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): December 8, 2016 (December 7, 2016)
 


Newcastle Investment Corp.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
 

 
Maryland
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)

001-31458
 
81-0559116
(Commission File Number)
 
(IRS Employer Identification No.)

1345 Avenue of the Americas, 45 th Floor
New York, New York
 
10105
(Address of principal executive offices)
 
(Zip Code)

  Registrant’s telephone number, including area code (212) 798-6100
 
N/A
(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 (see General Instruction A.2. below):

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))
 


Item 1.01
Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.

In connection with the decision of Newcastle Investment Corp. (the “Company”) to terminate its election to be treated as a real estate investment trust (“REIT”) (as discussed below), the disinterested members of the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board”) approved a form of Amended and Restated Management Agreement (the “Amended Management Agreement”) with FIG LLC, a subsidiary of Fortress Investment Group LLC, including Investment Guidelines of the Company, to remove any REIT-related compliance requirements and to reflect the Company’s decision to change its name to Drive Shack Inc., effective December 28, 2016. In addition, references in the management agreement to the issuance of “REIT” Shares are being updated to reflect an “Ordinary” Share naming convention.  The Amended Management Agreement is expected to become effective on January 1, 2017. The form of the Amended Management Agreement is filed with this Current Report on Form 8-K as Exhibit 10.1 and incorporated by reference herein.

The information in Item 3.03 of this report is incorporated by reference in this Item 1.01.

Item 3.03
Material Modification to Rights of Security Holders.

On December 7, 2016, the Company entered into a Tax Benefits Preservation Plan (the “Plan”) with American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC, as rights agent (the “Rights Agent”), and the disinterested members of the Board declared a dividend distribution of one right (a “Right”) for each outstanding share of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Company (the “Common Stock”) to stockholders of record at the close of business on December 20, 2016 (the “Record Date”). Each Right is governed by the terms of the Plan and entitles the registered holder to purchase from the Company a unit consisting of one one-thousandth of a share (a “Unit”) of Series E Junior Participating Preferred Stock, par value $0.01 per share (the “Series E Preferred Stock”), at a purchase price of $27.00 per Unit, subject to adjustment (the “Purchase Price”). The Plan is intended to help protect the Company’s ability to use its tax net operating losses and certain other tax assets (“Tax Benefits”) by   deterring an “ownership change” as defined under Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and the Treasury Regulations thereunder (the “Code”) .

Rights Certificates; Exercise Period

Initially, the Rights will be attached to all Common Stock certificates representing shares then outstanding, and no separate rights certificates (“Rights Certificates”) will be distributed. Subject to certain exceptions specified in the Plan, the Rights will separate from the Common Stock then outstanding and a distribution date (the “Distribution Date”) will occur upon the earlier of (i) 10 business days following a public announcement that a person or group of affiliated or associated persons (an “Acquiring Person”) has become the beneficial owner of 4.9% or more of the shares of the Common Stock (the “Stock Acquisition Date”) and (ii) 10 business days (or such later date as the Board shall determine) following the commencement of a tender offer or exchange offer that would result in a person or group becoming an Acquiring Person.

Until the Distribution Date, (i) the Rights will be evidenced by the Common Stock certificates (or, in the case of book entry shares, by the notations in the book entry accounts) and will be transferred with and only with such Common Stock, (ii) new Common Stock certificates issued after the Record Date will contain a notation incorporating the Plan by reference and (iii) the surrender for transfer of any certificates for Common Stock outstanding will also constitute the transfer of the Rights associated with the Common Stock represented by such certificates. Pursuant to the Plan, the Company reserves the right to require prior to the occurrence of a Triggering Event (as defined below) that, upon any exercise of Rights, a number of Rights be exercised so that only whole shares of Series E Preferred Stock will be issued.

The definition of “Acquiring Person” contained in the Plan contains several exemptions, including for (i) the Company or any of the Company’s subsidiaries; (ii) any employee benefit plan of the Company, or of any subsidiary of the Company, or any person or entity organized, appointed or established by the Company for or pursuant to the terms of any such plan; (iii) any person who becomes the beneficial owner of 4.9% or more of the shares of the Common Stock then outstanding as a result of a reduction in the number of shares of Common Stock by the Company or a stock dividend, stock split, reverse stock split or similar transaction, unless and until such person increases his ownership by more than one percentage point over such person’s lowest percentage stock ownership on or after the consummation of the relevant transaction; (iv) any person who, together with all affiliates and associates of such person, was the beneficial owner of 4.9% or more of the shares of the Common Stock then outstanding on the date of the Plan, unless and until such person and its affiliates and associates increase their aggregate ownership by more than one percentage point over their lowest percentage stock ownership on or after the date of the Plan or decrease their aggregate percentage stock ownership below 4.9%; (v) any person who, within 10 business days of being requested by the Company to do so, certifies to the Company that such person became an Acquiring Person inadvertently or without knowledge of the terms of the Rights and who, together with all affiliates and associates, thereafter within 10 business days following such certification disposes of such number of shares of Common Stock so that it, together with all affiliates and associates, ceases to be an Acquiring Person; (vi) Fortress Investment Group LLC, any Subsidiary or principal thereof, or any Associate of any such principal (“Fortress Holders”); provided that the foregoing exemption (x) shall apply only to the extent that the Company does not undergo an “owner shift” (as that term is defined in Section 382 of the Code) of 10% or more as a result of beneficial ownership of Company securities by any one or more Fortress Holders and (y) may be revoked at any time by the disinterested members of the Board as to future acquisitions; and (vii) any person that the Board has affirmatively determined shall not be deemed an Acquiring Person.
 

The Rights are not exercisable until the Distribution Date and will expire at the earliest of (i) 5:00 P.M. (New York City time) on December 6, 2017 or such later date and time as may be determined by the Board and approved by the stockholders of the Company by a vote of the majority of the votes cast by the holders of shares entitled to vote thereon at a meeting of the stockholders of the Company prior to 5:00 P.M. (New York City time) on December 6, 2017 (which later date and time shall be in no event later than 5:00 P.M. (New York City time) on December 31, 2018), (ii) the time at which the Rights are redeemed or exchanged as provided in the Plan, (iii) the time at which the Board determines that the Plan is no longer necessary or desirable for the preservation of Tax Benefits, and (iv) the close of business on the first day of a taxable year of the Company to which the Board determines that no Tax Benefits may be carried forward.

As soon as practicable after the Distribution Date, Rights Certificates will be mailed to holders of record of the Common Stock as of the close of business on the Distribution Date and, thereafter, the separate Rights Certificates alone will represent the Rights. After the Distribution Date, the Company generally would issue Rights with respect to shares of Common Stock issued upon the exercise of stock options or pursuant to awards under any employee plan or arrangement, which stock options or awards are outstanding as of the Distribution Date, or upon the exercise, conversion or exchange of securities issued by the Company after the Plan’s adoption (except as may otherwise be provided in the instruments governing such securities). In the case of other issuances of shares of Common Stock after the Distribution Date, the Company generally may, if deemed necessary or appropriate by the Board, issue Rights with respect to such shares of Common Stock.

Preferred Share Provisions

Each one one-thousandth of a share of Series E Preferred Stock, if issued:

will not be redeemable;

will entitle the holder thereof to quarterly dividend payments of $0.001 or an amount equal to the dividend paid on one share of Common Stock, whichever is greater;

will, upon any liquidation of the Company, entitle the holder thereof to receive either $1.00 plus accrued and unpaid dividends and distributions to the date of payment or an amount equal to the payment made on one share of Common Stock, whichever is greater;

will have the same voting power as one share of Common Stock; and

will, if shares of Common Stock are exchanged via merger, consolidation or a similar transaction, entitle holders to a per share payment equal to the payment made on one share of Common Stock.

Flip-in Trigger

In the event that a person or group of affiliated or associated persons becomes an Acquiring Person (unless the event causing such person or group to become an Acquiring Person is a transaction described under Flip-over Trigger , below), each holder of a Right will thereafter have the right to receive, upon exercise, Common Stock (or, in certain circumstances, cash, property or other securities of the Company) having a value equal to two times the exercise price of the Right. Notwithstanding the foregoing, following the occurrence of such an event, all Rights that are, or (under certain circumstances specified in the Plan) were, beneficially owned by any Acquiring Person will be null and void. However, Rights are not exercisable following the occurrence of such an event until such time as the Rights are no longer redeemable by the Company as set forth below.
 
3

Flip-over Trigger

In the event that, at any time following the Stock Acquisition Date, (i) the Company engages in a merger or other business combination transaction in which the Company is not the surviving corporation or (ii) the Company engages in a merger or other business combination transaction in which the Company is the surviving corporation and the Common Stock is changed or exchanged, each holder of a Right (except Rights that have previously been voided as set forth above) shall thereafter have the right to receive, upon exercise, common stock of the acquiring company having a value equal to two times the exercise price of the Right. The events set forth in this paragraph and in the next preceding paragraph are referred to as the “Triggering Events.”
 
Exchange Feature

At any time after a person becomes an Acquiring Person and prior to the acquisition by such person or group of 50% or more of the Common Stock then outstanding, the Board may exchange the Rights (other than Rights owned by such person or group which have become void), in whole or in part, at an exchange ratio of one share of Common Stock, or one one-thousandth of a share of Series E Preferred Stock (or of a share of a class or series of the Company’s preferred stock having equivalent rights, preferences and privileges), per Right (subject to adjustment).

Equitable Adjustments

The Purchase Price payable, and the number of Units of Series E Preferred Stock or other securities or property issuable, upon exercise of the Rights are subject to adjustment from time to time to prevent dilution (i) in the event of a stock dividend on, or a subdivision, combination or reclassification of, the Series E Preferred Stock, (ii) if holders of the Series E Preferred Stock are granted certain rights or warrants to subscribe for Series E Preferred Stock or convertible securities at less than the current market price of the Series E Preferred Stock, or (iii) upon the distribution to holders of the Series E Preferred Stock of evidences of indebtedness or assets (excluding regular quarterly cash dividends) or of subscription rights or warrants (other than those referred to above).

With certain exceptions, no adjustment in the Purchase Price will be required until cumulative adjustments amount to at least 1% of the Purchase Price. No fractional Units will be issued and, in lieu thereof, an adjustment in cash will be made based on the market price of the Series E Preferred Stock on the last trading day prior to the date of exercise.

Redemption Rights

At any time until 10 business days following the Stock Acquisition Date, the Company may, at the Company’s option, redeem the Rights in whole, but not in part, at a price of $0.001 per Right (payable in cash, Common Stock or other consideration deemed appropriate by the Board ). Immediately upon the action of the Board ordering redemption of the Rights, the Rights will terminate and the only right of the holders of Rights will be to receive the $0.001 redemption price.

Amendment of Rights

Any of the provisions of the Plan may be amended by the Board prior to the Distribution Date except that the Board may not extend the expiration of the Rights beyond 5:00 P.M. (New York City time) on December 6, 2017 unless such extension is approved by the Company’s stockholders prior to 5:00 P.M. (New York City time) on December 6, 2017. After the Distribution Date, the provisions of the Plan may be amended by the Board in order to cure any ambiguity, to make changes that do not adversely affect the interests of holders of Rights, or to shorten or lengthen any time period under the Plan. The foregoing notwithstanding, no amendment may be made at such time as the Rights are not redeemable, except to cure any ambiguity or correct or supplement any provision contained in the Plan which may be defective or inconsistent with any other provision therein.

Miscellaneous

Until a Right is exercised, the holder thereof, as such, will have no separate rights as a stockholder of the Company, including the right to vote or to receive dividends in respect of the Rights. While the distribution of the Rights will not be taxable to the Company’s stockholders or to the Company, stockholders may, depending upon the circumstances, recognize taxable income in the event that the Rights become exercisable for Common Stock (or other consideration) of the Company or for common stock of the acquiring company or in the event of the redemption of the Rights as set forth above.
 
4

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

On December 7, 2016, the Company announced that it decided to terminate its election to be treated as a REIT under the Code, effective January 1, 2017.  Pursuant to the Company’s charter, the restrictions on transfer and ownership of shares set forth in Article VII of the Company’s charter will cease to be in effect when the Company is no longer treated as a REIT under the Code and, accordingly, shares of the Company’s stock will no longer be subject to such restrictions.

The Company also announced that the Board approved a change in the Company’s name to Drive Shack Inc., effective as of December 28, 2016.  In connection therewith, the Board approved Articles of Amendment (the “Amendment”) to the Company’s charter, Articles of Restatement (the “Restated Charter”) and Amended and Restated By-laws (the “Amended By-laws”) for the sole purpose of effectuating the name change.  The Amendment and the Restated Charter will be filed with the State Department of Assessments and Taxation of Maryland (the “SDAT”) on December 8, 2016.  The Amendment, the Restated Charter and the Amended By-laws are expected to become effective on December 28, 2016.  The forms of the Amendment and the Restated Charter to be filed with the SDAT and the Amended By-laws are filed with this Current Report on Form 8-K as Exhibits 3.1, 3.2 and 3.3 hereto, respectively, and incorporated by reference herein.
 
In connection with the adoption of the Plan, the disinterested members of the Board approved the Articles Supplementary of Series E Preferred Stock. The Articles Supplementary of Series E Preferred Stock will be filed with the SDAT on December 8, 2016.
 
A copy of the form of the Articles Supplementary of Series E Preferred Stock to be filed with the SDAT is included as Exhibit 3.4 to this report and incorporated by reference herein. The information in Item 3.03 of this report is incorporated by reference in this Item 5.03.
 
Item 8.01
Other Events.

On December 7, 2016, the Company issued a press release. A copy of the press release is included as Exhibit 99.1 to this report and incorporated by reference herein.

Item 9.01
Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d)
Exhibits.

Exhibit No.
    
Description
       
3.1
   
Form of Articles of Amendment of Newcastle Investment Corp.
3.2
   
Form of Articles of Restatement of Drive Shack Inc.
3.3
   
Form of Articles Supplementary of Series E Junior Participating Preferred Stock
3.4
   
Amended and Restated By-laws of Drive Shack Inc.
4.1
   
Tax Benefits Preservation Plan, dated as of December 7, 2016, between Newcastle Investment Corp. and American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC
10.1
   
Form of Amended and Restated Management and Advisory Agreement by and among Drive Shack Inc. and FIG LLC, dated December 7, 2016
99.1
   
Press release dated December 7, 2016
 
5

SIGNATURES

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.

Date: December 8, 2016
NEWCASTLE INVESTMENT CORP.
   
 
By:
/s/ Sarah L. Watterson
   
Name:
Sarah L. Watterson
   
Title:
Chief Executive Officer and President
 
6

EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit No.
   
Description
       
   
Form of Articles of Amendment of Newcastle Investment Corp.
   
Form of Articles of Restatement of Drive Shack Inc.
   
Form of Articles Supplementary of Series E Junior Participating Preferred Stock
   
Amended and Restated By-laws of Drive Shack Inc.
   
Tax Benefits Preservation Plan, dated as of December 7, 2016, between Newcastle Investment Corp. and American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC
   
Form of Amended and Restated Management and Advisory Agreement by and among Drive Shack Inc. and FIG LLC, dated December 7, 2016
   
Press release dated December 7, 2016
 
 
7


Exhibit 3.1
 
ARTICLES OF AMENDMENT

NEWCASTLE INVESTMENT CORP.

NEWCASTLE INVESTMENT CORP., a Maryland corporation (the “Corporation”), does hereby certify as follows:

FIRST: The charter of the Corporation is hereby amended by deleting the existing Article II in its entirety and inserting a new Article II to read as follows:

“Article II

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

Drive Shack Inc.”

SECOND: The foregoing amendment was duly approved by the Board of Directors of the Corporation pursuant to Section 2-605(a) of the MGCL.

THIRD: These Articles of Amendment shall become effective at 12:01 a.m., local time, on December 28, 2016.

FOURTH: The undersigned Chief Executive Officer and President of the Corporation acknowledges these Articles of Amendment to be the corporate act of the Corporation and, as to all matters or facts required to be verified under oath, the undersigned Chief Executive Officer and President 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 of perjury.
 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, NEWCASTLE INVESTMENT CORP. has caused these Articles of Amendment to be duly executed in its corporate name this                    day of                           , 2016.

ATTEST:
 
NEWCASTLE INVESTMENT CORP.
       
   
By:
 
 
 
2


Exhibit 3.2

DRIVE SHACK INC.

ARTICLES OF RESTATEMENT

FIRST: Drive Shack Inc., a Maryland corporation (the “Corporation”), desires to restate its charter as currently in effect.

SECOND: The following provisions are all the provisions of the charter currently in effect:

ARTICLE I

INCORPORATOR

The undersigned, Tracy A. Bacigalupo, whose address is c/o Piper Rudnick LLP, 6225 Smith Avenue, Baltimore, Maryland 21209, being at least 18 years of age, does hereby form a corporation under the general laws of the State of Maryland.

ARTICLE II

NAME

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

Drive Shack Inc.

ARTICLE III

PURPOSE

The purposes for which the Corporation is formed are to engage in any lawful act or activity (including, without limitation or obligation, engaging in business as a real estate investment trust under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, or any successor statute (the “Code”)) for which corporations may be organized under the general laws of the State of Maryland as now or hereafter in force. For purposes of these Articles, “REIT” means a real estate investment trust under Sections 856 through 860 of the Code.

ARTICLE IV

PRINCIPAL OFFICE IN STATE AND RESIDENT AGENT

The address of the principal office of the Corporation in the State of Maryland is c/o The Corporation Trust Incorporated, 351 West Camden Street, Baltimore, Maryland 21201.  The name of the resident agent of the Corporation in the State of Maryland is The Corporation Trust Incorporated, whose address is 351 West Camden Street, Baltimore, Maryland 21201.
 

ARTICLE V

PROVISIONS FOR DEFINING, LIMITING
AND REGULATING CERTAIN POWERS OF THE
CORPORATION AND OF THE STOCKHOLDERS AND DIRECTORS

Section 5.1  Number and Classification of Directors . The business and affairs of the Corporation shall be managed under the direction of the Board of Directors. The current number of directors of the Corporation is seven (7), which number may be increased or decreased pursuant to the Bylaws, but shall never be less than the minimum number required by the Maryland General Corporation Law. The names of the current directors who shall serve until their successors are duly elected and qualified are:
 
Stuart A. McFarland
Alan L. Tyson
Class I
Class I
Kevin J. Finnerty
Kenneth M. Riis
Wesley R. Edens
David K. McKown
Clifford Press
Class II
Class II
Class III
Class III
Class III
 
The directors may increase the number of directors and may fill any vacancy, whether resulting from an increase in the number of directors or otherwise, on the Board of Directors occurring before the first annual meeting of stockholders in the manner provided in the Bylaws.

The directors (other than any director elected solely by holders of one or more classes or series of Preferred Stock) shall be classified, with respect to the terms for which they severally hold office, into three classes, as nearly equal in number as possible, the Class I directors to hold office initially for a term expiring at the annual meeting of stockholders in 2003, the Class II directors to hold office initially for a term expiring at the annual meeting of stockholders in 2004 and the Class III directors to hold office initially for a term expiring at the annual meeting of stockholders in 2005, with the members of each class to hold office until their successors are duly elected and qualify. At each annual meeting of the stockholders, the successors to the class of directors whose term expires at such meeting shall be elected to hold office for a term expiring at the annual meeting of stockholders held in the third year following the year of their election and until their successors are duly elected and qualify.
 
Section 5.2   Extraordinary Actions . Except as specifically provided in Section 5.8 (relating to removal of directors), notwithstanding any provision of law permitting or requiring any action to be taken or approved by the affirmative vote of the holders of shares entitled to cast a greater number of votes, any such action shall be effective and valid if taken or approved by the affirmative vote of holders of shares entitled to cast a majority of all the votes entitled to be cast on the matter.

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

Section 5.4  Preemptive Rights . Except as may be provided by the Board of Directors in setting the terms of classified or reclassified shares of stock pursuant to Section 6.4, or as may otherwise be provided by contract, no holder of shares of stock of the Corporation shall, as such holder, have any preemptive right to purchase or subscribe for any additional shares of stock of the Corporation or any other security of the Corporation which it may issue or sell.
 
2

Section 5.5  Indemnification . The Corporation shall have the power, to the maximum extent permitted by Maryland law in effect from time to time, to obligate itself to indemnify, and to pay or reimburse reasonable expenses in advance of final disposition of a proceeding to, (a) any individual who is a present or former director or officer of the Corporation or (b) any individual who, while a director of the Corporation and at the request of the Corporation, serves or has served as a director, officer, partner or trustee of another corporation, real estate investment trust, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or any other enterprise from and against any claim or liability to which such person may become subject or which such person may incur by reason of his status as a present or former director or officer of the Corporation. The Corporation shall have the power, with the approval of the Board of Directors, to provide such indemnification and advancement of expenses to a person who served a predecessor of the Corporation in any of the capacities described in (a) or (b) above and to any employee or agent of the Corporation or a predecessor of the Corporation.

Section 5.6  Determinations by Board . The determination as to any of the following matters, made in good faith by or pursuant to the direction of the Board of Directors consistent with the Charter and in the absence of actual receipt of an improper benefit in money, property or services or active and deliberate dishonesty established by a court, shall be final and conclusive and shall be binding upon the Corporation and every holder of shares of its stock: the amount of the net income of the Corporation for any period and the amount of assets at any time legally available for the payment of dividends, redemption of its stock or the payment of other distributions on its stock; the amount of paid-in surplus, net assets, other surplus, annual or other net profit, net assets in excess of capital, undivided profits or excess of profits over losses on sales of assets; the amount, purpose, time of creation, increase or decrease, alteration or cancellation of any reserves or charges and the propriety thereof (whether or not any obligation or liability for which such reserves or charges shall have been created shall have been paid or discharged); the fair value, or any sale, bid or asked price to be applied in determining the fair value, of any asset owned or held by the Corporation; any matter relating to the acquisition, holding and disposition of any assets by the Corporation; or any matter relating to the business and affairs of the Corporation.

Section 5.7  REIT Qualification . The Corporation shall seek to elect and maintain status as a REIT under Sections 856-860 of the Code. The Board of Directors shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause the Corporation to satisfy the requirements for qualification as a REIT under the Code, including, but not limited to, the ownership of its outstanding stock, the nature of its assets, the sources of its income, and the amount and timing of its distributions to its stockholders; however, if the Board of Directors determines that it is no longer in the best interests of the Corporation to continue to be qualified as a REIT, the Board of Directors may revoke or otherwise terminate the Corporation’s REIT election. The Board of Directors also may determine that compliance with any restriction or limitation on stock ownership and transfers set forth in Article VII is no longer required for REIT qualification.

Section 5.8  Removal of Directors . Subject to the rights of holders of one or more classes or series of Preferred Stock to elect or remove one or more directors, any director, or the entire Board of Directors, may be removed from office at any time, but only for cause and then only by the affirmative vote of at least two thirds of the votes entitled to be cast generally in the election of directors. For the purpose of this paragraph, “cause” shall mean, with respect to any particular director, a final judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction holding that such director caused demonstrable, material harm to the Corporation through bad faith or active and deliberate dishonesty.
 
3

Section 5.9   Advisor Agreements . Subject to such approval of stockholders and other conditions, if any, as may be required by any applicable statute, rule or regulation, the Board of Directors may authorize the execution and performance by the Corporation of one or more agreements with any person, corporation, association, company, trust, partnership (limited or general) or other organization (including, without limitation, any affiliate of the Corporation and/or its directors) whereby, subject to the supervision and control of the Board of Directors, any such other person, corporation, association, company, trust, partnership (limited or general) or other organization (including, without limitation, any affiliate of the Corporation and/or its directors) shall render or make available to the Corporation managerial, investment, advisory and/or related services, office space and other services and facilities (including, if deemed advisable by the Board of Directors, the management or supervision of the investments of the Corporation) upon such terms and conditions as may be provided in such agreement or agreements (including, if deemed fair and equitable by the Board of Directors, the compensation payable thereunder by the Corporation).

ARTICLE VI

STOCK

Section 6.1  Authorized Shares . The Corporation has authority to issue 1,100,000,000 shares of stock, consisting of 1,000,000,000 shares of Common Stock, $0.01 par value per share (“Common Stock”), and 100,000,000 shares of Preferred Stock, $0.01 par value per share (“Preferred Stock”), of which 2,875,000 shares have been classified and designated as shares of  “9.75% Series B Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock”, 1,800,000 shares have been classified and designated as shares of “8.05% Series C Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock”, 2,300,000 shares have been classified and designated as shares of “8.375% Series D Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock” and 1,000,000 shares have been classified and designated as shares of “Series E Junior Participating Preferred Stock”. The aggregate par value of all authorized shares of stock having par value is $11,000,000. If shares of one class of stock are classified or reclassified into shares of another class of stock pursuant to Sections 6.2, 6.3 or 6.4 of this Article VI, the number of authorized shares of the former class shall be automatically decreased and the number of shares of the latter class shall be automatically increased, in each case by the number of shares so classified or reclassified, so that the aggregate number of shares of stock of all classes that the Corporation has authority to issue shall not be more than the total number of shares of stock set forth in the first sentence of this paragraph.

Section 6.1.1 Series B Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock .

(1)              Designation and Number . A series of shares of Preferred Stock, designated as the “9.75% Series B Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock” (the “Series B Preferred Stock”), is hereby established.  The number of shares of Series B Preferred Stock shall be 2,875,000.  The par value of Series B Preferred Stock shall be $.01 per share.

(2)              Rank . The Series B Preferred Stock will, with respect to distribution rights and rights upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation, rank (a) senior to all classes or series of Common Stock (as defined in the Charter), and to all equity securities the terms of which provide that such equity securities shall rank junior to the Series B Preferred Stock; (b) on a parity with all equity securities issued by the Corporation other than those referred to in clauses (a) and (c); and (c) junior to all equity securities issued by the Corporation the terms of which specifically provide that such equity securities rank senior to the Series B Preferred Stock.  The term “equity securities” shall not include convertible debt securities.
 
4

(3)              Distributions .

(a)             Holders of Series B Preferred Stock shall be entitled to receive, when and as authorized by the Board of Directors, out of legally available funds, cumulative preferential cash distributions at the rate of 9.75% of the liquidation preference per annum (which is equivalent to a fixed annual amount of $2.4375 per share of Series B Preferred Stock).  Such distributions shall accrue and cumulate from the date of original issuance (March 18, 2003) and shall be payable quarterly in arrears on January 31, April 30, July 31 and October 31 of each year or, if not a business day, the next succeeding business day, commencing April 30, 2003 (each a “Distribution Payment Date”).  Any distribution payable on the Series B Preferred Stock for any partial distribution period shall be prorated and computed on the basis of a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months.  Distributions shall be payable to holders of record as they appear in the stock records of the Corporation at the close of business on the applicable distribution record date, which shall be the first day of the calendar month in which the applicable Distribution Payment Date falls or such other date designated by the Board of Directors for the payment of distributions that is not more than 30 nor less than 10 calendar days immediately preceding such Distribution Payment Date (each, a “Distribution Record Date”).

(b)            Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, distributions on the Series B Preferred Stock shall accrue and cumulate whether or not the Corporation has earnings, whether or not there are funds legally available for the payment of such distributions and whether or not such distributions are authorized by the Board of Directors.  Accumulated but unpaid distributions on the Series B Preferred Stock shall cumulate as of the Distribution Payment Date on which they first become payable or on the date of redemption, as the case may be.  No interest shall be payable in respect of any distribution on the Series B Preferred Stock that may be in arrears.

(c)            Except as provided in the following sentence, if any Series B Preferred Stock are outstanding, no distributions, other than distributions in kind of the Corporation’s Common Stock or other shares of the Corporation’s equity securities ranking junior to the Series B Preferred Stock as to distributions and upon liquidation, may be authorized or paid or set apart for payment, and no other distribution may be authorized or made upon, the Corporation’s Common Stock or any other shares of equity securities of the Corporation of any other class or series ranking, as to distributions and upon liquidation, on a parity with or junior to the Series B Preferred Stock unless full cumulative distributions have been or contemporaneously are authorized and paid or authorized and a sum sufficient set apart for such payment on the Series B Preferred Stock for all past distribution periods and the then current distribution period.  When distributions are not paid in full (or a sum sufficient for such full payment is not so set apart) upon the Series B Preferred Stock and all other equity securities ranking on a parity, as to distributions, with the Series B Preferred Stock, all distributions authorized upon the Series B Preferred Stock and any other equity securities ranking on a parity, as to distributions, with the Series B Preferred Stock shall be authorized pro rata so that the amount of distributions authorized per share of Series B Preferred Stock and each such other equity security shall in all cases bear to each other the same ratio that accumulated distributions per share of Series B Preferred Stock and such other equity security (which shall not include any accumulation in respect of unpaid distributions for prior distribution periods if such other equity securities do not have a cumulative distribution) bear to each other.  No interest, or sum of money in lieu of interest, shall be payable in respect of any distribution payment or payments on Series B Preferred Stock which may be in arrears.
 
5

(d)            Except as provided in clause (c), unless full cumulative distributions on the Series B Preferred Stock have been or contemporaneously are authorized and paid or authorized and a sum sufficient is set apart for payment for all past distribution periods and the then current distribution period, no Common Stock or any other shares of equity securities of the Corporation ranking junior to or on a parity with the Series B Preferred Stock as to distributions or upon liquidation shall be redeemed, purchased or otherwise acquired for any consideration (or any monies be paid to or made available for a sinking fund for the redemption of any such shares) by the Corporation (except by conversion into or exchange for Common Stock or other shares of equity securities of the Corporation ranking junior to the Series B Preferred Stock as to distributions and amounts upon liquidation).

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

(4)              Liquidation Preference .

(a)            In the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation (referred to herein sometimes as a “liquidation”), the holders of Series B Preferred Stock then outstanding shall be entitled to receive out of the assets of the Corporation available for distribution to stockholders (after payment or provision for payment of all debts and other liabilities of the Corporation) a liquidation preference of $25.00 per share, plus any accumulated and unpaid distributions to the date of payment, whether or not authorized, before any distribution of assets is made to holders of Common Stock and any other shares of equity securities of the Corporation that rank junior to the Series B Preferred Stock as to liquidation rights.

(b)            If, upon any such voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation, the assets of the Corporation are insufficient to make full payment to holders of the Series B Preferred Stock and any shares of other classes or series of equity securities of the Corporation ranking on a parity with the Series B Preferred Stock as to liquidation rights, then the holders of the Series B Preferred Stock and all other such classes or series of equity securities ranking on a parity with the Series B Preferred Stock as to liquidation rights shall share ratably in any distribution of assets in proportion to the full liquidating distributions to which they would otherwise be respectively entitled.

(c)            Written notice of any such liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation, 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 pre-paid, not less than 30 nor more than 60 calendar days immediately preceding the payment date stated therein, to each record holder of the Series B Preferred Stock at the respective addresses of such holders as the same shall appear on the share transfer records of the Corporation.

(d)            After payment of the full amount of the liquidating distributions to which they are entitled, the holders of Series B Preferred Stock shall have no right or claim to any of the remaining assets of the Corporation.
 
6

(e)           None of a consolidation or merger of the Corporation with or into another entity, the merger of another entity with or into the Corporation, a statutory share exchange by the Corporation or a sale, lease, transfer or conveyance of all or substantially all of the Corporation’s property or business shall be considered a liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation.

(f)             In determining whether a distribution (other than upon voluntary or involuntary dissolution) by dividend, redemption or other acquisition of shares of the 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 the holders of Series B Preferred Stock will not be added to the Corporation’s total liabilities.

(5)              Redemption .

(a)            Except as set forth in this Section 5(a) and in Section 5(c), the Series B Preferred Stock is not redeemable prior to March 18, 2008.

(i)              To ensure that the Corporation remains qualified as a real estate investment trust (“REIT”) for United States federal income tax purposes, however, the Series B Preferred Stock shall be subject to the provisions of Article VII of the Charter pursuant to which Series B Preferred Stock owned by a stockholder in excess of the Aggregate Stock Ownership Limit (as defined in Article VII of the Charter) shall automatically be transferred to a Trust for the benefit of a Charitable Beneficiary (as “Trust” and “Charitable Beneficiary” are each defined in Article VII of the Charter) and the Corporation shall have the right to purchase, or to designate the purchaser of, such shares, as provided in Article VII of the Charter.

(ii)             In addition, no Person shall Beneficially Own or Constructively Own (as “Person”, “Beneficially Own” and “Constructively Own” are all defined in Article VII of the Charter) in excess of 25 percent of the outstanding shares of Series B Preferred Stock (the “Series B Ownership Limit”), except in accordance with an exemption from the Series B Ownership Limit granted by the Board of Directors or otherwise in accordance with Article VII of the Charter, with Article VII of the Charter applied as if references therein to the Aggregate Stock Ownership Limit also include applicable references to the Series B Ownership Limit.

(iii)            To the extent that any Person is granted an exemption from the Aggregate Stock Ownership Limit, such Person shall nevertheless remain subject to the Series B Ownership Limit except to the extent that such Person is also expressly granted an exemption from the Series B Ownership Limit by the Board of Directors, in which case such Person shall be a “Series B Excepted Holder”, and any higher limit established for such Person shall be a “Series B Excepted Holder Limit”, with the terms “Series B Excepted Holder” and “Series B Excepted Holder Limit” interpreted in a manner corresponding to the terms “Excepted Holder”, and “Excepted Holder Limit”, respectively, in Article VII of the Charter.  The preceding sentence shall apply to any Person for whom an exemption from the Aggregate Stock Ownership Limit is granted, without regard to whether it is granted prior or subsequent to the effectiveness of these Articles of Restatement.
 
7

(iv)           On or after March 18, 2008, the Corporation, at its option, upon giving notice as provided below, may redeem the Series B Preferred Stock, in whole or from time to time in part, for cash, at a redemption price of $25.00 per share, plus all accumulated and unpaid distributions on such Series B Preferred Stock to the date of redemption, whether or not authorized (the “Redemption Right”).

(b)            If fewer than all of the outstanding shares of Series B Preferred Stock are to be redeemed pursuant to the Redemption Right, the shares to be redeemed shall be selected pro rata (as nearly as practicable without creating fractional shares) or by lot or in such other equitable method prescribed by the Board of Directors.  If such redemption is to be by lot and, as a result of such redemption, any holder of Series B Preferred Stock would become a holder of a number of Series B Preferred Stock in excess of the Aggregate Stock Ownership Limit because such holder’s shares of Series B Preferred Stock were not redeemed, or were only redeemed in part, then, except as otherwise provided in the Charter, the Corporation shall redeem the requisite number of shares of Series B Preferred Stock of such holder such that no holder will hold in excess of the Aggregate Stock Ownership Limit subsequent to such redemption.

(c)             Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, unless full cumulative distributions on all shares of Series B Preferred Stock have been or contemporaneously are authorized and paid or authorized and a sum sufficient set apart for payment for all past distribution periods and the then current distribution period, no shares of Series B Preferred Stock shall be redeemed unless all outstanding shares of Series B Preferred Stock are simultaneously redeemed.  In addition, unless full cumulative distributions on all shares of Series B Preferred Stock have been or contemporaneously are authorized and paid or authorized and a sum sufficient set apart for payment for all past distributions periods and the then current distribution period, the Corporation shall not purchase or otherwise acquire directly or indirectly any shares of Series B Preferred Stock or any other shares of equity securities of the Corporation ranking junior to or on a parity with the Series B Preferred Stock as to distributions or upon liquidation (except by conversion into or exchange for shares of equity securities of the Corporation ranking junior to the Series B Preferred Stock as to distributions and upon liquidation).  The restrictions in this Section 5 on redemptions, purchases and other acquisitions shall not prevent the redemption, purchase or acquisition by the Corporation of Preferred Stock of any series pursuant to Article VII of the Charter or Section 5(a) hereof, or otherwise in order to ensure that the Corporation remains qualified as a REIT for United States federal income tax purposes, or the purchase or acquisition of Series B Preferred Stock pursuant to a purchase or exchange offer made on the same terms to all holders of the Series B Preferred Stock.

(d)            Immediately prior to any redemption of shares of Series B Preferred Stock, the Corporation shall pay, in cash, any accumulated and unpaid distributions to the redemption date, whether or not authorized, unless a redemption date falls after a Distribution Record Date and prior to the corresponding Distribution Payment Date, in which case each holder of Series B Preferred Stock at the close of business on such Distribution Record Date shall be entitled to the distribution payable on such shares on the corresponding Distribution Payment Date notwithstanding the redemption of such shares before the Distribution Payment Date.  Except as provided in the previous sentence, the Corporation shall make no payment or allowance for unpaid distributions, whether or not in arrears, on Series B Preferred Stock for which a notice of redemption has been given.

(e)              The following provisions set forth the procedures for redemption.
 
8

(i)              Notice of redemption will be mailed by the Corporation, postage prepaid, no less than 30 nor more than 60 calendar days immediately preceding the redemption date, addressed to the respective holders of record of the Series B Preferred Stock to be redeemed at their respective addresses as they appear on the stock transfer records of the Corporation.  No failure to give such notice or any defect thereto or in the mailing thereof shall affect the validity of the proceedings for the redemption of any Series B Preferred Stock except as to the holder to whom notice was defective or not given.

(ii)             In addition to any information required by law or by the applicable rules of any exchange upon which the Series B Preferred Stock may be listed or admitted to trading, each notice shall state:  (A) the redemption date; (B) the redemption price; (C) the number of Series B Preferred Stock to be redeemed; (D) the place or places where the holders of Series B Preferred Stock may surrender certificates for payment of the redemption price; and (E) that distributions on the Series B Preferred Stock to be redeemed will cease to accumulate on the redemption date.  If less than all of the Series B Preferred Stock held by any holder are to be redeemed, the notice mailed to each holder shall also specify the number of Series B Preferred Stock held by such holder to be redeemed.

(iii)            On or after the redemption date, each holder of Series B Preferred Stock to be redeemed shall present and surrender the certificates representing his Series B Preferred Stock to the Corporation at the place designated in the notice of redemption and thereupon the redemption price of such shares (including all accumulated and unpaid distributions up to the redemption date) shall be paid to or on the order of the person whose name appears on such certificate representing Series B Preferred Stock as the owner thereof and each surrendered certificate shall be canceled.  If fewer than all the shares represented by any such certificate representing Series B Preferred Stock are to be redeemed, a new certificate shall be issued representing the unredeemed shares.

(iv)           From and after the redemption date (unless the Corporation defaults in payment of the redemption price), all distributions on the Series B Preferred Stock designated for redemption and all rights of the holders thereof, except the right to receive the redemption price thereof and all accumulated and unpaid distributions up to the redemption date, shall terminate with respect to such shares and such shares shall not thereafter be transferred (except with the consent of the Corporation) on the Corporation’s stock transfer records, and such shares shall not be deemed to be outstanding for any purpose whatsoever.  At its election, the Corporation, prior to a redemption date, may irrevocably deposit the redemption price (including accumulated and unpaid distributions to the redemption date) of the Series B Preferred Stock so called for redemption in trust for the holders thereof with a bank or trust company, in which case the redemption notice to holders of the Series B Preferred Stock to be redeemed 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 price and (C) require such holders to surrender the certificates representing such shares at such place on or about the date fixed in such redemption notice (which may not be later than the redemption date) against payment of the redemption price (including all accumulated and unpaid distributions to the redemption date).  Any monies so deposited which remain unclaimed by the holders of the Series B Preferred Stock at the end of two years after the redemption date shall be returned by such bank or trust company to the Corporation.
 
9

(f)              Any Series B Preferred Stock that shall at any time have been redeemed shall, after such redemption, have the status of authorized but unissued Preferred Stock, without designation as to series until such shares are once more designated as part of a particular series by the Board of Directors.

(6)              Voting Rights .

(a)            Holders of the Series B Preferred Stock shall not have any voting rights, except as set forth below.

(b)            Whenever distributions on the Series B Preferred Stock are in arrears for six or more quarterly periods (whether or not consecutive) (a “Preferred Distribution Default”), the holders of Series B Preferred Stock (voting together as a single class with all other equity securities of the Corporation upon which like voting rights have been conferred and are exercisable (“Parity Preferred Stock”)) shall be entitled to elect a total of two additional directors to the Corporation’s Board of Directors (the “Preferred Stock Directors”) at a special meeting called by the holders of record of at least 20% of the outstanding shares of Series B Preferred Stock (unless the request is received less than 90 calendar days before the date fixed for the next annual or special meeting of stockholders) or, if the request for a special meeting is received by the Corporation less than 90 calendar days before the date fixed for the next annual or special meeting of stockholders, at the next annual meeting of stockholders, and at each subsequent annual meeting until all distributions accumulated on the Series B Preferred Stock for the past distribution periods and the then current distribution period shall have been fully paid or authorized and a sum sufficient for the payment thereof set aside for payment.

(c)             If and when all accumulated distributions and the distribution for the then current distribution period on the Series B Preferred Stock shall have been paid in full or authorized and a sum sufficient for the payment thereof set aside for payment in full, the holders of Series B Preferred Stock shall be divested of the voting rights set forth in clause (b) above (subject to revesting in the event of each and every Preferred Distribution Default) and, if all accumulated distributions and the distribution for the then current distribution period have been paid in full or authorized by the Board of Directors and set aside for payment in full on all other series of Parity Preferred Stock upon which like voting rights have been conferred and are exercisable, the term of office of each Preferred Stock Director so elected shall terminate.  Any Preferred Stock Director may be removed at any time with or without cause by the vote of, and shall not be removed otherwise than by the vote of, the holders of a majority of the outstanding Series B Preferred Stock when they have the voting rights set forth in clause (b) above and all other series of Parity Preferred Stock (voting as a single class).  So long as a Preferred Distribution Default shall continue, any vacancy in the office of a Preferred Stock Director may be filled by written consent of the Preferred Stock Director remaining in office, or if none remains in office, by a vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding Series B Preferred Stock when they have the voting rights set forth in clause (b) above and all other series of Parity Preferred Stock (voting as a single class).  The Preferred Stock Directors shall each be entitled to one vote per director on any matter.
 
10

(d)            So long as any Series B Preferred Stock remain outstanding, the Corporation shall not, without the affirmative vote of the holders of at least two-thirds of the Series B Preferred Stock outstanding at the time, given in person or by proxy, either in writing or at a meeting (such series voting separately as a class), (i) authorize, create or increase the authorized or issued amount of any class or series of equity securities ranking senior to the outstanding Series B Preferred Stock with respect to the payment of distributions or the distribution of assets upon voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation or reclassify any authorized equity securities of the Corporation into any such senior equity securities, or create, authorize or issue any obligation or security convertible into or evidencing the right to purchase any such senior equity securities; or (ii) amend, alter or repeal the provisions of the Charter (including this Section), whether by merger or consolidation (in either case, an “Event”) or otherwise, so as to materially and adversely affect any right, preference or voting power of the Series B Preferred Stock; provided, however, that with respect to any such amendment, alteration or repeal of the provisions of the Charter (including this Section) upon the occurrence of an Event, so long as shares of the Series B Preferred Stock remain outstanding with the terms thereof materially unchanged in any adverse respect, taking into account that, upon the occurrence of an Event, the Corporation may not be the surviving entity and such surviving entity may thereafter be the issuer of the Series B Preferred Stock, the occurrence of any such Event shall not be deemed to materially and adversely affect the rights, preferences or voting powers of the Series B Preferred Stock; and provided further that any increase in the amount of authorized Series B Preferred Stock or any other class or series of the Corporation’s equity securities, in each case ranking on a parity with or junior to the Series B Preferred Stock with respect to the payment of distributions and the distribution of assets upon voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation, shall not be deemed to materially and adversely affect the rights, preferences or voting powers of the Series B Preferred Stock.

(e)            The foregoing voting provisions shall not apply if, at or prior to the time when the action with respect to which such vote would otherwise be required shall be effected, all outstanding Series B Preferred Stock shall have been redeemed or called for redemption upon proper notice and sufficient funds shall have been deposited in trust to effect such redemption.

(7)              Conversion . The Series B Preferred Stock is not convertible into or exchangeable for any other property or securities of the Corporation.

(8)              Application of Article VII . The shares of Series B Preferred Stock are subject to the provisions of Article VII of the Charter.

(9)              Status . Upon any redemption of shares of Series B Preferred Stock, the shares of Series B Preferred Stock which are redeemed will be reclassified as authorized and unissued shares of Preferred Stock, and the number of shares of Series B Preferred Stock which the Corporation has the authority to issue will be decreased by the redemption of shares of Series B Preferred Stock, so that the shares of Series B Preferred Stock which were redeemed may not be reissued.

(10)           Exclusion of Other Rights . The shares of Series B Preferred Stock shall not have any preferences, conversion or other rights, voting powers, restrictions, limitations as to dividends or other distributions, qualifications or terms or conditions of redemption other than those specifically set forth in the Charter.  The shares of Series B Preferred Stock shall have no preemptive or subscription rights.

(11)           Headings of Subdivisions . The headings of the various subdivisions hereof are for convenience of reference only and shall not affect the interpretation of any of the provisions hereof.

(12)          Severability of Provisions . If any preferences, conversion or other rights, voting powers, restrictions, limitations as to dividends or other distributions, qualifications or terms or conditions of redemption of the Series B Preferred Stock set forth in the Charter is invalid, unlawful or incapable of being enforced by reason of any rule of law or public policy, all other preferences, conversion or other rights, voting powers, restrictions, limitations as to dividends or other distributions, qualifications or terms or conditions of redemption of Series B Preferred Stock set forth in the Charter which can be given effect without the invalid, unlawful or unenforceable provision thereof shall, nevertheless, remain in full force and effect, and no preferences, conversion or other rights, voting powers, restrictions, limitations as to dividends or other distributions, qualifications or terms or conditions of redemption of Series B Preferred Stock herein set forth shall be deemed dependent upon any other provision thereof unless so expressed therein.
 
11

Section 6.1.2 Series C Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock .

(1)              Designation and Number . A series of shares of Preferred Stock, designated as the “8.05% Series C Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock” (the “Series C Preferred Stock”), is hereby established.  The number of shares of Series C Preferred Stock shall be 1,800,000.  The par value of Series C Preferred Stock shall be $.01 per share.

(2)              Rank . The Series C Preferred Stock will, with respect to distribution rights and rights upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation, rank (a) senior to all classes or series of Common Stock (as defined in the Charter), and to all equity securities the terms of which provide that such equity securities shall rank junior to the Series C Preferred Stock; (b) on a parity with the 9.75% Series B Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock of the Corporation and all other equity securities issued by the Corporation other than those referred to in clauses (a) and (c); and (c) junior to all equity securities issued by the Corporation the terms of which specifically provide that such equity securities rank senior to the Series C Preferred Stock.  The term “equity securities” shall not include convertible debt securities.

(3)              Distributions .

(a)            Holders of Series C Preferred Stock shall be entitled to receive, when and as authorized by the Board of Directors, out of legally available funds, cumulative preferential cash distributions at the rate of 8.05% of the liquidation preference per annum (which is equivalent to a fixed annual amount of $2.0125 per share of Series C Preferred Stock); provided, however, that during any period of time that both (i) the Series C Preferred Stock is not listed on the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) or the American Stock Exchange (“AMEX”), or quoted on the NASDAQ Stock Market (“NASDAQ”), and (ii) the Corporation is not subject to the reporting requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), and any shares of Series C Preferred Stock are outstanding, the holders of Series C Preferred Stock shall be entitled to receive, when and as authorized by the Board of Directors, out of legally available funds, cumulative preferential cash distributions at the rate of 9.05% per year of the liquidation preference (which is equivalent to a fixed annual amount of $2.2625 per year per share)(the “Special Distribution”).  Such distributions shall accrue and cumulate from the date of original issuance (October 25, 2005) or, with respect to the Special Distribution, if applicable, from the date following the date on which both (i) the Series C Preferred Stock ceases to be listed on the NYSE or the AMEX or quoted on NASDAQ and (ii) the Corporation ceases to be subject to the reporting requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act,   and shall be payable quarterly in arrears on January 31, April 30, July 31 and October 31 of each year or, if not a business day, the next succeeding business day, commencing January 31, 2006 (each a “Distribution Payment Date”).  The Special Distribution, if applicable, shall cease to accrue on the date following the earlier of (i) the listing of the Series C Preferred Stock on the NYSE or the AMEX or its quotation on NASDAQ or (ii) the Corporation becoming subject to the reporting requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act.  Any distribution payable on the Series C Preferred Stock for any partial distribution period shall be prorated and computed on the basis of a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months.  Distributions shall be payable to holders of record as they appear in the stock records of the Corporation at the close of business on the applicable distribution record date, which shall be the first day of the calendar month in which the applicable Distribution Payment Date falls or such other date designated by the Board of Directors for the payment of distributions that is not more than 30 nor less than 10 calendar days immediately preceding such Distribution Payment Date (each, a “Distribution Record Date”).
 
12

(b)            Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, distributions on the Series C Preferred Stock shall accrue and cumulate whether or not the Corporation has earnings, whether or not there are funds legally available for the payment of such distributions and whether or not such distributions are authorized by the Board of Directors.  Accumulated but unpaid distributions on the Series C Preferred Stock shall cumulate as of the Distribution Payment Date on which they first become payable or on the date of redemption, as the case may be.  No interest shall be payable in respect of any distribution on the Series C Preferred Stock that may be in arrears.

(c)            Except as provided in the following sentence, if any Series C Preferred Stock are outstanding, no distributions, other than distributions in kind of the Corporation’s Common Stock or other shares of the Corporation’s equity securities ranking junior to the Series C Preferred Stock as to distributions and upon liquidation, may be authorized or paid or set apart for payment, and no other distribution may be authorized or made upon, the Corporation’s Common Stock or any other shares of equity securities of the Corporation of any other class or series ranking, as to distributions and upon liquidation, on a parity with or junior to the Series C Preferred Stock unless full cumulative distributions have been or contemporaneously are authorized and paid or authorized and a sum sufficient set apart for such payment on the Series C Preferred Stock for all past distribution periods and the then current distribution period.  When distributions are not paid in full (or a sum sufficient for such full payment is not so set apart) upon the Series C Preferred Stock and all other equity securities ranking on a parity, as to distributions, with the Series C Preferred Stock, all distributions authorized upon the Series C Preferred Stock and any other equity securities ranking on a parity, as to distributions, with the Series C Preferred Stock shall be authorized pro rata so that the amount of distributions authorized per share of Series C Preferred Stock and each such other equity security shall in all cases bear to each other the same ratio that accumulated distributions per share of Series C Preferred Stock and such other equity security (which shall not include any accumulation in respect of unpaid distributions for prior distribution periods if such other equity securities do not have a cumulative distribution) bear to each other.  No interest, or sum of money in lieu of interest, shall be payable in respect of any distribution payment or payments on Series C Preferred Stock which may be in arrears.

(d)            Except as provided in clause (c), unless full cumulative distributions on the Series C Preferred Stock have been or contemporaneously are authorized and paid or authorized and a sum sufficient is set apart for payment for all past distribution periods and the then current distribution period, no Common Stock or any other shares of equity securities of the Corporation ranking junior to or on a parity with the Series C Preferred Stock as to distributions or upon liquidation shall be redeemed, purchased or otherwise acquired for any consideration (or any monies be paid to or made available for a sinking fund for the redemption of any such shares) by the Corporation (except by conversion into or exchange for Common Stock or other shares of equity securities of the Corporation ranking junior to the Series C Preferred Stock as to distributions and amounts upon liquidation).
 
13

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

(4)              Liquidation Preference .

(a)            In the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation (referred to herein sometimes as a “liquidation”), the holders of Series C Preferred Stock then outstanding shall be entitled to receive out of the assets of the Corporation available for distribution to stockholders (after payment or provision for payment of all debts and other liabilities of the Corporation) a liquidation preference of $25.00 per share, plus any accumulated and unpaid distributions to the date of payment, whether or not authorized, before any distribution of assets is made to holders of Common Stock and any other shares of equity securities of the Corporation that rank junior to the Series C Preferred Stock as to liquidation rights.

(b)            If, upon any such voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation, the assets of the Corporation are insufficient to make full payment to holders of the Series C Preferred Stock and any shares of other classes or series of equity securities of the Corporation ranking on a parity with the Series C Preferred Stock as to liquidation rights, then the holders of the Series C Preferred Stock and all other such classes or series of equity securities ranking on a parity with the Series C Preferred Stock as to liquidation rights shall share ratably in any distribution of assets in proportion to the full liquidating distributions to which they would otherwise be respectively entitled.

(c)            Written notice of any such liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation, 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 pre-paid, not less than 30 nor more than 60 calendar days immediately preceding the payment date stated therein, to each record holder of the Series C Preferred Stock at the respective addresses of such holders as the same shall appear on the share transfer records of the Corporation.

(d)           After payment of the full amount of the liquidating distributions to which they are entitled, the holders of Series C Preferred Stock shall have no right or claim to any of the remaining assets of the Corporation.

(e)           None of a consolidation or merger of the Corporation with or into another entity, the merger of another entity with or into the Corporation, a statutory share exchange by the Corporation or a sale, lease, transfer or conveyance of all or substantially all of the Corporation’s property or business shall be considered a liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation.

(f)             In determining whether a distribution (other than upon voluntary or involuntary dissolution) by dividend, redemption or other acquisition of shares of the 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 the holders of Series C Preferred Stock will not be added to the Corporation’s total liabilities.
 
14

(5)             Redemption .

(a)             Except as set forth in this Section 5(a) and in Section 5(c), the Series C Preferred Stock is not redeemable prior to October 25, 2010.

(i)              To ensure that the Corporation remains qualified as a real estate investment trust (“REIT”) for United States federal income tax purposes, however, the Series C Preferred Stock shall be subject to the provisions of Article VII of the Charter pursuant to which Series C Preferred Stock owned by a stockholder in excess of the Aggregate Stock Ownership Limit (as defined in Article VII of the Charter) shall automatically be transferred to a Trust for the benefit of a Charitable Beneficiary (as “Trust” and “Charitable Beneficiary” are each defined in Article VII of the Charter) and the Corporation shall have the right to purchase, or to designate the purchaser of, such shares, as provided in Article VII of the Charter.

(ii)             In addition, no Person shall Beneficially Own or Constructively Own (as “Person”, “Beneficially Own” and “Constructively Own” are all defined in Article VII of the Charter) in excess of 25 percent of the outstanding shares of Series C Preferred Stock (the “Series C Ownership Limit”), except in accordance with an exemption from the Series C Ownership Limit granted by the Board of Directors or otherwise in accordance with Article VII of the Charter, with Article VII of the Charter applied as if references therein to the Aggregate Stock Ownership Limit also include applicable references to the Series C Ownership Limit.

(iii)           To the extent that any Person is granted an exemption from the Aggregate Stock Ownership Limit, such Person shall nevertheless remain subject to the Series C Ownership Limit except to the extent that such Person is also expressly granted an exemption from the Series C Ownership Limit by the Board of Directors, in which case such Person shall be a “Series C Excepted Holder”, and any higher limit established for such Person shall be a “Series C Excepted Holder Limit”, with the terms “Series C Excepted Holder” and “Series C Excepted Holder Limit” interpreted in a manner corresponding to the terms “Excepted Holder”, and “Excepted Holder Limit”, respectively, in Article VII of the Charter.  The preceding sentence shall apply to any Person for whom an exemption from the Aggregate Stock Ownership Limit is granted, without regard to whether it is granted prior or subsequent to the effectiveness of these Articles of Restatement.

(iv)           If at any time both (i) the Series C Preferred Stock ceases to be listed on the NYSE or the AMEX, or quoted on the NASDAQ, and (ii) the Corporation ceases to be subject to the reporting requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, and any shares of Series C Preferred Stock are outstanding, the Corporation, at its option, upon giving notice as provided below, may redeem the Series C Preferred Stock, in whole but not in part, within 90 days of the date upon which both the Series C Preferred Stock so ceases to be listed and the Corporation so ceases to be subject to the reporting requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, for cash at a redemption price of $25.00 per share, plus accumulated and unpaid distributions, if any, to the redemption date, whether or not authorized (the “Special Redemption Right”).

(v)            On or after October 25, 2010, the Corporation, at its option, upon giving notice as provided below, may redeem the Series C Preferred Stock, in whole or from time to time in part, for cash, at a redemption price of $25.00 per share, plus all accumulated and unpaid distributions on such Series C Preferred Stock to the date of redemption, whether or not authorized (the “Regular Redemption Right”).
 
15

(b)            If fewer than all of the outstanding shares of Series C Preferred Stock are to be redeemed pursuant to the Regular Redemption Right, the shares to be redeemed shall be selected pro rata (as nearly as practicable without creating fractional shares) or by lot or in such other equitable method prescribed by the Board of Directors.  If such redemption is to be by lot and, as a result of such redemption, any holder of Series C Preferred Stock would become a holder of a number of Series C Preferred Stock in excess of the Aggregate Stock Ownership Limit because such holder’s shares of Series C Preferred Stock were not redeemed, or were only redeemed in part, then, except as otherwise provided in the Charter, the Corporation shall redeem the requisite number of shares of Series C Preferred Stock of such holder such that no holder will hold in excess of the Aggregate Stock Ownership Limit subsequent to such redemption

(c)            Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, unless full cumulative distributions on all shares of Series C Preferred Stock have been or contemporaneously are authorized and paid or authorized and a sum sufficient set apart for payment for all past distribution periods and the then current distribution period, no shares of Series C Preferred Stock shall be redeemed pursuant to the Regular Redemption Right unless all outstanding shares of Series C Preferred Stock are simultaneously redeemed.  In addition, unless full cumulative distributions on all shares of Series C Preferred Stock have been or contemporaneously are authorized and paid or authorized and a sum sufficient set apart for payment for all past distribution periods and the then current distribution period, the Corporation shall not purchase or otherwise acquire directly or indirectly any shares of Series C Preferred Stock or any other shares of equity securities of the Corporation ranking junior to or on a parity with the Series C Preferred Stock as to distributions or upon liquidation (except by conversion into or exchange for shares of equity securities of the Corporation ranking junior to the Series C Preferred Stock as to distributions and upon liquidation).  The restrictions in this Section 5 on redemptions, purchases and other acquisitions shall not prevent the redemption, purchase or acquisition by the Corporation of Preferred Stock of any series pursuant to Article VII of the Charter or Section 5(a) hereof, or otherwise in order to ensure that the Corporation remains qualified as a REIT for United States federal income tax purposes, or the purchase or acquisition of Series C Preferred Stock pursuant to a purchase or exchange offer made on the same terms to all holders of the Series C Preferred Stock.

(d)            Immediately prior to any redemption of shares of Series C Preferred Stock, the Corporation shall pay, in cash, any accumulated and unpaid distributions to the redemption date, whether or not authorized, unless a redemption date falls after a Distribution Record Date and prior to the corresponding Distribution Payment Date, in which case each holder of Series C Preferred Stock at the close of business on such Distribution Record Date shall be entitled to the distribution payable on such shares on the corresponding Distribution Payment Date notwithstanding the redemption of such shares before the Distribution Payment Date.  Except as provided in the previous sentence, the Corporation shall make no payment or allowance for unpaid distributions, whether or not in arrears, on Series C Preferred Stock for which a notice of redemption has been given.

(e)            The following provisions set forth the procedures for redemption pursuant to the Regular Redemption Right.

(i)              Notice of redemption will be mailed by the Corporation, postage prepaid, no less than 30 nor more than 60 calendar days immediately preceding the redemption date, addressed to the respective holders of record of the Series C Preferred Stock to be redeemed at their respective addresses as they appear on the stock transfer records of the Corporation.  No failure to give such notice or any defect thereto or in the mailing thereof shall affect the validity of the proceedings for the redemption of any Series C Preferred Stock except as to the holder to whom notice was defective or not given.
 
16

(ii)             In addition to any information required by law or by the applicable rules of any exchange upon which the Series C Preferred Stock may be listed or admitted to trading, each notice shall state:  (A) the redemption date; (B) the redemption price; (C) the number of Series C Preferred Stock to be redeemed; (D) the place or places where the holders of Series C Preferred Stock may surrender certificates for payment of the redemption price; and (E) that distributions on the Series C Preferred Stock to be redeemed will cease to accumulate on the redemption date.  If less than all of the Series C Preferred Stock held by any holder are to be redeemed, the notice mailed to each holder shall also specify the number of Series C Preferred Stock held by such holder to be redeemed.

(iii)           On or after the redemption date, each holder of Series C Preferred Stock to be redeemed shall present and surrender the certificates representing his Series C Preferred Stock to the Corporation at the place designated in the notice of redemption and thereupon the redemption price of such shares (including all accumulated and unpaid distributions up to the redemption date) shall be paid to or on the order of the person whose name appears on such certificate representing Series C Preferred Stock as the owner thereof and each surrendered certificate shall be canceled.  If fewer than all the shares represented by any such certificate representing Series C Preferred Stock are to be redeemed, a new certificate shall be issued representing the unredeemed shares.

(iv)           From and after the redemption date (unless the Corporation defaults in payment of the redemption price), all distributions on the Series C Preferred Stock designated for redemption and all rights of the holders thereof, except the right to receive the redemption price thereof and all accumulated and unpaid distributions up to the redemption date, shall terminate with respect to such shares and such shares shall not thereafter be transferred (except with the consent of the Corporation) on the Corporation’s stock transfer records, and such shares shall not be deemed to be outstanding for any purpose whatsoever.  At its election, the Corporation, prior to a redemption date, may irrevocably deposit the redemption price (including accumulated and unpaid distributions to the redemption date) of the Series C Preferred Stock so called for redemption in trust for the holders thereof with a bank or trust company, in which case the redemption notice to holders of the Series C Preferred Stock to be redeemed 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 price and (C) require such holders to surrender the certificates representing such shares at such place on or about the date fixed in such redemption notice (which may not be later than the redemption date) against payment of the redemption price (including all accumulated and unpaid distributions to the redemption date).  Any monies so deposited which remain unclaimed by the holders of the Series C Preferred Stock at the end of two years after the redemption date shall be returned by such bank or trust company to the Corporation.

(f)              The following provisions set forth the procedures for redemption pursuant to the Special Redemption Right.
 
17

(i)              Notice of redemption will be mailed by the Corporation, postage prepaid, no less than 30 nor more than 60 calendar days immediately preceding the redemption date, addressed to the respective holders of record of the Series C Preferred Stock at their respective addresses as they appear on the stock transfer records of the Corporation.  No failure to give such notice or any defect thereto or in the mailing thereof shall affect the validity of the proceedings for the redemption of the Series C Preferred Stock except as to the holder to whom notice was defective or not given.

(ii)             In addition to any information required by law, each notice shall state:  (A) the redemption date; (B) the redemption price; (C) the place or places where the holders of Series C Preferred Stock may surrender certificates for payment of the redemption price; and (D) that distributions on the Series C Preferred Stock will cease to accumulate on the redemption date.

(iii)            On or after the redemption date, each holder of Series C Preferred Stock shall present and surrender the certificates representing his Series C Preferred Stock to the Corporation at the place designated in the notice of redemption and thereupon the redemption price of such shares (including all accumulated and unpaid distributions up to the redemption date) shall be paid to or on the order of the person whose name appears on such certificate representing Series C Preferred Stock as the owner thereof and each surrendered certificate shall be canceled.

(iv)           From and after the redemption date (unless the Corporation defaults in payment of the redemption price), all distributions on the Series C Preferred Stock and all rights of the holders thereof, except the right to receive the redemption price thereof and all accumulated and unpaid distributions up to the redemption date, shall terminate with respect to such shares and such shares shall not thereafter be transferred (except with the consent of the Corporation) on the Corporation’s stock transfer records, and such shares shall not be deemed to be outstanding for any purpose whatsoever.  At its election, the Corporation, prior to the redemption date, may irrevocably deposit the redemption price (including accumulated and unpaid distributions to the redemption date) of the Series C Preferred Stock so called for redemption in trust for the holders thereof with a bank or trust company, in which case the redemption notice to holders of the Series C Preferred Stock 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 price and (C) require such holders to surrender the certificates representing such shares at such place on or about the date fixed in such redemption notice (which may not be later than the redemption date) against payment of the redemption price (including all accumulated and unpaid distributions to the redemption date).  Any monies so deposited which remain unclaimed by the holders of the Series C Preferred Stock at the end of two years after the redemption date shall be returned by such bank or trust company to the Corporation.

(g)            Any Series C Preferred Stock that shall at any time have been redeemed shall, after such redemption, have the status of authorized but unissued Preferred Stock, without designation as to series until such shares are once more designated as part of a particular series by the Board of Directors.

(6)              Voting Rights .

(a)              Holders of the Series C Preferred Stock shall not have any voting rights, except as set forth below.
 
18

(b)            Whenever distributions on the Series C Preferred Stock are in arrears for six or more quarterly periods (whether or not consecutive) (a “Preferred Distribution Default”), the holders of Series C Preferred Stock (voting together as a single class with all other equity securities of the Corporation (including the Corporation’s 9.75% Series B Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock), as applicable, upon which like voting rights have been conferred and are exercisable (“Parity Preferred Stock”)) shall be entitled to elect a total of two additional directors to the Corporation’s Board of Directors (the “Preferred Stock Directors”) at a special meeting called by the holders of record of at least 20% of the outstanding shares of Series C Preferred Stock (unless the request is received less than 90 calendar days before the date fixed for the next annual or special meeting of stockholders) or, if the request for a special meeting is received by the Corporation less than 90 calendar days before the date fixed for the next annual or special meeting of stockholders, at the next annual meeting of stockholders, and at each subsequent annual meeting until all distributions accumulated on the Series C Preferred Stock for the past distribution periods and the then current distribution period shall have been fully paid or authorized and a sum sufficient for the payment thereof set aside for payment.

(c)            If and when all accumulated distributions and the distribution for the then current distribution period on the Series C Preferred Stock shall have been paid in full or authorized and a sum sufficient for the payment thereof set aside for payment in full, the holders of Series C Preferred Stock shall be divested of the voting rights set forth in clause (b) above (subject to revesting in the event of each and every Preferred Distribution Default) and, if all accumulated distributions and the distribution for the then current distribution period have been paid in full or authorized by the Board of Directors and set aside for payment in full on all other series of Parity Preferred Stock upon which like voting rights have been conferred and are exercisable, the term of office of each Preferred Stock Director so elected shall terminate.  Any Preferred Stock Director may be removed at any time with or without cause by the vote of, and shall not be removed otherwise than by the vote of, the holders of a majority of the outstanding Series C Preferred Stock when they have the voting rights set forth in clause (b) above and all other series of Parity Preferred Stock (voting as a single class).  So long as a Preferred Distribution Default shall continue, any vacancy in the office of a Preferred Stock Director may be filled by written consent of the Preferred Stock Director remaining in office, or if none remains in office, by a vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding Series C Preferred Stock when they have the voting rights set forth in clause (b) above and all other series of Parity Preferred Stock (voting as a single class).  The Preferred Stock Directors shall each be entitled to one vote per director on any matter.

(d)            So long as any Series C Preferred Stock remain outstanding, the Corporation shall not, without the affirmative vote of the holders of at least two-thirds of the Series C Preferred Stock outstanding at the time, given in person or by proxy, either in writing or at a meeting (such series voting separately as a class), (i) authorize, create or increase the authorized or issued amount of any class or series of equity securities ranking senior to the outstanding Series C Preferred Stock with respect to the payment of distributions or the distribution of assets upon voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation or reclassify any authorized equity securities of the Corporation into any such senior equity securities, or create, authorize or issue any obligation or security convertible into or evidencing the right to purchase any such senior equity securities; or (ii) amend, alter or repeal the provisions of the Charter (including this Section), whether by merger or consolidation (in either case, an “Event”) or otherwise, so as to materially and adversely affect any right, preference or voting power of the Series C Preferred Stock; provided, however, that with respect to any such amendment, alteration or repeal of the provisions of the Charter (including this Section) upon the occurrence of an Event, so long as shares of the Series C Preferred Stock remain outstanding with the terms thereof materially unchanged in any adverse respect, taking into account that, upon the occurrence of an Event, the Corporation may not be the surviving entity and such surviving entity may thereafter be the issuer of the Series C Preferred Stock, the occurrence of any such Event shall not be deemed to materially and adversely affect the rights, preferences or voting powers of the Series C Preferred Stock; and provided further that any increase in the amount of authorized Series C Preferred Stock or any other class or series of the Corporation’s equity securities, in each case ranking on a parity with or junior to the Series C Preferred Stock with respect to the payment of distributions and the distribution of assets upon voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation, shall not be deemed to materially and adversely affect the rights, preferences or voting powers of the Series C Preferred Stock.
 
19

(e)              The foregoing voting provisions shall not apply if, at or prior to the time when the action with respect to which such vote would otherwise be required shall be effected, all outstanding Series C Preferred Stock shall have been redeemed or called for redemption upon proper notice and sufficient funds shall have been deposited in trust to effect such redemption.

(7)              Conversion . The Series C Preferred Stock is not convertible into or exchangeable for any other property or securities of the Corporation.

(8)              Application of Article VII . The shares of Series C Preferred Stock are subject to the provisions of Article VII of the Charter.

(9)              Status . Upon any redemption of shares of Series C Preferred Stock, the shares of Series C Preferred Stock which are redeemed will be reclassified as authorized and unissued shares of Preferred Stock, and the number of shares of Series C Preferred Stock which the Corporation has the authority to issue will be decreased by the redemption of shares of Series C Preferred Stock, so that the shares of Series C Preferred Stock which were redeemed may not be reissued.

(10)          Information Rights . During any period in which the Corporation is not subject to the reporting requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act and any shares of Series C Preferred Stock are outstanding, the Corporation shall (i) transmit by mail to all holders of Series C Preferred Stock, as their names and addresses appear in the Corporation’s record books and without cost to such holders, copies of the annual reports and quarterly reports that the Corporation would have been required to file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) pursuant to the reporting requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act if the Corporation was subject to such Sections (other than any exhibits that would have been required), and (ii) promptly upon written request, supply copies of such reports to any prospective holder of Series C Preferred Stock. The Corporation will mail the reports to the holders of Series C Preferred Stock within 15 days after the respective dates by which the Corporation would have been required to file the reports with the SEC if the Corporation was subject to the reporting requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act.

(11)          Exclusion of Other Rights . The shares of Series C Preferred Stock shall not have any preferences, conversion or other rights, voting powers, restrictions, limitations as to dividends or other distributions, qualifications or terms or conditions of redemption other than those specifically set forth in the Charter.  The shares of Series C Preferred Stock shall have no preemptive or subscription rights.

(12)           Headings of Subdivisions . The headings of the various subdivisions hereof are for convenience of reference only and shall not affect the interpretation of any of the provisions hereof.
 
20

(13)          Severability of Provisions . If any preferences, conversion or other rights, voting powers, restrictions, limitations as to dividends or other distributions, qualifications or terms or conditions of redemption of the Series C Preferred Stock set forth in the Charter is invalid, unlawful or incapable of being enforced by reason of any rule of law or public policy, all other preferences, conversion or other rights, voting powers, restrictions, limitations as to dividends or other distributions, qualifications or terms or conditions of redemption of Series C Preferred Stock set forth in the Charter which can be given effect without the invalid, unlawful or unenforceable provision thereof shall, nevertheless, remain in full force and effect, and no preferences, conversion or other rights, voting powers, restrictions, limitations as to dividends or other distributions, qualifications or terms or conditions of redemption of Series C Preferred Stock herein set forth shall be deemed dependent upon any other provision thereof unless so expressed therein.

Section 6.1.3 Series D Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock .

(1)              Designation and Number .  A series of shares of Preferred Stock, designated as the “8.375% Series D Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock” (the “Series D Preferred Stock”), is hereby established.  The number of shares of Series D Preferred Stock shall be 2,300,000.  The par value of Series D Preferred Stock shall be $.01 per share.

(2)              Rank . The Series D Preferred Stock will, with respect to distribution rights and rights upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation, rank (a) senior to all classes or series of Common Stock (as defined in the Charter), and to all equity securities the terms of which provide that such equity securities shall rank junior to the Series D Preferred Stock; (b) on a parity with the 9.75% Series B Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock and 8.05% Series C Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock of the Corporation and all other equity securities issued by the Corporation other than those referred to in clauses (a) and (c); and (c) junior to all equity securities issued by the Corporation the terms of which specifically provide that such equity securities rank senior to the Series D Preferred Stock.  The term “equity securities” shall not include convertible debt securities.

(3)              Distributions .

(a)            Holders of Series D Preferred Stock shall be entitled to receive, when and as authorized by the Board of Directors, out of legally available funds, cumulative preferential cash distributions at the rate of 8.375% of the liquidation preference per annum (which is equivalent to a fixed annual amount of $2.09375 per share of Series D Preferred Stock); provided, however, that during any period of time that both (i) the Series D Preferred Stock is not listed on the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”), the American Stock Exchange (“AMEX”), or the NASDAQ Stock Market (“NASDAQ”), and (ii) the Corporation is not subject to the reporting requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), and any shares of Series D Preferred Stock are outstanding, the holders of Series D Preferred Stock shall be entitled to receive, when and as authorized by the Board of Directors, out of legally available funds, cumulative preferential cash distributions at the rate of 9.375% per year of the liquidation preference (which is equivalent to a fixed annual amount of $2.34375 per year per share)(the “Special Distribution”).  Such distributions shall accrue and cumulate from the date of original issuance (March 15, 2007) or, with respect to the Special Distribution, if applicable, from the date following the date on which both (i) the Series D Preferred Stock ceases to be listed on the NYSE, AMEX or NASDAQ and (ii) the Corporation ceases to be subject to the reporting requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act,   and shall be payable quarterly in arrears on January 31, April 30, July 31 and October 31 of each year or, if not a business day, the next succeeding business day, commencing July 31, 2007 (each a “Distribution Payment Date”).  The Special Distribution, if applicable, shall cease to accrue on the date following the earlier of (i) the listing of the Series D Preferred Stock on the NYSE, AMEX or NASDAQ or (ii) the Corporation becoming subject to the reporting requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act.  Any distribution payable on the Series D Preferred Stock for any partial distribution period shall be prorated and computed on the basis of a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months.  Distributions shall be payable to holders of record as they appear in the stock records of the Corporation at the close of business on the applicable distribution record date, which shall be the first day of the calendar month in which the applicable Distribution Payment Date falls or such other date designated by the Board of Directors for the payment of distributions that is not more than 30 nor less than 10 calendar days immediately preceding such Distribution Payment Date (each, a “Distribution Record Date”).
 
21

(b)            Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, distributions on the Series D Preferred Stock shall accrue and cumulate whether or not the Corporation has earnings, whether or not there are funds legally available for the payment of such distributions and whether or not such distributions are authorized by the Board of Directors.  Accumulated but unpaid distributions on the Series D Preferred Stock shall cumulate as of the Distribution Payment Date on which they first become payable or on the date of redemption, as the case may be.  No interest shall be payable in respect of any distribution on the Series D Preferred Stock that may be in arrears.

(c)            Except as provided in the following sentence, if any shares of Series D Preferred Stock are outstanding, no distributions, other than distributions in kind of the Corporation’s Common Stock or other shares of the Corporation’s equity securities ranking junior to the Series D Preferred Stock as to distributions and upon liquidation, may be authorized or paid or set apart for payment, and no other distribution may be authorized or made upon, the Corporation’s Common Stock or any other shares of equity securities of the Corporation of any other class or series ranking, as to distributions and upon liquidation, on a parity with or junior to the Series D Preferred Stock unless full cumulative distributions have been or contemporaneously are authorized and paid or authorized and a sum sufficient set apart for such payment on the Series D Preferred Stock for all past distribution periods and the then current distribution period.  When distributions are not paid in full (or a sum sufficient for such full payment is not so set apart) upon the Series D Preferred Stock and all other equity securities ranking on a parity, as to distributions, with the Series D Preferred Stock, all distributions authorized upon the Series D Preferred Stock and any other equity securities ranking on a parity, as to distributions, with the Series D Preferred Stock shall be authorized pro rata so that the amount of distributions authorized per share of Series D Preferred Stock and such other equity security shall in all cases bear to each other the same ratio that accumulated distributions per share of Series D Preferred Stock and such other equity security (which shall not include any accumulation in respect of unpaid distributions for prior distribution periods if such other equity securities do not have a cumulative distribution) bear to each other.  No interest, or sum of money in lieu of interest, shall be payable in respect of any distribution payment or payments on Series D Preferred Stock which may be in arrears.

(d)            Except as provided in clause (c), unless full cumulative distributions on the Series D Preferred Stock have been or contemporaneously are authorized and paid or authorized and a sum sufficient is set apart for payment for all past distribution periods and the then current distribution period, no Common Stock or any other shares of equity securities of the Corporation ranking junior to or on a parity with the Series D Preferred Stock as to distributions or upon liquidation shall be redeemed, purchased or otherwise acquired for any consideration (or any monies be paid to or made available for a sinking fund for the redemption of any such shares) by the Corporation (except by conversion into or exchange for Common Stock or other shares of equity securities of the Corporation ranking junior to the Series D Preferred Stock as to distributions and amounts upon liquidation).
 
22

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

(4)              Liquidation Preference .

(a)             In the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation (referred to herein sometimes as a “liquidation”), the holders of Series D Preferred Stock then outstanding shall be entitled to receive out of the assets of the Corporation available for distribution to stockholders (after payment or provision for payment of all debts and other liabilities of the Corporation) a liquidation preference of $25.00 per share, plus any accumulated and unpaid distributions to the date of payment, whether or not authorized, before any distribution of assets is made to holders of Common Stock and any other shares of equity securities of the Corporation that rank junior to the Series D Preferred Stock as to liquidation rights.

(b)             If, upon any such voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation, the assets of the Corporation are insufficient to make full payment to holders of the Series D Preferred Stock and any shares of other classes or series of equity securities of the Corporation ranking on a parity with the Series D Preferred Stock as to liquidation rights, then the holders of the Series D Preferred Stock and all other such classes or series of equity securities ranking on a parity with the Series D Preferred Stock as to liquidation rights shall share ratably in any distribution of assets in proportion to the full liquidating distributions to which they would otherwise be respectively entitled.
 
(c)              Written notice of any such liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation, 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 pre-paid, not less than 30 nor more than 60 calendar days immediately preceding the payment date stated therein, to each record holder of the Series D Preferred Stock at the respective addresses of such holders as the same shall appear on the share transfer records of the Corporation.
 
(d)             After payment of the full amount of the liquidating distributions to which they are entitled, the holders of Series D Preferred Stock shall have no right or claim to any of the remaining assets of the Corporation.
 
(e)            None of a consolidation or merger of the Corporation with or into another entity, the merger of another entity with or into the Corporation, a statutory share exchange by the Corporation or a sale, lease, transfer or conveyance of all or substantially all of the Corporation’s property or business shall be considered a liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation.
 
(f)              In determining whether a distribution (other than upon voluntary or involuntary dissolution) by dividend, redemption or other acquisition of shares of the 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 the holders of Series D Preferred Stock will not be added to the Corporation’s total liabilities.
 
23

(5)              Redemption .

(a)             Except as set forth in this Section 5(a) and in Section 5(c), the Series D Preferred Stock is not redeemable prior to March 15, 2012.

(i)              To ensure that the Corporation remains qualified as a real estate investment trust (“REIT”) for United States federal income tax purposes, however, the Series D Preferred Stock shall be subject to the provisions of Article VII of the Charter pursuant to which Series D Preferred Stock owned by a stockholder in excess of the Aggregate Stock Ownership Limit (as defined in Article VII of the Charter) shall automatically be transferred to a Trust for the benefit of a Charitable Beneficiary (as “Trust” and “Charitable Beneficiary” are each defined in Article VII of the Charter) and the Corporation shall have the right to purchase, or to designate the purchaser of, such shares, as provided in Article VII of the Charter.
 
(ii)             In addition, no Person shall Beneficially Own or Constructively Own (as “Person”, “Beneficially Own” and “Constructively Own” are all defined in Article VII of the Charter) in excess of 25 percent of the outstanding shares of Series D Preferred Stock (the “Series D Ownership Limit”), except in accordance with an exemption from the Series D Ownership Limit granted by the Board of Directors or otherwise in accordance with Article VII of the Charter, with Article VII of the Charter applied as if references therein to the Aggregate Stock Ownership Limit also include applicable references to the Series D Ownership Limit.
 
(iii)           To the extent that any Person is granted an exemption from the Aggregate Stock Ownership Limit, such Person shall nevertheless remain subject to the Series D Ownership Limit except to the extent that such Person is also expressly granted an exemption from the Series D Ownership Limit by the Board of Directors, in which case such Person shall be a “Series D Excepted Holder”, and any higher limit established for such Person shall be a “Series D Excepted Holder Limit”, with the terms “Series D Excepted Holder” and “Series D Excepted Holder Limit” interpreted in a manner corresponding to the terms “Excepted Holder”, and “Excepted Holder Limit”, respectively, in Article VII of the Charter.  The preceding sentence shall apply to any Person for whom an exemption from the Aggregate Stock Ownership Limit is granted, without regard to whether it is granted prior or subsequent to the effectiveness of these Articles of Restatement.
 
(iv)           If at any time both (i) the Series D Preferred Stock ceases to be listed on the NYSE, AMEX or NASDAQ, and (ii) the Corporation ceases to be subject to the reporting requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, and any shares of Series D Preferred Stock are outstanding, the Corporation, at its option, upon giving notice as provided below, may redeem the Series D Preferred Stock, in whole but not in part, within 90 days of the date upon which both the Series D Preferred Stock so ceases to be listed and the Corporation so ceases to be subject to the reporting requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, for cash at a redemption price of $25.00 per share, plus accumulated and unpaid distributions, if any, to the redemption date, whether or not authorized (the “Special Redemption Right”).
 
24

(v)            On or after March 15, 2012, the Corporation, at its option, upon giving notice as provided below, may redeem the Series D Preferred Stock, in whole or from time to time in part, for cash, at a redemption price of $25.00 per share, plus all accumulated and unpaid distributions on such Series D Preferred Stock to the date of redemption, whether or not authorized (the “Regular Redemption Right”).

(b)             If fewer than all of the outstanding shares of Series D Preferred Stock are to be redeemed pursuant to the Regular Redemption Right, the shares to be redeemed shall be selected pro rata (as nearly as practicable without creating fractional shares) or by lot or in such other equitable method prescribed by the Board of Directors.  If such redemption is to be by lot and, as a result of such redemption, any holder of Series D Preferred Stock would become a holder of a number of Series D Preferred Stock in excess of the Aggregate Stock Ownership Limit because such holder’s shares of Series D Preferred Stock were not redeemed, or were only redeemed in part, then, except as otherwise provided in the Charter, the Corporation shall redeem the requisite number of shares of Series D Preferred Stock of such holder such that no holder will hold in excess of the Aggregate Stock Ownership Limit subsequent to such redemption.
 
(c)              Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, unless full cumulative distributions on all shares of Series D Preferred Stock have been or contemporaneously are authorized and paid or authorized and a sum sufficient set apart for payment for all past distribution periods and the then current distribution period, no shares of Series D Preferred Stock shall be redeemed pursuant to the Regular Redemption Right unless all outstanding shares of Series D Preferred Stock are simultaneously redeemed.  In addition, unless full cumulative distributions on all shares of Series D Preferred Stock have been or contemporaneously are authorized and paid or authorized and a sum sufficient set apart for payment for all past distribution periods and the then current distribution period, the Corporation shall not purchase or otherwise acquire directly or indirectly any shares of Series D Preferred Stock or any other shares of equity securities of the Corporation ranking junior to or on a parity with the Series D Preferred Stock as to distributions or upon liquidation (except by conversion into or exchange for shares of equity securities of the Corporation ranking junior to the Series D Preferred Stock as to distributions and upon liquidation).  The restrictions in this Section 5 on redemptions, purchases and other acquisitions shall not prevent the redemption, purchase or acquisition by the Corporation of Preferred Stock of any series pursuant to Article VII of the Charter or Section 5(a) hereof, or otherwise in order to ensure that the Corporation remains qualified as a REIT for United States federal income tax purposes, or the purchase or acquisition of Series D Preferred Stock pursuant to a purchase or exchange offer made on the same terms to all holders of the Series D Preferred Stock.
 
(d)              Immediately prior to any redemption of shares of Series D Preferred Stock, the Corporation shall pay, in cash, any accumulated and unpaid distributions to the redemption date, whether or not authorized, unless a redemption date falls after a Distribution Record Date and prior to the corresponding Distribution Payment Date, in which case each holder of Series D Preferred Stock at the close of business on such Distribution Record Date shall be entitled to the distribution payable on such shares on the corresponding Distribution Payment Date notwithstanding the redemption of such shares before the Distribution Payment Date.  Except as provided in the previous sentence, the Corporation shall make no payment or allowance for unpaid distributions, whether or not in arrears, on Series D Preferred Stock for which a notice of redemption has been given.
 
(e)              The following provisions set forth the procedures for redemption pursuant to the Regular Redemption Right.
 
25

(i)              Notice of redemption will be mailed by the Corporation, postage prepaid, no less than 30 nor more than 60 calendar days immediately preceding the redemption date, addressed to the respective holders of record of the Series D Preferred Stock to be redeemed at their respective addresses as they appear on the stock transfer records of the Corporation.  No failure to give such notice or any defect thereto or in the mailing thereof shall affect the validity of the proceedings for the redemption of any Series D Preferred Stock except as to the holder to whom notice was defective or not given.
 
(ii)             In addition to any information required by law or by the applicable rules of any exchange upon which the Series D Preferred Stock may be listed or admitted to trading, each notice shall state:  (A) the redemption date; (B) the redemption price; (C) the number of Series D Preferred Stock to be redeemed; (D) the place or places where the holders of Series D Preferred Stock may surrender certificates for payment of the redemption price; and (E) that distributions on the Series D Preferred Stock to be redeemed will cease to accumulate on the redemption date.  If less than all of the Series D Preferred Stock held by any holder are to be redeemed, the notice mailed to each holder shall also specify the number of Series D Preferred Stock held by such holder to be redeemed.
 
(iii)           On or after the redemption date, each holder of Series D Preferred Stock to be redeemed shall present and surrender the certificates representing his Series D Preferred Stock to the Corporation at the place designated in the notice of redemption and thereupon the redemption price of such shares (including all accumulated and unpaid distributions up to the redemption date) shall be paid to or on the order of the person whose name appears on such certificate representing Series D Preferred Stock as the owner thereof and each surrendered certificate shall be canceled.  If fewer than all the shares represented by any such certificate representing Series D Preferred Stock are to be redeemed, a new certificate shall be issued representing the unredeemed shares.
 
(iv)           From and after the redemption date (unless the Corporation defaults in payment of the redemption price), all distributions on the Series D Preferred Stock designated for redemption and all rights of the holders thereof, except the right to receive the redemption price thereof and all accumulated and unpaid distributions up to the redemption date, shall terminate with respect to such shares and such shares shall not thereafter be transferred (except with the consent of the Corporation) on the Corporation’s stock transfer records, and such shares shall not be deemed to be outstanding for any purpose whatsoever.  At its election, the Corporation, prior to a redemption date, may irrevocably deposit the redemption price (including accumulated and unpaid distributions to the redemption date) of the Series D Preferred Stock so called for redemption in trust for the holders thereof with a bank or trust company, in which case the redemption notice to holders of the Series D Preferred Stock to be redeemed 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 price and (C) require such holders to surrender the certificates representing such shares at such place on or about the date fixed in such redemption notice (which may not be later than the redemption date) against payment of the redemption price (including all accumulated and unpaid distributions to the redemption date).  Any monies so deposited which remain unclaimed by the holders of the Series D Preferred Stock at the end of two years after the redemption date shall be returned by such bank or trust company to the Corporation.
 
26

(f)              The following provisions set forth the procedures for redemption pursuant to the Special Redemption Right.

(i)              Notice of redemption will be mailed by the Corporation, postage prepaid, no less than 30 nor more than 60 calendar days immediately preceding the redemption date, addressed to the respective holders of record of the Series D Preferred Stock at their respective addresses as they appear on the stock transfer records of the Corporation.  No failure to give such notice or any defect thereto or in the mailing thereof shall affect the validity of the proceedings for the redemption of the Series D Preferred Stock except as to the holder to whom notice was defective or not given.
 
(ii)             In addition to any information required by law, each notice shall state:  (A) the redemption date; (B) the redemption price; (C) the place or places where the holders of Series D Preferred Stock may surrender certificates for payment of the redemption price; and (D) that distributions on the Series D Preferred Stock will cease to accumulate on the redemption date.
 
(iii)            On or after the redemption date, each holder of Series D Preferred Stock shall present and surrender the certificates representing his Series D Preferred Stock to the Corporation at the place designated in the notice of redemption and thereupon the redemption price of such shares (including all accumulated and unpaid distributions up to the redemption date) shall be paid to or on the order of the person whose name appears on such certificate representing Series D Preferred Stock as the owner thereof and each surrendered certificate shall be canceled.
 
(iv)           From and after the redemption date (unless the Corporation defaults in payment of the redemption price), all distributions on the Series D Preferred Stock and all rights of the holders thereof, except the right to receive the redemption price thereof and all accumulated and unpaid distributions up to the redemption date, shall terminate with respect to such shares and such shares shall not thereafter be transferred (except with the consent of the Corporation) on the Corporation’s stock transfer records, and such shares shall not be deemed to be outstanding for any purpose whatsoever.  At its election, the Corporation, prior to the redemption date, may irrevocably deposit the redemption price (including accumulated and unpaid distributions to the redemption date) of the Series D Preferred Stock so called for redemption in trust for the holders thereof with a bank or trust company, in which case the redemption notice to holders of the Series D Preferred Stock 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 price and (C) require such holders to surrender the certificates representing such shares at such place on or about the date fixed in such redemption notice (which may not be later than the redemption date) against payment of the redemption price (including all accumulated and unpaid distributions to the redemption date).  Any monies so deposited which remain unclaimed by the holders of the Series D Preferred Stock at the end of two years after the redemption date shall be returned by such bank or trust company to the Corporation.
 
(g)              Any Series D Preferred Stock that shall at any time have been redeemed shall, after such redemption, have the status of authorized but unissued Preferred Stock, without designation as to series until such shares are once more designated as part of a particular series by the Board of Directors.
 
27

(6)              Voting Rights .

(a)              Holders of the Series D Preferred Stock shall not have any voting rights, except as set forth below.
 
(b)             Whenever distributions on the Series D Preferred Stock are in arrears for six or more quarterly periods (whether or not consecutive) (a “Preferred Distribution Default”), the holders of Series D Preferred Stock (voting together as a single class with all other equity securities of the Corporation (including the Corporation’s 9.75% Series B Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock and 8.05% Series C Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock), as applicable, upon which like voting rights have been conferred and are exercisable (“Parity Preferred Stock”)) shall be entitled to elect a total of two additional directors to the Corporation’s Board of Directors (the “Preferred Stock Directors”) at a special meeting called by the holders of record of at least 20% of the outstanding shares of Series D Preferred Stock (unless the request is received less than 90 calendar days before the date fixed for the next annual or special meeting of stockholders) or, if the request for a special meeting is received by the Corporation less than 90 calendar days before the date fixed for the next annual or special meeting of stockholders, at the next annual meeting of stockholders, and at each subsequent annual meeting until all distributions accumulated on the Series D Preferred Stock for the past distribution periods and the then current distribution period shall have been fully paid or authorized and a sum sufficient for the payment thereof set aside for payment.
 
(c)             If and when all accumulated distributions and the distribution for the then current distribution period on the Series D Preferred Stock shall have been paid in full or authorized and a sum sufficient for the payment thereof set aside for payment in full, the holders of Series D Preferred Stock shall be divested of the voting rights set forth in clause (b) above (subject to revesting in the event of each and every Preferred Distribution Default) and, if all accumulated distributions and the distribution for the then current distribution period have been paid in full or authorized by the Board of Directors and set aside for payment in full on all other series of Parity Preferred Stock upon which like voting rights have been conferred and are exercisable, the term of office of each Preferred Stock Director so elected shall terminate.  Any Preferred Stock Director may be removed at any time with or without cause by the vote of, and shall not be removed otherwise than by the vote of, the holders of a majority of the outstanding Series D Preferred Stock when they have the voting rights set forth in clause (b) above and all other series of Parity Preferred Stock (voting as a single class).  So long as a Preferred Distribution Default shall continue, any vacancy in the office of a Preferred Stock Director may be filled by written consent of the Preferred Stock Director remaining in office, or if none remains in office, by a vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding Series D Preferred Stock when they have the voting rights set forth in clause (b) above and all other series of Parity Preferred Stock (voting as a single class).  The Preferred Stock Directors shall each be entitled to one vote per director on any matter.
 
28

(d)             So long as any Series D Preferred Stock remain outstanding, the Corporation shall not, without the affirmative vote of the holders of at least two-thirds of the Series D Preferred Stock outstanding at the time, given in person or by proxy, either in writing or at a meeting (such series voting separately as a class), (i) authorize, create or increase the authorized or issued amount of any class or series of equity securities ranking senior to the outstanding Series D Preferred Stock with respect to the payment of distributions or the distribution of assets upon voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation or reclassify any authorized equity securities of the Corporation into any such senior equity securities, or create, authorize or issue any obligation or security convertible into or evidencing the right to purchase any such senior equity securities; or (ii) amend, alter or repeal the provisions of the Charter (including this Section), whether by merger or consolidation (in either case, an “Event”) or otherwise, so as to materially and adversely affect any right, preference, privilege or voting power of the Series D Preferred Stock; provided, however, that with respect to any such amendment, alteration or repeal of the provisions of the Charter (including this Section) upon the occurrence of an Event, so long as shares of the Series D Preferred Stock remain outstanding with the terms thereof materially unchanged in any adverse respect, taking into account that, upon the occurrence of an Event, the Corporation may not be the surviving entity and such surviving entity may thereafter be the issuer of the Series D Preferred Stock, the occurrence of any such Event shall not be deemed to materially and adversely affect the rights, preferences, privileges or voting powers of the Series D Preferred Stock; and provided further that any increase in the amount of authorized Series D Preferred Stock or any other class or series of the Corporation’s equity securities, in each case ranking on a parity with or junior to the Series D Preferred Stock with respect to the payment of distributions and the distribution of assets upon voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation, shall not be deemed to materially and adversely affect the rights, preferences, privileges or voting powers of the Series D Preferred Stock.
 
(e)              The foregoing voting provisions shall not apply if, at or prior to the time when the action with respect to which such vote would otherwise be required shall be effected, all outstanding Series D Preferred Stock shall have been redeemed or called for redemption upon proper notice and sufficient funds shall have been deposited in trust to effect such redemption.

(7)              Conversion . The Series D Preferred Stock is not convertible into or exchangeable for any other property or securities of the Corporation.

(8)              Application of Article VII . The shares of Series D Preferred Stock are subject to the provisions of Article VII of the Charter.

(9)              Status . Upon any redemption of shares of Series D Preferred Stock, the shares of Series D Preferred Stock which are redeemed will be reclassified as authorized and unissued shares of Preferred Stock, and the number of shares of Series D Preferred Stock which the Corporation has the authority to issue will be decreased by the redemption of shares of Series D Preferred Stock, so that the shares of Series D Preferred Stock which were redeemed may not be reissued.

(10)           Information Rights . During any period in which the Corporation is not subject to the reporting requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act and any shares of Series D Preferred Stock are outstanding, the Corporation shall (i) transmit by mail to all holders of Series D Preferred Stock, as their names and addresses appear in the Corporation’s record books and without cost to such holders, copies of the annual reports and quarterly reports that the Corporation would have been required to file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) pursuant to the reporting requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act if the Corporation was subject to such Sections (other than any exhibits that would have been required), and (ii) promptly upon written request, supply copies of such reports to any prospective holder of Series D Preferred Stock. The Corporation will mail the reports to the holders of Series D Preferred Stock within 15 days after the respective dates by which the Corporation would have been required to file the reports with the SEC if the Corporation was subject to the reporting requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act.

(11)           Exclusion of Other Rights . The shares of Series D Preferred Stock shall not have any preferences, conversion or other rights, voting powers, restrictions, limitations as to dividends or other distributions, qualifications or terms or conditions of redemption other than those specifically set forth in the Charter.  The shares of Series D Preferred Stock shall have no preemptive or subscription rights.
 
29

(12)           Headings of Subdivisions . The headings of the various subdivisions hereof are for convenience of reference only and shall not affect the interpretation of any of the provisions hereof.

(13)          Severability of Provisions . If any preferences, conversion or other rights, voting powers, restrictions, limitations as to dividends or other distributions, qualifications or terms or conditions of redemption of the Series D Preferred Stock set forth in the Charter is invalid, unlawful or incapable of being enforced by reason of any rule of law or public policy, all other preferences, conversion or other rights, voting powers, restrictions, limitations as to dividends or other distributions, qualifications or terms or conditions of redemption of Series D Preferred Stock set forth in the Charter which can be given effect without the invalid, unlawful or unenforceable provision thereof shall, nevertheless, remain in full force and effect, and no preferences, conversion or other rights, voting powers, restrictions, limitations as to dividends or other distributions, qualifications or terms or conditions of redemption of Series D Preferred Stock herein set forth shall be deemed dependent upon any other provision thereof unless so expressed therein.

Section 6.1.4 Series E Junior Participating Preferred Stock .

Section 1.                  Designation and Amount .  The shares of such series shall be designated as “Series E Junior Participating Preferred Stock” (the “ Series E Preferred Stock ”) and the number of shares constituting such series shall be one million (1,000,000). Such number of shares may be increased or decreased by resolution of the Board of Directors; provided , that no decrease shall reduce the number of shares of Series E Preferred Stock to a number less than the number of shares then outstanding plus the number of shares reserved for issuance upon the exercise of outstanding options, rights or warrants or upon the exercise of any options, rights or warrants issuable upon conversion of any outstanding securities issued by the Corporation convertible into Series E Preferred Stock.

Section 2.                  Dividends and Distributions .

(A)           Subject to the prior and superior rights of the holders of any shares of any series of Preferred Stock (or any similar stock) ranking prior and superior to the shares of Series E Preferred Stock with respect to dividends, the holders of shares of Series E Preferred Stock, in preference to the holders of Common Stock, and of any other junior stock, shall be entitled to receive, when, as and if declared by the Board of Directors out of funds legally available for the purpose, quarterly dividends payable in cash on the 1 st March, June, September and December in each year (each such date being referred to herein as a “ Quarterly Dividend Payment Date ”), commencing on the first Quarterly Dividend Payment Date after the first issuance of a share or fraction of a share of Series E Preferred Stock, in an amount per share (rounded to the nearest cent) equal to the greater of (a) $1.00 or (b) subject to the provision for adjustment hereinafter set forth, 1,000 times the aggregate per share amount of all cash dividends, and 1,000 times the aggregate per share amount (payable in kind) of all non-cash dividends or other distributions other than a dividend payable in shares of Common Stock or a subdivision of the outstanding shares of Common Stock (by reclassification or otherwise), declared on the Common Stock since the immediately preceding Quarterly Dividend Payment Date, or, with respect to the first Quarterly Dividend Payment Date, since the first issuance of any share or fraction of a share of Series E Preferred Stock. In the event the Corporation shall at any time after December 20, 2016 (the “ Rights Record Date ”) (i) declare any dividend on Common Stock payable in shares of Common Stock, (ii) subdivide the outstanding Common Stock, or (iii) combine or consolidate the outstanding shares of Common Stock into a smaller number of shares through a reverse stock split or otherwise, then in each such case the amount to which holders of shares of Series E Preferred Stock were entitled immediately prior to such event under clause (b) of the preceding sentence shall be adjusted by multiplying such amount by a fraction the numerator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately after such event and the denominator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock that were outstanding immediately prior to such event.
 
30

(B)            The Corporation shall declare a dividend or distribution on the Series E Preferred Stock as provided in Paragraph (A) above immediately after it declares a dividend or distribution on the Common Stock (other than a dividend payable in shares of Common Stock); provided that, in the event no dividend or distribution shall have been declared on the Common Stock during the period between any Quarterly Dividend Payment Date and the next subsequent Quarterly Dividend Payment Date, a dividend of $1.00 per share on the Series E Preferred Stock shall nevertheless be payable on such subsequent Quarterly Dividend Payment Date.

(C)            Dividends, to the extent payable as provide in paragraphs (A) and (B) of this Section, shall begin to accrue and be cumulative on outstanding shares of Series E Preferred Stock from the Quarterly Dividend Payment Date next preceding the date of issue of such shares of Series E Preferred Stock, unless the date of issue of such shares is prior to the record date for the first Quarterly Dividend Payment Date, in which case dividends on such shares shall begin to accrue from the date of issue of such shares, or unless the date of issue is a Quarterly Dividend Payment Date or is a date after the record date for the determination of holders of shares of Series E Preferred Stock entitled to receive a quarterly dividend and before such Quarterly Dividend Payment Date, in either of which events such dividends shall begin to accrue and be cumulative from such Quarterly Dividend Payment Date. Accrued but unpaid dividends shall not bear interest. Dividends paid on the shares of Series E Preferred Stock in an amount less than the total amount of such dividends at the time accrued and payable on such shares shall be allocated pro rata on a share-by-share basis among all such shares at the time outstanding. The Board of Directors may fix a record date for the determination of holders of shares of Series E Preferred Stock entitled to receive payment of a dividend or distribution declared thereon, which record date shall be no more than thirty (30) days prior to the date fixed for the payment thereof.

Section 3.                  Voting Rights .  The holders of shares of Series E Preferred Stock shall have the following voting rights:

(A)           Subject to the provision for adjustment hereinafter set forth, each share of Series E Preferred Stock shall entitle the holder thereof to 1,000 votes on all matters submitted to a vote of the stockholders of the Corporation. In the event the Corporation shall at any time after the Rights Record Date (i) declare or pay any dividend on Common Stock payable in shares of Common Stock, (ii) subdivide the outstanding Common Stock, or (iii) combine or consolidate the outstanding shares of Common Stock into a smaller number of shares through a reverse stock split or otherwise, then in each such case the number of votes per share to which holders of shares of Series E Preferred Stock were entitled immediately prior to such event shall be adjusted by multiplying such number by a fraction the numerator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately after such event and the denominator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock that were outstanding immediately prior to such event.

(B)            Except as otherwise provided herein, in any other Articles Supplementary creating a series of Preferred Stock (or any similar stock), or by law, the holders of shares of Series E Preferred Stock and the holders of shares of Common Stock shall vote together as one class on all matters submitted to a vote of stockholders of the Corporation.
 
31

(C)

(i)               If at any time dividends on any Series E Preferred Stock shall be in arrears in an amount equal to six (6) quarterly dividends thereon, the occurrence of such contingency shall mark the beginning of a period (herein called a “default period”) which shall extend until such time when all accrued and unpaid dividends for all previous quarterly dividend periods and for the current quarterly dividend period on all shares of Series E Preferred Stock then outstanding shall have been authorized and declared and paid or set apart for payment. During each default period, all holders of Preferred Stock (including holders of the Series E Preferred Stock) with dividends in arrears in an amount equal to six (6) quarterly dividends thereon, voting as a class, irrespective of series, shall have the right to elect two (2) directors.
 
(ii)              During any default period, such voting right of the holders of Series E Preferred Stock may be exercised initially at a special meeting called pursuant to subparagraph (iii) of this Section 3(C) or at any annual meeting of stockholders, and thereafter at annual meetings of stockholders, provided that neither such voting right nor the right of the holders of any other series of Preferred Stock, if any, to increase, in certain cases, the authorized number of directors shall not be exercised unless the holders of ten percent (10%) in number of shares of Preferred Stock outstanding shall be present in person or by proxy. The absence of a quorum of the holders of Common Stock shall not affect the exercise by the holders of Preferred Stock of such voting right. At any meeting at which the holders of Preferred Stock shall exercise such voting right initially during an existing default period, they shall have the right, voting as a class, to elect directors to fill such vacancies, if any, in the Board of Directors as may then exist up to two (2) directors or, if such right is exercised at an annual meeting, to elect two (2) directors. If the number that may be so elected at any special meeting does not amount to the required number, the holders of the Preferred Stock shall have the right to make such increase in the number of directors as shall be necessary to permit the election by them of the required number. After the holders of the Preferred Stock shall have exercised their right to elect directors in any default period and during the continuance of such period, the number of directors shall not be increased or decreased except by vote of the holders of Preferred Stock as herein provided or pursuant to the rights of any equity securities ranking senior to or pari passu with the Series E Preferred Stock.
 
(iii)              Unless the holders of Preferred Stock shall, during an existing default period, have previously exercised their right to elect directors, the Board of Directors may order, or any stockholder or stockholders owning in the aggregate not less than ten percent (10%) of the total number of shares of Preferred Stock outstanding, irrespective of series, may request, the calling of a special meeting of the holders of Preferred Stock, which meeting shall thereupon be called by the President, a Vice President or the Secretary of the Corporation. Notice of such meeting and of any annual meeting at which holders of Preferred Stock are entitled to vote pursuant to this Paragraph (C)(iii) shall be given to each holder of record of Preferred Stock by mailing a copy of such notice to him at his last address as the same appears on the books of the Corporation. Such meeting shall be called for a time not earlier than twenty (20) days and not later than sixty (60) days after such order or request or in default of the calling of such meeting within sixty (60) days after such order or request, such meeting may be called on similar notice by any stockholder or stockholders owning in the aggregate not less than ten percent (10%) of the total number of shares of Preferred Stock outstanding.  Notwithstanding the provisions of this Paragraph (C)(iii), no such special meeting shall be called during the period within sixty (60) days immediately preceding the date or the first day of the period, as the case may be, fixed by the Bylaws for the next annual meeting of the stockholders.
 
32

(iv)              In any default period, the holders of Common Stock, and other classes of stock of the Corporation if applicable, shall continue to be entitled to elect the whole number of directors until the holders of Preferred Stock shall have exercised their right to elect two (2) directors voting as a class, after the exercise of which right (x) the directors so elected by the holders of Preferred Stock shall continue in office until their successors shall have been elected by such holders or until the expiration of the default period, whichever happens first, and (y) any vacancy in the Board of Directors may (except as provided in Paragraph (C)(ii) of this Section 3) be filled by vote of a majority of the remaining directors theretofore elected by the holders of the class of stock that elected the director whose office shall have become vacant. References in this Paragraph (C) to directors elected by the holders of a particular class of stock shall include directors elected by such directors to fill vacancies as provided in clause (y) of the foregoing sentence.
 
(v)              Immediately upon the expiration of a default period, (x) the right of the holders of Preferred Stock as a class to elect directors shall cease, (y) the term of any directors elected by the holders of Preferred Stock as a class shall terminate, and (z) the number of directors shall be such number as may be provided for in the Charter or Bylaws irrespective of any increase made pursuant to the provisions of Paragraph (C)(ii) of this Section 3 (such number being subject, however, to change thereafter in any manner provided by law or in the Charter or Bylaws). Any vacancies in the Board of Directors effected by the provisions of clauses (y) and (z) in the preceding sentence may be filled by a majority of the remaining directors.

(D)              Except as set forth herein, or as otherwise provided by law, holders of Series E Preferred Stock shall have no special voting rights and their consent shall not be required (except to the extent they are entitled to vote with holders of Common Stock as set forth herein) for authorizing or taking any corporate action.

Section 4.                  Certain Restrictions .

(A)           Whenever quarterly dividends or other dividends or distributions payable on the Series E Preferred Stock as provided in Section 2 are in arrears, thereafter and until all accrued and unpaid dividends and distributions, whether or not declared, on shares of Series E Preferred Stock outstanding shall have been paid in full, the Corporation shall not:

(i)               declare or pay dividends on, make any other distributions on, or redeem or purchase or otherwise acquire for consideration any shares of stock ranking junior (either as to dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up) to the Series E Preferred Stock;
 
(ii)             declare or pay dividends on or make any other distributions on any shares of stock ranking on a parity (either as to dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up) with the Series E Preferred Stock, except dividends paid ratably on the Series E Preferred Stock and all such parity stock on which dividends are payable or in arrears in proportion to the total amounts to which the holders of all such shares are then entitled;
 
(iii)             redeem or purchase or otherwise acquire for consideration shares of any stock ranking junior (either as to dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up) with the Series E Preferred Stock, provided that the Corporation may at any time redeem, purchase or otherwise acquire shares of any such junior stock in exchange for shares of any stock of the Corporation ranking junior (either as to dividends or upon dissolution, liquidation or winding up) to the Series E Preferred Stock; or
 
33

(iv)            redeem or purchase or otherwise acquire for consideration any shares of Series E Preferred Stock, or any shares of stock ranking on a parity with the Series E Preferred Stock, except in accordance with a purchase offer made in writing or by publication (as determined by the Board of Directors) to all holders of such shares upon such terms as the Board of Directors, after consideration of the respective annual dividend rates and other relative rights and preferences of the respective series and classes, shall determine in good faith will result in fair and equitable treatment among the respective series or classes.

(B)              The Corporation shall not permit any subsidiary of the Corporation to purchase or otherwise acquire for consideration any shares of stock of the Corporation unless the Corporation could, under Paragraph (A) of this Section 4, purchase or otherwise acquire such shares at such time and in such manner.

Section 5.                  Reacquired Shares .  Any shares of Series E Preferred Stock purchased or otherwise acquired by the Corporation in any manner whatsoever shall be retired and cancelled promptly after the acquisition thereof. All such shares shall upon their cancellation become authorized but unissued shares of Preferred Stock and may be reissued as part of a new series of Preferred Stock to be created by resolution or resolutions of the Board of Directors, subject to the conditions and restrictions on issuance set forth herein, in the Charter, or in any other Articles Supplementary creating a series of Preferred Stock (or any similar stock) or as otherwise required by law.

Section 6.                  Liquidation, Dissolution or Winding Up .

(A)            Upon any liquidation (voluntary or otherwise), dissolution or winding up of the Corporation, no distribution shall be made to the holders of shares of stock ranking junior (either as to dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up) to the Series E Preferred Stock unless, prior thereto, the holders of shares of Series E Preferred Stock shall have received an amount equal to $1,000 per share of Series E Preferred Stock, plus an amount equal to accrued and unpaid dividends and distributions thereon, whether or not declared, to the date of such payment (the “ Series E Liquidation Preference ”).  Following the payment of the full amount of the Series E Liquidation Preference, no additional distributions shall be made to the holders of shares of Series E Preferred Stock unless, prior thereto, the holders of shares of Common Stock shall have received an amount per share (the “ Common Adjustment ”) equal to the quotient obtained by dividing (i) the Series E Liquidation Preference by (ii) 1,000 (as appropriately adjusted as set forth in subparagraph (C) below to reflect such events as stock splits, stock dividends and recapitalizations with respect to the Common Stock) (such number in clause (ii), the “ Adjustment Number ”).  Following the payment of the full amount of the Series E Liquidation Preference and the Common Adjustment in respect of all outstanding shares of Series E Preferred Stock and Common Stock, respectively, holders of Series E Preferred Stock and holders of shares of Common Stock shall receive their ratable and proportionate share of the remaining assets to be distributed in the ratio of the Adjustment Number to 1 with respect to such Preferred Stock and Common Stock, on a per share basis, respectively.  The merger or consolidation of the Corporation, regardless of whether the Corporation is the surviving entity in such merger or consolidation, shall not be deemed to be the liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation.

(B)            In the event, however, that there are not sufficient assets available to permit payment in full of the Series E Liquidation Preference and the liquidation preferences of all other series of preferred stock, if any, which rank on a parity with the Series E Preferred Stock, then such remaining assets shall be distributed ratably to the holders of such parity shares in proportion to their respective liquidation preferences.  In the event, however, that there are not sufficient assets available to permit payment in full of the Common Adjustment, then such remaining assets shall be distributed ratably to the holders of Common Stock.
 
34

(C)            In the event the Corporation shall at any time after the Rights Record Date (i) declare any dividend on Common Stock payable in shares of Common Stock, (ii) subdivide the outstanding Common Stock, or (iii) combine or consolidate the outstanding shares of Common Stock into a smaller number of shares through a reverse stock split or otherwise, then in each such case the Adjustment Number in effect immediately prior to such event shall be adjusted by multiplying such Adjustment Number by a fraction the numerator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately after such event and the denominator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock that were outstanding immediately prior to such event.

Section 7.                  Consolidation, Merger, etc .  If the Corporation shall enter into any consolidation, merger, share exchange, combination or other transaction in which the shares of Common Stock are exchanged for or changed into other stock or securities, cash and/or any other property, then in any such case each share of Series E Preferred Stock shall at the same time be similarly exchanged or changed into an amount per share (subject to the provision for adjustment hereinafter set forth) equal to 1,000 times the aggregate amount of stock, securities, cash and/or any other property (payable in kind), as the case may be, into which or for which each share of Common Stock is changed or exchanged. In the event the Corporation shall at any time after the Rights Record Date (i) declare or pay any dividend on Common Stock payable in shares of Common Stock, (ii) subdivide the outstanding Common Stock, or (iii) combine or consolidate the outstanding shares of Common Stock into a smaller number of shares through a reverse stock split or otherwise, then in each such case the amount set forth in the preceding sentence with respect to the exchange or change of shares of Series E Preferred Stock shall be adjusted by multiplying such amount by a fraction the numerator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately after such event and the denominator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock that were outstanding immediately prior to such event.

Section 8.                  No Redemption .  The shares of Series E Preferred Stock shall not be redeemable.

Section 9.                  Ranking .

(A)           The Series E Preferred Stock shall rank junior to all other series of the Corporation’s Preferred Stock as to the payment of dividends and the distribution of assets, unless the terms of any such series shall provide otherwise.

(B)            The liquidation preference of the outstanding shares of Series E Preferred Stock will not be added to the liabilities of the Corporation for the purpose of determining whether under the Maryland General Corporation Law a distribution may be made to stockholders of the Corporation whose preferential rights upon dissolution of the Corporation are junior to those of holders of Series E Preferred Stock.

Section 10.               Amendment .  At any time when any shares of Series E Preferred Stock are outstanding, neither the Charter nor these Articles Supplementary shall be amended in any manner which would materially alter or change the powers, preferences or special rights of the Series E Preferred Stock so as to affect them adversely without the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of Series E Preferred Stock, voting separately as a class; provided that none of (i) the creation or issuance of (A) additional shares of Series E Preferred Stock or (B) shares of any class or series of Preferred Stock ranking junior to or on parity with the Series E Preferred Stock as to the payment of dividends and the distribution of assets, (ii) a merger or consolidation in which the Corporation is the surviving entity and the Series E Preferred Stock remains outstanding with no material adverse change in its powers, preferences and special rights, or (iii) a merger or consolidation in which the Corporation is not the surviving entity and the holders of the Series E Preferred Stock receive in exchange therefor a substantially identical security of the surviving entity, shall be considered to materially adversely alter or change the powers, preferences or special powers of the Series E Preferred Stock.
 
35

Section 11.               Fractional Shares .  Series E Preferred Stock may be issued in fractions of a share that shall entitle the holder, in proportion to such holder’s fractional shares, to exercise voting rights, receive dividends, participate in distributions and to have the benefit of all other rights of holders of Series E Preferred Stock.

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

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

Section 6.4  Classified or Reclassified Shares . Prior to issuance of classified or reclassified shares of any class or series, the Board of Directors by resolution shall: (a) designate that class or series to distinguish it from all other classes and series of stock of the Corporation;

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

Section 6.5  Charter and Bylaws . All persons who shall acquire stock in the Corporation shall acquire the same subject to the provisions of the Charter and the Bylaws.

ARTICLE VII

RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFER AND OWNERSHIP OF SHARES

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

Aggregate Stock Ownership Limit. The term “Aggregate Stock Ownership Limit” shall mean not more than 8.0 percent of the aggregate value of the outstanding shares of any class or series of Capital Stock. The value of the outstanding shares of Capital Stock shall be determined by the Board of Directors of the Corporation in good faith, which determination shall be conclusive for all purposes hereof.
 
36

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

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

Capital Stock. The term “Capital Stock” shall mean all classes or series of stock of the Corporation, including, without limitation, Common Stock and Preferred Stock.

Charitable Beneficiary. The term “Charitable Beneficiary” shall mean one or more beneficiaries of a Trust as determined pursuant to Section 7.3.6, provided that each such organization must be described in Section 501(c)(3) of the Code and contributions to each such organization must be eligible for deduction under each of Sections 170(b)(1)(A), 2055 and 2522 of the Code.

Charter. The term “Charter” shall mean the charter of the Corporation, as that term is defined in the MGCL.

Code. The term “Code” shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time.

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

Excepted Holder. The term “Excepted Holder” shall mean a stockholder of the Corporation for whom an Excepted Holder Limit is created by these Articles or by the Board of Directors pursuant to Section 7.2.7.

Excepted Holder Limit. The term “Excepted Holder Limit” shall mean, provided that the affected Excepted Holder agrees to comply with the requirements established by the Board of Directors pursuant to Section 7.2.7, and subject to adjustment pursuant to Section 7.2.8, the percentage limit established by the Board of Directors for such Excepted Holder pursuant to Section 7.2.7.

Initial Date. The term “Initial Date” shall mean the date upon which the Corporation completes an initial public offering of shares of Common Stock.
 
37

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

MGCL. The term “MGCL” shall mean the Maryland General Corporation Law, as amended from time to time.

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

Person. The term “Person” shall mean an individual, corporation, partnership, estate, trust (including a trust qualified under Sections 401(a) or 501(c)(17) of the Code), a portion of a trust permanently set aside for or to be used exclusively for the purposes described in Section 642(c) of the Code, association, private foundation within the meaning of Section 509(a) of the Code, joint stock company or other entity and also includes a group as that term is used for purposes of Section 13(d)(3) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

Prohibited Owner. The term “Prohibited Owner” shall mean, with respect to any purported Transfer, any Person who, but for the provisions of Section 7.2.1, would Beneficially Own or Constructively Own shares of Capital Stock, and if appropriate in the context, shall also mean any Person who would have been the record owner of the shares that the Prohibited Owner would have so owned.

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

Restriction Termination Date. The term “Restriction Termination Date” shall mean the first day after the Initial Date on which the Corporation determines pursuant to Section 5.7 of the Charter that it is no longer in the best interests of the Corporation to attempt to, or continue to, qualify as a REIT or that compliance with the restrictions and limitations on Beneficial Ownership, Constructive Ownership and Transfers of shares of Capital Stock set forth herein is no longer required in order for the Corporation to qualify as a REIT.

Transfer. The term “Transfer” shall mean any issuance, sale, transfer, gift, assignment, devise or other disposition, as well as any other event that causes any Person to acquire Beneficial Ownership or Constructive Ownership, or any agreement to take any such actions or cause any such events, of Capital Stock or the right to vote or receive dividends on Capital Stock, including (a) the granting or exercise of any option (or any disposition of any option), (b) any disposition of any securities or rights convertible into or exchangeable for Capital Stock or any interest in Capital Stock or any exercise of any such conversion or exchange right and (c) Transfers of interests in other entities that result in changes in Beneficial or Constructive Ownership of Capital Stock; in each case, whether voluntary or involuntary, whether owned of record, Constructively Owned or Beneficially Owned and whether by operation of law or otherwise. The terms “Transferring” and “Transferred” shall have the correlative meanings.
 
38

Trust. The term “Trust” shall mean any trust provided for in Section 7.3.1.

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

Section 7.2  Capital Stock .

Section 7.2.1 Ownership Limitations . During the period commencing on the Initial Date and prior to the Restriction Termination Date:

(a)              Basic Restrictions.

(i)              (1) No Person, other than an Excepted Holder, shall Beneficially Own or Constructively Own shares of Capital Stock in excess of the Aggregate Stock Ownership Limit and (2) no Excepted Holder shall Beneficially Own or Constructively Own shares of Capital Stock in excess of the Excepted Holder Limit for such Excepted Holder.
 
(ii)              No Person shall Beneficially or Constructively Own shares of Capital Stock to the extent that such Beneficial or Constructive Ownership of Capital Stock would result in the Corporation being “closely held” within the meaning of Section 856(h) of the Code (without regard to whether the ownership interest is held during the last half of a taxable year), or would otherwise result in the Corporation failing to qualify as a REIT (including, but not limited to, Beneficial or Constructive Ownership that would result in the Corporation owning (actually or Constructively) an interest in a tenant that is described in Section 856(d)(2)(B) of the Code if the income derived by the Corporation from such tenant would cause the Corporation to fail to satisfy any of the gross income requirements of Section 856(c) of the Code).
 
(iii)              Subject to Section 7.4, no Person shall Transfer any Beneficial Ownership or Constructive Ownership of, or any direct or indirect interest in, any shares of Capital Stock if, as a result of the Transfer, the Capital Stock would be beneficially owned by less than 100 Persons (determined under the principles of Section 856(a)(5) of the Code).

(b)             Transfer in Trust. Subject to 7.4, if any Transfer of shares of Capital Stock (whether or not such Transfer is the result of a transaction entered into through the facilities of the NYSE or any other national securities exchange or automated inter-dealer quotation system) occurs which, if effective, would result in any Person Beneficially Owning or Constructively Owning shares of Capital Stock in violation of Section 7.2.1(a)(i), (ii) or (iii),

(i)               then that number of shares of the Capital Stock the Beneficial or Constructive Ownership of which otherwise would cause such Person to violate Section 7.2.1(a)(i), (ii) or (iii) (rounded to the nearest whole share) shall be automatically transferred to a Trust for the benefit of a Charitable Beneficiary, as described in Section 7.3, effective as of the close of business on the Business Day prior to the date of such Transfer, and such Person shall acquire no rights in such shares; or
 
(ii)              if the transfer to the Trust described in clause (i) of this sentence would not be effective for any reason to prevent the violation of Section 7.2.1(a), then the Transfer of that number of shares of Capital Stock that otherwise would cause any Person to violate Section 7.2.1(a) shall be void ab initio, and the intended transferee shall acquire no rights in such shares of Capital Stock.
 
(iii)            In determining which shares of Capital Stock are to be transferred to a Trust in accordance with this Section 7.2.1(b) and Section 7.3 hereof, shares shall be so transferred to a Trust in such manner as minimizes the aggregate value of the shares that are transferred to the Trust (except to the extent that the Board of Directors determines that the shares transferred to the Trust shall be those directly or indirectly held or Beneficially Owned or Constructively Owned by a Person or Persons that caused or contributed to the application of this Section 7.2.1(b)), and to the extent not inconsistent therewith, on a pro rata basis.
 
39

(iv)            To the extent that, upon a transfer of shares of Capital Stock pursuant to this Section 7.2.1(b), a violation of any provision of Section 7.2.1(a) would nonetheless be continuing (for example where the ownership of shares of Capital Stock by a single Trust would result in the Capital Stock being beneficially owned (determined under the principles of Section 856(a)(5) of the Code) by less than 100 Persons), then shares of Capital Stock shall be transferred to that number of Trusts, each having a distinct Trustee and a Charitable Beneficiary or Beneficiaries that are distinct from those of each other Trust, such that there is no violation of any provision of Section 7.2.1(a).

Section 7.2.2 Remedies for Breach . If the Board of Directors of the Corporation or any duly authorized committee thereof shall at any time determine in good faith that a Transfer or any other event has taken place that results in a violation of Section 7.2.1 or that a Person intends to acquire or has attempted to acquire Beneficial or Constructive Ownership of any shares of Capital Stock in violation of Section 7.2.1 (whether or not such violation is intended), the Board of Directors or a committee thereof shall take such action as it deems advisable to refuse to give effect to or to prevent such Transfer or other event, including, without limitation, causing the Corporation to redeem shares, refusing to give effect to such Transfer on the books of the Corporation or instituting proceedings to enjoin such Transfer or other event; provided, however, that any Transfer or attempted Transfer or other event in violation of Section 7.2.1 shall automatically result in the transfer to the Trust described above, and, where applicable, and subject to the first sentence of Section 7.4, such Transfer (or other event) shall be void ab initio as provided above irrespective of any action (or non-action) by the Board of Directors or a committee thereof.

Section 7.2.3 Notice of Restricted Transfer . Any Person who acquires or attempts or intends to acquire Beneficial Ownership or Constructive Ownership of shares of Capital Stock that will or may violate Section 7.2.1(a) or any Person who would have owned shares of Capital Stock that resulted in a transfer to the Trust pursuant to the provisions of Section 7.2.1(b) shall immediately give written notice to the Corporation of such event, or in the case of such a proposed or attempted transaction, give at least 15 days prior written notice, and shall provide to the Corporation such other information as the Corporation may request in order to determine the effect, if any, of such Transfer on the Corporation’s status as a REIT.

Section 7.2.4 Owners Required To Provide Information . From the Initial Date and prior to the Restriction Termination Date:

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

(b)             each Person who is a Beneficial or Constructive Owner of Capital Stock and each Person (including the stockholder of record) who is holding Capital Stock for a Beneficial or Constructive Owner shall provide to the Corporation such information as the Corporation may request, in good faith, in order to determine the Corporation’s status as a REIT and to comply with requirements of any taxing authority or governmental authority or to determine such compliance.
 
40

Section 7.2.5 Remedies Not Limited . Subject to Section 5.7 of the Charter, nothing contained in this Section 7.2 shall limit the authority of the Board of Directors of the Corporation to take such other action as it deems necessary or advisable to protect the Corporation and the interests of its stockholders in preserving the Corporation’s status as a REIT.

Section 7.2.6 Ambiguity . In the case of an ambiguity in the application of any of the provisions of this Section 7.2, Section 7.3 or any definition contained in Section 7.1, the Board of Directors of the Corporation shall have the power to determine the application of the provisions of this Section 7.2 or Section 7.3 or any such definition with respect to any situation based on the facts known to it. In the event Section 7.2 or 7.3 requires an action by the Board of Directors and the Charter fails to provide specific guidance with respect to such action, the Board of Directors shall have the power to determine the action to be taken so long as such action is not contrary to the provisions of Sections 7.1, 7.2 or 7.3.

Section 7.2.7 Exceptions .

(a)              The Board of Directors of the Corporation may, subject to such terms, conditions, representations and undertakings as it shall determine in its sole discretion, exempt a Person from the application of any one or more of the provisions of Section 7.2.1(a), and may establish or increase an Excepted Holder Limit for such Person. Any violation of such representations or undertakings (or other action which is contrary to the restrictions contained in Sections 7.2.1 through Section 7.2.6) will result in such Person, and any shares of Capital Stock that such Person may Beneficially or Constructively Own, or in which it may otherwise hold any direct or indirect interest, being subject to the provisions of Section 7.2.1(b).

(b)              Prior to granting any exception pursuant to Section 7.2.7(a), the Board of Directors of the Corporation may require a ruling from the Internal Revenue Service, or an opinion of counsel, in either case in form and substance satisfactory to the Board of Directors in its sole discretion, as it may deem necessary or advisable in order to determine or ensure the Corporation’s status as a REIT. Notwithstanding the receipt of any ruling or opinion, the Board of Directors may impose such conditions or restrictions as it deems appropriate in connection with granting such exception.

(c)              Subject to Section 7.2.1(a)(ii), an underwriter which participates in a public offering or a private placement of Capital Stock (or securities convertible into or exchangeable for Capital Stock) may Beneficially Own or Constructively Own shares of Capital Stock (or securities convertible into or exchangeable for Capital Stock) in excess of the Aggregate Stock Ownership Limit, but only to the extent necessary to facilitate such public offering or private placement.

(d)              Subsequent to the Initial Date, the Board of Directors may only reduce the Excepted Holder Limit for an Excepted Holder: (1) with the written consent of such Excepted Holder at any time, or (2) pursuant to the terms and conditions of the agreements and undertakings entered into with such Excepted Holder in connection with the establishment of the Excepted Holder Limit for that Excepted Holder. No Excepted Holder Limit with respect to a class or series of Capital Stock shall be reduced to a percentage that is less than the Aggregate Stock Ownership Limit.

Section 7.2.8 Legend . Each certificate for shares of Capital Stock shall bear substantially the following legend:
 
41

The shares represented by this certificate are subject to restrictions on Beneficial and Constructive Ownership and Transfer for the purpose of the Corporation’s maintenance of its status as a Real Estate Investment Trust under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”). Subject to certain further restrictions and except as expressly provided in the Corporation’s Charter, (i) no Person may Beneficially or Constructively Own shares of any class or series of the Corporation’s Capital Stock in excess of 8.0 percent of the aggregate value of the outstanding shares of any such class or series of Capital Stock unless such Person is an Excepted Holder (in which case the Excepted Holder Limit shall be applicable); (ii) no Person may Beneficially or Constructively Own Capital Stock that would result in the Corporation being “closely held” under Section 856(h) of the Code or otherwise cause the Corporation to fail to qualify as a REIT; and (iii) no Person may Transfer shares of Capital Stock if such Transfer would result in the Capital Stock of the Corporation being owned by fewer than 100 Persons. Any Person who Beneficially or Constructively Owns or attempts to Beneficially or Constructively Own shares of Capital Stock which causes or will cause a Person to Beneficially or Constructively Own shares of Capital Stock in excess or in violation of the above limitations must immediately notify the Corporation. If any of the restrictions on transfer or ownership are violated, the shares of Capital Stock represented hereby will be automatically transferred to a Trustee of a Trust for the benefit of one or more Charitable Beneficiaries. In addition, upon the occurrence of certain events, attempted Transfers in violation of the restrictions described above may be void ab initio. All capitalized terms in this legend have the meanings defined in the charter of the Corporation, as the same may be amended from time to time, a copy of which, including the restrictions on transfer and ownership, will be furnished to each holder of Capital Stock of the Corporation on request and without charge.

Instead of the foregoing legend, the certificate may state that the Corporation will furnish a full statement about certain restrictions on transferability to a stockholder on request and without charge.

Section 7.3 Transfer of Capital Stock in Trust .

Section 7.3.1 Ownership in Trust . Upon any purported Transfer or other event described in Section 7.2.1(b) that would result in a transfer of shares of Capital Stock to a Trust, such shares of Capital Stock shall be deemed to have been transferred to a Trustee as trustee of such Trust for the exclusive benefit of one or more Charitable Beneficiaries. Such transfer to the Trustee shall be deemed to be effective as of the close of business on the Business Day prior to the purported Transfer or other event that results in the transfer to the Trust pursuant to Section 7.2.1(b). The Trustee shall be appointed by the Corporation and shall be a Person unaffiliated with the Corporation and any Prohibited Owner. Each Charitable Beneficiary shall be designated by the Corporation as provided in Section 7.3.6.

Section 7.3.2 Status of Shares Held by the Trustee . Shares of Capital Stock held by the Trustee shall be issued and outstanding shares of Capital Stock of the Corporation. The Prohibited Owner shall have no rights in the shares held by the Trustee. The Prohibited Owner shall not benefit economically from ownership of any shares held in trust by the Trustee, shall have no rights to dividends or other distributions and shall not possess any rights to vote or other rights attributable to the shares held in the Trust.
 
42

Section 7.3.3 Dividend and Voting Rights . The Trustee shall have all voting rights and rights to dividends or other distributions with respect to shares of Capital Stock held in the Trust, which rights shall be exercised for the exclusive benefit of the Charitable Beneficiary. Any dividend or other distribution paid prior to the discovery by the Corporation that the shares of Capital Stock have been transferred to the Trustee shall be paid by the recipient of such dividend or distribution to the Trustee upon demand and any dividend or other distribution authorized but unpaid shall be paid when due to the Trustee. Any dividend or distribution so paid to the Trustee shall be held in trust for the Charitable Beneficiary. The Prohibited Owner shall have no voting rights with respect to shares held in the Trust and, subject to Maryland law, effective as of the date that the shares of Capital Stock have been transferred to the Trustee, the Trustee shall have the authority (at the Trustee’s sole discretion) (i) to rescind as void any vote cast by a Prohibited Owner prior to the discovery by the Corporation that the shares of Capital Stock have been transferred to the Trustee and (ii) to recast such vote in accordance with the desires of the Trustee acting for the benefit of the Charitable Beneficiary; provided, however, that if the Corporation has already taken irreversible corporate action, then the Trustee shall not have the authority to rescind and recast such vote. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Article VII, until the Corporation has received notification that shares of Capital Stock have been transferred into a Trust, the Corporation shall be entitled to rely on its share transfer and other stockholder records for purposes of preparing lists of stockholders entitled to vote at meetings, determining the validity and authority of proxies and otherwise conducting votes of stockholders.

Section 7.3.4 Sale of Shares by Trustee . Within 20 days of receiving notice from the Corporation that shares of Capital Stock have been transferred to the Trust, the Trustee of the Trust shall sell the shares held in the Trust to a person, designated by the Trustee, whose ownership of the shares will not violate the ownership limitations set forth in Section 7.2.1(a) or otherwise adversely affect the Corporation’s ability to qualify as a REIT. Upon such sale, the interest of the Charitable Beneficiary in the shares sold shall terminate and the Trustee shall distribute the net proceeds of the sale to the Prohibited Owner and to the Charitable Beneficiary as provided in this Section 7.3.4. The Prohibited Owner shall receive the lesser of (1) the price paid by the Prohibited Owner for the shares or, if the Prohibited Owner did not give value for the shares in connection with the event causing the shares to be held in the Trust (e.g., in the case of a gift, devise or other such transaction), the Market Price of the shares on the day of the event causing the shares to be held in the Trust and (2) the price per share received by the Trustee from the sale or other disposition of the shares held in the Trust. Any net sales proceeds in excess of the amount payable to the Prohibited Owner shall be immediately paid to the Charitable Beneficiary. If, prior to the discovery by the Corporation that shares of Capital Stock have been transferred to the Trustee, such shares are sold by a Prohibited Owner, then (i) such shares shall be deemed to have been sold on behalf of the Trust and (ii) to the extent that the Prohibited Owner received an amount for such shares that exceeds the amount that such Prohibited Owner was entitled to receive pursuant to this Section 7.3.4, such excess shall be paid to the Trustee upon demand.

Section 7.3.5 Purchase Right in Stock Transferred to the Trustee . Shares of Capital Stock transferred to the Trustee shall be deemed to have been offered for sale to the Corporation, or its designee, at a price per share equal to the lesser of (i) the price per share in the transaction that resulted in such transfer to the Trust (or, in the case of a devise or gift, the Market Price at the time of such devise or gift) and (ii) the Market Price on the date the Corporation, or its designee, accepts such offer. The Corporation shall have the right to accept such offer until the Trustee has sold the shares held in the Trust pursuant to Section 7.3.4. Upon such a sale to the Corporation, the interest of the Charitable Beneficiary in the shares sold shall terminate and the Trustee shall distribute the net proceeds of the sale to the Prohibited Owner.

Section 7.3.6 Designation of Charitable Beneficiaries . By written notice to the Trustee, the Corporation shall designate one or more nonprofit organizations to be the Charitable Beneficiary of the interest in the Trust such that (i) the shares of Capital Stock held in the Trust would not violate the restrictions set forth in Section 7.2.1(a) in the hands of such Charitable Beneficiary and (ii) each such organization must be described in Section 501(c)(3) of the Code and contributions to each such organization must be eligible for deduction under each of Sections 170(b)(1)(A), 2055 and 2522 of the Code.
 
43

Section 7.4  NYSE Transactions . Nothing in this Article VII shall preclude the settlement of any transaction entered into through the facilities of the NYSE or any other national securities exchange or automated inter-dealer quotation system. Subject to the preceding sentence, the fact that the settlement of any transaction is effected shall not negate the effect of any other provision of this Article VII and any transferee in such a transaction shall be subject to all of the provisions and limitations set forth in this Article VII.

Section 7.5  Enforcement . The Corporation is authorized specifically to seek equitable relief, including injunctive relief, to enforce the provisions of this Article VII.

Section 7.6  Non-Waiver . No delay or failure on the part of the Corporation or the Board of Directors in exercising any right hereunder shall operate as a waiver of any right of the Corporation or the Board of Directors, as the case may be, except to the extent specifically waived in writing.

ARTICLE VIII

ERISA RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFER AND OWNERSHIP OF SHARES

Section 8.1  Definitions . For the purpose of this Article VIII, the following terms shall have the following meanings:

Benefit Plan Investor. The term “Benefit Plan Investor” shall mean (i) an employee benefit plan (as defined by Section 3(3) of ERISA), whether or not it is subject to Title I of ERISA; (ii) a plan as described in Section 4975 of the Code; (iii) an entity whose underlying assets include the assets of any plan described in clause (i) or (ii) by reason of the plan’s investment in such entity (including but not limited to an insurance company general account); or (iv) an entity that otherwise constitutes a “benefit plan investor” within the meaning of the Plan Asset Regulation.

Capital Stock. The term “Capital Stock” shall mean all classes or series of stock of the Corporation, including, without limitation, Common Stock and Preferred Stock.

Code. The term “Code” shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time.

Fair Market Value. The term “Fair Market Value” shall mean the fair market value as determined in good faith at the sole discretion of the Chief Executive Officer or the Board of Directors of the Corporation.

Initial Date. The term “Initial Date” shall mean the date upon which the Amended Articles of Incorporation containing this Article VIII are filed with the SDAT.

Plan Asset Regulation. The term “Plan Asset Regulation” shall mean the plan asset regulation promulgated by the Department of Labor under ERISA at 29 C.F.R. 2510.3-101.

Shares-in-Trust. The term “Shares-in-Trust” shall mean shares of Capital Stock automatically transferred to a Trustee of a Trust for the benefit of one or more Charitable Beneficiaries as set forth in Article VII of the Charter.

25% Threshold. The term “25% Threshold” shall mean ownership by Benefit Plan Investors, in the aggregate, of 25 percent or more of the value of any class of equity interest in the Corporation (calculated by excluding the value of any interest held by any person, other than a Benefit Plan Investor, who has discretionary authority or control with respect to the assets of the Corporation or any person who provides investment advice to the Corporation for a fee (direct or indirect) with respect to such assets, or any affiliate of such person).
 
44

Section 8.2  Ownership Limitations . Commencing on the Initial Date and terminating as provided in Section 8.5, no Benefit Plan Investor may acquire shares of Capital Stock without the Corporation’s prior written consent (which consent may be withheld in the Corporation’s sole and absolute discretion). Prior to shares of Capital Stock qualifying as a class of “publicly-offered securities” or the availability of another exception to the “look-through” rule (i.e., the provisions of paragraph (a)(2) of the Plan Asset Regulation), transfers of shares of Capital Stock to Benefit Plan Investors that would increase aggregate Benefit Plan Investor ownership of shares of Capital Stock to a level that would meet or exceed the 25% Threshold will be void ab initio. In addition, in the event that the aggregate number of shares of Capital Stock owned by Benefit Plan Investors, but for the operation of this sentence, would meet or exceed the 25% Threshold, (i) shares of Capital Stock held by Benefit Plan Investors shall be deemed to be Shares-in-Trust, pro rata, to the extent necessary to reduce aggregate Benefit Plan Investor ownership of shares of Capital Stock below the 25% Threshold, (ii) such number of shares of Capital Stock (rounded up, in the case of each holder, to the nearest whole share) shall be transferred automatically and by operation of law to a Trust (as described in Article VII of the Charter) to be held in accordance with this Article VIII and otherwise in accordance with applicable provisions of Article VII of the Charter, provided that any references therein to ownership limitations shall be deemed references to the ownership limitations set forth in this Section 8.2, and (iii) the Benefit Plan Investors previously owning such Shares-in-Trust shall submit such number of shares of Capital Stock for registration in the name of the Trust. Such transfer to a Trust and the designation of shares of Capital Stock as Shares-in-Trust shall be effective as of the close of business on the business day prior to the date of the event that otherwise would have caused aggregate Benefit Plan Investor ownership of shares of Capital Stock to meet or exceed the 25% Threshold.

Section 8.3  Transfers to Non-Benefit Plan Investors . During the period prior to the discovery of the existence of the Trust, any transfer of shares of Capital Stock by a Benefit Plan Investor to a non-Benefit Plan Investor shall reduce the number of Shares-in-Trust on a one-for-one basis, and to that extent such shares shall cease to be designated as Shares-in-Trust and shall be returned, effective at exactly the time of the transfer to the non-Benefit Plan Investor, automatically and without further action by the Corporation or the Benefit Plan Investor, to all Benefit Plan Investors (or the transferee, if applicable), pro rata, in accordance with the Benefit Plan Investors’ prior holdings. After the discovery of the existence of the Trust, but prior to the redemption of all discovered Shares-in-Trust and/or the submission of all discovered Shares-in-Trust for registration in the name of the Trust, any transfer of shares of Capital Stock by a Benefit Plan Investor to a non-Benefit Plan Investor shall reduce the number of Shares-in-Trust on a one-for-one basis, and to that extent such shares shall cease to be designated as Shares-in-Trust and shall be returned, automatically and without further action by the Corporation or the Benefit Plan Investor, to the transferring Benefit Plan Investor (or its transferee, if applicable).

Section 8.4  Corporation’s Right to Redeem Shares-in-Trust . In the event that any shares of Capital Stock are deemed “Shares-in-Trust” pursuant to this Article VIII, the holder shall cease to own any right or interest with respect to such shares and the Corporation will have the right to redeem such Shares-in-Trust for an amount equal to their Fair Market Value, which proceeds shall be payable to the purported owner.

Section 8.5  Termination . This Article VIII shall cease to apply and all Shares-in-Trust shall cease to be designated as Shares-in-Trust and shall be returned, automatically and by operation of law, to their purported owners, all of which shall occur at such time as shares of Capital Stock qualify as a class of “publicly-offered securities” or if another exception to the “look-through” rule under the Plan Asset Regulation applies.
 
45

ARTICLE IX

AMENDMENTS

The Corporation reserves the right from time to time to make any amendment to the Charter, now or hereafter authorized by law, including any amendment altering the terms or contract rights, as expressly set forth in the Charter, of any shares of outstanding stock. All rights and powers conferred by the Charter on stockholders, directors and officers are granted subject to this reservation.

ARTICLE X

LIMITATION OF LIABILITY

To the maximum extent that Maryland law in effect from time to time permits limitation of the liability of directors and officers of a corporation, no director or officer of the Corporation shall be liable to the Corporation or its stockholders for money damages. Neither the amendment nor repeal of this Article X, nor the adoption or amendment of any other provision of the Charter or the Bylaws inconsistent with this Article X, shall apply to or affect in any respect the applicability of the preceding sentence with respect to any act or failure to act which occurred prior to such amendment, repeal or adoption.

THIRD: The foregoing restatement of the charter has been duly approved by a majority of the entire Board of Directors of the Corporation as required by law.

FOURTH: The charter is not amended by these Articles of Restatement.

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

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

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

EIGHTH: These Articles of Restatement shall become effective at 12:02 a.m., local time, on December 28, 2016.

NINTH: The undersigned Chief Executive Officer and President acknowledges these Articles of Restatement to be the corporate act of the Corporation and as to all matters or facts required to be verified under oath, the undersigned Chief Executive Officer and President acknowledges that to the best of her 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.
 
46

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Corporation has caused these Articles of Restatement to be signed in its name and on its behalf by its Chief Executive Officer and President and attested to by its Chief Financial Officer on this ____ day of December, 2016.
 
ATTEST:
DRIVE SHACK INC.
   
 
(SEAL)
 
 
47


Exhibit 3.3
 
ARTICLES SUPPLEMENTARY OF SERIES E
JUNIOR PARTICIPATING PREFERRED STOCK

OF

NEWCASTLE INVESTMENT CORP.

ARTICLES SUPPLEMENTARY

Newcastle Investment Corp., a corporation organized and existing under the General Corporation Law of the State of Maryland (the “ Corporation ”), hereby certifies to the State Department of Assessments and Taxation of Maryland that:

FIRST: Under a power contained in Article VI of the charter of the Corporation (the “ Charter ”), the Board of Directors of the Corporation (the “ Board of Directors ”), by resolution duly adopted at a meeting duly called held on December 7, 2016, classified and designated one million (1,000,000) shares (the “ Shares ”) of authorized but unissued Preferred Stock (as defined in the Charter) as shares of Series E Junior Participating Preferred Stock, with the preferences, conversion and other rights, voting powers, restrictions, limitations as to dividends and other distributions, qualifications and terms and conditions of redemption as set forth below.

SERIES E JUNIOR PARTICIPATING PREFERRED STOCK

Section 1.            Designation and Amount .  The shares of such series shall be designated as “Series E Junior Participating Preferred Stock” (the “ Series E Preferred Stock ”) and the number of shares constituting such series shall be one million (1,000,000). Such number of shares may be increased or decreased by resolution of the Board of Directors; provided , that no decrease shall reduce the number of shares of Series E Preferred Stock to a number less than the number of shares then outstanding plus the number of shares reserved for issuance upon the exercise of outstanding options, rights or warrants or upon the exercise of any options, rights or warrants issuable upon conversion of any outstanding securities issued by the Corporation convertible into Series E Preferred Stock.

Section 2.            Dividends and Distributions .

(A)            Subject to the prior and superior rights of the holders of any shares of any series of Preferred Stock (or any similar stock) ranking prior and superior to the shares of Series E Preferred Stock with respect to dividends, the holders of shares of Series E Preferred Stock, in preference to the holders of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Corporation (“ Common Stock ”), and of any other junior stock, shall be entitled to receive, when, as and if declared by the Board of Directors out of funds legally available for the purpose, quarterly dividends payable in cash on the 1 st March, June, September and December in each year (each such date being referred to herein as a “ Quarterly Dividend Payment Date ”), commencing on the first Quarterly Dividend Payment Date after the first issuance of a share or fraction of a share of Series E Preferred Stock, in an amount per share (rounded to the nearest cent) equal to the greater of (a) $1.00 or (b) subject to the provision for adjustment hereinafter set forth, 1,000 times the aggregate per share amount of all cash dividends, and 1,000 times the aggregate per share amount (payable in kind) of all non-cash dividends or other distributions other than a dividend payable in shares of Common Stock or a subdivision of the outstanding shares of Common Stock (by reclassification or otherwise), declared on the Common Stock since the immediately preceding Quarterly Dividend Payment Date, or, with respect to the first Quarterly Dividend Payment Date, since the first issuance of any share or fraction of a share of Series E Preferred Stock. In the event the Corporation shall at any time after December 20, 2016 (the “ Rights Record Date ”) (i) declare any dividend on Common Stock payable in shares of Common Stock, (ii) subdivide the outstanding Common Stock, or (iii) combine or consolidate the outstanding shares of Common Stock into a smaller number of shares through a reverse stock split or otherwise, then in each such case the amount to which holders of shares of Series E Preferred Stock were entitled immediately prior to such event under clause (b) of the preceding sentence shall be adjusted by multiplying such amount by a fraction the numerator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately after such event and the denominator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock that were outstanding immediately prior to such event.
 

(B)            The Corporation shall declare a dividend or distribution on the Series E Preferred Stock as provided in Paragraph (A) above immediately after it declares a dividend or distribution on the Common Stock (other than a dividend payable in shares of Common Stock); provided that, in the event no dividend or distribution shall have been declared on the Common Stock during the period between any Quarterly Dividend Payment Date and the next subsequent Quarterly Dividend Payment Date, a dividend of $1.00 per share on the Series E Preferred Stock shall nevertheless be payable on such subsequent Quarterly Dividend Payment Date.

(C)             Dividends, to the extent payable as provide in paragraphs (A) and (B) of this Section, shall begin to accrue and be cumulative on outstanding shares of Series E Preferred Stock from the Quarterly Dividend Payment Date next preceding the date of issue of such shares of Series E Preferred Stock, unless the date of issue of such shares is prior to the record date for the first Quarterly Dividend Payment Date, in which case dividends on such shares shall begin to accrue from the date of issue of such shares, or unless the date of issue is a Quarterly Dividend Payment Date or is a date after the record date for the determination of holders of shares of Series E Preferred Stock entitled to receive a quarterly dividend and before such Quarterly Dividend Payment Date, in either of which events such dividends shall begin to accrue and be cumulative from such Quarterly Dividend Payment Date. Accrued but unpaid dividends shall not bear interest. Dividends paid on the shares of Series E Preferred Stock in an amount less than the total amount of such dividends at the time accrued and payable on such shares shall be allocated pro rata on a share-by-share basis among all such shares at the time outstanding. The Board of Directors may fix a record date for the determination of holders of shares of Series E Preferred Stock entitled to receive payment of a dividend or distribution declared thereon, which record date shall be no more than thirty (30) days prior to the date fixed for the payment thereof.
 
2

Section 3.            Voting Rights .  The holders of shares of Series E Preferred Stock shall have the following voting rights:

(A)            Subject to the provision for adjustment hereinafter set forth, each share of Series E Preferred Stock shall entitle the holder thereof to 1,000 votes on all matters submitted to a vote of the stockholders of the Corporation. In the event the Corporation shall at any time after the Rights Record Date (i) declare or pay any dividend on Common Stock payable in shares of Common Stock, (ii) subdivide the outstanding Common Stock, or (iii) combine or consolidate the outstanding shares of Common Stock into a smaller number of shares through a reverse stock split or otherwise, then in each such case the number of votes per share to which holders of shares of Series E Preferred Stock were entitled immediately prior to such event shall be adjusted by multiplying such number by a fraction the numerator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately after such event and the denominator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock that were outstanding immediately prior to such event.

(B)             Except as otherwise provided herein, in any other Articles Supplementary creating a series of Preferred Stock (or any similar stock), or by law, the holders of shares of Series E Preferred Stock and the holders of shares of Common Stock shall vote together as one class on all matters submitted to a vote of stockholders of the Corporation.

(C)

(i)         If at any time dividends on any Series E Preferred Stock shall be in arrears in an amount equal to six (6) quarterly dividends thereon, the occurrence of such contingency shall mark the beginning of a period (herein called a “default period”) which shall extend until such time when all accrued and unpaid dividends for all previous quarterly dividend periods and for the current quarterly dividend period on all shares of Series E Preferred Stock then outstanding shall have been authorized and declared and paid or set apart for payment. During each default period, all holders of Preferred Stock (including holders of the Series E Preferred Stock) with dividends in arrears in an amount equal to six (6) quarterly dividends thereon, voting as a class, irrespective of series, shall have the right to elect two (2) directors.

(ii)        During any default period, such voting right of the holders of Series E Preferred Stock may be exercised initially at a special meeting called pursuant to subparagraph (iii) of this Section 3(C) or at any annual meeting of stockholders, and thereafter at annual meetings of stockholders, provided that neither such voting right nor the right of the holders of any other series of Preferred Stock, if any, to increase, in certain cases, the authorized number of directors shall not be exercised unless the holders of ten percent (10%) in number of shares of Preferred Stock outstanding shall be present in person or by proxy. The absence of a quorum of the holders of Common Stock shall not affect the exercise by the holders of Preferred Stock of such voting right. At any meeting at which the holders of Preferred Stock shall exercise such voting right initially during an existing default period, they shall have the right, voting as a class, to elect directors to fill such vacancies, if any, in the Board of Directors as may then exist up to two (2) directors or, if such right is exercised at an annual meeting, to elect two (2) directors. If the number that may be so elected at any special meeting does not amount to the required number, the holders of the Preferred Stock shall have the right to make such increase in the number of directors as shall be necessary to permit the election by them of the required number. After the holders of the Preferred Stock shall have exercised their right to elect directors in any default period and during the continuance of such period, the number of directors shall not be increased or decreased except by vote of the holders of Preferred Stock as herein provided or pursuant to the rights of any equity securities ranking senior to or pari passu with the Series E Preferred Stock.
 
3

(iii)       Unless the holders of Preferred Stock shall, during an existing default period, have previously exercised their right to elect directors, the Board of Directors may order, or any stockholder or stockholders owning in the aggregate not less than ten percent (10%) of the total number of shares of Preferred Stock outstanding, irrespective of series, may request, the calling of a special meeting of the holders of Preferred Stock, which meeting shall thereupon be called by the President, a Vice President or the Secretary of the Corporation. Notice of such meeting and of any annual meeting at which holders of Preferred Stock are entitled to vote pursuant to this Paragraph (C)(iii) shall be given to each holder of record of Preferred Stock by mailing a copy of such notice to him at his last address as the same appears on the books of the Corporation. Such meeting shall be called for a time not earlier than twenty (20) days and not later than sixty (60) days after such order or request or in default of the calling of such meeting within sixty (60) days after such order or request, such meeting may be called on similar notice by any stockholder or stockholders owning in the aggregate not less than ten percent (10%) of the total number of shares of Preferred Stock outstanding.  Notwithstanding the provisions of this Paragraph (C)(iii), no such special meeting shall be called during the period within sixty (60) days immediately preceding the date or the first day of the period, as the case may be, fixed by the bylaws of the Corporation (the “ Bylaws ”) for the next annual meeting of the stockholders.

(iv)       In any default period, the holders of Common Stock, and other classes of stock of the Corporation if applicable, shall continue to be entitled to elect the whole number of directors until the holders of Preferred Stock shall have exercised their right to elect two (2) directors voting as a class, after the exercise of which right (x) the directors so elected by the holders of Preferred Stock shall continue in office until their successors shall have been elected by such holders or until the expiration of the default period, whichever happens first, and (y) any vacancy in the Board of Directors may (except as provided in Paragraph (C)(ii) of this Section 3) be filled by vote of a majority of the remaining directors theretofore elected by the holders of the class of stock that elected the director whose office shall have become vacant. References in this Paragraph (C) to directors elected by the holders of a particular class of stock shall include directors elected by such directors to fill vacancies as provided in clause (y) of the foregoing sentence.
 
4

(v)        Immediately upon the expiration of a default period, (x) the right of the holders of Preferred Stock as a class to elect directors shall cease, (y) the term of any directors elected by the holders of Preferred Stock as a class shall terminate, and (z) the number of directors shall be such number as may be provided for in the Charter or Bylaws irrespective of any increase made pursuant to the provisions of Paragraph (C)(ii) of this Section 3 (such number being subject, however, to change thereafter in any manner provided by law or in the Charter or Bylaws). Any vacancies in the Board of Directors effected by the provisions of clauses (y) and (z) in the preceding sentence may be filled by a majority of the remaining directors.

(D)            Except as set forth herein, or as otherwise provided by law, holders of Series E Preferred Stock shall have no special voting rights and their consent shall not be required (except to the extent they are entitled to vote with holders of Common Stock as set forth herein) for authorizing or taking any corporate action.

Section 4.            Certain Restrictions .

(A)            Whenever quarterly dividends or other dividends or distributions payable on the Series E Preferred Stock as provided in Section 2 are in arrears, thereafter and until all accrued and unpaid dividends and distributions, whether or not declared, on shares of Series E Preferred Stock outstanding shall have been paid in full, the Corporation shall not:

(i)        declare or pay dividends on, make any other distributions on, or redeem or purchase or otherwise acquire for consideration any shares of stock ranking junior (either as to dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up) to the Series E Preferred Stock;

(ii)        declare or pay dividends on or make any other distributions on any shares of stock ranking on a parity (either as to dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up) with the Series E Preferred Stock, except dividends paid ratably on the Series E Preferred Stock and all such parity stock on which dividends are payable or in arrears in proportion to the total amounts to which the holders of all such shares are then entitled;

(iii)       redeem or purchase or otherwise acquire for consideration shares of any stock ranking junior (either as to dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up) with the Series E Preferred Stock, provided that the Corporation may at any time redeem, purchase or otherwise acquire shares of any such junior stock in exchange for shares of any stock of the Corporation ranking junior (either as to dividends or upon dissolution, liquidation or winding up) to the Series E Preferred Stock; or
 
5

(iv)       redeem or purchase or otherwise acquire for consideration any shares of Series E Preferred Stock, or any shares of stock ranking on a parity with the Series E Preferred Stock, except in accordance with a purchase offer made in writing or by publication (as determined by the Board of Directors) to all holders of such shares upon such terms as the Board of Directors, after consideration of the respective annual dividend rates and other relative rights and preferences of the respective series and classes, shall determine in good faith will result in fair and equitable treatment among the respective series or classes.

(B)            The Corporation shall not permit any subsidiary of the Corporation to purchase or otherwise acquire for consideration any shares of stock of the Corporation unless the Corporation could, under Paragraph (A) of this Section 4, purchase or otherwise acquire such shares at such time and in such manner.

Section 5.            Reacquired Shares .  Any shares of Series E Preferred Stock purchased or otherwise acquired by the Corporation in any manner whatsoever shall be retired and cancelled promptly after the acquisition thereof. All such shares shall upon their cancellation become authorized but unissued shares of Preferred Stock and may be reissued as part of a new series of Preferred Stock to be created by resolution or resolutions of the Board of Directors, subject to the conditions and restrictions on issuance set forth herein, in the Charter, or in any other Articles Supplementary creating a series of Preferred Stock (or any similar stock) or as otherwise required by law.

Section 6.            Liquidation, Dissolution or Winding Up .

(A)            Upon any liquidation (voluntary or otherwise), dissolution or winding up of the Corporation, no distribution shall be made to the holders of shares of stock ranking junior (either as to dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up) to the Series E Preferred Stock unless, prior thereto, the holders of shares of Series E Preferred Stock shall have received an amount equal to $1,000 per share of Series E Preferred Stock, plus an amount equal to accrued and unpaid dividends and distributions thereon, whether or not declared, to the date of such payment (the “ Series E Liquidation Preference ”).  Following the payment of the full amount of the Series E Liquidation Preference, no additional distributions shall be made to the holders of shares of Series E Preferred Stock unless, prior thereto, the holders of shares of Common Stock shall have received an amount per share (the “ Common Adjustment ”) equal to the quotient obtained by dividing (i) the Series E Liquidation Preference by (ii) 1,000 (as appropriately adjusted as set forth in subparagraph (C) below to reflect such events as stock splits, stock dividends and recapitalizations with respect to the Common Stock) (such number in clause (ii), the “ Adjustment Number ”).  Following the payment of the full amount of the Series E Liquidation Preference and the Common Adjustment in respect of all outstanding shares of Series E Preferred Stock and Common Stock, respectively, holders of Series E Preferred Stock and holders of shares of Common Stock shall receive their ratable and proportionate share of the remaining assets to be distributed in the ratio of the Adjustment Number to 1 with respect to such Preferred Stock and Common Stock, on a per share basis, respectively.  The merger or consolidation of the Corporation, regardless of whether the Corporation is the surviving entity in such merger or consolidation, shall not be deemed to be the liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation.
 
6

(B)            In the event, however, that there are not sufficient assets available to permit payment in full of the Series E Liquidation Preference and the liquidation preferences of all other series of preferred stock, if any, which rank on a parity with the Series E Preferred Stock, then such remaining assets shall be distributed ratably to the holders of such parity shares in proportion to their respective liquidation preferences.  In the event, however, that there are not sufficient assets available to permit payment in full of the Common Adjustment, then such remaining assets shall be distributed ratably to the holders of Common Stock.

(C)            In the event the Corporation shall at any time after the Rights Record Date (i) declare any dividend on Common Stock payable in shares of Common Stock, (ii) subdivide the outstanding Common Stock, or (iii) combine or consolidate the outstanding shares of Common Stock into a smaller number of shares through a reverse stock split or otherwise, then in each such case the Adjustment Number in effect immediately prior to such event shall be adjusted by multiplying such Adjustment Number by a fraction the numerator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately after such event and the denominator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock that were outstanding immediately prior to such event.

Section 7.            Consolidation, Merger, etc .  If the Corporation shall enter into any consolidation, merger, share exchange, combination or other transaction in which the shares of Common Stock are exchanged for or changed into other stock or securities, cash and/or any other property, then in any such case each share of Series E Preferred Stock shall at the same time be similarly exchanged or changed into an amount per share (subject to the provision for adjustment hereinafter set forth) equal to 1,000 times the aggregate amount of stock, securities, cash and/or any other property (payable in kind), as the case may be, into which or for which each share of Common Stock is changed or exchanged. In the event the Corporation shall at any time after the Rights Record Date (i) declare or pay any dividend on Common Stock payable in shares of Common Stock, (ii) subdivide the outstanding Common Stock, or (iii) combine or consolidate the outstanding shares of Common Stock into a smaller number of shares through a reverse stock split or otherwise, then in each such case the amount set forth in the preceding sentence with respect to the exchange or change of shares of Series E Preferred Stock shall be adjusted by multiplying such amount by a fraction the numerator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately after such event and the denominator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock that were outstanding immediately prior to such event.

Section 8.            No Redemption .  The shares of Series E Preferred Stock shall not be redeemable.

Section 9.            Ranking .
 
7

(A)            The Series E Preferred Stock shall rank junior to all other series of the Corporation’s Preferred Stock as to the payment of dividends and the distribution of assets, unless the terms of any such series shall provide otherwise.

(B)            The liquidation preference of the outstanding shares of Series E Preferred Stock will not be added to the liabilities of the Corporation for the purpose of determining whether under the Maryland General Corporation Law a distribution may be made to stockholders of the Corporation whose preferential rights upon dissolution of the Corporation are junior to those of holders of Series E Preferred Stock.

Section 10.          Amendment .  At any time when any shares of Series E Preferred Stock are outstanding, neither the Charter nor these Articles Supplementary shall be amended in any manner which would materially alter or change the powers, preferences or special rights of the Series E Preferred Stock so as to affect them adversely without the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of Series E Preferred Stock, voting separately as a class; provided that none of (i) the creation or issuance of (A) additional shares of Series E Preferred Stock or (B) shares of any class or series of Preferred Stock ranking junior to or on parity with the Series E Preferred Stock as to the payment of dividends and the distribution of assets, (ii) a merger or consolidation in which the Corporation is the surviving entity and the Series E Preferred Stock remains outstanding with no material adverse change in its powers, preferences and special rights, or (iii) a merger or consolidation in which the Corporation is not the surviving entity and the holders of the Series E Preferred Stock receive in exchange therefor a substantially identical security of the surviving entity, shall be considered to materially adversely alter or change the powers, preferences or special powers of the Series E Preferred Stock.

Section 11.          Fractional Shares .  Series E Preferred Stock may be issued in fractions of a share that shall entitle the holder, in proportion to such holder's fractional shares, to exercise voting rights, receive dividends, participate in distributions and to have the benefit of all other rights of holders of Series E Preferred Stock.

SECOND: The Shares have been classified and designated by the Board of Directors under authority contained in the Charter.

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

FOURTH: The undersigned Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation acknowledges these Articles Supplementary to be the corporate act of the Corporation and, as to all matters or facts required to be verified under oath, the undersigned Chief Executive Officer acknowledges that to the best of her 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.
 
8

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Corporation has caused these Articles Supplementary to be executed under seal in its name and on its behalf by its ___________ and witnessed by its ___________ and attested to by its Secretary on this ___________ day of ______________, 2016.

ATTEST:
NEWCASTLE INVESTMENT CORP.
   
By:
     
By:
  (SEAL)
Name:
 
Name:
 
Title:
 
Title:
 
 
 
9


Exhibit 3.4
 
DRIVE SHACK INC.

AMENDED AND RESTATED BYLAWS

(Effective as of December 28, 2016)

ARTICLE I

OFFICES

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

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

ARTICLE II

MEETINGS OF STOCKHOLDERS

Section 1.  PLACE . All meetings of stockholders shall be held at the principal executive office of the Corporation or at such other place as shall be set by the Board of Directors and stated in the notice of the meeting.

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

Section 3.  SPECIAL MEETINGS .
 
(a)  General. The chairman of the board, president, chief executive officer or Board of Directors may call a special meeting of the stockholders. Subject to subsection (b) of this Section 3, a special meeting of stockholders shall also be called by the secretary of the Corporation upon the written request of the stockholders entitled to cast not less than a majority of all the votes entitled to be cast at such meeting.

(b)  Stockholder Requested Special Meetings. (1)  Any stockholder of record seeking to have stockholders request a special meeting shall, by sending written notice to the secretary (the "Record Date Request Notice") by registered mail, return receipt requested, request the Board of Directors to fix a record date to determine the stockholders entitled to request a special meeting (the "Request Record Date"). The Record Date Request Notice shall set forth the purpose of the meeting and the matters proposed to be acted on at it, shall be signed by one or more stockholders of record as of the date of signature (or their duly authorized agents), shall bear the date of signature of each such stockholder (or other agent) and shall set forth all information relating to each such stockholder that must be disclosed in solicitations of proxies for election of directors in an election contest (even if an election contest is not involved), or is otherwise required, in each case pursuant to Regulation 14A under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), and Rule 14a-11 thereunder. Upon receiving the Record Date Request Notice, the Board of Directors may fix a Request Record Date. The Request Record Date shall not precede and shall not be more than ten days after the close of business on the date on which the resolution fixing the Request Record Date is adopted by the Board of Directors. If the Board of Directors, within ten days after the date on which a valid Record Date Request Notice is received, fails to adopt a resolution fixing the Request Record Date and make a public announcement of such Request Record Date, the Request Record Date shall be the close of business on the tenth day after the first date on which the Record Date Request Notice is received by the secretary.
 

(2)  In order for any stockholder to request a special meeting, one or more written requests for a special meeting signed by stockholders of record (or their duly authorized agents) as of the Request Record Date entitled to cast not less than a majority (the "Special Meeting Percentage") of all of the votes entitled to be cast at such meeting (the "Special Meeting Request") shall be delivered to the secretary. In addition, the Special Meeting Request shall set forth the purpose of the meeting and the matters proposed to be acted on at it (which shall be limited to the matters set forth in the Record Date Request Notice received by the secretary), shall bear the date of signature of each such stockholder (or other agent) signing the Special Meeting Request, shall set forth the name and address, as they appear in the Corporation's books, of each stockholder signing such request (or on whose behalf the Special Meeting Request is signed) and the class and number of shares of stock of the Corporation which are owned of record and beneficially by each such stockholder, shall be sent to the secretary by registered mail, return receipt requested, and shall be received by the secretary within 60 days after the Request Record Date. Any requesting stockholder may revoke his, her or its request for a special meeting at any time by written revocation delivered to the secretary.

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

(4)  Except as provided in the next sentence, any special meeting shall be held at such place, date and time as may be designated by the chairman of the Board of Directors, the president, the chief executive officer or the Board of Directors, whoever has called the meeting. In the case of any special meeting called by the secretary upon the request of stockholders (a "Stockholder Requested Meeting"), such meeting shall be held at such place, date and time as may be designated by the Board of Directors; provided, however, that the date of any Stockholder Requested Meeting shall be not more than 90 days after the record date for such meeting (the "Meeting Record Date"); and provided further that if the Board of Directors fails to designate, within ten days after the date that a valid Special Meeting Request is actually received by the secretary (the "Delivery Date"), a date and time for a Stockholder Requested Meeting, then such meeting shall be held at 2:00 p.m. local time on the 90th day after the Meeting Record Date or, if such 90th day is not a Business Day (as defined below), on the first preceding Business Day; and provided further that in the event that the Board of Directors fails to designate a place for a Stockholder Requested Meeting within ten days after the Delivery Date, then such meeting shall be held at the principal executive offices of the Corporation. In fixing a date for any special meeting, the president, chief executive officer or Board of Directors may consider such factors as he, she or it deems relevant within the good faith exercise of business judgment, including, without limitation, the nature of the matters to be considered, the facts and circumstances surrounding any request for meeting and any plan of the Board of Directors to call an annual meeting or a special meeting. In the case of any Stockholder Requested Meeting, if the Board of Directors fails to fix a Meeting Record Date that is a date within 30 days after the Delivery Date, then the close of business on the 30th day after the Delivery Date shall be the Meeting Record Date.
 
2

(5)  If at any time as a result of written revocations of requests for the special meeting, stockholders of record (or their duly authorized agents) as of the Request Record Date entitled to cast less than the Special Meeting Percentage shall have delivered and not revoked requests for a special meeting, the secretary may refrain from mailing the notice of the meeting or, if the notice of the meeting has been mailed, the secretary may revoke the notice of the meeting at any time before ten days before the meeting if the secretary has first sent to all other requesting stockholders written notice of such revocation and of intention to revoke the notice of the meeting. Any request for a special meeting received after a revocation by the secretary of a notice of a meeting shall be considered a request for a new special meeting.

(6)  The chairman of the Board of Directors, the president, the chief executive officer or the Board of Directors may appoint regionally or nationally recognized independent inspectors of elections to act as the agent of the Corporation for the purpose of promptly performing a ministerial review of the validity of any purported Special Meeting Request received by the secretary. For the purpose of permitting the inspectors to perform such review, no such purported request shall be deemed to have been delivered to the secretary until the earlier of (i) ten Business Days after receipt by the secretary of such purported request and (ii) such date as the independent inspectors certify to the Corporation that the valid requests received by the secretary represent at least a majority of the issued and outstanding shares of stock that would be entitled to vote at such meeting. Nothing contained in this paragraph (6) shall in any way be construed to suggest or imply that the Corporation or any stockholder shall not be entitled to contest the validity of any request, whether during or after such ten-Business Day period, or to take any other action (including, without limitation, the commencement, prosecution or defense of any litigation with respect thereto, and the seeking of injunctive relief in such litigation).

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

Section 4.  NOTICE . Not less than ten nor more than 90 days before each meeting of stockholders, the secretary shall give to each stockholder entitled to vote at such meeting and to each stockholder not entitled to vote who is entitled to notice of the meeting written or printed notice stating the time and place of the meeting and, in the case of a special meeting or as otherwise may be required by any statute, the purpose for which the meeting is called, either by mail, by presenting it to such stockholder personally, by leaving it at the stockholder's residence or usual place of business or by any other means permitted by Maryland law. If mailed, such notice shall be deemed to be given when deposited in the United States mail addressed to the stockholder at the stockholder's address as it appears on the records of the Corporation, with postage thereon prepaid.
 
3

Any business of the Corporation may be transacted at an annual meeting of stockholders without being specifically designated in the notice, except such business as is required by any statute to be stated in such notice. No business shall be transacted at a special meeting of stockholders except as specifically designated in the notice.

Section 5.   ORGANIZATION AND CONDUCT . Every meeting of stockholders shall be conducted by an individual appointed by the Board of Directors to be chairman of the meeting or, in the absence of such appointment, by the chairman of the board or, in the case of a vacancy in the office or absence of the chairman of the board, by one of the following officers present at the meeting: the vice chairman of the board, if there be one, the president, the vice presidents in their order of rank and seniority, or, in the absence of such officers, a chairman chosen by the stockholders by the vote of a majority of the votes cast by stockholders present in person or by proxy. The secretary, or, in the secretary's absence, an assistant secretary, or in the absence of both the secretary and assistant secretaries, a person appointed by the Board of Directors or, in the absence of such appointment, a person appointed by the chairman of the meeting shall act as secretary. In the event that the secretary presides at a meeting of the stockholders, an assistant secretary shall record the minutes of the meeting. The order of business and all other matters of procedure at any meeting of stockholders shall be determined by the chairman of the meeting. The chairman of the meeting may prescribe such rules, regulations and procedures and take such action as, in the discretion of such chairman, are appropriate for the proper conduct of the meeting, including, without limitation, (a) restricting admission to the time set for the commencement of the meeting; (b) limiting attendance at the meeting to stockholders of record of the Corporation, their duly authorized proxies or other such persons as the chairman of the meeting may determine; (c) limiting participation at the meeting on any matter to stockholders of record of the Corporation entitled to vote on such matter, their duly authorized proxies or other such persons as the chairman of the meeting may determine; (d) limiting the time allotted to questions or comments by participants; (e) maintaining order and security at the meeting; (f) removing any stockholder or any other person who refuses to comply with meeting procedures, rules or guidelines as set forth by the chairman of the meeting; and (g) recessing or adjourning the meeting to a later date and time and place announced at the meeting. Unless otherwise determined by the chairman of the meeting, meetings of stockholders shall not be required to be held in accordance with the rules of parliamentary procedure.

Section 6.  QUORUM . At any meeting of stockholders, the presence in person or by proxy of stockholders entitled to cast a majority of all the votes entitled to be cast at such meeting shall constitute a quorum; but this section shall not affect any requirement under any statute or the charter of the Corporation for the vote necessary for the adoption of any measure. If, however, such quorum shall not be present at any meeting of the stockholders, the chairman of the meeting or the stockholders entitled to vote at such meeting, present in person or by proxy, shall have the power to adjourn the meeting from time to time to a date not more than 120 days after the original record date without notice other than announcement at the meeting. At such adjourned meeting at which a quorum shall be present, any business may be transacted which might have been transacted at the meeting as originally notified.
 
4

The stockholders present either in person or by proxy, at a meeting which has been duly called and convened, may continue to transact business until adjournment, notwithstanding the withdrawal of enough stockholders to leave less than a quorum.

Section 7.  VOTING . A plurality of all the votes cast at a meeting of stockholders duly called and at which a quorum is present shall be sufficient to elect a director. Each share may be voted for as many individuals as there are directors to be elected and for whose election the share is entitled to be voted. A majority of the votes cast at a meeting of stockholders duly called and at which a quorum is present shall be sufficient to approve any other matter which may properly come before the meeting, unless more than a majority of the votes cast is required by statute or by the charter of the Corporation. Unless otherwise provided in the charter, each outstanding share, regardless of class, shall be entitled to one vote on each matter submitted to a vote at a meeting of stockholders.

Section 8.  PROXIES . A stockholder may cast the votes entitled to be cast by the shares of stock owned of record by the stockholder in person or by proxy executed by the stockholder or by the stockholder's duly authorized agent in any manner permitted by law. Such proxy or evidence of authorization of such proxy shall be filed with the secretary of the Corporation before or at the meeting. No proxy shall be valid more than eleven months after its date unless otherwise provided in the proxy.

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

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

The Board of Directors may adopt by resolution a procedure by which a stockholder may certify in writing to the Corporation that any shares of stock registered in the name of the stockholder are held for the account of a specified person other than the stockholder. The resolution shall set forth the class of stockholders who may make the certification, the purpose for which the certification may be made, the form of certification and the information to be contained in it; if the certification is with respect to a record date or closing of the stock transfer books, the time after the record date or closing of the stock transfer books within which the certification must be received by the Corporation; and any other provisions with respect to the procedure which the Board of Directors considers necessary or desirable. On receipt of such certification, the person specified in the certification shall be regarded as, for the purposes set forth in the certification, the stockholder of record of the specified stock in place of the stockholder who makes the certification.
 
5

Section 10.  INSPECTORS . The Board of Directors, in advance of any meeting, may, but need not, appoint one or more individual inspectors or one or more entities that designate individuals as inspectors to act at the meeting or any adjournment thereof. If an inspector or inspectors are not appointed, the person presiding at the meeting may, but need not, appoint one or more inspectors. In case any person who may be appointed as an inspector fails to appear or act, the vacancy may be filled by appointment made by the Board of Directors in advance of the meeting or at the meeting by the chairman of the meeting. The inspectors, if any, shall determine the number of shares outstanding and the voting power of each, the shares represented at the meeting, the existence of a quorum, the validity and effect of proxies, and shall receive votes, ballots or consents, hear and determine all challenges and questions arising in connection with the right to vote, count and tabulate all votes, ballots or consents, and determine the result, and do such acts as are proper to conduct the election or vote with fairness to all stockholders. Each such report shall be in writing and signed by him or her or by a majority of them if there is more than one inspector acting at such meeting. If there is more than one inspector, the report of a majority shall be the report of the inspectors. The report of the inspector or inspectors on the number of shares represented at the meeting and the results of the voting shall be prima facie evidence thereof.

Section 11.  ADVANCE NOTICE OF STOCKHOLDER NOMINEES FOR DIRECTOR AND OTHER STOCKHOLDER PROPOSALS .
 
(a)  Annual Meetings of Stockholders. (1)   Nominations of persons for election to the Board of Directors and the proposal of business to be considered by the stockholders may be made at an annual meeting of stockholders (i) pursuant to the Corporation's notice of meeting, (ii) by or at the direction of the Board of Directors or (iii) by any stockholder of the Corporation who was a stockholder of record both at the time of giving of notice provided for in this Section 11(a) and at the time of the annual meeting, who is entitled to vote at the meeting and who complied with the notice procedures set forth in this Section 11(a).
 
6

(2)  For nominations or other business to be properly brought before an annual meeting by a stockholder pursuant to clause (iii) of paragraph (a)(1) of this Section 11, the stockholder must have given timely notice thereof in writing to the Secretary of the Corporation and such other business must otherwise be a proper matter for action by the stockholders. To be timely, a stockholder's notice shall be delivered to the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not less than 90 days nor more than 120 days prior to the first anniversary of the date of mailing of the notice for the preceding year's annual meeting; provided, however, that in the event that the date of the mailing of the notice for the annual meeting is advanced or delayed by more than 30 days from the first anniversary of the date of mailing of the notice for the preceding year's annual meeting, notice by the stockholder to be timely must be so delivered not earlier than the 120th day prior to the date of mailing of the notice for such annual meeting and not later than the close of business on the later of the 90th day prior to the date of mailing of the notice for such annual meeting or the tenth day following the day on which disclosure of the date of mailing of the notice for such meeting is first made. In no event shall the public announcement of a postponement or adjournment of an annual meeting commence a new time period for the giving of a stockholder's notice as described above. Such stockholder's notice shall set forth (i) as to each person whom the stockholder proposes to nominate for election or reelection as a director, (A) the name, age, business address and residence address of such person, (B) the class and number of shares of stock of the Corporation that are beneficially owned by such person and (C) all other information relating to such person that is required to be disclosed in solicitations of proxies for election of directors in an election contest (even if an election contest is not involved), or is otherwise required, in each case pursuant to Regulation 14A (or any successor provision) under the Exchange Act and the rules thereunder (including such person's written consent to being named in the proxy statement as a nominee and to serving as a director if elected); (ii) as to any other business that the stockholder proposes to bring before the meeting, a description of the business desired to be brought before the meeting, the reasons for conducting such business at the meeting and any material interest in such business of such stockholder (including any anticipated benefit to the stockholder therefrom) and of each beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the proposal is made; and (iii) as to the stockholder giving the notice and each beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the nomination or proposal is made, (x) the name and address of such stockholder, as they appear on the Corporation's stock ledger and current name and address, if different, and of such beneficial owner, and (y) the class and number of shares of each class of stock of the Corporation which are owned beneficially and of record by such stockholder and owned beneficially by such beneficial owner.

(3)  Notwithstanding anything in this subsection (a) of this Section 11 to the contrary, in the event the Board of Directors increases or decreases the maximum or minimum number of directors in accordance with Article III, Section 2 of these Bylaws, and there is no announcement of such action at least 100 days prior to the first anniversary of the date of mailing of the preceding year's annual meeting, a stockholder's notice required by this Section 11(a) shall also be considered timely, but only with respect to nominees for any new positions created by such increase, if it shall be delivered to the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not later than the close of business on the tenth day following the day on which such public announcement is first made by the Corporation.

(b)  Special Meetings of Stockholders. Only such business shall be conducted at a special meeting of stockholders as shall have been brought before the meeting pursuant to the Corporation's notice of meeting. Nominations of persons for election to the Board of Directors may be made at a special meeting of stockholders at which directors are to be elected (i) pursuant to the Corporation's notice of meeting, (ii) by or at the direction of the Board of Directors or (iii) provided that the Board of Directors has determined that directors shall be elected at such special meeting, by any stockholder of the Corporation who is a stockholder of record both at the time of giving of notice provided for in this Section 11 and at the time of the special meeting, who is entitled to vote at the meeting and who complied with the notice procedures set forth in this Section 11. In the event the Corporation calls a special meeting of stockholders for the purpose of electing one or more directors to the Board of Directors, any such stockholder may nominate a person or persons (as the case may be) for election as a director as specified in the Corporation's notice of meeting, if the stockholder's notice required by paragraph (a)(2) of this Section 11 shall be delivered to the Secretary at the principal executive  offices of the Corporation not earlier than the 120th day prior to such special meeting and not later than the close of business on the later of the 90th day prior to such special meeting or the tenth day following the day on which public announcement is first made of the date of the special meeting and of the nominees proposed by the Board of Directors to be elected at such meeting. In no event shall the public announcement of a postponement or adjournment of a special meeting commence a new time period for the giving of a stockholder's notice as described above.
 
7

(c)  General. (1)   Upon written request by the secretary or the Board of Directors or any committee thereof, any stockholder proposing a nominee for election as a director or any proposal for other business at a meeting of stockholders shall provide, within three business days of delivery of such request (or such other period as may be specified in such request), written verification, satisfactory to the secretary or the Board or any committee thereof, in his, her or its sole discretion, of the accuracy of any information submitted by the stockholder pursuant to this Section 11. If a stockholder fails to provide such written verification within such period, the secretary or the Board of Directors or any committee thereof may treat the information as to which written verification was requested as not having been provided in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Section 11.

(2)  Only such persons who are nominated in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Section 11 of these Bylaws shall be eligible to serve as directors, and only such business shall be conducted at a meeting of stockholders as shall have been brought before the meeting in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Section 11. The chairman of the meeting shall have the power and duty to determine whether a nomination or any business proposed to be brought before the meeting was made or proposed, as the case may be, in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Section 11 and, if any proposed nomination or business is not in compliance with this Section 11, to declare that such defective nomination or proposal be disregarded.

(3)  For purposes of this Section 11, (a) the "date of mailing of the notice" shall mean the date of the proxy statement for the solicitation of proxies for election of directors and (b) "public announcement" shall mean disclosure (i) in a press release reported by the Dow Jones News Service, Associated Press or comparable news service or (ii) in a document publicly filed by the Corporation with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the Exchange Act or the Investment Company Act.

(4)  Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 11, a stockholder shall also comply with all applicable requirements of state law and of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder with respect to the matters set forth in this Section 11. Nothing in this Section 11 shall be deemed to affect any right of a stockholder to request inclusion of a proposal in, nor the right of the Corporation to omit a proposal from, the Corporation's proxy statement pursuant to Rule 14a-8 (or any successor provision) under the Exchange Act.

Section 12. VOTING BY BALLOT . Voting on any question or in any election may be viva voce unless the presiding officer shall order or any stockholder shall demand that voting be by ballot.
 
8

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

ARTICLE III

DIRECTORS

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

Section 2.   NUMBER AND TENURE . At any regular meeting or at any special meeting called for that purpose, a majority of the entire Board of Directors may establish, increase or decrease the number of directors, provided that the number thereof shall never be less than the minimum number required by the MGCL, nor more than 15, and further provided that the tenure of office of a director shall not be affected by any decrease in the number of directors.

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

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

Section 5.  NOTICE . Notice of any special meeting of the Board of Directors shall be delivered personally or by telephone, electronic mail, facsimile transmission, United States mail or courier to each director at his or her business or residence address. Notice by personal delivery, telephone, electronic mail or facsimile transmission shall be given at least 24 hours prior to the meeting. Notice by United States mail shall be given at least three days prior to the meeting. Notice by courier shall be given at least two days prior to the meeting. Telephone notice shall be deemed to be given when the director or his or her agent is personally given such notice in a telephone call to which the director or his or her agent is a party. Electronic mail notice shall be deemed to be given upon transmission of the message to the electronic mail address given to the Corporation by the director. Facsimile transmission notice shall be deemed to be given upon completion of the transmission of the message to the number given to the Corporation by the director and receipt of a completed answer-back indicating receipt. Notice by United States mail shall be deemed to be given when deposited in the United States mail properly addressed, with postage thereon prepaid. Notice by courier shall be deemed to be given when deposited with or delivered to a courier properly addressed. Neither the business to be transacted at, nor the purpose of, any annual, regular or special meeting of the Board of Directors need be stated in the notice, unless specifically required by statute or these Bylaws.
 
9

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

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

Section 7.  VOTING . The action of the majority of the directors present at a meeting at which a quorum is present shall be the action of the Board of Directors, unless the concurrence of a greater proportion is required for such action by applicable statute or the charter. If enough directors have withdrawn from a meeting to leave less than a quorum but the meeting is not adjourned, the action of the majority of the directors still present at such meeting shall be the action of the Board of Directors, unless the concurrence of a greater proportion is required for such action by applicable statute or the charter.

Section 8.  ORGANIZATION . At each meeting of the Board of Directors, the chairman of the board or, in the absence of the chairman, the vice chairman of the board, if any, shall act as Chairman. In the absence of both the chairman and vice chairman of the board, the chief executive officer or in the absence of the chief executive officer, the president or in the absence of the president, a director chosen by a majority of the directors present, shall act as Chairman. The secretary or, in his or her absence, an assistant secretary of the Corporation, or in the absence of the secretary and all assistant secretaries, a person appointed by the Chairman, shall act as Secretary of the meeting.

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

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

Section 11.  VACANCIES . If for any reason any or all the directors cease to be directors, such event shall not terminate the Corporation or affect these Bylaws or the powers of the remaining directors hereunder (even if fewer than three directors remain). Any vacancy on the Board of Directors for any cause other than an increase in the number of directors shall be filled by a majority of the remaining directors, even if such majority is less than a quorum. Any vacancy in the number of directors created by an increase in the number of directors may be filled by a majority vote of the entire Board of Directors. Any individual so elected as director shall hold office until the next annual meeting of stockholders and until his or her successor is elected and qualifies.

Section 12. COMPENSATION . Directors shall not receive any stated salary for their services as directors but, by resolution of the Board of Directors, may receive compensation per year and/or per meeting and/or per visit to real property or other facilities owned or leased by the Corporation and for any service or activity they performed or engaged in as directors. Directors may be reimbursed for expenses of attendance, if any, at each annual, regular or special meeting of the Board of Directors or of any committee thereof and for their expenses, if any, in connection with each property visit and any other service or activity they performed or engaged in as directors; but nothing herein contained shall be construed to preclude any directors from serving the Corporation in any other capacity and receiving compensation therefor.

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

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

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

Section 16. CERTAIN RIGHTS OF DIRECTORS, OFFICERS, EMPLOYEES AND AGENTS . The directors shall have no responsibility to devote their full time to the affairs of the Corporation. Any director or officer, employee or agent of the Corporation, in his or her personal capacity or in a capacity as an affiliate, employee, or agent of any other person, or otherwise, may have business interests and engage in business activities similar to or in addition to or in competition with those of or relating to the Corporation.
 
11

ARTICLE IV

COMMITTEES

Section 1 .  NUMBER, TENURE AND QUALIFICATIONS . The Board of Directors may appoint from among its members an Executive Committee, an Audit Committee and other committees, composed of one or more directors, to serve at the pleasure of the Board of Directors.

Section 2.   POWERS . The Board of Directors may delegate to committees appointed under Section 1 of this Article any of the powers of the Board of Directors, except as prohibited by law.

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

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

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

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

ARTICLE V

OFFICERS

Section 1.  GENERAL PROVISIONS . The officers of the Corporation shall include a president, a secretary and a treasurer and may include a chairman of the board, a vice chairman of the board, a chief executive officer, one or more vice presidents, a chief operating officer, a chief financial officer, one or more assistant secretaries and one or more assistant treasurers. In addition, the Board of Directors may from time to time elect such other officers with such powers and duties as they shall deem necessary or desirable. The officers of the Corporation shall be elected annually by the Board of Directors, except that the chief executive officer or president may from time to time appoint one or more vice presidents, assistant secretaries, assistant treasurers or other officers. Each officer shall hold office until his or her successor is elected and qualifies or until death, resignation or removal in the manner hereinafter provided. Any two or more offices except president and vice president may be held by the same person. Election of an officer or agent shall not of itself create contract rights between the Corporation and such officer or agent.
 
12

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

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

Section 4.  CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER . The Board of Directors may designate a chief executive officer. In the absence of such designation, the chairman of the board shall be the chief executive officer of the Corporation. The chief executive officer shall have general responsibility for implementation of the policies of the Corporation, as determined by the Board of Directors, and for the management of the business and affairs of the Corporation.

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

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

Section 7.  CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD . The Board of Directors shall designate a chairman of the board. The chairman of the board shall preside over the meetings of the Board of Directors and of the stockholders at which he or she shall be present. The chairman of the board shall perform such other duties as may be assigned to him or her by the Board of Directors.

Section 8.  PRESIDENT . In the absence of a designation of a chief operating officer by the Board of Directors, the president shall be the chief operating officer. He or she may execute any deed, mortgage, bond, contract or other instrument, except in cases where the execution thereof shall be expressly delegated by the Board of Directors or by these Bylaws to some other officer or agent of the Corporation or shall be required by law to be otherwise executed; and in general shall perform all duties incident to the office of president and such other duties as may be prescribed by the Board of Directors from time to time.
 
13

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

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

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

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

If required by the Board of Directors, the treasurer shall give the Corporation a bond in such sum and with such surety or sureties as shall be satisfactory to the Board of Directors for the faithful performance of the duties of his or her office and for the restoration to the Corporation, in case of his or her death, resignation, retirement or removal from office, of all books, papers, vouchers, moneys and other property of whatever kind in his or her possession or under his or her control belonging to the Corporation.

Section 12. ASSISTANT SECRETARIES AND ASSISTANT TREASURERS . The assistant secretaries and assistant treasurers, in general, shall perform such duties as shall be assigned to them by the secretary or treasurer, respectively, or by the president or the Board of Directors. The assistant treasurers shall, if required by the Board of Directors, give bonds for the faithful performance of their duties in such sums and with such surety or sureties as shall be satisfactory to the Board of Directors.
 
14

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

ARTICLE VI

CONTRACTS, LOANS, CHECKS AND DEPOSITS

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

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

Section 3.  DEPOSITS . All funds of the Corporation not otherwise employed shall be deposited from time to time to the credit of the Corporation in such banks, trust companies or other depositories as the Board of Directors may designate.

ARTICLE VII

STOCK

Section 1.  CERTIFICATES; REQUIRED INFORMATION . In the event that the Corporation issues shares of stock represented by certificates, such certificates shall be signed by the officers of the Corporation in the manner permitted by the MGCL and contain the statements and information required by the MGCL. In the event that the Corporation issues shares of stock without certificates, the Corporation shall provide to holders of such shares a written statement of the information required by the MGCL to be included on stock certificates.

Section 2.  TRANSFERS WHEN CERTIFICATES ISSUED . Upon surrender to the Corporation or the transfer agent of the Corporation of a stock certificate duly endorsed or accompanied by proper evidence of succession, assignment or authority to transfer, the Corporation shall issue a new certificate to the person entitled thereto, cancel the old certificate and record the transaction upon its books.

The Corporation shall be entitled to treat the holder of record of any share of stock as the holder in fact thereof and, accordingly, shall not be bound to recognize any equitable or other claim to or interest in such share or on the part of any other person, whether or not it shall have express or other notice thereof, except as otherwise provided by the laws of the State of Maryland.
 
15

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

Section 3.  REPLACEMENT CERTIFICATE . The president, the secretary , the treasurer or any officer designated by the Board of Directors may direct a new certificate to be issued in place of any certificate previously issued by the Corporation alleged to have been lost, stolen or destroyed upon the making of an affidavit of that fact by the person claiming the certificate to be lost, stolen or destroyed. When authorizing the issuance of a new certificate, an officer designated by the Board of Directors may, in his or her discretion and as a condition precedent to the issuance thereof, require the owner of such lost, stolen or destroyed certificate or the owner's legal representative to advertise the same in such manner as he or she shall require and/or to give bond, with sufficient surety, to the Corporation to indemnify it against any loss or claim which may arise as a result of the issuance of a new certificate.

Section 4.  CLOSING OF TRANSFER BOOKS OR FIXING OF RECORD DATE . The Board of Directors may set, in advance, a record date for the purpose of determining stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at any meeting of stockholders or determining stockholders entitled to receive payment of any dividend or the allotment of any other rights, or in order to make a determination of stockholders for any other proper purpose. Such date, in any case, shall not be prior to the close of business on the day the record date is fixed and shall be not more than 90 days and, in the case of a meeting of stockholders, not less than ten days, before the date on which the meeting or particular action requiring such determination of stockholders of record is to be held or taken.

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

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

When a determination of stockholders entitled to vote at any meeting of stockholders has been made as provided in this section, such determination shall apply to any adjournment thereof, except when (i) the determination has been made through the closing of the transfer books and the stated period of closing has expired or (ii) the meeting is adjourned to a date more than 120 days after the record date fixed for the original meeting, in either of which case a new record date shall be determined as set forth herein.
 
16

Section 5.  STOCK LEDGER . The Corporation shall maintain at its principal office or at the office of its counsel, accountants or transfer agent, an original or duplicate share ledger containing the name and address of each stockholder and the number of shares of each class held by such stockholder.

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

ARTICLE VIII

ACCOUNTING YEAR

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

ARTICLE IX

DISTRIBUTIONS

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

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

ARTICLE X

INVESTMENT POLICY

Subject to the provisions of the charter of the Corporation, the Board of Directors may from time to time adopt, amend, revise or terminate any policy or policies with respect to investments by the Corporation as it shall deem appropriate in its sole discretion.
 
17

ARTICLE XI

SEAL

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

Section 2.  AFFIXING SEAL . Whenever the Corporation is permitted or required to affix its seal to a document, it shall be sufficient to meet the requirements of any law, rule or regulation relating to a seal to place the word "(SEAL)" adjacent to the signature of the person authorized to execute the document on behalf of the Corporation.

ARTICLE XII

INDEMNIFICATION AND ADVANCE OF EXPENSES

To the maximum extent permitted by Maryland law in effect from time to time, the Corporation shall indemnify and, without requiring a preliminary determination of the ultimate entitlement to indemnification, shall pay or reimburse reasonable expenses in advance of final disposition of a proceeding to (a) any individual who is a present or former director or officer of the Corporation and who is made a party to the proceeding by reason of his or her service in that capacity or (b) any individual who, while a director of the Corporation and at the request of the Corporation, serves or has served as a director, officer, partner or trustee of another corporation, real estate investment trust, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise and who is made a party to the proceeding by reason of his or her service in that capacity. The Corporation may, with the approval of its Board of Directors, provide such indemnification and advance for expenses to a person who served a predecessor of the Corporation in any of the capacities described in (a) or (b) above and to any employee or agent of the Corporation or a predecessor of the Corporation.

Neither the amendment nor repeal of this Article, nor the adoption or amendment of any other provision of the Bylaws or charter of the Corporation inconsistent with this Article, shall apply to or affect in any respect the applicability of the preceding paragraph with respect to any act or failure to act which occurred prior to such amendment, repeal or adoption.
 
18

ARTICLE XIII

WAIVER OF NOTICE

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

ARTICLE XIV

AMENDMENT OF BYLAWS

The Board of Directors shall have the exclusive power to adopt, alter or repeal any provision of these Bylaws and to make new Bylaws.
 
 
19


Exhibit 4.1
 
EXECUTION VERSION
 
TAX BENEFITS PRESERVATION PLAN

dated as of

December 7, 2016

between

NEWCASTLE INVESTMENT CORP.

and

AMERICAN STOCK TRANSFER & TRUST COMPANY, LLC

as Rights Agent
 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 
Page
Section 1.
Certain Definitions
1
     
Section 2.
Appointment of Rights Agent
7
     
Section 3.
Issuance of Rights Certificates
7
     
Section 4.
Form of Rights Certificates
9
     
Section 5.
Countersignature and Registration
10
     
Section 6.
Transfer, Split-Up, Combination and Exchange of Rights Certificates; Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Rights Certificates
11
     
Section 7.
Exercise of Rights; Purchase Price; Expiration Date of Rights
12
     
Section 8.
Cancellation and Destruction of Rights Certificates
14
     
Section 9.
Reservation and Availability of Capital Stock
14
     
Section 10.
Preferred Stock Record Date
15
     
Section 11.
Adjustment of Purchase Price, Number and Kind of Shares or Number of Rights
16
     
Section 12.
Certificate of Adjusted Purchase Price or Number of Shares
23
     
Section 13.
Consolidation or Merger, Cash Flow or Earning Power
23
     
Section 14.
Fractional Rights and Fractional Shares
25
     
Section 15.
Rights of Action
26
     
Section 16.
Agreement of Rights Holders
27
     
Section 17.
Rights Certificate Holder Not Deemed a Stockholder
27
     
Section 18.
Concerning the Rights Agent
28
     
Section 19.
Merger or Consolidation or Change of Name of Rights Agent
28
     
Section 20.
Duties of Rights Agent
29
     
Section 21.
Change of Rights Agent
30
     
Section 22.
Issuance of New Rights Certificates
31
     
Section 23.
Redemption and Termination
32
     
Section 24.
Exchange
32
     
Section 25.
Notice of Certain Events
34
     
Section 26.
Notices
35
     
Section 27.
Supplements and Amendments
36
     
Section 28.
Successors
36
     
Section 29.
Determinations and Actions by the Board, etc
36
 
i

Section 30.
Benefits of this Agreement
36
     
Section 31.
Severability
37
     
Section 32.
Governing Law
37
     
Section 33.
Counterparts
37
     
Section 34.
Descriptive Headings; Interpretation
37
     
EXHIBITS
   
     
Exhibit A
Form of Articles Supplementary of Series E Junior Participating Preferred Stock
 
Exhibit B
Form of Rights Certificates
 
Exhibit C
Form of Summary of Rights
 
 
ii

TAX BENEFITS PRESERVATION PLAN

TAX BENEFITS PRESERVATION PLAN, dated as of December 7, 2016 (the “ Agreement ”), between Newcastle Investment Corp., a Maryland corporation (the “ Company ”), and American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC, a New York limited liability trust company (the “ Rights Agent ”).

W I T N E S S E T H :

WHEREAS, on December 7, 2016 (the “ Rights Dividend Declaration Date ”), the Board of Directors of the Company (the “ Board ”) authorized and declared a dividend distribution of one Right (as hereinafter defined) for each share of Common Stock (as hereinafter defined) outstanding at the close of business on December 20, 2016 (the “ Record Date ”), and has authorized the issuance of one Right (as such number may hereinafter be adjusted pursuant to the provisions of Section 11(p) hereof) for each share of Common Stock issued between the Record Date and the Distribution Date (as hereinafter defined) and in certain other circumstances provided herein, each Right initially representing the right to purchase one one-thousandth of a share of Preferred Stock (as hereinafter defined), having the rights, powers and preferences set forth in the form of Articles Supplementary of Series E Junior Participating Preferred Stock attached hereto as Exhibit A , upon the terms and subject to the conditions hereinafter set forth (the “ Rights ”); and

WHEREAS, the Company has generated or expects to generate certain Tax Benefits (as defined herein) for United States federal income tax purposes, such Tax Benefits may potentially provide valuable benefits to the Company, the Company desires to avoid an “ownership change” within the meaning of Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “ Code ”), and the Treasury Regulations (as defined herein) promulgated thereunder, and thereby preserve the Company’s ability to fully utilize such Tax Benefits and certain built-in losses, and, in furtherance of such objective, the Company desires to enter into this Agreement.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual agreements herein set forth, the parties hereby agree as follows:

Section 1.            Certain Definitions .  For purposes of this Agreement, the following terms have the meanings indicated:

(a)             Acquiring Person ” shall mean any Person who or which, together with all Affiliates and Associates of such Person, shall be the Beneficial Owner of 4.9% or more of the shares of Common Stock then outstanding, whether or not such person continues to be the Beneficial Owner of 4.9% or more of the shares of Common Stock then outstanding, but shall not include:

(i)          the Company;

(ii)         any Subsidiary of the Company;
 

(iii)        any employee benefit plan of the Company, or of any Subsidiary of the Company, or any Person organized, appointed or established by the Company for or pursuant to the terms of any such plan;

(iv)        any Person that becomes a Beneficial Owner of 4.9% or more of the shares of Common Stock then outstanding as a result of (A) a reduction in the number of Company Securities outstanding due to the repurchase of Company Securities by the Company or (B) a stock dividend, stock split, reverse stock split or similar transaction effected by the Company, in each case unless and until such Person increases its Percentage Stock Ownership by more than one (1) percentage point over such Person’s lowest Percentage Stock Ownership on or after the consummation of the relevant transaction, excluding for these purposes any increase resulting from any subsequent transaction described in clauses (A) and (B) of this Section 1(a)(iv) or shares the Beneficial Ownership of which was acquired with the Prior Approval of the Company;

(v)         any Person that, together with all Affiliates and Associates of such Person, (x) was a Beneficial Owner of 4.9% or more of the shares of Common Stock then outstanding on the date hereof (as disclosed in public filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date of this Agreement), or (y) becomes a Beneficial Owner of 4.9% or more of the shares of Common Stock then outstanding as a result of a transaction pursuant to which such Person received the Prior Approval of the Company, unless after the date of this Agreement or the date of the relevant transaction, as applicable, such Person (A) increases its Percentage Stock Ownership by more than one (1) percentage point over such Person’s lowest Percentage Stock Ownership on or after the date of this Agreement or the date of the relevant transaction, as applicable, excluding for these purposes any increase resulting from any subsequent transaction described in clauses (A) and (B) of Section 1(a)(iv) or shares the Beneficial Ownership of which was acquired with the Prior Approval of the Company; or (B) decreases its Percentage Stock Ownership below 4.9%;

(vi)        any Person that, within ten (10) Business Days of being requested by the Company to do so, certifies to the Company that such Person became an Acquiring Person inadvertently or without knowledge of the terms of the Rights and who or which, together with all Affiliates and Associates, thereafter within ten (10) Business Days following such certification disposes of such number of shares of Common Stock so that it, together with all Affiliates and Associates, ceases to be an Acquiring Person; provided , however , that if the Person requested to so certify or dispose of shares of Common Stock fails to do so within ten (10) Business Days, then such Person shall become an Acquiring Person immediately after such ten (10) Business Day period;

(vii)       the Fortress Holders; provided that (x) this exemption shall apply only to the extent that the Company would not undergo an “owner shift” (as that term is defined in Section 382 of the Code and the Treasury Regulations thereunder) of 10% or more as a result of beneficial ownership of Company Securities by any one or more Fortress Holders and (y) the foregoing exception may be revoked at any time by the members of the Board that are “disinterested directors” for purposes of evaluating any such revocation in accordance with Section 2-419 of the Maryland General Corporation Law (it being understood, for the avoidance of doubt, that if the Fortress Holders beneficially own in the aggregate 4.9% or more of the shares of Common Stock then outstanding at the time of such revocation, then Fortress and any such affiliates shall not be deemed Acquiring Persons by virtue of such revocation and will instead be subject to the exception contained in Section 1(a)(v)(x) as if the Fortress Holders beneficially owned such shares of Common Stock on the date of this Agreement); or
 
2

(viii)      any Person that the Board has affirmatively determined in its sole discretion, prior to the Distribution Date, in light of the intent and purposes of this Agreement or other circumstances facing the Company, shall not be deemed an Acquiring Person, for so long as such Person complies with any limitations or conditions required by the Board in making such determination.

(b)             Adjustment Shares ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 11(a)(ii) hereof.

(c)             Affiliate ” and “ Associate ” shall have the respective meanings ascribed to such terms in Rule 12b-2 of the General Rules and Regulations under the Exchange Act.  The terms “Affiliate” and “Associate” shall also include, with respect to any Person, any other Person whose shares of Common Stock would be deemed to be constructively owned by such first Person, owned by a single “entity” as defined in Section 1.382-3(a)(1) of the Treasury Regulations with respect to such first Person, or otherwise aggregated with shares owned by such first Person pursuant to the provisions of Section 382 of the Code, or any successor provision or replacement provision, and the Treasury Regulations thereunder.

(d)             Agreement ” shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble to this Agreement.

(e)             Appropriate Officer ” shall mean the Chief Executive Officer and President, the Chief Financial Officer, Chief Accounting Officer, Chief Operating Officer, Treasurer or Secretary of the Company.

(f)              A Person shall be deemed to be the “ Beneficial Owner ” of, and shall be deemed to “ beneficially own ” and have “ beneficial ownership ” of any Company Securities which such Person directly owns, would be deemed constructively to own pursuant to Sections 1.382-2T(h) and 1.382-4(d) of the Treasury Regulations, owns pursuant to a “coordinated acquisition” treated as a single “entity” as defined in Section 1.382-3(a)(1) of the Treasury Regulations, or are otherwise aggregated with Company Securities owned by such Person, pursuant to the provisions of Section 382 of the Code and the Treasury Regulations thereunder.  For the avoidance of doubt, and notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, any options, warrants or other rights (including any contingent rights) to acquire Common Stock shall be treated as exercised for purposes of calculation of the numerator of a Person’s Percentage Stock Ownership of Common Stock in the definition of “ Acquiring Person ” but not for purposes of calculation of the denominator of such Percentage Stock Ownership; provided , however, that this definition shall exclude in all cases any options or similar rights issued by the Company to Fortress Investment Group LLC or any Affiliate thereof pursuant to an equity compensation plan or similar plan or a management agreement.
 
3

(g)             Board ” shall have the meaning set forth in the recitals to this Agreement.

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

(i)              close of business ” on any given date shall mean 5:00 P.M., New York City time, on such date; provided , however , that if such date is not a Business Day, it shall mean 5:00 P.M., New York City time, on the next succeeding Business Day.

(j)              Code ” shall have the meaning set forth in the recitals to this Agreement.

(k)             Common Stock ” shall mean the common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Company, except that “Common Stock” when used with reference to any Person other than the Company shall mean the capital stock of such Person with the greatest voting power, or the equity securities or other equity interest having power to control or direct the management, of such Person (or, if such Person is a Subsidiary of another Person, the Person or Persons that ultimately control such first mentioned Person).

(l)              Common Stock Equivalents ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 11(a)(iii) hereof.

(m)            Company ” shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble to this Agreement.

(n)             Company Securities ” shall mean (i) shares of Common Stock of the Company, (ii) shares of preferred stock (other than preferred stock described in Section 1504(a)(4) of the Code) of the Company, (iii) warrants, rights, convertible debt or options (including options within the meaning of Section 1.382-4(d)(9) of the Treasury Regulations) to purchase stock (other than preferred stock described in Section 1504(a)(4) of the Code) of the Company, and (iv) any other interest that would be treated as “stock” of the Company pursuant to Section 1.382-2T(f)(18) of the Treasury Regulations.

(o)             Current Market Price ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 11(d)(i) hereof.

(p)             Current Value ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 11(a)(iii) hereof.

(q)             Distribution Date ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3(a) hereof.

(r)              Equivalent Preferred Stock ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 11(b) hereof.

(s)             Exchange Act ” shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
 
4

(t)              Exchange Ratio ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 24(a) hereof.

(u)             Expiration Date ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7(a) hereof.

(v)             Final Expiration Date ” shall mean 5:00 P.M., New York City time, on December 6, 2017 or such later date and time as may be determined by the Board and approved by the stockholders of the Company by a vote of the majority of the votes cast by the holders of shares entitled to vote thereon at a meeting of the stockholders of the Company prior to 5:00 P.M., New York City time, on December 6, 2017 (which later date and time shall be in no event later than 5:00 P.M., New York City time, on December 31, 2018).

(w)            Fortress Holders ” shall mean Fortress Investment Group LLC, any Subsidiary or principal thereof, or any Associate of any such principal.

(x)              NASDAQ ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 11(d)(i) hereof.

(y)             NYSE ” shall mean the New York Stock Exchange.

(z)              Percentage Stock Ownership ” shall mean the percentage stock ownership interest as determined in accordance with Sections 1.382-2(a)(3), 1.382-2T(g), (h), (j) and (k), 1.382-3(a), and 1.382-4(d) of the Treasury Regulations; provided, however, that for the sole purpose of determining the percentage stock ownership of any entity (and not for the purpose of determining the percentage stock ownership of any other Person), Company Securities held by such entity shall not be treated as no longer owned by such entity pursuant to Section 1.382-2T(h)(2)(i)(A) of the Treasury Regulations.

(aa)           Person ” shall mean any individual, firm, corporation, partnership, limited liability company, limited liability partnership, trust, association, syndicate or other entity, group of persons making a “coordinated acquisition” of Company Securities or otherwise treated as an entity within the meaning of Treasury Regulations Section 1.382-3(a)(1) or otherwise, and includes an unincorporated group of persons who, by formal or informal agreement or arrangement (whether or not in writing), have embarked on a common purpose or act, and also includes any successor (by merger or otherwise) of any such individual or entity.

(bb)           Preferred Stock ” shall mean shares of Series E Junior Participating Preferred Stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Company, and, to the extent that there are not a sufficient number of shares of Series E Junior Participating Preferred Stock authorized to permit the full exercise of the Rights, any other series of preferred stock of the Company designated for such purpose containing terms substantially similar to the terms of the Series E Junior Participating Preferred Stock.

(cc)           Principal Party ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 13(b) hereof.

(dd)          Prior Approval of the Company ” shall mean the prior express written consent of the Company to the actions in question, executed on behalf of the Company by a duly authorized officer of the Company following express approval by action of at least a majority of the members of the Board then in office, provided that a Person shall be treated as having received the Prior Approval of the Company for an acquisition of Company Securities if such Person acquires such Company Securities from the Company pursuant to an issuance by the Company that was approved by, or that was authorized pursuant to an agreement that was approved by, the Board (or a duly authorized committee thereof).  The issuance of Common Stock upon the exercise or conversion of any Company Securities so approved shall also be treated as having received the Prior Approval of the Company.
 
5

(ee)           Purchase Price ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4(a) hereof.

(ff)             Record Date ” shall have the meaning set forth in the recitals to this Agreement.

(gg)           Redemption Price ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 23(a) hereof.

(hh)          Rights ” shall have the meaning set forth in the recitals to this Agreement.

(ii)             Rights Agent ” shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble to this Agreement.

(jj)             Rights Certificate ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3(a) hereof.

(kk)           Rights Dividend Declaration Date ” shall have the meaning set forth in the recitals to this Agreement.

(ll)             Section 11(a)(ii) Event ” shall mean any event described in Section 11(a)(ii) hereof.

(mm)         Section 11(a)(ii) Trigger Date ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 11(a)(iii) hereof.

(nn)           Section 13 Event ” shall mean any event described in clauses (x) or ( y ) of Section 13(a) hereof.

(oo)          Securities Act ” shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

(pp)           Spread ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 11(a)(iii) hereof.

(qq)           Stock Acquisition Date ” shall mean the first date of public announcement (which, for purposes of this definition, shall include a report filed or amended pursuant to Section 13(d) under the Exchange Act) by the Company or an Acquiring Person indicating that an Acquiring Person has become such.

(rr)             Subsidiary ” shall mean, with reference to any Person, any corporation or other entity of which an amount of voting securities or other ownership interests having ordinary voting power sufficient to elect at least a majority of the directors or other Persons having similar functions of such corporation or other entity is beneficially owned, directly or indirectly, by such Person, or otherwise controlled by such Person.
 
6

(ss)           Substitution Period ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 11(a)(iii) hereof.

(tt)             Summary of Rights ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3(b) hereof.

(uu)           Tax Benefits ” shall mean a current year net operating loss and the net operating loss carryovers, capital loss carryovers, general business credit carryovers, alternative minimum tax credit carryovers and foreign tax credit carryovers, as well as any loss or deduction attributable to a “net unrealized built-in loss” within the meaning of Section 382 of the Code and the Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder, of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.

(vv)           Trading Day ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 11(d)(i) hereof.

(ww)         Treasury Regulation ” shall mean the final and temporary (but not proposed) tax regulations promulgated under the Code, as such regulations may be amended from time to time.

(xx)            Triggering Event ” shall mean any Section 11(a)(ii) Event or any Section 13 Event.

Section 2.           Appointment of Rights Agent The Company hereby appoints the Rights Agent to act as agent for the Company and the holders of the Rights (who, in accordance with Section 3 hereof, shall prior to the Distribution Date also be the holders of the Common Stock) in accordance with the express terms and conditions hereof, and the Rights Agent hereby accepts such appointment.  Upon ten (10) days’ prior written notice to the Rights Agent, the Company may from time to time appoint co-rights agents as it may deem necessary or desirable. The Rights Agent will have no duty to supervise, and will in no event be liable for, the acts or omissions of any such co-rights agents.
 
Section 3.          I ssuance of Rights Certificates .
 
(a)             Until the earlier of (i) the close of business on the tenth (10th) Business Day after the Stock Acquisition Date (or, if the tenth (10th) Business Day after the Stock Acquisition Date occurs before the Record Date, the close of business on the Record Date), and (ii) the close of business on the tenth (10th) Business Day (or such later date as the Board shall determine) after the date that a tender or exchange offer by any Person (other than the Company, any Subsidiary of the Company, any employee benefit plan of the Company or of any Subsidiary of the Company, or any Person organized, appointed or established by the Company for or pursuant to the terms of any such plan) is commenced within the meaning of Rule 14d-2(a) of the General Rules and Regulations under the Exchange Act, if upon consummation thereof, such Person would become an Acquiring Person (the earlier of (i) and (ii) being herein referred to as the “ Distribution Date ”), (x) the Rights will be evidenced (subject to the provisions of paragraphs (b) and (c) of this Section 3 ) by the certificates for the Common Stock registered in the names of the holders of the Common Stock (which certificates evidencing Common Stock shall be deemed also to be certificates evidencing Rights) and not by separate certificates (or, for book entry shares, by notations in the respective accounts for the Common Stock), and (y) the Rights will be transferable only in connection with the transfer of the underlying shares of Common Stock (including a transfer to the Company).  As soon as practicable after the Distribution Date, but subject to the following sentence, the Rights Agent will send by such means as may be selected by the Company, to each record holder of the Common Stock as of the close of business on the Distribution Date, at the address of such holder shown on the records of the Company, one or more rights certificates, in substantially the form of Exhibit B hereto (each a “ Rights Certificate ”), evidencing one Right for each share of Common Stock so held, subject to adjustment as provided herein.  To the extent that a Triggering Event under Section 11(a)(ii) hereof has also occurred, the Company may implement such procedures, as it deems appropriate in its sole discretion, to minimize the possibility that any Person receives Rights, or Rights Certificates evidencing Rights, that would be null and void under Section 7(e) hereof.  Receipt by any Person of a Rights Certificate with respect to any Rights shall not preclude a later determination that such Rights are null and void pursuant to Section 7(e) hereof. In the event that an adjustment in the number of Rights per share of Common Stock has been made pursuant to Section 11(p) hereof, at the time of distribution of the Rights Certificates, the Company shall make the necessary and appropriate rounding adjustments (in accordance with Section 14(a) hereof) so that Rights Certificates representing only whole numbers of Rights are distributed and cash is paid in lieu of any fractional Rights.  As of and after the Distribution Date, the Rights will be evidenced solely by such Rights Certificates.
 
7

(b)             The Company will make available, as promptly as practicable following the Record Date, a copy of a Summary of Rights, in substantially the form attached hereto as Exhibit C (the “ Summary of Rights ”) to any holder of Rights who may so request from time to time prior to the Expiration Date. With respect to certificates for the Common Stock outstanding as of the Record Date, or issued subsequent to the Record Date, unless and until the Distribution Date shall occur, the Rights will be evidenced by such certificates for the Common Stock (or, for book entry shares, the notations in the respective accounts for the Common Stock) and the registered holders of the Common Stock shall also be the registered holders of the associated Rights.  Until the earlier of the Distribution Date and the Expiration Date, the transfer of any shares of Common Stock in respect of which Rights have been issued shall also constitute the transfer of the Rights associated with such shares of Common Stock.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in this Agreement, upon the effectiveness of a redemption pursuant to Section 23 hereof or an exchange pursuant to Section 24 hereof, the Company shall not thereafter issue any additional Rights and, for the avoidance of doubt, no Rights shall be attached to or shall be issued with any shares of Common Stock (including any shares of Common Stock issued pursuant to an exchange) at any time thereafter.

(c)             Rights shall be issued in respect of all shares of Common Stock that are issued after the Record Date but prior to the earlier of the Distribution Date and the Expiration Date.  Certificates representing such shares of Common Stock shall also be deemed to be certificates for Rights, and shall bear substantially the following legend if such certificates are issued after the Record Date but prior to the earlier of the Distribution Date and the Expiration Date:
 
8

This certificate also evidences and entitles the holder hereof to certain Rights as set forth in the Tax Benefits Preservation Plan between Newcastle Investment Corp. (the “ Company ”) and the Rights Agent (including any successor Rights Agent) thereunder, as originally executed and as it may be amended or restated from time to time, the “ Tax Benefits Preservation Plan ”), the terms of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference and a copy of which is on file at the principal offices of the Company.  Under certain circumstances, as set forth in the Tax Benefits Preservation Plan, Rights will be evidenced by separate certificates and will no longer be evidenced by this certificate.  The Company will mail to the holder of this certificate a copy of the Tax Benefits Preservation Plan, as in effect on the date of mailing, without charge, promptly after receipt of a written request therefor.  Under certain circumstances set forth in the Tax Benefits Preservation Plan, Rights issued to, or held by, any Person that is, was or becomes an Acquiring Person or any Affiliate or Associate thereof (as such terms are defined in the Tax Benefits Preservation Plan), whether currently held by or on behalf of such Person or by any subsequent holder, may become null and void.

With respect to such certificates containing the foregoing legend, until the earlier of (i) the Distribution Date and (ii) the Expiration Date, the Rights associated with the Common Stock represented by such certificates shall be evidenced by such certificates alone and registered holders of Common Stock shall also be the registered holders of the associated Rights, and the transfer of any of such certificates shall also constitute the transfer of the Rights associated with the Common Stock represented by such certificates.  Similarly, during such time periods, transfers of book entry shares shall also be deemed to be transfers of the associated Rights.  In the case of any book entry shares, the Company shall cause the transfer agent for the Common Stock to include on each account statement with respect thereto issued prior to the earlier of the Distribution Date and the Expiration Date a notation to the effect that references to Common Stock also include the associated Rights. With respect to any shares held in book entry form, such legend shall be included in a notice to the record holder of such shares in accordance with applicable law. Notwithstanding this paragraph (c), the omission of a legend or notation shall not affect the enforceability of any part of this Agreement or the rights of any holder of the Rights. In the event that shares of Common Stock are not represented by certificates, references in this Agreement to certificates shall be deemed to refer to the notations in the book entry accounts reflecting ownership of such shares.

Section 4.            Form of Rights Certificates.
 
(a)             The Rights Certificates (and the forms of election to purchase and of assignment to be printed on the reverse thereof) shall each be substantially in the form set forth in Exhibit B hereto and may have such marks of identification or designation and such legends, summaries or endorsements printed thereon as the Company may deem appropriate and as are not inconsistent with the provisions of this Agreement, or as may be required to comply with any applicable law or with any rule or regulation made pursuant thereto or with any rule or regulation of any stock exchange on which the Rights may from time to time be listed, or to conform to usage.  Subject to the provisions of Section 7 , Section 11 and Section 22 hereof, the Rights Certificates, whenever distributed, shall be dated as of the Record Date, or, in the case of Rights with respect to Common Stock issued or becoming outstanding after the Record Date, the same date as the date of the share certificate evidencing such shares, and on their face shall entitle the holders thereof to purchase such number of one one-thousandths of a share of Preferred Stock as shall be set forth therein at the price set forth therein (such exercise price per one one-thousandth of a share, the “ Purchase Price ”), but the amount and type of securities purchasable upon the exercise of each Right and the Purchase Price thereof shall be subject to adjustment as provided herein.
 
9

(b)             Any Rights Certificate issued pursuant to Section 3(a) , Section 11(i) or Section 22 hereof that represents Rights beneficially owned by:  (i) an Acquiring Person or any Associate or Affiliate of an Acquiring Person, (ii) a transferee of an Acquiring Person (or of any such Associate or Affiliate) who becomes a transferee after the Acquiring Person becomes such, (iii) a transferee of an Acquiring Person (or of any such Associate or Affiliate) who becomes a transferee prior to or concurrently with the Acquiring Person becoming such and receives such Rights pursuant to either (A) a transfer (whether or not for consideration) from the Acquiring Person to holders of equity interests in such Acquiring Person or to any Person with which such Acquiring Person has any continuing plan, agreement, arrangement or understanding (whether or not in writing) regarding the transferred Rights or (B) a transfer that the Board has determined is part of a plan, agreement, arrangement or understanding (whether or not in writing) that has as a primary purpose or effect the avoidance of Section 7(e) hereof, or (iv) subsequent transferees of such Persons described in clause (i), (ii) or (iii) of this sentence, and any Rights Certificate issued pursuant to Section 6 or Section 11 hereof upon transfer, exchange, replacement or adjustment of any other Rights Certificate referred to in this sentence, shall contain (to the extent feasible) a legend in substantially the following form:

The Rights represented by this Rights Certificate are or were beneficially owned by a Person that was or became an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate of an Acquiring Person (as such terms are defined in the Tax Benefits Preservation Plan).  Accordingly, this Rights Certificate and the Rights represented hereby may become null and void in the circumstances specified in Section 7(e) of the Tax Benefits Preservation Plan.

Section 5.          Countersignature and Registration.
 
(a)            The Rights Certificates shall be executed on behalf of the Company by any Appropriate Officer, either manually or by facsimile signature, and shall have affixed thereto the Company’s seal or a facsimile  thereof which shall be attested by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company, either manually or by facsimile signature.  The Rights Certificates shall be countersigned by the Rights Agent, either manually or by facsimile signature and shall not be valid for any purpose unless so countersigned.  In case any officer of the Company who shall have signed any of the Rights Certificates shall cease to be such officer of the Company before countersignature by the Rights Agent and issuance and delivery by the Company, such Rights Certificates may nevertheless be countersigned by the Rights Agent and issued and delivered by the Company with the same force and effect as though the person who signed such Rights Certificates had not ceased to be such officer of the Company; and any Rights Certificate may be signed on behalf of the Company by any person who, at the actual date of the execution of such Rights Certificate, shall be a proper officer of the Company to sign such Rights Certificate, although at the date of the execution of this Agreement any such person was not such an officer.
 
10

(b)            Following the Distribution Date, the Rights Agent shall keep, or cause to be kept, at the office of the Rights Agent designated as the appropriate place for surrender of Rights Certificates upon exercise or transfer, books for registration and transfer of the Rights Certificates issued hereunder.  Such books shall show the names and addresses of the respective holders of the Rights Certificates, the number of Rights evidenced on its face by each of the Rights Certificates and the date of each of the Rights Certificates.

Section 6.            Transfer, Split-Up, Combination and Exchange of Rights Certificates; Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Rights Certificates.
 
(a)             Subject to the provisions of Section 4(b) , Section 7(e) and Section 14 hereof, at any time after the close of business on the Distribution Date, and at or prior to the close of business on the Expiration Date, any Rights Certificate or Rights Certificates (other than Rights Certificates representing Rights that may have been exchanged pursuant to Section 24 hereof) may be transferred, split up, combined or exchanged for another Rights Certificate or other Rights Certificates entitling the registered holder to purchase a like number of one one-thousandths of a share of Preferred Stock (or, following a Triggering Event, Common Stock, other securities, cash or other assets, as the case may be) as the Rights Certificate or Rights Certificates surrendered then entitle such holder (or former holder in the case of a transfer) to purchase.  Any registered holder desiring to transfer, split up, combine or exchange any Rights Certificate or Rights Certificates shall make such request in writing delivered to the Rights Agent, and shall surrender the Rights Certificate or Rights Certificates to be transferred, split up, combined or exchanged at the office of the Rights Agent designated for such purpose.  Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, neither the Rights Agent nor the Company shall be obligated to take any action whatsoever with respect to the transfer of any such surrendered Rights Certificate until the registered holder shall have completed and signed the certificate contained in the form of assignment on the reverse side of such Rights Certificate and shall have provided such additional evidence of the identity of the Beneficial Owner (or former Beneficial Owner) or Affiliates or Associates thereof as the Company shall reasonably request.  Thereupon the Rights Agent shall, subject to Section 4(b) , Section 7(e) , Section 14 and Section 24 hereof, countersign (either by manual or facsimile signature) and deliver to the Person entitled thereto a Rights Certificate or Rights Certificates, as the case may be, as so requested.  The Company or the Rights Agent may require payment from any holder of a Rights Certificate of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or governmental charge that may be imposed in connection with any transfer, split up, combination or exchange of Rights Certificates. The Rights Agent shall not have any duty or obligation to take any action under any section of this Agreement that requires the payment of taxes or charges unless and until it is satisfied that all such payments have been made.

(b)             Upon receipt by the Company and the Rights Agent of evidence reasonably satisfactory to them of the loss, theft, destruction or mutilation of a Rights Certificate, and, in case of loss, theft or destruction, of indemnity or security reasonably satisfactory to them, and reimbursement to the Company and the Rights Agent of all reasonable expenses incidental thereto, and upon surrender to the Rights Agent and cancellation of the Rights Certificate, if mutilated, the Company will execute and deliver a new Rights Certificate of like tenor to the Rights Agent for countersignature and delivery to the registered owner in lieu of the Rights Certificate so lost, stolen, destroyed or mutilated.
 
11

Section 7.           Exercise of Rights; Purchase Price; Expiration Date of Rights.
 
(a)             Subject to Section 7(e) hereof, at any time after the Distribution Date, the registered holder of any Rights Certificate may exercise the Rights evidenced thereby (except as otherwise provided herein including the restrictions on exercisability set forth in Section 9(c) , Section 11(a)(iii) and Section 23(a) hereof) in whole or in part upon surrender of the Rights Certificate, with the form of election to purchase and the certificate on the reverse side thereof properly completed and duly executed, to the Rights Agent at the office of the Rights Agent designated for such purpose, accompanied by a signature guarantee and such other documentation as the Rights Agent may reasonably request together with payment of the aggregate Purchase Price with respect to the total number of one one-thousandths of a share of Preferred Stock (or other securities, cash or other assets, as the case may be) as to which such surrendered Rights are then exercisable, at or prior to the earliest of (i) the Final Expiration Date , (ii) the time at which the Rights are redeemed or exchanged as provided in Section 23 and Section 24 hereof, (iii) the time at which the Board determines that this Agreement is no longer necessary or desirable for the preservation of Tax Benefits, and (iv) the close of business on the first day of a taxable year of the Company to which the Board determines that no Tax Benefits may be carried forward (the earliest of (i)-(iv) being herein referred to as the “ Expiration Date ”).

(b)             The Purchase Price for each one one-thousandth of a share of Preferred Stock pursuant to the exercise of a Right initially shall be $27.00, shall be subject to adjustment from time to time as provided in Section 11 and Section 13(a) hereof and shall be payable in accordance with paragraph (c) below.

(c)             Upon receipt of a Rights Certificate representing exercisable Rights, with the form of election to purchase and the certificate contained therein duly completed and executed, accompanied by payment, with respect to each Right so exercised, of the Purchase Price per one one-thousandth of a share of Preferred Stock (or other shares, securities, cash or other assets, as the case may be) to be purchased as set forth below and an amount equal to any applicable transfer tax required to be paid by the holder of the Rights Certificate in accordance with Section 9(e) hereof, the Rights Agent shall, subject to Section 7(f) and Section 20(j) hereof, thereupon promptly (i) (A) requisition from any transfer agent of the shares of Preferred Stock (or make available, if the Rights Agent is the transfer agent for such shares) certificates for the total number of one one-thousandths of a share of Preferred Stock to be purchased and the Company hereby irrevocably authorizes its transfer agent to comply with all such requests, or (B) if the Company shall have elected to deposit the total number of shares of Preferred Stock issuable upon exercise of the Rights hereunder with a depositary agent, requisition from the depositary agent depositary receipts representing such number of one one-thousandths of a share of Preferred Stock as are to be purchased (in which case certificates for the shares of Preferred Stock represented by such receipts shall be deposited by the transfer agent with the depositary agent) and the Company will direct the depositary agent to comply with such request, (ii) requisition from the Company the amount of cash, if any, to be paid in lieu of fractional shares in accordance with Section 14 hereof, (iii) after receipt of such certificates or depositary receipts, cause the same to be delivered to or, upon the order of the registered holder of such Rights Certificate, registered in such name or names as may be designated by such holder, and (iv) after receipt thereof, deliver such cash, if any, to or upon the order of the registered holder of such Rights Certificate.  The payment of the Purchase Price (as such amount may be reduced pursuant to Section 11(a)(iii) hereof) shall be made in cash or by certified bank check or bank draft payable to the order of the Company.  In the event that the Company is obligated to issue other securities (including Common Stock) of the Company, pay cash and/or distribute other property pursuant to Section 11(a) hereof, the Company will make all arrangements necessary so that such other securities, cash and/or other property are available for distribution by the Rights Agent, if and when appropriate.  The Company reserves the right to require prior to the occurrence of a Triggering Event that, upon any exercise of Rights, a number of Rights be exercised so that only whole shares of Preferred Stock would be issued.
 
12

(d)             In case the registered holder of any Rights Certificate shall exercise less than all the Rights evidenced thereby, a new Rights Certificate evidencing the Rights remaining unexercised shall be issued by the Rights Agent and delivered to, or upon the order of, the registered holder of such Rights Certificate, registered in such name or names as may be designated by such holder, subject to the provisions of Section 14 hereof.

(e)             Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, from and after the first occurrence of a Section 11(a)(ii) Event, any Rights beneficially owned by (i) an Acquiring Person or an Associate or Affiliate of an Acquiring Person, (ii) a transferee of an Acquiring Person (or of any such Associate or Affiliate) who becomes a transferee after the Acquiring Person becomes such, (iii) a transferee of an Acquiring Person (or of any such Associate or Affiliate) who becomes a transferee prior to or concurrently with the Acquiring Person becoming such and receives such Rights pursuant to either (A) a transfer (whether or not for consideration) from the Acquiring Person to holders of equity interests in such Acquiring Person or to any Person with which the Acquiring Person has any continuing plan, agreement, arrangement or understanding (whether or not in writing) regarding the transferred Rights or (B) a transfer that the Board has determined is part of a plan, agreement, arrangement or understanding (whether or not in writing) that has as a primary purpose or effect the avoidance of this Section 7(e) , or (iv) subsequent transferees of such Persons described in clauses (i)-(iii) of this sentence, shall become null and void without any further action and no holder of such Rights shall have any rights whatsoever with respect to such Rights, whether under any provision of this Agreement or otherwise, and such Rights shall not be transferable.  The Company shall use all reasonable efforts to ensure that the provisions of this Section 7(e) and Section 4(b) hereof are complied with, but the Company and the Rights Agent shall have no liability to any holder of Rights Certificates or any other Person as a result of the Company’s failure to make any determinations with respect to an Acquiring Person or any of such Acquiring Person’s Affiliates or Associates or their respective transferees hereunder.

(f)              Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, neither the Rights Agent nor the Company shall be obligated to undertake any action with respect to a registered holder upon the occurrence of any purported exercise as set forth in this Section 7 unless and until such registered holder shall have (i) properly completed and signed the certificate contained in the form of election to purchase set forth on the reverse side of the Rights Certificate surrendered for such exercise, and (ii) provided such additional evidence of the identity of the Beneficial Owner (or former Beneficial Owner) or Affiliates or Associates thereof as the Company shall reasonably request.
 
13


Section 8.           Cancellation and Destruction of Rights Certificates .  All Rights Certificates surrendered for the purpose of exercise, transfer, split-up, combination, redemption or exchange shall, if surrendered to the Company or any of its agents, be delivered to the Rights Agent for cancellation or in cancelled form, or, if surrendered to the Rights Agent, shall be cancelled by it, and no Rights Certificates shall be issued in lieu thereof except as expressly permitted by any of the provisions of this Agreement.  The Company shall deliver to the Rights Agent for cancellation and retirement, and the Rights Agent shall so cancel and retire, any other Rights Certificate purchased or acquired by the Company otherwise than upon the exercise thereof.  The Rights Agent shall deliver all cancelled Rights Certificates to the Company, or shall, at the written request of the Company, destroy such cancelled Rights Certificates, and in such case shall deliver a certificate of destruction thereof to the Company.
 
Section 9.           Reservation and Availability of Capital Stock.
 
(a)             The Company covenants and agrees that it will cause to be reserved and kept available out of its authorized and unissued shares of Preferred Stock (and, following the occurrence of a Triggering Event, out of its authorized and unissued shares of Common Stock and/or other securities), the number of shares of Preferred Stock (and, following the occurrence of a Triggering Event, Common Stock and/or other securities) that, as provided in this Agreement, including Section 11(a)(iii) hereof, will be sufficient to permit the exercise in full of all outstanding Rights.

(b)             So long as the shares of Preferred Stock (and, following the occurrence of a Triggering Event, Common Stock and/or other securities) issuable and deliverable upon the exercise of the Rights may be listed on any national securities exchange, the Company shall use its best efforts to cause, from and after such time as the Rights become exercisable (but only to the extent that it is reasonably likely that the Rights will be exercised), all shares reserved for such issuance to be listed on such exchange upon official notice of issuance upon such exercise.

(c)             The Company shall use its best efforts to (i) file, as soon as practicable following the earliest date after the first occurrence of a Section 11(a)(ii) Event on which the consideration to be delivered by the Company upon exercise of the Rights has been determined in accordance with Section 11(a)(iii) hereof, a registration statement under the Securities Act, with respect to the securities purchasable upon exercise of the Rights on an appropriate form, (ii) cause such registration statement to become effective as soon as practicable after such filing, and (iii) cause such registration statement to remain effective (with a prospectus at all times meeting the requirements of the Securities Act) until the earlier of (A) the date as of which the Rights are no longer exercisable for such securities and (B) the Expiration Date.  The Company will also take such action as may be appropriate under, or to ensure compliance with, the securities or “blue sky” laws of the various states in connection with the exercisability of the Rights.  The Company may temporarily suspend, for a period of time not to exceed ninety (90) days after the date referenced in clause (i) of the first sentence of this Section 9(c) , the exercisability of the Rights in order to prepare and file such registration statement and permit it to become effective.  Upon any such suspension, the Company shall issue a public announcement stating that the exercisability of the Rights has been temporarily suspended, and the Company shall issue a public announcement at such time as the suspension has been rescinded.  In addition, if the Company shall determine that a registration statement is required following the Distribution Date, the Company may temporarily suspend the exercisability of the Rights until such time as a registration statement has been declared effective.  Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, the Rights shall not be exercisable in any jurisdiction if the requisite qualification in such jurisdiction shall not have been obtained, the exercise thereof shall not be permitted under applicable law, or a registration statement shall not have been declared effective.
 
14

(d)             The Company covenants and agrees that it will take all such action as may be necessary to ensure that all one one-thousandths of a share of Preferred Stock (and, following the occurrence of a Triggering Event, Common Stock and/or other securities) delivered upon exercise of Rights shall, at the time of delivery of such shares (subject to payment of the Purchase Price), be duly and validly authorized and issued and fully paid and non-assessable.

(e)             The Company covenants and agrees that it will pay when due and payable any and all federal and state transfer taxes and charges that may be payable in respect of the issuance or delivery of the Rights Certificates and of any certificates for a number of one one-thousandths of a share of Preferred Stock (or Common Stock and/or other securities, as the case may be) upon the exercise of Rights.  The Company shall not, however, be required to pay any transfer tax that may be payable in respect of any transfer or delivery of Rights Certificates to a Person other than, or the issuance or delivery of a number of one one-thousandths of a share of Preferred Stock (or Common Stock and/or other securities, as the case may be) in respect of a name other than, that of the registered holder of the Rights Certificates evidencing Rights surrendered for exercise or to issue or deliver any certificates for a number of one one-thousandths of a share of Preferred Stock (or Common Stock and/or other securities, as the case may be) in a name other than that of the registered holder upon the exercise of any Rights until such tax shall have been paid (any such tax being payable by the holder of such Rights Certificates at the time of surrender) or until it has been established to the Company’s and the Rights Agent’s satisfaction that no such tax is due.

Section 10.        Preferred Stock Record Date .   Each Person in the name of which any certificate for a number of one one-thousandths of a share of Preferred Stock (or Common Stock and/or other securities, as the case may be) is issued upon the exercise of Rights shall for all purposes be deemed to have become the holder of record of such fractional shares of Preferred Stock (or Common Stock and/or other securities, as the case may be) represented thereby on, and such certificate shall be dated, the date upon which the Rights Certificate evidencing such Rights was duly surrendered and payment of the Purchase Price (and all applicable transfer taxes) was made; provided , however , that if the date of such surrender and payment is a date upon which the Preferred Stock (or Common Stock and/or other securities, as the case may be) transfer books of the Company are closed, such Person shall be deemed to have become the record holder of such shares (fractional or otherwise) on, and such certificate shall be dated, the next succeeding Business Day on which the Preferred Stock (or Common Stock and/or other securities, as the case may be) transfer books of the Company are open.  Prior to the exercise of the Rights evidenced thereby, the holder of a Rights Certificate shall not be entitled to any rights of a stockholder of the Company with respect to shares for which the Rights shall be exercisable, including the right to vote, to receive dividends or other distributions or to exercise any preemptive rights, and shall not be entitled to receive any notice of any proceedings of the Company, except as provided herein.
 
15

Section 11.        Adjustment of Purchase Price, Number and Kind of Shares or Number of Rights .  The Purchase Price, the number and kind of shares covered by each Right and the number of Rights outstanding are subject to adjustment from time to time as provided in this Section 11 .
 
(a)

(i)          In the event the Company shall at any time after the date of this Agreement (A) declare a dividend on the Preferred Stock payable in shares of Preferred Stock, (B) subdivide or split the outstanding shares of Preferred Stock, (C) combine or consolidate the outstanding shares of Preferred Stock into a smaller number of shares, through a reverse stock split or otherwise, or (D) issue any shares of its capital stock in a reclassification of the Preferred Stock (including any such reclassification in connection with a consolidation or merger in which the Company is the continuing or surviving entity), except as otherwise provided in this Section 11(a) and Section 7(e) hereof, the Purchase Price in effect at the time of the record date for such dividend or of the effective date of such subdivision, split, combination, consolidation or reclassification, and the number and kind of shares of Preferred Stock or capital stock, as the case may be, issuable on such date, shall be proportionately adjusted so that the holder of any Right exercised after such time shall be entitled to receive, upon payment of the Purchase Price then in effect, the aggregate number and kind of shares of Preferred Stock or capital stock, as the case may be, that, if such Right had been exercised immediately prior to such date and at a time when the Preferred Stock transfer books of the Company were open, such holder would have owned upon such exercise and been entitled to receive by virtue of such dividend, subdivision, split, combination, consolidation or reclassification.  If an event occurs that would require an adjustment under both this Section 11(a)(i) and Section 11(a)(ii) hereof, the adjustment provided for in this Section 11(a)(i) shall be in addition to, and shall be made prior to, any adjustment required pursuant to Section 11(a)(ii) hereof.

(ii)         Subject to Section 24 hereof, in the event that any Person shall, at any time after the Rights Dividend Declaration Date, become an Acquiring Person, unless the event causing such Person to become an Acquiring Person is a transaction set forth in Section 13(a) hereof, then, promptly following the occurrence of such event, proper provision shall be made so that each holder of a Right (except as provided below and in Section 7(e) hereof) shall thereafter have the right to receive, upon exercise thereof at the then current Purchase Price in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, in lieu of a number of one one-thousandths of a share of Preferred Stock, such number of shares of Common Stock of the Company as shall equal the result obtained by (x) multiplying the then current Purchase Price by the then number of one one-thousandths of a share of Preferred Stock for which a Right was exercisable immediately prior to the first occurrence of a Section 11(a)(ii) Event, and (y) dividing that product (which, following such first occurrence, shall thereafter be referred to as the “ Purchase Price ” for each Right and for all purposes of this Agreement) by fifty percent (50%) of the Current Market Price (determined pursuant to Section 11(d) hereof) per share of Common Stock on the date of such first occurrence (such number of shares, the “ Adjustment Shares ”).
 
16

(iii)        In the event that the number of shares of Common Stock that is authorized by the Company’s Articles of Amendment and Restatement, dated September 23, 2002 (as amended and supplemented to date and as may be amended, restated, supplemented or corrected from time to time, the “ Charter ”), but not outstanding or reserved for issuance for purposes other than upon exercise of the Rights, is not sufficient to permit the exercise in full of the Rights in accordance with the foregoing subparagraph (ii) of this Section 11(a) , the Company shall (A) determine the value of the Adjustment Shares issuable upon the exercise of a Right (the “ Current Value ”), and (B) with respect to each Right (subject to Section 7(e) hereof), make adequate provision to substitute for the Adjustment Shares, upon the exercise of a Right and payment of the applicable Purchase Price, (1) cash, (2) a reduction in the Purchase Price, (3) Common Stock or other equity securities of the Company (including shares, or units of shares, of preferred stock, such as the Preferred Stock, that the Board has deemed to have essentially the same value or economic rights as shares of Common Stock (such shares of preferred stock being referred to as “ Common Stock Equivalents ”)), (4) debt securities of the Company, (5) other assets, or (6) any combination of the foregoing, having an aggregate value equal to the Current Value (less the amount of any reduction in the Purchase Price), where such aggregate value has been determined by the Board based upon the advice of a nationally recognized investment banking firm selected by the Board; provided , however , that if the Company shall not have made adequate provision to deliver value pursuant to clause (B) above within thirty (30) days following the later of (x) the first occurrence of a Section 11(a)(ii) Event and (y) the date on which the Company’s right of redemption pursuant to Section 23(a) expires (the later of (x) and (y) being referred to herein as the “ Section 11(a)(ii) Trigger Date ”), then the Company shall be obligated to deliver, upon the surrender for exercise of a Right and without requiring payment of the Purchase Price, shares of Common Stock (to the extent available) and then, if necessary, cash, which shares and/or cash have an aggregate value equal to the Spread.  For purposes of the preceding sentence, the term “ Spread ” shall mean the excess of (i) the Current Value over (ii) the Purchase Price.  If the Board determines in good faith that it is likely that sufficient additional shares of Common Stock could be authorized for issuance upon exercise in full of the Rights, the thirty (30) day period set forth above may be extended to the extent necessary, but not more than ninety (90) days after the Section 11(a)(ii) Trigger Date, in order that the Company may seek stockholder approval for the authorization of such additional shares (such thirty (30) day period, as it may be extended, being herein called the “ Substitution Period ”).  To the extent that the Company determines that action should be taken pursuant to the first and/or third sentences of this Section 11(a)(iii) , the Company (1) shall provide, subject to Section 7(e) hereof, that such action shall apply uniformly to all outstanding Rights, and (2) may suspend the exercisability of the Rights until the expiration of the Substitution Period in order to seek such stockholder approval for such authorization of additional shares and/or to decide the appropriate form of distribution to be made pursuant to such first sentence and to determine the value thereof.  In the event of any such suspension, the Company shall issue a public announcement stating that the exercisability of the Rights has been temporarily suspended, as well as a public announcement at such time as the suspension is no longer in effect.  For purposes of this Section 11(a)(iii) , the value of each Adjustment Share shall be the Current Market Price per share of the Common Stock on the Section 11(a)(ii) Trigger Date and the per share or per unit value of any Common Stock Equivalent shall be deemed to equal the Current Market Price per share of the Common Stock on such date.
 
17

(b)             In case the Company shall fix a record date for the issuance of rights, options or warrants to all holders of shares of Preferred Stock entitling them to subscribe for or purchase (for a period expiring within forty-five (45) calendar days after such record date) shares of Preferred Stock (or shares having the same rights, privileges and preferences as the shares of Preferred Stock (“ Equivalent Preferred Stock ”)) or securities convertible into Preferred Stock or Equivalent Preferred Stock at a price per share of Preferred Stock or per share of Equivalent Preferred Stock (or having a conversion price per share, if a security convertible into Preferred Stock or Equivalent Preferred Stock) less than the Current Market Price (as determined pursuant to Section 11(d) hereof) per share of Preferred Stock on such record date, the Purchase Price to be in effect after such record date shall be determined by multiplying the Purchase Price in effect immediately prior to such record date by a fraction, the numerator of which shall be the number of shares of Preferred Stock outstanding on such record date, plus the number of shares of Preferred Stock that the aggregate offering price of the total number of shares of Preferred Stock and/or Equivalent Preferred Stock so to be offered (and/or the aggregate initial conversion price of the convertible securities so to be offered) would purchase at such Current Market Price, and the denominator of which shall be the number of shares of Preferred Stock outstanding on such record date, plus the number of additional shares of Preferred Stock and/or Equivalent Preferred Stock to be offered for subscription or purchase (or into which the convertible securities so to be offered are initially convertible).  In case such subscription price may be paid by delivery of consideration, part or all of which may be in a form other than cash, the value of such consideration shall be as determined in good faith by the Board, the determination of which shall be described in a written statement filed with the Rights Agent and shall be binding on the Rights Agent and the holders of the Rights.  Shares of Preferred Stock owned by or held for the account of the Company shall not be deemed outstanding for the purpose of any such computation.  Such adjustment shall be made successively whenever such a record date is fixed, and in the event that such rights or warrants are not so issued, the Purchase Price shall be adjusted to be the Purchase Price that would then be in effect if such record date had not been fixed.

(c)             In case the Company shall fix a record date for a distribution to all holders of shares of Preferred Stock (including any such distribution made in connection with a consolidation or merger in which the Company is the continuing or surviving entity), of cash (other than a regular quarterly cash dividend out of the earnings or retained earnings of the Company), assets (other than a dividend payable in Preferred Stock, but including any dividend payable in stock other than Preferred Stock) or evidences of indebtedness, or of subscription rights or warrants (excluding those referred to in Section 11(b) hereof), the Purchase Price to be in effect after such record date shall be determined by multiplying the Purchase Price in effect immediately prior to such record date by a fraction, the numerator of which shall be the Current Market Price (as determined pursuant to Section 11(d) hereof) per share of Preferred Stock on such record date, less the fair market value (as determined in good faith by the Board, the determination of which shall be described in a written statement filed with the Rights Agent and shall be binding on the Rights Agent and the holders of the Rights) of the portion of the cash, assets or evidences of indebtedness so to be distributed or of such subscription rights or warrants applicable to a share of Preferred Stock, and the denominator of which shall be such Current Market Price (as determined pursuant to Section 11(d) hereof) per share of Preferred Stock.  Such adjustments shall be made successively whenever such a record date is fixed, and in the event that such distribution is not so made, the Purchase Price shall be adjusted to be the Purchase Price that would have been in effect if such record date had not been fixed.
 
18

(d)

(i)          For the purpose of any computation hereunder, other than computations made pursuant to Section 11(a)(iii) hereof, the “ Current Market Price ” per share of Common Stock on any date shall be deemed to be the lesser of (A) the average of the daily closing prices per share of Common Stock for the thirty (30) consecutive Trading Days immediately prior to such date and (B) the average of the daily closing prices per share of Common Stock for the five (5) consecutive Trading Days immediately prior to such date, and for purposes of computations made pursuant to Section 11(a)(iii) hereof, the Current Market Price per share of Common Stock on any date shall be deemed to be the average of the daily closing prices per share of Common Stock for the ten (10) consecutive Trading Days immediately following such date; provided , however , that in the event that the Current Market Price per share of Common Stock is determined during a period following the announcement by the issuer of such Common Stock of (A) a dividend or distribution on such Common Stock payable in shares of such Common Stock or securities convertible into shares of such Common Stock (other than the Rights), or (B) any subdivision, combination, consolidation, reverse stock split or reclassification of such Common Stock, and the ex-dividend date for such dividend or distribution, or the record date for such subdivision, combination, consolidation, reverse stock split or reclassification, shall not have occurred prior to the commencement of the requisite trading period, as set forth above, then, and in each such case, the Current Market Price shall be properly adjusted to take into account ex-dividend trading.  The closing price for each day shall be the last sale price, regular way, or, in case no such sale takes place on such day, the average of the closing bid and asked prices, regular way, in either case as reported in the principal consolidated transaction reporting system with respect to securities listed or admitted to trading on the NYSE or, if the shares of Common Stock are not listed or admitted to trading on the NYSE, as reported in the principal consolidated transaction reporting system with respect to securities listed on the principal national securities exchange on which the shares of Common Stock are listed or admitted to trading or, if the shares of Common Stock are not listed or admitted to trading on any national securities exchange, the last quoted price or, if not so quoted, the average of the high bid and low asked prices in the over-the-counter market, as reported by the National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations System (“ NASDAQ ”) or such other system then in use, or, if on any such date the shares of Common Stock are not so quoted by any such organization, the average of the closing bid and asked prices as furnished by a professional market maker making a market in the Common Stock selected by the Board.  If on any such date no market maker is making a market in the Common Stock, the fair value of such shares on such date as determined in good faith by the Board shall be used.  The term “ Trading Day ” shall mean a day on which the principal national securities exchange on which the shares of Common Stock are listed or admitted to trading is open for the transaction of business or, if the shares of Common Stock are not listed or admitted to trading on any national securities exchange, a Business Day.  If the Common Stock is not publicly held or not so listed or traded, the Current Market Price per share shall mean the fair value per share as determined in good faith by the Board, the determination of which shall be described in a written statement filed with the Rights Agent and shall be conclusive for all purposes and shall be binding on the Rights Agent and the holders of the Rights.
 
19

(ii)         For the purpose of any computation hereunder, the Current Market Price per share of Preferred Stock shall be determined in the same manner as set forth above for the Common Stock in clause (i) of this Section 11(d) (other than the last sentence thereof).  If the Current Market Price per share of Preferred Stock cannot be determined in the manner provided above or if the Preferred Stock is not publicly held or listed or traded in a manner described in clause (i) of this Section 11(d) , the Current Market Price per share of Preferred Stock shall be conclusively deemed to be an amount equal to one thousand (1,000) (as such number may be appropriately adjusted for such events as stock splits, stock dividends and recapitalizations with respect to the Common Stock occurring after the date of this Agreement) multiplied by the Current Market Price per share of the Common Stock.  If neither the Common Stock nor the Preferred Stock is publicly held or so listed or traded, Current Market Price per share of the Preferred Stock shall mean the fair value per share as determined in good faith by the Board, the determination of which shall be described in a written statement filed with the Rights Agent and shall be conclusive for all purposes and shall be binding on the Rights Agent and the holders of the Rights.

(e)             Anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, no adjustment in the Purchase Price shall be required unless such adjustment would require an increase or decrease of at least one percent (1%) in the Purchase Price; provided , however , that any adjustments that by reason of this Section 11(e) are not required to be made shall be carried forward and taken into account in any subsequent adjustment.  All calculations under this Section 11 shall be made to the nearest cent or to the nearest ten-thousandth of a share of Common Stock or other share or one-millionth of a share of Preferred Stock, as the case may be.  Notwithstanding the first sentence of this Section 11(e) , any adjustment required by this Section 11 shall be made no later than the earlier of (i) three (3) years from the date of the transaction that mandates such adjustment and (ii) the Expiration Date.

(f)              If as a result of an adjustment made pursuant to Section 11(a)(ii) or Section 13(a) hereof, the holder of any Right thereafter exercised shall become entitled to receive any shares of capital stock other than Preferred Stock, thereafter the number of such other shares so receivable upon exercise of any Right and the Purchase Price thereof shall be subject to adjustment from time to time in a manner and on terms as nearly equivalent as practicable to the provisions with respect to the Preferred Stock contained in Sections 11(a) , (b) , (c) , (e) , (g) , (h) , (i) , (j) , (k) and (m) hereof, and the provisions of Sections 7 , 9 , 10 , 13 and 14 hereof with respect to the Preferred Stock shall apply on like terms to any such other shares.

(g)             All Rights originally issued by the Company subsequent to any adjustment made to the Purchase Price hereunder shall evidence the right to purchase, at the adjusted Purchase Price, the number of one one-thousandths of a share of Preferred Stock purchasable from time to time hereunder upon exercise of the Rights, all subject to further adjustment as provided herein.

(h)             Unless the Company shall have exercised its election as provided in Section 11(i) hereof, upon each adjustment of the Purchase Price as a result of the calculations made in Sections 11(b) and (c) hereof, each Right outstanding immediately prior to the making of such adjustment shall thereafter evidence the right to purchase, at the adjusted Purchase Price, that number of one one-thousandths of a share of Preferred Stock (calculated to the nearest one-millionth) obtained by (i) multiplying (x) the number of one one-thousandths of a share covered by a Right immediately prior to this adjustment, by (y) the Purchase Price in effect immediately prior to such adjustment of the Purchase Price, and (ii) dividing the product so obtained by the Purchase Price in effect immediately after such adjustment of the Purchase Price.
 
20

(i)              The Company may elect on or after the date of any adjustment of the Purchase Price to adjust the number of Rights, in lieu of any adjustment in the number of one one-thousandths of a share of Preferred Stock purchasable upon the exercise of a Right.  Each of the Rights outstanding after the adjustment in the number of Rights shall be exercisable for the number of one one-thousandths of a share of Preferred Stock for which a Right was exercisable immediately prior to such adjustment.  Each Right held of record prior to such adjustment of the number of Rights shall become that number of Rights (calculated to the nearest one-ten-thousandth) obtained by dividing the Purchase Price in effect immediately prior to adjustment of the Purchase Price by the Purchase Price in effect immediately after adjustment of the Purchase Price.  The Company shall make a public announcement of its election to adjust the number of Rights, indicating the record date for the adjustment, and, if known at the time, the amount of the adjustment to be made.  This record date may be the date on which the Purchase Price is adjusted or any day thereafter, but, if the Rights Certificates have been issued, shall be at least ten (10) days later than the date of the public announcement.  If Rights Certificates have been issued, upon each adjustment of the number of Rights pursuant to this Section 11(i) , the Company shall, as promptly as practicable, cause to be distributed to holders of record of Rights Certificates on such record date Rights Certificates evidencing, subject to Section 14 hereof, the additional Rights to which such holders shall be entitled as a result of such adjustment, or, at the option of the Company, shall cause to be distributed to such holders of record in substitution and replacement for the Rights Certificates held by such holders prior to the date of adjustment, and upon surrender thereof, if required by the Company, new Rights Certificates evidencing all the Rights to which such holders shall be entitled after such adjustment.  Rights Certificates so to be distributed shall be issued, executed and countersigned in the manner provided for herein (and may bear, at the option of the Company, the adjusted Purchase Price) and shall be registered in the names of the holders of record of Rights Certificates on the record date specified in the public announcement.

(j)              Irrespective of any adjustment or change in the Purchase Price or the number of one one-thousandths of a share of Preferred Stock issuable upon the exercise of the Rights, the Rights Certificates theretofore and thereafter issued may continue to express the Purchase Price per one one-thousandth of a share and the number of one one-thousandths of a share that were expressed in the initial Rights Certificates issued hereunder.

(k)             Before taking any action that would cause an adjustment reducing the Purchase Price below the then stated value, if any, of the number of one one-thousandths of a share of Preferred Stock issuable upon exercise of the Rights, the Company shall take any corporate action that may, in the opinion of its counsel, be necessary in order that the Company may validly and legally issue fully paid and non-assessable such number of one one-thousandths of a share of Preferred Stock at such adjusted Purchase Price.
 
21

(l)              In any case in which this Section 11 shall require that an adjustment in the Purchase Price be made effective as of a record date for a specified event, the Company may elect to defer until the occurrence of such event the issuance to the holder of any Right exercised after such record date the number of one one-thousandths of a share of Preferred Stock and other capital stock or securities of the Company, if any, issuable upon such exercise over and above the number of one one-thousandths of a share of Preferred Stock and other capital stock or securities of the Company, if any, issuable upon such exercise on the basis of the Purchase Price in effect prior to such adjustment; provided , however , that the Company shall deliver to such holder a due bill or other appropriate instrument evidencing such holder’s right to receive such additional shares (fractional or otherwise) or securities upon the occurrence of the event requiring such adjustment.

(m)            Anything in this Section 11 to the contrary notwithstanding, the Company shall be entitled to make such reductions in the Purchase Price, in addition to those adjustments expressly required by this Section 11 , as and to the extent that in their good faith judgment the Board shall determine to be advisable in order that any (i) consolidation or subdivision of the Preferred Stock, (ii) issuance wholly for cash of any shares of Preferred Stock at less than the Current Market Price per share of Preferred Stock , (iii) issuance wholly for cash of shares of Preferred Stock or securities that by their terms are convertible into or exchangeable for shares of Preferred Stock, (iv) stock dividends or (v) issuance of rights, options or warrants referred to in this Section 11 , hereafter made by the Company to holders of its Preferred Stock shall not be taxable to such stockholders.

(n)             The Company covenants and agrees that it shall not, at any time after the Distribution Date, (i) consolidate with any other Person (other than a Subsidiary of the Company in a transaction that complies with Section 11(o) hereof), (ii) merge with or into any other Person (other than a Subsidiary of the Company in a transaction that complies with Section 11(o) hereof), (iii) consummate a share exchange with any other Person or (iv) sell or transfer (or permit any Subsidiary of the Company to sell or transfer), in each case, in one transaction, or a series of related transactions, assets, cash flow or earning power aggregating more than fifty percent (50%) of the assets or earning power of the Company and its Subsidiaries (taken as a whole) to any other Person or Persons (other than the Company and/or any of its Subsidiaries in one or more transactions each of which complies with Section 11(o) hereof), if (x) at the time of or immediately after such consolidation, merger, share exchange, sale or transfer there are any rights, warrants or other instruments or securities outstanding or agreements in effect that would eliminate or substantially diminish the benefits intended to be afforded by the Rights or (y) prior to, simultaneously with or immediately after such consolidation, merger, share exchange, sale or transfer, the stockholders of the Person that constitutes, or would constitute, the “ Principal Party ” for purposes of Section 13(a) hereof shall have received a distribution of Rights previously owned by such Person or any of its Affiliates and Associates.

(o)             The Company covenants and agrees that, after the Distribution Date, it will not, except as permitted by Section 23 , Section 24 or Section 27 hereof, take (or permit any Subsidiary of the Company to take) any action if at the time such action is taken it is reasonably foreseeable that such action will eliminate or diminish substantially the benefits intended to be afforded by the Rights.
 
22

(p)             Anything in this Agreement to the contrary notwithstanding, in the event that the Company shall at any time after the Rights Dividend Declaration Date and prior to the Distribution Date (i) declare a dividend on the outstanding shares of Common Stock payable in shares of Common Stock, (ii) subdivide the outstanding shares of Common Stock, or (iii) combine or consolidate the outstanding shares of Common Stock into a smaller number of shares, the number of Rights associated with each share of Common Stock then outstanding, or issued or delivered thereafter but prior to the Distribution Date, shall be proportionately adjusted so that the number of Rights thereafter associated with each share of Common Stock following any such event shall equal the result obtained by multiplying the number of Rights associated with each share of Common Stock immediately prior to such event by a fraction, the numerator of which shall be the total number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately prior to the occurrence of the event and the denominator of which shall be the total number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately following the occurrence of such event.

Section 12.        Certificate of Adjusted Purchase Price or Number of Shares .   Whenever an adjustment is made as provided in Section 11 and Section 13 hereof, the Company shall (a) promptly prepare a certificate setting forth such adjustment and a brief statement of the facts accounting for such adjustment, (b) promptly file with the Rights Agent, and with each transfer agent for the Preferred Stock and the Common Stock, a copy of such certificate and (c) if a Distribution Date has occurred, mail a brief summary thereof to each holder of a Rights Certificate in accordance with Section 25 hereof.  The Rights Agent shall be fully protected in relying on any such certificate and on any adjustment or statement therein contained.

Section 13.        Consolidation or Merger, Cash Flow or Earning Power.
 
(a)             In the event that, following the Stock Acquisition Date, directly or indirectly, (x) the Company shall consolidate with, or merge with and into, any other Person (other than a Subsidiary of the Company in a transaction that complies with Section 11(o) hereof), and the Company shall not be the continuing or surviving entity of such consolidation or merger or (y) any Person (other than a Subsidiary of the Company in a transaction that complies with Section 11(o) hereof) shall consolidate with, or merge with or into, the Company, and the Company shall be the continuing or surviving entity of such consolidation or merger and, in connection with such consolidation or merger, all or part of the outstanding shares of Common Stock shall be changed into or exchanged for stock or other securities of any other Person or cash or any other property, then, and in each such case, proper provision shall be made so that: (i) each holder of a Right, except as provided in Section 7(e) hereof, shall thereafter have the right to receive, upon the exercise thereof at the then current Purchase Price in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, such number of validly authorized and issued, fully paid, non-assessable and freely tradeable shares of Common Stock of the Principal Party, not subject to any liens, encumbrances, rights of first refusal or other adverse claims, as shall be equal to the result obtained by (1) multiplying the then current Purchase Price by the number of one one-thousandths of a share of Preferred Stock for which a Right is exercisable immediately prior to the first occurrence of a Section 13 Event (or, if a Section 11(a)(ii) Event has occurred prior to the first occurrence of a Section 13 Event, multiplying the number of such one one-thousandths of a share for which a Right was exercisable immediately prior to the first occurrence of a Section 11(a)(ii) Event by the Purchase Price in effect immediately prior to such first occurrence of a Section 11(a)(ii) Event), and (2) dividing that product (which, following the first occurrence of a Section 13 Event, shall be referred to as the “ Purchase Price ” for each Right and for all purposes of this Agreement) by fifty percent (50%) of the Current Market Price (determined pursuant to Section 11(d)(i) hereof) per share of the Common Stock of such Principal Party on the date of consummation of such Section 13 Event; (ii) such Principal Party shall thereafter be liable for, and shall assume, by virtue of such Section 13 Event, all the obligations and duties of the Company pursuant to this Agreement; (iii) the term “ Company ” shall thereafter be deemed to refer to such Principal Party, it being specifically intended that the provisions of Section 11 hereof shall apply only to such Principal Party following the first occurrence of a Section 13 Event; (iv) such Principal Party shall take such steps (including, but not limited to, the reservation of a sufficient number of shares of its Common Stock) in connection with the consummation of any such transaction as may be necessary to assure that the provisions hereof shall thereafter be applicable, as nearly as reasonably may be, in relation to its shares of Common Stock thereafter deliverable upon the exercise of the Rights; and (v) the provisions of Section 11(a)(ii) hereof shall be of no effect following the first occurrence of any Section 13 Event.
 
23

(b)             Principal Party ” shall mean, in the case of any transaction described in clause (x) or ( y ) of the first sentence of Section 13(a) hereof, the Person that is the issuer of any securities into which shares of Common Stock are converted in such merger, consolidation or share exchange, and if no securities are so issued, the Person that is the other party to such merger, consolidation or share exchange; provided , however , that, (1) if the Common Stock of such Person is not at such time and has not been continuously over the preceding twelve (12) month period registered under Section 12 of the Exchange Act, and such Person is a direct or indirect Subsidiary of another Person the Common Stock of which is and has been so registered, “ Principal Party ” shall refer to such other Person; and (2) in case such Person is a Subsidiary, directly or indirectly, of more than one Person, the Common Stock of two or more of which is and has been so registered, “ Principal Party ” shall refer to whichever of such Persons is the issuer of the Common Stock having the greatest aggregate market value.

(c)             The Company shall not consummate any such consolidation, merger or share exchange unless the Principal Party shall have a sufficient number of authorized shares of its Common Stock that have not been issued or reserved for issuance to permit the exercise in full of the Rights in accordance with this Section 13 and unless prior thereto the Company and such Principal Party shall have executed and delivered to the Rights Agent a supplemental agreement providing for the terms set forth in paragraphs (a) and ( b ) of this Section 13 and further providing that, as soon as practicable after the date of any consolidation or merger mentioned in paragraph (a) of this Section 13 , the Principal Party will:

(i)          prepare and file a registration statement under the Securities Act, with respect to the Rights and the securities purchasable upon exercise of the Rights on an appropriate form and use its best efforts to cause such registration statement to (A) become effective as soon as practicable after such filing and (B) remain effective (with a prospectus at all times meeting the requirements of the Securities Act) until the Expiration Date;

(ii)         take all such other action as may be necessary to enable the Principal Party to issue the securities purchasable upon exercise of the Rights, including but not limited to the registration or qualification of such securities under all requisite securities laws or “blue sky” laws of jurisdictions of the various states and the listing of such securities on such exchanges and trading markets as may be necessary or appropriate; and
 
24

(iii)        deliver to holders of the Rights historical financial statements for the Principal Party and each of its Affiliates that comply in all respects with the requirements for registration on Form 10 (or any successor form) under the Exchange Act.

The provisions of this Section 13 shall similarly apply to successive mergers or consolidations.  In the event that a Section 13 Event shall occur at any time after the occurrence of a Section 11(a)(ii) Event, the Rights that have not theretofore been exercised shall thereafter become exercisable in the manner described in Section 13(a) .

Section 14.         Fractional Rights and Fractional Shares.
 
(a)             The Company shall not be required to issue fractions of Rights, except prior to the Distribution Date as provided in Section 11(p) hereof, or to distribute Rights Certificates that evidence fractional Rights.  In lieu of such fractional Rights, the Company shall pay to the registered holders of the Rights Certificates with regard to which such fractional Rights would otherwise be issuable, an amount in cash equal to the same fraction of the current market value of a whole Right.  For purposes of this Section 14(a) , the current market value of a whole Right shall be the closing price of the Rights for the Trading Day immediately prior to the date on which such fractional Rights would have been otherwise issuable.  The closing price of the Rights for any Trading Day shall be the last sale price, regular way, or, in case no such sale takes place on such day, the average of the closing bid and asked prices, regular way, in either case as reported in the principal consolidated transaction reporting system with respect to securities listed or admitted to trading on the NYSE or, if the Rights are not listed or admitted to trading on the NYSE, as reported in the principal consolidated transaction reporting system with respect to securities listed on the principal national securities exchange on which the Rights are listed or admitted to trading, or if the Rights are not listed or admitted to trading on any national securities exchange, the last quoted price or, if not so quoted, the average of the high bid and low asked prices in the over-the-counter market, as reported by NASDAQ or such other system then in use or, if on any such date the Rights are not quoted by any such organization, the average of the closing bid and asked prices as furnished by a professional market maker making a market in the Rights, selected by the Board.  If on any such date no such market maker is making a market in the Rights, the fair value of the Rights on such date as determined in good faith by the Board shall be used.

(b)             The Company shall not be required to issue fractions of shares of Preferred Stock (other than fractions that are integral multiples of one one-thousandth of a share of Preferred Stock) upon exercise of the Rights or to distribute certificates that evidence fractional shares of Preferred Stock (other than fractions that are integral multiples of one one-thousandth of a share of Preferred Stock).  In lieu of fractional shares of Preferred Stock that are not integral multiples of one one-thousandth of a share of Preferred Stock, the Company may pay to the registered holders of Rights Certificates at the time such Rights are exercised as herein provided an amount in cash equal to the same fraction of the current market value of one one-thousandth of a share of Preferred Stock.  For purposes of this Section 14(b) , the current market value of one one-thousandth of a share of Preferred Stock shall be one one-thousandth of the closing price of a share of Preferred Stock (determined in the manner in which closing prices would be determined for purposes of determining a Current Market Price per share of Preferred Stock pursuant to Section 11(d)(ii) hereof) on the Trading Day immediately prior to the date of such exercise.
 
25

(c)             Following the occurrence of a Triggering Event, the Company shall not be required to issue fractions of shares of Common Stock upon exercise of the Rights or to distribute certificates that evidence fractional shares of Common Stock.  In lieu of fractional shares of Common Stock, the Company may pay to the registered holders of Rights Certificates at the time such Rights are exercised as herein provided an amount in cash equal to the same fraction of the current market value of one (1) share of Common Stock.  For purposes of this Section 14(c) , the current market value of one (1) share of Common Stock shall be the closing price per share of Common Stock (as determined pursuant to Section 11(d)(i) hereof) on the Trading Day immediately prior to the date of such exercise.

(d)             The holder of a Right by the acceptance of the Rights expressly waives such holder’s right to receive any fractional Rights or any fractional shares upon exercise of a Right, except as permitted by this Section 14 .

(e)             Whenever a payment for fractional Rights or fractional shares is to be made by the Rights Agent under any section of this Agreement, the Company shall (i) promptly prepare and deliver to the Rights Agent a certificate setting forth in reasonable detail the facts related to such payments and the prices and formulas utilized in calculating such payments, and (ii) provide sufficient monies to the Rights Agent in the form of fully collected funds to make such payments.  The Rights Agent shall have no obligation to make fractional payments unless the Company shall have provided the necessary funds to pay in full all amounts due and payable with respect thereto. The Rights Agent shall be fully protected in relying upon such a certificate and shall have no duty with respect to, and shall not be deemed to have knowledge of, any payment for fractional Rights or fractional shares under any section of this Agreement relating to the payment of fractional Rights or fractional shares unless and until the Rights Agent shall have received such a certificate and sufficient monies from the Company.

Section 15.        Rights of Action All rights of action in respect of this Agreement, except the rights of action that are given to the Rights Agent under Section 18 hereof, are vested in the respective registered holders of the Rights Certificates (and, prior to the Distribution Date, the registered holders of the Common Stock); and any registered holder of any Rights Certificate (or, prior to the Distribution Date, of the Common Stock), without the consent of the Rights Agent or of the holder of any other Rights Certificate (or, prior to the Distribution Date, of the Common Stock), may, in such holder’s own behalf and for such holder’s own benefit, enforce, and may institute and maintain any suit, action or proceeding against the Company to enforce, or otherwise act in respect of, such holder’s right to exercise the Rights evidenced by such Rights Certificate in the manner provided in such Rights Certificate and in this Agreement.  Without limiting the foregoing or any remedies available to the holders of Rights, it is specifically acknowledged that the holders of Rights would not have an adequate remedy at law for any breach of this Agreement and shall be entitled to specific performance of the obligations hereunder and injunctive relief against actual or threatened violations of the obligations hereunder of any Person subject to this Agreement.
 
26

Section 16.         Agreement of Rights Holders Every holder of a Right, by accepting such Rights, consents and agrees with the Company and the Rights Agent and with every other holder of a Right that:
 
(a)             prior to the Distribution Date, the Rights will be transferable only in connection with the transfer of shares of Common Stock;

(b)             after the Distribution Date, the Rights Certificates are transferable only on the registry books of the Rights Agent if surrendered at the office of the Rights Agent designated for such purposes, duly endorsed or accompanied by a proper instrument of transfer and with the appropriate forms and certificates properly completed and duly executed;

(c)             subject to Section 6(a) and Section 7(f) hereof, the Company and the Rights Agent may deem and treat the Person in the name of which a Rights Certificate (or, prior to the Distribution Date, the associated Common Stock certificate (or book entry shares in respect of Common Stock)) is registered as the absolute owner thereof and of the Rights evidenced thereby (notwithstanding any notations of ownership or writing on the Rights Certificates or the associated Common Stock certificate (or notices provided to holders of book entry shares of Common Stock) made by anyone other than the Company or the Rights Agent) for all purposes whatsoever, and neither the Company nor the Rights Agent, subject to the last sentence of Section 7(e) hereof, shall be required to be affected by any notice to the contrary; and

(d)             notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, neither the Company nor the Rights Agent, nor any of their respective directors, officers, employees or agents, shall have any liability to any holder of a Right or other Person as a result of its inability to perform any of its obligations under this Agreement by reason of any preliminary or permanent injunction or other order, decree, judgment or ruling (whether interlocutory or final) issued by a court of competent jurisdiction or by a governmental, regulatory or administrative agency or commission, or any statute, rule, regulation or executive order promulgated or enacted by any governmental authority, prohibiting or otherwise restraining performance of such obligation; provided , however , the Company shall use its best efforts to have any such injunction, order, decree, judgment or ruling lifted or otherwise overturned as soon as possible.

Section 17.        Rights Certificate Holder Not Deemed a Stockholder .   No holder, as such, of any Rights Certificate shall be entitled to vote, receive dividends or be deemed for any purpose to be the holder of the number of one one-thousandths of a share of Preferred Stock or any other securities of the Company that may at any time be issuable on the exercise or exchange of the Rights represented thereby, nor shall anything contained herein or in any Rights Certificate be construed to confer upon the holder of any Rights Certificate, as such, any of the rights of a stockholder of the Company or any right to vote for the election of directors or upon any matter submitted to stockholders at any meeting thereof, or to give or withhold consent with respect to any corporate action, or to receive notice of meetings or other actions affecting stockholders (except as provided in Section 25 hereof), or to receive dividends or subscription rights, or otherwise, until the Right or Rights evidenced by such Rights Certificate shall have been exercised or exchanged in accordance with the provisions hereof.
 
27

Section 18.         Concerning the Rights Agent.
 
(a)             The Company agrees to pay to the Rights Agent reasonable compensation for all services rendered by it hereunder and, from time to time, on demand of the Rights Agent, its reasonable expenses and counsel fees and disbursements and other disbursements incurred in the administration and execution of this Agreement and the exercise and performance of its duties hereunder.  The Company also agrees to indemnify the Rights Agent and its employees, directors and its officers for, and to hold it harmless against, any loss, liability or expense that may be paid, incurred or suffered by it without gross negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct on the part of the Rights Agent (as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction in a final non-appealable judgment), for anything done or omitted by the Rights Agent in connection with the acceptance and administration of this Agreement and performance of its obligations hereunder, including the costs and expenses of defending against any claim of liability.

(b)             The Rights Agent shall be protected and shall incur no liability for or in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted by it in connection with its administration of this Agreement and performance of its obligations hereunder in reliance upon any Rights Certificate or certificate for Common Stock or for other securities of the Company (including in the case of uncertificated securities, by notation in book entry accounts reflecting ownership), instrument of assignment or transfer, power of attorney, endorsement, affidavit, letter, notice, direction, consent, certificate, statement, or other paper or document believed by it to be genuine and to be signed, executed and, where necessary, verified or acknowledged, by the proper Person or Persons.

Section 19.        Merger or Consolidation or Change of Name of Rights Agent.
 
(a)            Any Person into which the Rights Agent or any successor Rights Agent may be merged or with which it may be consolidated, or any Person resulting from any merger or consolidation to which the Rights Agent or any successor Rights Agent shall be a party, or any Person succeeding to the corporate trust, stock transfer or other stockholder services business of the Rights Agent or any successor Rights Agent, shall be the successor to the Rights Agent under this Agreement without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of any of the parties hereto; but only if such Person would be eligible for appointment as a successor Rights Agent under the provisions of Section 21 hereof.  In case at the time such successor Rights Agent shall succeed to the agency created by this Agreement, any of the Rights Certificates shall have been countersigned but not delivered, any such successor Rights Agent may adopt the countersignature of a predecessor Rights Agent and deliver such Rights Certificates so countersigned; and in case at that time any of the Rights Certificates shall not have been countersigned, any successor Rights Agent may countersign such Rights Certificates either in the name of the predecessor or in the name of the successor Rights Agent; and in all such cases such Rights Certificates shall have the full force provided in the Rights Certificates and in this Agreement.

(b)             In case at any time the name of the Rights Agent shall be changed and at such time any of the Rights Certificates shall have been countersigned but not delivered, the Rights Agent may adopt the countersignature under its prior name and deliver Rights Certificates so countersigned; and in case at that time any of the Rights Certificates shall not have been countersigned, the Rights Agent may countersign such Rights Certificates either in its prior name or in its changed name; and in all such cases such Rights Certificates shall have the full force provided in the Rights Certificates and in this Agreement.
 
28

Section 20.        Duties of Rights Agent The Rights Agent undertakes the duties and obligations imposed by this Agreement upon the following terms and conditions, by all of which the Company and the holders of Rights Certificates, by their acceptance thereof, shall be bound:
 
(a)             The Rights Agent may consult with legal counsel (who may be legal counsel for the Rights Agent or the Company) and the opinion of such counsel shall be full and complete authorization and protection to the Rights Agent as to any action taken or omitted by it in good faith and in accordance with such opinion.

(b)             Whenever in the performance of its duties under this Agreement the Rights Agent shall deem it necessary or desirable that any fact or matter (including the identity of any Acquiring Person and the determination of Current Market Price) be proved or established by the Company prior to taking or suffering any action hereunder, such fact or matter (unless other evidence in respect thereof be herein specifically prescribed) may be deemed to be conclusively proved and established by a certificate signed by an Appropriate Officer and delivered to the Rights Agent; and such certificate shall be full authorization to the Rights Agent for any action taken or suffered in good faith by it under the provisions of this Agreement in reliance upon such certificate.

(c)             The Rights Agent shall not be liable for or by reason of any of the statements of fact or recitals contained in this Agreement or in the Rights Certificates or be required to verify the same (except as to its countersignature on such Rights Certificates), but all such statements and recitals are and shall be deemed to have been made by the Company only.

(d)             The Rights Agent shall not be under any responsibility in respect of the validity of this Agreement or the execution and delivery hereof (except the due execution hereof by the Rights Agent) or in respect of the validity or execution of any Rights Certificate (except its countersignature thereof); shall not be responsible for any breach by the Company of any covenant or condition contained in this Agreement or in any Rights Certificate; shall not be responsible for any adjustment required under the provisions of Section 11 , Section 13 or Section 24 hereof or responsible for the manner, method or amount of any such adjustment or the ascertaining of the existence of facts that would require any such adjustment (except with respect to the exercise of Rights evidenced by Rights Certificates after actual written notice of any such adjustment); shall not by any act hereunder be deemed to make any representation or warranty as to the authorization or reservation of any shares of Preferred Stock or Common Stock or other securities to be issued pursuant to this Agreement or any Rights Certificate or as to whether any shares of Preferred Stock or Common Stock will, when so issued, be validly authorized and issued, fully paid and non-assessable; and shall not be responsible for the independent investigation of the accuracy of any information, certificate, instrument or written instruction delivered to the Rights Agent by the Company.
 
29

(e)             The Company agrees that it will perform, execute, acknowledge and deliver or cause to be performed, executed, acknowledged and delivered all such further and other acts, instruments and assurances as may reasonably be required by the Rights Agent for the carrying out or performing by the Rights Agent of the provisions of this Agreement.

(f)              The Rights Agent is hereby authorized and directed to accept instructions with respect to the performance of its duties hereunder from any Appropriate Officer, the Secretary or any Assistant Secretary of the Company, and to apply to such officers for advice or instructions in connection with its duties, and it shall not be liable for any action taken, suffered or omitted to be taken by it in good faith in accordance with instructions of any such officer.

(g)             The Rights Agent and any stockholder, director, officer or employee of the Rights Agent may buy, sell or deal in any of the Rights or other securities of the Company or become pecuniarily interested in any transaction in which the Company may be interested, or contract with or lend money to the Company or otherwise act as fully and freely as though it were not Rights Agent under this Agreement. Nothing herein shall preclude the Rights Agent from acting in any other capacity for the Company or for any other Person.

(h)             The Rights Agent may execute and exercise any of the rights or powers hereby vested in it or perform any duty hereunder either itself (through its directors, officers and employees) or by or through its attorneys or agents, and the Rights Agent shall not be answerable or accountable for any act, default, neglect or misconduct of any such attorneys or agents or for any loss to the Company resulting from any such act, default, neglect or misconduct, absent negligence bad faith or willful misconduct in the selection and continued employment thereof.

(i)              No provision of this Agreement shall require the Rights Agent to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur any financial liability in the performance of any of its duties hereunder (other than internal costs incurred by the Rights Agent in providing services to the Company in the ordinary course of its business as Rights Agent and for which it shall be compensated pursuant to Section 18(a) ) or in the exercise of its rights if it reasonably believes that repayment of such funds or adequate indemnification against such risk or liability is not reasonably assured to it.

(j)              If, with respect to any Rights Certificate surrendered to the Rights Agent for exercise or transfer, the certificate attached to the form of assignment or form of election to purchase, as the case may be, has either not been completed or indicates an affirmative response to clause 1 and/or 2 thereof, the Rights Agent shall not take any further action with respect to such requested exercise or transfer without first consulting with the Company.

Section 21.        Change of Rights Agent The Rights Agent or any successor Rights Agent may resign and be discharged from its duties under this Agreement upon thirty (30) days’ notice in writing mailed to the Company, and to each transfer agent of the Common Stock and Preferred Stock, by first class mail, and, if such resignation occurs after the Distribution Date, the Company shall notify the registered holders of the Rights Certificates by first-class mail.  The Company may, in its sole discretion, remove the Rights Agent or any successor Rights Agent upon thirty (30) days’ notice in writing, mailed to the Rights Agent or successor Rights Agent, as the case may be, and to each transfer agent of the Common Stock and Preferred Stock, by registered or certified mail, and, if such removal occurs after the Distribution Date, to the holders of the Rights Certificates by first-class mail.  If the Rights Agent shall resign or be removed or shall otherwise become incapable of acting, the Company shall appoint a successor to the Rights Agent.  If the Company shall fail to make such appointment within a period of thirty (30) days after giving notice of such removal or after it has been notified in writing of such resignation or incapacity by the resigning or incapacitated Rights Agent or by the holder of a Rights Certificate (who shall, with such notice, submit his Rights Certificate for inspection by the Company), then any registered holder of any Rights Certificate may apply to any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a new Rights Agent.  Any successor Rights Agent, whether appointed by the Company or by such a court, shall be (a) a legal business entity organized and doing business under the laws of the United States, in good standing, having an office in the State of New York, that is authorized under such laws to exercise corporate trust or stock transfer or stockholders services powers and which has at the time of its appointment as Rights Agent a combined capital (including its direct and indirect parents and Subsidiaries) and surplus of at least $100,000,000 or (b) an affiliate of a legal business entity described in clause (a) of this sentence.  After appointment, the successor Rights Agent shall be vested with the same powers, rights, duties and responsibilities as if it had been originally named as Rights Agent without further act or deed; but the predecessor Rights Agent shall deliver and transfer to the successor Rights Agent any property at the time held by it hereunder, and execute and deliver any further assurance, conveyance, act or deed necessary for the purpose.  Not later than the effective date of any such appointment, the Company shall file notice thereof in writing with the predecessor Rights Agent and each transfer agent of the Common Stock and the Preferred Stock, and, if such appointment occurs after the Distribution Date, mail a notice thereof in writing to the registered holders of the Rights Certificates.  Failure to give any notice provided for in this Section 21 , however, or any defect therein, shall not affect the legality or validity of the resignation or removal of the Rights Agent or the appointment of the successor Rights Agent, as the case may be.
 
30

Section 22.         Issuance of New Rights Certificates Notwithstanding any of the provisions of this Agreement or of the Rights to the contrary, the Company may, at its option, issue new Rights Certificates evidencing Rights in such form as may be approved by the Board to reflect any adjustment or change in the Purchase Price and the number or kind or class of shares or other securities or property purchasable under the Rights Certificates made in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement.  In addition, in connection with the issuance or sale of shares of Common Stock following the Distribution Date and prior to the redemption, exchange or expiration of the Rights, the Company (a) shall, with respect to shares of Common Stock so issued or sold (x) pursuant to the exercise of stock options or pursuant to awards under any employee plan or arrangement, which stock options or awards are outstanding as of the Distribution Date (unless the Board or a duly authorized committee thereof has determined to make other equitable adjustments or the agreements underlying such stock options or awards provide otherwise), or (y) upon the exercise, conversion or exchange of securities issued by the Company after the date of this Agreement (except as may otherwise be provided in the instrument(s) governing such securities), and (b) may, in any other case, if deemed necessary or appropriate by the Board, issue Rights Certificates representing the appropriate number of Rights in connection with such issuance or sale; provided , however , that (i) no such Rights Certificate shall be issued if, and to the extent that, the Company shall be advised by counsel that such issuance would create a significant risk of material adverse tax consequences to the Company or the Person to whom such Rights Certificate would be issued, and (ii) no such Rights Certificate shall be issued if, and to the extent that, appropriate adjustment shall otherwise have been made in lieu of the issuance thereof.
 
31

Section 23.         Redemption and Termination.
 
(a)             The Board may, at its option, at any time prior to the earlier of (i) the close of business on the tenth (10th) Business Day following the Stock Acquisition Date (or, if the Stock Acquisition Date shall have occurred prior to the Record Date, the close of business on the tenth (10th) Business Day following the Record Date) and (ii) the Final Expiration Date, direct the Company to, and, if so directed, the Company shall, redeem all but not less than all of the then outstanding Rights at a redemption price of $0.001 per Right, as such amount may be appropriately adjusted to reflect any stock split, stock dividend or similar transaction occurring after the date hereof (such redemption price being hereinafter referred to as the “ Redemption Price ”).  Notwithstanding anything contained in this Agreement to the contrary, the Rights shall not be exercisable after the first occurrence of a Section 11(a)(ii) Event until such time as the Company’s right of redemption hereunder has expired.  The Company may, at its option, pay the Redemption Price in cash, shares of Common Stock (based on the Current Market Price of the Common Stock at the time of redemption) or any other form of consideration deemed appropriate by the Board.  The redemption of the Rights may be made effective at such time, on such basis and with such conditions as the Board in its sole discretion may establish.

(b)             Immediately upon the action of the Board ordering the redemption of the Rights, written evidence of which shall have been filed with the Rights Agent and without any further action and without any notice, the right to exercise the Rights will terminate and the only right thereafter of the holders of Rights shall be to receive the Redemption Price for each Right so held.  Promptly after the action of the Board ordering the redemption of the Rights, the Company shall give written notice of such redemption to the Rights Agent and the holders of the then outstanding Rights by mailing such notice to all such holders at each holder’s last address as it appears upon the registry books of the Rights Agent or, prior to the Distribution Date, on the registry books of the transfer agent for the Common Stock.  Any notice that is mailed in the manner herein provided shall be deemed given, whether or not the holder receives such notice.  The failure to give, or any defect in, such notice shall not affect the validity of such redemption. Each such notice of redemption will state the method by which the payment of the Redemption Price will be made.

(c)             Neither the Company nor any of its Affiliates or Associates may redeem, acquire or purchase for value any Rights at any time in any manner other than that specifically set forth in this Section 23 and other than in connection with the purchase or repurchase by any of them of Common Stock prior to the Distribution Date.

Section 24.        Exchange.
 
(a)             The Board may, at its option, at any time after any Person becomes an Acquiring Person, exchange all or part of the then outstanding and exercisable Rights (which shall not include Rights that have become null and void pursuant to the provisions of Section 7(e) hereof) for shares of Common Stock at an exchange ratio of one (1) share of Common Stock per Right, appropriately adjusted to reflect any stock split, stock dividend or similar transaction occurring after the date hereof (such exchange ratio being hereinafter referred to as the “ Exchange Ratio ”).  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Board shall not be empowered to effect such exchange at any time after (i) any Person (other than the Company, any Subsidiary of the Company, any employee benefit plan of the Company or any such Subsidiary, or any entity holding shares of Common Stock for or pursuant to the terms of any such plan), together with all Affiliates and Associates of such Person, becomes the Beneficial Owner of fifty percent (50%) or more of the Common Stock then outstanding or (ii) the occurrence of a Section 13 Event.
 
32

(b)             Immediately upon the action of the Board ordering the exchange of any Rights pursuant to subsection (a) of this Section 24 and without any further action and without any notice, the right to exercise such Rights shall terminate and the only right thereafter of a holder of such Rights shall be to receive that number of shares of Common Stock equal to the number of such Rights held by such holder multiplied by the Exchange Ratio.  The Company shall promptly give public notice of any such exchange; provided , however , that the failure to give, or any defect in, such notice shall not affect the validity of such exchange.  The Company promptly shall mail a notice of any such exchange to all of the holders of such Rights at their last addresses as they appear upon the registry books of the Rights Agent. Any notice that is mailed in the manner herein provided shall be deemed given, whether or not the holder receives the notice. Each such notice of exchange will state the method by which the exchange of the Common Stock for Rights will be effected and, in the event of any partial exchange, the number of Rights that will be exchanged. Any partial exchange shall be effected pro rata based on the number of Rights (other than Rights that have become null and void pursuant to the provisions of Section 7(e) hereof) held by each holder of Rights.

(c)             Following the action of the Board ordering the exchange of any Rights pursuant to subsection (a) of this Section 24 , the Company may implement such procedures in its sole discretion as it deems appropriate for the purpose of ensuring that the Common Stock (or such other consideration) issuable upon an exchange pursuant to this Section 24 not be received by holders of Rights that have become null and void pursuant to Section 7(e) hereof.  In furtherance thereof, if so directed by the Company, shares of Common Stock (or other consideration) potentially issuable upon an exchange pursuant to this Section 24 to holders of Rights that have not verified to the satisfaction of the Company, in its sole discretion, that they are not Acquiring Persons may be deposited in a trust established by the Company pending receipt of appropriate verification.  To the extent that such trust is established, holders of Rights entitled to receive such shares of Common Stock (or other consideration) pursuant to an exchange pursuant to this Section 24 that have not previously received such shares of Common Stock (or other consideration) shall be entitled to receive such shares of Common Stock (or other consideration) (and any dividends paid or distributions made thereon after the date on which such shares of Common Stock (or other consideration) are deposited in the trust) only from the trust and solely upon compliance with the relevant terms and provisions of the applicable trust agreement.

(d)             In any exchange pursuant to this Section 24 , the Company, at its option, may substitute Preferred Stock (or Equivalent Preferred Stock) for Common Stock exchangeable for Rights, at the initial rate of one one-thousandth of a share of Preferred Stock (or Equivalent Preferred Stock) for each share of Common Stock, as appropriately adjusted to reflect stock splits, stock dividends and other similar transactions after the date hereof.
 
33

(e)             In the event that there shall not be sufficient shares of Common Stock issued but not outstanding or authorized but unissued to permit any exchange of Rights as contemplated in accordance with this Section 24 , the Company shall take all such action as may be necessary to authorize additional shares of Common Stock for issuance upon exchange of the Rights.

(f)              The Company shall not be required to issue fractions of shares of Common Stock or to distribute certificates that evidence fractional shares of Common Stock.  In lieu of such fractional shares of Common Stock, there shall be paid to the registered holders of the Rights Certificates with regard to which such fractional shares of Common Stock would otherwise be issuable, an amount in cash equal to the same fraction of the current market value of a whole share of Common Stock.  For the purposes of this subsection (f), the current market value of a whole share of Common Stock shall be the closing price of a share of Common Stock (as determined pursuant to the second sentence of Section 11(d)(i) hereof) for the Trading Day immediately prior to the date of exchange pursuant to this Section 24 .

Section 25.        Notice of Certain Events.
 
(a)             In case the Company shall propose, at any time after the Distribution Date, (i) to pay any dividend payable in stock of any class to the holders of Preferred Stock or to make any other distribution to the holders of Preferred Stock (other than a regular quarterly cash dividend out of earnings or retained earnings of the Company), or (ii) to offer to the holders of Preferred Stock rights or warrants to subscribe for or to purchase any additional shares of Preferred Stock or shares of stock of any class or any other securities, rights or options, or (iii) to effect any reclassification of its Preferred Stock (other than a reclassification involving only the subdivision of outstanding shares of Preferred Stock), or (iv) to effect any consolidation or merger into or with any other Person (other than a Subsidiary of the Company in a transaction that complies with Section 11(o) hereof), to effect any share exchange with, or to effect any sale or other transfer (or to permit one or more of its Subsidiaries to effect any sale or other transfer), in one transaction or a series of related transactions, of more than fifty percent (50%) of the assets, cash flow or earning power of the Company and its Subsidiaries (taken as a whole) to any other Person or Persons (other than the Company and/or any of its Subsidiaries in one or more transactions each of which complies with Section 11(o) hereof), or (v) to effect the liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company, then, in each such case, the Company shall give to each holder of a Rights Certificate, to the extent feasible and in accordance with Section 26 hereof, a notice of such proposed action, which shall specify the record date for the purposes of such stock dividend, distribution of rights or warrants, or the date on which such reclassification, consolidation, merger, sale, share exchange, transfer, liquidation, dissolution, or winding up is to take place and the date of participation therein by the holders of the shares of Preferred Stock, if any such date is to be fixed, and such notice shall be so given in the case of any action covered by clause (i) or (ii) above at least twenty (20) days prior to the record date for determining holders of the shares of Preferred Stock for purposes of such action, and in the case of any such other action, at least twenty (20) days prior to the date of the taking of such proposed action or the date of participation therein by the holders of the shares of Preferred Stock, whichever shall be the earlier.
 
34

(b)             In the event that any Section 11(a)(ii) Event shall occur, (i) the Company shall as soon as practicable thereafter give to each holder of a Rights Certificate, to the extent feasible and in accordance with Section 26 hereof, a notice of the occurrence of such event, which shall specify the event and the consequences of the event to holders of Rights under Section 11(a)(ii) hereof, and (ii) all references in the preceding paragraph to Preferred Stock shall be deemed thereafter to refer to Common Stock and/or, if appropriate, other securities.

Section 26.        Notices.
 
(a)             Notices or demands authorized by this Agreement to be given or made by the Rights Agent or by the holder of any Rights Certificate to or on the Company shall be sufficiently given or made if in writing and when sent by recognized national overnight delivery service or by first-class mail, postage prepaid, addressed (until another address is filed in writing with the Rights Agent by the Company) as follows:

Newcastle Investment Corp.
1345 Avenue of the Americas, 45th Floor
New York, New York 10105
Attention:  Corporate Secretary

(b)             Subject to the provisions of Section 21 , any notice or demand authorized by this Agreement to be given or made by the Company or by the holder of any Rights Certificate to or on the Rights Agent shall be sufficiently given if in writing and when sent by first-class mail, postage prepaid, addressed (until another address is filed in writing by the Rights Agent with the Company) as follows:

American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC
6201 15th Avenue
Brooklyn, New York 11219
Attention: Corporate Trust Department

With a copy to:

American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC
48 Wall Street, 22nd Floor
New York, New York 10005
Attention: Legal Department

(c)             Notices or demands authorized by this Agreement to be given or made by the Company or the Rights Agent to the holder of any Rights Certificate (or, if prior to the Distribution Date, to the holder of shares of Common Stock) shall be sufficiently given or made if sent or delivered by recognized national overnight delivery service or by first-class mail, postage prepaid, addressed to such holder at the address of such holder as shown on the registry books of the Company.
 
35

Section 27.         Supplements and Amendments Prior to the Distribution Date, the Company and the Rights Agent shall, if the Company so directs, supplement or amend any provision of this Agreement without the approval of any holders of shares of Common Stock; provided , however , that the Company shall not extend the Final Expiration Date beyond 5:00 P.M., New York City time, on December 6, 2017 unless such extension is approved by the stockholders of the Company as provided in Section 1(v) hereof.  From and after the Distribution Date, the Company and the Rights Agent shall, if the Company so directs, supplement or amend this Agreement without the approval of any holders of Rights Certificates in order (i) to cure any ambiguity, (ii) to correct or supplement any provision contained herein that may be defective or inconsistent with any other provisions herein, (iii) to shorten or lengthen any time period hereunder or (iv) to change or supplement the provisions hereunder in any manner that the Company may deem necessary or desirable and that shall not adversely affect the interests of the holders of Rights Certificates (other than an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate of an Acquiring Person).  Upon the delivery of a certificate from an Appropriate Officer of the Company that states that the proposed supplement or amendment is in compliance with the terms of this Section 27 , the Rights Agent shall execute such supplement or amendment; provided that any supplement or amendment other than to Sections 18, 19, 20, 22, 27 or 32 hereof that does not supplement or amend this Agreement in a manner adverse to the Rights Agent shall become effective immediately upon execution by the Company, whether or not also executed by the Rights Agent. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, this Agreement may not be amended (other than pursuant to clauses (i) or (ii) of the second sentence of this Section 27 ) at a time when the Rights are not redeemable.  Prior to the Distribution Date, the interests of the holders of Rights shall be deemed coincident with the interests of the holders of shares of Common Stock.

Section 28.        Successors All the covenants and provisions of this Agreement by or for the benefit of the Company or the Rights Agent shall bind and inure to the benefit of their respective successors and assigns hereunder; provided, however, that this Agreement shall not be assignable by either party without prior written consent of the other party.
 
Section 29.         Determinations and Actions by the Board, etc The Board shall have the exclusive power and authority to administer this Agreement and to exercise all rights and powers specifically granted to the Board or to the Company, or as may be necessary or advisable in the administration of this Agreement, including the right and power to (i) interpret the provisions of this Agreement and the provisions of Section 382 and the Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder, and (ii) make all determinations deemed necessary or advisable for the administration of this Agreement (including a determination to redeem or not redeem the Rights or to amend this Agreement).  All such actions, calculations, interpretations and determinations (including, for purposes of clause (y) below, all omissions with respect to the foregoing) that are done or made by the Board in good faith, shall (x) be final, conclusive and binding on the Company, the Rights Agent, the holders of the Rights and all other Persons, and (y) not subject the Board or any of the directors on the Board to any liability to the holders of the Rights.
 
Section 30.        Benefits of this Agreement Nothing in this Agreement shall be construed to give to any Person other than the Company, the Rights Agent and the registered holders of the Rights Certificates (and, prior to the Distribution Date, registered holders of the Common Stock) any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under this Agreement. This Agreement shall be for the sole and exclusive benefit of the Company, the Rights Agent and the registered holders of the Rights Certificates (and, prior to the Distribution Date, registered holders of the Common Stock).
 
36

Section 31.        Severability .   If any term, provision, covenant or restriction of this Agreement is held by a court of competent jurisdiction or other authority to be invalid, void or unenforceable, the remainder of the terms, provisions, covenants and restrictions of this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect and shall in no way be affected, impaired or invalidated; provided , however , that notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, if any such term, provision, covenant or restriction is held by such court or authority to be invalid, void or unenforceable and the Board determines in its good faith judgment that severing the invalid language from this Agreement would adversely affect the purpose or effect of this Agreement, the right of redemption set forth in Section 23 hereof shall be reinstated and shall not expire until the close of business on the tenth Business Day following the date of such determination by the Board.  Without limiting the foregoing, if any provision requiring a specific group of directors of the Company to act is held by any court of competent jurisdiction or other authority to be invalid, void or unenforceable, such determination shall then be made by the Board in accordance with applicable law and the Charter and the Company’s Bylaws.

Section 32.        Governing Law This Agreement, each Right and each Rights Certificate issued hereunder shall be deemed to be a contract made under the laws of the State of New York (without giving effect to the conflicts of laws principles thereof) and for all purposes shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of such State applicable to contracts made and to be performed entirely within such State.
 
Section 33.        Counterparts This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts and each of such counterparts shall for all purposes be deemed to be an original, and all such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument. A signature to this Agreement executed or transmitted electronically shall have the same authority, effect and enforceability as an original signature. A signature to this Agreement executed or transmitted electronically shall have the same authority, effect and enforceability as an original signature.
 
Section 34.        Descriptive Headings; Interpretation Descriptive headings of the several sections of this Agreement are inserted for convenience only and shall not control or affect the meaning or construction of any of the provisions hereof. Wherever the words “include,” “includes” or “including” are used in this Agreement, they shall be deemed to be followed by the words “without limitation.”
 
[ Signature page follows. ]
 
37

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be duly executed as of the day and year first above written.


 
NEWCASTLE INVESTMENT CORP.
   
 
By
/s/ Sarah L. Watterson
   
Name:
Sarah L. Watterson
   
Title:
Chief Executive Officer
   
 
AMERICAN STOCK TRANSFER & TRUST COMPANY, LLC
   
 
By
/s/ Michael Nespoli
   
Name:
Michael Nespoli
   
Title:
Executive Director
 
[Tax Benefits Preservation Plan]
 

Exhibit A

FORM OF
ARTICLES SUPPLEMENTARY OF SERIES E
JUNIOR PARTICIPATING PREFERRED STOCK

OF

NEWCASTLE INVESTMENT CORP.

ARTICLES SUPPLEMENTARY

Newcastle Investment Corp., a corporation organized and existing under the General Corporation Law of the State of Maryland (the “ Corporation ”), hereby certifies to the State Department of Assessments and Taxation of Maryland that:

FIRST: Under a power contained in Article VI of the charter of the Corporation (the “ Charter ”), the Board of Directors of the Corporation (the “ Board of Directors ”), by resolution duly adopted at a meeting duly called held on December 7, 2016, classified and designated one million (1,000,000) shares (the “ Shares ”) of authorized but unissued Preferred Stock (as defined in the Charter) as shares of Series E Junior Participating Preferred Stock, with the preferences, conversion and other rights, voting powers, restrictions, limitations as to dividends and other distributions, qualifications and terms and conditions of redemption as set forth below.

SERIES E JUNIOR PARTICIPATING PREFERRED STOCK

Section 1.            Designation and Amount .  The shares of such series shall be designated as “Series E Junior Participating Preferred Stock” (the “ Series E Preferred Stock ”) and the number of shares constituting such series shall be one million (1,000,000). Such number of shares may be increased or decreased by resolution of the Board of Directors; provided , that no decrease shall reduce the number of shares of Series E Preferred Stock to a number less than the number of shares then outstanding plus the number of shares reserved for issuance upon the exercise of outstanding options, rights or warrants or upon the exercise of any options, rights or warrants issuable upon conversion of any outstanding securities issued by the Corporation convertible into Series E Preferred Stock.

Section 2.            Dividends and Distributions .

(A)            Subject to the prior and superior rights of the holders of any shares of any series of Preferred Stock (or any similar stock) ranking prior and superior to the shares of Series E Preferred Stock with respect to dividends, the holders of shares of Series E Preferred Stock, in preference to the holders of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Corporation (“ Common Stock ”), and of any other junior stock, shall be entitled to receive, when, as and if declared by the Board of Directors out of funds legally available for the purpose, quarterly dividends payable in cash on the 1 st March, June, September and December in each year (each such date being referred to herein as a “ Quarterly Dividend Payment Date ”), commencing on the first Quarterly Dividend Payment Date after the first issuance of a share or fraction of a share of Series E Preferred Stock, in an amount per share (rounded to the nearest cent) equal to the greater of (a) $1.00 or (b) subject to the provision for adjustment hereinafter set forth, 1,000 times the aggregate per share amount of all cash dividends, and 1,000 times the aggregate per share amount (payable in kind) of all non-cash dividends or other distributions other than a dividend payable in shares of Common Stock or a subdivision of the outstanding shares of Common Stock (by reclassification or otherwise), declared on the Common Stock since the immediately preceding Quarterly Dividend Payment Date, or, with respect to the first Quarterly Dividend Payment Date, since the first issuance of any share or fraction of a share of Series E Preferred Stock. In the event the Corporation shall at any time after December 20, 2016 (the “ Rights Record Date ”) (i) declare any dividend on Common Stock payable in shares of Common Stock, (ii) subdivide the outstanding Common Stock, or (iii) combine or consolidate the outstanding shares of Common Stock into a smaller number of shares through a reverse stock split or otherwise, then in each such case the amount to which holders of shares of Series E Preferred Stock were entitled immediately prior to such event under clause (b) of the preceding sentence shall be adjusted by multiplying such amount by a fraction the numerator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately after such event and the denominator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock that were outstanding immediately prior to such event.
 
A-1

(B)            The Corporation shall declare a dividend or distribution on the Series E Preferred Stock as provided in Paragraph (A) above immediately after it declares a dividend or distribution on the Common Stock (other than a dividend payable in shares of Common Stock); provided that, in the event no dividend or distribution shall have been declared on the Common Stock during the period between any Quarterly Dividend Payment Date and the next subsequent Quarterly Dividend Payment Date, a dividend of $1.00 per share on the Series E Preferred Stock shall nevertheless be payable on such subsequent Quarterly Dividend Payment Date.

(C)            Dividends, to the extent payable as provide in paragraphs (A) and (B) of this Section, shall begin to accrue and be cumulative on outstanding shares of Series E Preferred Stock from the Quarterly Dividend Payment Date next preceding the date of issue of such shares of Series E Preferred Stock, unless the date of issue of such shares is prior to the record date for the first Quarterly Dividend Payment Date, in which case dividends on such shares shall begin to accrue from the date of issue of such shares, or unless the date of issue is a Quarterly Dividend Payment Date or is a date after the record date for the determination of holders of shares of Series E Preferred Stock entitled to receive a quarterly dividend and before such Quarterly Dividend Payment Date, in either of which events such dividends shall begin to accrue and be cumulative from such Quarterly Dividend Payment Date. Accrued but unpaid dividends shall not bear interest. Dividends paid on the shares of Series E Preferred Stock in an amount less than the total amount of such dividends at the time accrued and payable on such shares shall be allocated pro rata on a share-by-share basis among all such shares at the time outstanding. The Board of Directors may fix a record date for the determination of holders of shares of Series E Preferred Stock entitled to receive payment of a dividend or distribution declared thereon, which record date shall be no more than thirty (30) days prior to the date fixed for the payment thereof.
 
A-2

Section 3.            Voting Rights .  The holders of shares of Series E Preferred Stock shall have the following voting rights:

(A)            Subject to the provision for adjustment hereinafter set forth, each share of Series E Preferred Stock shall entitle the holder thereof to 1,000 votes on all matters submitted to a vote of the stockholders of the Corporation. In the event the Corporation shall at any time after the Rights Record Date (i) declare or pay any dividend on Common Stock payable in shares of Common Stock, (ii) subdivide the outstanding Common Stock, or (iii) combine or consolidate the outstanding shares of Common Stock into a smaller number of shares through a reverse stock split or otherwise, then in each such case the number of votes per share to which holders of shares of Series E Preferred Stock were entitled immediately prior to such event shall be adjusted by multiplying such number by a fraction the numerator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately after such event and the denominator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock that were outstanding immediately prior to such event.

(B)             Except as otherwise provided herein, in any other Articles Supplementary creating a series of Preferred Stock (or any similar stock), or by law, the holders of shares of Series E Preferred Stock and the holders of shares of Common Stock shall vote together as one class on all matters submitted to a vote of stockholders of the Corporation.

(C)

(i)          If at any time dividends on any Series E Preferred Stock shall be in arrears in an amount equal to six (6) quarterly dividends thereon, the occurrence of such contingency shall mark the beginning of a period (herein called a “default period”) which shall extend until such time when all accrued and unpaid dividends for all previous quarterly dividend periods and for the current quarterly dividend period on all shares of Series E Preferred Stock then outstanding shall have been authorized and declared and paid or set apart for payment. During each default period, all holders of Preferred Stock (including holders of the Series E Preferred Stock) with dividends in arrears in an amount equal to six (6) quarterly dividends thereon, voting as a class, irrespective of series, shall have the right to elect two (2) directors.
 
A-3

(ii)         During any default period, such voting right of the holders of Series E Preferred Stock may be exercised initially at a special meeting called pursuant to subparagraph (iii) of this Section 3(C) or at any annual meeting of stockholders, and thereafter at annual meetings of stockholders, provided that neither such voting right nor the right of the holders of any other series of Preferred Stock, if any, to increase, in certain cases, the authorized number of directors shall not be exercised unless the holders of ten percent (10%) in number of shares of Preferred Stock outstanding shall be present in person or by proxy. The absence of a quorum of the holders of Common Stock shall not affect the exercise by the holders of Preferred Stock of such voting right. At any meeting at which the holders of Preferred Stock shall exercise such voting right initially during an existing default period, they shall have the right, voting as a class, to elect directors to fill such vacancies, if any, in the Board of Directors as may then exist up to two (2) directors or, if such right is exercised at an annual meeting, to elect two (2) directors. If the number that may be so elected at any special meeting does not amount to the required number, the holders of the Preferred Stock shall have the right to make such increase in the number of directors as shall be necessary to permit the election by them of the required number. After the holders of the Preferred Stock shall have exercised their right to elect directors in any default period and during the continuance of such period, the number of directors shall not be increased or decreased except by vote of the holders of Preferred Stock as herein provided or pursuant to the rights of any equity securities ranking senior to or pari passu with the Series E Preferred Stock.

(iii)        Unless the holders of Preferred Stock shall, during an existing default period, have previously exercised their right to elect directors, the Board of Directors may order, or any stockholder or stockholders owning in the aggregate not less than ten percent (10%) of the total number of shares of Preferred Stock outstanding, irrespective of series, may request, the calling of a special meeting of the holders of Preferred Stock, which meeting shall thereupon be called by the President, a Vice President or the Secretary of the Corporation. Notice of such meeting and of any annual meeting at which holders of Preferred Stock are entitled to vote pursuant to this Paragraph (C)(iii) shall be given to each holder of record of Preferred Stock by mailing a copy of such notice to him at his last address as the same appears on the books of the Corporation. Such meeting shall be called for a time not earlier than twenty (20) days and not later than sixty (60) days after such order or request or in default of the calling of such meeting within sixty (60) days after such order or request, such meeting may be called on similar notice by any stockholder or stockholders owning in the aggregate not less than ten percent (10%) of the total number of shares of Preferred Stock outstanding.  Notwithstanding the provisions of this Paragraph (C)(iii), no such special meeting shall be called during the period within sixty (60) days immediately preceding the date or the first day of the period, as the case may be, fixed by the bylaws of the Corporation (the “ Bylaws ”) for the next annual meeting of the stockholders.

(iv)        In any default period, the holders of Common Stock, and other classes of stock of the Corporation if applicable, shall continue to be entitled to elect the whole number of directors until the holders of Preferred Stock shall have exercised their right to elect two (2) directors voting as a class, after the exercise of which right (x) the directors so elected by the holders of Preferred Stock shall continue in office until their successors shall have been elected by such holders or until the expiration of the default period, whichever happens first, and (y) any vacancy in the Board of Directors may (except as provided in Paragraph (C)(ii) of this Section 3) be filled by vote of a majority of the remaining directors theretofore elected by the holders of the class of stock that elected the director whose office shall have become vacant. References in this Paragraph (C) to directors elected by the holders of a particular class of stock shall include directors elected by such directors to fill vacancies as provided in clause (y) of the foregoing sentence.
 
A-4

(v)         Immediately upon the expiration of a default period, (x) the right of the holders of Preferred Stock as a class to elect directors shall cease, (y) the term of any directors elected by the holders of Preferred Stock as a class shall terminate, and (z) the number of directors shall be such number as may be provided for in the Charter or Bylaws irrespective of any increase made pursuant to the provisions of Paragraph (C)(ii) of this Section 3 (such number being subject, however, to change thereafter in any manner provided by law or in the Charter or Bylaws). Any vacancies in the Board of Directors effected by the provisions of clauses (y) and (z) in the preceding sentence may be filled by a majority of the remaining directors.

(D)            Except as set forth herein, or as otherwise provided by law, holders of Series E Preferred Stock shall have no special voting rights and their consent shall not be required (except to the extent they are entitled to vote with holders of Common Stock as set forth herein) for authorizing or taking any corporate action.

Section 4.            Certain Restrictions .

(A)            Whenever quarterly dividends or other dividends or distributions payable on the Series E Preferred Stock as provided in Section 2 are in arrears, thereafter and until all accrued and unpaid dividends and distributions, whether or not declared, on shares of Series E Preferred Stock outstanding shall have been paid in full, the Corporation shall not:

(i)          declare or pay dividends on, make any other distributions on, or redeem or purchase or otherwise acquire for consideration any shares of stock ranking junior (either as to dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up) to the Series E Preferred Stock;

(ii)         declare or pay dividends on or make any other distributions on any shares of stock ranking on a parity (either as to dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up) with the Series E Preferred Stock, except dividends paid ratably on the Series E Preferred Stock and all such parity stock on which dividends are payable or in arrears in proportion to the total amounts to which the holders of all such shares are then entitled;

(iii)        redeem or purchase or otherwise acquire for consideration shares of any stock ranking junior (either as to dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up) with the Series E Preferred Stock, provided that the Corporation may at any time redeem, purchase or otherwise acquire shares of any such junior stock in exchange for shares of any stock of the Corporation ranking junior (either as to dividends or upon dissolution, liquidation or winding up) to the Series E Preferred Stock; or
 
A-5

(iv)        redeem or purchase or otherwise acquire for consideration any shares of Series E Preferred Stock, or any shares of stock ranking on a parity with the Series E Preferred Stock, except in accordance with a purchase offer made in writing or by publication (as determined by the Board of Directors) to all holders of such shares upon such terms as the Board of Directors, after consideration of the respective annual dividend rates and other relative rights and preferences of the respective series and classes, shall determine in good faith will result in fair and equitable treatment among the respective series or classes.

(B)            The Corporation shall not permit any subsidiary of the Corporation to purchase or otherwise acquire for consideration any shares of stock of the Corporation unless the Corporation could, under Paragraph (A) of this Section 4, purchase or otherwise acquire such shares at such time and in such manner.

Section 5.             Reacquired Shares .  Any shares of Series E Preferred Stock purchased or otherwise acquired by the Corporation in any manner whatsoever shall be retired and cancelled promptly after the acquisition thereof. All such shares shall upon their cancellation become authorized but unissued shares of Preferred Stock and may be reissued as part of a new series of Preferred Stock to be created by resolution or resolutions of the Board of Directors, subject to the conditions and restrictions on issuance set forth herein, in the Charter, or in any other Articles Supplementary creating a series of Preferred Stock (or any similar stock) or as otherwise required by law.

 
Section 6.             Liquidation, Dissolution or Winding Up .

(A)            Upon any liquidation (voluntary or otherwise), dissolution or winding up of the Corporation, no distribution shall be made to the holders of shares of stock ranking junior (either as to dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up) to the Series E Preferred Stock unless, prior thereto, the holders of shares of Series E Preferred Stock shall have received an amount equal to $1,000 per share of Series E Preferred Stock, plus an amount equal to accrued and unpaid dividends and distributions thereon, whether or not declared, to the date of such payment (the “ Series E Liquidation Preference ”).  Following the payment of the full amount of the Series E Liquidation Preference, no additional distributions shall be made to the holders of shares of Series E Preferred Stock unless, prior thereto, the holders of shares of Common Stock shall have received an amount per share (the “ Common Adjustment ”) equal to the quotient obtained by dividing (i) the Series E Liquidation Preference by (ii) 1,000 (as appropriately adjusted as set forth in subparagraph (C) below to reflect such events as stock splits, stock dividends and recapitalizations with respect to the Common Stock) (such number in clause (ii), the “ Adjustment Number ”).  Following the payment of the full amount of the Series E Liquidation Preference and the Common Adjustment in respect of all outstanding shares of Series E Preferred Stock and Common Stock, respectively, holders of Series E Preferred Stock and holders of shares of Common Stock shall receive their ratable and proportionate share of the remaining assets to be distributed in the ratio of the Adjustment Number to 1 with respect to such Preferred Stock and Common Stock, on a per share basis, respectively.  The merger or consolidation of the Corporation, regardless of whether the Corporation is the surviving entity in such merger or consolidation, shall not be deemed to be the liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation.
 
A-6

(B)             In the event, however, that there are not sufficient assets available to permit payment in full of the Series E Liquidation Preference and the liquidation preferences of all other series of preferred stock, if any, which rank on a parity with the Series E Preferred Stock, then such remaining assets shall be distributed ratably to the holders of such parity shares in proportion to their respective liquidation preferences.  In the event, however, that there are not sufficient assets available to permit payment in full of the Common Adjustment, then such remaining assets shall be distributed ratably to the holders of Common Stock.

(C)             In the event the Corporation shall at any time after the Rights Record Date (i) declare any dividend on Common Stock payable in shares of Common Stock, (ii) subdivide the outstanding Common Stock, or (iii) combine or consolidate the outstanding shares of Common Stock into a smaller number of shares through a reverse stock split or otherwise, then in each such case the Adjustment Number in effect immediately prior to such event shall be adjusted by multiplying such Adjustment Number by a fraction the numerator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately after such event and the denominator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock that were outstanding immediately prior to such event.

Section 7.            Consolidation, Merger, etc .  If the Corporation shall enter into any consolidation, merger, share exchange, combination or other transaction in which the shares of Common Stock are exchanged for or changed into other stock or securities, cash and/or any other property, then in any such case each share of Series E Preferred Stock shall at the same time be similarly exchanged or changed into an amount per share (subject to the provision for adjustment hereinafter set forth) equal to 1,000 times the aggregate amount of stock, securities, cash and/or any other property (payable in kind), as the case may be, into which or for which each share of Common Stock is changed or exchanged. In the event the Corporation shall at any time after the Rights Record Date (i) declare or pay any dividend on Common Stock payable in shares of Common Stock, (ii) subdivide the outstanding Common Stock, or (iii) combine or consolidate the outstanding shares of Common Stock into a smaller number of shares through a reverse stock split or otherwise, then in each such case the amount set forth in the preceding sentence with respect to the exchange or change of shares of Series E Preferred Stock shall be adjusted by multiplying such amount by a fraction the numerator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately after such event and the denominator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock that were outstanding immediately prior to such event.

Section 8.            No Redemption .  The shares of Series E Preferred Stock shall not be redeemable.

Section 9.            Ranking .
 
A-7

(A)            The Series E Preferred Stock shall rank junior to all other series of the Corporation’s Preferred Stock as to the payment of dividends and the distribution of assets, unless the terms of any such series shall provide otherwise.

(B)            The liquidation preference of the outstanding shares of Series E Preferred Stock will not be added to the liabilities of the Corporation for the purpose of determining whether under the Maryland General Corporation Law a distribution may be made to stockholders of the Corporation whose preferential rights upon dissolution of the Corporation are junior to those of holders of Series E Preferred Stock.

Section 10.           Amendment .  At any time when any shares of Series E Preferred Stock are outstanding, neither the Charter nor these Articles Supplementary shall be amended in any manner which would materially alter or change the powers, preferences or special rights of the Series E Preferred Stock so as to affect them adversely without the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of Series E Preferred Stock, voting separately as a class; provided that none of (i) the creation or issuance of (A) additional shares of Series E Preferred Stock or (B) shares of any class or series of Preferred Stock ranking junior to or on parity with the Series E Preferred Stock as to the payment of dividends and the distribution of assets, (ii) a merger or consolidation in which the Corporation is the surviving entity and the Series E Preferred Stock remains outstanding with no material adverse change in its powers, preferences and special rights, or (iii) a merger or consolidation in which the Corporation is not the surviving entity and the holders of the Series E Preferred Stock receive in exchange therefor a substantially identical security of the surviving entity, shall be considered to materially adversely alter or change the powers, preferences or special powers of the Series E Preferred Stock.

Section 11.          Fractional Shares .  Series E Preferred Stock may be issued in fractions of a share that shall entitle the holder, in proportion to such holder's fractional shares, to exercise voting rights, receive dividends, participate in distributions and to have the benefit of all other rights of holders of Series E Preferred Stock.

SECOND: The Shares have been classified and designated by the Board of Directors under authority contained in the Charter.

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

FOURTH: The undersigned Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation acknowledges these Articles Supplementary to be the corporate act of the Corporation and, as to all matters or facts required to be verified under oath, the undersigned Chief Executive Officer acknowledges that to the best of her 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.
 
A-8

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Corporation has caused these Articles Supplementary to be executed under seal in its name and on its behalf by its ___________ and witnessed by its ___________ and attested to by its Secretary on this ___________ day of ______________, 2016.

ATTEST:
 
NEWCASTLE INVESTMENT CORP.
           
By:
   
By:
 
(SEAL)
Name:
 
Name:
 
Title:
 
Title:
 
 
A-1

Exhibit B

[Form of Rights Certificate]

Certificate No. R-
________ Rights

NOT EXERCISABLE AFTER 5:00 P.M., NEW YORK CITY TIME, ON DECEMBER 6, 2017 OR SUCH LATER DATE AND TIME AS MAY BE DETERMINED BY THE BOARD AND APPROVED BY THE STOCKHOLDERS OF THE COMPANY BY A VOTE OF THE MAJORITY OF THE VOTES CAST BY THE HOLDERS OF SHARES ENTITLED TO VOTE THEREON AT A MEETING OF THE STOCKHOLDERS OF THE COMPANY PRIOR TO 5:00 P.M., NEW YORK CITY TIME, ON DECEMBER 6, 2017 (WHICH LATER DATE AND TIME SHALL BE IN NO EVENT LATER THAN 5:00 P.M., NEW YORK CITY TIME, ON DECEMBER 31, 2018)) OR SUCH TIME AS THE RIGHTS ARE EARLIER REDEEMED, EXCHANGED OR TERMINATED OR SUCH OTHER EARLIER EXPIRATION DATE (AS DEFINED IN THE TAX BENEFITS PRESERVATION PLAN).  THE RIGHTS ARE SUBJECT TO REDEMPTION AT THE OPTION OF THE COMPANY, AT $0.001 PER RIGHT, AND TO EXCHANGE ON THE TERMS SET FORTH IN THE TAX BENEFITS PRESERVATION PLAN.  UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES, RIGHTS BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY AN ACQUIRING PERSON (AS SUCH TERM IS DEFINED IN THE TAX BENEFITS PRESERVATION PLAN) AND ANY SUBSEQUENT HOLDER OF SUCH RIGHTS MAY BECOME NULL AND VOID.  [THE RIGHTS REPRESENTED BY THIS RIGHTS CERTIFICATE ARE OR WERE BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY A PERSON THAT WAS OR BECAME AN ACQUIRING PERSON OR AN AFFILIATE OR ASSOCIATE OF AN ACQUIRING PERSON (AS SUCH TERMS ARE DEFINED IN THE TAX BENEFITS PRESERVATION PLAN).  ACCORDINGLY, THIS RIGHTS CERTIFICATE AND THE RIGHTS REPRESENTED HEREBY MAY BECOME NULL AND VOID IN THE CIRCUMSTANCES SPECIFIED IN SECTION 7(e) OF SUCH AGREEMENT.] 1

Rights Certificate

NEWCASTLE INVESTMENT CORP.

This certifies that ______________________, or registered assigns, is the registered owner of the number of Rights set forth above, each of which entitles the owner thereof, subject to the terms, provisions and conditions of the Tax Benefits Preservation Plan, dated as of December 7, 2016 (the “ Tax Benefits Preservation Plan ”), between Newcastle Investment Corp., a Maryland corporation (the “ Company ”), and American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC, a New York limited liability trust company, as Rights Agent (the “ Rights Agent ”), to purchase from the Company at any time prior to 5:00 P.M. (New York City time) on December 6, 2017 (or such later date and time as may be determined by the Board and approved by the stockholders of the Company by a vote of the majority of the votes cast by the holders of shares entitled to vote thereon at a meeting of the stockholders of the Company prior to 5:00 P.M. (New York City time) on December 6, 2017 (which later date and time shall be in no event later than 5:00 P.M. (New York City time) on December 31, 2018)) or such time as the Rights are earlier redeemed, exchanged or terminated or such other earlier Expiration Date (as defined in the Tax Benefits Preservation Plan), at the office or offices of the Rights Agent designated for such purpose, or its successors as Rights Agent, one one-thousandth of a fully paid, non-assessable share of Series E Junior Participating Preferred Stock (the “ Preferred Stock ”) of the Company, at a purchase price of $27.00 per one one-thousandth of a share (the “ Purchase Price ”), upon presentation and surrender of this Rights Certificate with the Form of Election to Purchase and related Certificate duly executed.  The number of Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate (and the number of shares that may be purchased upon exercise thereof) set forth above, and the Purchase Price per share set forth above, are the number and Purchase Price as of December 7, 2016, based on the Preferred Stock as constituted at such date.  The Company reserves the right to require prior to the occurrence of a Triggering Event (as such term is defined in the Tax Benefits Preservation Plan) that a number of Rights be exercised so that only whole shares of Preferred Stock will be issued. Capitalized terms used in this Rights Certificate without definition shall have the meanings ascribed to them in the Tax Benefits Preservation Plan.


1
The portion of the legend in brackets shall be inserted only if applicable and shall replace the preceding sentence.
 
B-1

Upon the occurrence of a Section 11(a)(ii) Event (as such term is defined in the Tax Benefits Preservation Plan), if the Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate are beneficially owned by (i) an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate of any such Acquiring Person (as such terms are defined in the Tax Benefits Preservation Plan), (ii) a transferee of any such Acquiring Person, Associate or Affiliate, or (iii) under certain circumstances specified in the Tax Benefits Preservation Plan, a transferee of a Person that, after such transfer, became an Acquiring Person, or an Affiliate or Associate of an Acquiring Person, such Rights shall become null and void and no holder hereof shall have any right with respect to such Rights from and after the occurrence of such Section 11(a)(ii) Event.

As provided in the Tax Benefits Preservation Plan, the Purchase Price and the number and kind of shares of Preferred Stock or other securities, which may be purchased upon the exercise of the Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate are subject to modification and adjustment upon the happening of certain events, including Triggering Events.

This Rights Certificate is subject to all of the terms, provisions and conditions of the Tax Benefits Preservation Plan, which terms, provisions and conditions are hereby incorporated herein by reference and made a part hereof and to which Tax Benefits Preservation Plan reference is hereby made for a full description of the rights, limitations of rights, obligations, duties and immunities hereunder of the Rights Agent, the Company and the holders of the Rights Certificates, which limitations of rights include the temporary suspension of the exercisability of such Rights under the specific circumstances set forth in the Tax Benefits Preservation Plan.  Copies of the Tax Benefits Preservation Plan are on file at the above-mentioned office of the Rights Agent and are also available upon written request to the Rights Agent.
 
B-2

This Rights Certificate, with or without other Rights Certificates, upon surrender at the office of the Rights Agent designated for such purpose, may be exchanged for another Rights Certificate or Rights Certificates of like tenor and date evidencing Rights entitling the holder to purchase a like aggregate number of one one-thousandths of a share of Preferred Stock as the Rights evidenced by the Rights Certificate or Rights Certificates surrendered shall have entitled such holder to purchase.  If this Rights Certificate shall be exercised in part, the holder shall be entitled to receive upon surrender hereof another Rights Certificate or Rights Certificates for the number of whole Rights not exercised.

Subject to the provisions of the Tax Benefits Preservation Plan, the Rights evidenced by this Certificate may be redeemed by the Company at its option at a redemption price of $0.001 per Right at any time prior to the earlier of the close of business on (i) the tenth Business Day following the Stock Acquisition Date, and (ii) the Final Expiration Date.  In addition, under certain circumstances following the Stock Acquisition Date, the Rights may be exchanged, in whole or in part, for shares of the Common Stock, or shares of preferred stock of the Company having essentially the same value or economic rights as such shares.  Immediately upon the action of the Board of Directors of the Company authorizing any such exchange, and without any further action or any notice, the Rights (other than Rights that are not subject to such exchange) will terminate and the Rights will only enable holders to receive the shares issuable upon such exchange.

No fractional shares of Preferred Stock will be issued upon the exercise of any Right or Rights evidenced hereby (other than fractions that are integral multiples of one one-thousandth of a share of Preferred Stock, which may, at the election of the Company, be evidenced by depositary receipts), but in lieu thereof a cash payment will be made, as provided in the Tax Benefits Preservation Plan. The Company, at its election, may require that a number of Rights be exercised so that only whole shares of Preferred Stock would be issued.

No holder of this Rights Certificate shall be entitled to vote or receive dividends or be deemed for any purpose the holder of shares of Preferred Stock or of any other securities of the Company that may at any time be issuable on the exercise hereof, nor shall anything contained in the Tax Benefits Preservation Plan or herein be construed to confer upon the holder hereof, as such, any of the rights of a stockholder of the Company or any right to vote for the election of directors or upon any matter submitted to stockholders at any meeting thereof, or to give consent to or withhold consent from any corporate action, or, to receive notice of meetings or other actions affecting stockholders (except as provided in the Tax Benefits Preservation Plan), or to receive dividends or subscription rights, or otherwise, until the Right or Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate shall have been exercised as provided in the Tax Benefits Preservation Plan.

This Rights Certificate shall not be valid or obligatory for any purpose until it shall have been countersigned by the Rights Agent.
 
B-3

WITNESS the facsimile signature of the proper officers of the Company and its corporate seal.

Dated as of _________ __, ______

ATTEST:
 
NEWCASTLE INVESTMENT CORP.
     
   
By
 
Secretary
   
Title:
 
Countersigned:
  
AMERICAN STOCK TRANSFER & TRUST COMPANY, LLC
   
By
   
 
Authorized Signature
 
 
B-4

[Form of Reverse Side of Rights Certificate]

FORM OF ASSIGNMENT

(To be executed by the registered holder if such
holder desires to transfer the Rights Certificate.)

FOR VALUE RECEIVED ____________________________________ hereby sells, assigns and transfers unto ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

(Please print name and address of transferee)

_________________________________________________________________________this Rights Certificate, together with all right, title and interest therein, and does hereby irrevocably constitute and appoint __________________ Attorney, to transfer the within Rights Certificate on the books of the within named Company, with full power of substitution.

Dated:
,    
         
Signature
           
Signature Guaranteed:
   
 
B-5

Certificate

The undersigned hereby certifies by checking the appropriate boxes that:

(1)  this Rights Certificate [ ] is [ ] is not beneficially owned by an Acquiring Person and [ ] is [ ] is not being sold, assigned and transferred by or on behalf of a Person that is or was an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate of any such Acquiring Person (as such terms are defined pursuant to the Tax Benefits Preservation Plan);

(2)  after due inquiry and to the best knowledge of the undersigned, it [ ] did [ ] did not acquire the Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate from any Person that is, was or subsequently became an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate of an Acquiring Person.

Dated:
  ,      
         
Signature
           
Signature Guaranteed:
 
 
B-6

NOTICE

The signature to the foregoing Assignment and Certificate must correspond to the name as written upon the face of this Rights Certificate in every particular, without alteration or enlargement or any change whatsoever.
 
B-7

FORM OF ELECTION TO PURCHASE

(To be executed if holder desires
to exercise Rights represented
by the Rights Certificate.)

To:  NEWCASTLE INVESTMENT CORP.

The undersigned hereby irrevocably elects to exercise __________ Rights represented by this Rights Certificate to purchase the shares of Preferred Stock issuable upon the exercise of the Rights (or such other securities of the Company or of any other person that may be issuable upon the exercise of the Rights) and requests that such shares be issued in the name of and delivered to:

Please insert social security

or other identifying number
 
(Please print name and address)
 
 
If such number of Rights shall not be all the Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate, a new Rights Certificate for the balance of such Rights shall be registered in the name of and delivered to:

Please insert social security
or other identifying number

 
(Please print name and address)
 

Dated:
  ,      
         
Signature
           
Signature Guaranteed:
 
 
B-8

Certificate

The undersigned hereby certifies by checking the appropriate boxes that:

(1)  the Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate [ ] are [ ] are not beneficially owned by an Acquiring Person and [ ] are [ ] are not being exercised by or on behalf of a Person that is or was an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate of any such Acquiring Person (as such terms are defined pursuant to the Tax Benefits Preservation Plan);

(2)  after due inquiry and to the best knowledge of the undersigned, it [ ] did [ ] did not acquire the Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate from any Person that is, was or became an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate of an Acquiring Person.

Dated:
  '      
         
Signature
           
Signature Guaranteed:
 
 
B-9

NOTICE

The signature to the foregoing Election to Purchase and Certificate must correspond to the name as written upon the face of this Rights Certificate in every particular, without alteration or enlargement or any change whatsoever.
 
B-10

Exhibit C

FORM OF

SUMMARY OF RIGHTS TO PURCHASE
PREFERRED STOCK

On December 7, 2016, the Board of Directors (the “ Board ”) of Newcastle Investment Corp. (the “ Company ”) declared a dividend distribution of one right (a “ Right ”) for each outstanding share of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Company (the “ Common Stock ”), to stockholders of record at the close of business on December 20, 2016 (the “ Record Date ”).  Each Right entitles the registered holder to purchase from the Company a unit consisting of one one-thousandth of a share (a “ Unit ”) of Series E Junior Participating Preferred Stock, par value $0.01 per share (the “ Series E Preferred Stock ”), at a purchase price of $27.00 per Unit, subject to adjustment (the “ Purchase Price ”).  The description and terms of the Rights are set forth in a Tax Benefits Preservation Plan (the “ Tax Benefits Preservation Plan ”) between the Company and American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC, a New York limited liability trust company, as Rights Agent. The Tax Benefits Preservation Plan is intended to help protect the Company’s tax net operating losses and certain other tax assets (“ Tax Benefits ”) by deterring any person from becoming the Beneficial Owner of 4.9% or more of the shares of Common Stock then outstanding.

Rights Certificates; Exercise Period .

Initially, the Rights will be attached to all Common Stock certificates representing shares then outstanding, and no separate rights certificates (“ Rights Certificates ”) will be distributed.  Subject to certain exceptions specified in the Tax Benefits Preservation Plan, the Rights will separate from the Common Stock and a distribution date (the “ Distribution Date ”) will occur upon the earlier of (i) ten (10) business days following a public announcement that a person or group of affiliated or associated persons (an “ Acquiring Person ”) has become a Beneficial Owner of 4.9% or more of the shares of Common Stock then outstanding (the “ Stock Acquisition Date ”) and (ii) ten (10) business days (or such later date as the Board shall determine) following the commencement of a tender offer or exchange offer that would result in a person or group becoming an Acquiring Person.

Until the Distribution Date, (i) the Rights will be evidenced by the Common Stock certificates (or, in the case of book entry shares, by the notations in the book entry accounts) and will be transferred with and only with such Common Stock, (ii) new Common Stock certificates issued after the Record Date will contain a notation incorporating the Tax Benefits Preservation Plan by reference and (iii) the surrender for transfer of any certificates for Common Stock outstanding will also constitute the transfer of the Rights associated with the Common Stock represented by such certificates.  Pursuant to the Tax Benefits Preservation Plan, the Company reserves the right to require prior to the occurrence of a Triggering Event (as defined below) that, upon any exercise of Rights, a number of Rights be exercised so that only whole shares of Series E Preferred Stock will be issued.
 
C-1

The definition of “Acquiring Person” contained in the Tax Benefits Preservation Plan contains several exemptions, including for (i) the Company or any of its subsidiaries; (ii) any employee benefit plan of the Company, or of any subsidiary of the Company, or any person or entity organized, appointed or established by the Company for or pursuant to the terms of any such plan; (iii) any person who becomes a Beneficial Owner of 4.9% or more of the shares of Common Stock then outstanding as a result of a reduction in the number of shares of Common Stock by the Company or a stock dividend, stock split, reverse stock split or similar transaction, unless and until such person increases his ownership by more than one (1) percentage point over such person’s lowest percentage stock ownership on or after the consummation of the relevant transaction; (iv) any person who, together with all affiliates and associates of such person, was a Beneficial Owner of 4.9% or more of the shares of Common Stock then outstanding on the date of the Tax Benefits Preservation Plan, unless and until such person and its affiliates and associates increase their aggregate ownership by more than one (1) percentage point over their lowest percentage stock ownership on or after the date of the Tax Benefits Preservation Plan or decrease their aggregate percentage stock ownership below 4.9%; (v) any person who, within ten (10) business days of being requested by the Company to do so, certifies to the Company that such person became an Acquiring Person inadvertently or without knowledge of the terms of the Rights and who, together with all affiliates and associates, thereafter within ten (10) business days following such certification disposes of such number of shares of Common Stock so that it, together with all affiliates and associates, ceases to be an Acquiring Person; (vi) Fortress Investment Group LLC, any Subsidiary or principal thereof, or any Associate of any such principal (“ Fortress Holders ”); provided that the foregoing exemption (x) shall apply only to the extent that the Company does not undergo an “owner shift” (as that term is defined in Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and the Treasury Regulations thereunder) of 10% or more as a result of beneficial ownership of Company securities by any one or more Fortress Holders and (y) may be revoked at any time by the disinterested members of the Board as to future acquisitions; and (vii) any person that the Board has affirmatively determined shall not be deemed an Acquiring Person.

The Rights are not exercisable until the Distribution Date and will expire at the earliest of (i) 5:00 P.M. (New York City time) on December 6, 2017 or such later date and time as may be determined by the Board and approved by the stockholders of the Company by a vote of the majority of the votes cast by the holders of shares entitled to vote thereon at a meeting of the stockholders of the Company prior to 5:00 P.M. (New York City time) on December 6, 2017 (which later date and time shall be in no event later than 5:00 P.M. (New York City time) on December 31, 2018), (ii) the time at which the Rights are redeemed or exchanged as provided in the Tax Benefits Preservation Plan, (iii) the time at which the Board determines that the Tax Benefits Preservation Plan is no longer necessary or desirable for the preservation of Tax Benefits, and (iv) the close of business on the first day of a taxable year of the Company to which the Board determines that no Tax Benefits may be carried forward.
 
C-2

As soon as practicable after the Distribution Date, Rights Certificates will be mailed to holders of record of the Common Stock as of the close of business on the Distribution Date and, thereafter, the separate Rights Certificates alone will represent the Rights.  After the Distribution Date, the Company generally would issue Rights with respect to shares of Common Stock issued upon the exercise of stock options or pursuant to awards under any employee plan or arrangement, which stock options or awards are outstanding as of the Distribution Date, or upon the exercise, conversion or exchange of securities issued by the Company after the Tax Benefits Preservation Plan’s adoption (except as may otherwise be provided in the instruments governing such securities). In the case of other issuances of shares of Common Stock after the Distribution Date, the Company generally may, if deemed necessary or appropriate by the Board, issue Rights with respect to such shares of Common Stock.

Flip-in Trigger .

In the event that a person or group of affiliated or associated persons becomes an Acquiring Person (unless the event causing such person or group to become an Acquiring Person is a transaction described under “Flip-over Trigger”, below), each holder of a Right will thereafter have the right to receive, upon exercise, Common Stock (or, in certain circumstances, cash, property or other securities of the Company) having a value equal to two times the exercise price of the Right.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, following the occurrence of such an event, all Rights that are, or (under certain circumstances specified in the Tax Benefits Preservation Plan) were, beneficially owned by any Acquiring Person will be null and void.  However, Rights are not exercisable following the occurrence of such an event until such time as the Rights are no longer redeemable by the Company as set forth below.

For example, at an exercise price of $27.00 per Right, each Right not owned by an Acquiring Person (or by certain related parties) following an event set forth in the preceding paragraph would entitle its holder to purchase $54.00 worth of Common Stock (or other consideration, as noted above) for $27.00.  Assuming that the Common Stock had a per share value of $9.00 at such time, the holder of each valid Right would be entitled to purchase six (6) shares of Common Stock for $27.00.

Flip-over Trigger .

In the event that, at any time following the Stock Acquisition Date, (i) the Company engages in a merger or other business combination transaction in which the Company is not the surviving corporation or (ii) the Company engages in a merger or other business combination transaction in which the Company is the surviving corporation and the Common Stock of the Company is changed or exchanged, each holder of a Right (except Rights that have previously been voided as set forth above) shall thereafter have the right to receive, upon exercise, common stock of the acquiring company having a value equal to two times the exercise price of the Right.  The events set forth in this paragraph and in the next preceding paragraph are referred to as the “ Triggering Events .”
 
C-3

Exchange Feature .

At any time after a person becomes an Acquiring Person and prior to the acquisition by such person or group of fifty percent (50%) or more of the outstanding Common Stock, the Board may exchange the Rights (other than Rights owned by such person or group which have become void), in whole or in part, at an exchange ratio of one (1) share of Common Stock, or one one-thousandth of a share of Series E Preferred Stock (or of a share of a class or series of the Company’s preferred stock having equivalent rights, preferences and privileges), per Right (subject to adjustment).

Equitable Adjustments .

The Purchase Price payable, and the number of Units of Series E Preferred Stock or other securities or property issuable, upon exercise of the Rights are subject to adjustment from time to time to prevent dilution (i) in the event of a stock dividend on, or a subdivision, combination or reclassification of, the Series E Preferred Stock, (ii) if holders of the Series E Preferred Stock are granted certain rights or warrants to subscribe for Series E Preferred Stock or convertible securities at less than the current market price of the Series E Preferred Stock, or (iii) upon the distribution to holders of the Series E Preferred Stock of evidences of indebtedness or assets (excluding regular quarterly cash dividends) or of subscription rights or warrants (other than those referred to above).

With certain exceptions, no adjustment in the Purchase Price will be required until cumulative adjustments amount to at least one percent (1%) of the Purchase Price.  No fractional Units will be issued and, in lieu thereof, an adjustment in cash will be made based on the market price of the Series E Preferred Stock on the last trading day prior to the date of exercise.

Redemption Rights .

At any time until ten (10) business days following the Stock Acquisition Date, the Company may, at its option, redeem the Rights in whole, but not in part, at a price of $0.001 per Right (payable in cash, Common Stock or other consideration deemed appropriate by the Board).  Immediately upon the action of the Board ordering redemption of the Rights, the Rights will terminate and the only right of the holders of Rights will be to receive the $0.001 redemption price.

Amendment of Rights .

Any of the provisions of the Tax Benefits Preservation Plan may be amended by the Board prior to the Distribution Date except that the Board may not extend the expiration of the Rights beyond 5:00 P.M. (New York City time) on December 6, 2017 unless such extension is approved by the stockholders of the Company prior to 5:00 P.M. (New York City time) on December 6, 2017.  After the Distribution Date, the provisions of the Tax Benefits Preservation Plan may be amended by the Board in order to cure any ambiguity, to make changes that do not adversely affect the interests of holders of Rights, or to shorten or lengthen any time period under the Tax Benefits Preservation Plan.  The foregoing notwithstanding, no amendment may be made at such time as the Rights are not redeemable, except to cure any ambiguity or correct or supplement any provision contained in the Tax Benefits Preservation Plan which may be defective or inconsistent with any other provision therein.
 
C-4

Miscellaneous .

Until a Right is exercised, the holder thereof, as such, will have no separate rights as a stockholder of the Company, including the right to vote or to receive dividends in respect of the Rights.  While the distribution of the Rights will not be taxable to stockholders or to the Company, stockholders may, depending upon the circumstances, recognize taxable income in the event that the Rights become exercisable for Common Stock (or other consideration) of the Company or for common stock of the acquiring company or in the event of the redemption of the Rights as set forth above.

A copy of the Tax Benefits Preservation Plan has been or will be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission as an exhibit to a Registration Statement on Form 8-A or a Current Report on Form 8-K.  A copy of the Tax Benefits Preservation Plan is available free of charge from the Company. This summary description of the Rights does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Tax Benefits Preservation Plan, which is incorporated herein by reference.
 
 
C-5


Exhibit 10.1
 

 
FORM OF

AMENDED AND RESTATED
MANAGEMENT AND ADVISORY AGREEMENT
 
dated as of January 1, 2017
 
among
 
DRIVE SHACK INC.
 
and
 
FIG LLC
 
 


TABLE OF CONTENTS
 
SECTION 1.
DEFINITIONS
1
     
SECTION 2.
APPOINTMENT AND DUTIES OF THE MANAGER.
2
     
SECTION 3.
DEVOTION OF TIME; ADDITIONAL ACTIVITIES.
6
     
SECTION 4.
AGENCY
7
     
SECTION 5.
BANK ACCOUNTS
7
     
SECTION 6.
RECORDS; CONFIDENTIALITY.
7
     
SECTION 7.
OBLIGATIONS OF MANAGER; RESTRICTIONS.
7
     
SECTION 8.
COMPENSATION.
8
     
SECTION 9.
EXPENSES OF THE COMPANY
9
     
SECTION 10.
CALCULATIONS OF EXPENSES
10
     
SECTION 11.
LIMITS OF MANAGER RESPONSIBILITY; INDEMNIFICATION
11
     
SECTION 12.
NO JOINT VENTURE
11
     
SECTION 13.
TERM; TERMINATION.
11
     
SECTION 14.
ASSIGNMENT.
12
     
SECTION 15.
TERMINATION FOR CAUSE.
13
     
SECTION 16.
ACTION UPON TERMINATION
13
     
SECTION 17.
RELEASE OF MONEY OR OTHER PROPERTY UPON WRITTEN REQUEST
14
     
SECTION 18.
NOTICES
14
     
SECTION 19.
BINDING NATURE OF AGREEMENT; SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS
15
     
SECTION 20.
ENTIRE AGREEMENT
15
     
SECTION 21.
CONTROLLING LAW
15
     
SECTION 22.
INDULGENCES, NOT WAIVERS
15
     
SECTION 23.
TITLES NOT TO AFFECT INTERPRETATION
15
     
SECTION 24.
EXECUTION IN COUNTERPARTS
15
     
SECTION 25.
PROVISIONS SEPARABLE
16
     
SECTION 26.
GENDER
16
 
i

AMENDED AND RESTATED
MANAGEMENT AND ADVISORY AGREEMENT
 
THIS AMENDED AND RESTATED MANAGEMENT AND ADVISORY AGREEMENT, is made as of January 1, 2017 (the “Agreement”) by and among DRIVE SHACK INC (formerly known as Newcastle Investment Corp.), a Maryland corporation (the “Company”), and FIG LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (together with its permitted assignees, the “Manager”).
 
W I T N E S S E T H :
 
WHEREAS, the Company and the Manager entered into that certain Management and Advisory Agreement, dated as of June 6, 2002 (the “Original Management Agreement”), as amended on March 4, 2003, June 23, 2003 and April 25, 2013; and
 
WHEREAS, in connection with the termination of the Company’s status as a real estate investment trust, the Company and the Manager desire to amend and restate the Original Management Agreement in its entirety on the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth.
 
NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual agreements herein set forth, the parties hereto agree as follows:
 
I.                The Original Management Agreement is hereby modified so that all of the terms and conditions of the aforesaid Original Management Agreement shall be restated in their entirety as set forth herein.
 
II.               This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto, and their respective successors and assigns, and shall be deemed to be effective as of the date hereof.
 
III.             Any reference in any other document executed in connection with the Original Management Agreement or this Agreement to the Original Management Agreement shall be deemed to refer to this Agreement.
 
NOW THEREFORE, IN CONSIDERATION OF THE MUTUAL AGREEMENTS HEREIN SET FORTH, THE PARTIES HERETO AGREE AS FOLLOWS:
 
SECTION 1.           DEFINITIONS. The following terms have the meanings assigned them:
 
(a)              “Agreement” means this Management and Advisory Agreement, as amended from time to time.
 
(b)             “Board of Directors” means the Board of Directors of the Company.
 
(c)              “Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
 
(d)             “Common Share” means a share of capital stock of the Company now or hereafter authorized as common voting stock of the Company.
 
(e)              “Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
 
(f)              “Funds from Operations” is as defined by the National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts and means net income (computed in accordance with GAAP) excluding gains (or losses) from debt restructuring and sales of property, plus depreciation and amortization on real estate assets, and after adjustments for unconsolidated partnerships and joint ventures.
 

(g)             “Governing Instruments” means, with regard to any entity, the articles of incorporation and bylaws in the case of a corporation, certificate of limited partnership (if applicable) and the partnership agreement in the case of a general or limited partnership or the articles of formation and the operating agreement in the case of a limited liability company.
 
(h)             “Independent Directors” means the members of the Board of Directors who are not officers or employees of the Manager.
 
(i)               “Investments” means the investments of the Company.
 
(j)               “Junior Share” means a share of capital stock of the Company now or hereafter authorized or reclassified that has dividend rights, or rights upon liquidation, winding up and dissolution, that are inferior or junior to the Ordinary Shares.
 
(k)              “Ordinary Share” means a share of the Company’s Common Shares, par value $0.01 per share. Where relevant in this Agreement, “Ordinary Shares” includes shares of the Company’s Common Shares, par value $0.01 per share, issued upon conversion of Preferred Shares or Junior Shares.
 
(l)              “Preferred Share” means a share of capital stock of the Company now or hereafter authorized or reclassified that has dividend rights, or rights upon liquidation, winding up and dissolution, that are superior or prior to the Ordinary Shares.
 
(m)             “Subsidiary” means any subsidiary of the Company and any partnership, the general partner of which is the Company or any subsidiary of the Company and any limited liability company, the managing member of which is the Company or any subsidiary of the Company.
 
SECTION 2.             APPOINTMENT AND DUTIES OF THE MANAGER.
 
(a)              The Company hereby appoints the Manager to manage the assets of the Company subject to the further terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement and the Manager hereby agrees to use its commercially reasonable efforts to perform each of the duties set forth herein. The appointment of the Manager shall be exclusive to the Manager except to the extent that the Manager otherwise agrees, in its sole and absolute discretion, and except to the extent that the Manager elects, pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, to cause the duties of the Manager hereunder to be provided by third parties.
 
(b)             The Manager, in its capacity as manager of the assets and the day-to-day operations of the Company, at all times will be subject to the supervision of the Company’s Board of Directors and will have only such functions and authority as the Company may delegate to it including, without limitation, the functions and authority identified herein and delegated to the Manager hereby. The Manager will be responsible for the day-to-day operations of the Company and will perform (or cause to be performed) such services and activities relating to the assets and operations of the Company as may be appropriate, including, without limitation:
 
(i)               serving as the Company’s consultant with respect to the periodic review of the investment criteria and parameters for Investments, borrowings and operations, any modifications to which shall be approved by a majority of the independent members of the Board of Directors (such policy guidelines as are in effect on the date hereof and attached hereto as Schedule 1, as the same may be modified with such approval, the “Guidelines”) and other policies for approval by the Board of Directors;
 
2

(ii)              investigation, analysis and selection of investment opportunities;
 
(iii)             with respect to prospective investments by the Company and dispositions of Investments, conducting negotiations with real estate brokers, sellers and purchasers and their respective agents and representatives, investment bankers and owners of privately and publicly held real estate companies;
 
(iv)            engaging and supervising, on behalf of the Company and at the Company’s expense, independent contractors which provide real estate brokerage, investment banking and leasing services, mortgage brokerage, securities brokerage and other financial services and such other services as may be required relating to the Investments;
 
(v)              negotiating on behalf of the Company for the sale, exchange or other disposition of any Investments;
 
(vi)             coordinating and managing operations of any joint venture or co-investment interests held by the Company and conducting all matters with the joint venture or co-investment partners;
 
(vii)            coordinating and supervising, on behalf of the Company and at the Company’s expense, all property managers, leasing agents and developers for the administration, leasing, management and/or development of any of the Investments;
 
(viii)           providing executive and administrative personnel, office space and office services required in rendering services to the Company;
 
(ix)             administering the day-to-day operations of the Company and performing and supervising the performance of such other administrative functions necessary in the management of the Company as may be agreed upon by the Manager and the Board of Directors, including, without limitation, the collection of revenues and the payment of the Company’s debts and obligations and maintenance of appropriate computer services to perform such administrative functions;
 
(x)              communicating on behalf of the Company with the holders of any equity or debt securities of the Company as required to satisfy the reporting and other requirements of any governmental bodies or agencies or trading markets and to maintain effective relations with such holders;
 
(xi)             counseling the Company in connection with policy decisions to be made by the Board of Directors;
 
(xii)            evaluating and recommending to the Board of Directors modifications to the hedging strategies in effect on the date hereof and engaging in hedging activities on behalf of the Company, consistent with such strategies, as so modified from time to time, and with the Guidelines;
 
(xiii)           (Reserved)
 
3

(xiv)           counseling the Company regarding the maintenance of its exemption from the Investment Company Act and monitoring compliance with the requirements for maintaining an exemption from that Act;
 
(xv)            assisting the Company in developing criteria for asset purchase commitments that are specifically tailored to the Company’s investment objectives and making available to the Company its knowledge and experience with respect to mortgage loans, real estate, real estate securities and other real estate-related assets;
 
(xvi)           representing and making recommendations to the Company in connection with the purchase and finance, and commitment to purchase and finance, of mortgage loans (including on a portfolio basis), real estate, real estate securities and other real estate-related assets, and in connection with the sale and commitment to sell such assets;
 
(xvii)          monitoring the operating performance of the Investments and providing periodic reports with respect thereto to the Board of Directors, including comparative information with respect to such operating and performance and budgeted or projected operating results;
 
(xviii)         investing and re-investing any moneys and securities of the Company (including investing in short-term Investments pending investment in Investments, payment of fees, costs and expenses, or payments of dividends or distributions to stockholders and partners of the Company) and advising the Company as to its capital structure and capital raising;
 
(xix)           causing the Company to retain qualified accountants and legal counsel, as applicable, to assist in developing appropriate accounting procedures, compliance procedures and testing systems with respect to financial reporting obligations and to conduct quarterly compliance reviews with respect thereto;
 
(xx)             causing the Company to qualify to do business in all applicable jurisdictions and to obtain and maintain all appropriate licenses;
 
(xxi)            assisting the Company in complying with all regulatory requirements applicable to the Company in respect of its business activities, including preparing or causing to be prepared all financial statements required under applicable regulations and contractual undertakings and all reports and documents required under the Exchange Act;
 
(xxii)           taking all necessary actions to enable the Company to make required tax filings and reports;
 
(xxiii)          handling and resolving all claims, disputes or controversies (including all litigation, arbitration, settlement or other proceedings or negotiations) in which the Company may be involved or to which the Company may be subject arising out of the Company’s day-to-day operations, subject to such limitations or parameters as may be imposed from time to time by the Board of Directors;
 
(xxiv)         using commercially reasonable efforts to cause expenses incurred by or on behalf of the Company to be reasonable or customary and within any budgeted parameters or expense guidelines set by the Board of Directors from time to time;
 
(xxv)          performing such other services as may be required from time to time for management and other activities relating to the assets of the Company as the Board of Directors shall reasonably request or the Manager shall deem appropriate under the particular circumstances; and
 
4

(xxvi)         using commercially reasonable efforts to cause the Company to comply with all applicable laws.
 
Without limiting the foregoing, the Manager will perform portfolio management services (the “Portfolio Management Services”) on behalf of the Company with respect to the Investments. Such services will include, but not be limited to, consulting with the Company on the purchase and sale of, and other investment opportunities in connection with, the Company’s portfolio of assets; the collection of information and the submission of reports pertaining to the Company’s assets, interest rates and general economic conditions; periodic review and evaluation of the performance of the Company’s portfolio of assets; acting as liaison between the Company and banking, mortgage banking, investment banking and other parties with respect to the purchase, financing and disposition of assets; and other customary functions related to portfolio management. Additionally, the Manager will perform monitoring services (the “Monitoring Services”) on behalf of the Company with respect to any loan servicing activities provided by third parties. Such Monitoring Services will include, but not be limited to, negotiating servicing agreements; acting as a liaison between the servicers of the assets and the Company; review of servicers’ delinquency, foreclosure and other reports on assets; supervising claims filed under any insurance policies; and enforcing the obligation of any servicer to repurchase assets.
 
(c)             The Manager may enter into agreements with other parties, including its affiliates, for the purpose of engaging one or more property and/or asset managers for and on behalf, and at the sole cost and expense, of the Company to provide property management, asset management, leasing, development and/or similar services to the Company (including, without limitation, Portfolio Management Services and Monitoring Services) with respect to the Investments, pursuant to property management agreement(s) and/or asset management agreement(s) with terms which are then customary for agreements regarding the management of assets similar in type, quality and value to the assets of the Company; provided, that (i) any such agreements entered into with affiliates of the Manager shall be (A) on terms no more favorable to such affiliate then would be obtained from a third party on an arms’-length basis and (B) to the extent the same do not fall within the provisions of the Guidelines, approved by a majority of the independent members of the Board of Directors, (ii) with respect to Portfolio Management Services, (A) any such agreements shall be subject to the Company’s prior written approval and (B) the Manager shall remain liable for the performance of such Portfolio Management Services, and (iii) with respect to Monitoring Services, any such agreements shall be subject to the Company’s prior written approval.
 
(d)             The Manager may retain, for and on behalf, and at the sole cost and expense, of the Company, such services of accountants, legal counsel, appraisers, insurers, brokers, transfer agents, registrars, developers, investment banks, financial advisors, banks and other lenders and others as the Manager deems necessary or advisable in connection with the management and operations of the Company. Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, the Manager shall have the right to cause any such services to be rendered by its employees or affiliates. The Company shall pay or reimburse the Manager or its affiliates performing such services for the cost thereof; provided, that such costs and reimbursements are no greater than those which would be payable to outside professionals or consultants engaged to perform such services pursuant to agreements negotiated on an arm’s-length basis; and provided, further, that such costs shall not be reimbursed in excess of $500,000 per annum.
 
(e)              As frequently as the Manager may deem necessary or advisable, or at the direction of the Board of Directors, the Manager shall, at the sole cost and expense of the Company, prepare, or cause to be prepared, with respect to any Investment (i) an appraisal prepared by an independent real estate appraiser, (ii) reports and information on the Company’s operations and asset performance and (iii) other information reasonably requested by the Company.
 
5

(f)              The Manager shall prepare, or cause to be prepared, at the sole cost and expense of the Company, all reports, financial or otherwise, with respect to the Company reasonably required by the Board of Directors in order for the Company to comply with its Governing Instruments or any other materials required to be filed with any governmental body or agency, and shall prepare, or cause to be prepared, all materials and data necessary to complete such reports and other materials including, without limitation, an annual audit of the Company’s books of account by a nationally recognized independent accounting firm.
 
(g)             The Manager shall prepare regular reports for the Board of Directors to enable the Board of Directors to review the Company’s acquisitions, portfolio composition and characteristics, credit quality, performance and compliance with the Guidelines and policies approved by the Board of Directors.
 
(h)             Notwithstanding anything contained in this Agreement to the contrary, except to the extent that the payment of additional moneys is proven by the Company to have been required as a direct result of the Manager’s acts or omissions which result in the right of the Company to terminate this Agreement pursuant to Section 15 of this Agreement, the Manager shall not be required to expend money (“Excess Funds”) in excess of that contained in any applicable Company Account (as herein defined) or otherwise made available by the Company to be expended by the Manager hereunder. Failure of the Manager to expend Excess Funds out-of-pocket shall not give rise or be a contributing factor to the right of the Company under Section 13(a) of this Agreement to terminate this Agreement due to the Manager’s unsatisfactory performance.
 
(i)               In performing its duties under this Section 2, the Manager shall be entitled to rely reasonably on qualified experts hired by the Manager.
 
SECTION 3.             DEVOTION OF TIME; ADDITIONAL ACTIVITIES.
 
(a)              The Manager will provide a dedicated management team, including a President, a Chief Financial Officer and a Chief Operating Officer of the Company, to provide the management services to be provided by the Manager to the Company hereunder, the members of which team shall have as their primary responsibility the management of the Company and shall devote such of their time to the management of the Company as the Board of Directors reasonably deems necessary and appropriate, commensurate with the level of activity of the Company from time to time.
 
(b)             Except to the extent set forth in clauses (a) above, nothing herein shall prevent the Manager or any of its affiliates or any of the officers and employees of any of the foregoing from engaging in other businesses or from rendering services of any kind to any other person or entity, including investment in, or advisory service to others investing in, any type of real estate or real estate-related investment, including investments which meet the principal investment objectives of the Company.
 
(c)              Managers, members, partners, officers, employees and agents of the Manager or affiliates of the Manager may serve as directors, officers, employees, agents, nominees or signatories for the Company or any Subsidiary, to the extent permitted by their Governing Instruments, as from time to time amended, or by any resolutions duly adopted by the Board of Directors pursuant to the Company’s Governing Instruments. When executing documents or otherwise acting in such capacities for the Company, such persons shall use their respective titles in the Company.
 
6

SECTION 4.           AGENCY. The Manager shall act as agent of the Company in making, acquiring, financing and disposing of Investments, disbursing and collecting the Company’s funds, paying the debts and fulfilling the obligations of the Company, supervising the performance of professionals engaged by or on behalf of the Company and handling, prosecuting and settling any claims of or against the Company, the Board of Directors, holders of the Company’s securities or the Company’s representatives or properties.
 
SECTION 5.           BANK ACCOUNTS. At the direction of the Board of Directors, the Manager may establish and maintain one or more bank accounts in the name of the Company or any Subsidiary (any such account, a “Company Account”), and may collect and deposit funds into any such Company Account or Company Accounts, and disburse funds from any such Company Account or Company Accounts, under such terms and conditions as the Board of Directors may approve; and the Manager shall from time to time render appropriate accountings of such collections and payments to the Board of Directors and, upon request, to the auditors of the Company or any Subsidiary.
 
SECTION 6.             RECORDS; CONFIDENTIALITY.
 
The Manager shall maintain appropriate books of accounts and records relating to services performed under this Agreement, and such books of account and records shall be accessible for inspection by representatives of the Company or any Subsidiary at any time during normal business hours upon one (1) business day’s advance written notice. The Manager shall keep confidential any and all information obtained in connection with the services rendered under this Agreement and shall not disclose any such information to nonaffiliated third parties except with the prior written consent of the Board of Directors.
 
SECTION 7.             OBLIGATIONS OF MANAGER; RESTRICTIONS.
 
(a)             The Manager shall require each seller or transferor of investment assets to the Company to make such representations and warranties regarding such assets as may, in the judgment of the Manager, be necessary and appropriate. In addition, the Manager shall take such other action as it deems necessary or appropriate with regard to the protection of the Investments.
 
(b)             The Manager shall refrain from any action that, in its sole judgment made in good faith, (i) is not in compliance with the Guidelines or (ii) would violate any law, rule or regulation of any governmental body or agency having jurisdiction over the Company or any Subsidiary or that would otherwise not be permitted by such entity’s Governing Instruments. If the Manager is ordered to take any such action by the Board of Directors, the Manager shall promptly notify the Board of Directors of the Manager’s judgment that such action would violate any such law, rule or regulation or the Governing Instruments. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Manager, its directors, officers, stockholders and employees shall not be liable to the Company or any Subsidiary, the Board of Directors, or the Company’s or any Subsidiary’s stockholders or partners for any act or omission by the Manager, its directors, officers, stockholders or employees except as provided in Section 11 of this Agreement.
 
(c)              The Manager shall not (i) consummate any transaction which would involve the acquisition by the Company of property in which the Manager or any affiliate thereof has an ownership interest or the sale by the Company of property to the Manager or any affiliate thereof, or (ii) under circumstances where the Manager is subject to an actual or potential conflict of interest because it manages both the Company and another Person (not an Affiliate of the Company) with which the Company has a contractual relationship, take any action constituting the granting to such Person of a waiver, forebearance or other relief, or the enforcement against such Person of remedies, under or with respect to the applicable contract, unless such transaction or action, as the case may be and in each case, is approved by a majority of the Independent Directors.
 
7

(d)             The Company shall not invest in joint ventures with the Manager or any affiliate thereof, unless (i) such Investment is made in accordance with the Guidelines and (ii) such Investment is approved in advance by a majority of the Independent Directors.
 
(e)              The Board of Directors periodically reviews the Guidelines and the Company’s portfolio of Investments. If a majority of the Independent Directors determine in their periodic review of transactions that a particular transaction does not comply with the Guidelines, then a majority of the Independent Directors will consider what corrective action, if any, can be taken. If the transaction involved the acquisition of an asset from the Manager or an affiliate of the Manager that was not approved in advance by a majority of the Independent Directors, then the Manager may be required to repurchase the asset at the purchase price (plus closing costs) to the Company.
 
(f)              The Manager shall at all times during the term of this Agreement (including the Initial Term and any renewal term) maintain a tangible net worth equal to or greater than $1,000,000. Additionally, during such period the Manager shall maintain “errors and omissions” insurance coverage and other insurance coverage which is customarily carried by property and asset and investment managers performing functions similar to those of the Manager under this Agreement with respect to assets similar to the assets of the Company, in an amount which is comparable to that customarily maintained by other managers or servicers of similar assets.
 
SECTION 8.             COMPENSATION.
 
(a)             During the term of this Agreement, as the same may be extended from time to time, the Manager will receive an annual management fee (the “Management Fee”) equal to 1.50% of the Company’s “Gross Equity.” The Management Fee shall be calculated and paid monthly in arrears based upon the weighted daily average of the Gross Equity of the Company for such month. The term “Gross Equity” for any period means (A) the sum of (i) the “Total Equity,” plus (ii) the value of contributions made by partners other than the Company, from time to time, to the capital of any Subsidiary (reduced proportionately in the case of a Subsidiary to the extent that the Company owns, directly or indirectly, less than 100% of the equity interests in such Subsidiary), less (B) any capital dividends or capital distributions made by the Company to its stockholders or, without duplication, by any Subsidiary to its stockholders, partners or other equity holders. As used herein, the term “Total Equity” shall mean (i) the equity transferred from Newcastle Investment Holdings Corp. at the inception of the Company, plus (ii) the amount of accumulated depreciation on the real estate assets transferred (as directly or indirectly held assets) to the Company (items (i) and (ii) thus representing the gross equity transferred to the Company at inception), plus (iii) the total net proceeds to the Company from any common or preferred equity capital heretofore or hereafter raised by the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company (exclusive, with respect to any Subsidiary, of capital of such Subsidiary consisting of a capital contribution or other form of capital investment made by the Company or another Subsidiary of the Company).
 
(b)             The Manager shall compute each installment of the Management Fee within 15 days after the end of the calendar month with respect to which such installment is payable. A copy of the computations made by the Manager to calculate such installment shall thereafter, for informational purposes only and subject in any event to Section 13(a) of this Agreement, promptly be delivered to the Board of Directors and, upon such delivery, payment of such installment of the Management Fee shown therein shall be due and payable no later than the earlier to occur of (i) the date which is 20 days after the end of the calendar month with respect to which such installment is payable and (ii) the date which is two (2) business days after the date of delivery to the Board of Directors of such computations.
 
(c)              The Management Fee is subject to adjustment pursuant to and in accordance with the provisions of Section 13(a) of this Agreement.
 
8

(d)             The Board of Directors may, by written notice to the Manager delivered ten (10) days prior to the date on which any payment of the Incentive Compensation is payable, request that the Manager accept all or a portion of such payment in the form of issued shares of common stock in the Company, which notice shall specify the amount of the payment of the Incentive Compensation, the amount thereof which the Company intends to pay in cash, if any, and the amount thereof which the Company intends to pay in the form of such shares of common stock of the Company in the number of such shares as determined by the Board of Directors. Within five (5) days following receipt of said notice, the Manager shall notify the Company in writing, such election to be made by the Manager in its sole discretion, whether it will accept such portion of such payment in the form of such shares and in such number of such shares.
 
(e)              In addition to the Management Fee otherwise payable hereunder, the Company shall pay the Manager annual incentive compensation on a cumulative, but not compounding, basis, in an amount equal to the product of (A) 25% of the dollar amount by which (1)(a) the Funds from Operations (before such payment) of the Company, per Ordinary Share (based on the weighted average number of Ordinary Shares outstanding), plus (b) gains (or losses) from debt restructuring and gains (or losses) from sales of property per Ordinary Share (based on the weighted average number of Ordinary Shares outstanding), exceed (2) an amount equal to (a) the weighted average of the book value per Ordinary Share of the net assets transferred to the Company on or prior to July 12, 2002 by Newcastle Investment Holdings Corp. and the prices per Ordinary Share at any subsequent offerings by the Company (adjusted for any prior capital dividends or capital distributions) multiplied by (b) a simple interest rate of ten percent (10%) per annum multiplied by (B) the weighted average number of Ordinary Shares outstanding during such period. The obligation of the Company to pay the Incentive Compensation shall survive the expiration or earlier termination of this Agreement, subject to Section 16(b).
 
SECTION 9.           EXPENSES OF THE COMPANY. The Company shall pay all of its expenses and shall reimburse the Manager for documented expenses of the Manager incurred on its behalf (collectively, the “Expenses”). Expenses include all costs and expenses which are expressly designated elsewhere in this Agreement as the Company’s, together with the following:
 
(a)              expenses in connection with the issuance and transaction costs incident to the acquisitions, disposition and financing of Investments;
 
(b)              travel and other out-of-pocket expenses incurred by managers, officers, employees and agents of the Manager in connection with the purchase, financing, refinancing, sale or other disposition of an Investment;
 
(c)              costs of legal, accounting, tax, auditing, administrative and other similar services rendered for the Company by providers retained by the Manager or, if provided by the Manager’s employees, in amounts which are no greater than those which would be payable to outside professionals or consultants engaged to perform such services pursuant to agreements negotiated on an arm’s-length basis;
 
(d)              the compensation and expenses of the Independent Directors and the cost of liability insurance to indemnify the Company’s directors and officers;
 
(e)              compensation and expenses of the Company’s custodian and transfer agent, if any;
 
(f)              costs associated with the establishment and maintenance of any credit facilities and other indebtedness of the Company (including commitment fees, legal fees, closing and other costs) or any securities offerings of the Company;
 
9

(g)             costs associated with any computer software or hardware that is used solely for the Company;
 
(h)             costs and expenses incurred in contracting with third parties, including affiliates of the Manager, for the servicing and special servicing of assets of the Company;
 
(i)              all other costs and expenses relating to the Company’s business and investment operations, including, without limitation, the costs and expenses of acquiring, owning, protecting, maintaining, developing and disposing of Investments, including appraisal, reporting, audit and legal fees;
 
(j)               all insurance costs incurred in connection with the operation of the Company’s business except for the costs attributable to the insurance that the Manager elects to carry for itself and its employees;
 
(k)             expenses relating to any office or office facilities maintained for the Company or Investments separate from the office or offices of the Manager;
 
(l)              expenses connected with the payments of interest, dividends or distributions in cash or any other form made or caused to be made by the Board of Directors to or on account of the holders of securities of the Company or its Subsidiaries, including, without limitation, in connection with any dividend reinvestment plan;
 
(m)            expenses connected with communications to holders of securities of the Company or its Subsidiaries and other bookkeeping and clerical work necessary in maintaining relations with holders of such securities and in complying with the continuous reporting and other requirements of governmental bodies or agencies, including, without limitation, all costs of preparing and filing required reports with the Securities and Exchange Commission, the costs payable by the Company to any transfer agent and registrar in connection with the listing and/or trading of the Company’s stock on any exchange, the fees payable by the Company to any such exchange in connection with its listing, costs of preparing, printing and mailing the Company’s annual report to its shareholders and proxy materials with respect to any meeting of the shareholders of the Company; and
 
(n)             all other expenses actually incurred by the Manager which are reasonably necessary for the performance by the Manager of its duties and functions under this Agreement.
 
(o)             Without regard to the amount of compensation received under this Agreement by the Manager, the Manager shall bear the following expenses: (i) wages and salaries of the Manager’s officers and employees; (ii) rent attributable to the space occupied by the Manager; and (iii) all other “overhead” expenses of the Manager.
 
SECTION 10.         CALCULATIONS OF EXPENSES. The Manager shall prepare a statement documenting the Expenses of the Company and the Expenses incurred by the Manager on behalf of the Company during each calendar month, and shall deliver such statement to the Company within 20 days after the end of each calendar month. Expenses incurred by the Manager on behalf of the Company shall be reimbursed monthly to the Manager on the first business day of the month immediately following the date of delivery of such statement.
 
10

SECTION 11.         LIMITS OF MANAGER RESPONSIBILITY; INDEMNIFICATION. (a) The Manager assumes no responsibility under this Agreement other than to render the services called for under this Agreement in good faith and shall not be responsible for any action of the Board of Directors in following or declining to follow any advice or recommendations of the Manager, including as set forth in Section 7(b) of this Agreement. The Manager, its members, managers, officers and employees will not be liable to the Company or any Subsidiary, to the Board of Directors, or the Company’s or any Subsidiary’s stockholders or partners for any acts or omissions by the Manager, its members, managers, officers or employees, pursuant to or in accordance with this Agreement, except by reason of acts constituting bad faith, willful misconduct, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the Manager’s duties under this Agreement. The Company shall, to the full extent lawful, reimburse, indemnify and hold the Manager, its members, managers, officers and employees and each other Person, if any, controlling the Manager (each, an “Indemnified Party”), harmless of and from any and all expenses, losses, damages, liabilities, demands, charges and claims of any nature whatsoever (including attorneys’ fees) in respect of or arising from any acts or omissions of such Indemnified Party made in good faith in the performance of the Manager’s duties under this Agreement and not constituting such Indemnified Party’s bad faith, willful misconduct, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the Manager’s duties under this Agreement.
 
(b)             The Manager shall, to the full extent lawful, reimburse, indemnify and hold the Company, its shareholders, directors, officers and employees and each other Person, if any, controlling the Company (each, a “Company Indemnified Party”), harmless of and from any and all expenses, losses, damages, liabilities, demands, charges and claims of any nature whatsoever (including attorneys’ fees) in respect of or arising from the Manager’s bad faith, willful misconduct, gross negligence or reckless disregard of its duties under this Agreement.
 
SECTION 12.         NO JOINT VENTURE. Nothing in this Agreement shall be construed to make the Company and the Manager partners or joint venturers or impose any liability as such on either of them.
 
SECTION 13.           TERM; TERMINATION.
 
(a)              Until this Agreement is terminated in accordance with its terms, this Agreement shall be in effect until the date that is one (1) years after the date hereof, and thereafter on each anniversary of such date deemed renewed automatically each year for an additional one-year period unless (i) a majority consisting of at least two-thirds of the Independent Directors or a simple majority of the holders of outstanding shares of Common Stock of the Company, agree that there has been unsatisfactory performance that is materially detrimental to the Company or (ii) a simple majority of the Independent Directors agree that the Management Fee payable to the Manager is unfair; provided, that the Company shall not have the right to terminate this Agreement under clause (ii) foregoing if the Manager agrees to continue to provide the services under this Agreement at a fee that the Independent Directors have determined to be fair. If the Company elects not to renew this Agreement at the expiration of the original term or any such one-year extension term as set forth above, the Company shall deliver to the Manager prior written notice (the “Termination Notice”) of the Company’s intention not to renew this Agreement based upon the terms set forth in this Section 13(a) of this Agreement not less than 60 days prior to the expiration of the then existing term. If the Company so elects not to renew this Agreement, the Company shall designate the date (the “Effective Termination Date”), not less than 60 days from the date of the notice, on which the Manager shall cease to provide services under this Agreement and this Agreement shall terminate on such date; provided, however, that in the event that such Termination Notice is given in connection with a determination that the compensation payable to the Manager is unfair, the Manager shall have the right to renegotiate the Management Fee by delivering to the Company, no fewer than forty-five (45) days prior to the prospective Effective Termination Date, written notice (any such notice, a “Notice of Proposal to Negotiate”) of its intention to renegotiate its compensation under this Agreement. Thereupon, the Company and the Manager shall endeavor to negotiate in good faith the revised compensation payable to the Manager under this Agreement. Provided that the Manager and the Company agree to a revised Management Fee (or other compensation structure) within 45 days following the receipt of the Notice of Proposal to Negotiate, the Termination Notice shall be deemed of no force and effect and this Agreement shall continue in full force and effect on the terms stated in this Agreement, except that the Management Fee shall be the revised Management Fee (or other compensation structure) then agreed upon by the parties to this Agreement. The Company and the Manager agree to execute and deliver an amendment to this Agreement setting forth such revised Management Fee promptly upon reaching an agreement regarding same. In the event that the Company and the Manager are unable to agree to a revised Management Fee during such 30 day period, this Agreement shall terminate, such termination to be effective on the date which is the later of (A) ten (10) days following the end of such 30 day period and (B) the Effective Termination Date originally set forth in the Termination Notice.
 
11

(b)             In the event that this Agreement is terminated in accordance with the provisions of Section 13(a) of this Agreement, the Company shall pay to the Manager, on the date on which such termination is effective, a termination fee (the “Termination Fee”) equal to the amount of the Management Fee earned by the Manager during the period consisting of the twelve (12) full, consecutive calendar months immediately preceding such termination. The obligation of the Company to pay the Termination Fee shall survive the termination of this Agreement.
 
(c)             No later than sixty (60) days prior to the anniversary date of this Agreement of any year during the Term, the Manager may deliver written notice to the Company informing it of the Manager’s intention not to renew the Term, whereupon the Term of this Agreement shall not be renewed and extended and this Agreement shall terminate effective on the anniversary of the Closing Date next following the delivery of such notice.
 
(d)             If this Agreement is terminated pursuant to this Section 13, such termination shall be without any further liability or obligation of either party to the other, except as provided in Section 13(b) and Section 16 of this Agreement. In addition, Section 11 of this Agreement shall survive termination of this Agreement.
 
SECTION 14.           ASSIGNMENT.
 
(a)              Except as set forth in Section 14(b) of this Agreement, this Agreement shall terminate automatically in the event of its assignment, in whole or in part, by the Manager, unless such assignment is consented to in writing by the Company with the consent of a majority of the Independent Directors; provided, however, that no such consent shall be required in the case of an assignment by the Manager to an entity whose day-to-day business and operations are managed and supervised by each of Messrs. Wesley R. Edens and Randal A. Nardone (collectively, the “Principals”). Any such permitted assignment shall bind the assignee under this Agreement in the same manner as the Manager is bound, and the Manager shall be liable to the Company for all errors or omissions of the assignee under any such assignment. In addition, the assignee shall execute and deliver to the Company a counterpart of this Agreement naming such assignee as Manager. This Agreement shall not be assigned by the Company without the prior written consent of the Manager, except in the case of assignment by the Company to any other organization which is a successor (by merger, consolidation or purchase of assets) to the Company, in which case such successor organization shall be bound under this Agreement and by the terms of such assignment in the same manner as the Company is bound under this Agreement.
 
(b)             Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement, the Manager may subcontract and assign any or all of its responsibilities under Sections 2(b), 2(c) and 2(d) of this Agreement to any of its affiliates in accordance with the terms of this Agreement applicable to any such subcontract or assignment, and the Company hereby consents to any such assignment and subcontracting. In addition, provided that the Manager provides prior written notice to the Company for informational purposes only, nothing contained in this Agreement shall preclude any pledge, hypothecation or other transfer of any amounts payable to the Manager under this Agreement.
 
12

SECTION 15.           TERMINATION FOR CAUSE.
 
(a)              The Company may terminate this Agreement effective upon sixty (60) days prior written notice of termination from the Company to the Manager, without payment of any Termination Fee, if any act of fraud, misappropriation of funds, or embezzlement against the Company or other willful violation of this Agreement by the Manager in its corporate capacity (as distinguished from the acts of any employees of the Manager which are taken without the complicity of any of the Principals) under this Agreement or in the event of any gross negligence on the part of the Manager in the performance of its duties under this Agreement.
 
(b)             The Manager may terminate this Agreement effective upon sixty (60) days prior written notice of termination to the Company in the event that the Company shall default in the performance or observance of any material term, condition or covenant contained in this Agreement and such default shall continue for a period of 30 days after written notice thereof specifying such default and requesting that the same be remedied in such 30 day period.
 
SECTION 16.         ACTION UPON TERMINATION. (a) From and after the effective date of termination of this Agreement, pursuant to Sections 13, 14, or 15 of this Agreement, the Manager shall not be entitled to compensation for further services under this Agreement, but shall be paid all compensation accruing to the date of termination and, if terminated pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(b), the applicable Termination Fee. Upon such termination, the Manager shall forthwith:
 
(i)               after deducting any accrued compensation and reimbursement for its expenses to which it is then entitled, pay over to the Company or a Subsidiary all money collected and held for the account of the Company or a Subsidiary pursuant to this Agreement;
 
(ii)              deliver to the Board of Directors a full accounting, including a statement showing all payments collected by it and a statement of all money held by it, covering the period following the date of the last accounting furnished to the Board of Directors with respect to the Company or a Subsidiary; and
 
(iii)             deliver to the Board of Directors all property and documents of the Company or any Subsidiary then in the custody of the Manager.
 
(b)             In the event that this Agreement is terminated, the Company shall have the option, to be exercised by written notice to the Manager within ten (10) days following such termination, to purchase from the Manager the right of the Manager to receive the Incentive Compensation. In exchange therefor the Company will be obligated to pay the Manager a cash purchase price (the “Cash Price”) equal to the amount of the Incentive Compensation that would be paid to the Manager if all of the Company’s assets were sold for cash at their then current fair market value (taking into account, among other things, expected future performance of the underlying investments, the “Fair Market Value”). In the event that the Company does not elect to exercise such option to purchase the Incentive Compensation, the Manager shall have the right to require the Company to do so at the Cash Price by delivering to the Company written notice within twenty (20) days following such termination. The Fair Market Value shall be determined by independent appraisal to be conducted by a nationally recognized appraisal firm mutually agreed upon by the Company and the Manager. If the Company and the Manager are unable to agree upon an appraisal firm, then each of the Company and the Manager shall choose an independent appraisal firm to conduct an appraisal. In such event, (i) if the appraisals prepared by the two appraisers so selected are the same or differ by an amount that does not exceed 20% of the higher of the two appraisals, the Fair Market Value will be deemed to be the average of such appraisals, and (ii) if the two appraisals differ by more than 20% of the higher of the two appraisals, the two appraisers together shall select a third nationally recognized appraisal firm to conduct an appraisal. If the two appraisers are unable to agree as to the identity of such third appraiser, either of the Manager and the Company may request that the American Arbitration Association (“AAA”) select the third appraiser, which shall then be selected by the AAA. The Fair Market Value will then be deemed to be the amount determined by such third appraiser, but in no event less than the lower or more than the higher of the first two appraisals made under this Section 16(b).
 
13

SECTION 17.         RELEASE OF MONEY OR OTHER PROPERTY UPON WRITTEN REQUEST. The Manager agrees that any money or other property of the Company or Subsidiary held by the Manager under this Agreement shall be held by the Manager as custodian for the Company or Subsidiary, and the Manager’s records shall be appropriately marked clearly to reflect the ownership of such money or other property by the Company or such Subsidiary. Upon the receipt by the Manager of a written request signed by a duly authorized officer of the Company requesting the Manager to release to the Company or any Subsidiary any money or other property then held by the Manager for the account of the Company or any Subsidiary under this Agreement, the Manager shall release such money or other property to the Company or any Subsidiary within a reasonable period of time, but in no event later than sixty (60) days following such request. The Manager shall not be liable to the Company, any Subsidiary, the Independent Directors, or the Company’s or a Subsidiary’s stockholders or partners for any acts performed or omissions to act by the Company or any Subsidiary in connection with the money or other property released to the Company or any Subsidiary in accordance with the first sentence of this Section 17. The Company and any Subsidiary shall indemnify the Manager and its members, managers, officers and employees against any and all expenses, losses, damages, liabilities, demands, charges and claims of any nature whatsoever, which arise in connection with the Manager’s release of such money or other property to the Company or any Subsidiary in accordance with the terms of this Section 17. Indemnification pursuant to this provision shall be in addition to any right of the Manager to indemnification under Section 11 of this Agreement.
 
SECTION 18.         NOTICES. Unless expressly provided otherwise in this Agreement, all notices, requests, demands and other communications required or permitted under this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given, made and received when delivered against receipt or upon actual receipt of (i) personal delivery, (ii) delivery by reputable overnight courier, (iii) delivery by facsimile transmission against answerback, (iv) delivery by registered or certified mail, postage prepaid, return receipt requested, addressed as set forth below:
 
(a)             If to the Company:
 
 
Drive Shack Inc.
 
c/o Fortress Investment Group LLC
 
1345 Avenue of the Americas
 
45th Floor
 
New York, New York 10105
 
Attention: Ms. Sarah Watterson

14

(b)             If to the Manager:
 
 
FIG LLC
 
1345 Avenue of the Americas
 
45th Floor
 
New York, New York 10105
 
Attention: Mr. Randal A. Nardone
 
Either party may alter the address to which communications or copies are to be sent by giving notice of such change of address in conformity with the provisions of this Section 18 for the giving of notice.
 
SECTION 19.         BINDING NATURE OF AGREEMENT; SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective heirs, personal representatives, successors and permitted assigns as provided in this Agreement.
 
SECTION 20.         ENTIRE AGREEMENT. This Agreement contains the entire agreement and understanding among the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter of this Agreement, and supersedes all prior and contemporaneous agreements, understandings, inducements and conditions, express or implied, oral or written, of any nature whatsoever with respect to the subject matter of this Agreement. The express terms of this Agreement control and supersede any course of performance and/or usage of the trade inconsistent with any of the terms of this Agreement. This Agreement may not be modified or amended other than by an agreement in writing.
 
SECTION 21.         CONTROLLING LAW. This Agreement and all questions relating to its validity, interpretation, performance and enforcement shall be governed by and construed, interpreted and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of New York, notwithstanding any New York or other conflict-of-law provisions to the contrary.
 
SECTION 22.         INDULGENCES, NOT WAIVERS. Neither the failure nor any delay on the part of a party to exercise any right, remedy, power or privilege under this Agreement shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial exercise of any right, remedy, power or privilege preclude any other or further exercise of the same or of any other right, remedy, power or privilege, nor shall any waiver of any right, remedy, power or privilege with respect to any occurrence be construed as a waiver of such right, remedy, power or privilege with respect to any other occurrence. No waiver shall be effective unless it is in writing and is signed by the party asserted to have granted such waiver.
 
SECTION 23.         TITLES NOT TO AFFECT INTERPRETATION. The titles of paragraphs and subparagraphs contained in this Agreement are for convenience only, and they neither form a part of this Agreement nor are they to be used in the construction or interpretation of this Agreement.
 
SECTION 24.         EXECUTION IN COUNTERPARTS. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original as against any party whose signature appears thereon, and all of which shall together constitute one and the same instrument. This Agreement shall become binding when one or more counterparts of this Agreement, individually or taken together, shall bear the signatures of all of the parties reflected hereon as the signatories.
 
15

SECTION 25.         PROVISIONS SEPARABLE. The provisions of this Agreement are independent of and separable from each other, and no provision shall be affected or rendered invalid or unenforceable by virtue of the fact that for any reason any other or others of them may be invalid or unenforceable in whole or in part.
 
SECTION 26.         GENDER. Words used herein regardless of the number and gender specifically used, shall be deemed and construed to include any other number, singular or plural, and any other gender, masculine, feminine or neuter, as the context requires.
 
16

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as of the date first written above.
 
 
COMPANY:
     
 
Drive Shack Inc.,
 
a Maryland corporation
   
 
By:
 
 
Name: 
 
Its: 
   
 
MANAGER:
   
 
FIG LLC, a Delaware limited liability company
   
 
By:
 
   
Name: 
   
Its: 
 
17

Schedule 1
 
INVESTMENT GUIDELINES OF DRIVE SHACK INC.
 
Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings ascribed thereto in that certain Amended and Restated Management and Advisory Agreement dated as of January 1, 2017 by and between Drive Shack Inc. (the "Corporation") and FIG LLC (the "Manager").
 
1.         No investment of the Corporation shall be made which would cause the Company to be regulated as an investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940.
 
2.         The Corporation shall not invest more than 20% of its Total Equity, determined as of the date of such investment, in any single asset.
 
3.         The debt of the Corporation (including the Corporation’s pro rata share of debt of its subsidiaries) shall not exceed 90% of the sum of such debt and the Total Equity of the Corporation.
 
4.         The Corporation shall not co-invest with the Manager or any of its affiliates unless (i) the Corporation’s co-investment is otherwise in accordance with these Guidelines and (ii) the terms of such co-investment are at least as favorable to the Corporation as to the Manager or such affiliate (as applicable) making such co-investment with the Manager.
 
 


Exhibit 99.1
 

Investor Relations
(212) 479-3195

Newcastle Decides to Change REIT Status Beginning in 2017 and Announces Name Change to Drive Shack Inc. to Facilitate Transformation to a Leisure Company
NEW YORK – (BUSINESS WIRE) – December 7, 2016 – Newcastle Investment Corp. (the “Company”; NYSE: NCT) announced today that its Board of Directors has decided that the Company will not be a Real Estate Investment Trust (“REIT”) beginning in 2017.

This decision was made to further support the Company’s transformation to a leisure company, led by its traditional and entertainment golf businesses. The Company anticipates that the conversion to a C–Corporation (“C-Corp”) will help provide transparency for stockholders. Furthermore, the Company has a substantial amount of net operating losses (“NOLs”) available to offset a large portion of U.S. federal income tax related to future earnings from the go-forward business.

In response to the changes in the business, the Company will change its name to Drive Shack Inc. and will be publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange under a new ticker “DS”.  The Company will begin trading under the ticker “DS” on December 29, 2016.

The Company intends to maintain REIT status through the end of 2016, and the conversion to a C-Corp will be effective as of January 1, 2017.

Commenting on the Company's 2017 plans, Newcastle’s CEO and President, Sarah Watterson said, “Newcastle has demonstrated a track record of driving stockholder value through discovering and executing on investments.  The decision to change our name and corporate structure in 2017 demonstrates our continued commitment to pursuing opportunities in the golf and leisure industries.”

Although the Company, as a C-Corp, will generally be subject to regular U.S. federal income tax on its net taxable income, the Company currently has significant NOLs that it expects to use in future years to offset a large portion of that U.S. federal income tax. In connection with its decision to become a C-Corp, the Company has adopted a one-year tax benefits preservation plan (the "Plan") designed to preserve the Company's ability to use those NOLs, which could be significantly limited if the Company experienced an "ownership change" as defined under Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code. In general, an ownership change would occur if the Company's "5-percent shareholders," as defined under Section 382, collectively increase their ownership in the Company by more than 50 percentage points during the relevant testing period. The Plan is similar to plans adopted by other public companies with significant tax attributes and was not adopted in response to any specific takeover threat or accumulation of the Company’s stock.
 
1

Under the Plan, the Company will make a non-taxable distribution of one Right for each share of its common stock outstanding at the close of business on December 20, 2016.  Pursuant to the Plan and subject to certain exceptions (including with respect to Fortress Investment Group LLC and certain of its affiliates), if a stockholder (or group) becomes a 4.9-percent stockholder after adoption of the Plan, the Rights would generally become exercisable and entitle stockholders (other than the 4.9-percent stockholder or group) to purchase additional shares of the Company at a significant discount, resulting in substantial dilution in the economic interest and voting power of the 4.9-percent stockholder (or group).

The Company’s Board of Directors may, in its sole discretion, exempt any stockholder (or group) from the Plan. Furthermore, the Company’s Board of Directors may, at any time, terminate the Plan or redeem the rights prior to the time the rights are triggered.

Additional information regarding the Plan will be contained in a Current Report on Form 8-K and in a Registration Statement on Form 8-A that the Company is filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

The Company's dividend on its common stock of $0.12 per share for the quarter ending December 31, 2016, and dividends on its 9.750% Series B, 8.050% Series C and 8.375% Series D preferred stock of $0.609375, $0.503125 and $0.523438 per share, respectively, for the period beginning November 1, 2016 and ending January 31, 2017, will be paid on January 31, 2017 to stockholders of record on December 20, 2016, and will be treated for U.S. federal income tax purposes as having been paid by the Company and received by stockholders on December 31, 2016.

CONFERENCE CALL

Newcastle’s management will host a conference call on Thursday, December 8, 2016 at 10:00 A.M. Eastern Time.

All interested parties are welcome to participate on the live call. The conference call may be accessed by dialing 1-866-393-1506 (from within the U.S.) or 1-706-634-0623 (from outside of the U.S.) ten minutes prior to the scheduled start of the call; please reference “Newcastle Investor Call.”

A simultaneous webcast of the conference call will be available to the public on a listen-only basis at www.newcastleinv.com . Please allow extra time prior to the call to visit the website and download any necessary software required to listen to the internet broadcast.

A telephonic replay of the conference call will also be available two hours following the call’s completion through 11:59 P.M. Eastern Time on Thursday, December 22, 2016 by dialing 1-855-859-2056 (from within the U.S.) or 1-404-537-3406 (from outside of the U.S.); please reference access code “33802143.”
 
2

ABOUT NEWCASTLE

Newcastle focuses on investing in, and actively managing traditional and entertainment golf assets and real estate related assets. Newcastle is managed by an affiliate of Fortress Investment Group LLC, a global investment management firm.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

Certain items in this press release may constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including, but not limited to, the Company’s decisions to no longer be treated as a REIT in 2017 and to change its name and ticker symbol, the Company’s ability to implement its strategy following such decisions, the Company’s ability to use NOLs in future years to offset a large portion of U.S. federal income tax and the Company’s expectations regarding the Plan. These statements are based on management’s current expectations and beliefs and are subject to a number of trends and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements, many of which are beyond Newcastle’s control. The Company can give no assurance that its expectations will be attained. Accordingly, you should not place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements contained in this press release. For a discussion of some of the risks and important factors that could cause actual results to differ from such forward-looking statements, see the sections entitled “Risk Factors” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” in the Company’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. Furthermore, new risks and uncertainties emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for the Company to predict or assess the impact of every factor that may cause its actual results to differ from those contained in any forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release. The Company expressly disclaims any obligation to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect any change in the Company's expectations with regard thereto or change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any statement is based.

Source: Newcastle Investment Corp.
Investor Relations, 212-479-3195
 
 
3