UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

Form 8-K

 

Current Report

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

 

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): October 29, 2019

 

SmartStop Self Storage REIT, Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Maryland

(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)

000-55617

(Commission File Number)

46-1722812

(IRS Employer Identification No.)

 

10 Terrace Road, Ladera Ranch, California 92694

(Address of principal executive offices, including zip code)

 

(877) 327-3485

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

 

Not Applicable

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

 

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

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

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

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

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

 

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act: None.

 

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

Emerging growth company

 

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

 

 

 


Item 1.01.Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.

Series A Preferred Stock Purchase Agreement

On October 29, 2019 (the “Commitment Date”), SmartStop Self Storage REIT, Inc. (the “Company”) entered into a preferred stock purchase agreement (the “Purchase Agreement”) with Extra Space Storage LP (the “Investor”), a subsidiary of Extra Space Storage Inc. (NYSE: EXR), pursuant to which the Investor committed to purchase up to $200 million in shares (the aggregate shares to be purchased, the “Shares”) of the Company’s new Series A Convertible Preferred Stock (the “Series A Preferred Stock”), in one or more closings (each, a “Closing,” and collectively, the “Closings”). The initial closing (the “Initial Closing”) in the amount of $150 million occurred on the Commitment Date. The Investor has committed to purchase up to an additional $50 million, at the Company’s option, within 12 months following the Initial Closing, subject to certain limitations. The Company will pay the Investor a fee of 0.25% per annum on the remaining commitment amount until drawn, or the 12-month anniversary of the Initial Closing.

The Purchase Agreement provides that the purchase price for the Shares shall be equal to $1,000 per share (the “Purchase Price”). The terms of the Series A Preferred Stock, including the payment of dividends, liquidation preference, redemption rights, conversion rights, and negative covenants, are set forth in the articles supplementary for the Series A Preferred Stock (the “Articles Supplementary”), which are described in more detail below under the heading “Terms of the Series A Convertible Preferred Stock.”

The Company intends to use the net proceeds from the Closings to payoff indebtedness, to finance self storage acquisition, development, and improvement pipelines, and for working capital or other general corporate purposes. 

The foregoing summary of the material terms of the Purchase Agreement is qualified in its entirety by references to the Purchase Agreement, which is attached hereto as Exhibit 10.1 and is incorporated herein by reference.

Terms of the Series A Convertible Preferred Stock

As set forth in the Articles Supplementary, the shares of Series A Preferred Stock rank senior to all other shares of the Company’s capital stock, including the Common Stock of the Company (the “Common Stock”), with respect to rights to receive dividends and to participate in distributions or payments upon any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company. Dividends payable on each share of Series A Preferred Stock will initially be equal to a rate of 6.25% per annum. If the Series A Preferred Stock has not been redeemed on or prior to the fifth anniversary date of the Initial Closing, the dividend rate will increase an additional 0.75% per annum each year thereafter to a maximum of 9.0% per annum until the tenth anniversary of the Initial Closing, at which time the dividend rate shall increase 0.75% per annum each year thereafter until the Series A Preferred Stock is redeemed or repurchased in full.

Upon any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company, the holders of Series A Preferred Stock will be entitled to receive a payment equal to the greater of (i) aggregate Purchase Price of all outstanding Shares, plus any accrued and unpaid dividends (the “Liquidation Amount”) and (ii) the amount that that would have been payable had the Shares been converted into Common Stock pursuant to the terms of the Purchase Agreement immediately prior to such liquidation.

Subject to certain additional redemption rights, as described herein, the Company has the right to redeem the Series A Preferred Stock for cash at any time following the fifth anniversary of the Initial Closing. The amount of such redemption will be equal to the Liquidation Amount. Upon the listing of Common Stock on a national securities exchange (the “Listing”), the Company has the right to redeem any or all outstanding Series A Preferred Stock at an amount equal to the greater of (i) the amount that would have been payable had such Shares been converted into Common Stock pursuant to the terms of the Purchase Agreement immediately prior to the Listing, and then all of such Shares were sold in the Listing, or (ii) the Liquidation Amount, plus a premium amount, as set forth in the Articles Supplementary. Upon a change of control event, the Company has the right to redeem any or all outstanding Series A Preferred Stock at an amount equal to the greater of (i) the amount that would have been payable had the Shares been converted into Common Stock pursuant to the terms of the Purchase Agreement immediately prior to such change of control or (ii) the Liquidation Amount, plus a premium amount, as set forth in the Articles Supplementary. In addition, subject to certain cure provisions, if the Company fails to maintain its status


 

as a real estate investment trust, the holders of Series A Preferred Stock have the right to require the Company to repurchase the Series A Preferred Stock at an amount equal to the Liquidation Amount.

At any time after the earlier to occur of (i) the second anniversary of the Initial Closing or (ii) 180 days after a Listing, the holders of Series A Preferred Stock have the right to convert any or all of the Series A Preferred Stock held by such holders into Common Stock at a rate per share equal to the quotient obtained by dividing the Liquidation Amount by the Conversion Price. The Conversion Price is $10.66, as may be adjusted in connection with stock splits, stock dividends and other similar transactions.

The holders of Series A Preferred Stock are not entitled to vote on any matter submitted to a vote of the stockholders of the Company, except that in the event that the dividend for the Series A Preferred Stock has not been paid for at least four quarters (whether or not consecutive), the holders of Series A Preferred Stock have the right to vote together with the stockholders of the Company on any matter submitted to a vote of the stockholders of the Company, upon which the holders of the Series A Preferred Stock and holders of Common Stock shall vote together as a single class. The number of votes applicable to a share of Series A Preferred Stock will be equal to the number of shares of Common Stock a share of Series A Preferred Stock could have been converted into as of the record date set for purposes of such stockholder vote. This foregoing limited voting right shall cease when all past dividend periods have been paid in full. In addition, the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock is required in certain customary circumstances, as well as other circumstances, such as (i) the Company’s real estate portfolio exceeding a leverage ratio of 60% loan-to-value, (ii) entering into certain transactions with the Executive Chairman of the Company as of the Commitment Date, or his affiliates, (iii) effecting a merger (or similar) transaction with an entity whose assets are not at least 80% self storage related and (iv) entering into any line of business other than self storage and ancillary businesses, unless such ancillary business represents revenues of less than 10% of the Company’s revenues for its last fiscal year.

The foregoing description of the Articles Supplementary is a summary and is qualified in its entirety by the terms of the Articles Supplementary filed with the Maryland State Department of Assessments and Taxation, which are attached hereto as Exhibit 3.1 and are incorporated herein by reference.

Amendment No. 1 to the Third Amended and Restated Limited Partnership Agreement of SmartStop OP, L.P.

Concurrent with its entry into the Purchase Agreement, the Company entered into Amendment No. 1 to the Third Amended and Restated Limited Partnership Agreement of SmartStop OP, L.P., the Company’s operating partnership (the “OP Agreement Amendment”), which amended the Third Amended and Restated Limited Partnership Agreement of SmartStop OP, L.P. (the “Operating Partnership Agreement”) to create Series A Convertible Preferred Units having economic terms and designations, powers, preferences, rights and restrictions that are substantially similar to the Series A Preferred Stock.

The foregoing summary of the OP Agreement Amendment is qualified in its entirety by reference to the OP Agreement Amendment, which is attached hereto as Exhibit 10.2 and is incorporated herein by reference.

Investors’ Rights Agreement

Concurrent with its entry into the Purchase Agreement, the Company and the Investor entered into an investors’ rights agreement (the “Investors’ Rights Agreement”). Pursuant to the Investors’ Rights Agreement, the Investor has the right to request the Company to register for resale under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, shares of the Company’s Class A Common Stock, or other class of Common Stock approved for listing on a national securities exchange, issued to the Investor upon conversion of the Shares acquired pursuant to the Purchase Agreement, subject to certain limitations. After the first anniversary of the Initial Closing, the Investor may request up to four demand registrations for an amount of shares equal to at least $20 million each. The Company will use its reasonable best efforts to (i) file a registration statement on Form S-3 within 30 days of such request (or a registration statement on Form S-11 or such other appropriate form within 60 days of such request) and (ii) cause such registration statement to become effective as promptly as practicable thereafter. The Investors’ Rights Agreement also grants the Investor certain “piggyback” registration rights.

The foregoing summary of the material terms of the Investors’ Rights Agreement is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Investors’ Rights Agreement, which is attached hereto as Exhibit 10.3 and is incorporated herein by reference.

 


 

Item 3.02.Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities.

The disclosure set forth in Item 1.01 above, under the heading “Series A Preferred Stock Purchase Agreement,” is incorporated herein by reference. This offering is not registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”) and is being made pursuant to the exemption provided by Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act and certain rules and regulations promulgated thereunder. The Shares may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from registration requirements.

Item 3.03.Material Modifications of Rights of Security Holders

The disclosure set forth in Item 1.01 above under various headings, with respect to the Articles Supplementary and the terms of the Series A Preferred Stock, is incorporated herein by reference. The descriptions of the Articles Supplementary and the Series A Preferred Stock are qualified in their entirety by reference to the Articles Supplementary, which are attached hereto as Exhibit 3.1 and are incorporated herein by reference.

Item 5.03.Amendments to Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws; Changes in Fiscal Year

The disclosure set forth in Item 1.01 above under various headings, with respect to the Articles Supplementary and the terms of the Series A Preferred Stock, is incorporated herein by reference. On October 29, 2019, the Company filed the Articles Supplementary with the Maryland State Department of Assessments and Taxation setting forth the rights and preferences of the Series A Preferred Stock. The descriptions of the Articles Supplementary and the Series A Preferred Stock are qualified in their entirety by reference to the Articles Supplementary, which are attached hereto as Exhibit 3.1 and are incorporated herein by reference.

Item 9.01.Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d)Exhibits.

 

3.1

Articles Supplementary for Series A Convertible Preferred Stock

 

10.1

Preferred Stock Purchase Agreement, dated as of October 29, 2019, by and between SmartStop Self Storage REIT, Inc. and Extra Space Storage LP

 

10.2

Amendment No. 1 to Third Amended and Restated Limited Partnership Agreement of SmartStop OP, L.P.

 

10.3

Investors’ Rights Agreement, dated as of October 29, 2019, by and between SmartStop Self Storage REIT, Inc. and Extra Space Storage LP


 


 

SIGNATURE

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

 

 

 

 

 

SMARTSTOP SELF STORAGE REIT, Inc.

Date:  October 30, 2019

By:

 

/s/ James Barry

 

 

 

 

 

James Barry

 

 

 

 

 

Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer

 

 

Exhibit 10.1

Execution Version

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PREFERRED STOCK PURCHASE AGREEMENT

dated as of October 29, 2019

by and between

SmartStop Self Storage REIT, Inc.

and

Extra Space Storage LP

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

i

 


 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

Page

ARTICLE I

PURCHASE; CLOSING

1.1   Sale and Purchase

1

1.2   Sale and Purchase at the Drawdown Closing

1

1.3   Closing

2

1.4   Initial Closing Conditions

3

1.5   Drawdown Closing Conditions

5

1.6   Undrawn Commitment Fee

6

ARTICLE II

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

2.1   Representations and Warranties of the Company

7

2.2   Representations and Warranties of the Purchaser

18

ARTICLE III

COVENANTS

3.1   Corporate Actions

19

3.2   State Securities Laws

20

3.3   Negative Covenants

20

3.4   Certain REIT Matters.

21

ARTICLE IV

ADDITIONAL AGREEMENTS

4.1   Transfers

22

4.2   Use of Proceeds

23

4.3   Legend

23

4.4   Certain Tax Matters

24

ARTICLE V

MISCELLANEOUS

5.1   Survival

24

5.2   Expenses

25

5.3   Amendment; Waiver

25

5.4   Counterparts

25

5.5   Governing Law

25

5.6   WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL

25

i


 

5.7   Notices

25

5.8   Entire Agreement

26

5.9   Assignment

26

5.10  Interpretation; Other Definitions

26

5.11  Captions

29

5.12  Severability

29

5.13  No Third Party Beneficiaries

30

5.14  Public Announcements

30

5.15  Indemnification

30

5.16  Remedies

32

5.17  Termination

32

5.18  Effects of Termination

33

 

 

LIST OF EXHIBITS

Exhibit A:

Form of Articles Supplementary for Series A Convertible Preferred Stock

Exhibit B:

Form of Investors’ Rights Agreement

Exhibit C-1:

Form of Opinion of Company’s Counsel

Exhibit C-2:

Form of Opinion of Company’s Maryland Counsel

Exhibit D:

List of Material Company Subsidiaries

 

 


 

ii


 

INDEX OF DEFINED TERMS

Term

Location of
Definition

Affiliate

5.10(f)

Aggregate Purchase Price

5.10(g)

Agreement

Preamble

Articles Supplementary

5.10(h)

Board of Directors

2.1(c)(1)

business day

5.10(d)

Bylaws

2.1(a)(1)

Class A Common Stock

Recitals

Class T Common Stock

2.1(b)(1)

Commitment Fee

1.6

Common Stock

5.10(i)

Company

Preamble

Company Indemnitees

5.15(b)

Company Material Adverse Effect

5.10(j)

Company Plan

5.10(k)

Company Stock Awards

2.1(b)(1)

Company Subsidiary

2.1(a)(2)

Drawdown Closing

1.3(b)(1)

Drawdown Closing Date

1.3(b)(1)

Drawdown Notice

1.2

Drawdown Shares

1.2

Effect

5.10(l)

Environmental Laws

5.10(m)

ERISA

5.10(n)

ERISA Affiliate

5.10(o)

Exchange Act

2.1

Fundamental Representations

5.1

GAAP

2.1(f)(4)

Governmental Entity

2.1(c)(3)

Indemnifying Party

5.15(c)

Indemnified Parties

5.15(c)

Initial Closing

1.3(a)(1)

Initial Closing Date

1.3(a)(1)

Initial Closing Shares

1.1

Knowledge of the Company

5.10(p)

Law

5.10(q)

Lien

5.10(r)

Maximum Commitment Amount

1.2

OFAC

2.1(t)

Operating Partnership

2.1(a)(2)

Operating Partnership Amendment

3.1(c)

Ownership Limit Exemption Agreement

1.4(a)(10)

iii


 

Term

Location of
Definition

Partnership Agreement

2.1(a)(3)

person

5.10(e)

Permit

5.10(s)

Permitted Transferee

5.10(t)

Preferred Stock

2.1(b)(1)

Properties

5.10(u)

Purchased Shares

1.1

Purchase Price

1.1

Purchaser

5.10(v)

Purchaser Indemnitees

5.15(a)

REIT

2.1(k)(3)

Sanctions

2.1(t)

SDAT

1.4(a)(6)

SEC

2.1(f)(1)

SEC Documents

2.1(f)(1)

Series A Preferred Stock

Recitals

Subsidiary

2.1(a)(2)

Tax

5.10(w)

Tax Return

5.10(x)

TRS

3.4(c)

Transaction Documents

5.10(y)

Voting Debt

2.1(b)(2)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

iv


 

PREFERRED STOCK PURCHASE AGREEMENT, dated as of October 29, 2019 (this “Agreement”), by and between SmartStop Self Storage REIT, Inc., a Maryland corporation (the “Company”), and Extra Space Storage LP, a Delaware limited partnership (the “Purchaser”).

RECITALS:

WHEREAS, the Company desires to issue and sell to the Purchaser, and the Purchaser desires to purchase from the Company, shares of the Company’s preferred stock, par value $0.001 per share, designated as “Series A Convertible Preferred Stock” (the “Series A Preferred Stock”), having the rights, restrictions, privileges and preferences set forth in the Articles Supplementary in the form attached to this Agreement as Exhibit A, subject to the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement.

WHEREAS, the Series A Preferred Stock will be convertible into shares of Class A Common Stock, par value $0.001 per share, of the Company (the “Class A Common Stock”).

WHEREAS, in connection with the issuance of the Series A Preferred Stock to the Purchaser, the Company and the Purchaser will enter into an Investors’ Rights Agreement (the “Investors’ Rights Agreement”), to be dated as of the Initial Closing Date, in the form attached to this Agreement as Exhibit B.

WHEREAS, capitalized terms used in this Agreement have the meanings set forth in Section 5.10 or such other Section indicated in the preceding Index of Defined Terms.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises, and of the representations, warranties, covenants and agreements set forth herein, the parties agree as follows:

ARTICLE I

PURCHASE; CLOSING

1.1   Sale and Purchase at the Initial Closing. On the terms and subject to the conditions herein, on the Initial Closing Date, the Company agrees to sell to the Purchaser, and the Purchaser agrees to purchase from the Company, 150,000 shares of Series A Preferred Stock (the “Initial Closing Shares”), at a purchase price of $1,000 per share of Series A Preferred Stock (the “Purchase Price”).  The shares of Series A Preferred Stock issued to the Purchaser pursuant to this Agreement (including the Initial Closing Shares and any Drawdown Shares) shall be referred to as the “Purchased Shares.”

1.2   Sale and Purchase at the Drawdown Closing.  On the terms and subject to the conditions herein, at any time after the Initial Closing Date and prior to the date that is twelve (12) months following the Initial Closing Date (the “Outside Date”), the Company may, by providing written notice (the “Drawdown Notice”) to the Purchaser, require the Purchaser to purchase, at a date specified in such Drawdown Notice, which date shall be no sooner than five (5) business days and no later than twenty (20) business days after the date the Company delivers the Drawdown Notice to the Purchaser, up to an additional 50,000 shares of Series A Preferred Stock (the “Maximum Commitment Amount”) at the Purchase Price; provided that each Drawdown Notice shall specify a minimum of 25,000 shares of Series A Preferred Stock (or such lesser number of shares as may remain available up to the Maximum Commitment Amount)

1

 


 

such that there shall be no more than two (2) Drawdown Closings.  Any shares of Series A Preferred Stock sold pursuant to this Section 1.2 shall be referred to in this Agreement as the “Drawdown Shares.”

1.3   Closings.  

(a)Initial Closing.

(1)The closing of the purchase and sale of the Initial Closing Shares (the “Initial Closing”) shall be held at the offices of Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP, 201 17th St NW Suite 1700, Atlanta, GA 30363, at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Standard Time on the third business day after all of the conditions to the Initial Closing set forth in Section 1.4 have been satisfied or waived by the party entitled to the benefit thereof (other than those conditions that by their nature are to be satisfied at the Initial Closing, but subject to the satisfaction or waiver of such conditions), or at such other time and place as the Company and the Purchaser may agree (the “Initial Closing Date”).  

(2)Subject to the satisfaction or waiver on the Initial Closing Date of the conditions to the Initial Closing in Section 1.4, at the Initial Closing:

(A)the Company will deliver to the Purchaser (i) the Initial Closing Shares (which Initial Closing Shares shall be issued in uncertificated form) and (ii) the executed Investors’ Rights Agreement, in the form of Exhibit B hereto and all other documents, instruments and writings required to be delivered by the Company to the Purchaser pursuant to this Agreement or otherwise required in connection herewith; and

(B)the Purchaser will deliver or cause to be delivered (i) to a bank account designated by the Company in writing at least two (2) business days prior to the Initial Closing Date, the Aggregate Purchase Price in respect of the Initial Closing Shares by wire transfer of immediately available funds and (ii) the executed Investors’ Rights Agreement and all other documents, instruments and writings required to be delivered by the Purchaser to the Company pursuant to this Agreement or otherwise required in connection herewith.

(b)Drawdown Closings.

(1)The closing of the purchase and sale of any Drawdown Shares (each such closing, a “Drawdown Closing”) shall be held at the offices of Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP, 201 17th St NW Suite 1700, Atlanta, GA 30363, at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Standard Time on the third business day after all of the conditions to the applicable Drawdown Closing set forth in Section 1.5 have been satisfied or waived by the party entitled to the benefit thereof (other than those conditions that by their nature are to be satisfied at the applicable Drawdown Closing, but subject to the satisfaction or waiver of such conditions), or at such other time and place as the Company and the Purchaser may agree (each such date, a “Drawdown Closing Date”).

(2)Subject to the satisfaction or waiver on the Drawdown Closing Date of the conditions to the Drawdown Closing in Section 1.5, at each Drawdown Closing:

2


 

(A)the Company will deliver to the Purchaser (i) the Drawdown Shares (which Drawdown Shares shall be issued in uncertificated form), (ii) any accrued and unpaid Commitment Fees, by wire transfer of immediately available funds to a bank account designated by the Purchaser in writing at least two (2) business days prior to the Drawdown Closing Date (which may be offset against the Aggregate Purchase Price then payable, if the parties mutually agree), and (iii) all other documents, instruments and writings required to be delivered by the Company to the Purchaser pursuant to this Agreement or otherwise required in connection herewith; and

(B)the Purchaser will deliver or cause to be delivered (i) to a bank account designated by the Company in writing at least two (2) business days prior to the Drawdown Closing Date, the Aggregate Purchase Price in respect of the Drawdown Shares, by wire transfer of immediately available funds and (ii) all other documents, instruments and writings required to be delivered by the Purchaser to the Company pursuant to this Agreement or otherwise required in connection herewith.

1.4   Initial Closing Conditions.

(a)The obligation of the Purchaser to effect the Initial Closing is subject to the satisfaction or waiver by the Purchaser at or prior to the Initial Closing of the following conditions:

(1)the representations and warranties of the Company set forth in Section 2.1  shall be true and correct in all respects (in the case of any representation or warranty qualified by materiality or Company Material Adverse Effect) or in all material respects (in the case of any representation or warranty not so qualified) as of the date of this Agreement and as of the Initial Closing Date as though made on and as of such date;

(2)the Company shall have materially performed and complied with all covenants, agreements, obligations and conditions in this Agreement that are required to be performed or complied with by the Company at or prior to the Initial Closing;

(3)since the date of this Agreement, no event, occurrence, fact, condition, change, development or effect shall have occurred, existed or come to exist, that, individually or in the aggregate, has constituted or resulted in or could reasonably be expected to constitute or result in, a Company Material Adverse Effect;

(4)the Purchaser shall have received a certificate, dated the Initial Closing Date, signed on behalf of the Company by a senior executive officer certifying to the effect that the conditions set forth in Sections 1.4(a)(1), (2) and (3) have been satisfied;

(5)the Purchaser shall have received a certificate, dated the Initial Closing Date, signed on behalf of the Company by the secretary of the Company certifying (i) the Articles, including the Articles Supplementary, (ii) the Bylaws and (iii) the resolutions of the Board of Directors of the Company authorizing and approving the Transaction Documents and the transactions contemplated under the Transaction Documents, including, without limitation, classifying, designating and authorizing the issuance of the

3


 

shares of Series A Preferred Stock to be issued pursuant to this Agreement, and reserving and authorizing for issuance the shares of Class A Common Stock to be issued upon conversion of the Series A Preferred Stock;

(6)the Company shall have adopted and filed the Articles Supplementary with the State Department of Assessments and Taxation of Maryland (the “SDAT”) and the Articles Supplementary shall have been accepted for record by the SDAT and shall be in full force and effect;

(7)the Operating Partnership Amendment shall have been executed and delivered by the Company and all necessary parties thereto, and shall be in full force and effect;

(8)the Purchaser shall have received legal opinions, dated as of the Initial Closing Date, of Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP, the Company’s counsel, and Venable LLP, the Company’s Maryland counsel, in the forms of Exhibit C-1 and C-2 hereto, respectively, executed by such counsel and delivered to the Purchaser;

(9)the Company shall have executed and delivered the Investors’ Rights Agreement;

(10)the Purchaser shall have received an Ownership Limit Exemption Agreement in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Purchaser and the Company (the “Ownership Limit Exemption Agreement”) signed on behalf of the Company; and

(11)no temporary restraining order, preliminary or permanent injunction or other judgment or order issued by any Governmental Entity and no Law shall be in effect restraining, enjoining, making illegal or otherwise prohibiting the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

(b)The obligation of the Company to effect the Initial Closing is subject to the satisfaction or waiver by the Company at or prior to the Initial Closing of the following conditions:

(1)the representations and warranties of the Purchaser set forth in Section 2.2  shall be true and correct in all respects (in the case of any representation or warranty qualified by materiality) or in all material respects (in the case of any representation or warranty not so qualified) as of the date of this Agreement and as of the Initial Closing Date as though made on and as of such date;

(2)the Purchaser shall have materially performed and complied with all covenants, agreements, obligations and conditions in this Agreement that are required to be performed or complied with by the Purchaser at or prior to the Initial Closing;

(3)the Company shall have received a certificate, dated the Initial Closing Date, signed on behalf of the Purchaser by a senior executive officer certifying to the effect that the conditions set forth in Sections 1.4(b)(1) and (2) have been satisfied;

4


 

(4)the Purchaser shall have executed and delivered the Investors’ Rights Agreement

(5)the Purchaser shall have executed and delivered the Ownership Limit Exemption Agreement; and

(6)no temporary restraining order, preliminary or permanent injunction or other judgment or order issued by any Governmental Entity and no Law shall be in effect restraining, enjoining, making illegal or otherwise prohibiting the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

1.5   Drawdown Closing Conditions.

(a)The obligation of the Purchaser to effect any Drawdown Closing is subject to the satisfaction or waiver by the Purchaser at or prior to the Drawdown Closing of the following conditions:

(1)the representations and warranties of the Company set forth in Section 2.1 shall be true and correct in all respects (in the case of any representation or warranty qualified by materiality or Company Material Adverse Effect) or in all material respects (in the case of any representation or warranty not so qualified) as of the date of this Agreement and as of the Drawdown Closing Date as though made on and as of such date;

(2)the Company shall have materially performed and complied with all covenants, agreements, obligations and conditions in this Agreement that are required to be performed or complied with by the Company at or prior to the Drawdown Closing;

(3)since the date of this Agreement, no event, occurrence, fact, condition, change, development or effect shall have occurred, existed or come to exist, that, individually or in the aggregate, has constituted or resulted in or could reasonably be expected to constitute or result in, a Company Material Adverse Effect;

(4)the Purchaser shall have received a certificate, dated the Drawdown Closing Date, signed on behalf of the Company by a senior executive officer certifying to the effect that the conditions set forth in Sections 1.5(a)(1), (2) and (3) have been satisfied;

(5)the Purchaser shall have received a certificate, dated the Drawdown Closing Date, signed on behalf of the Company by the secretary of the Company certifying (i) the Articles, including the Articles Supplementary, (ii) the Bylaws and (iii) the resolutions of the Board of Directors of the Company authorizing and approving the Transaction Documents and the transactions contemplated under the Transaction Documents, including, without limitation, classifying, designating and authorizing the issuance of the shares of Series A Preferred Stock to be issued pursuant to this Agreement, and reserving and authorizing for issuance the shares of Class A Common Stock to be issued upon conversion of the Series A Preferred Stock;

(6)the Articles Supplementary shall be in full force and effect;

5


 

(7)the Operating Partnership Amendment shall be in full force and effect;

(8)the Ownership Limit Exemption Agreement shall be in full force and effect;

(9)the Purchaser shall have received legal opinions, dated as of the Drawdown Closing Date, of Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP, the Company’s counsel, and Venable LLP, the Company’s Maryland counsel, in the forms of Exhibits C‑1 and C-2 hereto, respectively, executed by such counsel and delivered to the Purchaser; and

(10)no temporary restraining order, preliminary or permanent injunction or other judgment or order issued by any Governmental Entity and no Law shall be in effect restraining, enjoining, making illegal or otherwise prohibiting the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

(b)The obligation of the Company to effect any Drawdown Closing is also subject to the satisfaction or waiver by the Company at or prior to the Drawdown Closing of the following conditions:

(1)the representations and warranties of the Purchaser set forth in Section 2.2 shall be true and correct in all respects (in the case of any representation or warranty qualified by materiality) or in all material respects (in the case of any representation or warranty not so qualified) as of the date of this Agreement and as of the Drawdown Closing Date as though made on and as of such date;

(2)the Purchaser shall have materially performed and complied with all covenants, agreements, obligations and conditions in this Agreement that are required to be performed or complied with by the Purchaser at or prior to the Initial Closing;

(3)the Company shall have received a certificate, dated the Drawdown Closing Date, signed on behalf of the Purchaser by a senior executive officer certifying to the effect that the conditions set forth in Section 1.5(b)(1) and (2) have been satisfied; and

(4)no temporary restraining order, preliminary or permanent injunction or other judgment or order issued by any Governmental Entity and no Law shall be in effect restraining, enjoining, making illegal or otherwise prohibiting the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

1.6   Undrawn Commitment Fee.  From and after the Initial Closing Date until the earlier to occur of (a) the Outside Date and (b) the applicable Drawdown Closing Date, if any, at which the Purchaser acquires Drawdown Shares representing the full Maximum Commitment Amount, the Company agrees to pay to the Purchaser a fee on the Remaining Commitment (the “Commitment Fee”) at a rate equal to 0.25% per annum, accruing daily and payable in arrears on each Drawdown Closing Date and, if applicable, the Outside Date.  The “Remaining Commitment” shall mean an amount equal to (1) $50,000,000 minus (2) the product obtained by multiplying the Purchase Price by (i) 50,000 minus (ii) the number of Drawdown Shares sold to the Purchaser pursuant to this Agreement. On the Outside Date, if applicable (or, if such day is not a business day, the next succeeding business day), the Company will deliver or cause to be

6


 

delivered to a bank account designated by the Purchaser in writing at least two (2) business days prior to the Outside Date, any accrued and unpaid Commitment Fees by wire transfer of immediately available funds.

ARTICLE II

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

2.1   Representations and Warranties of the Company. Except as set forth (x) in the SEC Documents filed by the Company with the SEC, and publicly available, after December 31, 2018 and before the date of this Agreement, excluding any disclosures set forth in risk factors or any “forward looking statements” within the meaning of the Securities Act or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, (the “Exchange Act”) or (y) in a correspondingly identified schedule attached hereto, the Company represents and warrants to the Purchaser that:

(a)Organization and Authority.  

(1)The Company is a corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Maryland, and has all requisite power and authority to own its properties and conduct its business as presently conducted.  The Company is duly qualified to do business and is in good standing in all jurisdictions where its ownership or leasing of property or the conduct of its business requires it to be so qualified and where failure to be so qualified would, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect. True and accurate copies of the Second Articles of Amendment and Restatement of the Company and all amendments and supplements thereto (the “Articles”) and the Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company and all amendments thereto (the “Bylaws”), each as in effect as of the date of this Agreement, have been made available to the Purchaser prior to the date hereof.

(2)Each Material Company Subsidiary, including SmartStop OP, L.P. (f/k/a Strategic Storage Operating Partnership II, L.P.), a Delaware limited partnership (the “Operating Partnership”), is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of organization, and has all requisite power and authority to own its properties and conduct its business as presently conducted.  Each Material Company Subsidiary is duly qualified to do business and is in good standing in all jurisdictions where its ownership or leasing of property or the conduct of its business requires it to be so qualified and where failure to be so qualified would, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect.  The Company is the sole general partner of the Operating Partnership. As used herein, “Subsidiary” means, with respect to any person, any corporation, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company or other entity (x) of which such person or a subsidiary of such person is a general partner or (y) of which a majority of the voting securities or other voting interests, or a majority of the securities or other interests of which having by their terms ordinary voting power to elect a majority of the board of directors or persons performing similar functions with respect to such entity, is directly or indirectly owned by such person and/or one or more subsidiaries thereof. “Company Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary of the Company and “Material Company Subsidiary” means the Company

7


 

Subsidiaries set forth on Exhibit D. The list of Company Subsidiaries set forth on Exhibit D includes, without limitation, each “significant subsidiary” of the Company which meets the conditions set forth in Rule 1-02(w)(2) of Regulation S-X under the Exchange Act tested based upon a balance sheet as of June 30, 2019.

(3)The Third Amended and Restated Limited Partnership Agreement of the Operating Partnership (the “Partnership Agreement”) is in full force and effect, and the aggregate percentage interests of the Company and the limited partners in the Operating Partnership are as set forth in the SEC Documents.

(b)Capitalization.  

(1)The authorized capital stock of the Company consists of 700,000,000 shares of common stock, par value $0.001 per share, of which 350,000,000 shares have been designated as Class A Common Stock, par value $0.001 per share, and 350,000,000 shares have been designated as Class T Common Stock, par value $0.001 per share (the “Class T Common Stock”), and 200,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $0.001 per share (the “Preferred Stock”).  As of the date of this Agreement, there were (i) 51,257,409 shares of Class A Common Stock issued and outstanding, (ii) 7,666,317 shares of Class T Common Stock issued and outstanding, and (iii) zero shares of Preferred Stock issued and outstanding.  As of the date of this Agreement, 5,608,942 shares of Class A Common Stock were authorized and reserved for issuance under the Employee and Director Long-Term Incentive Plan of Strategic Storage Trust II, Inc. (the “Plan”), 265,806 shares of Class A Common Stock were subject to outstanding restricted stock awards granted pursuant to the Plan or any other plans, agreements or arrangements of the Company, and no shares of Class A Common Stock were subject to other outstanding equity-based incentive awards granted pursuant to the Plan or any other  plans, agreements or arrangements of the Company (collectively, the “Company Stock Awards”).  Additionally, as of the date of this Agreement, 71,302,057 units of limited partnership interests in the Operating Partnership were issued and outstanding, of which 8,698,956 units of limited partnership interest were designated as Class A-1 Units and 3,283,302 units of limited partnership interest were designated as Class A-2 Units, all of which were exchangeable on a one-for-one basis for shares of Class A Common Stock or Class T Common Stock, as applicable, except for the 3,283,302 units of limited partnership interest designated as Class A-2 Units.  All of the issued and outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock and Class T Common Stock, and all issued and outstanding units of limited partnership interests in the Operating Partnership, have been duly authorized and validly issued in accordance with applicable securities laws and are fully paid, nonassessable and free of preemptive rights, with no personal liability attaching to the ownership thereof. The Company does not have any outstanding stockholder purchase rights or “poison pill” or any similar arrangement in effect. Pursuant to the Articles Supplementary, 200,000 shares of Preferred Stock shall be designated as Series A Convertible Preferred Stock prior to the Initial Closing.

(2)No bonds, debentures, notes or other indebtedness having the right to vote on any matters on which the stockholders of the Company may vote (“Voting Debt”) are issued and outstanding.  As of the date of this Agreement, except (i) pursuant to the surrender of shares to the Company or the withholding of shares by the Company to

8


 

cover tax withholding obligations under Company Stock Awards, and (ii) as set forth in Section 2.1(b)(1), the Company does not have and is not bound by any outstanding options, preemptive rights, rights of first offer, warrants, calls, commitments or other rights or agreements calling for the purchase or issuance of, or securities or rights convertible into, or exchangeable for, any shares of Class A Common Stock or Class T Common Stock or any other equity securities of the Company or Voting Debt or any securities representing the right to purchase or otherwise receive any shares of capital stock of the Company (including any rights plan or agreement).

(c)Authorization.  

(1)The Company has the corporate power and authority to enter into this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents and to carry out its obligations hereunder and thereunder.  The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents by the Company and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action on the part of the Company, including the board of directors of the Company (the “Board of Directors”), and no further consent or action is required by the Company, its Board of Directors or its stockholders.  This Agreement has been, and (as of the Initial Closing) the other Transaction Documents will be, duly and validly executed and delivered by the Company and, assuming due authorization, execution and delivery by the Purchaser, is, and (as of the Initial Closing) each of the other Transaction Documents will be, a valid and binding obligation of the Company enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms (except as enforcement may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, fraudulent transfer and similar laws of general applicability relating to or affecting creditors’ rights or by general equity principles).  No other corporate proceedings are necessary for the execution and delivery by the Company of this Agreement or the other Transaction Documents, the performance by it of its obligations hereunder or thereunder or the consummation by it of the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby.  

(2)Neither the execution and delivery by the Company of this Agreement or the other Transaction Documents, nor the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, nor compliance by the Company with any of the provisions hereof or thereof (including the conversion or exercise provisions of the Series A Preferred Stock), will (A) violate, conflict with, or result in a breach of any provision of, or constitute a default (or an event which, with notice or lapse of time or both, would constitute a default) under, or result in the termination of, or accelerate the performance required by, or result in a right of termination or acceleration of, or result in the creation of any Lien upon any of the material properties or assets of the Company or any Company Subsidiary under any of the terms, conditions or provisions of (i) the Articles or Bylaws or the certificate of incorporation, charter, bylaws, partnership agreement or other governing instrument of any Company Subsidiary or (ii) except as set forth on Schedule 2.1(c)(2), any note, bond, mortgage, indenture, deed of trust, license, lease, contract, agreement or other instrument or obligation to which the Company or any Company Subsidiary is a party or by which it may be bound, or to which the Company or any Company Subsidiary or any of the properties or assets of the Company or any Company Subsidiary may be subject, or (B) violate any Law, permit or franchise applicable to the Company or any

9


 

Company Subsidiary or any of their respective properties or assets, except in the case of clauses (A)(ii) and (B) for such violations, conflicts and breaches as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect.

(3)Other than pursuant to the securities or blue sky laws of the various states and the filing of the Articles Supplementary with and acceptance for record of the Articles of Supplementary by the State Department of Assessments and Taxation of Maryland, no notice to, registration, declaration or filing with, exemption or review by, or authorization, order, consent or approval of, any court, administrative agency or commission or other governmental or arbitral body or authority or instrumentality, whether federal, state, local or foreign, and any applicable industry self-regulatory organization (each, a “Governmental Entity”) or other third party, including any stockholder of the Company, is necessary for the consummation by the Company of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or the other Transaction Documents.

(4)The Company is not a party to, or otherwise bound by, any contract, agreement, arrangement or other instrument or obligation that restricts or prohibits its ability to declare, pay or set apart for payment any dividends payable on the Series A Preferred Stock under the Articles Supplementary.

(d)Sale of Securities. Based in part on the accuracy of the Purchaser’s representations in Section 2.2, the offer and sale of the shares of Series A Preferred Stock is exempt from the registration and prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.  Without limiting the foregoing, neither the Company nor to the Knowledge of the Company any other person authorized by the Company to act on its behalf, has engaged in a general solicitation or general advertising (within the meaning of Regulation D of the Securities Act) of investors with respect to offer or sales of the Purchased Shares and neither the Company nor, to the Knowledge of the Company, any person acting on its behalf has made any offers or sales of any security or solicited any offers to buy any security, under circumstances that would cause the offering or issuance of Purchased Shares under this Agreement to be integrated with prior offerings by the Company for purposes of the Securities Act that would result in none of Regulation D or any other applicable exemption from registration under the Securities Act to be available, nor will the Company take any action or steps that would cause the offering or issuance of the Purchased Shares under this Agreement to be integrated with other offerings.

(e)Status of Securities. The shares of Series A Preferred Stock to be issued pursuant to this Agreement, and the shares of Class A Common Stock to be issued upon conversion of the Series A Preferred Stock, have been duly classified in the case of the Series A Preferred Stock, and duly authorized in each case, by all necessary corporate action.  When issued and sold against receipt of the consideration therefor as provided in this Agreement or the Articles Supplementary, such securities will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable, will not subject the holders thereof to personal liability, will not be subject to preemptive rights of any other stockholder of the Company, and will effectively vest in the Purchaser good and marketable title to all such securities, free and clear of all Liens, except restrictions imposed by the Securities Act and any applicable state or foreign securities laws.  Upon any conversion of any shares of Series A Preferred Stock into Class A Common Stock pursuant to the Articles

10


 

Supplementary, the shares of Class A Common Stock issued upon such conversion will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable, will not subject the holder thereof to personal liability and will not be subject to preemptive rights of any other stockholder of the Company, and will effectively vest in the Purchaser good and marketable title to all such securities, free and clear of all Liens, except restrictions imposed by the Securities Act and any applicable state or foreign securities laws.  The respective rights, preferences, privileges, and restrictions of the Series A Preferred Stock are as stated in the Articles (including the Articles Supplementary). The shares of Class A Common Stock to be issued upon any conversion of shares of Series A Preferred Stock into Class A Common Stock have been duly reserved for such issuance. No vote of any class or series of capital stock of or any equity interests in the Company or any its Subsidiaries is necessary to approve the issuance of the Series A Preferred Stock or the shares of Class A Common Stock issuable upon conversion of the Series A Preferred Stock.

(f)SEC Documents; Financial Statements.

(1)The Company has filed all required reports, proxy statements, forms, and other documents with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) since January 1, 2018 (collectively, the “SEC Documents”) and has paid, on a timely basis, all fees and assessments due and payable in connection therewith. Each of the SEC Documents, as of its respective date, complied in all material respects with the requirements of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act, as the case may be, and the rules and regulations of the SEC promulgated thereunder applicable to such SEC Documents, and, except to the extent that information contained in any SEC Document has been revised or superseded by a later filed SEC Document filed and publicly available prior to the date of this Agreement, none of the SEC Documents at the time they were filed contained any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state 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.

(2)The Company (i) has implemented and maintains, and at all times since January 1, 2018, has maintained, disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) under the Exchange Act) that are reasonably designed to ensure that material information relating to the Company, including its consolidated Subsidiaries, is made known to the individuals responsible for the preparation of the Company’s filings with the SEC and (ii) has disclosed, based on its most recent evaluation prior to the date of this Agreement, to the Company’s outside auditors and the Board of Director’s audit committee (A) any significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal controls over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 13a-15(f) under the Exchange Act) that are reasonably likely to adversely affect the Company's ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information and (B) any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the Company's internal controls over financial reporting. As of the date of this Agreement, to the Knowledge of the Company, there is no reason that its outside auditors and its chief executive officer and chief financial officer will not be able to give the certifications and attestations required pursuant to the rules and regulations adopted pursuant to Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, without qualification, when next due.

11


 

(3)There is no transaction, arrangement or other relationship between the Company and/or any of its Subsidiaries and an unconsolidated or other off-balance sheet entity that is required to be disclosed by the Company in its SEC Documents and is not so disclosed. All material agreements to which the Company is a party or to which the property or assets of the Company are subject are included as part of or identified in the SEC Documents, to the extent such agreements are required to be included or identified pursuant to the rules and regulations of the SEC.

(4)The financial statements of the Company and its consolidated Subsidiaries included or incorporated by reference in the SEC Documents (a) complied as to form in all material respects with applicable accounting requirements and the published rules and regulations of the SEC with respect thereto, in each case as of the date such SEC Document was filed, and (b) have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) applied on a consistent basis during the periods involved (except as may be indicated in such financial statements or the notes thereto) and fairly present in all material respects the consolidated financial position of the Company and its consolidated Subsidiaries as of the dates thereof and the consolidated results of their operations and cash flows of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries for the periods then ended (subject, in the case of unaudited statements, to normal recurring audit adjustments).

(g)Undisclosed Liabilities. Except for (i) those liabilities that are reflected or reserved for in the consolidated financial statements of the Company included in its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended June 30, 2019 and (ii) liabilities incurred since June 30, 2019 in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice, the Company and its Subsidiaries do not have any material liabilities or obligations of any nature whatsoever (whether accrued, absolute, contingent or otherwise) that are required to be reflected in the Company’s financial statements in accordance with GAAP.

(h)Absence of Certain Changes.  Except as previously disclosed in the Company’s SEC Documents, since January 1, 2018 until the date hereof, (i) the Company and its Subsidiaries have conducted their respective businesses in all material respects in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice, (ii) the Company and its Subsidiaries have not made or declared any distribution in cash or in kind to their stockholders or issued or repurchased any shares of capital stock or other equity interests, other than the declaration and payment of the Company’s regular monthly distributions on the Common Stock, (iii) no event or events have occurred that has had or would, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have, a Company Material Adverse Effect, and (iv) there has not been any action or omission of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries that, if such action or omission occurred between the date of this Agreement and the Initial Closing Date, would violate Section 3.3.

(i)Brokers and Finders. Except for Robert A. Stanger & Co., Inc., the fees and expenses of which will be paid by the Company, neither the Company nor its Subsidiaries or any of their respective officers, directors, employees or agents has employed any broker or finder or incurred any liability for any financial advisory fees, brokerage fees, commissions or finder’s fees, and no broker or finder has acted directly or indirectly for the Company in connection with this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby.

12


 

(j)Litigation. There is no action, suit, proceeding or investigation pending or, to the Knowledge of the Company, threatened against, nor any outstanding judgment, order or decree against, the Company or any of its Subsidiaries before or by any Governmental Entity (i) which, individually or in the aggregate have, or if adversely determined, would reasonably be expected to have, a Company Material Adverse Effect, or (ii) relating to or which challenges the validity or propriety of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or the other Transaction Documents.

(k)Taxes, Tax Returns and REIT Status.

(1)Each of the Company and its Subsidiaries has duly and timely filed (including all applicable extensions) all U.S. federal and state income Tax Returns and other material Tax Returns required to be filed by it on or prior to the date hereof (all such returns being accurate and complete in all material respects), and has paid all U.S. federal and state income Taxes and other material Taxes due and owing by it (whether or not shown on such Tax Returns), other than Taxes that (i) are being contested in good faith through appropriate proceedings, (ii) have not been finally determined and (iii) have been adequately reserved against in accordance with GAAP.

(2)No deficiency assessment or proposed adjustment regarding any material Taxes of the Company and its Subsidiaries is pending or, to the Knowledge of the Company, is threatened. The accruals and reserves regarding Taxes on the audited financial statements of the Company are in conformity with GAAP and are adequate to meet any assessments and related liabilities. Since the date of the most recent audited financial statements, the Company and its Subsidiaries have not incurred any material Tax liabilities other than Tax liabilities incurred in the ordinary course of business. Each of the Company and its Subsidiaries have withheld and paid all Taxes required to be withheld and paid in connection with any amounts paid or owing to any employee, creditor or other third party.

(3)Commencing with its taxable year ended December 31, 2014, the Company effectively elected to be taxed as a real estate investment trust (a “REIT”) pursuant to Sections 856 through 860 of the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”) and has been organized and operated in conformity with the requirements for qualification and taxation as a REIT under the Code, and its actual method of operation has enabled it to meet, and its proposed method of operation will enable it to continue to meet, the requirements for qualification and taxation as a REIT under the Code. The Company intends to continue to qualify as a REIT for all subsequent years, and the Company does not know of any event that could reasonably be expected to cause the Company to fail to qualify as a REIT at any time. All statements regarding the Company’s qualification and taxation as a REIT and descriptions of the Company’s organization and proposed method of operation (inasmuch as they relate to the Company’s qualification and taxation as a REIT) set forth in the SEC Documents are true, complete, and correct summaries of the legal or Tax matters described therein in all materials respects.

13


 

(4)To the Knowledge of the Company, the Company is a “domestically controlled qualified investment entity” (within the meaning of Section 897(h)(4) of the Code).

(5)No Taxes have been imposed on the Company or any of its Subsidiaries pursuant to Section 1374 of the Code, and the Company has no potential liability for Tax under Section 1374 of the Code. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has since its formation (A) acquired assets from another corporation in a transaction in which the Tax basis of the acquired assets was determined, in whole or in part, by reference to the Tax basis of the acquired assets (or any other property) in the hands of the transferor or (B) acquired the stock of any corporation that is a qualified REIT subsidiary.

(6)Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has participated in any “listed transaction” within the meaning of Treasury Regulation Section 1.6011-4(b)(2).

(l)Permits and Licenses. The Company and its Subsidiaries possess all certificates, authorizations and permits issued by each Governmental Entity necessary to conduct their respective businesses, except where the failure to possess such permits would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have or result in a Company Material Adverse Effect. The Company and its Subsidiaries have fulfilled and performed all of their respective obligations with respect to the Permits, and no event has occurred that allows, or after notice or lapse of time would allow, revocation or termination thereof or results in any other impairment of the rights of the holder or any such Permits, except for any of the foregoing that would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has received notice of any revocation or modification of any such Permits or has any reason to believe that any such Permits will not be renewed in the ordinary course.

(m)Compliance with Laws. The business of the Company has been and is presently being conducted in accordance with all applicable Laws, and neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is in violation of any applicable Law, except where such violation would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect. To the Knowledge of the Company, neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is being investigated with respect to any applicable Law, except for such of the foregoing as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect.

(n)Real Property. (i) The Company or a Subsidiary thereof has good, marketable and insurable fee simple title or leasehold title (as applicable) to each of the Properties, in each case, free and clear of all Liens, except such as do not, individually or in the aggregate, materially affect the value of such Property and do not materially interfere with the use made and proposed to be made of such Property by the Company or its Subsidiaries; (ii) neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries owns any real property other than the Properties; (iii) each of the Properties is supplied with utilities and other services sufficient for their continued operation as they are now being operated, and are, to the Knowledge of the Company, in working order sufficient for their normal operation in the manner currently being operated and without any material structural defects other than as may be disclosed in any physical condition reports that have been made available to the Purchaser prior to the date hereof; (iv) to the

14


 

Knowledge of the Company, each of the Properties has sufficient access to and from publicly dedicated streets for its current use and operation, without any constraints that materially interfere with the normal use, occupancy and operation thereof; (v) each of the ground leases and subleases of real property, if any, material to the business of the Company and its Subsidiaries, and under which the Company and its Subsidiaries hold properties described in the SEC Documents, is in full force and effect, with such exceptions as are not material and do not materially interfere with the use made or proposed to be made of such real property by the Company and its Subsidiaries, and neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has any notice of any material claim of any sort that has been asserted by any ground lessor or sublessor under a ground lease or sublease threatening the rights of the Company or its Subsidiaries to the continued possession of the leased or subleased premises under any such ground lease or sublease; (vi) all Liens on any of the Properties and the assets of the Company or its Subsidiaries that are required to be disclosed in the SEC Documents are disclosed therein; (vii) there are no unexpired option to purchase agreements, rights of first refusal or first offer or any other rights to purchase or otherwise acquire any Property or any portion thereof that would materially affect the Company’s, or any Subsidiary’s, ownership, ground lease or right to use a Property subject to a lease; (viii) each of the Properties complies with all applicable codes, laws and regulations (including, without limitation, building and zoning codes, laws and regulations and laws relating to access to the Properties), except for such failures to comply that would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect; and (ix) the Company does not have Knowledge of any pending or threatened condemnation proceedings, zoning change or other proceeding or action that would materially affect the use or value of any of the Properties.

(o)Environmental Liability. Except as, individually or in the aggregate, has not had and would not reasonably be expected to have, a Company Material Adverse Effect:

(1)each of the Company and its Subsidiaries have at all times been in compliance with all applicable Environmental Laws, which compliance includes obtaining, maintaining and complying with all permits, consents, certificates, approvals and orders of any Governmental Entity required to be obtained pursuant to applicable Environmental Laws (“Environmental Permits”), all Environmental Permits are in full force and effect and, where applicable, applications for renewal or amendment thereof have been timely filed, and no suspension or cancellation of any Environmental Permit is pending or threatened in writing;

(2)there are no legal, administrative, arbitral or other proceedings, claims, actions, causes of action or notices with respect to any environmental, health or safety matters or any private or governmental environmental, health or safety investigations or remediation activities of any nature seeking to impose, or that are reasonably likely to result in, any liability or obligation of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries arising under common law or under any local, state or federal environmental, health or safety Law, including the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act of 1980, as amended, pending or threatened against the Company or any of its Subsidiaries;

(3)to the Knowledge of the Company, there is no reasonable basis for, or circumstances that are reasonably likely to give rise to, any such proceeding, claim,

15


 

action, investigation or remediation by any Governmental Entity or any third party that would give rise to any liability or obligation on the part of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries; and

(4)neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is subject to any agreement, order, judgment, decree, letter or memorandum by or with any Governmental Entity or third party imposing any liability or obligation with respect to any of the foregoing.

(p)Excepted Holder Limited Waiver.  Pursuant to Section 6.1.7 of the Articles, at or prior to the date of this Agreement, the Board of Directors adopted resolutions approving the Purchaser’s exemption from the application of the ownership limitations of Stock (as defined in the Articles) set forth in Section 6.1 of the Articles with respect to the ownership of Series A Preferred Stock and Class A Common Stock contemplated by this Agreement and the Articles Supplementary, including any and all shares of Class A Common Stock issued or issuable upon conversion of all or any portion of the Series A Preferred Stock to Class A Common Stock as provided in the Articles Supplementary, on the terms and conditions of the Ownership Limit Exemption Agreement.

(q)Registration Rights.  Except as set forth in the Investors’ Rights Agreement, the Company has not granted or agreed to grant to any person any rights (including “piggyback” registration rights) to have any securities of the Company registered with the SEC or any other Governmental Entity that have not expired or been satisfied or waived.  No person has registration or “piggyback” registration rights that would preempt or “cut-back” the registration rights granted to the Purchaser under the Investors’ Rights Agreement.

(r)Insurance.  Each of the Company and its Subsidiaries carry, or are covered by, insurance from insurers of recognized financial responsibility in such amounts and covering such risks as is reasonably adequate for the conduct of their respective businesses and the value of their respective properties and as is customary for companies engaged in similar businesses in similar industries. Except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect: all policies of insurance of the Company and its Subsidiaries are in full force and effect; the Company and its Subsidiaries are in compliance with the terms of such policies; there are no claims by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries under any such policy or instrument as to which any insurance company is denying liability or defending under a reservation of rights clause; and none of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries has any reason to believe that it will not be able to renew its existing insurance coverage as and when such coverage expires or to obtain similar coverage from similar insurers as may be necessary to continue its business.

(s)Maintenance Requirements.  The Class A Common Stock is registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Exchange Act, and the Company has taken no action designed to, or which to the Knowledge of the Company is reasonably likely to, have the effect of, terminating the registration of the Class A Common Stock under the Exchange Act nor has the Company received as of the date of this Agreement any notification that the SEC is contemplating terminating such registration.

(t)Sanctions. None of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries nor, to the Knowledge of the Company, any director, officer or employee of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is

16


 

currently subject to or the target of any sanctions administered or enforced by the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Treasury Department (“OFAC”), the U.S. Department of State or other relevant sanctions authority (collectively, “Sanctions”).  The Company will not directly or indirectly use the proceeds from the sale of the Series A Preferred Stock for the purpose of financing the activities of any person, or in any country or territory, that currently is the subject or target of Sanctions or in any other manner that would result in a violation by any person of Sanctions.

(u)Company Plans.  Each Company Plan (and any related trust or other funding vehicle) has been maintained, operated and administered in compliance with applicable Laws and with the terms of such Company Plan, including the Code and ERISA, in all material respects, and all material contributions, premiums and expenses to or in respect of such Company Plan have been timely made in full or, to the extent not yet due, have been properly accrued for on the Company's financial statements.  There are no pending, or to the Knowledge of the Company, threatened material claims by or on behalf of any Company Plan, by any employee or beneficiary covered under any such Company Plan, or otherwise involving any such Company Plan (other than routine claims for benefits).  No Company Plan is, and neither the Company nor any ERISA Affiliate maintains, contributes to, has at any time contributed to or has or could be reasonably expected to have any material Liability or obligation with respect to, (i) any plan subject to Section 412 or 302 of the Code or Title IV of ERISA, (ii) a multiemployer plan (within the meaning of Section 3(37) or 4001(a)(3) of ERISA) or (iii) a “multiple employer plan” (within the meaning of Section 412(c) of the Code).

(v)Employee Matters.  The Company and its Subsidiaries are in compliance in all material respects with all applicable Laws relating to labor relations, employment and employment practices, occupational safety and health standards, terms and conditions of employment, payment of wages, classification of employees, immigration, visa, work status, human rights, pay equity and workers’ compensation. There is no strike, work slowdown, unfair labor practice or similar labor difficulty pending or, to the Knowledge of the Company, threatened in writing, nor has the Company experienced any such activity. There is no unfair labor practice charge or complaint against the Company or its Subsidiaries pending or, to the Knowledge of the Company, threatened before the National Labor Relations Board or any comparable Governmental Entity.

(w)Affiliate Transactions.  Except as set forth in the SEC Documents filed by the Company with the SEC, and publicly available, prior to the date of this Agreement, there have not been any transactions that would be required to be disclosed under Item 404 of Regulation S-K promulgated by the SEC.

(x)Full Disclosure. No representation or warranty by the Company in this Agreement and no statement contained in any schedule attached hereto or any certificate or other document furnished or to be furnished to the Purchaser pursuant to this Agreement contains any untrue statement of a material fact, or omits to state a material fact necessary to make the statements contained therein, in light of the circumstances in which they are made, not misleading.  To the Knowledge of the Company, there is no event or circumstance which the Company has not disclosed to the Purchaser which would, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect.

17


 

2.2   Representations and Warranties of the Purchaser. The Purchaser hereby represents and warrants to the Company, that:

(a)Organization and Authority. The Purchaser is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its organization, is duly qualified to do business and is in good standing in all jurisdictions where its ownership or leasing of property or the conduct of its business requires it to be so qualified and where failure to be so qualified would be reasonably expected to materially and adversely affect the Purchaser’s ability to perform its obligations under this Agreement or consummate the transactions contemplated hereby on a timely basis, and the Purchaser has the power and authority and governmental authorizations to own its properties and assets and to carry on its business as it is now being conducted.

(b)Authorization.

(1)The Purchaser has the power and authority to enter into this Agreement and to carry out its obligations hereunder.  The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by the Purchaser and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby have been duly authorized by all requisite action on the part of the Purchaser, and no further approval or authorization by any of its partners, members or other equity owners, as the case may be, is required.  This Agreement has been duly and validly executed and delivered by the Purchaser and assuming due authorization, execution and delivery by the Company, is a valid and binding obligation of the Purchaser enforceable against the Purchaser in accordance with its terms (except as enforcement may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, fraudulent transfer and similar Laws of general applicability relating to or affecting creditors’ rights or by general equity principles).

(2)Neither the execution, delivery and performance by the Purchaser of this Agreement, nor the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, nor compliance by the Purchaser with any of the provisions hereof, will (A) violate, conflict with, or result in a breach of any provision of, or constitute a default (or an event which, with notice or lapse of time or both, would constitute a default) under, or result in the termination of, or accelerate the performance required by, or result in a right of termination or acceleration of, or result in the creation of any Lien upon any of the properties or assets of the Purchaser under any of the terms, conditions or provisions of (i) its governing instruments or (ii) any note, bond, mortgage, indenture, deed of trust, license, lease, agreement or other instrument or obligation to which the Purchaser is a party or by which it may be bound, or to which the Purchaser or any of the properties or assets of the Purchaser may be subject, or (B) subject to compliance with the statutes and regulations referred to in the next paragraph, violate any Law, permit, concession, grant or franchise applicable to the Purchaser or any of its properties or assets except in the case of clauses (A)(ii) and (B) for such violations, conflicts and breaches as would not reasonably be expected to materially and adversely affect the Purchaser’s ability to perform its obligations under this Agreement or consummate the transactions contemplated hereby on a timely basis.

18


 

(3)Other than pursuant to the securities or blue sky laws of the various states and the filing of the Articles Supplementary with and acceptance for record of the Articles Supplementary by the State Department of Assessments and Taxation of Maryland, no notice to, registration, declaration or filing with, exemption or review by, or authorization, order, consent or approval of, any Governmental Entity or other third party is necessary for the consummation by the Purchaser of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

(c)Purchase for Investment. The Purchaser acknowledges that the Series A Preferred Stock has not been registered under the Securities Act or under any state securities laws.  The Purchaser (1) acknowledges that it is acquiring the Series A Preferred Stock pursuant to an exemption from registration under the Securities Act solely for investment with no present intention to distribute any of the Series A Preferred Stock to any person in violation of applicable securities laws, (2) will not sell or otherwise dispose of any of the Series A Preferred Stock, except in compliance with the registration requirements or exemption provisions of the Securities Act and any other applicable securities laws, (3) has such knowledge and experience in financial and business matters and in investments of this type that it is capable of evaluating the merits and risks of its investment in the Series A Preferred Stock and of making an informed investment decision, (4) is an “accredited investor” (as that term is defined by Rule 501 of the Securities Act) and (5) (A) has been furnished with or has had full access to all the information that it considers necessary or appropriate to make an informed investment decision with respect to the Series A Preferred Stock, and (B) can bear the economic risk of (x) an investment in the Series A Preferred Stock indefinitely and (y) a total loss in respect of such investment.  

(d)Financial Capability. The Purchaser has available funds necessary to consummate the Initial Closing and any Drawdown Closing on the terms and conditions contemplated by this Agreement.

(e)Brokers and Finders. Neither the Purchaser nor its Affiliates or any of their respective officers, directors, employees or agents has employed any broker or finder or incurred any liability for any financial advisory fees, brokerage fees, commissions or finder’s fees, and no broker or finder has acted directly or indirectly for the Purchaser, in connection with this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby.

ARTICLE III

COVENANTS

3.1   Corporate Actions.  

(a)Authorized Common Stock. At any time that any Series A Preferred Stock is outstanding, the Company shall from time to time take all lawful action within its control to cause the authorized capital stock of the Company to include a sufficient number of authorized but unissued shares of Class A Common Stock to satisfy the conversion requirements of all shares of Series A Preferred Stock then outstanding. All shares of Class A Common Stock delivered upon conversion of the Series A Preferred Stock shall be newly issued shares, shall have been duly authorized and validly issued and shall be fully paid and nonassessable, and free of any Lien.

19


 

(b)Articles Supplementary. Prior to the Initial Closing, the Company shall file with the State Department of Assessments and Taxation of Maryland the Articles Supplementary in the form attached to this Agreement as Exhibit A, with such changes thereto as the parties may mutually agree.

(c)Operating Partnership Amendment. Prior to the Initial Closing, the Company, in its capacity as general partner of the Operating Partnership, shall execute and deliver, and shall cause all necessary parties to execute and deliver, an amendment to the Partnership Agreement (or amended and restated Partnership Agreement), in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Purchaser (the “Operating Partnership Amendment”), creating Series A Preferred Units having designations, preferences and other rights substantially similar to the Series A Preferred Stock as required by the Partnership Agreement.

(d)Certain Adjustments. If any occurrence since the date hereof until the Initial Closing would have resulted in an adjustment to the Conversion Price (as defined in the Articles Supplementary) pursuant to Section 6 of the Articles Supplementary if the Series A Preferred Stock had been issued and outstanding since the date hereof, the Company shall adjust the Conversion Price, effective as of the Initial Closing, in the same manner as would have been required by Section 6 of the Articles Supplementary if the Series A Preferred Stock had been issued and outstanding since the date hereof.

3.2   State Securities Laws. Prior to the Initial Closing, the Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to (a) obtain all necessary permits and qualifications, if any, or secure an exemption therefrom, required by any state or other jurisdiction prior to the offer and sale of the Series A Preferred Stock and/or underlying Class A Common Stock and (b) cause such authorization, approval, permit or qualification to be effective as of the Initial Closing and as of any conversion of the Series A Preferred Stock.

3.3   Negative Covenants. From the date of this Agreement through the Initial Closing, the Company shall, and shall cause its Subsidiaries to, operate their businesses in all material respects in the ordinary course consistent with past practice.  Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, except as required by applicable Law or as expressly required by this Agreement, during the period from the date of this Agreement through the Initial Closing, the Company shall not, and shall cause its Subsidiaries not to, without the prior written consent of the Purchaser:

(a)amend or modify its Articles or Bylaws or other organizational documents, other than pursuant to the Articles Supplementary and the Operating Partnership Amendment, in a manner that adversely affects the rights, preferences or privileges of the holders of Series A Preferred Stock (including any such amendment effected by reason of or in connection with any merger or consolidation involving the Company);

(b)increase the number of shares of Series A Preferred Stock classified by the Articles, including the Articles Supplementary, or authorize the issuance of any shares of Series A Preferred Stock other than the Purchased Shares;

(c)classify, reclassify, create, authorize or issue any shares of Preferred Stock or other equity securities ranking senior to or on parity with the Series A Preferred Stock with respect to dividends and distribution rights or rights upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up;

20


 

(d)pay any dividends on any shares of its capital stock or other equity or voting interests, other than regular cash dividends on the Common Stock on a basis consistent with past practice, or as otherwise required to preserve the Company’s qualification as a REIT;

(e)redeem, acquire, purchase or otherwise retire for value (except for (A) repurchases of shares of any class of Common Stock issued under the Company’s stock incentive programs in the ordinary course upon termination of employment and to the extent permitted by the terms of the indebtedness of the Company and its Subsidiaries or (B) repurchases of Common Stock under the Company’s share redemption program or as otherwise required to preserve the Company’s qualification as a REIT) any shares of capital stock of the Company (other than the Purchased Shares);

(f)exceed a leverage ratio of 60% loan-to-value ratio, calculated as of any date, as the ratio of (A) the aggregate sum of the then-outstanding principal amount of, accrued and unpaid interest on, and any other payment obligations arising under, all indebtedness for borrowed money of the Company and its Subsidiaries, offset by all cash and cash equivalents of the Company and its Subsidiaries to (B) the reasonable fair market value of the Company’s real estate portfolio at such date;

(g)enter into any transaction with the individual serving as the Executive Chairman of the Company as of the date of this Agreement, or any entities in which such person has a controlling interest (for the avoidance of doubt, the Company, Strategic Storage Trust IV, Inc., Strategic Storage Growth Trust II, Inc. and any future similarly situated self storage real estate program sponsored by the Company shall be excluded from this provision);

(h)effect any merger, consolidation or other business combination with an entity whose assets acquired are not at least 80% self-storage related investments and contracts based on the reasonable fair market value of such assets; or

(i)enter into any line of business other than self-storage and ancillary businesses, unless such ancillary business represents revenues of less than 10% of the Company’s revenues for its last fiscal year.

3.4   Certain REIT Matters.

(a)Until the first day of the first calendar year in which no Series A Preferred Stock or Class A Common Stock issued upon conversion of the Series A Preferred Stock is held at any time by the Purchaser or any of its Affiliates, (i) the Company shall continue to be taxed as a REIT under the Code, and thereafter the Company shall use its best efforts to continue to qualify as a REIT under the Code unless its Board of Directors determines that it is no longer in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders to be so qualified, and (ii) if the Company determines, upon advice of tax counsel (the “REIT Non-Compliance Determination”), that (a) it no longer meets the requirements for qualification and taxation as a REIT under the Code (“REIT Non-Compliance”), (b) such REIT Non-Compliance is not subject to the de minimis exception under Section 856(c)(7)(B) of the Code, and (c) it does not expect to be able to cure such REIT Non-Compliance retroactively though relief based on reasonable cause and not willful neglect under Section 856(c)(6) or Section 856(c)(7)(A) of the Code, under Section 9100 of the Code, or as otherwise permitted under the Code (provided that, if the Company expects, but is unable to, effect such cure within a reasonable period of time, this subsection (c) shall not

21


 

apply), the Company shall provide written notice to the Purchaser within five (5) business days of the REIT Non-Compliance Determination.

(b)So long as the Purchaser or any of its Affiliates holds, at any time during a calendar quarter or year ending after the Initial Closing Date, 5% or more of the Purchased Shares (or such respective portion of Class A Common Stock issued upon conversion of the Purchased Shares), the Company shall deliver to the Purchaser, (i) no later than thirty (30) days after the end of such quarter, copies of REIT testing schedules showing the Company’s satisfaction of the REIT asset requirements for such quarter, and (ii) no later than thirty (30) days after the end of such year, copies of REIT testing schedules showing the Company’s satisfaction of the REIT income and distribution requirements for such year.  

(c)So long as the Purchaser or any of its Affiliates holds any Series A Preferred Stock or Class A Common Stock issued upon conversion of the Series A Preferred Stock, (i) upon the request of the Purchaser, the Company shall cooperate with the Purchaser in making (x) an election to treat the Company as a taxable REIT subsidiary (within the meaning of Section 856(l) of the Code) (“TRS”) of the Purchaser for any applicable taxable year(s) if the Company fails to qualify as a REIT under the Code and/or (y) protective TRS elections for years in which the Company continues to qualify as a REIT under the Code, and (ii) the Company and the Purchaser shall cooperate with each other to provide such other information as may reasonably be requested to assist in determining whether the ownership of such Preferred Stock (or such Class A Common Stock) would adversely affect the qualification of either party (or an Affiliate thereof) as a REIT under the Code.

ARTICLE IV

ADDITIONAL AGREEMENTS

4.1   Transfers.  No Purchaser (which, for purposes of this Section 4.1 shall include any successor or permitted assign of the Purchaser) may Transfer any shares of Series A Preferred Stock other than (i) Transfers to any Permitted Transferee; (ii) Transfers pursuant to a merger, tender offer, exchange offer or other business combination, acquisition of assets or similar transaction entered into by the Company or any transaction resulting in a Change of Control of the Company; or (iii) Transfers (A) with the prior written consent of the Company, not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed, (B) upon, if requested by the Company, the provision by the proposed transferee of one or more shares of Series A Preferred Stock of a written opinion of a nationally recognized legal counsel addressed to the Company that such Transfer will not violate applicable securities or other applicable Laws, and (C) that the Company reasonably determines will not result in a violation of the terms, conditions or covenants of, or constitute an event of default under, this Agreement, the Investors’ Rights Agreement, the Articles or Bylaws. In the event of any Transfer of shares of Series A Preferred Stock in accordance with this Section 4.1, the transferee (including any Permitted Transferee) shall become a party to this Agreement by execution of a joinder hereto in a form and substance determined to be reasonably acceptable to the Company.

The Purchaser (or any transferee) shall pay any and all documentary, stamp or similar issue or transfer tax due on any Transfer of the Series A Preferred Stock other than (i) the issue of the Series A Preferred Stock and (ii) the issue of shares of Class A Common Stock upon

22


 

conversion of the Series A Preferred Stock.  Further, the Company shall not be required to pay any tax or duty that may be payable in respect of any transactions involved in such Transfers of the Series A Preferred Stock (for the avoidance of doubt, other than the transactions described in clauses (i) and (ii)).  Such taxes should be reimbursed by the Purchaser (or the transferee) to the Company.

4.2   Use of Proceeds.  The Company will contribute the net proceeds from the sale of the Series A Preferred Stock to the Operating Partnership.  The Operating Partnership shall subsequently use the net proceeds from the sale of the Series A Preferred Stock to payoff indebtedness, to finance self-storage acquisition, development, and improvement pipelines, and working capital or other general corporate purposes.

4.3   Legends.  

(a)In addition to any other legends required by applicable law or the Articles, all certificates or other instruments representing the Series A Preferred Stock or Class A Common Stock subject to this Agreement, if any, will bear legends substantially to the following effect:

THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS INSTRUMENT HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, OR THE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATE AND MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED, SOLD OR OTHERWISE DISPOSED OF EXCEPT WHILE A REGISTRATION STATEMENT RELATING THERETO IS IN EFFECT UNDER SUCH ACT AND APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS OR PURSUANT TO AN EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION UNDER SUCH ACT OR SUCH LAWS.

THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE ARE SUBJECT TO CERTAIN RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFERS SET FORTH IN THE PREFERRED STOCK PURCHASE AGREEMENT, DATED AS OF OCTOBER 29, 2019, BY AND BETWEEN THE COMPANY AND EXTRA SPACE STORAGE LP, AS THE SAME MAY BE AMENDED OR AMENDED AND RESTATED FROM TIME TO TIME (THE “PURCHASE AGREEMENT”). NO TRANSFER, SALE, ASSIGNMENT, PLEDGE, HYPOTHECATION OR OTHER DISPOSITION OF THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE MAY BE MADE EXCEPT IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PROVISIONS OF THE PURCHASE AGREEMENT. A COPY OF THE PURCHASE AGREEMENT WILL BE FURNISHED WITHOUT CHARGE BY THE COMPANY TO THE HOLDER UPON REQUEST.

(b)Upon the request of any holder of Purchased Shares, and, if reasonably requested by the Company, upon receipt by the Company of (i) an opinion of counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Company to the effect that such legends are no longer required under the Securities Act and applicable state laws, or (ii) any other evidence reasonably satisfactory to the Company to the effect that the proposed transfer is authorized, the Company shall promptly cause the above legends to be removed from any certificate for any Series A Preferred Stock or Class A Common Stock to be transferred in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.  The Company will not require such a legal opinion (x) in any transaction in compliance Rule 144 promulgated by the SEC under the Securities Act, or (y) in any transaction in which the

23


 

Purchaser distributes Purchased Shares to an Affiliate of the Purchaser for no consideration. The Purchaser acknowledges that the Series A Preferred Stock and Class A Common Stock issuable upon conversion of the Series A Preferred Stock have not been registered under the Securities Act or under any state securities laws and agrees that it will not sell or otherwise dispose of any of the Series A Preferred Stock or Class A Common Stock issuable upon conversion of the Series A Preferred Stock, except in compliance with the registration requirements or exemption provisions of the Securities Act and any other applicable securities laws.

4.4   Certain Tax Matters.

(a)The Company shall be entitled to withhold taxes on all payments on the Series A Preferred Stock or Class A Common Stock issued upon conversion of the Series A Preferred Stock to the extent required by applicable Law.  Prior to the date of any such payment, the Purchaser (or any transferee) shall deliver to the Company or its paying agent a duly executed and properly completed Internal Revenue Service Form W‑9 or an appropriate Internal Revenue Service Form W-8, as applicable, and other applicable state withholding forms.

(b)The Company shall pay any and all documentary, stamp or similar issue or transfer tax due on (i) the issue of the Series A Preferred Stock and (ii) the issue of shares of Class A Common Stock upon conversion of the Series A Preferred Stock.  However, in the case of conversion of Series A Preferred Stock, the Company shall not be required to pay any tax or duty that may be payable in respect of any transfer involved in the issue and delivery of shares of Class A Common Stock in a name other than that of the holder of the shares to be converted, and no such issue or delivery shall be made unless and until the person requesting such issue has paid to the Company the amount of any such tax or duty, or has established to the reasonable satisfaction of the Company that such tax or duty has been paid.

(c)During any taxable year in which any shares of Series A Preferred Stock are or have been outstanding, the Company shall not redeem, repurchase, recapitalize or acquire shares of its capital stock in a transaction that would be treated, in whole or in part, as a dividend for United States federal income tax purposes, unless such redemption, repurchase, recapitalization or acquisition is an isolated transaction within the meaning of Treasury Regulation Section 1.305-3(b)(3).

(d)The shares of Series A Preferred Stock shall be characterized as equity of the Company for United States federal income tax purposes.

ARTICLE V

MISCELLANEOUS

5.1   Survival. The representations and warranties of the parties contained in this Agreement shall survive until the later of (i) the second anniversary of the Outside Date or (ii) there are no outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock, except the representations and warranties contained in Sections 2.1(a)(Organization and Authority), 2.1(b)(Capitalization), 2.1(c)(Authorization), 2.1(d)(Sale of Securities), Section 2.1(e) (Status of Securities), Section 2.1(i) (Brokers and Finders) and 2.1(k)(Taxes, Tax Returns and REIT Status) (collectively, the “Fundamental Representations”), which will survive indefinitely. All of the covenants or other agreements of the parties contained in this Agreement shall survive until fully performed or

24


 

fulfilled, unless and to the extent that non-compliance with such covenants or agreements is waived in writing by the party entitled to such performance.

5.2   Expenses. Each of the parties will bear and pay all other costs and expenses incurred by it or on its behalf in connection with the transactions contemplated pursuant to this Agreement; provided, however, at the Initial Closing, the Company shall reimburse the Purchaser for its reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection with due diligence, the negotiation and preparation of this Agreement and undertaking of the transactions contemplated pursuant to this Agreement (including fees and expenses of attorneys, accountants and consultants in connection with the transactions contemplated pursuant to this Agreement), up to a maximum amount of $300,000.

5.3   Amendment; Waiver.  No amendment or waiver of any provision of this Agreement will be effective with respect to any party unless made in writing and signed by an officer of a duly authorized representative of such party.  No failure or delay by any party in exercising any right, power or privilege hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof nor shall any single or partial exercise thereof preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, power or privilege.  The conditions to each party’s obligation to consummate the Initial Closing or any Drawdown Closing are for the sole benefit of such party and may be waived by such party in whole or in part to the extent permitted by applicable Law.  No waiver of any party to this Agreement, as the case may be, will be effective unless it is in a writing signed by a duly authorized officer of the waiving party that makes express reference to the provision or provisions subject to such waiver.  The rights and remedies herein provided shall be cumulative and not exclusive of any rights or remedies provided by Law.  

5.4   Counterparts. For the convenience of the parties hereto, this Agreement may be executed in any number of separate counterparts, each such counterpart being deemed to be an original instrument, and all such counterparts will together constitute the same agreement.  Executed signature pages to this Agreement may be delivered by facsimile or other means of electronic transmission and such facsimiles or other means of electronic transmission will be deemed as sufficient as if actual signature pages had been delivered.

5.5   Governing Law. This Agreement will be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York (except to the extent that mandatory provisions of Maryland law are applicable).

5.6   WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL. EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ANY AND ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATED TO THIS AGREEMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY.

5.7   Notices. Any notice, request, instruction or other document to be given hereunder by any party to the other will be in writing and will be deemed to have been duly given (a) on the date of delivery if delivered personally or by telecopy or facsimile, upon confirmation of receipt, (b) on the first business day following the date of dispatch if delivered by a recognized next-day courier service, or (c) on the third business day following the date of mailing if delivered by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid.  All notices hereunder shall be delivered as set forth below, or pursuant to such other instructions as may be designated in writing by the party to receive such notice.

25


 

(a)If to the Purchaser:

Extra Space Storage LP
2795 East Cottonwood Parkway, Suite 300  

Salt Lake City, Utah 84121
Attn:Chief Legal Officer
Fax:(801) 365-4976

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

Latham & Watkins LLP
12670 High Bluff Drive
San Diego, California 92130  
Attn: Craig M. Garner
Fax: (858) 523-5450

(b)If to the Company:

SmartStop Self Storage REIT, Inc.
10 Terrace Road
Ladera Ranch, California 92694
Attn:General Counsel
Fax:(949) 429-6606

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

Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP
201 17th St NW Suite 1700

Atlanta, GA 30363
Attn: Michael K. Rafter
Fax:  (404) 322-6050

5.8   Entire Agreement. This Agreement (including the exhibits and schedules hereto) constitutes the entire agreement, and supersedes all other prior agreements, understandings, representations and warranties, both written and oral, among the parties, with respect to the subject matter hereof.

 

5.9   Assignment. Neither this Agreement, nor any of the rights, interests or obligations hereunder shall be assigned by any of the parties hereto (whether by operation of Law or otherwise) without the prior written consent of the other party; provided, however, that (a) the Purchaser may assign its rights, interests and obligations under this Agreement, in whole or in part, to one or more Affiliates and (b) in the event of such assignment, the assignee shall agree in writing to be bound by the provisions of this Agreement.

5.10   Interpretation; Other Definitions. Wherever required by the context of this Agreement, the singular shall include the plural and vice versa, and the masculine gender shall include the feminine and neuter genders and vice versa, and references to any agreement, document or instrument shall be deemed to refer to such agreement, document or instrument as

26


 

amended, supplemented or modified from time to time.  All article, section, paragraph or clause references not attributed to a particular document shall be references to such parts of this Agreement, and all exhibit, annex and schedule references not attributed to a particular document shall be references to such exhibits, annexes and schedules to this Agreement.  In addition, the following terms are ascribed the following meanings:

 

(a)the word “or” is not exclusive;

(b)the words “including,” “includes,” “included” and “include” are deemed to be followed by the words “without limitation”;

(c)the terms “herein,” “hereof” and “hereunder” and other words of similar import refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular section, paragraph or subdivision;

(d)the term “business day” means any day except Saturday, Sunday and any day which shall be a legal holiday or a day on which banking institutions in the State of New York generally are authorized or required by Law or other governmental action to close; and

(e)the term “person” has the meaning given to it in Section 3(a)(9) of the Exchange Act and as used in Sections 13(d)(3) and 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act.

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

(g)Aggregate Purchase Price” means the purchase price payable by the Purchaser to the Company for the issue of the shares of Series A Preferred Stock at the Initial Closing or any Drawdown Closing, as applicable.

(h)Articles Supplementary” means that certain Articles Supplementary of the Company, setting forth the rights, privileges, preferences and restrictions of the Series A Preferred Stock, as may be amended from time to time.

(i)Common Stock” means the Class A Common Stock and the Class T Common Stock.

(j)Company Material Adverse Effect” shall mean, with respect to the Company, any Effect that, individually or taken together with all other Effects that have occurred prior to the date of determination of the occurrence of the Company Material Adverse Effect, is or is reasonably likely to be materially adverse to the business, results of operations or financial condition of the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole; provided, however, that in no event shall any of the following occurring after the date hereof, alone or in combination, be deemed to constitute, or be taken into account in determining whether a Company Material Adverse Effect has occurred: (A) any Effect caused by the announcement or pendency of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, (B) the performance of this Agreement and the

27


 

transactions contemplated hereby, including compliance with the covenants set forth herein, (C) acts of war or terrorism or natural disasters, (D) changes in general economic or political conditions, (E) changes in GAAP or other accounting standards (or any interpretation thereof) or (F) changes in any Laws or other binding directives issued by any Governmental Entity (or any interpretation thereof); provided that, with respect to clauses (C), (D), (E) and (F), such Effects may be taken into account to the extent they disproportionately affect the Company compared to other participants in the industries in which the Company conducts its business.

(k)Company Plan” means any program, policy, practice, agreement, contract, arrangement or other obligation, whether or not in writing and whether or not funded, in each case, that provides compensation or benefits of any kind, including, without limitation, (a) “employee benefit plans” within the meaning of Section 3(3) of ERISA, (b) all retirement, medical, disability, life insurance and other welfare benefit, bonus, stock option, stock purchase, restricted stock, incentive, supplemental retirement, deferred compensation, post-employment medical, disability, life insurance and other welfare benefit, severance, Code Section 125 flexible benefit, or vacation plans, programs or agreements and (c) all individual employment, retention, termination, severance or other similar agreements, in each case which is sponsored or maintained by, or required to be contributed to by the Company or any ERISA Affiliate or under which the Company may have any material liability.

(l)Effect” shall mean any change, event, effect or circumstance.

(m)Environmental Laws” means any Law relating to (a) pollution, the protection, preservation or restoration of the environment (including air, surface water, groundwater, drinking water supply, surface land, subsurface land, plant and animal life or any other natural resource) or workplace health or occupational safety, or (b) the exposure to, or the use, storage, recycling, treatment, generation, transportation, processing, handling, labeling, production release or disposal of any substance, material or waste that is listed, defined, designated or classified as hazardous, toxic, radioactive, dangerous or a “pollutant” or “contaminant” or words of similar meaning under any applicable Environmental Law or are otherwise regulated by any Governmental Entity with jurisdiction over the environment, natural resources, or workplace health or occupational safety, including, without limitation, petroleum or any derivative or byproduct thereof, radon, radioactive material, asbestos or asbestos containing material, urea formaldehyde, foam insulation, mold or polychlorinated biphenyls, in each case as in effect at the date of this Agreement.

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

(o)ERISA Affiliate” means any entity (whether or not incorporated) that, together with the Company, is required to be treated as a single employer under Section 414(b), (c), (m) or (o) of the Code.

(p)Knowledge of the Company” means the actual knowledge of one or more of the Company’s Executive Chairman, Chief Executive Officer, President, General Counsel, Chief Investment Officer, Chief Accounting Officer or Chief Financial Officer, after reasonable inquiry of such individual’s direct reports as deemed reasonably necessary by such individual.

(q)Law” means any federal, state, local, municipal, foreign or other law, statute, constitution, principle of common law, resolution, ordinance, code, writ, order, edict, decree,

28


 

rule, regulation, judgment, ruling or requirement issued, enacted, adopted, promulgated, implemented or otherwise put into effect by or under the authority of any Governmental Entity.

(r)Lien” means any mortgage, pledge, security interest, encumbrance, lien, charge or other restriction of any kind, whether based on common law, statute or contract.

(s)Permit” means any license, franchise, permit, certificate, approval or authorization from any Governmental Entity.

(t)Permitted Transferee” means, with respect to the Purchaser or any successor or permitted assign of the Purchaser, (i) any successor entity of the Purchaser, (ii) any Affiliate of Purchaser or (iii) any Subsidiary of the Purchaser.

(u)Properties” means any of the properties described in the SEC Documents as owned or leased by the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company.

(v)Purchaser” means, collectively, the Purchaser and each Affiliate of the Purchaser (i) to which the Purchaser or any other person included in the Purchaser has assigned all or part of its rights in this Agreement and (ii) that has agreed in writing for the benefit of the Company to be bound by the terms of this Agreement applicable to the Purchaser.

(w)Tax” or “Taxes” means all U.S. federal, state, local, and non-U.S. income, excise, gross receipts, gross income, ad valorem, profits, gains, property, capital, sales, transfer, use, payroll, employment, severance, withholding, duties, intangibles, franchise, backup withholding, and other taxes, charges, levies or like assessments together with all penalties and additions to tax and interest thereon, whether disputed or not.

(x)Tax Return” means any return, declaration, report, claim for refund, information return or statement relating to Taxes, including any schedule or attachment thereto and any amendment thereof.

(y)Transaction Documents” means this Agreement, the Articles Supplementary and the Investors’ Rights Agreement.

(z)Transfer” means to, directly or indirectly, sell, assign, transfer, pledge, encumber, hypothecate or otherwise dispose of, whether voluntarily or involuntarily, or enter into any agreement, arrangement or understanding with respect to the sale, assignment, transfer, pledge, encumbrance, hypothecation or other disposition.

5.11   Captions. The article, section, paragraph and clause captions herein are for convenience of reference only, do not constitute part of this Agreement and will not be deemed to limit or otherwise affect any of the provisions hereof.

5.12   Severability. If any provision of this Agreement or the application thereof to any person (including the officers and directors the parties hereto) or circumstance is determined by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, void or unenforceable, the remaining provisions hereof, or the application of such provision to persons or circumstances other than those as to which it has been held invalid or unenforceable, will remain in full force and effect and shall in no way be affected, impaired or invalidated thereby, so long as the economic or legal substance

29


 

of the transactions contemplated hereby is not affected in any manner materially adverse to any party.  Upon such determination, the parties shall negotiate in good faith in an effort to agree upon a suitable and equitable substitute provision to effect the original intent of the parties.

5.13   No Third Party Beneficiaries. Nothing contained in this Agreement, expressed or implied, is intended to confer upon any person other than the parties hereto (and their permitted assigns), any benefit right or remedies.

5.14   Public Announcements. Subject to each party’s disclosure obligations imposed by Law or regulation or the rules of any stock exchange upon which its securities are listed, each of the parties hereto will cooperate with each other in the development and distribution of all news releases and other public information disclosures with respect to this Agreement and any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, and neither the Company nor the Purchaser will make any such news release without first consulting with the other, and, in each case, also receiving the other’s consent (which shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed) and each party shall coordinate with the party whose consent is required with respect to any such news release.

5.15   Indemnification.

(a) From and after the Initial Closing, the Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Purchaser, each person who controls the Purchaser within the meaning of the Exchange Act, and each of the respective officers, directors, employees, agents and Affiliates of the foregoing in their respective capacities as such (the “Purchaser Indemnitees”), to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Law, from and against any and all actions, suits, claims, proceedings, costs, damages, liabilities, Taxes, judgments, amounts paid in settlement (subject to Section 5.15(d) below) and expenses (including, without limitation, attorneys’ fees and disbursements) (collectively, “Loss”) arising out of or resulting from any inaccuracy in or breach of the representations or warranties made by the Company in this Agreement or any Transaction Document or in any certificate delivered by the Company pursuant to this Agreement or any Transaction Document or any material breach or material non-fulfillment of any covenant or agreement made or to be performed by the Company in this Agreement or any Transaction Document.

(b)From and after the Initial Closing, the Purchaser agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Company, each person who controls the Company within the meaning of the Exchange Act, and each of the respective officers, directors, employees, agents and Affiliates in their respective capacities as such (the “Company Indemnitees”), to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Law, from and against any and all Losses arising out of or resulting from any inaccuracy in or breach of the representations or warranties made by the Purchaser in this Agreement or any Transaction Document or in any certificate delivered by the Purchaser pursuant to this Agreement or any Transaction Document or any material breach or material non-fulfillment of any covenant or agreement made or to be performed by the Purchaser in this Agreement or any Transaction Document.

(c)A party obligated to provide indemnification under this Section 5.15 (an “Indemnifying Party”) shall reimburse the applicable Purchaser Indemnitee or Company Indemnitee (the “Indemnified Parties”) for all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees and documented disbursements) as they are incurred in connection

30


 

with investigating, preparing to defend or defending any such action, suit, claim or proceeding (including any inquiry or investigation) whether or not an Indemnified Party is a party thereto. If an Indemnified Party makes a claim under this Section 5.15(c) for payment or reimbursement of expenses, such expenses shall be paid or reimbursed promptly upon receipt of appropriate documentation relating thereto even if the Indemnifying Party reserves the right to dispute whether this Agreement requires the payment or reimbursement of such expenses. However, an Indemnifying Party shall not be liable under this Section 5.15 for any Loss which is finally judicially determined by a court of competent jurisdiction to have resulted primarily from the willful misconduct or gross negligence of the applicable Indemnified Party and, in such case, the Indemnifying Party shall be entitled to recover from the applicable Indemnified Party any expenses advanced by the Indemnifying Party to such Indemnified Party pursuant to the reimbursement obligation set forth in this paragraph to the extent attributable to such Loss.

(d)An Indemnified Party shall give written notice to the Indemnifying Party of any claim with respect to which it seeks indemnification promptly after the discovery by such party of any matters giving rise to a claim for indemnification; provided, however, that the failure of any Indemnified Party to give notice as provided herein shall not relieve the Indemnifying Party of its obligations under this Section 5.15 unless and to the extent that the Indemnifying Party shall have been materially prejudiced by the failure of such Indemnified Party to so notify such party. In case any such action, suit, claim or proceeding is brought against an Indemnified Party, the Indemnified Party shall be entitled to hire, at its own expense, separate counsel and participate in the defense thereof; provided, however, that the Indemnifying Party shall be entitled to assume and conduct the defense, unless (i) the Indemnifying Party determines otherwise, (ii) the Indemnifying Party shall have failed to assume the defense of such claim within a reasonable time after receipt of notice of such claim from the Indemnified Party, (iii) the Indemnified Party has reasonably concluded (based upon advice of its counsel) that there may be legal defenses available to it that are different from or in addition to those available to the Indemnifying Party or (iv) in the reasonable judgment of any Indemnified Party (based upon advice of its counsel) a conflict of interest may exist between the Indemnified Party and the Indemnifying Party with respect to such claims, then, in each case, the Indemnified Party may assume responsibility for conducting the defense and the Indemnifying Party shall be liable for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by the Indemnified Party in connection with assuming and conducting the defense. No Indemnifying Party shall be liable for any settlement of any action, suit, claim or proceeding effected without its written consent; provided, however, the Indemnifying Party shall not unreasonably withhold, delay or condition its consent. The Indemnifying Party further agrees that it will not, without the Indemnified Party’s prior written consent, settle or compromise any claim or consent to entry of any judgment in respect thereof in any pending or threatened action, suit, claim or proceeding in respect of which indemnification may be sought hereunder (whether or not any Indemnified Party is an actual or potential party to such action, suit, claim or proceeding) unless such settlement or compromise (x) includes an unconditional release of each Indemnified Party from all liability arising out of such action, suit, claim or proceeding and (y) does not include a statement as to, or an admission of, fault, culpability or failure to act, by or on behalf of the Indemnified Party.

(e)All reasonable fees and expenses of the Indemnified Party (including reasonable fees and expenses to the extent incurred in connection with investigating or preparing to defend any such action in a manner not inconsistent with this Section 5.15) shall be paid to the Indemnified Party, as incurred, within twenty (20) business days of written notice thereof to the

31


 

Indemnifying Party (regardless of whether it is ultimately determined that an Indemnified Party is not entitled to indemnification hereunder; provided, however, that the Indemnifying Party may require such Indemnified Party to undertake to reimburse all such fees and expenses to the extent it is finally judicially determined that such Indemnified Party is not entitled to indemnification hereunder).

(f)If written notice of a bona fide claim for indemnification under Section 5.15 has been given in respect of any breach of the representations or warranties made by a party in this Agreement prior to the expiration of the applicable representation or warranty in accordance with Section 5.1, then the obligation to indemnify in respect of such breach shall survive as to such claim, until such claim has been finally resolved (including any appeals). The agreements contained in this Section 5.15 shall be in addition to any other rights of the Indemnified Party against the Indemnifying Party or others, at common law or otherwise. The Indemnifying Party consents to personal jurisdiction, service and venue in any court in the continental United States in which any claim subject to this Agreement is brought against any Indemnified Party.

(g)Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section 5.15 to the contrary, an Indemnifying Party shall not be liable under this Section 5.15 for any Loss in excess of $30,000,000 with respect to the inaccuracy in or breach of any representations or warranties, other than with respect to (i) the Fundamental Representations or (ii) fraud or willful misconduct, in which case this limitation shall not apply.

5.16   Remedies. In addition to being entitled to exercise all rights provided herein or granted by applicable Law, including recovery of damages, each of the Purchaser and the Company will be entitled to seek specific performance under the Transaction Documents. The parties agree that monetary damages may not be adequate compensation for any loss incurred by reason of any breach of obligations described in the foregoing sentence and hereby agree to waive in any action for specific performance of any such obligation (other than in connection with any action for a temporary restraining order) the defense that a remedy at law would be adequate.

5.17   Termination. This Agreement may be terminated at any time prior to the Initial Closing:

(a)by mutual written agreement of the Company and the Purchaser;

(b)by notice given by the Purchaser to the Company, if there have been one or more material inaccuracies in or material breaches of one or more representations, warranties, covenants or agreements made by the Company in this Agreement such that the conditions in Section 1.4(a)(1) or (2) would not be satisfied and which have not been cured by the Company within thirty (30) days after receipt by the Company of written notice from the Purchaser requesting such inaccuracies or breaches to be cured; and

(c)by notice given by the Company to the Purchaser, if there have been one or more material inaccuracies in or material breaches of one or more representations, warranties, covenants or agreements made by the Purchaser in this Agreement such that the conditions in Section 1.4(b)(1) or (2) would not be satisfied and which have not been cured by the Purchaser within thirty (30) days after receipt by the Purchaser of written notice from the Company requesting such inaccuracies or breaches to be cured.

32


 

5.18   Effects of Termination. In the event of any termination of this Agreement in accordance with Section 5.17, neither party (or any of its Affiliates) shall have any liability or obligation to the other (or any of its Affiliates) under or in respect of this Agreement, except to the extent of (A) any liability arising from any breach by such party of its obligations of this Agreement arising prior to such termination and (B) any fraud or intentional or willful breach of this Agreement. In the event of any such termination, this Agreement shall become void and have no effect, and (if such termination is prior to the Initial Closing) the transactions contemplated hereby shall be abandoned without further action by the parties hereto, in each case, except (x) as set forth in the preceding sentence and (y) that the provisions of Section 5.3 to Section 5.16 shall survive the termination of this Agreement.  

[Signature Page Follows]

 

33


 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by the duly authorized officers of the parties hereto as of the date first herein above written.

 

SMARTSTOP SELF STORAGE REIT, INC.

 

 

By:

/s/ Michael S. McClure

 

Name:  Michael S. McClure

 

Title:    Chief Executive Officer

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

EXTRA SPACE STORAGE LP

 

 

By:

ESS Holdings Business Trust I

Its:

General Partner

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ P. Scott Stubbs

 

Name:  P. Scott Stubbs

 

Title:    Trustee

 

 

Exhibit 10.2

AMENDMENT NO. 1 TO THE THIRD AMENDED AND RESTATED

LIMITED PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT

OF

SMARTSTOP OP, L.P.

 

DESIGNATION OF

SERIES A CONVERTIBLE PREFERRED PARTNERSHIP UNITS

 

In accordance with Section 4.2 and Article 11 of the Third Amended and Restated Limited Partnership Agreement, effective as of June 28, 2019 (the “Partnership Agreement”), of SmartStop OP, L.P. (formerly Strategic Storage Operating Partnership II, L.P.) (the “Partnership”), the Partnership Agreement is hereby amended by this Amendment No. 1 thereto (this “Amendment”) to create a new series of Preferred Units designated as “Series A Convertible Preferred Partnership Units” (the “Series A Preferred Units”).  Capitalized terms used and not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings set forth in the Partnership Agreement.

WHEREAS, SmartStop Self Storage REIT, Inc. (formerly Strategic Storage Trust II, Inc.) (the “General Partner”) has filed, on the date herewith, Articles Supplementary to create a new class of the General Partner’s preferred stock designated as the “Series A Convertible Preferred Stock” (the “Series A Preferred Stock”) and set forth the rights and privileges of the Series A Preferred Stock, including, but not limited to, the terms of redemption and conversion into the General Partner’s common stock (the “Common Stock”).

WHEREAS, the parties hereto now desire to reflect the General Partner’s authorization and issuance of Series A Preferred Stock by creating the Series A Preferred Units and setting forth the rights and privileges of the Series A Preferred Units (and other terms and conditions of such units) under the Partnership Agreement.

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

1.

Amendments to the Partnership Agreement

 

a.

Definitions.  The following definitions from Article 1 are hereby amended and restated in their entirety, or if no such definition previously appeared, are added to Article 1:

Partnership Unit means a fractional, undivided share of the Partnership Interests of all Partners issued hereunder, including Class A Units, Class A-1 Units, Class A-2 Units, Class T Units and Series A Preferred Units. Without limitation on the authority of the General Partner as set forth in Section 4.2 hereof, the General Partner may designate any Partnership Units, when issued, as Common Units or Preferred Units, may establish any other class of Partnership Units, and may designate one or more series of any class of Partnership Units. The allocation of Partnership Units of each class among the Partners shall be as set forth on Exhibit A, as such Exhibit may be amended from time to time.

~#4852-2301-9946~


 

Series A Preferred Unit means a Partnership Unit having the rights, privileges, limitations, and restrictions described on Exhibit E.

 

b.

The following provisions are hereby added as Exhibit E to the Partnership Agreement:

In accordance with Section 4.2(a) and Article 11 of the Agreement, the Partnership has issued Preferred Units labeled as the Series A Convertible Preferred Partnership Units (the “Series A Preferred Units”) to the General Partner.  The Series A Preferred Units shall have the following terms, rights and privileges:  

 

1.Designation and Number. There shall be a series of Preferred Units designated as the “Series A Convertible Preferred Units”. The number of authorized Series A Preferred Units is 200,000.

 

2.Rank. The Series A Preferred Units will, with respect to distribution rights and rights upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Partnership, rank senior to the Common Units and to any other class or series of equity securities of the Partnership now or hereafter issued and outstanding (collectively, the “Junior Units”).

 

3.Distributions.

 

(a)Each holder of the then outstanding Series A Preferred Units shall be entitled to receive, when and as authorized by the General Partner and the Partnership, out of funds of the Partnership legally available for payment, cumulative preferential cash distributions at the Distribution Rate per Series A Preferred Unit.  Such preferential distributions shall accrue on each outstanding Series A Preferred Unit on a daily basis, whether or not authorized or declared, and be cumulative from the first date on which each such Series A Preferred Unit is issued (the “Original Issue Date”), and shall be payable in arrears for the prior calendar quarter on or before the 15th day of March, June, September and December of each year (each a “Distribution Payment Date”); provided, however, that if any Distribution Payment Date is not a Business Day, then the distribution which would otherwise have been payable on such Distribution Payment Date may be paid on the preceding Business Day or the following Business Day with the same force and effect as if paid on such Distribution Payment Date.  Any distribution payable on the Series A Preferred Units for any partial distribution period will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months.  A “distribution period” shall mean, with respect to the first “distribution period,” the period from and including the Original Issue Date to and including the first Distribution Payment Date, and with respect to each subsequent “distribution period,” the period from but excluding a Distribution Payment Date to and including the next succeeding Distribution Payment Date or other date as of which accrued distributions are to be calculated.  Distributions will be payable to holders of Series A Preferred Units at the close of business on the applicable record date, which shall be the date designated by the General Partner for the payment of distributions that is not more than 30 nor less than 10 days prior to such Distribution Payment Date (each, a “Distribution Record Date”).

 

(b)No distributions on Series A Preferred Units shall be authorized by the Partnership or paid or set apart for payment by the Partnership at such time as the terms and provisions of any written agreement of the Partnership, including any agreement relating to its indebtedness, prohibit such declaration, payment or setting apart for payment or provide that such declaration, payment or setting apart for payment would constitute a breach thereof or a default thereunder, or if such declaration or payment shall be restricted or prohibited by law.  

 

2

~#4852-2301-9946~


 

 

(c)Notwithstanding the foregoing, distributions on the Series A Preferred Units shall accrue whether or not the terms and provisions set forth in Section 3(b) hereof at any time prohibit the current payment of distributions, whether or not the Partnership has earnings, whether or not there are funds legally available for the payment of such distributions and whether or not such distributions are authorized or declared.  Accrued but unpaid distributions on the Series A Preferred Units will accumulate as of the Distribution Payment Date on which they first become payable.

 

(d)Unless full cumulative distributions on all outstanding Series A Preferred Units for all past distribution periods have been or contemporaneously are authorized and declared and paid or authorized and declared and a sum sufficient for the payment thereof is set apart for payment, no distributions (other than distributions in Junior Units) shall be authorized and declared and paid or authorized and set apart for payment nor shall any other distribution be authorized and declared and made upon any Junior Units, nor shall any Junior Units be redeemed, purchased or otherwise acquired for any consideration (or any moneys be paid to or made available for a sinking fund for the redemption of any such Junior Units) by the Partnership (except (i) by conversion into or exchange for other Junior Units, (ii) by redemption, purchase or other acquisition of Common Units or such Junior Units made for purposes of an incentive, benefit, unit redemption program or unit purchase plan of the Partnership or any of its direct or indirect subsidiaries, (iii) for transfers, redemptions or purchases of Junior Units made in accordance with the Partnership Agreement in connection with transfers, redemptions or purchases of corresponding securities of the General Partner pursuant to the provisions of Article VI of the Articles of Incorporation and (iv) as otherwise required to preserve the General Partner’s REIT qualification).

 

(e)When distributions are not paid in full (or a sum sufficient for such full payment is not set apart) on the Series A Preferred Units, all distributions payable on the Series A Preferred Units shall be paid pro rata based on the number of Series A Preferred Units then outstanding.  

 

(f)Any distribution payment made on the Series A Preferred Units shall first be credited against the earliest accrued but unpaid distribution due with respect to such units which remains payable.  Holders of the Series A Preferred Units shall not be entitled to any distribution, whether payable in cash, property or units, in excess of full cumulative distributions on the Series A Preferred Units as described above.

 

4.Liquidation Preference.

 

(a)Upon any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Partnership (referred to herein as a “Liquidation”), the holders of the Series A Preferred Units will be entitled to be paid out of the assets of the Partnership legally available for distribution to its unitholders, in cash or property at its fair market value as determined by the General Partner, in an amount, for each outstanding Series A Preferred Unit equal to the greater of (i) the Liquidation Amount (subject to proportionate adjustment in the event of a recapitalization, unit distribution, combination or other proportionate reduction or increase to the Series A Preferred Units), plus an amount equal to any accrued and unpaid distributions (whether or not accumulated or authorized and declared) to the date of payment or (ii) the amount that would have been payable had each Series A Preferred Unit been converted into a Common Unit

 

3

~#4852-2301-9946~


 

pursuant to Section 6(a) hereof immediately prior to such Liquidation, in the event such Series A Preferred Unit is convertible pursuant to Section 6(a) at the time of such Liquidation (clauses (i) and (ii), collectively, the “Liquidation Preference”), in each case before any distribution or payment is made to holders of Common Units or any Junior Units as to the distribution of assets upon a Liquidation but subject to the preferential rights of holders of any class of units of the Partnership ranking senior to the Series A Preferred Units as to the distribution of assets upon a Liquidation. After payment of the full amount of the Liquidation Preference to which they are entitled, the holders of Series A Preferred Units will have no right or claim to any of the remaining assets of the Partnership.

 

(b)In the event that, upon any Liquidation of the Partnership, the available assets of the Partnership are insufficient to pay the Liquidation Preference on all outstanding Series A Preferred Units, then the holders of Series A Preferred Units and all other such equity securities of the Partnership ranking on a parity with Series A Preferred Units shall share ratably in any such distribution of assets in proportion to the full liquidating distributions per unit to which they would otherwise be respectively entitled.

 

(c)For purposes of this Section 4, neither the voluntary sale, lease, exchange, transfer or conveyance (for cash, securities or other consideration) of all or substantially all of the property or assets of the Partnership to, nor the merger or consolidation or any other business combination of the Partnership with or into any other entity or the merger or consolidation of any other entity into or with the Partnership or a statutory unit exchange by the Partnership, shall be deemed to be a Liquidation. Upon a Partnership Change of Control, if the outstanding Series A Preferred Units are not redeemed, repurchased or converted as provided in Section 5 or 6 hereof, then the Partnership will cause any acquirer of the Partnership to assume the obligations set forth herein and be subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if such assumption is not permitted by law, the Partnership shall take any actions under its control necessary to cause the acquirer to issue securities of the acquirer with substantially similar contractual rights as those contained herein (including the inclusion of a provision in the relevant merger or consolidation agreement requiring the acquirer to issue securities of the acquirer with substantially similar contractual rights as those contained herein).

 

(d)In determining whether a distribution (other than upon voluntary or involuntary Liquidation), by redemption or other acquisition of equity securities of the Partnership or otherwise, is permitted under Delaware law, amounts that would be needed, if the Partnership were to be dissolved at the time of the distribution, to satisfy the preferential rights upon dissolution of holders of the Series A Preferred Units shall not be added to the Partnership’s total liabilities.

(e)Written notice of any Liquidation, stating the payment date or dates when, and the place or places where, the amounts distributable in such circumstances shall be payable, shall be given by first class mail, postage prepaid, not less than 30 nor more than 60 days prior to the payment date stated therein to each record holder of the Series A Preferred Units at the respective address of such holders as the same shall appear on the unit transfer records of the Partnership.

 

5.Redemption and Repurchase. In connection with any redemption by the General Partner of any shares of Series A Preferred Stock pursuant to Section 5 of the Articles Supplementary, the Partnership shall redeem, on the date of such redemption, an equal number of Series A Preferred Units held by the General Partner. As consideration for the redemption of such Series A Preferred Units, the Partnership shall deliver to the General Partner an amount of cash equal to the amount of cash, if any, paid to redeem the shares of Series A Preferred Stock.  

 

 

4

~#4852-2301-9946~


 

6.Conversion Rights. The Series A Preferred Units are not convertible into or exchangeable for any other property or securities of the Partnership, except as provided in the Partnership Agreement and in this Section 6.  In the event that any share of Series A Preferred Stock is converted into shares of any class of Common Stock pursuant to the provisions of Section 6 of the Articles Supplementary, the Partnership shall convert, on the date of such conversion, an equal number of Series A Preferred Units held by the General Partner into Common Units at the same conversion rate at which such shares of Series A Preferred Stock is convertible into such class of Common Stock. Any conversion pursuant to this Section 6 shall be effective as of the close of business on the date of conversion.  

 

7.Status of Acquired Units. In the event any Series A Preferred Units have been redeemed or repurchased by the Partnership pursuant to Section 5 hereof or converted pursuant to Section 6 hereof, or otherwise reacquired by the Partnership, the units so redeemed, repurchased, converted or reacquired shall become unissued Preferred Units without further designation as to class or series, available for future classification or reclassification by the General Partner and issuance by the Partnership.

 

8.Record Holders. The Partnership and the transfer agent for the Series A Preferred Units may deem and treat the record holder of any Series A Preferred Units as the true and lawful owner thereof for all purposes, and neither the Partnership nor the transfer agent shall be affected by any notice to the contrary.

 

9.No Preemptive Rights. No holder of the Series A Preferred Units will, as a holder of the Series A Preferred Units, have any preemptive rights to purchase or subscribe for Common Units or any other security of the Partnership (whether now or hereafter authorized).

 

10.Notices to Holders. Unless otherwise provided herein or required by law, notices to holders of Series A Preferred Units provided for herein shall be mailed to such holders by first class mail, postage pre-paid, at the respective addresses as the same shall appear on the records of the Partnership.

 

11.Severability. If any of the preferences, conversion or other rights, voting powers, restrictions, limitations as to distributions or other distributions, qualifications or terms or conditions of redemption or repurchase of the Series A Preferred Units are invalid, unlawful or incapable of being enforced by reason of any rule of law or public policy, then, to the extent permitted by law, all other preferences, conversion or other rights, voting powers, restrictions, limitations as to distributions or other distributions, qualifications or terms or conditions of redemption or repurchase of the Series A Preferred Units which can be given effect without the invalid, unlawful or unenforceable preferences, conversion or other rights, voting powers, restrictions, limitations as to distributions or other distributions, qualifications or terms or conditions of redemption or repurchase of the Series A Preferred Units shall remain in full force and effect and shall not be deemed dependent upon any invalid, unlawful or unenforceable preferences, conversion or other rights, voting powers, restrictions, limitations as to distributions or other distributions, qualifications or terms or conditions of redemption or repurchase of the Series A Preferred Units.

 

12.Definitions. Capitalized terms used herein shall have the meanings set forth below or otherwise defined herein, which definitions shall apply only to the Series A Preferred Units and shall not affect the definition of such terms as used or as otherwise defined with respect to other classes or series of Preferred Units or elsewhere in the Partnership Agreement. Capitalized terms not defined herein, shall have the meaning set forth elsewhere in the Partnership Agreement.

 

 

5

~#4852-2301-9946~


 

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

 

“Distribution Rate” means a rate of 6.25% per annum of the Liquidation Amount (subject to proportionate adjustment in the event of a unit split, unit distribution, combination or other proportionate reduction or increase to the Series A Preferred Units); provided, however, if the Series A Preferred Units has not been redeemed or repurchased in full on or prior to the Fifth Anniversary Date, such Distribution Rate shall increase at the rate of 0.75% per annum of the Liquidation Amount for the initial year after the Fifth Anniversary Date, and shall increase an additional 0.75% per annum of the Liquidation Amount each year thereafter to a maximum of 9.0% per annum of the Liquidation Amount until the tenth anniversary of the First Issuance Date, at which time the Distribution Rate shall increase 0.75% per annum of the Liquidation Amount each year thereafter until the Series A Preferred Units are redeemed or repurchased in full.

 

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

 

“Fifth Anniversary Date” means the fifth anniversary of the First Issuance Date.

 

“First Issuance Date” means the date that the first Series A Preferred Unit is issued hereunder.

 

“Initial Listing” means the first day shares of any class of Common Stock are Listed.

 

“Liquidation Amount” means $1,000.00 per Series A Preferred Unit.

 

“Liquidation Premium” means, upon an Initial Listing or REIT Change of Control and in accordance with the time lapsed since the First Issuance Date, the Liquidation Amount (subject to proportionate adjustment in the event of a unit split, unit distribution, combination or other proportionate reduction or increase to the Series A Preferred Units) multiplied by:

 

Anniversary of First Issuance Date

Premium

First Issuance Date – 1st Anniversary

 

10%

 

1st Anniversary – 2nd Anniversary

 

8%

 

2nd Anniversary – 3rd Anniversary

 

6%

 

3rd Anniversary – 4th Anniversary

 

4%

 

4th Anniversary – 5th Anniversary

 

2%

 

5th Anniversary – thereafter

 

0%

 

 

“Partnership Change of Control” means (i) a sale of all or substantially all of the direct or indirect assets of the Partnership (including by way of any reorganization, merger, consolidation or other similar transaction) or (ii) a direct or indirect acquisition of beneficial ownership of voting securities of the Partnership by another Person or “group” (within the meaning of Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5 under the Exchange Act) by means of any transaction or series of transactions (including any reorganization, merger, consolidation, joint venture, unit transfer or other similar transaction), pursuant to which the unitholders of the Partnership immediately preceding such transaction or transactions collectively own, following the consummation of such transaction or transactions, less than fifty percent (50%) of the total economic interests or total voting power of all securities of beneficial interest of the Partnership entitled to vote generally.

 

6

~#4852-2301-9946~


 

 

“Person” means any individual, partnership, limited liability company, corporation, joint venture, trust or other entity.

 

“REIT Change of Control” means (i) a sale of all or substantially all of the direct or indirect assets of the General Partner (including by way of any reorganization, merger, consolidation or other similar transaction) or (ii) a direct or indirect acquisition of beneficial ownership of voting securities of the General Partner by another Person or “group” (within the meaning of Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5 under the Exchange Act) by means of any transaction or series of transactions (including any reorganization, merger, consolidation, joint venture, unit transfer or other similar transaction), pursuant to which the stockholders of the General Partner immediately preceding such transaction or transactions collectively own, following the consummation of such transaction or transactions, less than fifty percent (50%) of the total economic interests or total voting power of all securities of beneficial interest of the General Partner entitled to vote generally.

 

2.

Continuation of Partnership Agreement.  The Partnership Agreement and this Amendment shall be read together and shall have the same force and effect as if the provisions of the Partnership Agreement and this Amendment were contained in one document.  Any provisions of the Partnership Agreement not amended by this Amendment shall remain in full force and effect as provided in the Partnership Agreement immediately prior to the date hereof.  In the event of a conflict between the provisions of this Amendment and the Partnership Agreement, the provisions of this Amendment shall control.

 

[Signature Page Follows.]

 

7

~#4852-2301-9946~


 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Amendment to the Partnership Agreement as of the 29th day of October, 2019.

 

 

SMARTSTOP OP, L.P.

 

By:

SmartStop Self Storage REIT, Inc.,
its sole general partner

 

 

By:

/s/ Michael S. McClure

 

 

Name:

Michael S. McClure

 

 

Title:

Chief Executive Officer

 

SMARTSTOP SELF STORAGE REIT, INC.

 

By:

/s/ Michael S. McClure

 

Name:

Michael S. McClure

 

Title:

Chief Executive Officer

 

 

8

~#4852-2301-9946~

Exhibit 10.3

Execution Version

INVESTORS’ RIGHTS AGREEMENT

This INVESTORS’ RIGHTS AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”), dated as of October 29, 2019, is by and between SmartStop Self Storage REIT, Inc. a Maryland corporation (the “Company”), and Extra Space Storage LP, a Delaware limited partnership (the “Purchaser”).  The Purchaser and any other Person who may become a party hereto pursuant to Section 5(c) are referred to individually as a “Stockholder” and collectively as the “Stockholders.”

WHEREAS, the Company and the Purchaser are parties to the Preferred Stock Purchase Agreement, dated as of October 29, 2019, as the same may hereafter be amended from time to time (the “Purchase Agreement”); and

WHEREAS, the Purchaser desires to have and the Company desires to grant certain registration and other rights with respect to the Registrable Securities on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement.

NOW, THEREFORE, for and in consideration of the mutual agreements contained herein and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto, intending to be legally bound hereby, agree as follows:

Section 1.Definitions.  As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the following meanings, and terms used herein but not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Purchase Agreement:

Adverse Disclosure” means public disclosure of material non-public information that, in the good faith judgment of the Company’s board of directors (i) would be required to be made in any Registration Statement filed with the SEC by the Company so that such Registration Statement or report would not be materially misleading; (ii) would not be required to be made at such time but for the filing, effectiveness or continued use of such Registration Statement or report; and (iii) the Company has a bona fide business purpose for not disclosing publicly.

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

Articles Supplementary” shall mean that certain Articles Supplementary of the Company, setting forth the rights, privileges, preferences and restrictions of the Series A Preferred Stock, as may be amended from time to time.

Automatic Shelf Registration Statement” shall have the meaning set forth in Rule 405 (or any successor provision) of the Securities Act.

Class A Common Stock” shall mean all shares currently or hereafter existing of Class A Common Stock, par value $0.001 per share, of the Company.

Demand Notice” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2(b)(i).

Demand Registration” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2(b)(i).

Exchange Act” shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and any successor statute thereto and the rules and regulations of the SEC promulgated thereunder.

Indemnified Party” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2(g)(iii).

Indemnifying Party” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2(g)(iii).

Long-Form Registration” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2(b)(i).

 


 

Losses” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2(g).

Marketed Offering” shall mean a registered underwritten offering of Registrable Securities (including any registered underwritten Shelf Offering) that is consummated, withdrawn or abandoned by the applicable Stockholders following formal participation by the Company’s management in a customary “road show” (including an “electronic road show”) or other similar marketing effort by the Company.

Person” shall mean any natural person, corporation, limited partnership, general partnership, limited liability company, joint stock company, joint venture, association, company, estate, trust, bank trust company, land trust, business trust, or other organization, whether or not a legal entity, custodian, trustee-executor, administrator, nominee or entity in a representative capacity and any government or agency or political subdivision thereof.

Piggyback Notice” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2(c).

Piggyback Registration” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2(c).

Piggyback Request” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2(c).

Proceeding” shall mean an action, claim, suit, arbitration or proceeding (including an investigation or partial proceeding, such as a deposition), whether commenced or threatened.

Prospectus” shall mean the prospectus included in any Registration Statement (including a prospectus that discloses information previously omitted from a prospectus filed as part of an effective Registration Statement in reliance upon Rule 430A or Rule 430B promulgated under the Securities Act), as amended or supplemented by any prospectus supplement, and all other amendments and supplements to the Prospectus, including post-effective amendments, and all materials incorporated by reference or deemed to be incorporated by reference in such prospectus.

Purchase Agreement” shall have the meaning set forth in the recitals.

Registrable Securities” shall mean, as of any date of determination, the shares of Class A Common Stock (or the class of shares of Common Stock approved for listing on a national securities exchange into which the Class A Common Stock is converted under Section 5.2.5 of Article V of the charter of the Company after listing on such exchange) issued to the Purchaser pursuant to the Purchase Agreement (whether or not subsequently transferred to any Stockholder), or hereafter acquired by the Purchaser or any Stockholder pursuant to the conversion of the Series A Preferred Stock, and any other securities issued or issuable with respect to any such shares by way of share split, share dividend, distribution, recapitalization, merger, exchange, replacement or similar event or otherwise.  As to any particular Registrable Securities, once issued, such securities shall cease to be Registrable Securities when (i) they are sold or transferred pursuant to an effective Registration Statement under the Securities Act, (ii) they shall have ceased to be outstanding, (iii) they have been sold in a private transaction in which the transferor’s rights under this Agreement are not assigned to the transferee of the securities, or (iv) the holder thereof is able to dispose of all of its, his or her Registrable Securities under Rule 144 (or any successor rule then in effect) promulgated under the Securities Act, without any limitations thereunder (including, without limitation, volume limitations) during a three-month period without registration and restrictive legends have been removed from all certificates representing the applicable Registrable Securities.

Registration Statement” shall mean any registration statement of the Company under the Securities Act which covers any of the Registrable Securities pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement, including the Prospectus, amendments and supplements to such registration statement, including post-effective amendments, all exhibits and all material incorporated by reference or deemed to be incorporated by reference in such registration statement.

Rule 144” shall mean Rule 144 under the Securities Act, as such Rule may be amended from time to time, or any similar rule or regulation hereafter adopted by the SEC.

2


 

SEC” shall mean the Securities and Exchange Commission or any successor agency having jurisdiction under the Securities Act.

Securities Act” shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and any successor statute thereto and the rules and regulations of the SEC promulgated thereunder.

Series A Preferred Stock” shall mean all shares currently or hereafter existing of Series A Convertible Preferred Stock, par value $0.001 per share, of the Company.

Shelf Offering” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2(c)(iii).

Short-Form Registration” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2(b)(i).

Stockholders” shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble.

Take-Down Notice” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2(c)(iii).

TRS” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4(c).

underwritten registration” or “underwritten offering” shall mean a registration in which securities of the Company are sold to an underwriter for reoffering to the public.

Well-Known Seasoned Issuer” shall have the meaning set forth in Rule 405 (or any successor provision) of the Securities Act.

Section 2.Registration Rights.

(a)Holders of Registrable Securities.  A Person is deemed, and shall only be deemed, to be a holder of Registrable Securities if such Person owns Registrable Securities or has a right to acquire such Registrable Securities and such Person is a Stockholder.

(b)Demand Registrations.

(i)Requests for Registration.  Subject to the following paragraphs of this Section 2(b), at any time on or after the one (1) year anniversary of the Initial Closing Date (as defined in the Purchase Agreement), one or more Stockholders shall have the right, by delivering or causing to be delivered a written notice to the Company, to require the Company to register pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, under and in accordance with the provisions of the Securities Act, the offer, sale and distribution of all of the number of Registrable Securities requested to be so registered pursuant to the terms of this Agreement on Form S-3 (which, at the election of the Stockholders delivering such notice, may be (i) filed pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act and (ii) if the Company is a Well-Known Seasoned Issuer at the time of filing such registration statement with the SEC, designated by the Company as an Automatic Shelf Registration Statement), if the Company is then eligible for such short-form, or any similar or successor short-form registration (“Short-Form Registrations”) or, if the Company is not then eligible for such short form registration, on Form S-1, Form S-11 or any similar or successor long-form registration (“Long-Form Registrations”) (any such written notice, a “Demand Notice” and any such registration, a “Demand Registration”), as soon as reasonably practicable after delivery of such Demand Notice, but, in any event, the Company shall be required to make the initial filing of the Registration Statement in connection with such Demand Registration within sixty (60) days, in the case of a Long-Form Registration, or thirty (30) days, in the case of a Short-Form Registration, following receipt of such Demand Notice; provided, however, that (i) a Demand Notice may only be made if the sale of the Registrable Securities requested to be registered by such Stockholders is reasonably expected to result in aggregate gross cash proceeds in excess of $20,000,000 (without regard to any underwriting discount or commission), (ii) such Stockholders will not be entitled to deliver (or cause to be delivered) more than four (4) Demand Notices in the aggregate under this Agreement, of which no more than two (2) Demand Notices shall be delivered (or caused to be delivered) in connection with Marketed Offerings, and (iii) the Company will not be obligated to effect more

3


 

than one (1) Demand Registration that is an Underwritten Offering in any twelve (12) month period.  Following receipt of a Demand Notice for a Demand Registration in accordance with this Section 2(b)(i), the Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to file a Registration Statement in accordance with such Demand Notice as promptly as practicable and shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause such Registration Statement to be declared effective under the Securities Act as promptly as practicable after the filing thereof.  

No Demand Registration shall be deemed to have occurred for purposes of this Section 2(b), and any Demand Notice delivered in connection therewith shall not count as a Demand Notice for purposes of this Section (2)(b)(i), if (x) the Registration Statement relating thereto (and covering not less than 75% of the Registrable Securities specified in the applicable Demand Notice for sale in accordance with the intended method or methods of distribution specified in such Demand Notice) (i) does not become effective, or (ii) is not maintained effective for the period required pursuant to this Section 2(b) or (y) the offering of the Registrable Securities pursuant to such Registration Statement is subject to a stop order, injunction, or similar order or requirement of the SEC during such period.

All requests made pursuant to this Section 2(b) will specify the number of Registrable Securities to be registered and the intended methods of disposition thereof; provided, however, that subject to Section 2(e)(xiii) and Section 3(c), the Company shall not be obligated to list the Registrable Securities on any securities exchange.

Except as otherwise agreed by all Stockholders with Registrable Securities subject to a Demand Registration, the Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to maintain the continuous effectiveness of the Registration Statement with respect to any Demand Registration until such securities cease to be Registrable Securities or such shorter period upon which all Stockholders with Registrable Securities included in such Registration Statement have notified the Company that such Registrable Securities have actually been sold.

Within five (5) business days after receipt by the Company of a Demand Notice pursuant to this Section 2(b), the Company shall deliver a written notice of any such Demand Notice to all other holders of Registrable Securities, and the Company shall, subject to the provisions of Section 2(b)(ii), include in such Demand Registration all such Registrable Securities with respect to which the Company has received written requests for inclusion therein within ten (10) business days after the date that such notice has been delivered; provided that such holders must agree to the method of distribution proposed by the Stockholders who delivered the Demand Notice and, in connection with any underwritten registration, such holders (together with the Company and the other holders including securities in such underwritten registration) must enter into an underwriting agreement in the form reasonably approved by the Stockholders holding a majority of the Registrable Securities.  All requests made pursuant to the preceding sentence shall specify the aggregate amount of Registrable Securities to be registered and the intended method of distribution of such securities.  

(ii)Priority on Demand Registration.  If any of the Registrable Securities registered pursuant to a Demand Registration are to be sold in an underwritten offering, and the managing underwriter or underwriters advise the holders of such securities in writing that in its good faith opinion the total number or dollar amount of Registrable Securities proposed to be sold in such offering is such as to adversely affect the price, timing or distribution of such offering (including securities proposed to be included by other holders of securities entitled to include securities in such Registration Statement pursuant to incidental or piggyback registration rights), then there shall be included in such underwritten offering the number or dollar amount of Registrable Securities and such other securities that in the opinion of such managing underwriter can be sold without adversely affecting such offering, and such number of Registrable Securities and such other securities shall be allocated as follows:

(A)first, pro rata among the holders of Registrable Securities that have requested to participate in such Demand Registration on the basis of the percentage of the Registrable Securities requested to be included in such Registration Statement by such holders; and

4


 

(B)second, the securities for which inclusion in such Demand Registration, as the case may be, was requested by the Company.

No securities excluded from the underwriting by reason of the underwriter’s marketing limitation shall be included in such offering.

(iii)Postponement of Demand Registration.  The Company shall be entitled to postpone (but not more than once in any 12-month period), for a reasonable period of time not in excess of thirty (30) days, the filing (but not the preparation) of a Registration Statement if the Company delivers to the Stockholders requesting registration a certificate certifying that such registration and offering would reasonably be expected to materially adversely affect or materially interfere with any bona fide material financing of the Company or any material transaction under consideration by the Company or require the Company to make an Adverse Disclosure.  Such certificate shall contain a statement of the reasons for such postponement and an approximation of the anticipated delay.  The Stockholders receiving such certificate shall keep the information contained in such certificate confidential subject to the same terms set forth in Section 2(e)(xv).  If the Company shall so postpone the filing of a Registration Statement, the Stockholders requesting such registration shall have the right to withdraw the request for registration by giving written notice to the Company within ten (10) days of the anticipated termination date of the postponement period, as provided in the certificate delivered to the applicable Stockholders and, for the avoidance of doubt, upon such withdrawal, the withdrawn request shall not constitute a Demand Notice; provided that in the event such Stockholders do not so withdraw the request for registration, the Company shall continue to prepare a Registration Statement during such postponement such that, if it exercises its rights under this Section 2(b)(iii), it shall be in a position to and shall, as promptly as practicable following the expiration of the applicable deferral or suspension period, file or update and use its reasonable best efforts to cause the effectiveness of the applicable deferred or suspended Registration Statement.

(iv)Cancellation of a Demand Registration.  Holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities that are to be registered in a particular offering pursuant to this Section 2(b) shall have the right to notify the Company that they have determined that the registration statement be abandoned or withdrawn, in which event the Company shall abandon or withdraw such registration statement; provided, that such Demand Notice underlying such abandonment or withdrawal shall not be deemed to be a Demand Notice for purposes of Section 2(b)(i) if in response to a material adverse change regarding the Company or a material adverse change in the financial markets generally.

(v)Marketed Offerings.    In connection with any Demand Notices that are Marketed Offerings, the Company shall cause its officers to use their reasonable best efforts to support the marketing of the Registrable Securities covered by the Registration Statement (including participation in customary “road shows” and the like).

(c)Piggyback Registration; Shelf Take Down.

(i)Right to Piggyback.  Except with respect to a Demand Registration, the procedures for which are addressed in Section 2(b), if the Company proposes to file a registration statement under the Securities Act with respect to an offering of Class A Common Stock whether or not for sale for its own account and whether or not an underwritten offering or an underwritten registration (other than a registration statement (i) on Form S-4, Form S-8 or any successor forms thereto, (ii) filed in connection with an exchange offer or any employee benefit or dividend reinvestment plan, (iii) relating solely to the offer and sale of debt securities or (iv) in connection with any dividend or distribution reinvestment or similar plan), then the Company shall give prompt written notice of such filing no later than twenty (20) days prior to the filing date (the “Piggyback Notice”) to all of the holders of Registrable Securities.  The Piggyback Notice shall offer such holders the opportunity to include (or cause to be included) in such registration statement the number of Registrable Securities as each such holder may request (a “Piggyback Registration”).  Subject to Section 2(c)(ii), the Company shall include in each such Piggyback Registration all Registrable Securities with respect to which the Company has received written requests for inclusion therein (each a “Piggyback Request”) within ten (10) days after notice has been given to the applicable holder.  The Company shall not be required to maintain the

5


 

effectiveness of the Registration Statement for a Piggyback Registration beyond the earlier to occur of (x) one hundred eighty (180) days after the effective date thereof and (y) consummation of the distribution by the holders of the Registrable Securities included in such Registration Statement.

(ii)Priority on Piggyback Registrations.  If any of the Registrable Securities to be registered pursuant to the registration giving rise to the rights under this Section 2(c) are to be sold in an underwritten offering, the Company shall use reasonable best efforts to cause the managing underwriter or underwriters of a proposed underwritten offering to permit holders of Registrable Securities who have submitted a Piggyback Request in connection with such offering to include in such offering all Registrable Securities included in each holder’s Piggyback Request on the same terms and conditions as any other shares of capital stock, if any, of the Company included in the offering.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the managing underwriter or underwriters of such underwritten offering advise the Company in writing that it is their good faith opinion the total number or dollar amount of securities that such holders, the Company and any other Persons having rights to participate in such registration, intend to include in such offering is such as to adversely affect the price, timing or distribution of the securities in such offering, then there shall be included in such underwritten offering the number or dollar amount of securities that in the opinion of such managing underwriter or underwriters can be sold without so adversely affecting such offering, and such number of Registrable Securities shall be allocated as follows: (i) first, all securities proposed to be sold by the Company for its own account; (ii) second, all Registrable Securities requested to be included in such registration pursuant to Section 2(c), pro rata among such holders on the basis of the percentage of the Registrable Securities requested to be included in such Registration Statement by such holders; and (iii) third, all other securities requested to be included in such Registration Statement; provided that holders may, prior to the earlier of the (i) effectiveness of the Registration Statement and (ii) time at which the offering price and/or underwriter’s discount are determined with the managing underwriter or underwriters, withdraw their request to be included in such registration pursuant to this Section 2(c).

(iii)Shelf-Take Downs.  At any time that a shelf registration statement covering Registrable Securities pursuant to Section 2(b) or Section 2(c) is effective, if any Stockholder delivers a notice to the Company (a “Take-Down Notice”) stating that it intends to sell all or part of its Registrable Securities included by it on the shelf registration statement (a “Shelf Offering”), then, the Company shall amend or supplement the shelf registration statement as may be necessary in order to enable such Registrable Securities to be distributed pursuant to the Shelf Offering (taking into account the inclusion of Registrable Securities by any other holders pursuant to this Section 2(c)(iii)).  In connection with any Shelf Offering, including any Shelf Offering that is a Marketed Offering:

(A)within ten (10) days after receipt by the Company of a Take-Down Notice, the Company shall deliver a written notice of such Take-Down Notice to all other holders of Registrable Securities included on such shelf registration statement and permit each such holder to include its Registrable Securities included on the shelf registration statement in the Shelf Offering if such holder notifies the Company within ten (10) days after delivery of notice to such holder; and

(B)if the Shelf Offering is underwritten, in the event that the underwriters of such Shelf Offering advise such holders in writing that it is their good faith opinion the total number or dollar amount of securities proposed to be sold exceeds the total number or dollar amount of such securities that can be sold without having an adverse effect on the price, timing or distribution of the Registrable Securities to be included, then the underwriter may limit the number of Registrable Securities which would otherwise be included in such Shelf Offering in the same manner as described in Section 2(b)(ii) with respect to a limitation of shares to be included in a registration;

provided, however, that each Shelf Offering that is a Marketed Offering initiated by a Stockholder shall be deemed to be a demand subject to the provisions of Section 2(b) (subject to Section 2(b)(iv)), and shall decrease by one the number of Demand Notices such Stockholder is entitled to pursuant to Section 2(b)(i); provided, further, that a Take-Down Notice with respect to an underwritten offering that is not a Marketed Offering may only be made if the sale of the Registrable Securities requested to be sold by all Stockholders in the Shelf Offering is reasonably expected to result in aggregate gross cash proceeds in excess of $20,000,000 (without regard to any underwriting discount or commission).

6


 

(d)Restrictions on Public Sale by Holders of Registrable Securities.  Each holder of Registrable Securities agrees with all other holders of Registrable Securities and the Company in connection with any underwritten offering made pursuant to a Registration Statement filed pursuant to Section 2(b) and Section 2(c)(i), respectively (whether or not such holder elected to include Registrable Securities in such Registration Statement), if requested (pursuant to a written notice) by the managing underwriter or underwriters in such offering, not to effect any public sale or distribution of any of the Company’s securities (except as part of such underwritten offering), including a sale pursuant to Rule 144 or any swap or other economic arrangement that transfers to another any of the economic consequences of owning the Series A Preferred Stock or Class A Common Stock, or to give any Demand Notice during the period commencing on the date of the Prospectus and continuing for not more than ninety (90) days after the date of the Prospectus (or, in either case, Prospectus supplement if the offering is made pursuant to a “shelf” registration), pursuant to which such public offering shall be made.  In connection with any underwritten offering made pursuant to a Registration Statement filed pursuant to Section 2(b) or Section 2(c), the Company shall be responsible for negotiating all “lock-up” agreements with the underwriters and, in addition to the foregoing provisions of this Section 2(d), the Stockholders and holders of Registrable Securities agree to execute the form so negotiated; provided, that the form so negotiated is reasonably acceptable to the Stockholders and holders of Registrable Securities and consistent with the agreement set forth in this Section 2(d) and that, in the case of a Marketed Offering, the Company’s executive officers and directors shall also have executed such form of agreement so negotiated.

If any registration pursuant to Section 2(b) of this Agreement shall be in connection with any: (i) Marketed Offering (including with respect to a Shelf Offering pursuant to Section 2(c)(iii) hereof), the Company will cause each of its executive officers and directors to sign a “lock-up” agreement consistent with that contemplated in the immediately preceding paragraph, and (ii) underwritten offering (including with respect to a Shelf Offering pursuant to Section 2(c)(iii) hereof), the Company will also not effect any public sale or distribution of any common equity (or securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for common equity) (other than a registration statement (A) on Form S-4, Form S-8 or any successor forms thereto or (B) filed solely in connection with an exchange offer or any employee benefit or dividend reinvestment plan) for its own account, within ninety (90) days after the date of the Prospectus for such offering except as may otherwise be agreed with the holders of the Registrable Securities in such offering.

(e)Registration Procedures.  If and whenever the Company is required to effect the registration of any Registrable Securities under the Securities Act as provided in Section 2(b) or Section 2(c), the Company shall effect such registration to permit the sale of such Registrable Securities in accordance with the intended method or methods of disposition thereof, and pursuant thereto the Company shall cooperate in the sale of the securities and shall, as expeditiously as possible to the extent applicable:

(i)prepare and file with the SEC a Registration Statement or Registration Statements on such form as shall be available for the sale of the Registrable Securities by the holders thereof or by the Company in accordance with the intended method or methods of distribution thereof and in accordance with this Agreement, and use its reasonable best efforts to cause such Registration Statement to become effective and to remain effective as provided herein; provided, however, that before filing a Registration Statement or Prospectus or any amendments or supplements thereto (including documents that would be incorporated or deemed to be incorporated therein by reference), the Company shall furnish or otherwise make available to the holders of the Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement, their counsel and the managing underwriters, if any, copies of all such documents proposed to be filed, which documents will be subject to the reasonable review and comment of such counsel, and such other documents reasonably requested by such counsel, including any comment letter from the SEC, and, if requested by such counsel, provide such counsel reasonable opportunity to participate in the preparation of such Registration Statement and each Prospectus included therein and, to the extent reasonably necessary to enable such holders to exercise their due diligence responsibility, such other opportunities to conduct a reasonable investigation within the meaning of the Securities Act, including reasonable access to the Company’s books and records, officers, accountants and other advisors upon reasonable notice and only to the extent the Company determines in good faith that such disclosure and access would not forfeit any attorney-client privilege or confidentiality obligations.  The Company shall not file any such Registration Statement or Prospectus or any amendments or supplements thereto (including such

7


 

documents that, upon filing, would be incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference therein) with respect to a Demand Registration to which the holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement, their counsel, or the managing underwriters, if any, shall reasonably object, in writing, on a timely basis, unless, in the opinion of the Company’s counsel, such filing is necessary to comply with applicable law;

(ii)prepare and file with the SEC such amendments and post-effective amendments to each Registration Statement as may be necessary to keep such Registration Statement continuously effective during the period provided herein and comply in all material respects with the provisions of the Securities Act with respect to the disposition of all securities covered by such Registration Statement; and cause the related Prospectus to be supplemented by any Prospectus supplement as may be necessary to comply with the provisions of the Securities Act with respect to the disposition of the securities covered by such Registration Statement, and as so supplemented to be filed pursuant to Rule 424 (or any similar provisions then in force) under the Securities Act;

(iii)promptly notify each selling holder of Registrable Securities, its counsel and the managing underwriters, if any, and, if requested by any such Person, confirm such notice in writing, (i) when a Prospectus or any Prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment has been filed, and, with respect to a Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment, when the same has become effective, (ii) of any request by the SEC or any other federal or state governmental authority for amendments or supplements to a Registration Statement or related Prospectus or for additional information, (iii) of the issuance by the SEC of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of a Registration Statement or the initiation of any proceedings for that purpose, (iv) if at any time the Company has reason to believe that the representations and warranties of the Company contained in any agreement (including any underwriting agreement) contemplated by Section 2(e)(xiv) below cease to be true and correct, (v) of the receipt by the Company of any notification with respect to the suspension of the qualification or exemption from qualification of any of the Registrable Securities for sale in any jurisdiction, or the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for such purpose, and (vi) if the Company has knowledge of the happening of any event that makes any statement made in such Registration Statement or related Prospectus or any document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated therein by reference untrue in any material respect or that requires the making of any changes in such Registration Statement, Prospectus or documents so that, in the case of the Registration Statement, it will 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, and that in the case of the Prospectus, it will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading (which notice shall notify the selling holders only of the occurrence of such an event and shall provide no additional information regarding such event to the extent such information would constitute material non-public information);

(iv)use its reasonable best efforts to prevent the issuance or obtain the withdrawal of any order suspending the effectiveness of a Registration Statement, or the lifting of any suspension of the qualification (or exemption from qualification) of any of the Registrable Securities for sale in any jurisdiction at the earliest date reasonably practicable;

(v)if requested by the managing underwriters, if any, or the holders of a majority of the then-outstanding Registrable Securities being sold in connection with an underwritten offering, promptly include in a Prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment such information as the managing underwriters, if any, and such holders may reasonably request in order to permit the intended method of distribution of such securities and make all required filings of such Prospectus supplement or such post-effective amendment as soon as practicable after the Company has received such request; provided, however, that the Company shall not be required to take any actions under this Section 2(e) that are not, in the opinion of counsel for the Company, in compliance with applicable law;

8


 

(vi)furnish or make available to each selling holder of Registrable Securities, its counsel and each managing underwriter, if any, without charge, at least one conformed copy of the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and Prospectus supplements, if applicable, and each post-effective amendment thereto, including financial statements (but excluding schedules, all documents incorporated or deemed to be incorporated therein by reference, and all exhibits, unless requested in writing by such holder, counsel or underwriter); provided that the Company may furnish or make available any such documents in electronic format;

(vii)deliver to each selling holder of Registrable Securities, its counsel, and the underwriters, if any, without charge, as many copies of the Prospectus or Prospectuses (including each form of Prospectus) and each amendment or supplement thereto as such Persons may reasonably request from time to time in connection with the distribution of the Registrable Securities; provided that the Company may furnish or make available any such documents in electronic format (other than, in the case of a Marketed Offering, upon the request of the managing underwriters thereof for printed copies of any such Prospectus or Prospectuses); and the Company, subject to the last paragraph of this Section 2(e), hereby consents to the use of such Prospectus and each amendment or supplement thereto by each of the selling holders of Registrable Securities and the underwriters, if any, in connection with the offering and sale of the Registrable Securities covered by such Prospectus and any such amendment or supplement thereto;

(viii)prior to any public offering of Registrable Securities, use its reasonable best efforts to register or qualify or cooperate with the selling holders of Registrable Securities, the underwriters, if any, and their respective counsel in connection with the registration or qualification (or exemption from such registration or qualification) of such Registrable Securities for offer and sale under the securities or “blue sky” laws of such jurisdictions within the United States as any seller or underwriter reasonably requests in writing and to keep each such registration or qualification (or exemption therefrom) effective during the period such Registration Statement is required to be kept effective pursuant to this Agreement and to take any other action that may be necessary or advisable to enable such holders of Registrable Securities to consummate the disposition of such Registrable Securities in such jurisdiction; provided, however, that the Company will not be required to (i) qualify generally to do business in any jurisdiction where would not otherwise be required to qualify but for this Agreement or (ii) take any action that would subject it to general service of process in any such jurisdiction where it would not otherwise be subject but for this Agreement;

(ix)cooperate with, and direct the Company’s transfer agent to cooperate with, the selling holders of Registrable Securities and the managing underwriters, if any, to facilitate the timely settlement of any offering or sale of Registrable Securities, including the preparation and delivery of certificates (not bearing any legends) or book-entry (not bearing stop transfer instructions) representing Registrable Securities to be sold after receiving written representations from each holder of such Registrable Securities that the Registrable Securities represented by the certificates so delivered by such holder will be transferred in accordance with the Registration Statement and, in connection therewith, if reasonably required by the Company’s transfer agent, the Company shall promptly after the effectiveness of the registration statement cause an opinion of counsel as to the effectiveness of any Registration Statement to be delivered to and maintained with its transfer agent, together with any other authorizations, certificates and directions required by the transfer agent which authorize and direct the transfer agent to issue such Registrable Securities without restriction upon sale by the holder of such shares of Registrable Securities under the Registration Statement;

(x)upon the occurrence of, and its knowledge of, any event contemplated by Section 2(e)(iii)(vi) above, prepare a supplement or post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement or a supplement to the related Prospectus or any document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated therein by reference, or file any other required document so that, as thereafter delivered to the purchasers of the Registrable Securities being sold thereunder, such that the Registration Statement will 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, and the Prospectus will not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or 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, not misleading;

9


 

(xi)prior to the effective date of the Registration Statement relating to the Registrable Securities, provide a CUSIP number for the Registrable Securities;

(xii)provide and cause to be maintained a transfer agent and registrar for all Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement from and after a date not later than the effective date of such Registration Statement;

(xiii)use its reasonable best efforts to cause all shares of Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement to be listed on a national securities exchange if shares of the particular class of Registrable Securities are at that time listed on such exchange, as the case may be, prior to the effectiveness of such Registration Statement;

(xiv)enter into such agreements (including underwriting agreements in form, scope and substance as is customary in underwritten offerings and such other documents reasonably required under the terms of such underwriting agreements, including customary legal opinions and auditor “comfort” letters) and take all such other actions reasonably requested by the holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities being sold in connection therewith (including those reasonably requested by the managing underwriters, if any) to expedite or facilitate the disposition of such Registrable Securities;

(xv)in connection with a customary due diligence review, upon reasonable notice, make available for inspection by a representative of the selling holders of Registrable Securities, any underwriter participating in any such disposition of Registrable Securities, if any, and any counsel or accountants retained by such selling holders or underwriter (collectively, the “Offering Persons”), at the offices where normally kept, during reasonable business hours, all financial and other records, pertinent corporate documents and properties of the Company and its subsidiaries, and cause the officers, directors and employees of the Company and its subsidiaries to supply all information and participate in customary due diligence sessions in each case reasonably requested by any such representative, underwriter, counsel or accountant in connection with such Registration Statement unless the Company determines in good faith that such due diligence would forfeit any attorney-client privilege or confidentiality obligations, provided, however, that any information that is not generally publicly available at the time of delivery of such information shall be kept confidential by such Offering Persons unless (i) disclosure of such information is required by court or administrative order, (ii) disclosure of such information, in the reasonable judgment of the Offering Persons, is required by law or applicable legal process (including in connection with the offer and sale of securities pursuant to the rules and regulations of the SEC), (iii) such information is or becomes generally available to the public other than as a result of a non-permitted disclosure or failure to safeguard by such Offering Persons in violation of this Agreement or (iv) such information (A) was known to such Offering Persons (prior to its disclosure by the Company) from a source other than the Company when such source, to the knowledge of the Offering Persons, was not bound by any contractual, legal or fiduciary obligation of confidentiality to the Company with respect to such information, (B) becomes available to the Offering Persons from a source other than the Company when such source, to the knowledge of the Offering Persons, is not bound by any contractual, legal or fiduciary obligation of confidentiality to the Company with respect to such information or (C) was developed independently by the Offering Persons or their respective representatives without the use or, or reliance on, information provided by the Company.  In the case of a proposed disclosure pursuant to (i) or (ii) above, such Person shall be required to give the Company written notice of the proposed disclosure prior to such disclosure (except in the case of (ii) above when a proposed disclosure was or is to be made in connection with a Registration Statement or Prospectus under this Agreement); and

(xvi)cooperate with each seller of Registrable Securities and each underwriter or agent participating in the disposition of such Registrable Securities and their respective counsel in connection with any filings required to be made with the FINRA, including the use reasonable best efforts to obtain FINRA’s pre-clearance or pre-approval of the Registration Statement and applicable Prospectus upon filing with the SEC.

10


 

The Company may require each holder of Registrable Securities as to which any registration is being effected to furnish to the Company in writing such information required in connection with such registration regarding such seller and the distribution of such Registrable Securities as the Company may, from time to time, reasonably request in writing and the Company may exclude from such registration the Registrable Securities of any holder who unreasonably fails to furnish such information within a reasonable time after receiving such request.

Each holder of Registrable Securities agrees if such holder has Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement that, upon receipt of any written notice from the Company of the happening of any event of the kind described in Section 2(e)(ii), 2(e)(iii), 2(e)(iv) or 2(e)(v), such holder will forthwith discontinue disposition of such Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement or Prospectus until such holder’s receipt of the copies of the supplemented or amended Prospectus contemplated by Section 2(e)(x), or until it is advised in writing by the Company that the use of the applicable Prospectus may be resumed, and has received copies of any additional or supplemental filings that are incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference in such Prospectus; provided, however, that the time periods under Section 2(b) with respect to the length of time that the effectiveness of a Registration Statement must be maintained shall automatically be extended by the amount of time the holder is required to discontinue disposition of such securities.

(f)Registration Expenses.  All fees and expenses incurred in connection with registrations, filings or qualifications pursuant to Section 2 of this Agreement (including (i) all registration and filing fees (including fees and expenses with respect to (A) all SEC, stock exchange or trading system and FINRA registration, listing, filing and qualification and any other fees associated with such filings, including with respect to counsel for the underwriters and any qualified independent underwriter in connection with FINRA qualifications, (B) rating agencies and (C) compliance with securities or “blue sky” laws, including any fees and disbursements of counsel for the underwriters in connection with “blue sky” qualifications of the Registrable Securities pursuant to Section 2(e)(viii)), (ii) fees and expenses of the financial printer, (iii) messenger, telephone and delivery expenses of the Company, (iv) fees and disbursements of counsel for the Company, (v) reasonable fees and disbursements of one counsel for the selling holders of Registrable Securities (together with one local counsel to the extent reasonably necessary), and (vi) fees and disbursements of all independent certified public accountants, including the expenses of any special audits and/or “comfort letters” required by or incident to such performance and compliance), shall be borne by the Company whether or not any Registration Statement is filed or becomes effective; provided, however, that in the event of abandonment or withdrawal of a registration statement pursuant to Section 2(b)(iv) that is not in response to a material adverse change regarding the Company, fees and disbursements made by or on behalf of the holders of Registrable Securities shall be borne by such holders of Registrable Securities.  All underwriters discounts and selling commissions and all stock transfer taxes, in each case related to Registrable Securities registered in accordance with the Agreement, shall be borne by the Stockholders of Registrable Securities included in such registration pro rata among each other on the basis of the number of Registrable Securities so registered (provided that such stock transfer taxes shall be borne solely by the holders of Registrable Securities subject to such taxes).

(g)Indemnification.

(i)Indemnification by the Company.  The Company shall, without limitation as to time, indemnify and hold harmless, to the fullest extent permitted by law, each holder of Registrable Securities whose Registrable Securities are covered by a Registration Statement or Prospectus, the officers, directors, partners, members, managers, stockholders, accountants, attorneys, agents and employees of each of them, each Person who controls each such holder (within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act) and the officers, directors, partners, members, managers, stockholders, accountants, attorneys, agents and employees of each such controlling person, each underwriter, if any, and each Person who controls (within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act) such underwriter, from and against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities, costs (including costs of preparation and reasonable attorneys’ fees and any legal or other fees or expenses incurred by such party in connection with any investigation or Proceeding), expenses, judgments, fines, penalties, charges and amounts

11


 

paid in settlement (collectively, “Losses”), as incurred, arising out of or based upon any untrue statement (or alleged untrue statement) of a material fact contained in any Prospectus, offering circular, any amendments or supplements thereto, “issuer free writing prospectus” (as such term is defined in Rule 433 under the Securities Act) or other document (including any related Registration Statement, notification, or the like) incident to any such registration, qualification, or compliance, or based on any omission (or alleged omission) to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, or any violation by the Company of the Securities Act, the Exchange Act, any state securities law, or any rule or regulation thereunder applicable to the Company and (without limitation of the preceding portions of this Section 2(g)(i)) will reimburse each such holder, each of its officers, directors, partners, members, managers, stockholders, accountants, attorneys, agents and employees and each Person who controls each such holder and the officers, directors, partners, members, managers, stockholders, accountants, attorneys, agents and employees of each such controlling person, each such underwriter, and each Person who controls any such underwriter, for any legal and any other expenses reasonably incurred in connection with investigating and defending or settling any such Loss or action, provided that the Company will not be liable in any such case to the extent that any such Loss arises out of or is based on any untrue statement or omission by such holder or underwriter, but only to the extent, that such untrue statement (or alleged untrue statement) or omission (or alleged omission) is made in such Registration Statement, Prospectus, offering circular, or other document in reliance upon and in conformity with written information regarding such holder of Registrable Securities furnished to the Company by such holder of Registrable Securities expressly for inclusion therein.  It is agreed that the indemnity agreement contained in this Section 2(g)(i) shall not apply to amounts paid in settlement of any such Loss or action if such settlement is effected without the consent of the Company (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld).  The indemnification provided for under this Section 2(g)(i) shall survive the transfer of the Registrable Securities by the selling holder of Registrable Securities.

(ii)Indemnification by Holder of Registrable Securities.  The Company may require, as a condition to including any Registrable Securities in any registration statement filed in accordance with this Agreement, that the Company shall have received an undertaking reasonably satisfactory to it from the prospective seller of such Registrable Securities to indemnify, to the fullest extent permitted by law, severally and not jointly with any other holders of Registrable Securities, the Company, its directors and officers and each Person who controls the Company (within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act and Section 20 of the Exchange Act) and all other prospective sellers, from and against all Losses arising out of or based on any untrue statement of a material fact contained in any such Registration Statement, Prospectus, offering circular, any amendments or supplements thereto, “issuer free writing prospectus” (as such term is defined in Rule 433 under the Securities Act) or other document, or any omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, and to reimburse the Company, its directors and officers and each Person who controls the Company (within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act and Section 20 of the Exchange Act) and all other prospective sellers for any legal or any other expenses reasonably incurred in connection with investigating or defending any such Loss or action, in each case to the extent, but only to the extent, that such untrue statement or omission is made in such Registration Statement, Prospectus, offering circular, any amendments or supplements thereto, “issuer free writing prospectus” (as such term is defined in Rule 433 under the Securities Act) or other document in reliance upon and in conformity with written information regarding such holder of Registrable Securities furnished to the Company by such holder of Registrable Securities expressly for inclusion therein; provided, however, that the obligations of such holder under such undertaking shall not apply to amounts paid in settlement of any such Losses (or actions in respect thereof) if such settlement is effected without the consent of such holder (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld); and provided, further, that the liability of such holder of Registrable Securities shall be limited to the net proceeds received by such selling holder from the sale of Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement. The indemnification provided for under this Section 2(g)(ii) shall survive the transfer of the Registrable Securities by the selling holder.

12


 

(iii)Conduct of Indemnification Proceedings.  If any Person shall be entitled to indemnity hereunder or under the undertaking contemplated by Section 2(g)(ii) (an “Indemnified Party”), such Indemnified Party shall give prompt notice to the party from which such indemnity is sought (the “Indemnifying Party”) of any claim or of the commencement of any Proceeding with respect to which such Indemnified Party seeks indemnification or contribution pursuant hereto; provided, however, that the delay or failure to so notify the Indemnifying Party shall not relieve the Indemnifying Party from any obligation or liability except to the extent that the Indemnifying Party has been materially prejudiced by such delay or failure.  The Indemnifying Party shall have the right, exercisable by giving written notice to an Indemnified Party promptly after the receipt of written notice from such Indemnified Party of such claim or Proceeding, to, unless in the Indemnified Party’s reasonable judgment a conflict of interest between such indemnified and indemnifying parties may exist in respect of such claim, assume, at the Indemnifying Party’s expense, the defense of any such claim or Proceeding, with counsel reasonably satisfactory to such Indemnified Party; provided, however, that an Indemnified Party shall have the right to employ separate counsel in any such claim or Proceeding and to participate in the defense thereof, but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of such Indemnified Party unless: (i) the Indemnifying Party agrees to pay such fees and expenses; or (ii) the Indemnifying Party fails promptly to assume, or in the event of a conflict of interest cannot assume, the defense of such claim or Proceeding or fails to employ counsel reasonably satisfactory to such Indemnified Party in any such Proceeding, in which case the Indemnified Party shall have the right to employ separate counsel and to assume the defense of such claim or proceeding at the Indemnifying Party’s expense; provided, further, however, that the Indemnifying Party shall not, in connection with any one such claim or Proceeding or separate but substantially similar or related claims or Proceedings in the same jurisdiction, arising out of the same general allegations or circumstances, be liable for the fees and expenses of more than one firm of attorneys (together with appropriate local counsel) at any time for all of the Indemnified Parties.  Whether or not such defense is assumed by the Indemnifying Party, such Indemnifying Party will not be subject to any liability for any settlement made without its consent (but such consent will not be unreasonably withheld).  The Indemnifying Party shall not consent to entry of any judgment or enter into any settlement that does not include as an unconditional term thereof the giving by the claimant or plaintiff to such Indemnified Party of a release, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Indemnified Party, from all liability in respect of such claim or litigation for which such Indemnified Party would be entitled to indemnification hereunder.  All fees and expenses of the Indemnified Party (including reasonable fees and expenses to the extent incurred in connection with investigating or preparing to defend such proceeding in a manner not inconsistent with this Section) shall be paid to the Indemnified Party, as incurred, promptly upon receipt of written notice thereof to the Indemnifying Party (regardless of whether it is ultimately determined that an Indemnified Party is not entitled to indemnification hereunder, provided that the Indemnifying Party may require such Indemnified Party to undertake to reimburse all such fees and expenses to the extent it is finally judicially determined that such Indemnified Party is not entitled to indemnification under this Section 2(g)).

(iv)Contribution.  If the indemnification provided for in this Section 2(g) is unavailable to an Indemnified Party in respect of any Losses (other than in accordance with its terms), then each applicable Indemnifying Party, in lieu of indemnifying such Indemnified Party, shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such Indemnified Party as a result of such Losses, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative fault of the Indemnifying Party, on the one hand, and such Indemnified Party, on the other hand, in connection with the actions, statements or omissions that resulted in such Losses as well as any other relevant equitable considerations.  The relative fault of such Indemnifying Party, on the one hand, and Indemnified Party, on the other hand, shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether any action in question, including any untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or omission or alleged omission to state a material fact, has been made (or omitted) by, or relates to information supplied by, such Indemnifying Party or Indemnified Party, and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent any such action, statement or omission.

The parties hereto agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 2(g)(iv) were determined by pro rata allocation or by any other method of allocation that does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to in the immediately preceding paragraph.  Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 2(g)(iv), an Indemnifying Party that is a selling holder of

13


 

Registrable Securities shall not be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount that such Indemnifying Party has otherwise been, or would otherwise be, required to pay pursuant to Section 2(g)(ii) by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission.  No Person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any Person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation.

(v)Notwithstanding the foregoing, to the extent that the provisions on indemnification and contribution contained in the underwriting agreement entered into in connection with the underwritten public offering are in conflict with the foregoing provisions, the provisions in the underwriting agreement shall control.

(h)Rule 144.  The Company shall use reasonable best efforts to: (i) file the reports required to be filed by it under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act in a timely manner, to the extent required from time to time to enable such holder to sell Registrable Securities without registration under the Securities Act within the limitations of the exemption provided by Rule 144; and (ii) so long as any Registrable Securities are outstanding, furnish holders thereof upon request (A) a written statement by the Company as to its compliance with the reporting requirements of Rule 144 under the Securities Act, and of the Exchange Act and (B) a copy of the most recent annual or quarterly report of the Company (except to the extent the same is available on EDGAR).

(i)Underwritten Registrations.

(i)In connection with any underwritten offering, the investment banker or investment bankers and managers shall be selected by (i) the Stockholders holding a majority of Registrable Securities included in any Demand Registration, including any Shelf Offering, initiated by the Stockholders, which selection shall be reasonably acceptable to the Company (and approval of the same not to be unreasonably withheld), and (ii) the Company to administer any other offering, including any Piggyback Registration.

(ii)No Person may participate in any underwritten registration hereunder unless such Person (i) agrees to sell the Registrable Securities it desires to have covered by a Registration Statement on the basis provided in any underwriting arrangements in customary form and (ii) completes and executes all questionnaires, powers of attorney, indemnities, underwriting agreements and other documents required under the terms of such underwriting arrangements.

Section 3.Information Rights.

(a)The Company shall provide (which may be satisfied by filing with the SEC’s EDGAR system) the Purchaser with:

(i)as soon as practicable, but in any event within ninety (90) days after the end of each fiscal year of the Company (i) a balance sheet as of the end of such year, (ii) statements of income and of cash flows for such year, and a comparison between (x) the actual amounts as of and for such fiscal year and (y) the comparable amounts for the prior year, with an explanation of any material differences between such amounts and a schedule as to the sources and applications of funds for such year, and (iii) a statement of stockholders’ equity as of the end of such year, all such financial statements audited and certified by independent public accountants of nationally recognized standing selected by the Company;

(ii)as soon as practicable, but in any event within forty-five (45) days after the end of each of the first three (3) quarters of each fiscal year of the Company, unaudited statements of income and cash flows for such fiscal quarter, and an unaudited balance sheet and a statement of stockholders’ equity as of the end of such fiscal quarter, all prepared in accordance with GAAP (except that such financial statements may (i) be subject to normal year-end audit adjustments; and (ii) not contain all notes thereto that may be required in accordance with GAAP);

14


 

(iii)as soon as practicable, but in any event within forty-five (45) days after the end of each of the first three (3) quarters of each fiscal year of the Company, a statement showing the number of shares of each class and series of capital stock and securities convertible into or exercisable for shares of capital stock outstanding at the end of the period, and the Class A Common Stock issuable upon conversion or exercise of any outstanding securities convertible or exercisable for Class A Common Stock and the exchange ratio or exercise price applicable thereto, all in sufficient detail as to permit the Purchaser to calculate its respective percentage equity ownership in the Company, and certified by the chief financial officer or chief executive officer of the Company as being true, complete and correct; and

(iv)such other information relating to the financial condition, business, prospects, or corporate affairs of the Company as the Purchaser may from time to time reasonably request; provided, however, that the Company shall not be obligated under this Section 3(a)(iv) to disclose any information to the extent that, upon the advice of counsel, such disclosure (i) would be prohibited by applicable law or (ii) would reasonably be expected to cause a violation of any contract or agreement to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party or (iii) would cause a loss of privilege to the Company or any of its subsidiaries (provided that the Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to make appropriate substitute disclosure arrangements under circumstances where the foregoing restrictions apply); provided, further, that the Purchaser shall keep the information provided under this Section 3(a)(iv) confidential subject to the same terms set forth in Section 2(e)(xv).

If, for any period, the Company has any subsidiary whose accounts are consolidated with those of the Company, then in respect of such period the financial statements delivered pursuant to the foregoing sections shall be the consolidated financial statements of the Company and all such consolidated subsidiaries.

(b)Access.  

(i)Subject to the confidentiality provisions contained in Section 2(e)(xv) hereof, the Company shall permit representatives of the Purchaser to visit and inspect, at the Purchaser’s expense, any of the properties of the Company or its subsidiaries and to examine the corporate books and make copies or extracts therefrom and to discuss the affairs, finances and accounts of the Company and its subsidiaries with the principal officers of the Company, all upon reasonable notice and at such reasonable times and as often as the Purchaser may reasonably request.  Any examination pursuant to this Section 3(b)(i) shall be conducted during normal business hours and in such manner as not to interfere unreasonably with the conduct of the business of the Company, and nothing herein shall require the Company or any of its subsidiaries to disclose any information to the extent that, upon the advice of counsel, such disclosure (i) would be prohibited by applicable law or (ii) would reasonably be expected to cause a violation of any contract or agreement to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party or (iii) would cause a loss of privilege to the Company or any of its subsidiaries (provided that the Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to make appropriate substitute disclosure arrangements under circumstances where the foregoing restrictions apply).

(ii)The provisions of this Section 3(b)(ii) shall terminate and no longer be of any effect from and after such time as the Purchaser no longer beneficially owns any shares of Series A Preferred Stock convertible into shares of Class A Common Stock, or shares of Class A Common Stock issued upon the conversion of any shares of Series A Preferred Stock.

(c)Listing of Shares.  If at any time that Registrable Securities are outstanding, the Company lists shares of its capital stock of the same class of shares as any Registrable Securities on a national securities exchange, the Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to list or include all Registrable Securities on such exchange, and shall provide a transfer agent and registrar and CUSIP number for such Registrable Securities prior to the effective date of any registration statement covering such Registrable Securities.

15


 

Section 4.Additional Covenants.

(a)Maintenance of REIT Status. Until the first day of the first calendar year in which no Series A Preferred Stock or Class A Common Stock issued upon conversion of the Series A Preferred Stock is held at any time by the Purchaser or any of its Affiliates, (i) the Company shall continue to be taxed as a REIT under the Code, and thereafter the Company shall use its best efforts to continue to qualify as a REIT under the Code unless its board of directors determines that it is no longer in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders to be so qualified, and (ii) if the Company determines, upon advice of tax counsel (the “REIT Non-Compliance Determination”), that (a) it no longer meets the requirements for qualification and taxation as a REIT under the Code (“REIT Non-Compliance”), (b) such REIT Non-Compliance is not subject to the de minimis exception under Section 856(c)(7)(B) of the Code, and (c) it does not expect to be able to cure such REIT Non-Compliance retroactively though relief based on reasonable cause and not willful neglect under Section 856(c)(6) or Section 856(c)(7)(A) of the Code, under Section 9100 of the Code, or as otherwise permitted under the Code (provided that, if the Company expects, but is unable to, effect such cure within a reasonable period of time, this subsection (c) shall not apply), the Company shall provide written notice to the Purchaser within five (5) business days of REIT Non-Compliance Determination.

(b)So long as the Purchaser or any of its Affiliates holds, at any time during a calendar quarter or year ending after the date of this Agreement, 5% or more of the shares of Series A Preferred Stock issued pursuant to the Purchase Agreement (or such respective portion of Class A Common Stock issued upon conversion of the Series A Preferred Stock), the Company shall deliver to the Purchaser, (i) no later than thirty (30) days after the end of such quarter, copies of REIT testing schedules showing the Company’s satisfaction of the REIT asset requirements for such quarter, and (ii) no later than thirty (30) days after the end of such year, copies of REIT testing schedules showing the Company’s satisfaction of the REIT income and distribution requirements for such year.  

(c)Election; Cooperation.  So long as the Purchaser or any of its Affiliates holds any Series A Preferred Stock or Class A Common Stock issued upon conversion of the Series A Preferred Stock, (i) upon the request of the Purchaser, the Company shall cooperate with the Purchaser in making (x) an election to treat the Company as a taxable REIT subsidiary (within the meaning of Section 856(l) of the Code) (“TRS”) of the Purchaser for any applicable taxable year(s) if the Company fails to qualify as a REIT under the Code and/or (y) protective TRS elections for years in which the Company continues to qualify as a REIT under the Code , and (ii) the Company and the Purchaser shall cooperate with each other to provide such other information as may reasonably be requested to assist in determining whether the ownership of such Preferred Stock (or such Class A Common Stock) would adversely affect the qualification of either party (or an Affiliate thereof) as a REIT under the Code.

Section 5.Miscellaneous.

(a)Amendments and Waivers.  The provisions of this Agreement, including the provisions of this sentence, may not be amended, modified or supplemented, and waivers or consents to departures from the provisions hereof may not be given without the written consent of holders of a majority of the then outstanding Registerable Securities and the Company.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, a waiver or consent to depart from the provisions hereof with respect to a matter that relates exclusively to the rights of holders of Registrable Securities whose securities are being sold pursuant to a Registration Statement and that does not directly or indirectly affect the rights of other holders of Registrable Securities may be given by holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities being sold by such holders pursuant to such Registration Statement.

(b)Notices.  All notices required to be given hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed to be duly given if personally delivered, telecopied and confirmed, or mailed by certified mail, return receipt requested, or overnight delivery service with proof of receipt maintained, at the following address (or any other address that any such party may designate by written notice to the other parties):

16


 

If to the Company, to the address of its principal executive offices.  If to any Stockholder, at such Stockholder’s address as set forth on the records of the Company.  Any such notice shall, if delivered personally, be deemed received upon delivery; shall, if delivered by telecopy, be deemed received on the first business day following confirmation; shall, if delivered by overnight delivery service, be deemed received the first business day after being sent; and shall, if delivered by mail, be deemed received upon the earlier of actual receipt thereof or five (5) business days after the date of deposit in the United States mail.

(c)Successors and Assigns; Stockholder Status.  This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the successors and permitted assigns of each of the parties, including subsequent holders of Registrable Securities acquired, directly or indirectly, from the Stockholders; provided, however, that (y) no Stockholder may assign this Agreement (in whole or in part) without the prior written consent of the Company, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, provided, however, that a Stockholder may assign this Agreement without the consent of the Company to an Affiliate of such Stockholder, and (z) any successor or assign shall not be entitled to such rights unless the successor or assign shall have executed and delivered to the Company an Addendum Agreement substantially in the form of Exhibit A hereto (which shall also be executed by the Company) promptly following the acquisition of such Registrable Securities, in which event such successor or assign shall be deemed a Stockholder for purposes of this Agreement.   Except as provided in Section 2(g) with respect to an Indemnified Party, nothing expressed or mentioned in this Agreement is intended or shall be construed to give any Person other than the parties hereto and their respective successors and permitted assigns any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under, in or in respect of this Agreement or any provision herein contained.

(d)Counterparts.  This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts and delivered by facsimile, pdf or other electronic transmission with the same effect as if all signatory parties had signed and delivered the same original document, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument.

(e)Headings; Construction.  The section and paragraph headings contained in this Agreement are for reference purposes only and shall not affect in any way the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement.  Unless the context requires otherwise: (i) pronouns in the masculine, feminine and neuter genders shall be construed to include any other gender, and words in the singular form shall be construed to include the plural and vice versa; (ii) the term “including” shall be construed to be expansive rather than limiting in nature and to mean “including, without limitation,”; (iii) references to sections and paragraphs refer to sections and paragraphs of this Agreement; and (iv) the words “this Agreement,” “herein,” “hereof,” “hereby,” “hereunder” and words of similar import refer to this Agreement as a whole, including Exhibit A hereto, and not to any particular subdivision unless expressly so limited.

(f)Governing Law.  This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.

(g)Waiver of Jury Trial.  EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATED TO THIS AGREEMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY.

(h)Severability.  If any term, provision, covenant or restriction of this Agreement is held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, illegal, void or unenforceable, the remainder of the terms, provisions, covenants and restrictions set forth herein shall remain in full force and effect and shall in no way be affected, impaired or invalidated, and the parties hereto shall use their reasonable best efforts to find and employ an alternative means to achieve the same or substantially the same result as that contemplated by such term, provision, covenant or restriction.  It is hereby stipulated and declared to be the intention of the parties that they would have executed the remaining terms, provisions, covenants and restrictions without including any of such that may be hereafter declared invalid, illegal, void or unenforceable.

17


 

(i)Entire Agreement.  This Agreement, the Purchase Agreement and the Articles Supplementary are intended by the parties as a final expression of their agreement, and are intended to be a complete and exclusive statement of the agreement and understanding of the parties hereto in respect of the subject matter contained herein and therein.  There are no restrictions, promises, warranties or undertakings, other than those set forth or referred to herein and therein, with respect to the registration rights granted by the Company with respect to Registrable Securities.  This Agreement, together with the Purchase Agreement and the Articles Supplementary, supersedes all prior agreements and understandings between the parties with respect to such subject matter.

(j)Securities Held by the Company or its Subsidiaries.  Whenever the consent or approval of holders of a specified percentage of Registrable Securities is required hereunder, Registrable Securities held by the Company or its subsidiaries shall not be counted in determining whether such consent or approval was given by the holders of such required percentage.

(k)Specific Performance; Further Assurances.  The parties hereto recognize and agree that money damages may be insufficient to compensate the holders of any Registrable Securities for breaches by the Company of the terms hereof and, consequently, that the equitable remedy of specific performance of the terms hereof will be available in the event of any such breach.  The parties hereto agree that in the event the registrations and sales of Registrable Securities are effected pursuant to the laws of any jurisdiction outside of the United States, such parties shall use their respective reasonable best efforts to give effect as closely as possible to the rights and obligations set forth in this Agreement, taking into account customary practices of such foreign jurisdiction, including executing such documents and taking such further actions as may be reasonably necessary in order to carry out the foregoing.  

(l)Term.  This Agreement shall terminate with respect to a Stockholder on the date on which such Stockholder ceases to hold Registrable Securities; provided, that, such Stockholder’s rights and obligations pursuant to Section 2(g), as well as the Company’s obligations to pay expenses pursuant to Section 2(f), shall survive with respect to any registration statement in which any Registrable Securities of such Stockholders were included and, for the avoidance of doubt, any underwriter lock-up that a Stockholder has executed prior to a Stockholder’s termination in accordance with this clause shall remain in effect in accordance with its terms.

[Signature Page Follows]

 

18


 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Investors’ Rights Agreement to be duly executed as of the date first above written.

 

SMARTSTOP SELF STORAGE REIT, INC.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Michael S. McClure

 

 

 

Name:

Michael S. McClure

 

 

 

Title:

Chief Executive Officer

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

EXTRA SPACE STORAGE LP

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

ESS Holdings Business Trust I

 

 

Its:

General Partner

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ P. Scott Stubbs

 

 

 

Name:

P. Scott Stubbs

 

 

 

Title:

Trustee

 

 

 

 

[Investors’ Rights Agreement Signature Page]


 

Exhibit A

Addendum Agreement

This Addendum Agreement is made this ___ day of ____________, 20___, by and between _________________________________ (the “New Stockholder”) and SmartStop Self Storage REIT, Inc. (the “Company”), pursuant to an Investors’ Rights Agreement dated as of [●], 2019 (the “Agreement”), by and between the Company and the Purchaser.  Capitalized terms used herein but not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings ascribed to them in the Agreement.

W I T N E S S E T H:

WHEREAS, the Company has agreed to provide certain registration and other rights with respect to the Registrable Securities as set forth in the Agreement;

WHEREAS, the New Stockholder has acquired Registrable Securities directly or indirectly from a Stockholder; and

WHEREAS, the Company and the Stockholders have required in the Agreement that all persons desiring registration and other rights must enter into an Addendum Agreement binding the New Stockholder to the Agreement to the same extent as if it were an original party thereto.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual promises of the parties, the New Stockholder acknowledges that it has received and read the Agreement and that the New Stockholder shall be bound by, and shall have the benefit of, all of the terms and conditions set out in the Agreement to the same extent as if it were an original party to the Agreement and shall be deemed to be a Stockholder thereunder.

 

 

 

 

 

New Stockholder

 

 

Address:

 

 

 

 

 

 


 


 

Agreed to on behalf of the Company pursuant to Section 5(c) of the Agreement.

 

 

SMARTSTOP SELF STORAGE REIT, INC.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Printed Name and Title

 

 

 

Exhibit 3.1

ARTICLES SUPPLEMENTARY

OF

SMARTSTOP SELF STORAGE REIT, INC.

 

Series A Convertible Preferred Stock

 

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

 

FIRST: Section 5.1 of Article V of the charter of the Corporation (the “Charter”) authorizes the issuance of 700,000,000 shares of the Corporation’s common stock, $0.001 par value per share (“Common Stock”), of which 350,000,000 shares of Common Stock are designated as Class A Common Stock (“Class A Common Stock”) and 350,000,000 shares of Common Stock are designated as Class T Common Stock (“Class T Common Stock”), and 200,000,000 shares of the Corporation’s preferred stock, $0.001 par value per share (“Preferred Stock”).  Sections 5.3 and 5.4 of Article V of the Charter expressly authorize the board of directors of the Corporation (the “Board of Directors”) to classify any unissued shares of Preferred Stock into one or more classes or series of Stock.

 

SECOND: Under the power contained in Sections 5.3 and 5.4 of Article V of the Charter, by duly adopted resolutions, the Board classified and designated 200,000 authorized but unissued shares of Preferred Stock as the “Series A Convertible Preferred Stock” and fixed the preferences, conversion and other rights, voting powers, restrictions, limitations as to dividends and other distributions, qualifications, and terms and conditions of redemption of such Series A Convertible Preferred Stock. Unless otherwise defined below, capitalized terms used below have the meanings given to them in the Charter.

 

THIRD: Subject in all cases to the provisions of Article V of the Charter, the Series A Convertible Preferred Stock shall have the following preferences, conversion and other rights, voting powers, restrictions, limitations as to dividends and other distributions, qualifications and terms and conditions of redemption:

 

(1)Designation and Number. There shall be a series of Preferred Stock designated as the “Series A Convertible Preferred Stock” (the “Series A Preferred Stock”). The number of authorized shares of Series A Preferred Stock is 200,000.

 

(2)Rank. The Series A Preferred Stock will, with respect to dividends and distribution rights and rights upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation, rank senior to the Common Stock and, subject to the voting rights in Section 7 below, to any other class or series of equity securities of the Corporation now or hereafter issued and outstanding (collectively, the “Junior Securities”).

 

(3)Dividends.

 

(a)Each holder of the then outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock shall be entitled to receive, when and as authorized by the Board of Directors and declared by the Corporation, out of funds legally available for the payment of dividends, cumulative preferential cash dividends per share of Series A Preferred Stock at the Dividend Rate.  Such dividends shall accrue on each outstanding share of Series A Preferred Stock on a daily basis, whether or not declared, and be cumulative from the first date on which each such share of Series A Preferred Stock is issued (the “Original Issue Date”), and shall be payable in arrears for the prior calendar quarter on or before the 15th day of March, June, September and December of each year (each a “Dividend Payment Date”); provided, however, that if any Dividend Payment Date is not a Business Day, then the dividend which would otherwise have been payable on such Dividend

1


 

Payment Date may be paid on the preceding Business Day or the following Business Day with the same force and effect as if paid on such Dividend Payment Date.  Any dividend payable on the Series A Preferred Stock for any partial dividend period will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months.  A “dividend period” shall mean, with respect to the first “dividend period,” the period from and including the Original Issue Date to and including the first Dividend Payment Date, and with respect to each subsequent “dividend period,” the period from but excluding a Dividend Payment Date to and including the next succeeding Dividend Payment Date or other date as of which accrued dividends are to be calculated.  Dividends will be payable to holders of record as they appear in the stock transfer records of the Corporation at the close of business on the applicable record date, which shall be the date designated by the Board of Directors for the payment of dividends that is not more than 30 nor less than 10 days prior to such Dividend Payment Date (each, a “Dividend Record Date”).

 

(b)No dividends on shares of Series A Preferred Stock shall be declared by the Corporation or paid or set apart for payment by the Corporation at such time as the terms and provisions of any written agreement of the Corporation, including any agreement relating to its indebtedness, prohibit such declaration, payment or setting apart for payment or provide that such declaration, payment or setting apart for payment would constitute a breach thereof or a default thereunder, or if such declaration or payment shall be restricted or prohibited by law.  

 

(c)Notwithstanding the foregoing, dividends on the Series A Preferred Stock shall accrue whether or not the terms and provisions set forth in Section 3(b) hereof at any time prohibit the current payment of dividends, whether or not the Corporation has earnings, whether or not there are funds legally available for the payment of such dividends and whether or not such dividends are authorized or declared.  Accrued but unpaid dividends and distributions on the Series A Preferred Stock will accumulate as of the Dividend Payment Date on which they first become payable.

 

(d)Unless full cumulative dividends on all outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock for all past dividend periods have been or contemporaneously are declared and paid or declared and a sum sufficient for the payment thereof is set apart for payment, no dividends (other than in Junior Securities) shall be declared and paid or declared and set apart for payment nor shall any other distribution be declared and made upon any shares of Junior Securities, nor shall any Junior Securities be redeemed, purchased or otherwise acquired for any consideration (or any moneys be paid to or made available for a sinking fund for the redemption of any such Junior Securities) by the Corporation (except (i) by conversion into or exchange for other shares of Junior Securities, (ii) by redemption, purchase or other acquisition of Common Stock or such Junior Securities made for purposes of an incentive, benefit, share redemption program or share purchase plan of the Corporation or any of its direct or indirect subsidiaries, (iii) for transfers, redemptions or purchases made pursuant to the provisions of Article VI of the Charter and (iv) as otherwise required to preserve the Corporation’s REIT qualification).

 

(e)When dividends are not paid in full (or a sum sufficient for such full payment is not set apart) on the Series A Preferred Stock, all dividends declared upon the Series A Preferred Stock shall be declared and paid pro rata based on the number of shares of Series A Preferred Stock then outstanding.  

 

(f)Any dividend payment made on shares of the Series A Preferred Stock shall first be credited against the earliest accrued but unpaid dividend due with respect to such shares which remains payable.  Holders of the Series A Preferred Stock shall not be entitled to any

2


 

dividend, whether payable in cash, property or shares, in excess of full cumulative dividends on the Series A Preferred Stock as described above.

 

(4)Liquidation Preference.

 

(a)Upon any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation (referred to herein as a “Liquidation”), the holders of the Series A Preferred Stock will be entitled to be paid out of the assets of the Corporation legally available for distribution to its stockholders, in cash or property at its fair market value as determined by the Board of Directors, in an amount, for each outstanding share of Series A Preferred Stock equal to the greater of (i) the Liquidation Amount (subject to proportionate adjustment in the event of a stock split, stock dividend, combination or other proportionate reduction or increase to the Series A Preferred Stock), plus an amount equal to any accrued and unpaid dividends and other distributions (whether or not accumulated or authorized and declared) to the date of payment and (ii) the amount that would have been payable had each share of Series A Preferred Stock been converted into Common Stock pursuant to Section 6(a) hereof immediately prior to such Liquidation, in the event such share of Series A Preferred Stock is convertible pursuant to Section 6(a) at the time of such Liquidation (clauses (i) and (ii), collectively, the “Liquidation Preference”), in each case before any distribution or payment is made to holders of Common Stock of any class or any Junior Securities as to the distribution of assets upon a Liquidation but subject to the preferential rights of holders of any class or series of equity securities of the Corporation ranking senior to the Series A Preferred Stock as to the distribution of assets upon a Liquidation. After payment of the full amount of the Liquidation Preference to which they are entitled, the holders of Series A Preferred Stock will have no right or claim to any of the remaining assets of the Corporation.

 

(b)In the event that, upon any Liquidation of the Corporation, the available assets of the Corporation are insufficient to pay the Liquidation Preference on all outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock, then the holders of Series A Preferred Stock and all other such equity securities of the Corporation ranking on a parity with Series A Preferred Stock shall share ratably in any such distribution of assets in proportion to the full liquidating distributions per share to which they would otherwise be respectively entitled.

 

(c)For purposes of this Section 4, neither the voluntary sale, lease, exchange, transfer or conveyance (for cash, shares of stock, securities or other consideration) of all or substantially all of the property or assets of the Corporation to, nor the merger or consolidation or any other business combination of the Corporation with or into any other entity or the merger or consolidation of any other entity into or with the Corporation or a statutory share exchange by the Corporation, shall be deemed to be a Liquidation. Upon a Change of Control, if the outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock are not redeemed, repurchased or converted as provided in Section 5 or 6 hereof, then the Corporation will cause any acquirer of the Corporation to assume the obligations set forth herein and be subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if such assumption is not permitted by law, the Corporation shall take any actions under its control necessary to cause the acquirer to issue securities of the acquirer with substantially similar contractual rights as those contained herein (including the inclusion of a provision in the relevant merger or consolidation agreement requiring the acquirer to issue securities of the acquirer with substantially similar contractual rights as those contained herein).

 

(d)In determining whether a distribution (other than upon voluntary or involuntary Liquidation), by dividend, redemption or other acquisition of shares of equity securities of the

3


 

Corporation or otherwise, is permitted under Maryland law, amounts that would be needed, if the Corporation were to be dissolved at the time of the distribution, to satisfy the preferential rights upon dissolution of holders of the Series A Preferred Stock shall not be added to the Corporation’s total liabilities.

 

(e)Written notice of any Liquidation, stating the payment date or dates when, and the place or places where, the amounts distributable in such circumstances shall be payable, shall be given by first class mail, postage prepaid, not less than 30 nor more than 60 days prior to the payment date stated therein to each record holder of the Series A Preferred Stock at the respective address of such holders as the same shall appear on the stock transfer records of the Corporation.

 

(5)Redemption and Repurchase.

 

(a)Subject to Sections 5(b), 5(c) and 5(d) below and except as otherwise required to preserve the Corporation’s REIT qualification, the Series A Preferred Stock may not be redeemed on or prior to the Fifth Anniversary Date.  At any date following the Fifth Anniversary Date, the Corporation may redeem the Series A Preferred Stock for cash, in whole or in part at the option of the Corporation, at a price per share equal to the Redemption Price, plus an amount equal to any accrued and unpaid dividends and distributions on the Series A Preferred Stock (whether or not accumulated or authorized and declared) up to the Redemption Date.  If fewer than all of the outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock are to be redeemed, the Corporation shall determine the number of shares of Series A Preferred Stock to be redeemed on a pro rata basis (as nearly as practicable without creating any fractional shares), by lot or in such other manner as determined by the Corporation to be fair and equitable to holders of Series A Preferred Stock.

 

(b)Upon an Initial Listing, the Corporation may redeem, at the option of the Corporation, any or all of the outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock for cash in an amount per share equal to the greater of (such greater amount, the “Listing Redemption Price”) (i) the Listing Value and (ii) the Redemption Price, plus an amount equal to any accrued and unpaid dividends and distributions on the Series A Preferred Stock (whether or not accumulated or authorized and declared) up to the date of Initial Listing.

 

(c)Upon a Change of Control, the Corporation may redeem, at the option of the Corporation, any or all of the outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock for cash in an amount per share equal to the greater of (such greater amount, the “CoC Redemption Price”) (i) the Transaction Value and (ii) the Redemption Price, plus an amount equal to any accrued and unpaid dividends and distributions on the Series A Preferred Stock (whether or not accumulated or authorized and declared) up to the Redemption Date.

 

(d)If, at any time while any shares of Series A Preferred Stock are outstanding, the Corporation determines, upon advice of tax counsel (the “REIT Non-Compliance Determination”), that (i) it no longer meets the requirements for qualification and taxation as a REIT under the Code (“REIT Non-Compliance”), (ii) such REIT Non-Compliance was not caused by the holder of the Series A Preferred Stock, (iii) such REIT Non-Compliance is not subject to the de minimis exception under Section 856(c)(7)(B) of the Code, and (iv) it does not expect to be able to cure such REIT Non-Compliance retroactively though relief based on reasonable cause and not willful neglect under Section 856(c)(6) or Section 856(c)(7)(A) of the Code, under Section 9100 of the Code, or as otherwise permitted under the Code (provided that, if the Corporation expects, but is unable to, effect such cure within a reasonable period of time,

4


 

this subsection (iv) shall not apply and the following repurchase right shall become effective), the holders of Series A Preferred Stock shall have the right to require the Corporation to repurchase any or all of the outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock for cash at a price per share equal to the Redemption Price, plus an amount equal to any accrued and unpaid dividends and distributions on the Series A Preferred Stock (whether or not accumulated or authorized and declared) up to the Redemption Date.

 

(e)Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein: (i) absent an exemption therefrom pursuant to Section 6.1.7 of the Charter, shares of Stock (including Common Stock and Series A Preferred Stock) Beneficially Owned or Constructively Owned (each as defined in the Charter) by a stockholder (or any other Person) in excess of the Aggregate Stock Ownership Limit or other ownership limitations set forth in Article VI of the Charter shall be subject to the provisions of Article VI of the Charter (including with respect to any notice to any such stockholder or other Person) and (ii) except as otherwise provided herein, the redemption and repurchase provisions of the Series A Preferred Stock do not in any way limit the Corporation’s right or ability to purchase, from time to time either at a public or a private sale, Series A Preferred Stock at such price or prices per share as the Corporation may determine, subject to the provisions of the Charter and applicable law.

 

(f)If the Corporation has provided notice of its election to redeem shares of Series A Preferred Stock pursuant to Section 5(b) or 5(c) (each, a “Redemption Notice”), the holders of the Series A Preferred Stock may not deliver a Conversion Notice (as defined below) with respect to the shares of Series A Preferred Stock subject to the Redemption Notice until such time as such Redemption Notice is withdrawn or otherwise terminated. If a holder of Series A Preferred Stock has provided a Conversion Notice to the Corporation, the Corporation may not deliver a Redemption Notice with respect to the shares of Series A Preferred Stock subject to the Conversion Notice until such time as such Conversion Notice is withdrawn or otherwise terminated.  For the avoidance of doubt, the holders of Series A Preferred Stock will have a Conversion Right (as defined below) up to and including any Redemption Date in connection with any redemption or repurchase pursuant to Section 5(a) or 5(d), provided that the Series A Preferred Stock is convertible under Section 6(a) at the time of such Redemption Date.

 

(g)If the Corporation elects to effect a redemption pursuant to Section 5(a), the Corporation shall provide a notice of redemption to each holder of Series A Preferred Stock (the “Notice of Optional Redemption”).  The Notice of Optional Redemption shall be mailed by the Corporation, postage prepaid, not less than 15 Business Days prior to the Redemption Date, addressed to the respective holders of the Series A Preferred Stock to be redeemed at their respective addresses as they appear on the books of the Corporation. Each Notice of Optional Redemption shall state: (i) the Redemption Date; (ii) the number of shares of Series A Preferred Stock to be redeemed; (iii) the Redemption Price; (iv) the place or places where certificates representing such Series A Preferred Stock, if issued, are to be surrendered for payment of the Redemption Price; and (v) that distributions on the Series A Preferred Stock to be redeemed will cease to accumulate on such Redemption Date. No failure to give a Notice of Optional Redemption or any defect thereto or in the mailing thereof shall affect the validity of the proceedings for the redemption of any shares of Series A Preferred Stock except as to a holder to whom the Notice of Optional Redemption was defective or not given.

 

(h)If the Corporation elects to effect a redemption pursuant to Section 5(b), the Corporation shall provide a notice of redemption to each holder of Series A Preferred Stock (the “Notice of Listing Redemption”).  The Notice of Listing Redemption shall be mailed by the Corporation, postage prepaid, not less than 15 Business Days prior to the anticipated date of an

5


 

Initial Listing (which Initial Listing shall occur on or prior to the Redemption Date), addressed to the respective holders of the Series A Preferred Stock to be redeemed at their respective addresses as they appear on the books of the Corporation. Each Notice of Listing Redemption shall state: (i) the anticipated date of Initial Listing; (ii) the Redemption Date; (iii) the number of shares of Series A Preferred Stock to be redeemed; (iv) the estimated Listing Value, if available; (v) the Redemption Price; (vi) the estimated Listing Redemption Price, if available; (vii) the place or places where certificates representing such Series A Preferred Stock, if issued, are to be surrendered for payment of the Redemption Price; and (viii) that distributions on the Series A Preferred Stock to be redeemed will cease to accumulate once redeemed. No failure to give a Notice of Listing Redemption or any defect thereto or in the mailing thereof shall affect the validity of the proceedings for the redemption of any shares of Series A Preferred Stock except as to a holder to whom notice was defective or not given. The Corporation may, at any time after delivery of the Notice of Listing Redemption and prior to an Initial Listing, terminate such offer of redemption; provided, that absent the Corporation’s termination, no delay in the date of Initial Listing up to and including six months after the anticipated date of Initial Listing set forth in the Notice of Listing Redemption shall affect the validity of such notice or the proceedings for redemption of any shares of Series A Preferred Stock pursuant to such Initial Listing; provided, further, that in the event of any such delay, the Corporation shall provide an updated Notice of Listing Redemption to each holder of Series A Preferred Stock at least five (5) Business Days prior to the anticipated date of Initial Listing stating the date of Initial Listing and the Redemption Date.

 

(i)If the Corporation elects to effect a redemption pursuant to Section 5(c), the Corporation shall provide a notice of redemption to each holder of Series A Preferred Stock (the “Notice of CoC Redemption”).  The Notice of CoC Redemption shall be mailed by the Corporation, postage prepaid, not less than 15 Business Days prior to the anticipated closing date of the Change of Control, which shall be the Redemption Date, addressed to the respective holders of the Series A Preferred Stock to be redeemed at their respective addresses as they appear on the books of the Corporation. Each Notice of CoC Redemption shall state: (i) the Redemption Date; (ii) the number of shares of Series A Preferred Stock to be redeemed; (iii) the Transaction Value; (iv) the Redemption Price; (v) the CoC Redemption Price; (vi) the place or places where certificates, if any, representing such Series A Preferred Stock, if issued, are to be surrendered for payment of the CoC Redemption Price; and (vii) that distributions on the Series A Preferred Stock to be redeemed will cease to accumulate on such Redemption Date. No failure to give a Notice of CoC Redemption or any defect thereto or in the mailing thereof shall affect the validity of the proceedings for the redemption of any shares of Series A Preferred Stock except as to a holder to whom notice was defective or not given.

 

(j)Pursuant to the repurchase of shares of Series A Preferred Stock pursuant to Section 5(d), the Corporation shall provide notice to each holder of Series A Preferred Stock (the “REIT Non-Compliance Notice”). The REIT Non-Compliance Notice shall be mailed by the Corporation, postage prepaid, within five (5) Business Days of the REIT Non-Compliance Determination addressed to the respective holders of the Series A Preferred Stock at their respective addresses as they appear on the books of the Corporation. The REIT Non-Compliance Notice shall state: (i) the circumstances of the REIT Non-Compliance; (ii) the Redemption Price; (iii) the place or places where certificates, if any, representing such Series A Preferred Stock, if issued, are to be surrendered for payment of the Redemption Price; and (iv) that distributions on the Series A Preferred Stock to be repurchased will cease to accumulate on the Redemption Date.  A holder of the Series A Preferred Stock shall provide notice of its intention to require the Corporation to repurchase the shares of Series A Preferred Stock within 60 Business Days of its receipt of the REIT Non-Compliance Notice (the “REIT Repurchase Notice”). The Redemption

6


 

Date for any repurchase by the Corporation pursuant to Section 5(d) shall take place 10 Business Days after the date of the REIT Repurchase Notice. The REIT Repurchase Notice shall be mailed, postage prepaid, to the Corporation’s principal office c/o the Secretary and must state: (i) the number of shares of Series A Preferred Stock to be repurchased by the Corporation; and (ii) that the Series A Preferred Stock is to be repurchased pursuant to Section 5(d) hereof.  No failure to give a REIT Repurchase Notice or any defect thereto or in the mailing thereof shall affect the validity of the proceedings for the repurchase of any shares of Series A Preferred Stock except as to a holder to whom notice was defective or not given.

 

(k)On or after a Redemption Date, each holder of Series A Preferred Stock to be redeemed or repurchased must present and surrender the certificates (or an affidavit of loss and indemnity reasonably satisfactory to the Corporation), to the extent such shares are certificated, representing the Series A Preferred Stock to the Corporation to be redeemed or repurchased, as applicable, at the place designated in the notice from the Corporation referenced in (g), (h), (i) or (j) above, as the case may be, and thereupon the Redemption Price for such shares of Series A Preferred Stock (and an amount equal to all accrued and unpaid dividends and distributions (whether or not accumulated or authorized and declared) up to but excluding the Redemption Date) will be paid to or on the order of such holder by wire transfer pursuant to wire instructions provided by such holder and each surrendered certificate, if any, will be canceled. If the shares of Series A Preferred Stock to be redeemed or repurchased are certificated, then in the event that fewer than all the shares of Series A Preferred Stock are to be redeemed or repurchased, a new certificate will be issued representing the unredeemed and unrepurchased shares of Series A Preferred Stock.

 

(l)Except as provided in the next sentence, from and after a Redemption Date, all distributions on the Series A Preferred Stock subject to such redemption or repurchase will cease to accumulate and all rights of the holders thereof, except the right to receive the Redemption Price thereof (and an amount equal to all accrued and unpaid dividends and distributions (whether or not accumulated or authorized and declared) up to but excluding the Redemption Date), will cease and terminate and such Series A Preferred Stock shall not be deemed to be outstanding for any purpose whatsoever. In the event that the Corporation defaults in the payment of the Redemption Price for any shares of Series A Preferred Stock surrendered for redemption or repurchase pursuant to Section 5, such Series A Preferred Stock shall continue to be deemed to be outstanding for all purposes (including, but not limited to, accrual of dividends on a daily basis without interruption) and to be owned by the respective holders, and the Corporation shall promptly return any surrendered certificates representing such Series A Preferred Stock to such holders (although the failure of the Corporation to return any such certificates to such holders shall in no way affect the ownership of such Series A Preferred Stock by such holders or their rights thereunder)(and the holders of the Series A Preferred Stock that was not redeemed or repurchased shall have no other remedy against the Corporation).

 

(m)At its election, the Corporation, prior to a Redemption Date, may irrevocably deposit the full redemption amount or repurchase amount, as applicable, for the Series A Preferred Stock to be redeemed or repurchased pursuant to this Section 5 in trust for the holders of Series A Preferred Stock with a bank or trust company, in which case the Corporation shall send a notice to the holders of shares of Series A Preferred Stock to be redeemed or repurchased which shall (A) state the date of such deposit, (B) specify the office of such bank or trust company as the place of payment of the redemption amount or repurchase amount, as applicable, and (C) require the holder of shares of Series A Preferred Stock to be redeemed or repurchased, on or after the Redemption Date, to surrender the certificates, if any, representing such shares of Series A Preferred Stock (or an affidavit of loss and indemnity reasonably satisfactory to the

7


 

Corporation) at such place fixed in the notice of redemption or REIT Repurchase Notice against payment of the redemption amount or repurchase amount. Any monies so deposited which remain unclaimed at the end of two years after the Redemption Date shall be returned by such bank or trust company to the Corporation.

 

(n)If a Redemption Date falls after a Dividend Record Date and on or prior to the corresponding Dividend Payment Date, each holder of Series A Preferred Stock at the close of business on such Dividend Record Date shall be entitled to the dividend payable on such shares on the corresponding Dividend Payment Date notwithstanding the redemption of such shares on or prior to such Dividend Payment Date, and each holder of Series A Preferred Stock that surrenders its shares on such Redemption Date shall be entitled to an amount equal to the dividends accruing after the end of the dividend period to which such Dividend Payment Date relates, up to the Redemption Date.

 

(6)Conversion Rights. The shares of Series A Preferred Stock are not convertible into or exchangeable for any other property or securities of the Corporation, except as provided in Article VI of the Charter and in this Section 6.

 

(a)Subject to the Corporation’s rights under Sections 5(b) and (c), upon the earlier of (i) 180 days after an Initial Listing and (ii) the Second Anniversary Date, at the option of the holder of Series A Preferred Stock, such holder shall have the right to convert (the “Conversion Right”) any or all of the holder’s shares of Series A Preferred Stock into the number of fully paid and non-assessable shares of Class A Common Stock prior to a Listing (or the class of shares of Common Stock approved for Listing into which the Class A Common Stock is converted under Section 5.2.5 of Article V of the Charter after the Listing) obtained by dividing the Liquidation Amount, plus an amount equal to any accrued and unpaid dividends and other distributions (whether or not accumulated or authorized and declared), by the Conversion Price and multiplying the quotient obtained therefrom by the number of shares of Series A Preferred Stock to be converted.

 

(b)A holder of Series A Preferred Stock desiring to exercise its Conversion Right must deliver, on or before the close of business on the Conversion Date, the certificates, if any, representing the Series A Preferred Stock to be converted, duly endorsed for transfer (or an affidavit of loss and indemnity reasonably satisfactory to the Corporation), together with a written conversion notice (the “Conversion Notice”) in the form approved by the Corporation, duly completed, to the Corporation by certified mail postage prepaid to the Corporation’s principal office c/o the Secretary. The Conversion Notice must state: (i) the Conversion Date; provided, however, that the Conversion Date must be a Business Day and may not be less than five (5) nor more than 15 days after the date the Conversion Notice is delivered to the Corporation, unless such Conversion Notice is delivered following receipt of a notice of redemption pursuant to Section 5(a) or a REIT Non-Compliance Notice, in which case the Conversion Date must only be a Business Day and not more than 15 days after the date the Conversion Notice is delivered to the Corporation; (ii) the number of shares of Series A Preferred Stock to be converted; and (iii) that the Series A Preferred Stock is to be converted pursuant to the applicable provisions hereof.

 

(c)Any conversion pursuant to this Section 6 shall be effective as of the close of business on the Conversion Date. To the extent that any shares of Series A Preferred Stock to be converted pursuant to this Section 6 are certificated, if fewer than all the shares represented by any such certificate are to be converted, a new certificate shall be issued representing the shares that have not been converted.

8


 

 

(d)Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, no holder of Series A Preferred Stock will be entitled to exercise a Conversion Right if (i) to the extent that receipt of such Class A Common Stock or Common Stock would cause such holder (or any other Person) to violate the applicable restrictions on ownership and transfer in Article VI of the Charter, unless the Corporation provides an exemption from the applicable limitation to such holder (or other Person) pursuant to Article VI of the Charter; (ii) in the opinion of counsel for the Corporation, the Corporation would no longer qualify as a REIT or its status as a REIT may be compromised as a result of such conversion; or (iii) such conversion would, in the opinion of counsel for the Corporation, constitute a violation of applicable securities laws. Notwithstanding the foregoing, upon the exercise of the Conversion Right by a holder of Series A Preferred Stock in accordance with Section 6 hereof, the Corporation will use reasonable best efforts to prevent the occurrence of any event described in this Section 6(d)(i)-(iii).

 

(e)The Corporation shall at all times reserve and keep available, free from preemptive rights, out of the aggregate of its authorized and unissued Class A Common Stock or other class of Common Stock if a conversion under Section 5.2.5 of Article V of the Charter occurs, as the case may be, solely for the purpose of effecting conversion of the Series A Preferred Stock, the full number of shares of Class A Common Stock or such other class of Common Stock deliverable upon the conversion of all outstanding Series A Preferred Stock not theretofore converted into Class A Common Stock or Common Stock.

 

(f)The Corporation shall pay any and all documentary, stamp or similar issue or transfer taxes required to be paid under applicable law in respect of the issue or delivery of Class A Common Stock or other class of Common Stock on conversion of Series A Preferred Stock pursuant hereto. The converting holder of the Series A Preferred Stock shall pay any documentary stamp or similar issue or transfer taxes required to be paid under applicable law in respect of the issue or delivery of Class A Common Stock or other class of Common Stock on conversion of Series A Preferred Stock pursuant hereto in a name other than that of the holder of the shares to be converted, and no such issue or delivery shall be made unless and until the person requesting such issue has paid to the Corporation the amount of any such tax or duty, or has established to the reasonable satisfaction of the Corporation that such tax or duty has been paid.

 

(7)Voting Rights.

 

(a)Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in the Charter or Maryland law, except as set forth below in this Section 7, the holders of the Series A Preferred Stock shall not be entitled to vote at any meeting of the stockholders for election of directors or for any other purpose or otherwise to participate in any action taken by the Corporation or the stockholders thereof, or to receive notice of any meeting of stockholders (except for such notices as may be expressly required by law).

 

(b)If, at any time, full cumulative distributions on the Series A Preferred Stock shall not have been paid (whether or not declared) for four or more quarterly dividend periods (a “Preferred Distribution Default”), whether or not the quarterly dividend periods are consecutive, the holders of Series A Preferred Stock and holders of any other class or series of Preferred Stock ranking on parity to the Series A Preferred Stock as to dividends and upon Liquidation and upon which like voting rights have been conferred and are exercisable, and with which the holders of the Series A Preferred Stock are entitled to vote together as a single class (voting together as a single class), will be entitled to vote together with the holders of Class A Common

9


 

Stock as a single class on all matters submitted to a vote of the stockholders of the Corporation upon which holders of Class A Common Stock are entitled to vote, whether at a meeting of stockholders or by written consent, with each such holder being entitled to cast a number of votes equal to the number of shares of Class A Common Stock or other class of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of such holder’s shares of Series A Preferred Stock, until all accrued and unpaid dividends on the Series A Preferred Stock for all past dividend periods have been paid in full.

 

(c)So long as any shares of Series A Preferred Stock remain outstanding, the Corporation shall not, without the prior affirmative vote or consent of the holders of at least a majority of the shares of Series A Preferred Stock outstanding at the time, given in person or by proxy, either in writing or at a meeting (the holders of Series A Preferred Stock voting separately as a class):

 

(i)amend or modify the Charter or bylaws of the Corporation in a manner that adversely affects the rights, preferences or privileges of the holders of Series A Preferred Stock (including any such amendment effected by reason of or in connection with any merger or consolidation involving the Corporation);  

 

(ii)amend or modify the terms of the Series A Preferred Stock (whether by merger, consolidation or otherwise);

 

(iii)increase the number of shares of Series A Preferred Stock classified hereunder or authorize the issuance of any shares of Series A Preferred Stock other than the shares of Series A Preferred Stock issued pursuant to the Preferred Stock Purchase Agreement, dated October 29, 2019, by and between the Corporation and Extra Space Storage LP (the “Purchase Agreement”);

 

(iv)classify, reclassify, create, authorize or issue any shares of Preferred Stock or other equity securities ranking senior to or on parity with the Series A Preferred Stock with respect to dividends and distribution rights or rights upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up;

 

(v)pay any dividends on any capital stock of the Corporation, other than dividends payable on the Series A Preferred Stock, dividends payable in shares of Common Stock or other Junior Securities in connection with an Initial Listing, and regular cash dividends on the Common Stock, or on other Junior Securities issued in the future, on a basis consistent with past practice or as otherwise required to preserve the Corporation’s qualification as a REIT;

 

(vi)redeem, acquire, purchase or otherwise retire for value (except for (A) repurchases of shares of any class of Common Stock issued under the Corporation’s stock incentive programs in the ordinary course upon termination of employment and to the extent permitted by the terms of the indebtedness of the Corporation and its subsidiaries, (B) repurchases of Common Stock under the Corporation’s share redemption program, (C) repurchases of Common Stock pursuant to a self-tender offer in connection with a Listing, or (D) as otherwise required to preserve the Corporation’s qualification as a REIT) any shares of capital stock of the Corporation (other than shares of Series A Preferred Stock as contemplated herein);

 

10


 

(vii)exceed a leverage ratio of 60% loan-to-value ratio, calculated as of any date, as the ratio of (A) the aggregate sum of the then-outstanding principal amount of, accrued and unpaid interest on, and any other payment obligations arising under, all indebtedness for borrowed money of the Corporation and its subsidiaries, offset by all cash and cash equivalents of the Corporation and its subsidiaries, to (B) the reasonable fair market value of the Corporation’s real estate portfolio at such date;

 

(viii)enter into any transaction with the individual serving as the Executive Chairman of the Corporation as of the date of the Purchase Agreement, or any entities in which such person has a controlling interest (for the avoidance of doubt, the Corporation, Strategic Storage Trust IV, Inc., Strategic Storage Growth Trust II, Inc. and any future similarly situated  self storage real estate program sponsored by the Corporation shall be excluded from this provision);

 

(ix)effect any merger, consolidation or other business combination with an entity whose assets acquired are not at least 80% self-storage related investments and contracts based on the reasonable fair market value of such assets; or

 

(x)enter into any line of business other than self-storage and ancillary businesses, unless such ancillary business represents revenues of less than 10% of the Corporation’s revenues for its last fiscal year;

 

provided, however, that nothing set forth in this Section 7(c) shall prohibit the Corporation from issuing shares of special voting stock without the prior affirmative vote or consent of the holders of the shares of Series A Preferred Stock outstanding at the time to the holders (the “Class A-1 Unitholders”) of Class A-1 Units (the “Class A-1 Units”) of SmartStop OP, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (the “Operating Partnership”), for the purpose of allowing the Class A-1 Unitholders to cast the number of votes that such holders would be entitled to cast if such Class A-1 Unitholders’ Class A-1 Units had been exchanged for shares of Class A Common Stock in accordance with their terms pursuant to the Third Amended and Restated Limited Partnership Agreement of the Operating Partnership, as such agreement may be amended from time to time.

 

(d)In connection with clause (c)(i) above, so long as the Series A Preferred Stock remains outstanding with terms thereof materially unchanged, taking into account that, upon the occurrence of such merger or consolidation, the Corporation may not be the surviving entity and the surviving entity may not be a corporation, the occurrence of such merger or consolidation shall not be deemed to adversely affect such rights, preferences or privileges of the Series A Preferred Stock and, in such case, such holders shall not have voting rights with respect to the occurrence of such merger or consolidation. In addition, if the holders of the Series A Preferred Stock receive (i) the full amount payable to such holders of Series A Preferred Stock pursuant to a Liquidation in connection with such merger or consolidation, or (ii) the CoC Redemption Price pursuant to a redemption by the Corporation provided for in Section 5(c) above, then such holders shall not have any voting rights with respect to such merger or consolidation.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, holders of shares of Series A Preferred Stock shall not be entitled to vote with respect to (i) any increase in the total number of authorized shares of Common Stock or Preferred Stock, (ii) any increase in the number of authorized shares of any other class or series of capital stock of the Corporation, or (iii) the creation or issuance of any other class or series of capital stock of the Corporation; provided that, in each case referred to in clause (i) through (iii) above, such capital stock ranks as Junior Securities.

 

11


 

(e)So long as any shares of Series A Preferred Stock remain outstanding, the holders of shares of Series A Preferred Stock shall have the exclusive right to vote on any amendment, alteration or repeal of the Charter, including the terms of the Series A Preferred Stock, that would alter only the contract rights, as expressly set forth in the Charter, of the Series A Preferred Stock, and the holders of any other classes or series of stock of the Corporation shall not be entitled to vote on any such amendment, alteration or repeal.  Any such amendment, alteration or repeal shall require the affirmative vote or consent of a majority of the outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock.

 

(8)Information Rights. During any period in which the Corporation is not subject to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, and any Series A Preferred Stock are outstanding, the Corporation will provide to all holders of Series A Preferred Stock that appear in the record books of the Corporation, copies of the quarterly and annual financial statements and accompanying Item 303 of Regulation S-K disclosure that would be required to be contained in annual reports on Form 10-K and quarterly reports on Form 10-Q that the Corporation would have been required to file with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act if the Corporation were subject thereto. The Corporation will provide such information to the holders of Series A Preferred Stock within the applicable Exchange Act due dates.

 

(9)Status of Acquired Shares. In the event any shares of Series A Preferred Stock have been redeemed or repurchased by the Corporation pursuant to Section 5 hereof or converted pursuant to Section 6 hereof, or otherwise reacquired by the Corporation, the shares so redeemed, repurchased, converted or reacquired shall become authorized but unissued shares of Preferred Stock without further designation as to class or series, available for future classification or reclassification by the Board of Directors and issuance by the Corporation.

 

(10)Transfers Restrictions; Legend. The holders of the Series A Preferred Stock are at all times subject to the provisions contained in Article VI of the Charter. Any certificate representing shares of the Series A Preferred Stock shall bear any legend required by the Charter or bylaws of the Corporation, any legend required by Maryland law, any legend as required by the “blue sky” laws of any state, and a restrictive legend in substantially the following form until such time as they are not required:

 

THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR THE SECURITIES COMMISSION OF ANY STATE IN RELIANCE UPON AN EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”), AND, ACCORDINGLY, MAY NOT BE OFFERED OR SOLD EXCEPT PURSUANT TO AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OR PURSUANT TO AN AVAILABLE EXEMPTION FROM, OR IN A TRANSACTION NOT SUBJECT TO, THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS. TRANSFER OF THESE SECURITIES IS PROHIBITED, EXCEPT IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PROVISIONS OF REGULATIONS PROMULGATED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, PURSUANT TO REGISTRATION UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, OR PURSUANT TO AVAILABLE EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION. HEDGING TRANSACTIONS MAY NOT BE CONDUCTED UNLESS IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE SECURITIES ACT. THESE SECURITIES ARE ALSO SUBJECT TO THE RESTRICTIONS SET FORTH IN (I) THE SERIES A CONVERTIBLE PREFERRED STOCK PURCHASE AGREEMENT, DATED OCTOBER 29, 2019, BY AND AMONG SMARTSTOP SELF STORAGE REIT, INC. AND EXTRA

12


 

SPACE STORAGE LP, AND (II) THE CHARTER OF SMARTSTOP SELF STORAGE REIT, INC., INCLUDING THE ARTICLES SUPPLEMENTARY OF SMARTSTOP SELF STORAGE REIT, INC. DATED AS OF OCTOBER 29, 2019 AND FILED WITH THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF ASSESSMENTS AND TAXATION OF MARYLAND.

 

(11)Record Holders. The Corporation and the transfer agent for the Series A Preferred Stock may deem and treat the record holder of any Series A Preferred Stock as the true and lawful owner thereof for all purposes, and neither the Corporation nor the transfer agent shall be affected by any notice to the contrary.

 

(12)No Preemptive Rights. No holder of the Series A Preferred Stock will, as a holder of the Series A Preferred Stock, have any preemptive rights to purchase or subscribe for Common Stock or any other security of the Corporation (whether now or hereafter authorized).

 

(13)Notices to Holders. Unless otherwise provided herein or required by law, notices to holders of Series A Preferred Stock provided for herein shall be mailed to such holders by first class mail, postage pre-paid, at the respective addresses as the same shall appear on the stock transfer records of the Corporation. Unless otherwise provided herein or required by law, any requirements set forth herein for public announcements or publications by the Corporation may be satisfied if the subject matter thereof is contained in (a) a document filed by the Corporation with, or furnished by the Corporation to, the Securities and Exchange Commission and such filing is available to be viewed by the public on the Securities and Exchange Commission’s EDGAR system (or any successor system thereto) or (b) a press release submitted by the Corporation for publication to Dow Jones & Corporation, Inc., Business Wire, PR Newswire or Bloomberg Business News (or, if such organizations are not in existence at the time of issuance of such press release, such other news or press organization as is reasonably calculated to broadly disseminate the relevant information to the public).

 

(14)Severability. If any of the preferences, conversion or other rights, voting powers, restrictions, limitations as to dividends or other distributions, qualifications or terms or conditions of redemption or repurchase of the Series A Preferred Stock is invalid, unlawful or incapable of being enforced by reason of any rule of law or public policy, then, to the extent permitted by law, all other preferences, conversion or other rights, voting powers, restrictions, limitations as to dividends or other distributions, qualifications or terms or conditions of redemption or repurchase of the Series A Preferred Stock which can be given effect without the invalid, unlawful or unenforceable preferences, conversion or other rights, voting powers, restrictions, limitations as to dividends or other distributions, qualifications or terms or conditions of redemption or repurchase of the Series A Preferred Stock shall remain in full force and effect and shall not be deemed dependent upon any invalid, unlawful or unenforceable preferences, conversion or other rights, voting powers, restrictions, limitations as to dividends or other distributions, qualifications or terms or conditions of redemption or repurchase of the Series A Preferred Stock.

 

(15)Definitions. Capitalized terms used herein shall have the meanings set forth below or otherwise defined herein, which definitions shall apply only to the Series A Preferred Stock and shall not affect the definition of such terms as used or as otherwise defined with respect to other classes or series of Preferred Stock or elsewhere in the Charter. Capitalized terms not defined herein, shall have the meaning set forth elsewhere in the Charter.

 

“Affiliate” means, with respect to any person, any person directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by or under common control with, such other person.  For purposes of this definition, “control” (including, with correlative meanings, the terms “controlled by” and “under common control with”) when used with respect to any person, means the possession,

13


 

directly or indirectly, of the power to cause the direction of management or policies of such person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise.

 

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

 

“Change of Control” means (i) a sale of all or substantially all of the direct or indirect assets of the Corporation (including by way of any reorganization, merger, consolidation or other similar transaction) or (ii) a direct or indirect acquisition of beneficial ownership of voting securities of the Corporation by another Person or “group” (within the meaning of Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5 under the Exchange Act) by means of any transaction or series of transactions (including any reorganization, merger, consolidation, joint venture, share transfer or other similar transaction), pursuant to which the stockholders of the Corporation immediately preceding such transaction or transactions collectively own, following the consummation of such transaction or transactions, less than fifty percent (50%) of the total economic interests or total voting power of all securities of beneficial interest of the Corporation entitled to vote generally.

 

“Code” means the United State Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

 

“Conversion Date” means the date the holder proposes to convert the Series A Preferred Stock.

 

“Conversion Price” shall initially be equal to $10.66, subject to proportionate adjustment in the event of a stock split, stock dividend, combination or other proportionate reduction or increase in the number of shares of Class A Common Stock or the number of shares of the class of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of the Series A Preferred Stock.

 

“Dividend Rate” means a rate of 6.25% per annum of the Liquidation Amount (subject to proportionate adjustment in the event of a stock split, stock dividend, combination or other proportionate reduction or increase to the Series A Preferred Stock); provided, however, if the Series A Preferred Stock has not been redeemed or repurchased in full on or prior to the Fifth Anniversary Date, such Dividend Rate shall increase at the rate of 0.75% per annum of the Liquidation Amount for the initial year after the Fifth Anniversary Date, and shall increase an additional 0.75% per annum of the Liquidation Amount each year thereafter to a maximum of 9.0% per annum of the Liquidation Amount until the tenth anniversary of the First Issuance Date, at which time the Dividend Rate shall increase 0.75% per annum of the Liquidation Amount each year thereafter until the Series A Preferred Stock is redeemed or repurchased in full.

 

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

 

“Fifth Anniversary Date” means the fifth anniversary of the First Issuance Date.

 

“First Issuance Date” means the date that the first share of Series A Preferred Stock is issued pursuant to the Purchase Agreement.

 

“Initial Listing” means the first day shares of any class of Common Stock are Listed.

 

“Initial Listing Price” means the (i) offering price per share of the class of Common Stock approved for Listing if the Initial Listing is in connection with an underwritten public

14


 

offering or (ii) the opening price per share of the class of Common Stock on the Initial Listing if the Initial Listing is not in connection with an underwritten public offering.

 

“Liquidation Amount” means $1,000.00 per share of Series A Preferred Stock.

 

“Liquidation Premium” means, upon an Initial Listing or Change of Control and in accordance with the time lapsed since the First Issuance Date, the Liquidation Amount (subject to proportionate adjustment in the event of a stock split, stock dividend, combination or other proportionate reduction or increase to the Series A Preferred Stock) multiplied by:

 

Anniversary of First Issuance Date

Premium

First Issuance Date – 1st Anniversary

10%

1st Anniversary – 2nd Anniversary

8%

2nd Anniversary – 3rd Anniversary

6%

3rd Anniversary – 4th Anniversary

4%

4th Anniversary – 5th Anniversary

2%

5th Anniversary – thereafter

0%

 

“Listed” means shares of Common Stock are approved for trading on any securities exchange registered as a national securities exchange under Section 6 of the Exchange Act.  The term “Listing” shall have the correlative meaning.

 

“Listing Value” means the value per share of cash a holder or holders of Series A Preferred Stock would receive upon an Initial Listing had such holder or holders, immediately prior to such Initial Listing, converted such shares of Series A Preferred Stock into shares of the class of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of the Series A Preferred Stock and sold such shares of Common Stock at the Initial Listing Price.

 

“Person” means any individual, partnership, limited liability company, corporation, joint venture, trust or other entity.

 

“Redemption Date” means the date of redemption or repurchase for the Series A Preferred Stock being redeemed or repurchased, as applicable.

 

“Redemption Price” means the Liquidation Amount (subject to proportionate adjustment in the event of a stock split, stock dividend, combination or other proportionate reduction or increase to the Series A Preferred Stock); provided that, in the event of an Initial Listing or Change of Control only, the Redemption Price shall be the sum of the Liquidation Amount (subject to proportionate adjustment in the event of a stock split, stock dividend, combination or other proportionate reduction or increase to the Series A Preferred Stock) and the applicable Liquidation Premium.

 

“REIT” means an entity electing to be taxed as a real estate investment trust pursuant to Sections 856 through 860 of the Code.

 

“Second Anniversary Date” means the second anniversary of the First Issuance Date.

 

“Transaction Value” means the value per share of cash and other property, if any, a holder or holders of Series A Preferred Stock would receive upon a Change of Control had such holder or holders, immediately prior to such Change of Control, converted such shares of Series A Preferred Stock into shares of the class of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of the

15


 

Series A Preferred Stock. The value of any property other than cash shall be determined by the Board of Directors based on the imputed value of the Common Stock in the Change of Control transaction, acting in good faith on the basis of such information as it considers, in its reasonable judgment, appropriate.

 

FOURTH:The Series A Preferred Stock has been classified and designated by the Board of Directors under the authority contained in the Charter.

FIFTH:These Articles Supplementary have been approved by the Board of Directors in the manner and by the vote required by law.

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

[Signatures Appear on Following Page]


16


 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, SmartStop Self Storage REIT, Inc. has caused the foregoing Articles Supplementary to be signed in its name and on its behalf by its Chief Executive Officer and attested to by its Secretary on this 29th day of October, 2019.

ATTEST:

SmartStop Self Storage REIT, Inc.

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Nicholas M. Look

By:

/s/ Michael S. McClure

 

Nicholas M. Look

 

Michael S. McClure

 

Secretary

 

Chief Executive Officer

 

 

 

 

 

17