications provided for herein shall be in writing and shall be delivered by hand or overnight courier service, mailed by certified or registered mail or sent by facsimile or electronic mail as follows, and all notices and other communications expressly permitted hereunder to be given by telephone shall be made to the applicable telephone number, as follows:
(i)if to any Loan Party, the Administrative Agent or any L/C Issuer, to the address, facsimile number, electronic mail address or telephone number specified for such Person on Schedule 10.02; and
(ii)if to any other Lender, to the address, facsimile number, electronic mail address or telephone number specified in its Administrative Questionnaire (including, as appropriate, notices delivered solely to the Person designated by a Lender on its

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Administrative Questionnaire then in effect for the delivery of notices that may contain material non-public information relating to the Company).

Notices and other communications sent by hand or overnight courier service, or mailed by certified or registered mail, shall be deemed to have been given when received; notices and other communications sent by facsimile shall be deemed to have been given when sent (except that, if not given during normal business hours for the recipient, shall be deemed to have been given at the opening of business on the next Business Day for the recipient).  Notices and other communications delivered through electronic communications to the extent provided in subsection (b) below, shall be effective as provided in such subsection (b).

(b)Electronic Communications.  Notices and other communications to the Lenders and the L/C Issuers hereunder may be delivered or furnished by electronic communication (including e-mail, FpML messaging and Internet or intranet websites) pursuant to procedures approved by the Administrative Agent, provided that the foregoing shall not apply to notices to any Lender or any L/C Issuer pursuant to Article II if such Lender or such L/C Issuer, as applicable, has notified the Administrative Agent that it is incapable of receiving notices under such Article by electronic communication. The Administrative Agent, any L/C Issuer or the Company may each, in its discretion, agree to accept notices and other communications to it hereunder by electronic communications pursuant to procedures approved by it, provided that approval of such procedures may be limited to particular notices or communications.

Unless the Administrative Agent otherwise prescribes, (i) notices and other communications sent to an e-mail address shall be deemed received upon actual receipt or the sender’s receipt of an acknowledgement from the intended recipient (such as by the “return receipt requested” function, as available, return e-mail or other written acknowledgement), and (ii) notices or communications posted to an Internet or intranet website shall be deemed received upon the deemed receipt by the intended recipient at its e-mail address as described in the foregoing clause (i) of notification that such notice or communication is available and identifying the website address therefor; provided that, for both clauses (i) and (ii), if such notice, email or other communication is not sent during the normal business hours of the recipient, such notice, email or communication shall be deemed to have been sent at the opening of business on the next business day for the recipient.

(c)The Platform
.  Each Borrower hereby acknowledges that the Administrative Agent and/or the Arrangers may, but shall not be obligated to, make available to the Lenders and L/C Issuers materials and/or information provided by or on behalf of such Borrowers hereunder (collectively, “Borrower Materials”) by posting the borrower materials on IntraLinks, Syndtrak, ClearPar, or another similar electronic transmission system (the “Platform”).  THE PLATFORM IS PROVIDED “AS IS” AND “AS AVAILABLE.”  THE AGENT PARTIES (AS DEFINED BELOW) DO NOT WARRANT THE ACCURACY OR COMPLETENESS OF THE BORROWER MATERIALS OR THE ADEQUACY OF THE PLATFORM, AND EXPRESSLY DISCLAIM LIABILITY FOR ERRORS IN OR OMISSIONS FROM THE BORROWER MATERIALS.  NO WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS, IMPLIED OR STATUTORY, INCLUDING ANY WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, NON-INFRINGEMENT OF THIRD PARTY RIGHTS OR FREEDOM FROM VIRUSES OR OTHER CODE DEFECTS, IS MADE BY ANY AGENT PARTY IN CONNECTION WITH THE BORROWER MATERIALS OR THE PLATFORM.  In

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no event shall the Administrative Agent or any of its Related Parties (collectively, the “Agent Parties”) have any liability to any Borrower, any Lender, any L/C Issuer or any other Person for losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses of any kind (whether in tort, contract or otherwise) arising out of the Company’s, any Loan Party’s or the Administrative Agent’s transmission of Borrower Materials or notices through the Platform, any other electronic platform or electronic messaging service, or through the Internet, except to the extent that such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses are determined by a court of competent jurisdiction by a final and nonappealable judgment to have resulted from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Agent Party; provided, however, that in no event shall any Agent Party have any liability to any Loan Party, any Lender, any L/C Issuer or any other Person for indirect, special, incidental, consequential or punitive damages (as opposed to direct or actual damages).

(d)Change of Address, Etc.
Each of the Borrowers, the Administrative Agent and each L/C Issuer may change its address, facsimile or telephone number for notices and other communications hereunder by notice to the other parties hereto. Each other Lender may change its address, facsimile or telephone number for notices and other communications hereunder by notice to the Company, the Administrative Agent and each L/C Issuer. In addition, each Lender agrees to notify the Administrative Agent from time to time to ensure that the Administrative Agent has on record (i) an effective address, contact name, telephone number, facsimile number and electronic mail address to which notices and other communications may be sent and (ii) accurate wire instructions for such Lender.  
(e)Reliance by Administrative Agent, L/C Issuer and Lenders
.  The Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuers and the Lenders shall be entitled to rely and act upon any notices (including telephonic or electronic notices, Committed Loan Notices, and Letter of Credit Applications) purportedly given by or on behalf of any Borrower even if (i) such notices were not made in a manner specified herein, were incomplete or were not preceded or followed by any other form of notice specified herein, or (ii) the terms thereof, as understood by the recipient, varied from any confirmation thereof.  The Borrowers shall indemnify the Administrative Agent, each L/C Issuer, each Lender and the Related Parties of each of them from all losses, costs, expenses and liabilities resulting from the reliance by such Person on each notice purportedly given by or on behalf of any Borrower and reasonably relied on by such Person.  All telephonic notices to and other telephonic communications with the Administrative Agent may be recorded by the Administrative Agent, and each of the parties hereto hereby consents to such recording.
10.03No Waiver; Cumulative Remedies; Enforcement.  No failure by any Lender, any L/C Issuer or the Administrative Agent to exercise, and no delay by any such Person in exercising, any right, remedy, power or privilege hereunder or under any other Loan Document shall operate as a waiver thereof; nor shall any single or partial exercise of any right, remedy, power or privilege hereunder or under any other Loan Document preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, remedy, power or privilege.  The rights, remedies, powers and privileges herein provided and provided under each other Loan Document are cumulative and not exclusive of any rights, remedies, powers and privileges provided by Law.

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein or in any other Loan Document, the authority to enforce rights and remedies hereunder and under the other Loan Documents against the Loan Parties or any of them shall be vested exclusively in, and all actions and proceedings at law in connection with such enforcement shall be instituted and maintained exclusively by, the

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Administrative Agent in accordance with Section 8.02 for the benefit of all the Lenders and the L/C Issuers; provided, however, that the foregoing shall not prohibit (a) the Administrative Agent from exercising on its own behalf the rights and remedies that inure to its benefit (solely in its capacity as Administrative Agent) hereunder and under the other Loan Documents, (b) any L/C Issuer from exercising the rights and remedies that inure to its benefit (solely in its capacity as L/C Issuer) hereunder and under the other Loan Documents, (c) any Lender from exercising setoff rights in accordance with Section 10.08 (subject to the terms of Section 2.13), or (d) any Lender from filing proofs of claim or appearing and filing pleadings on its own behalf during the pendency of a proceeding relative to any Loan Party under any Debtor Relief Law; and provided, further, that if at any time there is no Person acting as Administrative Agent hereunder and under the other Loan Documents, then (i) the Required Lenders shall have the rights otherwise ascribed to the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 8.02 and (ii) in addition to the matters set forth in clauses (b), (c) and (d) of the preceding proviso and subject to Section 2.13, any Lender may, with the consent of the Required Lenders, enforce any rights and remedies available to it and as authorized by the Required Lenders.

10.04Expenses; Indemnity; Damage Waiver.
(a)Costs and Expenses
.  The Company shall pay all reasonable and documented out of pocket expenses (i) incurred by the Administrative Agent and its Affiliates (including the reasonable and documented out of pocket fees, charges and disbursements of counsel for the Administrative Agent), in connection with the syndication of the credit facilities provided for herein, the preparation, negotiation, execution, delivery and administration of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents or any amendments, modifications or waivers of the provisions hereof or thereof (whether or not the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby shall be consummated), (ii) customarily incurred by the L/C Issuers in connection with the issuance, amendment, extension, reinstatement or renewal of any Letter of Credit or any demand for payment thereunder, provided that such expenses are customarily charged in connection with the issuance of the Letters of Credit and (iii) incurred by the Administrative Agent, any Lender or any L/C Issuer (including and limited to the fees, charges and disbursements of one outside counsel for the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and the L/C Issuers; provided, that in the event of a conflict between such outside counsel and the Administrative Agent, any Lender or any L/C Issuer, the reasonable and documented fees, charges and disbursements of one additional outside counsel engaged in respect of such conflict shall be paid by the Company), in connection with the enforcement or protection of its rights (A) in connection with this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, including its rights under this Section 10.04, or (B) in connection with the Loans made or Letters of Credit issued hereunder, including all such out of pocket expenses incurred during any workout, restructuring or negotiations in respect of such Loans or Letters of Credit.
(b)Indemnification by the Company
.  The Company shall indemnify the Administrative Agent (and any sub-agent thereof), each Lender and each L/C Issuer, and each Related Party of any of the foregoing Persons (each such Person being called an “Indemnitee”) against, and hold each Indemnitee harmless from, any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities and related expenses (including the reasonable and documented fees, charges and disbursements of any counsel for any Indemnitee), and shall indemnify and hold harmless each Indemnitee from all fees and time charges and disbursements for attorneys who may be employees of any Indemnitee, incurred by any Indemnitee or asserted against any Indemnitee by any third party or by the Company or any other Loan Party arising out of, in connection with, or as a result of (i) the

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execution or delivery of this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any agreement or instrument contemplated hereby or thereby (including, the Indemnitee’s reliance on any Communication executed using an Electronic Signature, or in the form of an Electronic Record), the performance by the parties hereto of their respective obligations hereunder or thereunder, the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, or, in the case of the Administrative Agent (and any sub-agent thereof) and its Related Parties only, the administration of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents (including in respect of any matters addressed in Section 3.01), (ii) any Loan or Letter of Credit or the use or proposed use of the proceeds therefrom (including any refusal by any L/C Issuer to honor a demand for payment under a Letter of Credit if the documents presented in connection with such demand do not strictly comply with the terms of such Letter of Credit), (iii) any actual or alleged presence or release of Hazardous Materials on or from any property owned or operated by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, or any Environmental Liability related in any way to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, or (iv) any actual or prospective claim, litigation, investigation or proceeding relating to any of the foregoing, whether based on contract, tort or any other theory, whether brought by a third party or by the Company or any other Loan Party, and regardless of whether any Indemnitee is a party thereto, IN ALL CASES, WHETHER OR NOT CAUSED BY OR ARISING, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, OUT OF THE COMPARATIVE, CONTRIBUTORY OR SOLE NEGLIGENCE OF THE INDEMNITEE; provided that such indemnity shall not, as to any Indemnitee, be available to the extent that such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or related expenses (x) are determined by a court of competent jurisdiction by final and nonappealable judgment to have resulted from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Indemnitee, (y) result from a claim brought by the Company or any other Loan Party against an Indemnitee for breach in bad faith of such Indemnitee’s obligations hereunder or under any other Loan Document, if the Company or such other Loan Party has obtained a final and nonappealable judgment in its favor on such claim as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction or (z) result from a claim not involving an act or omission of the Company or any other Loan Party and that is brought by an Indemnitee against another Indemnitee (other than against the Administrative Agent or the co-lead arrangers in their capacities as such).  This Section 10.04(b) shall not apply with respect to Taxes, other than any Taxes that represent losses, claims or damages arising from any non-Tax claim.

(c)Reimbursement by Lenders
.  To the extent that the Company for any reason fails to indefeasibly pay any amount required under subsection (a) or (b) of this Section 10.04 to be paid by it to the Administrative Agent (or any sub-agent thereof), any L/C Issuer or any Related Party of any of the foregoing, and without limiting the Company’s obligation to do so, each Lender severally agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent (or any such sub-agent), such L/C Issuer, or such Related Party, as the case may be, such Lender’s Applicable Percentage (determined as of the time that the applicable unreimbursed expense or indemnity payment is sought) of such unpaid amount, provided that the unreimbursed expense or indemnified loss, claim, damage, liability or related expense, as the case may be, was incurred by or asserted against the Administrative Agent (or any such sub-agent) or such L/C Issuer in its capacity as such, or against any Related Party of any of the foregoing acting for the Administrative Agent (or any such sub-agent), or such L/C Issuer in connection with such capacity.  The obligations of the Lenders under this subsection (c) are subject to the provisions of Section 2.12(d).
(d)Waiver of Consequential Damages, Etc.
To the fullest extent permitted by Applicable Law, no Borrower shall assert, and each Borrower hereby waives, and acknowledges that no other Person shall have, any claim against any Indemnitee, on any theory of liability, for

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special, indirect, consequential or punitive damages (as opposed to direct or actual damages) arising out of, in connection with, or as a result of, this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any agreement or instrument contemplated hereby, the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, any Loan or Letter of Credit or the use of the proceeds thereof. No Indemnitee referred to in subsection (b) above shall be liable for any damages arising from the use by unintended recipients of any information or other materials distributed to such unintended recipients by such Indemnitee through telecommunications, electronic or other information transmission systems in connection with this Agreement or the other Loan Documents or the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, other than for direct or actual damages resulting from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Indemnitee as determined by a final and nonappealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction.

(e)Payments
.  All amounts due under this Section 10.04 shall be payable not later than ten Business Days after demand therefor.
(f)Survival
.  The agreements in this Section 10.04 and the indemnity provisions of Section 10.02(e) shall survive the resignation of the Administrative Agent and the L/C Issuers, the replacement of any Lender, the termination of the Aggregate Commitments and the repayment, satisfaction or discharge of all the other Obligations.
10.05Payments Set Aside.  To the extent that any payment by or on behalf of any Borrower is made to the Administrative Agent, any L/C Issuer or any Lender, or the Administrative Agent, any L/C Issuer or any Lender exercises its right of setoff, and such payment or the proceeds of such setoff or any part thereof is subsequently invalidated, declared to be fraudulent or preferential, set aside or required (including pursuant to any settlement entered into by the Administrative Agent, such L/C Issuer or such Lender in its discretion) to be repaid to a trustee, receiver or any other party, in connection with any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law or otherwise, then (a) to the extent of such recovery, the obligation or part thereof originally intended to be satisfied shall be revived and continued in full force and effect as if such payment had not been made or such setoff had not occurred, and (b) each Lender and each L/C Issuer severally agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent upon demand its applicable share (without duplication) of any amount so recovered from or repaid by the Administrative Agent, plus interest thereon from the date of such demand to the date such payment is made at a rate per annum equal to the applicable Overnight Rate from time to time in effect in the applicable currency of such recovery or payment. The obligations of the Lenders and the L/C Issuers under clause (b) of the preceding sentence shall survive the payment in full of the Obligations and the termination of this Agreement.
10.06Successors and Assigns.
(a)Successors and Assigns Generally
.  The provisions of this Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns permitted hereby, except that neither the Company nor any other Loan Party may assign or otherwise transfer any of its rights or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent and each Lender and no Lender may assign or otherwise transfer any of its rights or obligations hereunder except (i) to an assignee in accordance with the provisions of subsection (b) of this Section 10.06, (ii) by way of participation in accordance with the provisions of subsection (d) of this Section 10.06, or (iii) by way of pledge or assignment of a security interest subject to the restrictions of subsection (f) of this Section (and any other attempted assignment or

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transfer by any party hereto shall be null and void). Nothing in this Agreement, expressed or implied, shall be construed to confer upon any Person (other than the parties hereto, their respective successors and assigns permitted hereby, Participants to the extent provided in subsection (d) of this Section 10.06 and, to the extent expressly contemplated hereby, the Related Parties of each of the Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuers and the Lenders) any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or by reason of this Agreement.

(b)Assignments by Lenders
.  Any Lender may at any time assign to one or more Eligible Assignees all or a portion of its rights and obligations under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents (including all or a portion of its Commitments and the Loans (including for purposes of this subsection (b), participations in L/C Obligations) at the time owing to it); provided that any such assignment shall be subject to the following conditions:
(i)Minimum Amounts.
(A)in the case of an assignment of the entire remaining amount of the assigning Lender’s Commitment under any Facility and/or the Loans at the time owing to it (in each case with respect to any Facility) or in the case of an assignment to a Lender, an Affiliate of a Lender or an Approved Fund, no minimum amount need be assigned; and
(B)in any case not described in subsection (b)(i)(A) of this Section 10.06, the aggregate amount of the Commitments (which for this purpose includes Loans outstanding thereunder) or, if the applicable Commitment is not then in effect, the principal outstanding balance of the Loans of the assigning Lender subject to each such assignment, determined as of the date the Assignment and Assumption with respect to such assignment is delivered to the Administrative Agent or, if “Trade Date” is specified in the Assignment and Assumption, as of the Trade Date, shall not be less than $5,000,000 (and in integral multiples of $1,000,000 in excess thereof) unless each of the Administrative Agent and, so long as no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Company otherwise consents (each such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed); provided, however, that concurrent assignments to members of an Assignee Group and concurrent assignments from members of an Assignee Group to a single Eligible Assignee will be treated as a single assignment for purposes of determining whether such minimum amount has been met.
(ii)Proportionate Amounts.  Each partial assignment shall be made as an assignment of a proportionate part of all the assigning Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement with respect to the Loans or the Commitments assigned;
(iii)Required Consents.  No consent shall be required for any assignment except to the extent required by subsection (b)(i)(B) of this Section 10.06 and, in addition:
(A)the consent of the Company (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed provided that it shall not be unreasonable for the Company to withhold its consent to an assignment to a direct competitor of the Company, the Guarantors or any Affiliates of any thereof) shall be required unless (1) an Event of

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Default has occurred and is continuing at the time of such assignment or (2) such assignment is to a Lender, an Affiliate of a Lender or an Approved Fund; provided that the Company shall be deemed to have consented to any such assignment unless it shall object thereto by written notice to the Administrative Agent within ten (10) Business Days after having received notice thereof;
(B)the consent of the Administrative Agent (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) shall be required for assignments in respect of (1) any Term A-1 Commitment, Term A-2 Commitment or Revolving Credit Commitment if such assignment is to a Person that is not a Lender with a Commitment in respect of the applicable Facility, an Affiliate of such Lender or an Approved Fund with respect to such Lender or (2) any Term A-1 Loan or Term A-2 Loan to a Person that is not a Lender, an Affiliate of a Lender or an Approved Fund; and
(C)the consent of each L/C Issuer shall be required for any assignment that increases the obligation of the assignee to participate in exposure under one or more Letters of Credit (whether or not then outstanding); and
(D)the consent of each L/C Issuer shall be required for any assignment in respect of a Dollar Tranche Commitment.
(iv)Assignment and Assumption.  The parties to each assignment shall execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent an Assignment and Assumption, together with a processing and recordation fee in the amount of $3,500; provided, however, that the Administrative Agent may, in its sole discretion, elect to waive such processing and recordation fee in the case of any assignment.  The assignee, if it is not a Lender, shall deliver to the Administrative Agent an Administrative Questionnaire.
(v)No Assignment to Certain Persons.  No such assignment shall be made (A) to the Company or any of the Company’s Affiliates or Subsidiaries, or (B) to any Defaulting Lender or any of its Subsidiaries, or any Person who, upon becoming a Lender hereunder, would constitute any of the foregoing Persons described in this clause (B), or (C) to a natural person (or a holding company, investment vehicle or trust for, or owned and operated for the primary benefit of one or more natural persons).  
(vi)Certain Additional Payments.  In connection with any assignment of rights and obligations of any Defaulting Lender hereunder, no such assignment shall be effective unless and until, in addition to the other conditions thereto set forth herein, the parties to the assignment shall make such additional payments to the Administrative Agent in an aggregate amount sufficient, upon distribution thereof as appropriate (which may be outright payment, purchases by the assignee of participations or subparticipations, or other compensating actions, including funding, with the consent of the Company and the Administrative Agent, the applicable pro rata share of Loans previously requested but not funded by the Defaulting Lender, to each of which the applicable assignee and assignor hereby irrevocably consent), to (x) pay and satisfy in full all payment liabilities then owed by such Defaulting Lender to the Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuer or any Lender hereunder (and interest accrued thereon) and (y) acquire (and fund as appropriate) its full

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pro rata share of all Loans and participations in Letters of Credit in accordance with its Applicable Percentage. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that any assignment of rights and obligations of any Defaulting Lender hereunder shall become effective under Applicable Law without compliance with the provisions of this paragraph (vi), then the assignee of such interest shall be deemed to be a Defaulting Lender for all purposes of this Agreement until such compliance occurs.

Subject to acceptance and recording thereof by the Administrative Agent pursuant to subsection (c) of this Section 10.06, from and after the effective date specified in each Assignment and Assumption, the assignee thereunder shall be a party to this Agreement and, to the extent of the interest assigned by such Assignment and Assumption, have the rights and obligations of a Lender under this Agreement, and the assigning Lender thereunder shall, to the extent of the interest assigned by such Assignment and Assumption, be released from its obligations under this Agreement (and, in the case of an Assignment and Assumption covering all of the assigning Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement, such Lender shall cease to be a party hereto) but shall continue to be entitled to the benefits of Sections 3.01, 3.04, 3.05, and 10.04 with respect to facts and circumstances occurring prior to the effective date of such assignment; provided that except to the extent otherwise expressly agreed by the affected parties, no assignment by a Defaulting Lender will constitute a waiver or release of any claim of any party hereunder arising from that Lender’s having been a Defaulting Lender.  In addition, the Administrative Agent shall maintain on the Register information regarding the designation, and revocation of designation, of any Lender as a Defaulting Lender.  No Person that acquires any interest in any rights or obligations of any Lender under this Agreement pursuant to this Section 10.06(b) shall be entitled to receive any greater payments or greater benefits under Section 3.01 with respect to such interest than were available on the date of assignment to the assigning or transferring Lender from whom such Person acquired such interest (or, if there is a Change in Law occurring after the date such Person acquires such interest, no greater payments or greater benefits than would have been available to the assigning or transferring Lender under Sections 3.01 and 3.04 following such Change in Law if no such transfer or assignment had occurred).  Upon request, the applicable Borrowers (at their expense) shall execute and deliver a Note to the assignee Lender.  Any assignment or transfer by a Lender of rights or obligations under this Agreement that does not comply with this subsection (b) shall be treated for purposes of this Agreement as a sale by such Lender of a participation in such rights and obligations in accordance with subsection (d) of this Section 10.06.

(c)Register
.  The Administrative Agent, acting solely for this purpose as a non-fiduciary agent of the Borrowers (and such agency being solely for tax purposes), shall maintain at the Administrative Agent’s Office a copy of each Assignment and Assumption delivered to it (or the equivalent thereof in electronic form) and a register for the recordation of the names and addresses of the Lenders, and the Commitments of, and principal amounts (and stated interest) of the Loans and L/C Obligations owing to, each Lender pursuant to the terms hereof from time to time (the “Register”).  The entries in the Register shall be conclusive, and the Borrowers, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders shall treat each Person whose name is recorded in the Register pursuant to the terms hereof as a Lender hereunder for all purposes of this Agreement, notwithstanding notice to the contrary.  In addition, the Administrative Agent shall maintain on the Register information regarding the designation, and revocation of designation, of any Lender as a Defaulting Lender.  The Register shall be available for inspection by any Borrower and any Lender, at any reasonable time and from time to time upon reasonable prior notice.

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(d)Participations
.  Any Lender may at any time, without the consent of, but with five (5) days prior notice (unless an Event of Default exists) to the Company and the Administrative Agent (the “Participation Notice”), sell participations to any Person (other than a natural person, or a holding company, investment vehicle or trust for, or owned and operated for the primary benefit of one or more natural persons, a Defaulting Lender or the Company or any of the Company’s Affiliates or Subsidiaries, or any direct competitor of the Company, Guarantors or any Affiliates of any thereof, if but only if the Company notifies the applicable Lender within two (2) Business Days after receipt of the Participation Notice that the proposed participant is a direct competitor of the Company, Guarantors or any Affiliates of any thereof; unless in each case an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing) (each, a “Participant”) in all or a portion of such Lender’s rights and/or obligations under this Agreement (including all or a portion of its Commitments and/or the Loans (including such Lender’s participations in L/C Obligations) owing to it); provided that (i) such Lender’s obligations under this Agreement shall remain unchanged, (ii) such Lender shall remain solely responsible to the other parties hereto for the performance of such obligations and (iii) the Borrowers, the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and the L/C Issuers shall continue to deal solely and directly with such Lender in connection with such Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement.  For the avoidance of doubt, each Lender shall be responsible for the indemnity under Section 10.04(c) without regard to the existence of any participation.  The Administrative Agent shall have no responsibility for monitoring the notice requirement set forth above in this provision.

Any agreement or instrument pursuant to which a Lender sells such a participation shall provide that such Lender shall retain the sole right to enforce this Agreement and to approve any amendment, modification or waiver of any provision of this Agreement; provided that such agreement or instrument may provide that such Lender will not, without the consent of the Participant, agree to any amendment, waiver or other modification described in the first proviso to Section 10.01 that affects such Participant.  The Company agrees that each Participant shall be entitled to the benefits of Sections 3.01, 3.04 and 3.05 to the same extent as if it were a Lender and had acquired its interest by assignment pursuant to subsection (b) of this Section 10.06 (it being understood that the documentation required under Section 3.01(g) shall be delivered to the Lender who sells the participation) to the same extent as if it were a Lender and had acquired its interest by assignment pursuant to paragraph (b) of this Section 10.06; provided that such Participant (A) agrees to be subject to the provisions of Sections 3.06 and 10.13 as if it were an assignee under paragraph (b) of this Section 10.06 and (B) shall not be entitled to receive any greater payment under Sections 3.01 or 3.04, with respect to any participation, than the Lender from whom it acquired the applicable participation would have been entitled to receive (or, if there is a Change in Law occurring after the date such Participant acquires such interest, shall not be entitled to receive any greater payments under Sections 3.01 or 3.04 than would have been available to the Lender from whom it acquired the applicable participation following such Change in Law if no such transfer had occurred).  Each Lender that sells a participation agrees, at the Company’s request and expense, to use reasonable efforts to cooperate with the Company to effectuate the provisions of Section 3.06 with respect to any Participant.  To the extent permitted by law, each Participant also shall be entitled to the benefits of Section 10.08 as though it were a Lender; provided that such Participant agrees to be subject to Section 2.13 as though it were a Lender.  Each Lender that sells a participation shall, acting solely for this purpose as a non-fiduciary agent of the Company, maintain a register on which it enters the name and address of each Participant and the principal amounts (and stated interest) of each Participant’s interest in the Loans or other obligations under the Loan Documents (the “Participant Register”); provided that no Lender shall

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have any obligation to disclose all or any portion of the Participant Register (including the identity of any Participant or any information relating to a Participant’s interest in any commitments, loans, letters of credit or its other obligations under any Loan Document) to any Person except to the extent that such disclosure is necessary to establish that such commitment, loan, letter of credit or other obligation is in registered form under Section 5f.103-1(c) of the United States Treasury Regulations.  The entries in the Participant Register shall be conclusive absent demonstrable error, and such Lender shall treat each Person whose name is recorded in the Participant Register as the owner of such participation for all purposes of this Agreement notwithstanding any notice to the contrary.  For the avoidance of doubt, the Administrative Agent (in its capacity as Administrative Agent) shall have no responsibility for maintaining a Participant Register.

(e)Certain Pledges
.  Any Lender may at any time pledge or assign a security interest in all or any portion of its rights under this Agreement (including under its Note, if any) to secure obligations of such Lender, including any pledge or assignment to secure obligations to a Federal Reserve Bank or any other central banking authority; provided that no such pledge or assignment shall release such Lender from any of its obligations hereunder or substitute any such pledgee or assignee for such Lender as a party hereto.
(f)Resignation as L/C Issuer after Assignment.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, if at any time Bank of America or any L/C Issuer assigns all of its Revolving Credit Commitment and Revolving Credit Loans pursuant to subsection (b) above, Bank of America or such L/C Issuer, as the case may be, may, upon 30 days’ notice to the Administrative Agent, the Company and the Lenders, resign as an L/C Issuer.  In the event of any such resignation as an L/C Issuer, the Company shall be entitled to appoint from among the Lenders a successor L/C Issuer hereunder; provided, however, that no failure by the Company to appoint any such successor shall affect the resignation of Bank of America or the applicable L/C Issuer, as an L/C Issuer.  If Bank of America or the applicable L/C Issuer resigns as an L/C Issuer, it shall retain all the rights, powers, privileges and duties of an L/C Issuer hereunder with respect to all Letters of Credit issued by it and outstanding as of the effective date of its resignation as an L/C Issuer and all L/C Obligations with respect thereto (including the right to require the Lenders to make Base Rate Loans or fund risk participations in Unreimbursed Amounts pursuant to Section 2.03(c)).  Upon the appointment of a successor L/C Issuer, (a) such successor shall succeed to and become vested with all of the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the retiring L/C Issuer, and (b) the successor L/C Issuer shall issue letters of credit in substitution for the Letters of Credit, if any, outstanding at the time of such succession or make other arrangements satisfactory to Bank of America or the applicable retiring L/C Issuer to effectively assume the obligations of Bank of America or the applicable retiring L/C Issuer with respect to such Letters of Credit.
10.07Treatment of Certain Information; Confidentiality.  Each of the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and the L/C Issuers agrees to maintain the confidentiality of the Information (as defined below), except that Information may be disclosed (a) to its Affiliates, its auditors and its Related Parties (it being understood that the Persons to whom such disclosure is made will be informed of the confidential nature of such Information and instructed to keep such Information confidential), (b) to the extent required or requested by any regulatory authority purporting to have jurisdiction over such Person or its Related Parties (including any self-regulatory authority, such as the National Association of Insurance Commissioners), (c) to the extent required by Applicable Law or regulations or by any subpoena or similar legal process, (d) to any other party hereto, (e) to the extent necessary in connection with the exercise of any remedies hereunder or under any

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other Loan Document or any action or proceeding relating to this Agreement or any other Loan Document or the enforcement of rights hereunder or thereunder, (f) subject to an agreement containing provisions substantially the same as those of this Section 10.07, to (i) any assignee of or Participant in, or any prospective assignee of or Participant in, any of its rights or obligations under this Agreement or any Eligible Assignee invited to be a Lender pursuant to Section 2.15(c) or (ii) any actual or prospective party (or its Related Parties) to any swap, derivative or other transaction under which payments are to be made by reference to any of the Borrowers and its obligations, this Agreement or payments hereunder, (g) on a confidential basis to (i) any rating agency in connection with rating the Company or its Subsidiaries or the credit facilities provided hereunder, (ii) the provider of any Platform or other electronic delivery service used by the Administrative Agent or any L/C Issuer to deliver Information or notices to the Lenders hereunder or (iii) the CUSIP Service Bureau or any similar agency in connection with the application, issuance, publishing and monitoring of CUSIP numbers or other market identifiers with respect to the credit facilities provided hereunder, (h)with the consent of the Company or (i) to the extent such Information (x) becomes publicly available other than as a result of a breach of this Section 10.07, (y) becomes available to the Administrative Agent, any Lender, any L/C Issuer or any of their respective Affiliates on a nonconfidential basis from a source other than the Company or an Affiliate of the Company which source did not acquire such information as a result of a breach of this Section 10.07 or (z) is independently discovered or developed by a party hereto without utilizing any Information received from the Company or violating the terms of this Section 10.07. In addition, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders may disclose the existence of this Agreement and information about this Agreement to market data collectors, similar service providers to the lending industry and service providers to the Agents and the Lenders in connection with the administration of this Agreement, the other Loan Documents, and the Commitments.  For purposes of this Section 10.07, “Information” means all information received in connection with this Agreement and the other Loan Documents and the transactions contemplated hereunder and thereunder by the Administrative Agent, any Lender or the L/C Issuer from or on behalf of the Company, Ares Commercial Real Estate Management LLC or any of its or their respective affiliates or any joint venture or joint venture partner  (each a “Borrower Related Party”) relating to the Trust, any of its subsidiaries, any of its joint ventures or joint venture partners, Ares Commercial Real Estate Management LLC (solely in its capacity as advisor under the Advisory Agreement) or any of their respective businesses, other than any such information that is available to the Administrative Agent, any Lender or the L/C Issuer on a nonconfidential basis prior to disclosure by a Borrower Related Party, provided that, in the case of information received from a Borrower Related Party after the date hereof, such information is clearly identified at the time of delivery as confidential. Any Person required to maintain the confidentiality of Information as provided in this Section 10.07 shall be considered to have complied with its obligation to do so if such Person has exercised the same degree of care to maintain the confidentiality of such Information as such Person would accord to its own confidential information.

Each of the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and the L/C Issuers acknowledges that (a) the Information may include material non-public information concerning the Company or a Subsidiary, as the case may be, (b) it has developed compliance procedures regarding the use of material non-public information and (c) it will handle such material non-public information in accordance with Applicable Law, including United States Federal and state securities Laws.

10.08Right of Setoff.  If an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, each Lender, each L/C Issuer and each of their respective Affiliates is hereby authorized at any time

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and from time to time, to the fullest extent permitted by Applicable Law, to set off and apply any and all deposits (general or special, time or demand, provisional or final, in whatever currency) at any time held and other obligations (in whatever currency) at any time owing by such Lender, such L/C Issuer or any such Affiliate to or for the credit or the account of the Company or any other Loan Party against any and all of the obligations of the Company or such Loan Party now or hereafter existing under this Agreement or any other Loan Document to such Lender or such L/C Issuer or their respective Affiliates, irrespective of whether or not such Lender, L/C Issuer or Affiliate shall have made any demand under this Agreement or any other Loan Document and although such obligations of the Company or such Loan Party may be contingent or unmatured or are owed to a branch or office of such Lender or such L/C Issuer different from the branch, office or Affiliate holding such deposit or obligated on such indebtedness; provided, that in the event that any Defaulting Lender shall exercise any such right of setoff, (x) all amounts so set off shall be paid over immediately to the Administrative Agent for further application in accordance with the provisions of Section 2.17 and, pending such payment, shall be segregated by such Defaulting Lender from its other funds and deemed held in trust for the benefit of the Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuers and the Lenders, and (y) the Defaulting Lender shall provide promptly to the Administrative Agent a statement describing in reasonable detail the Obligations owing to such Defaulting Lender as to which it exercised such right of setoff. The rights of each Lender, the L/C Issuer and their respective Affiliates under this Section 10.08 are in addition to other rights and remedies (including other rights of setoff) that such Lender, such L/C Issuer or their respective Affiliates may have.  Each Lender and each L/C Issuer agrees to notify the Company and the Administrative Agent promptly after any such setoff and application, provided that the failure to give such notice shall not affect the validity of such setoff and application.  

10.09Interest Rate Limitation.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in any Loan Document, the interest paid or agreed to be paid under the Loan Documents shall not exceed the maximum rate of non-usurious interest permitted by Applicable Law (the “Maximum Rate”).  If the Administrative Agent or any Lender shall receive interest in an amount that exceeds the Maximum Rate, the excess interest shall be applied to the principal of the Loans or, if it exceeds such unpaid principal, refunded to the Company.  In determining whether the interest contracted for, charged, or received by the Administrative Agent or a Lender exceeds the Maximum Rate, such Person may, to the extent permitted by Applicable Law, (a) characterize any payment that is not principal as an expense, fee, or premium rather than interest, (b) exclude voluntary prepayments and the effects thereof, and (c) amortize, prorate, allocate, and spread in equal or unequal parts the total amount of interest throughout the contemplated term of the Obligations hereunder.
10.10Integration; Effectiveness.  This Agreement, the other Loan Documents, and any separate letter agreements with respect to fees payable to the Administrative Agent or any L/C Issuer, constitute the entire contract among the parties relating to the subject matter hereof and supersede any and all previous agreements and understandings, oral or written, relating to the subject matter hereof.  Except as provided in Section 4.01, this Agreement shall become effective when it shall have been executed by the Administrative Agent and when the Administrative Agent shall have received counterparts hereof that, when taken together, bear the signatures of each of the other parties hereto, and thereafter shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns.

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10.11Survival of Representations and Warranties.  All representations and warranties made hereunder and in any other Loan Document or other document delivered pursuant hereto or thereto or in connection herewith or therewith shall survive the execution and delivery hereof and thereof.  Such representations and warranties have been or will be relied upon by the Administrative Agent and each Lender, regardless of any investigation made by the Administrative Agent or any Lender or on their behalf and notwithstanding that the Administrative Agent or any Lender may have had notice or knowledge of any Default at the time of any Credit Extension, and shall continue in full force and effect as long as any Loan or any other Obligation hereunder (other than unasserted contingent obligations) shall remain unpaid or unsatisfied or any Letter of Credit shall remain outstanding.
10.12Severability.  If any provision of this Agreement or the other Loan Documents is held to be illegal, invalid or unenforceable, (a) the legality, validity and enforceability of the remaining provisions of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents shall not be affected or impaired thereby and (b) the parties shall endeavor in good faith negotiations to replace the illegal, invalid or unenforceable provisions with valid provisions the economic effect of which comes as close as possible to that of the illegal, invalid or unenforceable provisions.  The invalidity of a provision in a particular jurisdiction shall not invalidate or render unenforceable such provision in any other jurisdiction.  Without limiting the foregoing provisions of this Section 10.12, if and to the extent that the enforceability of any provisions in this Agreement relating to Defaulting Lenders shall be limited by Debtor Relief Laws, as determined in good faith by the Administrative Agent or any L/C Issuer, as applicable, then such provisions shall be deemed to be in effect only to the extent not so limited.
10.13Replacement of Lenders.  If any Lender requests compensation under Section 3.04, or if the Company is required to pay any additional amount to any Lender or any Governmental Authority for the account of any Lender pursuant to Section 3.01, or if a single Lender has given notice pursuant to Section 3.02 or is unable to determine or provide the Eurodollar Rate, the LIBOR Daily Floating Rate, any Alternative Currency Daily Rate or any Alternative Currency Term Rate under Section 3.03, as applicable (it being agreed that if multiple Lenders have given that notice or are unable to determine or provide the Eurodollar Rate, the LIBOR Daily Floating Rate, any Alternative Currency Daily Rate or any Alternative Currency Term Rate, then the right to replace for that reason shall not apply), or if any Lender is a Defaulting Lender or if any Lender is a Non-Consenting Lender, then the Company may, at its sole expense and effort, upon notice to such Lender (for greater clarity, a Lender whose consent was not obtained, in the case of any proposed amendment, modification, termination, waiver or consent) and the Administrative Agent, require such Lender to assign and delegate, without recourse (in accordance with and subject to the restrictions contained in, and consents required by, Section 10.06), all of its interests, rights and obligations under this Agreement and the related Loan Documents to an assignee that shall assume such obligations (which assignee may be another Lender, if a Lender accepts such assignment), provided that:
(a)the Company shall have paid (or caused a Designated Borrower to pay) to the Administrative Agent the assignment fee specified in Section 10.06(b);
(b)such Lender shall have received payment of an amount equal to 100% of the outstanding principal of its Loans and L/C Advances, accrued interest thereon, accrued fees and all other amounts payable to it hereunder and under the other Loan Documents (including any

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amounts under Sections 3.04 and 3.05) from the assignee (to the extent of such outstanding principal and accrued interest and fees) or the Company (or applicable Designated Borrower) (in the case of all other amounts);
(c)in the case of any such assignment resulting from a claim for compensation under Section 3.04 or payments required to be made pursuant to Section 3.01, such assignment will result in a reduction in such compensation or payments thereafter;
(d)such assignment does not conflict with Applicable Law; and
(e)in the case of an assignment resulting from a Lender becoming a Non-Consenting Lender, the applicable assignee shall have consented to the applicable amendment, waiver or consent.

A Lender shall not be required to make any such assignment or delegation if, prior thereto, as a result of a waiver by such Lender or otherwise, the circumstances entitling the Company to require such assignment and delegation cease to apply for reasons other than that such Lender is not owed any compensation under Section 3.04 because the Company (or applicable Designated Borrower) has paid it, or the Company is no longer required to pay any additional amount to such Lender or any Governmental Authority for the account of such Lender pursuant to Section 3.01 because all such amounts have been paid by the Company (or applicable Designated Borrower).

Each party hereto agrees that (a) an assignment required pursuant to this Section 10.13 may be effected pursuant to an Assignment and Assumption executed by the Company, the Administrative Agent and the assignee and (b) the Lender required to make such assignment need not be a party thereto in order for such assignment to be effective and shall be deemed to have consented to and be bound by the terms thereof; provided that, following the effectiveness of any such assignment, the other parties to such assignment agree to execute and deliver such documents necessary to evidence such assignment as reasonably requested by the applicable Lender, provided, further that any such documents shall be without recourse to or warranty by the parties thereto.

Notwithstanding anything in this Section 10.13 to the contrary, (i) any Lender that acts as an L/C Issuer may not be replaced hereunder at any time it has any Letter of Credit outstanding hereunder unless arrangements reasonably satisfactory to such Lender (including the furnishing of a backstop standby letter of credit in form and substance, and issued by an issuer, reasonably satisfactory to such L/C Issuer or the depositing of cash collateral into a cash collateral account in amounts and pursuant to arrangements reasonably satisfactory to such L/C Issuer) have been made with respect to such outstanding Letter of Credit and (ii) the Lender that acts as the Administrative Agent may not be replaced hereunder except in accordance with the terms of Section 9.06.

10.14Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Etc.
(a)GOVERNING LAW.  THIS AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS AND ANY CLAIMS, CONTROVERSY, DISPUTE OR CAUSE OF ACTION (WHETHER IN CONTRACT OR TORT OR OTHERWISE) BASED UPON, ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT (EXCEPT, AS TO ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT, AS EXPRESSLY SET FORTH THEREIN) AND THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY AND THEREBY

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SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK (INCLUDING SECTION 5-1401 AND SECTION 5-1402 OF THE GENERAL OBLIGATIONS LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK).
(b)SUBMISSION TO JURISDICTION.  THE COMPANY AND EACH OTHER LOAN PARTY IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY AGREES THAT IT WILL NOT COMMENCE ANY ACTION, LITIGATION OR PROCEEDING OF ANY KIND OR DESCRIPTION, WHETHER IN LAW OR EQUITY, WHETHER IN CONTRACT OR IN TORT OR OTHERWISE, AGAINST THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT, ANY LENDER, ANY L/C ISSUER, OR ANY RELATED PARTY OF THE FOREGOING IN ANY WAY RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS RELATING HERETO OR THERETO, IN ANY FORUM OTHER THAN THE COURTS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK SITTING IN NEW YORK COUNTY AND OF THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT OF THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK, AND ANY APPELLATE COURT FROM ANY THEREOF, AND EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY SUBMITS TO THE JURISDICTION OF SUCH COURTS AND AGREES THAT ALL CLAIMS IN RESPECT OF ANY SUCH ACTION, LITIGATION OR PROCEEDING MAY BE HEARD AND DETERMINED IN SUCH NEW YORK STATE COURT OR, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, IN SUCH FEDERAL COURT.  EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO AGREES THAT A FINAL JUDGMENT IN ANY SUCH ACTION, LITIGATION OR PROCEEDING SHALL BE CONCLUSIVE AND MAY BE ENFORCED IN OTHER JURISDICTIONS BY SUIT ON THE JUDGMENT OR IN ANY OTHER MANNER PROVIDED BY LAW.  NOTHING IN THIS AGREEMENT OR IN ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT SHALL AFFECT ANY RIGHT THAT THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT, ANY LENDER OR ANY L/C ISSUER MAY OTHERWISE HAVE TO BRING ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT AGAINST THE COMPANY OR ANY OTHER LOAN PARTY OR ITS PROPERTIES IN THE COURTS OF ANY JURISDICTION.
(c)WAIVER OF VENUE
.  THE COMPANY IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY OBJECTION THAT IT MAY NOW OR HEREAFTER HAVE TO THE LAYING OF VENUE OF ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT IN ANY COURT REFERRED TO IN PARAGRAPH (B) OF THIS SECTION 10.14.  EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, THE DEFENSE OF AN INCONVENIENT FORUM TO THE MAINTENANCE OF SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING IN ANY SUCH COURT.
(d)SERVICE OF PROCESS
.  EACH PARTY HERETO IRREVOCABLY CONSENTS TO SERVICE OF PROCESS IN THE MANNER PROVIDED FOR NOTICES IN SECTION 10.02.  NOTHING IN THIS AGREEMENT WILL AFFECT THE RIGHT OF ANY PARTY HERETO TO SERVE PROCESS IN ANY OTHER MANNER PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW.
10.15Waiver of Jury Trial.  EACH PARTY HERETO HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING DIRECTLY OR

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INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY OR THEREBY (WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT OR ANY OTHER THEORY).  EACH PARTY HERETO (A) CERTIFIES THAT NO REPRESENTATIVE, AGENT OR ATTORNEY OF ANY OTHER PERSON HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PERSON WOULD NOT, IN THE EVENT OF LITIGATION, SEEK TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING WAIVER AND (B) ACKNOWLEDGES THAT IT AND THE OTHER PARTIES HERETO HAVE BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION 10.15.

10.16No Advisory or Fiduciary Responsibility.  In connection with all aspects of each transaction contemplated hereby (including in connection with any amendment, waiver or other modification hereof or of any other Loan Document), the Company acknowledges and agrees, and acknowledges its Affiliates’ understanding, that: (i) (A) the arranging and other services regarding this Agreement provided by the Administrative Agent, the Arrangers and the Lenders are arm’s-length commercial transactions between the Company, each other Loan Party and their respective Affiliates, on the one hand, and the Administrative Agent, the Arrangers and the Lenders on the other hand, (B) each of the Company and the other Loan Parties has consulted its own legal, accounting, regulatory and tax advisors to the extent it has deemed appropriate, and (C) the Company and each other Loan Party is capable of evaluating, and understands and accepts, the terms, risks and conditions of the transactions contemplated hereby and by the other Loan Documents; (ii) (A) the Administrative Agent, the Arranger and each Lender is and has been acting solely as a principal and, except as expressly agreed in writing by the relevant parties, has not been, is not, and will not be acting as an advisor, agent or fiduciary for the Company, any other Loan Party, or any of their respective Affiliates, or any other Person and (B) neither the Administrative Agent, any Arranger nor and Lender has any obligation to the Company, any other Loan Party or any of their respective Affiliates with respect to the transactions contemplated hereby except those obligations expressly set forth herein and in the other Loan Documents; and (iii) the Administrative Agent, the Arrangers and the Lenders and their respective Affiliates may be engaged in a broad range of transactions that involve interests that differ from those of the Company, the other Loan Parties and their respective Affiliates, and neither the Administrative Agent, any Arranger nor any Lender has any obligation to disclose any of such interests to the Company, any other Loan Party or any of their respective Affiliates.  To the fullest extent permitted by Law, the Company and each other Loan Party hereby waives and releases any claims that it may have against the Administrative Agent, any Arranger or any Lender with respect to any breach or alleged breach of agency or fiduciary duty in connection with any aspect of any transaction contemplated hereby.
10.17Electronic Execution; Electronic Records; Counterparts.  This Agreement, any Loan Document and any other Communication, including Communications required to be in writing, may be in the form of an Electronic Record and may be executed using Electronic Signatures.  Each of the Loan Parties and each of the Administrative Agent and each Lender Party agrees that any Electronic Signature on or associated with any Communication shall be valid and binding on such Person to the same extent as a manual, original signature, and that any Communication entered into by Electronic Signature, will constitute the legal, valid and binding obligation of such Person enforceable against such Person in accordance with the terms thereof to the same extent as if a manually executed original signature was delivered.   Any Communication may be executed in as many counterparts as necessary or convenient, including both paper and

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electronic counterparts, but all such counterparts are one and the same Communication.  For the avoidance of doubt, the authorization under this paragraph may include, without limitation, use or acceptance of a manually signed paper Communication which has been converted into electronic form (such as scanned into PDF format), or an electronically signed Communication converted into another format, for transmission, delivery and/or retention. The Administrative Agent, each of the Lender Parties and each of the Loan Parties may, at its option, create one or more copies of any Communication in the form of an imaged Electronic Record (“Electronic Copy”), which shall be deemed created in the ordinary course of such Person’s business, and destroy the original paper document.  All Communications in the form of an Electronic Record, including an Electronic Copy, shall be considered an original for all purposes, and shall have the same legal effect, validity and enforceability as a paper record.  Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, neither the Administrative Agent nor any L/C Issuer is under any obligation to accept an Electronic Signature in any form or in any format unless expressly agreed to by such Person pursuant to procedures approved by it; provided, further, without limiting the foregoing, (a) to the extent the Administrative Agent or any L/C Issuer has agreed to accept such Electronic Signature, the Administrative Agent and each of the Lender Parties shall be entitled to rely on any such Electronic Signature purportedly given by or on behalf of any Loan Party and/or any Lender Party without further verification and (b) upon the request of the Administrative Agent, any Lender Party or any Loan Party, any Electronic Signature shall be promptly followed by such manually executed counterpart.  

Neither the Administrative Agent nor any L/C Issuer shall be responsible for or have any duty to ascertain or inquire into the sufficiency, validity, enforceability, effectiveness or genuineness of any Loan Document or any other agreement, instrument or document in connection with the Administrative Agent’s or the L/C Issuers’ reliance on any Electronic Signature transmitted by telecopy, emailed .pdf or any other electronic means. The Administrative Agent and L/C Issuers shall be entitled to rely on, and shall incur no liability under or in respect of this Agreement or any other Loan Document by acting in good faith upon, any Communication (which writing may be a fax, any electronic message, Internet or intranet website posting or other distribution or signed using an Electronic Signature) or any statement made to it orally or by telephone and believed by it in good faith to be genuine and signed or sent or otherwise authenticated (whether or not such Person in fact meets the requirements set forth in the Loan Documents for being the maker thereof).  

Each of the Loan Parties and each Lender Party hereby waives (i) any argument, defense or right to contest the legal effect, validity or enforceability of this Agreement, any other Loan Document based solely on the lack of paper original copies of this Agreement, such other Loan Document, and (ii) waives any claim against the Administrative Agent, each Lender Party and each Related Party for any liabilities arising solely from the Administrative Agent’s and/or any Lender Party’s reliance on or use of Electronic Signatures, including any liabilities arising as a result of the failure of the Loan Parties to use any available security measures in connection with the execution, delivery or transmission of any Electronic Signature.

10.18USA PATRIOT Act.  Each Lender that is subject to the Patriot Act (as hereinafter defined) and the Administrative Agent (for itself and not on behalf of any Lender) hereby notifies the Borrowers that pursuant to the requirements of the USA PATRIOT Act (Title III of Pub. L. 107-56 (signed into law October 26, 2001)) (the “PATRIOT Act”) and the Beneficial Ownership Regulation, it is required to obtain, verify and record information that identifies the Company and

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the other Loan Parties, which information includes, but is not limited to, the name and address of the Company and each other Loan Party, a Beneficial Ownership Certification, and other information that will allow such Lender or the Administrative Agent, as applicable, to identify the Company and each other Loan Party in accordance with the PATRIOT Act and the Beneficial Ownership Regulation prior to closing this Facility.  The Company and each other Loan Party shall, promptly following a request by the Administrative Agent or any Lender, provide all documentation and other information that the Administrative Agent or such Lender reasonably requests in order to comply with its ongoing obligations under applicable “know your customer” and anti-money laundering rules and regulations, including the PATRIOT Act and the Beneficial Ownership Regulation.

10.19Time of the Essence.  Time is of the essence of the Loan Documents.
10.20ENTIRE AGREEMENT.  THIS AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS REPRESENT THE FINAL AGREEMENT AMONG THE PARTIES AND MAY NOT BE CONTRADICTED BY EVIDENCE OF PRIOR, CONTEMPORANEOUS, OR SUBSEQUENT ORAL AGREEMENTS OF THE PARTIES.  THERE ARE NO UNWRITTEN ORAL AGREEMENTS AMONG THE PARTIES.
10.21Acknowledgement and Consent to Bail-In of Affected Financial Institutions.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in any Loan Document or in any other agreement, arrangement or understanding among any such parties, each party hereto acknowledges that any liability of any Lender or L/C Issuer that is an Affected Financial Institution arising under any Loan Document, to the extent such liability is unsecured, may be subject to the Write-Down and Conversion Powers of the applicable Resolution Authority and agrees and consents to, and acknowledges and agrees to be bound by:
(a)the application of any Write-Down and Conversion Powers by the applicable Resolution Authority to any such liabilities arising hereunder which may be payable to it by any Lender or L/C Issuer that is an Affected Financial Institution; and
(b)the effects of any Bail-In Action on any such liability, including, if applicable:
(i)a reduction in full or in part or cancellation of any such liability;
(ii)a conversion of all, or a portion of, such liability into shares or other instruments of ownership in such Affected Financial Institution, its parent undertaking, or a bridge institution that may be issued to it or otherwise conferred on it, and that such shares or other instruments of ownership will be accepted by it in lieu of any rights with respect to any such liability under this Agreement or any other Loan Document; or
(iii)the variation of the terms of such liability in connection with the exercise of the Write-Down and Conversion Powers of the applicable Resolution Authority.
10.22Amendment and Restatement.  
(a)On the Closing Date, the commitment of each lender that is a party to the Existing Credit Agreement but is not a party to this Agreement (a “Exiting Lender”) will be terminated, all outstanding obligations owing to the Exiting Lenders will be repaid in full and each Exiting Lender

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will cease to be a Lender under the Existing Credit Agreement and will not be a Lender under this Agreement.  As of the Closing Date, the remaining “Lenders” under (and as defined in) the Existing Credit Agreement shall be Lenders under this Agreement with Commitments as set forth on Schedule 2.01A hereto and by its execution and delivery of this Agreement, each such Lender hereby consents to the execution and delivery of this Agreement and to the non-pro rata reduction of commitments occurring on the Closing Date as a result of the termination of the commitments of the Exiting Lenders, and the concurrent repayment in full of all loans and other obligations owing (whether or not due) to the Exiting Lenders.  On the Closing Date, the Existing Credit Agreement shall be amended, restated and superseded in its entirety by this Agreement.  The parties hereto acknowledge and agree that (a) this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, whether executed and delivered in connection herewith or otherwise, do not constitute a novation, payment and reborrowing, or termination of the rights, obligations and liabilities of the respective parties (including the Obligations) existing under the Existing Credit Agreement as in effect prior to the Closing Date and (b) such obligations are in all respects continuing (as amended and restated hereby) with only the terms thereof being modified as provided in this Agreement.  Without limiting the generality of the foregoing (i) all Revolving Credit Loans and Term Loans outstanding under the Existing Credit Agreement shall on the Closing Date become Revolving Credit Loans and Term A-1 Loans, as the case may be, hereunder, (ii) all Existing Letters of Credit shall on the Closing Date become Letters of Credit hereunder and (iii) all other Obligations outstanding under the Existing Credit Agreement shall on the Closing Date be Obligations under this Agreement.  To the extent the Existing Credit Agreement provides that certain terms survive the termination of the Existing Credit Agreement or survive the payment in full of principal, interest and all other amounts payable thereunder, then such terms shall survive the amendment and restatement of the Existing Credit Agreement.
(b)On the Closing Date, the original notes, if any, held by each Lender relating to the Existing Credit Agreement (each, an “Original Note”) shall be deemed to be cancelled and, if such Lender has requested a Revolving Credit Note or a Term A-1 Note hereunder, amended and restated by the Revolving Credit Note or Term A-1 Note, as applicable, delivered hereunder on or about the Closing Date (regardless of whether any Lender shall have delivered to the Company for cancellation the Original Note held by it).  Each Lender, whether or not requesting a Revolving Credit Note or Term A-1 Note hereunder, shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to deliver the Original Notes held by it to the Company for cancellation and/or amendment and restatement.  All amounts owing under, and evidenced by, the Original Notes as of the Closing Date shall continue to be outstanding hereunder, and shall from and after the Closing Date, if requested by the Lender holding such Original Note(s), be evidenced by the Revolving Credit Notes, Term A­-1 Notes and/or Term A-2 Notes, as applicable, and shall in any event be evidenced by, and governed by the terms of, this Agreement.  Each Lender hereby agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Loan Parties from and against any and all liabilities, losses, damages, actions or claims that may be imposed on, incurred by or asserted against any Loan Party arising out of such Lender’s failure to deliver the Original Notes held by it to the Company for cancellation, subject to the condition that the Company shall not make any payment to any Person claiming to be the holder of such Original Notes unless such Lender is first notified of such claim and is given the opportunity, at such Lender’s sole cost and expense, to assert any defenses to such payment.
10.23Special Provisions regarding Permitted Tax Incentive Transactions.  Notwithstanding any provision in this Agreement to the contrary, any Lien created in connection with a Permitted Tax Incentive Transaction solely to secure repayment of a bond, note or other

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obligation owned by the Company or a Subsidiary (or any affiliate thereof) shall be deemed a Permitted Encumbrance.  In furtherance of the foregoing, (i) nothing in the definition of Property shall preclude a Tax Incentive Property under a Permitted Tax Incentive Transaction from constituting Property; (ii) the definition of Subsidiary Owner shall include any Subsidiary that leases Tax Incentive Property pursuant to a Tax Incentive Lease Agreement under a Permitted Tax Incentive Transaction; (iii) the definition of Guarantee Obligation shall exclude any obligation incurred by any Person pursuant to a Tax Incentive Guaranty so long as the Company or a Subsidiary is the holder of the bond, note or other obligation that is guaranteed; (iv) no Tax Incentive Lease Agreement entered into in connection with a Permitted Tax Incentive Transaction shall constitute (or be deemed to constitute) Indebtedness or a Sale-Leaseback Master Lease; (v) the provisions of Section 6.12 and Section 6.13 with respect to any Subsidiary that owns any Unencumbered Property shall also apply to any Subsidiary that leases an Unencumbered Property that is a Tax Incentive Property pursuant to a Tax Incentive Lease Agreement, such that such Subsidiaries shall become Subsidiary Guarantors pursuant to the terms of this Agreement; and (vi) the investment of any Subsidiary in bonds issued in connection with any Permitted Tax Incentive Transaction shall not constitute an Investment.

For the avoidance of doubt, (a) any applicable amounts pursuant to subsections (i) and (ii) of the definition of Net Operating Income related to a third-party lease affecting any Tax Incentive Property shall be included in the calculation of Net Operating Income for such Tax Incentive Property, but interest income of any Subsidiary from bonds issued in connection with any Permitted Tax Incentive Transaction and related rent expense under any Tax Incentive Lease Agreement with respect to the applicable Tax Incentive Property shall be disregarded for purposes of calculating Net Operating Income for such Tax Incentive Property; (b) interest payable by any Subsidiary under Tax Incentive Indebtedness in connection with any Permitted Tax Incentive Transaction (to the extent such Subsidiary is also the owner or holder of the bonds issued in connection with such Permitted Tax Incentive Transaction) shall be excluded from the calculation of Recurring Interest Expense; (c) the calculation of Total Asset Value shall include the Property Value, Property Investment Value, unrestricted cash and Cash Equivalents and any other amounts which would otherwise be included in the calculation of Total Asset Value with respect to any other Property, of any Tax Incentive Property, but the investment of any Subsidiary in bonds issued in connection with any Permitted Tax Incentive Transaction shall be excluded from any calculation of Total Asset Value; (d) the term Indebtedness shall not include any Tax Incentive Indebtedness (including pursuant to an Tax Incentive Guaranty) under any Permitted Tax Incentive Transaction; and (e) no Tax Incentive Indebtedness (including pursuant to a Tax Incentive Lease Agreement or a Tax Incentive Guaranty) shall constitute a “liability” for purposes of determining Consolidated Tangible Net Worth (but other liabilities that are current and payable to a party other than the Company or a Subsidiary in connection with the Tax Incentive Property such as indemnification obligations shall constitute a “liability”).

10.24Judgment Currency.  If, for the purposes of obtaining judgment in any court, it is necessary to convert a sum due hereunder or any other Loan Document in one currency into another currency, the rate of exchange used shall be that at which in accordance with normal banking procedures the Administrative Agent could purchase the first currency with such other currency on the Business Day preceding that on which final judgment is given. The obligation of each Loan Party in respect of any such sum due from it to the Administrative Agent or any Lender hereunder or under the other Loan Documents shall, notwithstanding any judgment in a currency (the “Judgment Currency”) other than that in which such sum is denominated in accordance with

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the applicable provisions of this Agreement (the “Agreement Currency”), be discharged only to the extent that on the Business Day following receipt by the Administrative Agent or such Lender, as the case may be, of any sum adjudged to be so due in the Judgment Currency, the Administrative Agent or such Lender, as the case may be, may in accordance with normal banking procedures purchase the Agreement Currency with the Judgment Currency. If the amount of the Agreement Currency so purchased is less than the sum originally due to the Administrative Agent or any Lender from any Loan Party in the Agreement Currency, such Loan Party agrees, as a separate obligation and notwithstanding any such judgment, to indemnify the Administrative Agent or such Lender, as the case may be, against such loss. If the amount of the Agreement Currency so purchased is greater than the sum originally due to the Administrative Agent or any Lender in such currency, the Administrative Agent or such Lender, as the case may be, agrees to return the amount of any excess to such Loan Party (or to any other Person who may be entitled thereto under Applicable Law).

10.25Acknowledgement Regarding Any Supported QFCs.  To the extent that the Loan Documents provide support, through a guarantee or otherwise, for any Swap Contract or any other agreement or instrument that is a QFC (such support, “QFC Credit Support”, and each such QFC, a “Supported QFC”), the parties acknowledge and agree as follows with respect to the resolution power of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation under the Federal Deposit Insurance Act and Title II of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (together with the regulations promulgated thereunder, the “U.S. Special Resolution Regimes”) in respect of such Supported QFC and QFC Credit Support (with the provisions below applicable notwithstanding that the Loan Documents and any Supported QFC may in fact be stated to be governed by the laws of the State of New York and/or of the United States or any other state of the United States).
(a)In the event a Covered Entity that is party to a Supported QFC (each, a “Covered Party”) becomes subject to a proceeding under a U.S. Special Resolution Regime, the transfer of such Supported QFC and the benefit of such QFC Credit Support (and any interest and obligation in or under such Supported QFC and such QFC Credit Support, and any rights in property securing such Supported QFC or such QFC Credit Support) from such Covered Party will be effective to the same extent as the transfer would be effective under the U.S. Special Resolution Regime if the Supported QFC and such QFC Credit Support (and any such interest, obligation and rights in property) were governed by the laws of the United States or a state of the United States. In the event a Covered Party or a BHC Act Affiliate of a Covered Party becomes subject to a proceeding under a U.S. Special Resolution Regime, Default Rights under the Loan Documents that might otherwise apply to such Supported QFC or any QFC Credit Support that may be exercised against such Covered Party are permitted to be exercised to no greater extent than such Default Rights could be exercised under the U.S. Special Resolution Regime if the Supported QFC and the Loan Documents were governed by the laws of the United States or a state of the United States. Without limitation of the foregoing, it is understood and agreed that rights and remedies of the parties with respect to a Defaulting Lender shall in no event affect the rights of any Covered Party with respect to a Supported QFC or any QFC Credit Support.  
(b)As used in this Section 10.25, the following terms have the following meanings:

BHC Act Affiliate” of a party means an “affiliate” (as such term is defined under, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 U.S.C. 1841(k)) of such party.

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Covered Entity” means any of the following:  (i) a “covered entity” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 252.82(b); (ii) a “covered bank” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 47.3(b); or (iii) a “covered FSI” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 382.2(b).

Default Right” has the meaning assigned to that term in, and shall be interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. §§ 252.81, 47.2 or 382.1, as applicable.

QFC” has the meaning assigned to the term “qualified financial contract” in, and shall be interpreted in accordance with, 12 U.S.C. 5390(c)(8)(D).

ARTICLE XI. CONTINUING GUARANTY
11.01Guaranty. The Company and each Designated Borrower that is a Domestic Subsidiary (the “Borrower Guarantors”), jointly and severally with the other Guarantors, hereby absolutely and unconditionally guarantees, as a guaranty of payment and performance and not merely as a guaranty of collection, prompt payment when due, whether at stated maturity, by required prepayment, upon acceleration, demand or otherwise, and at all times thereafter, of any and all of the Obligations, whether for principal, interest, premiums, fees, indemnities, damages, costs, expenses or otherwise, of the Borrowers to the Creditor Parties, and whether arising hereunder or under any other Loan Document (including all renewals, extensions, amendments and other modifications thereof and all costs, attorneys’ fees and expenses payable to the Creditor Parties pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, including Section 10.04(a), or any other Loan Document); provided that the liability of each Borrower Guarantor that is a Designated Borrower individually with respect to this Borrower Guaranty shall be limited to an aggregate amount equal to the largest amount that would not render its obligations hereunder subject to avoidance under Section 548 of the Bankruptcy Code of the United States or any comparable provisions of any applicable state law.  Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Obligations shall include any such indebtedness, obligations, and liabilities, or portion thereof, which may be or hereafter become unenforceable or compromised or shall be an allowed or disallowed claim under any proceeding or case commenced by or against any Borrower under any Debtor Relief Laws.  The Administrative Agent’s books and records showing the amount of the Obligations shall be admissible in evidence in any action or proceeding, and shall be binding upon the Borrower Guarantors, and conclusive for the purpose of establishing the amount of the Obligations.  This Borrower Guaranty shall not be affected by the genuineness, validity, regularity or enforceability of the Obligations or any instrument or agreement evidencing any Obligations, or by the existence, validity, enforceability, perfection, non-perfection or extent of any collateral therefor, or by any fact or circumstance relating to the Obligations which might otherwise constitute a defense to the obligations of any Borrower Guarantor under this Borrower Guaranty, and each Borrower Guarantor hereby irrevocably waives any defenses it may now have or hereafter acquire in any way relating to any or all of the foregoing, other than the defense of payment in full of the Obligations.
11.02Rights of Lenders.  Each Borrower Guarantor consents and agrees that the Creditor Parties may, at any time and from time to time, without notice or demand, and without affecting the enforceability or continuing effectiveness hereof:  (a) amend, extend, renew, compromise, discharge, accelerate or otherwise change the time for payment or the terms of the Obligations or any part thereof; (b) take, hold, exchange, enforce, waive, release, fail to perfect, sell, or otherwise

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dispose of any security for the payment of any Guaranty or any Obligations; (c) apply such security and direct the order or manner of sale thereof as the Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuers and the Lenders in their sole discretion may determine; and (d) release or substitute one or more of any endorsers or other guarantors of any of the Obligations.  Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, each Borrower Guarantor consents to the taking of, or failure to take, any action which might in any manner or to any extent vary the risks of the Borrower Guarantors under this Borrower Guaranty or which, but for this provision, might operate as a discharge of one or more of the Borrower Guarantor.

11.03Certain Waivers.  Each Borrower Guarantor waives (a) any defense arising by reason of any disability or other defense of any other Borrower, any other Loan Party or any other guarantor, or the cessation from any cause whatsoever (including any act or omission of any Creditor Party other than bad faith, gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Credit Party) of the liability of any Borrower; (b) any defense based on any claim that any such Borrower Guarantor’s obligations exceed or are more burdensome than those of any Borrower; (c) the benefit of any statute of limitations affecting such Borrower Guarantor’s liability hereunder; (d) any right to proceed against any Borrower or any other Loan Party, proceed against or exhaust any security for the Obligations, or pursue any other remedy in the power of any Creditor Party whatsoever until all of the Obligations and any amounts payable under this Borrower Guaranty have been paid and performed in full and the Commitments and the Facilities are terminated; (e) any benefit of and any right to participate in any security now or hereafter held by any Creditor Party until all of the Obligations and any amounts payable under this Borrower Guaranty have been paid and performed in full and the Commitments and the Facilities are terminated; and (f) to the fullest extent permitted by law, any and all other defenses or benefits that may be derived from or afforded by Applicable Law limiting the liability of or exonerating guarantors or sureties, other than the defense of payment in full of the Obligations.  Each Borrower Guarantor expressly waives all setoffs and counterclaims and all presentments, demands for payment or performance, notices of nonpayment or nonperformance, protests, notices of protest, notices of dishonor and all other notices or demands of any kind or nature whatsoever with respect to the Obligations, and all notices of acceptance of this Borrower Guaranty or of the existence, creation or incurrence of new or additional Obligations.
11.04Obligations Independent.  The obligations of each Borrower Guarantor hereunder are those of primary obligor, and not merely as surety, and are independent of the Obligations and the obligations of any other guarantor, and a separate action may be brought against any Borrower Guarantor to enforce this Borrower Guaranty whether or not any Borrower or any other Person or entity is joined as a party.  For the avoidance of doubt, all obligations of each Borrower Guarantor under this Borrower Guaranty are joint and several obligations of all the Borrower Guarantors.
11.05Subrogation.  No Borrower Guarantor shall exercise any right of subrogation, contribution, indemnity, reimbursement or similar rights with respect to any payments it makes under this Borrower Guaranty until all of the Obligations and any amounts payable under this Borrower Guaranty have been paid and performed in full and the Commitments and the Facilities are terminated.  If any amounts are paid to any Borrower Guarantor in violation of the foregoing limitation, then such amounts shall be held in trust for the benefit of the Creditor Parties and shall forthwith be paid to the Creditor Parties to reduce the amount of the Obligations, whether matured or unmatured.

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11.06Termination; Reinstatement.  This Borrower Guaranty is a continuing, absolute, unconditional and irrevocable guaranty of all Obligations now or hereafter existing and shall remain in full force and effect until all Obligations and any other amounts payable under this Borrower Guaranty are paid in full in cash and the Commitments and the Facilities with respect to the Obligations are terminated.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Borrower Guaranty shall continue in full force and effect or be revived, as the case may be, if any payment by or on behalf of any Borrower or any Guarantor is made, or any of the Creditor Parties exercises its right of setoff, in respect of the Obligations and such payment or the proceeds of such setoff or any part thereof is subsequently invalidated, declared to be fraudulent or preferential, set aside or required to be repaid to a trustee, receiver or any other party, in connection with any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Laws or otherwise, all as if such payment had not been made or such setoff had not occurred and whether or not the Creditor Parties are in possession of or have released this Borrower Guaranty and regardless of any prior revocation, rescission, termination or reduction.  The obligations of the Borrower Guarantors under this Section 11.06 shall survive termination of this Borrower Guaranty.
11.07Subordination.  Each Borrower Guarantor hereby subordinates the payment of all obligations and indebtedness of any other Borrower owing to such Borrower Guarantor, whether now existing or hereafter arising, including but not limited to any obligation of any Borrower to such Borrower Guarantor as subrogee of the Creditor Parties or resulting from such Borrower Guarantor’s performance under this Borrower Guaranty, to the payment in full in cash of all Obligations. No Borrower Guarantor will seek, accept, or retain for its own account any payment from any other Borrower on account of such subordinated debt from any other Borrower at any time when a Default exists, and any such payments to a Borrower Guarantor made while any Default then exists on account of such subordinated debt shall be collected and received by such Borrower Guarantor as trustee for the Creditor Parties and the proceeds thereof shall be paid over to the Creditor Parties on account of the Obligations, but without reducing or affecting in any manner the liability of any Borrower Guarantor under this Borrower Guaranty.
11.08Stay of Acceleration.  If acceleration of the time for payment of any of the Obligations is stayed, in connection with any case commenced by or against any Borrower Guarantor or any other Loan Party under any Debtor Relief Laws, or otherwise, all such amounts shall nonetheless be payable by the Borrower Guarantors immediately upon demand by the Creditor Parties.
11.09Condition of Loan Parties.  Each Borrower Guarantor acknowledges and agrees that it has the sole responsibility for, and has adequate means of, obtaining from the Loan Parties and any other guarantor such information concerning the financial condition, business and operations of the Loan Parties and any such other guarantor as such Borrower Guarantor requires, and that none of the Creditor Parties has any duty, and no Borrower Guarantor is relying on the Creditor Parties at any time, to disclose to such Borrower Guarantor any information relating to the business, operations or financial condition of any Loan Party or any other guarantor (such Borrower Guarantor waiving any duty on the part of the Creditor Parties to disclose such information and any defense relating to the failure to provide the same).
11.10Contribution.  At any time a payment in respect of the Obligations is made under this Borrower Guaranty, the right of contribution of each Borrower Guarantor against each other Borrower Guarantor shall be determined as provided in the immediately following sentence, with

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the right of contribution of each Borrower Guarantor to be revised and restated as of each date on which a payment (a “Relevant Payment”) is made on the Obligations under this Borrower Guaranty.  At any time that a Relevant Payment is made by a Borrower Guarantor that results in the aggregate payments made by such Borrower Guarantor in respect of the Obligations to and including the date of the Relevant Payment exceeding such Borrower Guarantor’s Contribution Percentage (as defined below) of the aggregate payments made by all Borrower Guarantors in respect of the Obligations to and including the date of the Relevant Payment (such excess, the “Aggregate Excess Amount”), each such Borrower Guarantor shall have a right of contribution against each other Borrower Guarantor who either has not made any payments or has made payments in respect of the Obligations to and including the date of the Relevant Payment in an aggregate amount less than such other Borrower Guarantor’s Contribution Percentage of the aggregate payments made to and including the date of the Relevant Payment by all Borrower Guarantors in respect of the Obligations (the aggregate amount of such deficit, the “Aggregate Deficit Amount”) in an amount equal to (x) a fraction the numerator of which is the Aggregate Excess Amount of such Borrower Guarantor and the denominator of which is the Aggregate Excess Amount of all Borrower Guarantors multiplied by (y) the Aggregate Deficit Amount of such other Borrower Guarantor.  A Borrower Guarantor’s right of contribution pursuant to the preceding sentences shall arise at the time of each computation, subject to adjustment at the time of each computation; provided, that no Borrower Guarantor may take any action to enforce such right until after all Obligations and any other amounts payable under this Borrower Guaranty are paid in full in cash and the Commitments are terminated, it being expressly recognized and agreed by all parties hereto that any Borrower Guarantor’s right of contribution arising pursuant to this Section 11.10 against any other Borrower Guarantor shall be expressly junior and subordinate to such other Borrower Guarantor’s obligations and liabilities in respect of the Obligations and any other obligations owing under this Borrower Guaranty.  As used in this Section 11.10, (i) each Borrower Guarantor’s “Contribution Percentage” shall mean the percentage obtained by dividing (x) the Adjusted Net Worth (as defined below) of such Borrower Guarantor by (y) the aggregate Adjusted Net Worth of all Borrower Guarantors; (ii) the “Adjusted Net Worth” of each Borrower Guarantor shall mean the greater of (x) the Net Worth (as defined below) of such Borrower Guarantor and (y) zero; and (iii) the “Net Worth” of each Borrower Guarantor shall mean the amount by which the fair saleable value of such Borrower Guarantor’s assets on the date of any Relevant Payment exceeds its existing debts and other liabilities (including contingent liabilities, but without giving effect to any Obligations arising under this Borrower Guaranty) on such date.  Each of the Borrower Guarantors recognizes and acknowledges that the rights to contribution arising hereunder shall constitute an asset in favor of the party entitled to such contribution.  In this connection, each Borrower Guarantor has the right to waive its contribution right against any Borrower Guarantor to the extent that after giving effect to such waiver such Borrower Guarantor would remain Solvent.

[Remainder of Page Intentionally Left Blank]

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be duly executed as of the date first above written.

BLACK CREEK DIVERSIFIED PROPERTY OPERATING PARTNERSHIP LP,

a Delaware limited partnership

By:

Black Creek Diversified Property Fund Inc.,

a Maryland corporation, its general partner

By:

/s/ Lainie P. Minnick

Name:

Lainie P. Minnick

Title:

Managing Director, Chief Financial Officer & Treasurer

S-1


BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., as Administrative Agent

By:

/s/ Taelitha Bonds-Harris

Name:

Taelitha Bonds-Harris

Title:

Assistant Vice President

S-2


BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., as a Lender and L/C Issuer

By:

/s/ Kyle Pearson

Name:

Kyle Pearson

Title:

Vice President

S-3


C

CAPITAL ONE, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as a Lender and L/C Issuer

By:

/s/ Melissa DeVito

Name:

Melissa DeVito

Title:

Authorized Signor

S-4


JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., as a Lender and L/C Issuer

By:

/s/ Ryan Dempsey

Name:

Ryan Dempsey

Title:

Authorized Officer

S-5


WELLS FARGO BANK, N.A., as a Lender and L/C Issuer

By:

/s/ Craig V. Koshkarian

Name:

Craig V. Koshkarian

Title:

Director

S-6


REGIONS BANK, as a Lender

By:

/s/ Ghil S. Gavin

Name:

Ghil S. Gavin

Title:

Senior Vice President

S-7


TRUST BANK, as a Lender

By:

/s/ Doug Sears

Name:

Doug Sears

Title:

Director

S-8


PNC BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as a Lender

By:

/s/ James A. Harmann

Name:

James A. Harmann

Title:

Senior Vice President

S-9


U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as a Lender

By:

/s/ Travis H. Myers

Name:

Travis H. Myers

Title:

Vice President

S-10


GOLDMAN SACHS BANK USA, as a Lender

By:

/s/ Rebecca Kratz

Name:

Rebecca Kratz

Title:

Authorized Signatory

S-11


PINNACLE BANK, as a Lender

By:

/s/ J. Patrick Daugherty

Name:

J. Patrick Daugherty

Title:

Senior Vice President

S-12


SYNOVUS BANK, as a Lender

By:

/s/ Robert Haley

Name:

Robert Haley

Title:

Corporate Banking Officer

S-13


ASSOCIATED BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as a Lender

By:

/s/ Mitchell Vega

Name:

Mitchell Vega

Title:

Senior Vice President

S-14


ZIONS BANCORPORATION, N.A. dba Vectra Bank Colorado, as a Lender

By:

/s/ H. Shaw Thomas

Name:

H. Shaw Thomas

Title:

Senior Vice President

S-15


Exhibit 23.1

Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

The Board of Directors

Ares Real Estate Income Trust Inc.:

 

We consent to the incorporation by reference in the registration statement (No. 333-252212) on Form S-11 of Ares Real Estate Income Trust Inc. (formerly known as Black Creek Diversified Property Fund Inc.) of our report dated March 5, 2021, with respect to the consolidated financial statements of Ares Real Estate Income Trust Inc., incorporated herein by reference and to the reference to our firm under the heading “Experts” in the prospectus.

 

/s/ KPMG LLP

 

Denver, Colorado 

January 11, 2022


Exhibit 99.1

CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT VALUATION FIRM

We hereby consent to the reference to our name and the description of our role in the valuation process described under the headings “Net Asset Value Calculation and Valuation Procedures—Valuation Policy—Independent Valuation Advisor,” “Net Asset Value Calculation and Valuation Procedures—Our Current NAV Calculations” and “Experts” being included in the Registration Statement on Form S-11 of Ares Real Estate Income Trust Inc. and the prospectus included herein.

In giving such consent, we do not thereby admit that we are in the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act of 1933.

/s/ Altus Group U.S. Inc.

     Altus Group U.S. Inc.

January 11, 2022