ASHFORD HOSPITALITY TRUST, INC. $50,000,000 of Common Stock EQUITY DISTRIBUTION AGREEMENT Dated: September 3, 2010
Exhibit 1.1
ASHFORD HOSPITALITY TRUST, INC.
$50,000,000
of Common Stock
of Common Stock
Dated: September 3, 2010
TABLE OF CONTENTS
SECTION 1.
|
Description of Securities | |
SECTION 2.
|
Placements | |
SECTION 3.
|
Sale of Placement Securities by the Placement Agent | |
SECTION 4.
|
Suspension of Sales | |
SECTION 5.
|
Representations and Warranties | |
SECTION 6.
|
Sale and Delivery to the Placement Agent; Settlement | |
SECTION 7.
|
Covenants of the Company | |
SECTION 8.
|
Payment of Expenses | |
SECTION 9.
|
Conditions of the Placement Agent’s Obligations | |
SECTION 10.
|
Indemnity and Contribution by the Company and the Placement Agent | |
SECTION 11.
|
Representations, Warranties and Agreements to Survive Delivery | |
SECTION 12.
|
Termination of Agreement | |
SECTION 13.
|
Notices | |
SECTION 14.
|
Parties | |
SECTION 15.
|
Adjustments for Stock Splits | |
SECTION 16.
|
Governing Law and Time | |
SECTION 17.
|
Effect of Headings | |
SECTION 18.
|
Permitted Free Writing Prospectuses | |
SECTION 19.
|
Absence of Fiduciary Relationship |
ii
TABLE OF CONTENTS
EXHIBITS | ||||
Exhibit A
|
– | Form of Placement Notice | ||
Exhibit B
|
– | Authorized Individuals for Placement Notices and Acceptances | ||
Exhibit C
|
– | Compensation | ||
Exhibit D
|
– | Form of Corporate Opinion of Xxxxxxx Xxxxx LLP | ||
Exhibit E
|
– | Form of Tax Opinion of Xxxxxxx Xxxxx LLP | ||
Exhibit F
|
– | Officer Certificate | ||
Exhibit G
|
– | Issuer Pricing Free Writing Prospectus |
i
Ashford Hospitality Trust, Inc.
$50,000,000
of Common Stock
of Common Stock
September 3, 2010
JMP Securities LLC
000 Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 0000
Xxx Xxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxx 00000
000 Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 0000
Xxx Xxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxx 00000
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Each of Ashford Hospitality Trust, Inc., a Maryland corporation (the “Company”)
and Ashford Hospitality Limited Partnership, a Delaware limited partnership (the “Operating
Partnership”) confirms its agreement (this “Agreement”) with JMP Securities LLC (the
“Placement Agent”), as follows:
SECTION 1. Description of Securities.
The Company agrees that, from time to time during the term of this Agreement, on the terms and
subject to the conditions set forth herein, it may issue and sell through the Placement Agent,
acting as agent and/or principal, shares (the “Securities”) of the Company’s common stock,
par value $0.01 per share (the “Common Stock”) having an aggregate offering price of up to
$50,000,000. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, except as set forth in a
Placement Notice (as defined below) the parties hereto agree that compliance with the limitations
set forth in this Section 1 on the aggregate offering price of the Securities issued and sold under
this Agreement shall be the sole responsibility of the Company, and the Placement Agent shall have
no obligation in connection with such compliance. The issuance and sale of the Securities through
the Placement Agent will be effected pursuant to the Registration Statement (as defined below)
filed by the Company and declared effective by the Securities and Exchange Commission (the
“Commission”), although nothing in this Agreement shall be construed as requiring the
Company to use the Registration Statement to offer, sell or issue the Securities. The Company
hereby reserves the right to issue and to sell securities other than through the Placement Agent
during the term of this Agreement, subject to the notice provisions contained in Section 7(k);
provided, however, the Company has not currently engaged, and does not intend to engage in the
foreseeable future, any placement agent other than the Placement Agent in connection with any
at-the-market offering sales program with respect to any Company equity securities. The addition
of any other placement agent to the Company’s at-the-market offering sales program contemplated
hereby shall require the consent of the Placement Agent.
The Company has filed, in accordance with the provisions of the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder (collectively, the “Securities Act”),
with the Commission a registration statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-162750), including a base
prospectus, relating to certain securities, including the Securities to be issued from time to time
by the Company, and which incorporates by reference documents that the Company has filed or will
file in accordance with the provisions of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the
rules and regulations thereunder (collectively, the “Exchange Act”). The Company has
prepared a prospectus supplement specifically relating to the Securities (the “Prospectus
Supplement”) to the base prospectus included as part of such registration statement. The
Company will furnish to the Placement Agent, for use by the Placement Agent, copies of the
prospectus included as part of such registration statement, as supplemented by the
Prospectus Supplement, relating to the Securities. Except where the context otherwise
requires, such registration statement, as amended when it became effective, including all documents
filed as part thereof or incorporated by reference therein, and including any information contained
in a Prospectus (as defined below) subsequently filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b)
under the Securities Act or deemed to be a part of such registration statement pursuant to Rule
430B of the Securities Act, is herein called the “Registration Statement.” The base
prospectus, including all documents incorporated therein by reference, included in the Registration
Statement, as it may be supplemented by the Prospectus Supplement, in the form in which such
prospectus and/or Prospectus Supplement have most recently been filed by the Company with the
Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act is herein called the
“Prospectus.” Any reference herein to the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or any
amendment or supplement thereto shall be deemed to refer to and include the documents incorporated
by reference therein, and any reference herein to the terms “amend,” “amendment” or “supplement”
with respect to the Registration Statement or the Prospectus shall be deemed to refer to and
include the filing after the execution hereof of any document with the Commission deemed to be
incorporated by reference therein. Any reference herein to financial statements and schedules and
other information that is “contained,” “included” or “stated” in the Registration Statement or the
Prospectus (and all other references of like import) shall be deemed to mean and include all such
financial statements and schedules and other information that is incorporated by reference in the
Registration Statement or the Prospectus, as the case may be. Any reference herein to the
Registration Statement, any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement, the Prospectus or any amendment or
supplement to any of the foregoing shall be deemed to include the copy filed with the Commission
pursuant to the Commission’s Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis and Retrieval system
(“XXXXX”); all references in this Agreement to any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus (other
than any Issuer Free Writing Prospectuses that, pursuant to Rule 433 under the Securities Act, are
not required to be filed with the Commission) shall be deemed to include the copy thereof filed
with the Commission pursuant to XXXXX.
SECTION 2. Placements.
Each time that the Company wishes to issue and sell the Securities hereunder (each, a
“Placement”), it will notify the Placement Agent by email notice (or other method mutually
agreed to in writing by the parties) containing the parameters in accordance with which it desires
the Securities to be sold, which shall at a minimum include the number of Securities to be issued
(the “Placement Securities”), the time period during which sales are requested to be made,
any limitation on the number of Securities that may be sold in any one day and any minimum price
below which sales may not be made (a “Placement Notice”), a form of which containing such
minimum sales parameters necessary is attached hereto as Exhibit A. The Placement Notice
shall originate from any of the individuals from the Company set forth on Exhibit B (with a
copy to each of the other individuals from the Company listed on such schedule), and shall be
addressed to each of the individuals from the Placement Agent set forth on Exhibit B, as
such Exhibit B may be amended from time to time. If the Placement Agent wishes to accept
such proposed terms included in the Placement Notice (which it may decline to do for any reason in
its sole discretion) or, following discussion with the Company, wishes to accept amended terms, the
Placement Agent will, prior to 4:30 p.m. (eastern time) on the Business Day (as defined below)
following the Business Day on which such Placement Notice is delivered to the Placement Agent,
issue to the Company a notice by email (or other method mutually agreed to in writing by the
parties) addressed to all of the individuals from the Company and the Placement Agent set forth on
Exhibit B) setting forth the terms that the Placement Agent is willing to accept. Where
the terms provided in the Placement Notice are amended as provided for in the immediately preceding
sentence, such terms will not be binding on the Company or the Placement Agent until the Company
delivers to the Placement Agent an acceptance by email (or other method mutually agreed to in
writing by the parties) of all of the terms of such Placement Notice, as amended (the
“Acceptance”), which email shall be addressed to all of the individuals from the Company
and the Placement Agent set forth on Exhibit B. The Placement Notice (as amended by the
2
corresponding Acceptance, if applicable) shall be effective upon receipt by the Company of the
Placement Agent’s acceptance of the terms of the Placement Notice or upon receipt by the Placement
Agent of the Company’s Acceptance, as the case may be, unless and until (i) the entire amount of
the Placement Securities has been sold, (ii) in accordance with the Placement Notice requirements
set forth in the second sentence of this paragraph, the Company terminates the Placement Notice,
(iii) the Company issues a subsequent Placement Notice with parameters superseding those on the
earlier dated Placement Notice, (iv) the Agreement has been terminated under the provisions of
Section 9 or Section 12 or (v) either party shall have suspended the sale of the Placement
Securities in accordance with Section 4 below. The amount of any discount, commission or other
compensation to be paid by the Company to the Placement Agent in connection with the sale of the
Placement Securities shall be calculated in accordance with the terms set forth in Exhibit
C. It is expressly acknowledged and agreed that neither the Company nor the Placement Agent
will have any obligation whatsoever with respect to a Placement or any Placement Securities unless
and until the Company delivers a Placement Notice to the Placement Agent and either (i) the
Placement Agent accepts the terms of such Placement Notice or (ii) where the terms of such
Placement Notice are amended, the Company accepts such amended terms by means of an Acceptance
pursuant to the terms set forth above, and then only upon the terms specified in the Placement
Notice (as amended by the corresponding Acceptance, if applicable) and herein. In the event of a
conflict between the terms of this Agreement and the terms of a Placement Notice (as amended by the
corresponding Acceptance, if applicable), the terms of the Placement Notice (as amended by the
corresponding Acceptance, if applicable) will control. The term “Business Day” means each Monday,
Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday or Friday that is not a day on which banking institutions in New York
are generally authorized or obligated by law or executive order to close.
SECTION 3. Sale of Placement Securities by the Placement Agent.
Subject to the provisions of Section 6(a), the Placement Agent, for the period specified in
the Placement Notice, will use its commercially reasonable efforts consistent with its normal
trading and sales practices to sell the Placement Securities, at prevailing market prices, up to
the amount specified, and otherwise in accordance with the terms of such Placement Notice (as
amended by the corresponding Acceptance, if applicable). The Placement Agent will provide written
confirmation to the Company no later one hour after the closing of the Trading Day (as defined
below) on which it has made sales of Placement Securities hereunder setting forth the number of
Placement Securities sold on such day, the compensation payable by the Company to the Placement
Agent pursuant to Section 2 with respect to such sales, and the Net Proceeds (as defined below)
payable to the Company, with an itemization of the deductions made by the Placement Agent (as set
forth in Section 6(b)) from the gross proceeds that it receives from such sales. Subject to the
terms of the Placement Notice (as amended by the corresponding Acceptance, if applicable), the
Placement Agent may sell Placement Securities by any method permitted by law deemed to be an “at
the market” offering as defined in Rule 415 of the Securities Act, including without limitation
sales made directly on the New York Stock Exchange, on any other existing trading market for the
Common Stock or to or through a market maker. If specified in a Placement Notice (as amended by
the corresponding Acceptance, if applicable), the Placement Agent may also sell Placement
Securities by any other method permitted by law, including but not limited to in privately
negotiated transactions. For the purposes hereof, “Trading Day” means any day on which
shares of Common Stock are purchased and sold on the principal market on which the Common Stock is
listed or quoted and during which there has been no market disruption of, unscheduled closing of or
suspension of trading on such principal market.
SECTION 4. Suspension of Sales. The Company or the Placement Agent may, upon notice
to the other party in writing (including by email correspondence to each of the individuals of the
other party set forth on Exhibit B, if receipt of such correspondence is actually
acknowledged by any of the individuals to whom the notice is sent, other than via auto-reply) or by
telephone (confirmed immediately
3
by verifiable facsimile transmission or email correspondence to each of the individuals of the
other party set forth on Exhibit B), suspend any sale of Placement Securities; provided,
however, that such suspension shall not affect or impair either party’s obligations with respect to
any Placement Securities sold hereunder prior to the receipt of such notice. Each of the parties
agrees that no such notice under this Section 4 shall be effective against the other unless it is
made to one of the individuals named on Exhibit B hereto, as such Exhibit may be amended
from time to time.
SECTION 5. Representations and Warranties.
(a) Representations and Warranties by the Company and the Operating Partnership. The Company
and the Operating Partnership, jointly and severally, represent and warrant to the Placement Agent
as of the date hereof and as of each Representation Date (as defined herein) on which a certificate
is required to be delivered pursuant to Section 7(o) of this Agreement and as of the time of each
sale of any Securities or any securities pursuant to this Agreement (the “Applicable
Time”), and agrees with the Placement Agent, as follows:
(1) Compliance with Registration Requirements. The Securities have been duly
registered under the Securities Act pursuant to the Registration Statement. The
Registration Statement has become effective under the Securities Act, or, with respect to
any registration statement to be filed to register the offer and sale of the Securities
pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, including the documents incorporated by
reference therein and the Rule 430A Information, (a “Rule 462(b) Registration
Statement”), will be filed with the Commission and become effective under the Securities
Act no later than 10:00 P.M., New York City time, on the date of determination of the public
offering price for the Securities, and no stop order preventing or suspending the use of any
base prospectus, the Prospectus Supplement, the Prospectus or any Permitted Free Writing
Prospectus (as defined below), or the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or any
Rule 462(b) Registration Statement and no proceedings for such purpose have been instituted
or are pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, are contemplated by the Commission, and
any request on the part of the Commission for additional information has been complied with.
At the respective times each of the Registration Statement, any Rule 462(b)
Registration Statement and any post-effective amendments thereto became or becomes effective
and as of the date hereof, the Registration Statement, any Rule 462(b) Registration
Statement and any amendments and supplements thereto complied and will comply in all
material respects with the requirements of the Securities Act. The conditions for the use
of Form S-3, as set forth in the General Instructions thereto, have been complied with and
the Registration Statement meets, and the offering and sale of the Securities as
contemplated hereby complies with, the requirements of Rule 415(a)(1)(x) under the
Securities Act (including without limitation, Rule 415(a)(5)). The Registration Statement,
as of the date hereof and each effective date with respect thereto, did not and will not
contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to
be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading. Neither the
Prospectus nor any amendments or supplements thereto, as of their respective dates, and at
each Applicable Time and Settlement Date (as defined below), as the case may be, included or
will include an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted or will omit to state a
material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the
circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.
The representations and warranties set forth in the immediately preceding paragraph
shall not apply to statements in or omissions from the Registration Statement or the
Prospectus, as
4
amended or supplemented, made in reliance upon and in conformity with information
furnished to the Company in writing by the Placement Agent expressly for use therein.
The copies of the Registration Statement and any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement and
any amendments thereto, any other preliminary prospectus, each Issuer Free Writing
Prospectus (as defined below) that is required to be filed with the Commission pursuant to
Rule 433 under the Securities Act and the Prospectus and any amendments or supplements
thereto delivered and to be delivered to the Placement Agent (electronically or otherwise)
in connection with the offering of the Securities were and will be identical to the
electronically transmitted copies thereof filed with the Commission pursuant to XXXXX,
except to the extent permitted by Regulation S-T. “Issuer Free Writing Prospectus”
means any “issuer free writing prospectus,” as defined in Rule 433 under the Securities Act,
relating to the Securities that (i) is required to be filed with the Commission by the
Company, (ii) is a “road show” that is a “written communication” within the meaning of Rule
433(d)(8)(i) under the Securities Act whether or not required to be filed with the
Commission, or (iii) is exempt from filing pursuant to Rule 433(d)(5)(i) under the
Securities Act because it contains a description of the Securities or of the offering that
does not reflect the final terms, and all free writing prospectuses that are listed in
Exhibit G hereto, in each case in the form furnished (electronically or otherwise)
to the Placement Agent for use in connection with the offering of the Securities.
Each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus relating to the Securities, as of its issue date
and as of each Applicable Time and Settlement Date (as defined below), did not, does not and
will not include any information that conflicted, conflicts or will conflict with the
information contained in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, including any
incorporated document deemed to be a part thereof that has not been superseded or modified;
each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, as supplemented by and taken together with the
Prospectus, as of the Applicable Time and Settlement Date (as defined below), will not
include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in
order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances, prevailing at that
time, not misleading. The foregoing sentence does not apply to statements in or omissions
from any issuer free writing prospectus based upon and in conformity with written
information furnished to the Company by the Placement Agent specifically for use therein.
Each document incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus
heretofore filed, when it was filed (or, if any amendment with respect to any such document
was filed, when such amendment was filed), conformed in all material respects with the
requirements of the Exchange Act, and any further documents so filed and incorporated after
the date of this Agreement will, when they are filed, conform in all material respects with
the requirements of the Exchange Act; no such document when it was filed (or, if an
amendment with respect to any such document was filed, when such amendment was filed),
contained an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact
required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein not
misleading; and no such document, when it is filed, will contain an untrue statement of a
material fact or will omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or
necessary in order to make the statements therein not misleading.
(2) Company Capitalization. The Company has an authorized capitalization as
set forth in the Prospectus; the outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company have
been duly and validly authorized and issued and are fully paid and nonassessable.
(3) Operating Partnership Capitalization. The outstanding partnership
interests of the Operating Partnership have been duly and validly authorized and issued.
5
(4) Disclosure Regarding Outstanding Securities. Except as disclosed in the
Prospectus, there are no outstanding (A) securities or obligations of the Company or the
subsidiaries of the Company required to be set forth in Exhibit 21.1 to the Company’s Form
10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2009 (each a “Subsidiary,” and together, the
“Subsidiaries”) convertible into or exchangeable for any capital stock of or
partnership interests, membership interests or other equity interests, as the case may be,
in the Company or any such Subsidiary, (B) warrants, rights or options to subscribe for or
purchase from the Company or any Subsidiary any such capital stock or any such convertible
or exchangeable securities or obligations, or (C) obligations of the Company or any
Subsidiary to issue any securities or obligations, any such convertible or exchangeable
securities or obligations, or any such warrants, rights or options the existence of which,
in each case (A), (B) and (C), is required to be disclosed in the Registration Statement and
the Prospectus and are not so disclosed.
(5) Good Standing. Each of the Company and the Subsidiaries has been duly
incorporated or organized and is validly existing as a corporation, general or limited
partnership or limited liability company, as the case may be, except to the extent, in the
case of the Subsidiaries, that the failure to be so organized or in good standing would not,
individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have any material adverse effect
on, or change with respect to, the assets, business operation, earnings, prospects,
properties or financial condition, present or prospective, of the Company and its
Subsidiaries taken as a whole (a “Material Adverse Effect” or “Material Adverse
Change”) and is in good standing under the laws of its respective jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization except to the extent that the failure to be so qualified or in
good standing would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a
Material Adverse Effect.
(6) Corporate Power. Each of the Company and the Subsidiaries have the
corporate, partnership or limited liability company power, as the case may be, and authority
to own their respective properties and conduct their respective businesses, each as
described in each of the Registration Statement and the Prospectus except to the extent that
the failure to have such power or authority would not, individually or in the aggregate,
reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, and, in the case of the Company
and the Operating Partnership, to execute and deliver this Agreement and to consummate the
transactions described in this Agreement.
(7) Foreign Qualifications. The Company and the Subsidiaries are duly
qualified or licensed and in good standing in each jurisdiction where such qualification or
license is required except where the failure, individually or in the aggregate, to be so
qualified or licensed would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
(8) No Prohibition on Dividends Payable by the Operating Partnership. Except
as disclosed in the Prospectus, the Operating Partnership is neither contractually
prohibited nor contractually restricted, directly or indirectly, from paying dividends to
the Company, or from making any other distribution with respect to the Operating
Partnership’s partnership interests or from repaying to the Company or another subsidiary of
the Company any amounts which may from time to time become due under any loans or advances
to the Operating Partnership from the Company or another subsidiary of the Company, or from
transferring the Operating Partnership’s property or assets to the Company or another
subsidiary of the Company.
(9) No Prohibition on Dividends Payable by the Subsidiaries. Except as
disclosed in the Prospectus, no Subsidiary (other than the Operating Partnership, which is
covered above) is contractually prohibited or restricted, directly or indirectly, from
paying dividends to
6
the Operating Partnership, to the extent such Subsidiary is a direct subsidiary of the
Operating Partnership or from making any other distribution with respect to the outstanding
membership interests of such Subsidiary or from repaying to the Company, the Operating
Partnership or another subsidiary of the Company any amounts which may from time to time
become due under any loans or advances to such Subsidiary from the Company, the Operating
Partnership or another subsidiary of the Company, or from transferring such Subsidiary’s
property or assets to the Company, the Operating Partnership or another subsidiary of the
Company except for any such prohibitions and restrictions that would not individually or in
the aggregate reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect or to the extent that
any such restriction would currently materially limit the Company’s ability to pay dividends
or that would be reasonably likely to materially limit the future payment of dividends on
Common Stock.
(10) Authorization of Partnership Agreement. The Third Amended and Restated
Agreement of Limited Partnership of the Operating Partnership, dated as of May 7, 2007, as
amended (the “Partnership Agreement”), has been duly and validly authorized,
executed and delivered by the Company and is a valid and binding agreement of the Company,
enforceable in accordance with its terms, except as enforceability may be limited by
bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or similar laws affecting creditors’
rights generally or by general principles of equity, and except to the extent that the
indemnification and contribution provisions hereof may be limited by federal or state
securities laws and public policy considerations in respect thereof.
(11) Sole General Partner of Operating Partnership. The Ashford OP General
Partner, LLC is the sole general partner of the Operating Partnership and the holder of
units of limited partnership interest in the Operating Partnership (“OP
Units”) representing a majority limited partnership interest in the Operating
Partnership, and, except for security interests in favor of lenders created pursuant to or
in connection with loan documents disclosed in the Prospectus, free and clear of any pledge,
lien, encumbrance, security interest or other claim except for any pledge, lien encumbrance
security interest or other claim that would not, individually or in the aggregate,
reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. The Company is the sole member of
Ashford OP General Partner, LLC.
(12) Absence of Defaults. Except as disclosed in the Prospectus, neither the
Company nor any Subsidiary is in breach of or in default under (nor has any event occurred
which with notice, lapse of time, or both would constitute a breach of, or default under),
its respective organizational documents, or in the performance or observance of any
obligation, agreement, covenant or condition contained in any license, indenture, mortgage,
deed of trust, loan or credit agreement or other agreement or instrument to which the
Company or any Subsidiary is a party or by which any of them or their respective properties
or assets is bound, except for such breaches or defaults which would not reasonably be
expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
(13) Absence of Conflicts. The execution, delivery and performance of this
Agreement and consummation of the transactions contemplated herein will not (A) conflict
with, or result in any breach of, or constitute a default under (nor constitute any event
which with notice, lapse of time, or both would constitute a breach of, or default under):
(1) any provision of the organizational documents of the Company or any Subsidiary, or (2)
any provision of any license, indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan or credit agreement
or other agreement or instrument to which the Company or any Subsidiary is a party or by
which any of them or their respective assets or properties may be bound or affected, or
under any federal, state, local or foreign law, regulation or rule or any decree, judgment
or order applicable to the Company or any
7
Subsidiary, except in the case of clause (2) for such breaches or defaults which could
not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; or (B) result in the creation
or imposition of any lien, charge, claim or encumbrance upon any property or asset of the
Company or any Subsidiary, except for such liens, charges, claims or encumbrances which
would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
(14) Authorization of Agreement. This Agreement has been duly authorized,
executed and delivered by each of the Company and the Operating Partnership and is a legal,
valid and binding agreement of each of the Company and the Operating Partnership enforceable
against the Company and the Operating Partnership in accordance with its terms, except as
may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or similar laws
affecting creditors’ rights generally, and by general equitable principles, and except to
the extent that the indemnification and contribution provisions of Section 10 hereof may be
limited by federal or state securities laws and public policy considerations in respect
thereof.
(15) Absence of Further Requirements. No approval, authorization, consent or
order of or filing with any federal, state, local or foreign governmental or regulatory
commission, board, body, authority or agency is required in connection with the Company’s or
the Operating Partnership’s execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement, the
consummation of the transactions contemplated herein by the Company or the Operating
Partnership, including the Company’s issuance, sale and delivery of the Securities, other
than (A) such as have been obtained, or will have been obtained at the Settlement Date (as
defined below), as the case may be, under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act, (B) such
approvals as have been obtained in connection with the approval of the listing of the
Securities on the New York Stock Exchange (C) any necessary qualification under the
securities or “blue sky” laws of the various jurisdictions in which the Securities are being
offered by the Placement Agent, or (D) any such approvals, authorizations, consents, orders,
or filings that if not obtained or made, would not, individually or in the aggregate,
reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect or which would not reasonably be
expected to have a material adverse effect on the Company’s or the Operating Partnership’s
ability to perform their agreed upon obligations under this Agreement.
(16) Possession of Licenses and Permits. Each of the Company and the
Subsidiaries has all necessary licenses, authorizations, consents and approvals and has made
all necessary filings required under any federal, state, local or foreign law, regulation or
rule, and has obtained all necessary authorizations, consents and approvals from other
persons, required in order to conduct their respective businesses as described in the
Prospectus, except to the extent that any failure to have any such licenses, authorizations,
consents or approvals, to make any such filings or to obtain any such authorizations,
consents or approvals would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to
have a Material Adverse Effect; neither the Company nor any of the Subsidiaries is in
violation of, in default under, or has received any notice regarding a possible violation,
default or revocation of any such license, authorization, consent or approval or any
federal, state, local or foreign law, regulation or rule or any decree, order or judgment
applicable to the Company or any of the Subsidiaries the effect of which would reasonably be
expected to result in a Material Adverse Change.
(17) Permitted Free Writing Prospectuses. Except for the Issuer Free Writing
Prospectuses identified in Exhibit G hereto, the Company has not prepared, used or
referred to, and will not, without the prior consent of the Placement Agent, prepare, use or
refer to, any Free Writing Prospectus.
8
(18) Company Not an Ineligible Issuer. (i) At the earliest time after the
filing of the Registration Statement that the Company or another offering participant made a
bona fide offer (within the meaning of Rule 164(h)(2) of the Securities Act) of the
Securities and (ii) as of the date hereof, the Company was not and is not an Ineligible
Issuer (as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act), without taking account of any
determination by the Commission pursuant to Rule 405 of the Securities Act that it is not
necessary that the Company be considered an Ineligible Issuer.
(19) Filing of Registration Statement. The Company filed the Registration
Statement with the Commission before using any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus.
(20) Absence of Proceedings. Except as disclosed in the Prospectus, there are
no actions, suits, proceedings, inquiries or investigations pending or, to the knowledge of
the Company, threatened against the Company or any Subsidiary or, to the extent that such
proceeding affects the properties or assets of the Company or any Subsidiary, any of their
respective officers and directors or to which the properties, assets or rights of any such
entity are subject, at law or in equity, before or by any federal, state, local or foreign
governmental or regulatory commission, board, body, authority, arbitral panel or agency
which could result in a judgment, decree, award or order that would reasonably be expected
to have a Material Adverse Effect.
(21) Financial Statements. The consolidated financial statements of the
Company and its subsidiaries present fairly the consolidated financial position of the
Company and its subsidiaries, as of the dates indicated and consolidated results of
operations and changes in financial position and cash flows for the periods specified; such
financial statements have been prepared in conformity with generally accepted accounting
principles as applied in the United States and on a consistent basis during the periods
involved and in accordance with Regulation S-X promulgated by the Commission; the financial
statement schedules included or incorporated by reference in the Prospectus have been
compiled on a basis consistent with the financial statements; no pro forma financial
information, financial statements or supporting schedules other than the Historical
Financial Statements are required to be included in the Registration Statement or the
Prospectus. All non-GAAP financial measures included in or incorporated by reference into
the Registration Statement and the Prospectus comply with the requirements of Regulation G
and Item 10 of Regulation S-K of the Securities Act to the extent such rules are applicable
to such financial statements.
(22) Independent Accountants. Ernst & Young LLP, whose reports on the
consolidated financial statements of the Company and its subsidiaries constitute part of the
Prospectus, is, and was during the periods covered by its reports, independent as required
by the Securities Act.
(23) No Material Adverse Change. Subsequent to the respective dates of the
financial statements, and except as may be otherwise disclosed in the Prospectus, there has
not been (A) any Material Adverse Change or any development or transaction that would
reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Change, whether or not arising in the
ordinary course of business, (B) any transaction that is material to the Company and the
Subsidiaries taken as a whole, entered into or agreed to be entered into by the Company or
any of the Subsidiaries, (C) any obligation, contingent or otherwise, directly or indirectly
incurred by the Company or any Subsidiary that is material to the Company and the
Subsidiaries taken as a whole or (D) except for regular quarterly dividends on the Common
Stock and preferred stock of the Company and regular quarterly distributions on the OP
Units, any dividend or distribution of any kind declared,
9
paid or made by the Company on any class of its capital stock or any Subsidiary on any
of its equity interests.
(24) Description of Securities. The Common Stock, conforms in all material
respects to the descriptions thereof contained in the Prospectus.
(25) Absence of Registration Rights. Except as disclosed in the Prospectus,
there are no persons with registration or other similar rights to have any equity or debt
securities of the Company or the Subsidiaries, including securities which are convertible
into or exchangeable or redeemable for equity securities of the Company or the Subsidiaries,
registered pursuant to the Registration Statement or otherwise registered by the Company or
the Operating Partnership under the Securities Act.
(26) Authorization of Securities. The Securities have been duly authorized
and, when issued and duly delivered against payment therefor as contemplated by this
Agreement, will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable, free and clear of any
pledge, lien, encumbrance, security interest or other claim, and the issuance and sale of
the Securities by the Company is not subject to preemptive or other similar rights arising
by operation of law, under the organizational documents of the Company or any Subsidiary or
under any agreement to which the Company or any Subsidiary is a party or otherwise.
(27) Authorization of OP Units. All of the outstanding OP Units have been duly
authorized and validly issued, and were issued free and clear of any pledge, lien,
encumbrance, security interest or other claim, and were not issued in violation of any
preemptive or other similar rights arising by operation of law, under the organizational
documents of the Company or the Operating Partnership or under any agreement to which the
Company or any Subsidiary is a party or otherwise.
(28) Listing. The Common Stock has been registered under Section 12(b) of the
Exchange Act and the Company will provide us with written notice of the approval of the
Securities for listing on the New York Stock Exchange, and, upon such notice, the Securities
will be approved for listing on the New York Stock Exchange, subject to official notice of
issuance;
(29) Absence of Stabilization and Manipulation. The Company has not taken,
directly or indirectly, any action which is designed to or which has constituted or which
might reasonably be expected to cause or result in stabilization or manipulation of the
price of any security of the Company to facilitate the sale or resale of the Securities.
(30) Absence of Registration Requirements. Neither the Company nor any of its
affiliates (A) is required to register as a “broker” or “dealer” in accordance with the
provisions of the Exchange Act, or (B) directly, or indirectly through one or more
intermediaries, controls or has any other association with (within the meaning of Article I
of the By-laws of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”)) any member
firm of FINRA.
(31) Form of Certificates. The form of certificate used to evidence the Common
Stock complies in all material respects with all applicable statutory requirements, with any
applicable requirements of the organizational documents of the Company and the requirements
of the New York Stock Exchange.
10
(32) Property Matters.
(a) The Company or the Subsidiaries have good and marketable title (either in fee
simple or pursuant to a leasehold interest) to all of the properties owned or leased by them
(the “Properties”), in each case, free and clear of all liens except such as (i) are
disclosed in the Prospectus; or (ii) would not reasonably be expected to have, individually
or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect. Any real property, improvements, equipment
and personal property held under lease by the Company or any Subsidiary are held under
valid, existing and enforceable leases which are in full force and effect, and none of the
Company, Operating Partnership nor any Subsidiary or, to the Company or the Operating
Partnership’s knowledge, any other party, is in default under any such lease, with such
exceptions as are disclosed in the Prospectus or would not reasonably be expected to have,
individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect. All of the leases and subleases
under which the Company or any Subsidiary lease any portion of the Properties are in full
force and effect; there are no uncured events of default, or events that with the giving of
notice or passage of time, or both, would constitute an event of default, by the Company or
any Subsidiary nor any tenant under any of the terms and provisions of the leases described
above; and neither the Company nor any Subsidiary has received any notice of any claim
asserted by anyone adverse to the rights of the Company or Subsidiary under any of the
leases or questioning or affecting the rights of the tenant of the continued possession of
the leased or subleased premises under any such lease or sublease, in each case other than
those that would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a
Material Adverse Effect or that have been, in the reasonable judgment of the Company,
adequately reserved for in the Company’s consolidated financial statements. No tenant which
has been specifically identified in the Prospectus under any of the leases at the Properties
has a right of first refusal or other right or option to purchase the premises demised under
such lease, other than those which are disclosed in the Prospectus or with respect to
properties the value of which are not material to the company and the Subsidiaries as a
whole;
(b) Except as disclosed in the Prospectus, neither the Company, nor any Subsidiary,
knows of any violation of any municipal, state or federal law, rule or regulation (including
those pertaining to environmental matters) concerning the Properties or any part thereof
which would reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material
Adverse Effect;
(c) Each of the Properties complies with all applicable zoning laws, ordinances,
regulations, and deed restrictions or other covenants in all material respects and, if and
to the extent there is a failure to comply, such failure would not reasonably be expected to
have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect;
(d) Neither the Company, nor any Subsidiary, has received from any governmental
authority any written notice of any condemnation of or zoning change affecting the
Properties or any part thereof, and neither the Company nor any Subsidiary or predecessor
entity knows of any such condemnation or zoning change that is threatened against any of the
Properties and that, if consummated, would reasonably be expected to have, individually or
in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect;
(e) To the knowledge of the Company and the Operating Partnership, each of the
Properties is free of material structural defects and all building systems contained therein
are in good working order in all material respects, subject to ordinary wear and tear,
except as would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a
Material Adverse Effect, or, in each instance, the Company maintains adequate reserves to
effect reasonably required repairs, maintenance and capital expenditures; and
11
(f) To the knowledge of the Company and the Operating Partnership, water, stormwater,
sanitary sewer, electricity and telephone service are all available at the property lines of
each Property over duly dedicated streets or perpetual easements of record benefiting the
applicable Property, except as would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in
the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect.
(33) No Participating Interests. The mortgages and deeds of trust encumbering
the Properties and assets described in the Prospectus are not convertible, and neither the
Company, any of the Subsidiaries, nor any person affiliated therewith holds a participating
interest therein, and such mortgages and deeds of trust are not cross-defaulted or
cross-collateralized to any property not owned directly or indirectly by the Company or any
of the Subsidiaries.
(34) Mortgages. Except as disclosed in the Prospectus, the mortgages, if any,
encumbering any real property owned in fee simple by the Company or a Subsidiary are not and
will not be: (A) convertible (in the absence of foreclosure) into an equity interest in such
real property or in the Company or any Subsidiary, (B) cross-defaulted to any indebtedness
other than indebtedness of the Company or any of the Subsidiaries or (C)
cross-collateralized to any property or assets not owned by the Company or any of the
Subsidiaries.
(35) Description of Legal Proceedings. The descriptions of legal or
governmental proceedings, contracts, leases and other legal documents in the Prospectus
constitute fair and accurate summaries of such proceedings or documents, and there are no
legal or governmental proceedings, contracts, leases or other documents that are known to
the Company of a character required to be described in the Prospectus or filed as exhibits
to the Registration Statement which are not so described or filed; all agreements between
the Company or any of the Subsidiaries and third parties expressly referenced in the
Prospectus are legal, valid and binding obligations of the Company or the Subsidiaries, to
the extent a party thereto, and, to the knowledge of the Company, of the other parties
thereto, enforceable against the Company or Subsidiaries in accordance with their respective
terms, except to the extent enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency,
reorganization, moratorium or similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and by
general equitable principles and neither the Company nor any Subsidiary is in breach or
default under any such agreements, except to the extent that the indemnification and
contribution may be limited by federal or state securities laws and public policy
considerations in respect thereof.
(36) Possession of Intellectual Property. The Company or the Subsidiaries own
or possess adequate licenses or other rights to use all material patents, trademarks,
service marks, trade names, copyrights, software licenses, trade secrets, other intangible
property rights and know-how (collectively, “Intangibles”) necessary for the Company
and the Subsidiaries taken together as a whole (the “Consolidated Company”) to
conduct the business of the Consolidated Company as described in the Prospectus, and neither
the Company nor any Subsidiary has received notice of infringement of or conflict with (and
the Company and the Subsidiaries know of no such infringement of or conflict with) asserted
rights of others with respect to any Intangibles which could reasonably be expected to have
a Material Adverse Effect.
(37) Accounting Controls. The Company maintains a system of internal
accounting controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurance that, with respect to the
Consolidated Company, (A) transactions are executed in accordance with management’s general
or specific authorizations; (B) transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation
of the consolidated financial statements of the Company in conformity with generally
accepted
12
accounting principles as applied in the United States and to maintain asset
accountability; (C) access to assets is permitted only in accordance with management’s
general or specific authorization; and (D) the recorded accountability for assets is
compared with the existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken
with respect to any differences.
(38) Disclosure Controls. (A) the Company has established and maintains
disclosure controls and procedures (as such term is defined in Rule 13a-15(e) under the
Exchange Act), which (1) are designed to ensure that material information relating to the
Company, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to the Company’s principal
executive officer and its principal financial officer by others within those entities,
particularly during the periods in which the periodic reports required under the Exchange
Act are being prepared, (2) have been evaluated for effectiveness as of the end of the
Company’s last fiscal year, and (3) are effective in all material respects to perform the
functions for which they were established, and (B) based on the evaluation of the Company’s
disclosure controls and procedures described above, the Company is not aware of (1) any
material weakness in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting
which is reasonably likely to adversely affect the Company’s ability to record, process,
summarize and report financial information, or (2) any fraud, whether or not material, that
involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the Company’s internal
control over financial reporting. Since the most recent evaluation of the Company’s
disclosure controls and procedures described above, there have been no significant changes
in internal control over financial reporting or in other factors that could significantly
affect internal control over financial reporting.
(39) ERISA. The Company and the Subsidiaries are in compliance in all material
respects with all presently applicable provisions of the Employee Retirement Income Security
Act of 1974, as amended, including the regulations and published interpretations thereunder
(“ERISA”); no “reportable event” (as defined in ERISA) has occurred with respect to
any “pension plan” (as defined in ERISA) for which the Company or any of the Subsidiaries
would have any material liability; neither the Company nor any of the Subsidiaries has
incurred and none of them expect to incur any material liability under (A) Title IV of ERISA
with respect to termination of, or withdrawal from, any “pension plan” or (B) Section 412 or
4971 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, including the regulations and
published interpretations thereunder (“Code”); each “pension plan” for which the
Company or any of the Subsidiaries would have any liability that is intended to be qualified
under Section 401(a) of the Code is so qualified in all material respects and nothing has
occurred, whether by action or by failure to act, which would cause the loss of such
qualification.
(40) Tax Returns. The Company and each of the Subsidiaries has filed on a
timely basis all material federal, state, local and foreign tax returns required to be filed
through the date hereof or have properly requested extensions thereof, and all such tax
returns are true, correct and complete in all material respects, and have paid all material
taxes required to be paid, including any tax assessment, fine or penalty levied against the
Company or any of the Subsidiaries; and no tax deficiency has been asserted against any such
entity, nor does any such entity know of any tax deficiency which is likely to be asserted
against any such entity which, individually or in the aggregate, if determined adversely to
any such entity, could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; all
material tax liabilities are adequately provided for on the respective books of such
entities.
(41) REIT Qualification. The Company is organized and has operated in
conformity with the requirements for qualification as a real estate investment trust (a
“REIT”) under the Code; the Company qualified as a REIT for the taxable years ended
2003,
13
2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, and 2009, and the present and contemplated method of
operation of the Company and the Subsidiaries will enable the Company to meet the
requirements for qualification and taxation as a REIT under the Code for its tax year ending
December 31, 2010, and subsequent taxable years; and the Company intends to continue to
qualify as a REIT until the Board of Directors of the Company determines that it is no
longer in the best interests of the Company to continue to qualify as a REIT; neither the
Company nor any of the Subsidiaries has taken any action that could reasonably be expected
to cause the Company to fail to qualify as a REIT under the Code at any time.
(42) Federal Income Tax Considerations. The statements set forth in the
Prospectus under the caption “Federal Income Tax Considerations” insofar as they purport to
describe the provisions of the laws and documents referred to therein, are accurate and
complete and fairly summarize the federal income tax considerations described therein.
(43) Tax Advice. The Company has not relied upon the Placement Agent or legal
counsel for the Placement Agent for any legal, tax or accounting advice in connection with
the offering and sale of the Securities.
(44) No Other Offering Documents or Prospectuses. The Company and the
Operating Partnership have not distributed, and prior to the completion of the distribution
of the Securities, will not distribute, any offering material in connection with the
offering or sale of the Securities to be sold hereunder by the Placement Agent, other than
the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus
reviewed and consented to the Placement Agent.
(45) Insurance. The Company maintains insurance, including title insurance (in
each case, issued by insurers of recognized financial responsibility) of the types and in
the amounts generally deemed adequate for the business of the Company and its Subsidiary and
generally consistent with insurance coverage maintained by similar companies in similar
businesses, including, but not limited to, directors and officers liability insurance, title
insurance, insurance covering real and personal property owned or leased by the Company and
the Subsidiaries against theft, damage, destruction, environmental liabilities, acts of
vandalism, terrorism, earthquakes, floods and all other risks customarily insured against,
all of which insurance is in full force and effect.
(46) Environmental Matters. Except as otherwise disclosed in the Prospectus or
as would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material
Adverse Effect,
(a) none of the Company, any of the Subsidiaries nor, to the knowledge of the Company
and the Operating Partnership, any other owners of each Property at any time or any other
party has at any time handled, stored, treated, transported, manufactured, transferred or
otherwise dealt with, Hazardous Materials (as hereinafter defined) on, to or from the
Properties, other than by any such action taken in compliance with all applicable
Environmental Laws in all material respects;
(b) none of the Company, any of the Subsidiaries nor, to the knowledge of the Company
and the Operating Partnership, any other owners of each Property at any time or any other
party has at any time spilled, leaked, discharged, dumped, released, or otherwise disposed
of Hazardous Materials on, to or from the Properties, except where such
14
events would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate,
a Material Adverse Effect;
(c) neither the Company nor the Operating Partnership intends to use the Properties or
any subsequently acquired properties, or to lease the Properties or any subsequently
acquired properties to any party that will use such Properties or any subsequently acquired
properties, for the purpose of handling, storing, treating, transporting, manufacturing,
transferring or otherwise dealing with Hazardous Materials other than by any such action
taken in compliance with all applicable Environmental Laws;
(d) neither the Company nor the Operating Partnership intends to use the Properties or
any subsequently acquired properties, or to lease the Properties or any subsequently
acquired properties to any party that will use such Properties or any subsequently acquired
properties, for the purpose of spilling, leaking, releasing, discharging, dumping, or
otherwise disposing of Hazardous Materials on or from such Properties;
(e) neither the Company nor any of the Subsidiaries knows of any seepage, leak,
discharge, release, emission, spill, or dumping of Hazardous Materials into soil or waters
(including, but not limited to, groundwater and surface water) on or adjacent to the
Properties or any other real property owned or occupied by any such party, or onto lands
from which Hazardous Materials might seep, flow or drain into such waters, except where such
events would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a
Material Adverse Effect;
(f) neither the Company nor any of the Subsidiaries has received any notice of or is
aware of any receipt by any other party of a notice of, or has any knowledge of any
occurrence or circumstance that would give rise to a claim under or pursuant to any
Environmental Law, pertaining to Hazardous Materials on or originating from any of the
Properties or any assets described in the Prospectus (or, the most recent preliminary
prospectus) or any other real property owned or occupied by any such party or arising out of
the conduct of any such party, including without limitation a claim under or pursuant to any
Environmental Law (as hereinafter defined);
(g) neither the Company nor any of the Subsidiaries has (A) been notified that it is
potentially liable under or (B) received any requests for information or other
correspondence concerning any site or facility under CERCLA or any similar law;
(h) none of the Properties are included or, to the best knowledge of the Company and
the Operating Partnership, proposed for inclusion on the National Priorities List issued
pursuant to CERCLA (as hereinafter defined) by the United States Environmental Protection
Agency (the “EPA”) or, to the best knowledge of the Company and the Operating
Partnership, proposed for inclusion on any similar list or inventory issued pursuant to any
other Environmental Law or issued by any other Governmental Authority (as hereinafter
defined);
(i) the Company and the Operating Partnership do not intend to use the Properties or
other assets owned by them or the Subsidiaries other than in compliance with applicable
Environmental Laws;
(j) to the knowledge of the Company and the Operating Partnership, the Properties
contain no above-ground and underground storage tanks, oil/water separators, sumps, or
septic systems; and
15
(k) (a) to the knowledge of the Company and the Operating Partnership, no building or
other improvement located on the Properties contains any asbestos or asbestos-containing
materials that would reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a
Material Adverse Effect; (b) all asbestos or asbestos-containing materials are managed,
handled, treated, and removed in compliance with Environmental Law, except where such
noncompliance would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a
Material Adverse Effect; and (c) the Transaction Entities do not intend to manage, handle,
treat, or remove asbestos other than in compliance with Environmental Law.
As used herein, “Hazardous Material” means any chemical, substance, waste,
material, pollutant, contaminant, equipment or fixture defined as or deemed hazardous or
toxic or otherwise regulated under any Environmental Law, including, without limitation,
RCRA (as herein after defined) hazardous wastes, CERCLA hazardous substances, pesticides and
other agricultural chemicals, oil and petroleum products or byproducts and any constituents
thereof, urea formaldehyde insulation, lead in paint or drinking water, asbestos, and
polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs).
As used herein, “Environmental Laws” means all codes, laws (including, without
limitation, common law), ordinances, regulations, reporting or licensing requirements,
rules, or statutes in effect as of the Effective Date relating to pollution or protection of
human health or the environment (including ambient air, surface water, ground water, land
surface, or subsurface strata), including, without limitation (i) the Comprehensive
Environmental Response Compensation and Liability Act, 42 U.S.C. §§9601 et seq.
(“CERCLA”); (ii) the Solid Waste Disposal Act, as amended by the Resource
Conservation and Recovery Act, 42 U.S.C. §§6901 et seq., (“RCRA”); (iii) the
Emergency Planning and Community Right to Know Act (42 U.S.C. §§11001 et seq.); (iv) the
Clean Air Act (42 U.S.C. §§ 7401 et seq.); (v) the Clean Water Act (33 U.S.C. §§1251 et
seq.); (vi) the Toxic Substances Control Act (15 U.S.C. §§2601 et seq.); (vii) the Hazardous
Materials Transportation Act (49 U.S.C. §§ 5101 et seq.); (viii) the Safe Drinking Water Act
(41 U.S.C. §§300f et seq.); (ix) any state, county, municipal or local statues, laws or
ordinances similar or analogous to the federal statutes listed in parts (i) through (viii),
inclusive, of this subparagraph, (x) any amendments to the statutes, laws or ordinances
listed in parts (i) through (ix), inclusive of this subparagraph, (xi) any rules,
regulations, enforceable guidelines or directives, orders or the like adopted pursuant to or
implementing the statutes, laws, ordinances and amendments listed in parts (i) through (x),
inclusive, of this subparagraph; and (xii) any other law, statute, ordinance, amendment,
rule, regulation, guideline, directive, order or the like relating to environmental, health
or safety matters.
As used herein, a “Governmental Authority” means any federal, state, or local
governmental authority having or claiming jurisdiction over the properties and assets
described in the Prospectus.
(47) Independence of Environmental Consultants. None of the environmental
consultants that prepared the Phase I and II Environmental Audits with respect to any of the
Properties was employed for such purpose on a contingent basis or has any substantial
interest (contingent or otherwise) in the Company or any of the Subsidiaries (including any
predecessor entity), and none of them nor any of their directors, officers or employees is
connected with the Transaction Entities or any of the Subsidiaries (or any of their
predecessor entities) as a promoter, selling agent, voting trustee, director, officer or
employee.
(48) Absence of Impermissible Transactions. None of the Company, any of the
Subsidiaries or, to the knowledge of the Company, any officer, director, employee or agent
16
purporting to act on behalf of the Company or any of the Subsidiaries has at any time
(A) made any contributions to any candidate for political office, or failed to disclose
fully any such contributions, in violation of law, (B) made any payment of funds or received
or retained any funds in violation of any law, rule or regulation or of a character required
to be disclosed in the Prospectus, or (C) engaged in any material transactions, maintained
any bank account or used any material corporate funds except for transactions, bank accounts
and funds which have been or are, as applicable, reflected in the books and records of the
Company and the Subsidiaries.
(49) Absence of Indebtedness. Except as disclosed in the Prospectus, there are
no material outstanding loans, advances or guarantees of indebtedness by the Company or any
of the Subsidiaries to or for the benefit of any of the officers or directors of the Company
or any officers and or directors of the Subsidiaries or any of the members of the immediate
families of any such officers or directors.
(50) Issued Securities. All securities issued by the Company, any of the
Subsidiaries or any trusts established by the Company or any of the Subsidiaries have been
issued and sold in compliance with (A) all applicable federal and state securities laws and
(B) the applicable corporate or partnership law of the jurisdiction of incorporation of the
Company or Subsidiary, as applicable.
(51) Lessees. Except as disclosed in the Prospectus, to the Company’s
knowledge, no lessee of any portion of any of the real properties leased or owned by the
Company or any of the Subsidiaries (collectively, the “Properties”) is in default
under any of the leases governing such Properties and there is no event which, but for the
passage of time or the giving of notice or both, would constitute a default under any of
such leases, except such defaults that, individually or in the aggregate, would not
reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
(52) Compliance with Securities Laws. In connection with the offer and sale of
the Placement Securities, the Company has not offered shares of its Common Stock or any
other securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable or redeemable for Common
Stock in a manner in violation of the Securities Act; and the Company has not distributed
and will not distribute any offering material in connection with the offer and sale of the
Placement Securities except for the Prospectus Supplement, the Prospectus and any Issuer
Free Writing Prospectus or the Registration Statement.
(53) Labor Relations. With respect to employees of the Company or any
Subsidiary, no labor dispute exists or, to the knowledge of the Company or any Subsidiary,
is imminent, that would reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a
Material Adverse Effect.
(54) Lending Relationship. Except as disclosed in the Prospectus, neither the
Company nor any of its subsidiaries has any outstanding borrowings from, or is a party to
any line of credit, credit agreement or other credit facility or otherwise has a borrowing
relationship with, any bank or other lending institution affiliated with the Placement
Agent, and the Company does not intend to use any of the proceeds from the sale of the
Placement Securities to repay any debt owed to the Placement Agent or any affiliate thereof.
(55) Absence of Finders’ Fees. The Company has not incurred any liability for
any finder’s fees or similar payments in connection with the transactions herein
contemplated.
17
(56) No Other Contracts. Other than this Agreement, there are no contracts,
agreements or understandings between the Company or any of its subsidiaries and any person
that would give rise to a valid claim against the Company or any of its subsidiaries or the
Placement Agent for a brokerage commission, finder’s fee or other like payment with respect
to the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
(57) Proprietary Trading by the Placement Agent. The Company acknowledges and
agrees that the Placement Agent has informed the Company that the Placement Agent may, to
the extent permitted under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act, purchase and sell shares
of Common Stock for its own account while this Agreement is in effect, and shall be under no
obligation to purchase Securities on a principal basis pursuant to this Agreement, except as
otherwise agreed by the Placement Agent in the Placement Notice (as amended by the
corresponding Acceptance, if applicable); provided, that no such purchase or sales shall
take place while a Placement Notice is in effect (except (i) as agreed by the Placement
Agent in the Placement Notice (as amended by the corresponding Acceptance, if applicable) or
(ii) to the extent the Placement Agent may engage in sales of Placement Securities purchased
or deemed purchased from the Company as a “riskless principal” or in a similar capacity).
(58) FINRA Matters. All of the information provided to the Placement Agent or
to counsel for the Placement Agent by the Company and, to the knowledge of the Company, its
officers and directors and the holders of any securities of the Company in connection with
letters, filings or other supplemental information provided to the FINRA pursuant to FINRA
Conduct Rule 2710 or 2720 is true, complete and correct.
(59) Related Party Transactions. Except as disclosed in the Prospectus, no
relationship, direct or indirect, exists between or among the Company or any of the
Subsidiaries on the one hand, and the directors, officers, stockholders, customers or
suppliers of the Company or any of the Subsidiaries on the other hand, that is required by
the Securities Act to be described in the Prospectus and which is not so described.
(60) Compliance with Xxxxxxxx-Xxxxx. The Company and the Subsidiaries and to
the knowledge of the Company the officers and directors of the Company and the Subsidiaries,
in their capacities as such, are, and at the Settlement Date (as defined below) and any
Applicable Time will be, in compliance in all material respects with the provisions of the
Xxxxxxxx-Xxxxx Act of 2002 and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder or
implementing the provisions thereof (the “Xxxxxxxx-Xxxxx Act”).
(61) Investment Company Act. The Company is not and, after giving effect to
the offering and sale of the Securities, will not be an “investment company”, as such terms
are defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “Investment Company
Act”).
(62) Statistical and Market Data. The statistical and market related data
included in the Prospectus are based on or derived from sources that the Company believes to
be reliable and accurate.
(63) OFAC. Neither the Company nor any of the Subsidiaries, nor, to the
knowledge of the Company, any director, officer, agent, employee or affiliate of the Company
or any of the Subsidiaries is currently subject to any U.S. sanctions administered by the
Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Treasury Department (“OFAC”); and the
Company will not directly or indirectly use the proceeds of the offering of the Securities
contemplated hereby, or lend, contribute or otherwise make available such proceeds to any
Subsidiary, joint venture
18
partner or other person or entity for the purpose of financing the activities of any
person currently subject to any U.S. sanctions administered by OFAC.
(64) Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. Neither the Company nor any of its
Subsidiaries nor, to the knowledge of the Company, any director, officer, agent, employee,
affiliate or other person acting on behalf of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is
aware of or has taken any action, directly or indirectly, that has resulted or would result
in a violation by such persons of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended, and
the rules and regulations thereunder (collectively, the “FCPA”), except for such
violations which would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate,
a Material Adverse Effect, including, without limitation, making use of the mails or any
means or instrumentality of interstate commerce corruptly in furtherance of an offer,
payment, promise to pay or authorization of the payment of any money, or other property,
gift, promise to give, or authorization of the giving of anything of value to any “foreign
official” (as such term is defined in the FCPA) or any foreign political party or official
thereof or any candidate for foreign political office, in contravention of the FCPA, and the
Company and its Subsidiaries and, to the knowledge of the Company, its other affiliates have
conducted their businesses in compliance with the FCPA and have instituted and maintain
policies and procedures designed to ensure, and which are reasonably expected to continue to
ensure, continued compliance therewith.
(65) Money Laundering Laws. The operations of the Company and its Subsidiaries
are and have been conducted at all times in material compliance with applicable financial
recordkeeping and reporting requirements of the Currency and Foreign Transactions Reporting
Act of 1970, as amended, the money laundering statutes of all applicable jurisdictions, the
rules and regulations thereunder and any related or similar applicable rules, regulations or
guidelines, issued, administered or enforced by any governmental agency (collectively,
“Money Laundering Laws”) and no action, suit or proceeding by or before any court or
governmental agency, authority or body or any arbitrator involving the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries with respect to the Money Laundering Laws is pending or, to the knowledge of
the Company, threatened.
(66) Actively Traded Security. The Common Stock is an “actively traded
security” excepted from the requirements of Rule 101 of Regulation M under the Exchange Act
by subsection (c)(1) of such rule.
(67) Subsidiary Tax Classification. Each of the Operating Partnership and any
other Subsidiary that is a partnership or a limited liability company has been properly
classified either as a partnership or as an entity disregarded as separate from the Company
for federal income tax purposes throughout the period from its formation through the date
hereof.
(68) Adequate Disclosure of Acquisitions and Dispositions. There are no
contracts, letters of intent, term sheets, agreements, arrangements or understandings with
respect to the direct or indirect acquisition or disposition by the Company of interests in
assets or real property that is required to be described in the Prospectus that is not
already so described.
(b) Certificates. Any certificate signed by any officer of the Company or the Operating
Partnership delivered to the Placement Agent or to counsel for the Placement Agent pursuant to the
terms or provisions of this Agreement shall be deemed a representation and warranty by the Company
to the Placement Agent as to the matters covered thereby.
19
SECTION 6. Sale and Delivery to the Placement Agent; Settlement.
(a) Sale of Placement Securities. On the basis of the representations and warranties herein
contained and subject to the terms and conditions herein set forth, upon the Placement Agent’s
acceptance of the terms of a Placement Notice or upon receipt by the Placement Agent of an
Acceptance, as the case may be, and unless the sale of the Placement Securities described therein
has been declined, suspended, or otherwise terminated in accordance with the terms of this
Agreement, the Placement Agent, for the period specified in the Placement Notice, will use its
commercially reasonable efforts consistent with its normal trading and sales practices to sell such
Placement Securities up to the amount specified, and otherwise in accordance with the terms of such
Placement Notice. The Company acknowledges and agrees that (i) there can be no assurance that the
Placement Agent will be successful in selling Placement Securities, (ii) the Placement Agent will
incur no liability or obligation to the Company or any other person or entity if it does not sell
Placement Securities for any reason other than a failure by the Placement Agent to use its
commercially reasonable efforts consistent with its normal trading and sales practices to sell such
Placement Securities as required under this Section 6, and (iii) the Placement Agent shall be under
no obligation to purchase Securities on a principal basis pursuant to this Agreement, except as
otherwise agreed by the Placement Agent in the Placement Notice (as amended by the corresponding
Acceptance, if applicable).
(b) Settlement of Placement Securities. Unless otherwise specified in the applicable
Placement Notice, settlement for sales of Placement Securities will occur on the third (3rd)
Trading Day (or such earlier day as is industry practice for regular-way trading) following the
date on which such sales are made (each, a “Settlement Date”). The amount of proceeds to
be delivered to the Company on a Settlement Date against receipt of the Placement Securities sold
(the “Net Proceeds”) will be equal to the aggregate sales price received by the Placement
Agent at which such Placement Securities were sold, after deduction for (i) the Placement Agent’s
commission, discount or other compensation for such sales payable by the Company pursuant to
Section 2 hereof and (ii) any other amounts due and payable by the Company to the Placement Agent
hereunder pursuant to Section 8(a) hereof.
(c) Delivery of Placement Securities. On or before each Settlement Date, concurrently with
the receipt by the Company of the Net Proceeds due to the Company in respect of such Settlement
Date, the Company will, or will cause its transfer agent to, electronically transfer the Placement
Securities being sold by crediting the Placement Agent’s or its designee’s account (provided the
Placement Agent shall have given the Company written notice of such designee prior to the
Settlement Date) at The Depository Trust Company through its Deposit and Withdrawal at Custodian
System or by such other means of delivery as may be mutually agreed upon by the parties hereto
which in all cases shall be freely tradable, transferable, registered shares in good deliverable
form. On each Settlement Date, the Placement Agent will deliver the related Net Proceeds in same
day funds to an account designated by the Company on, or prior to, the Settlement Date. The
Company agrees that if the Company, or its transfer agent (if applicable), defaults in its
obligation to deliver Placement Securities on a Settlement Date, the Company agrees that, in
addition to and in no way limiting the rights and obligations set forth in Section 10(a) hereto, it
will (i) hold the Placement Agent harmless against any loss, claim, damage, or expense (including
reasonable legal fees and expenses and the reasonable costs and expense of enforcing this Section
6(c)), as incurred, arising out of or in connection with such default by the Company and (ii) pay
to the Placement Agent any commission, discount, or other compensation to which it would otherwise
have been entitled absent such default.
(d) Denominations; Registration. If requested by the Placement Agent at least two Business
Days prior to the Settlement Date, then in lieu of electronic transfer, certificates for the
Securities shall be in such denominations and registered in such names as the Placement Agent shall
have specified in such request. The certificates for the Securities will be made available for
examination and packaging by the
20
Placement Agent in The City of New York not later than noon (New York time) on the Business
Day prior to the Settlement Date.
SECTION 7. Covenants of the Company. The Company covenants with the Placement Agent
as follows:
(a) Registration Statement Amendment. After the date of this Agreement and during any period
in which a Prospectus relating to any Placement Securities is required to be delivered by the
Placement Agent under the Securities Act (including in circumstances where such requirement may be
satisfied pursuant to Rule 172 under the Securities Act), (i) the Company will notify the Placement
Agent promptly of the time when any subsequent amendment to the Registration Statement, other than
documents incorporated by reference, has been filed with the Commission and/or has become effective
or any subsequent supplement to the Prospectus has been filed and of any comment letter from the
Commission or any request by the Commission for any amendment or supplement to the Registration
Statement or Prospectus or for additional information; (ii) the Company will prepare and file with
the Commission, promptly upon the Placement Agent’s request, any amendments or supplements to the
Registration Statement or Prospectus that, in the Placement Agent’s reasonable opinion, may be
necessary or advisable in connection with the distribution of the Placement Securities by the
Placement Agent (provided, however, that the failure of the Placement Agent to make such request
shall not relieve the Company of any obligation or liability hereunder, or affect the Placement
Agent’s right to rely on the representations and warranties made by the Company in this Agreement);
(iii) the Company will not file any amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement or
Prospectus, other than documents incorporated by reference, relating to the Placement Securities or
a security convertible into the Placement Securities unless a copy thereof has been submitted to
the Placement Agent within a reasonable period of time before the filing and the Placement Agent
has not reasonably objected thereto (provided, however, that the failure of the Placement Agent to
make such objection shall not relieve the Company of any obligation or liability hereunder, or
affect the Placement Agent’s right to rely on the representations and warranties made by the
Company in this Agreement) and the Company will furnish to the Placement Agent at the time of
filing thereof a copy of any document that upon filing is deemed to be incorporated by reference
into the Registration Statement or Prospectus, except for those documents available via XXXXX; and
(iv) the Company will cause each amendment or supplement to the Prospectus, other than documents
incorporated by reference, to be filed with the Commission as required pursuant to the applicable
paragraph of Rule 424(b) of the Securities Act (without reliance on Rule 424(b)(8) of the
Securities Act).
(b) Notice of Commission Stop Orders. The Company will advise the Placement Agent, promptly
after it receives notice or obtains knowledge thereof, of the issuance or threatened issuance by
the Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or of
any other order preventing or suspending the use of the Prospectus or any Issuer Free Writing
Prospectus, or of the suspension of the qualification of the Placement Securities for offering or
sale in any jurisdiction or of the loss or suspension of any exemption from any such qualification,
or of the initiation or threatening of any proceedings for any of such purposes, or of any
examination pursuant to Section 8(e) of the Securities Act concerning the Registration Statement or
if the Company becomes the subject of a proceeding under Section 8A of the Securities Act in
connection with the offering of the Securities. The Company will make every reasonable effort to
prevent the issuance of any stop order, the suspension of any qualification of the Securities for
offering or sale and any loss or suspension of any exemption from any such qualification, and if
any such stop order is issued or any such suspension or loss occurs, to obtain the lifting thereof
at the earliest possible moment.
(c) Delivery of Registration Statement and Prospectus. Except to the extent such documents
have been publicly filed with the Commission pursuant to XXXXX, the Company will furnish to the
21
Placement Agent and its counsel (at the expense of the Company) copies of the Registration
Statement, the Prospectus (including all documents incorporated by reference therein) and all
amendments and supplements to the Registration Statement or Prospectus, and any Issuer Free Writing
Prospectuses, that are filed with the Commission during any period in which a Prospectus relating
to the Placement Securities is required to be delivered under the Securities Act (including all
documents filed with the Commission during such period that are deemed to be incorporated by
reference therein), in each case as soon as reasonably practicable and in such quantities and at
such locations as the Placement Agent may from time to time reasonably request.
(d) Continued Compliance with Securities Laws. If at any time when a Prospectus is required
by the Securities Act or the Exchange Act to be delivered in connection with a pending sale of the
Placement Securities (including, without limitation, pursuant to Rule 172 under the Securities
Act), any event shall occur or condition shall exist as a result of which it is necessary to amend
the Registration Statement together with the Prospectus in order that the Prospectus will not
include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order
to make the statements therein not misleading in the light of the circumstances existing at the
time it is delivered to a purchaser, or if it shall be necessary at any such time to amend the
Registration Statement together with the Prospectus in order to comply with the requirements of the
Securities Act, the Company will promptly notify the Placement Agent to suspend the offering of
Placement Securities during such period and the Company will promptly prepare and file with the
Commission such amendment or supplement as may be necessary to correct such statement or omission
or to make the Registration Statement and the Prospectus comply with such requirements, and the
Company will furnish to the Placement Agent such number of copies of such amendment or supplement
as the Placement Agent may reasonably request. If at any time following the issuance of an Issuer
Free Writing Prospectus there occurred or occurs an event or development as a result of which such
Issuer Free Writing Prospectus conflicted, conflicts or would conflict with the information
contained in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus or included, includes or would include an
untrue statement of a material fact or together with the Prospectus omitted, omits or would omit to
state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the
circumstances, prevailing at that subsequent time, not misleading, the Company will promptly notify
the Placement Agent to suspend the offering of Placement Securities during such period and the
Company will, subject to Section 7(a) hereof, promptly amend or supplement such Issuer Free Writing
Prospectus to eliminate or correct such conflict, untrue statement or omission.
(e) Blue Sky and Other Qualifications. The Company will use its best efforts, in cooperation
with the Placement Agent, to qualify the Placement Securities for offering and sale, or to obtain
an exemption for the Securities to be offered and sold, under the applicable securities laws of
such states and other jurisdictions (domestic or foreign) as the Placement Agent may designate and
to maintain such qualifications and exemptions in effect for so long as required for the
distribution of the Securities (but in no event for less than one year from the date of this
Agreement); provided, however, that the Company shall not be obligated to file any general consent
to service of process or to qualify as a foreign corporation or as a dealer in securities in any
jurisdiction in which it is not so qualified or to subject itself to taxation in respect of doing
business in any jurisdiction in which it is not otherwise so subject. In each jurisdiction in
which the Placement Securities have been so qualified or exempt, the Company will file such
statements and reports as may be required by the laws of such jurisdiction to continue such
qualification or exemption, as the case may be, in effect for so long as required for the
distribution of the Placement Securities (but in no event for less than one year from the date of
this Agreement).
(f) Rule 158. The Company will timely file such reports pursuant to the Exchange Act as are
necessary in order to make generally available to its securityholders as soon as practicable an
earnings statement for the purposes of, and to provide to the Placement Agent the benefits
contemplated by, the last paragraph of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act.
22
(g) Use of Proceeds. The Company will use the net proceeds received by it from the sale of
the Securities in the manner specified in the Prospectus under “Use of Proceeds.”
(h) Listing. During any period in which the Prospectus relating to the Placement Securities
is required to be delivered by the Placement Agent under the Securities Act with respect to a
pending sale of the Placement Securities (including in circumstances where such requirement may be
satisfied pursuant to Rule 172 under the Securities Act), the Company will use its commercially
reasonable efforts to cause the Placement Securities to be listed on the New York Stock Exchange.
(i) Filings with the Exchange. The Company will timely seek to file with the New York Stock
Exchange all material documents and notices required by the New York Stock Exchange of companies
that have securities traded on the New York Stock Exchange.
(j) Reporting Requirements. The Company, during any period when the Prospectus is required to
be delivered under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act (including in circumstances where such
requirement may be satisfied pursuant to Rule 172 under the Securities Act), will file all
documents required to be filed with the Commission pursuant to the Exchange Act within the time
periods required by the Exchange Act.
(k) Notice of Other Sales. During the pendency of any Placement Notice given hereunder, the
Company shall provide the Placement Agent notice as promptly as reasonably possible before it
offers to sell, contracts to sell, sells, grants any option to sell or otherwise disposes of any
shares of Common Stock (other than Placement Securities offered pursuant to the provisions of this
Agreement) or securities convertible into or exchangeable for Common Stock, warrants or any rights
to purchase or acquire Common Stock; provided, that such notice shall not be required in connection
with the (i) issuance, grant or sale of restricted stock, Common Stock, LTIP units, options to
purchase Common Stock, or Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of options or other equity awards
pursuant to any stock option, stock bonus or other stock or compensatory plan or arrangement
described in the Prospectus, including Common Stock issuable upon redemption of OP Units, (ii) the
issuance of securities in connection with an acquisition, merger or sale or purchase of assets
described in the Prospectus, or (iii) the issuance or sale of Common Stock pursuant to any dividend
reinvestment plan that the Company has in effect or may adopt from time to time, provided the
implementation of such new plan is disclosed to the Placement Agent in advance.
(l) Change of Circumstances. The Company will, at any time during a fiscal quarter in which
the Company intends to tender a Placement Notice or sell Placement Securities, advise the Placement
Agent promptly after it shall have received notice or obtained knowledge thereof, of any
information or fact that would alter or affect in any material respect any opinion, certificate,
letter or other document provided to the Placement Agent pursuant to this Agreement during such
fiscal quarter.
(m) Due Diligence Cooperation. The Company will cooperate with any reasonable due diligence
review conducted by the Placement Agent or its agents in connection with the transactions
contemplated hereby, including, without limitation, providing information and making available
documents and senior officers, during regular business hours and at the Company’s principal
offices, as the Placement Agent may reasonably request.
(n) Disclosure of Sales. The Company will, if applicable, disclose in its quarterly reports
on Form 10-Q and in its annual report on Form 10-K the number of Placement Securities sold through
the Placement Agent during the most recent fiscal quarter, the Net Proceeds to the Company and the
compensation paid or payable by the Company to the Placement Agent with respect to such Placement
Securities. The Company will prepare and file with the Commission, promptly upon the Placement
23
Agent’s reasonable request, any amendments or supplements to the Registration Statement or
Prospectus that, in the Placement Agent’s reasonable opinion, may be necessary or advisable in
connection with the sale of the Common Stock pursuant to this Agreement.
(o) Representation Dates; Certificate. On or prior to the date that the Securities are first
sold pursuant to the terms of this Agreement and:
(i) each time the Company files the Prospectus relating to the Placement Securities or
amends or supplements the Registration Statement or the Prospectus relating to the Placement
Securities (other than amendments or supplements that are filed solely to report sales of
the Placement Securities pursuant to this Agreement) by means of a post-effective amendment,
sticker, or supplement but not by means of incorporation of documents by reference into the
Registration Statement or the Prospectus relating to the Placement Securities;
(ii) each time the Company files an annual report on Form 10-K under the Exchange Act
(each date of filing of the Company’s annual report on Form 10-K shall be a “10-K
Representation Date”);
(iii) each time the Company files its quarterly reports on Form 10-Q under the Exchange
Act; or
(iv) each time the Company files a report on Form 8-K containing amended financial
information (other than an earnings release, to “furnish” information pursuant to Items 2.02
or 7.01 of Form 8-K or to provide disclosure pursuant to Item 8.01 of Form 8-K relating to
the reclassifications of certain properties as discontinued operations in accordance with
Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 144) under the Exchange Act (each date of
filing of one or more of the documents referred to in clauses (i) through (iv) shall be a
“Representation Date”);
the Company shall furnish the Placement Agent with a certificate, in the form attached hereto as
Exhibit F, within three (3) Trading Days of any Representation Date. The requirement to
provide a certificate under this Section 7(o) shall be waived for any Representation Date occurring
at a time at which no Placement Notice is pending, which waiver shall continue until the earlier to
occur of the date the Company delivers a Placement Notice hereunder (which shall be considered a
Representation Date) and the next occurring Representation Date; provided, however, that such
waiver shall not apply for any 10-K Representation Date. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the
Company subsequently decides to sell Placement Securities following a Representation Date when the
Company relied on such waiver and did not provide the Placement Agent with a certificate under this
Section 7(o), then before the Company delivers the Placement Notice or the Placement Agent sells
any Placement Securities, the Company shall provide the Placement Agent with a certificate, in the
form attached hereto as Exhibit F, dated the date of the Placement Notice.
(p) Legal Opinions. On or prior to the date that the Securities are first sold pursuant to
the terms of this Agreement and within three (3) Trading Days after each 10-K Representation Date,
the Company shall cause to be furnished to the Placement Agent (i) a written opinion of Xxxxxxx
Xxxxx LLP, corporate counsel to the Company (“Company Corporate Counsel”), or other counsel
satisfactory to the Placement Agent, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Placement
Agent and its counsel, dated the date that the opinion is required to be delivered, substantially
similar to the form attached hereto as Exhibit D; (ii) a written opinion of Xxxxxxx Xxxxx
LLP, special counsel to the Company (“Company Special Counsel”), or other counsel
satisfactory to the Placement Agent, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Placement
Agent and its counsel, dated the date that the opinion is required to be delivered, substantially
similar to the form attached hereto as Exhibit E; (iii) a written opinion of Xxxxx
24
Lovells US LLP, Maryland counsel to the Company (“Company Maryland Counsel”), in form
and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Placement Agent and its counsel, dated the date that
the opinion is required to be delivered, substantially similar to the form attached hereto as
Exhibit F; and (iv) a written opinion of the Company’s General Counsel (“Company
General Counsel”), in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Placement Agent and its
counsel, dated the date that the opinion is required to be delivered, substantially similar to the
form attached hereto as Exhibit G; provided, however, that in lieu of such opinions for
subsequent 10-K Representation Dates, counsel may furnish the Placement Agent with a letter (a
“Reliance Letter”) to the effect that the Placement Agent may rely on a prior opinion
delivered under this Section 7(p) to the same extent as if it were dated the date of such letter
(except that statements in such prior opinion shall be deemed to relate to the Registration
Statement and the Prospectus as amended or supplemented at such 10-K Representation Date). Prior
to the date that any Securities are sold hereunder, the Company shall cuase Company Maryland
Counsel to deliver to the Placement Agent a written opinion that such Securities have been duly
authorized, and, when issued in accordance with the provisions of the Agreement, will be validly
issued, fully paid and non-assessable, and such written opinion shall be reasonably satisfactory to
the Placement Agent in form and substance.
(q) Comfort Letter. On or prior to the date that the Securities are first sold pursuant to
the terms of this Agreement and as promptly as practicable following each 10-K Representation Date
(but in no event later than the day a Placement Notice is first delivered following such 10-K
Representation Date), the Company shall cause its independent accountants (and any other
independent accountants whose report is included in the Prospectus) to furnish the Placement Agent
letters (the “Comfort Letters”), dated the date of the Comfort Letter is delivered, in form
and substance satisfactory to the Placement Agent, (i) confirming that they are an independent
registered public accounting firm within the meaning of the Securities Act, the Exchange Act and
the PCAOB, (ii) stating, as of such date, the conclusions and findings of such firm with respect to
the financial information and other matters ordinarily covered by accountants’ “comfort letters” to
underwriters in connection with registered public offerings.
(r) Market Activities. The Company will not, directly or indirectly, (i) take any action
designed to cause or result in, or that constitutes or might reasonably be expected to constitute,
the stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security of the Company to facilitate the
sale or resale of the Placement Securities or (ii) sell, bid for, or purchase the Securities to be
issued and sold pursuant to this Agreement, or pay anyone any compensation for soliciting purchases
of the Placement Securities to be issued and sold pursuant to this Agreement other than the
Placement Agent.
(s) Investment Company Act. The Company will conduct its affairs in such a manner so as to
reasonably ensure that neither it nor its subsidiaries will be or become, at any time prior to the
termination of this Agreement, an “investment company,” as such term is defined in the Investment
Company Act, assuming no change in the Commission’s current interpretation as to entities that are
not considered an investment company.
(t) Securities Act and Exchange Act. The Company will use its best efforts to comply with all
requirements imposed upon it by the Securities Act and the Exchange Act as from time to time in
force, so far as necessary to permit the continuance of sales of, or dealings in, the Placement
Securities as contemplated by the provisions hereof and the Prospectus.
(u) No Offer to Sell. Other than a free writing prospectus (as defined in Rule 405 under the
Securities Act) approved in advance in writing by the Company and the Placement Agent in its
capacity as principal or agent hereunder, the Company (including its agents and representatives,
other than the Placement Agent in its capacity as such) will not, directly or indirectly, make,
use, prepare, authorize, approve or refer to any free writing prospectus relating to the Securities
to be sold by the Placement Agent as principal or agent hereunder.
25
(v) Xxxxxxxx-Xxxxx Act. The Company and its subsidiaries will use their best efforts to
comply with all effective applicable provisions of the Xxxxxxxx-Xxxxx Act of 2002.
(w) Regulation M. If the Company has reason to believe that the exemptive provisions set
forth in Rule 101(c)(1) of Regulation M under the Exchange Act are not satisfied with respect to
the Company or the Common Stock, it shall promptly notify the Placement Agent and sales of the
Placement Securities under this Agreement shall be suspended until that or other exemptive
provisions have been satisfied in the judgment of each party
(x) REIT Qualification. The Company and the Operating Partnership will use their best efforts
to enable the Company to meet the requirements to qualify as a REIT under the Code until the Board
of Directors of the Company determines that it is no longer in the best interests of the Company to
qualify as a REIT.
SECTION 8. Payment of Expenses.
(a) Expenses. The Company will pay all expenses incident to the performance of its
obligations under this Agreement, including (i) the preparation, printing and filing of the
Registration Statement (including financial statements and exhibits) as originally filed and of
each amendment and supplement thereto, (ii) the word processing, printing and delivery to the
Placement Agent of this Agreement and such other documents as may be required in connection with
the offering, purchase, sale, issuance or delivery of the Placement Securities, (iii) the
preparation, issuance and delivery of the certificates for the Placement Securities to the
Placement Agent, including any stock or other transfer taxes and any capital duties, stamp duties
or other duties or taxes payable upon the sale, issuance or delivery of the Placement Securities to
the Placement Agent, (iii) the fees and disbursements of the counsel, accountants and other
advisors to the Company, (iv) the qualification or exemption of the Placement Securities under
securities laws in accordance with the provisions of Section 7(e) hereof, including filing fees and
the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel for the Placement Agent in connection therewith
and in connection with the preparation of the Blue Sky Survey and any supplements thereto, (v) the
printing and delivery to the Placement Agent of copies of any permitted Free Writing Prospectus and
the Prospectus and any amendments or supplements thereto and any costs associated with electronic
delivery of any of the foregoing by the Placement Agent to investors, (vi) the fees and expenses of
the transfer agent and registrar for the Securities, (vii) the filing fees incident to, and the
reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel to the Placement Agent in connection with, the review
by FINRA of the terms of the sale of the Securities, (viii) the fees and expenses incurred in
connection with the listing of the Placement Securities on the New York Stock Exchange and (ix) any
other transactional fees, charges or taxes imposed by any governmental body or self-regulatory
organization.
(b) Fees of Counsel. The Company shall reimburse the Placement Agent for all reasonable fees
of counsel to the Placement Agent incurred in connection with the negotiation, drafting and
execution of this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby up to $25,000.
(c) Termination of Agreement. If this Agreement is terminated by the Representatives in
accordance with the provisions of Section 9 or Section 12(a)(i) hereof or by the Company pursuant
to Section 12(b) hereof, the Company shall reimburse the Placement Agent for all of its
out-of-pocket expenses, including the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel for the
Placement Agent.
SECTION 9. Conditions of the Placement Agent’s Obligations. The obligations of the
Placement Agent hereunder with respect to a Placement will be subject to the continuing accuracy
and completeness of the representations and warranties of the Company contained in this Agreement
or in certificates of any officer of the Company or any subsidiary of the Company delivered
pursuant to the
26
provisions hereof, to the performance by the Company of its covenants and other obligations
hereunder, and to the following further conditions:
(a) Opinions of Company Corporate Counsel, Company Special Counsel and Counsel to the
Placement Agent. On or prior to the date that Securities are first sold pursuant to the terms of
this Agreement the Company shall furnish to the Placement Agent the opinions, each addressed to the
Placement Agent, of (i) Xxxxxxx Xxxxx LLP, corporate counsel for the Company, or other counsel
satisfactory to the Placement Agent, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Placement
Agent and its counsel, dated the date that the opinion is required to be delivered, substantially
similar to the form attached hereto as Exhibit D; (ii) Xxxxxxx Xxxxx LLP, special counsel
for the Company and the Subsidiaries, or other counsel satisfactory to the Placement Agent, in form
and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Placement Agent and its counsel, dated the date that
the opinion is required to be delivered, substantially similar to the form attached hereto as
Exhibit E; (iii) a written opinion of Xxxxx Lovells US LLP, Maryland counsel to the
Company, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Placement Agent and its counsel,
dated the date that the opinion is required to be delivered, substantially similar to the form
attached hereto as Exhibit F; and (iv) a written opinion of the Company’s General Counsel,
in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Placement Agent and its counsel, dated the
date that the opinion is required to be delivered, substantially similar to the form attached
hereto as Exhibit G. Prior to the date that any Securities are sold hereunder, the Company
shall cuase Company Maryland Counsel to deliver to the Placement Agent a written opinion that such
Securities have been duly authorized, and, when issued in accordance with the provisions of the
Agreement, will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable, and such written opinion shall be
reasonably satisfactory to the Placement Agent in form and substance.
(b) Effectiveness of Registration Statement. The Registration Statement and any Rule 462(b)
Registration Statement shall have become effective and shall be available for (i) all sales of
Placement Securities issued pursuant to all prior Placement Notices and (ii) the sale of all
Placement Securities contemplated to be issued by any Placement Notice.
(c) No Material Notices. None of the following events shall have occurred and be continuing:
(i) receipt by the Company or any of its subsidiaries of any request for additional information
from the Commission or any other federal or state governmental authority during the period of
effectiveness of the Registration Statement, the response to which would require any post-effective
amendments or supplements to the Registration Statement or the Prospectus; (ii) the issuance by the
Commission or any other federal or state governmental authority of any stop order suspending the
effectiveness of the Registration Statement or the initiation of any proceedings for that purpose;
(iii) receipt by the Company of any notification with respect to the suspension of the
qualification or exemption from qualification of any of the Placement Securities for sale in any
jurisdiction or the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for such purpose; (iv) the
occurrence of any event that makes any material statement made in the Registration Statement or the
Prospectus, or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, or any material document incorporated or deemed
to be incorporated therein by reference untrue in any material respect or that requires the making
of any changes in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus, or any Issuer Free Writing
Prospectus, or such documents so that, in the case of the Registration Statement, it will not
contain any materially untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact
required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading and, that
in the case of the Prospectus and any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, it will not contain any
materially untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be
stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under
which they were made, not misleading.
27
(d) No Misstatement or Material Omission. The Placement Agent shall not have advised the
Company that the Registration Statement or Prospectus, or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, or
any amendment or supplement thereto, contains an untrue statement of fact that in the Placement
Agent’s reasonable opinion is material, or omits to state a fact that in the Placement Agent’s
opinion is material and is required to be stated therein or is necessary to make the statements
therein not misleading.
(e) Material Changes. Except as contemplated in the Prospectus, or disclosed in the Company’s
reports filed with the Commission, there shall not have been any material adverse change in the
financial condition, or in the earnings or business affairs of the Company and its subsidiaries
considered as one enterprise, whether or not arising in the ordinary course of business.
(f) Representation Certificate. The Placement Agent shall have received the certificate
required to be delivered pursuant to Section 7(o) on or before the date on which delivery of such
certificate is required pursuant to Section 7(o).
(g) Accountant’s Comfort Letter. The Placement Agent shall have received the Comfort Letter
required to be delivered pursuant Section 7(q) on or before the date on which such delivery of such
opinion is required pursuant to Section 7(q).
(h) Approval for Listing. The Placement Securities shall either have been (i) approved for
listing on the New York Stock Exchange, subject only to notice of issuance, or (ii) the Company
shall have filed an application for listing of the Placement Securities on the New York Stock
Exchange at, or prior to, the issuance of any Placement Notice.
(i) No Suspension. Trading in the Securities shall not have been suspended on the New York
Stock Exchange.
(j) Additional Documents. On each date on which the Company is required to deliver a
certificate pursuant to Section 7(o), counsel for the Placement Agent shall have been furnished
with such documents and opinions as they may require for the purpose of enabling them to pass upon
the issuance and sale of the Securities as herein contemplated, or in order to evidence the
accuracy of any of the representations or warranties, or the fulfillment of any of the conditions,
contained in this Agreement.
(k) Securities Act Filings Made. All filings with the Commission required by Rule 424 under
the Securities Act to have been filed prior to the issuance of any Placement Notice hereunder shall
have been made within the applicable time period prescribed for such filing by Rule 424 under the
Securities Act.
(l) Termination of Agreement. If any condition specified in this Section 9 shall not have
been fulfilled when and as required to be fulfilled, this Agreement may be terminated by the
Placement Agent by notice to the Company, and such termination shall be without liability of any
party to any other party except as provided in Section 7 hereof and except that, in the case of any
termination of this Agreement, Sections 5, 10, 11 and 19 hereof shall survive such termination and
remain in full force and effect.
SECTION 10. Indemnity and Contribution by the Company, the Operating Partnership and the
Placement Agent.
(a) Indemnification by the Company and the Operating Partnership. The Company and the
Operating Partnership, jointly and severally, agree to indemnify, defend and hold harmless the
Placement Agent and any person who controls the Placement Agent within the meaning of Section 15 of
the
28
Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act, from and against any loss, expense,
liability, damage or claim (including reasonable attorneys fees, the reasonable cost of
investigation and the reasonable costs and expenses of enforcing this indemnity) which, jointly or
severally, the Placement Agent or any controlling person may incur under the Securities Act, the
Exchange Act or otherwise, insofar as such loss, expense, liability, damage or claim arises out of
or is based upon (1) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained
in the Registration Statement (or any amendment thereof), any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus that
the Company has filed or was required to file with the Commission or the Prospectus (the term
Prospectus for the purpose of this Section 10 being deemed to include the Prospectus as of its date
and as amended or supplemented by the Company), (2) any omission or alleged omission to state a
material fact required to be stated in any such Registration Statement, or necessary to make the
statements made therein not misleading, or (3) any omission or alleged omission from any such
Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or Prospectus of a material fact necessary to make the statements
made therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; except,
in the case of each of clauses (1), (2) and (3), insofar as any such loss, expense, liability,
damage or claim arises out of or is based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of
a material fact or any omission or alleged omission of a material fact required to be stated
therein or necessary to make the statements therein (in the case of the Prospectus and any Issuer
Free Writing Prospectus, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made) not
misleading, in each such case, to the extent contained in and in conformity with information
furnished in writing by the Placement Agent to the Company expressly for use therein (that
information being limited to that described in Section 10(b) hereof). The indemnity agreement set
forth in this Section 10(a) shall be in addition to any liability which the Company and the
Operating Partnership may otherwise have. If any action is brought against the Placement Agent or
any controlling person in respect of which indemnity may be sought against the Company or the
Operating Partnership pursuant to the foregoing paragraph of this Section 10(a), the Placement
Agent shall promptly notify the Company or the Operating Partnership, as the case may be, in
writing of the institution of such action, and the Company or the Operating Partnership, as the
case may be, shall if it so elects, assume the defense of such action, including the employment of
counsel and payment of expenses; provided, however, that any failure or delay to so notify the
Company or the Operating Partnership, as the case may be, will not relieve the Company or the
Operating Partnership of any obligation hereunder, except to the extent that their ability to
defend is materially prejudiced by such failure or delay. The Placement Agent or such controlling
person shall have the right to employ its or their own counsel in any such case, but the fees and
expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of the Placement Agent or such controlling person
unless the employment of such counsel shall have been authorized in writing by the Company or the
Operating Partnership, as the case may be, in connection with the defense of such action, or the
Company or the Operating Partnership, as the case may be, shall not have employed counsel
reasonably satisfactory to the Placement Agent or such controlling person, as the case maybe, to
have charge of the defense of such action within a reasonable time or such indemnified party or
parties shall have reasonably concluded (based on the advice of counsel) that
there may be defenses
available to it or them which are different from or additional to those available to the Company or
the Operating Partnership (in which case neither the Company nor the Operating Partnership shall
have the right to direct the defense of such action on behalf of the indemnified party or parties),
in any of which events such fees and expenses shall be borne by the Company or the Operating
Partnership, as the case may be, and paid as incurred (it being understood, however, that neither
the Company nor the Operating Partnership shall be liable for the expenses of more than one
separate firm of attorneys for the Placement Agent or such controlling persons in any one action or
series of related actions in the same jurisdiction (other than local counsel in any such
jurisdiction) representing the indemnified parties who are parties to such action). Anything in
this paragraph to the contrary notwithstanding, neither the Company nor the Operating Partnership
shall be liable for any settlement of any such claim or action effected without its consent.
29
(b) Indemnification by the Placement Agent. The Placement Agent agrees to indemnify,
defend and hold harmless the Company, the Operating Partnership, the Company’s directors, the
Company’s officers that signed the Registration Statement, any person who controls the Company
within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act, from and
against any loss, expense, liability, damage or claim (including the reasonable cost of
investigation) which, jointly or severally, the Company, the Operating Partnership or any such
person may incur under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act or otherwise, insofar as such loss,
expense, liability, damage or claim arises out of or is based upon (1) any untrue statement or
alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement (or any
amendment thereof), any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus that the Company has filed or was required
to file with the Commission, the Prospectus, (2) any omission or alleged omission to state a
material fact required to be stated in any such Registration Statement, or necessary to make the
statements made therein not misleading, or (3) any omission or alleged omission from any such
Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or the Prospectus of a material fact necessary to make the
statements made therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not
misleading, but in each case only insofar as such untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or
omission or alleged omission was made in such Registration Statement, Issuer Free Writing
Prospectus or Prospectus in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished in writing
by the Placement Agent to the Company expressly for use therein. The statements set forth in the
sixth paragraph under the caption “Plan of Distribution” in the Prospectus Supplement (to the
extent such statements relate to the Placement Agent) constitute the only information furnished by
or on behalf of the Placement Agent to the Company or the Operating Partnership for the purposes of
Section 5(a)(1) and this Section 10. The indemnity agreement set forth in this Section 10(b) shall
be in addition to any liabilities that the Placement Agent may otherwise have.
If any action is brought against the Company, the Operating Partnership or any such person in
respect of which indemnity may be sought against the Placement Agent pursuant to the foregoing
paragraph, the Company, the Operating Partnership or such person shall promptly notify the
Placement Agent in writing of the institution of such action and the Placement Agent shall if its
so elects assume the defense of such action, including the employment of counsel and payment of
expenses; provided, however, that any failure or delay to so notify the Placement Agent will not
relieve the Placement Agent of any obligation hereunder, except to the extent that their ability to
defend is materially prejudiced by such failure or delay. The Company, the Operating Partnership
or such person shall have the right to employ its own counsel in any such case, but the fees and
expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of the Company, the Operating Partnership or such
person unless the employment of such counsel shall have been authorized in writing by the Placement
Agent in connection with the defense of such action or the Placement Agent shall not have employed
counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Company, the Operating Partnership or such person, as the
case may be, to have charge of the defense of such action within a reasonable time or such
indemnified party or parties shall have reasonably concluded (based on the advice of counsel) that
there may be defenses available to it or them which are different from or additional to those
available to (in which case the Placement Agent shall not have the right to direct the defense of
such action on behalf of the indemnified party or parties), in any of which events such fees and
expenses shall be borne by the Placement Agent and paid as incurred (it being understood, however,
that the Placement Agent shall not be liable for the expenses of more than one separate firm of
attorneys in any one action or series of related actions in the same jurisdiction (other than local
counsel in any such jurisdiction) representing the indemnified parties who are parties to such
action). Anything in this paragraph to the contrary notwithstanding, the Placement Agent shall not
be liable for any settlement of any such claim or action effected without its written consent.
The total liability of the Placement Agent under this Section 10(b) shall not exceed the total
actual sales price of the Securities sold by the Placement Agent that is the subject of the
dispute.
30
(c) Contribution. If the indemnification provided for in this Section 10 is unavailable or
insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party under subsections (a) and (b) of this Section 10
in respect of any losses, expenses, liabilities, damages or claims referred to therein, then each
applicable indemnifying party, in lieu of indemnifying such indemnified party, shall contribute to
the amount paid or payable by such indemnified party as a result of such losses, expenses,
liabilities, damages or claims (i) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative
benefits received by the Company, the Operating Partnership and by the Placement Agent, each from
the offering of the Securities, or (ii) if (but only if) the allocation provided by clause (i)
above is not permitted by applicable law, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only
the relative benefits referred to in clause (i) above but also the relative fault of the Company,
the Operating Partnership and the Placement Agent in connection with the statements or omissions
which resulted in such losses, expenses, liabilities, damages or claims, as well as any other
relevant equitable considerations. The relative benefits received by the Company and the Operating
Partnership shall be deemed to be equal to the gross proceeds from the offering of Securities
(before deducting discounts and expenses) received by each of them and benefits received by the
Placement Agent shall be deemed to be equal to the underwriting discounts and commissions received
the Placement Agent. The relative fault of the Company, the Operating Partnership and of the
Placement Agent shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue
statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or omission or alleged omission relates to
information supplied by the Company and/or the Operating Partnership or by the Placement Agent and
the intent of the parties and their relative knowledge, access to information and opportunity to
correct or prevent such statement or omission. The amount paid or payable by a party as a result
of the losses, claims, damages and liabilities referred to above shall be deemed to include any
legal or other fees or expenses reasonably incurred by such party in connection with investigating
or defending any claim or action.
(d) The Company, the Operating Partnership and the Placement Agent agree that it would not be
just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 10 were determined by pro rata
allocation or by any other method of allocation which does not take account of the equitable
considerations referred to in clause (i) and, if applicable, clause (ii) of subsection (c) above.
Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 10, the Placement Agent shall not be required to
contribute any amount in excess of the underwriting discounts and commissions applicable to the
Securities purchased by the Placement Agent and the liability of the Company and/or the Operating
Partnership pursuant to this Section 10 shall not exceed the gross proceeds received by the Company
and/or the Operating Partnership in the offering. No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation
(within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from
any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation.
(e) The provisions of this Section shall not affect any agreement among the Company and the
Operating Partnership with respect to indemnification.
SECTION 11. Representations, Warranties and Agreements to Survive Delivery. All
representations, warranties and agreements contained in this Agreement or in certificates of
officers of the Company or any of its subsidiaries submitted pursuant hereto, shall remain
operative and in full force and effect, regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of the
Placement Agent or controlling person, or by or on behalf of the Company, and shall survive
delivery of the Securities to the Placement Agent.
SECTION 12. Termination of Agreement.
(a) Termination; General. The Placement Agent may terminate this Agreement, by notice to the
Company, as hereinafter specified at any time (i) if there has been, since the time of execution of
this Agreement or since the date as of which information is given in the Prospectus, any material
adverse change in the financial condition or in the earnings or business affairs of the Company and
its subsidiaries considered as one enterprise, whether or not arising in the ordinary course of
business, or (ii) if there has
31
occurred any material adverse change in the financial markets in the United States or the
international financial markets, any outbreak of hostilities or escalation thereof or other
calamity or crisis or any change or development involving a prospective change in national or
international political, financial or economic conditions, in each case the effect of which is such
as to make it, in the judgment of the Placement Agent, impracticable or inadvisable to market the
Securities or to enforce contracts for the sale of the Securities, or (iii) if trading in the
Placement Securities has been suspended or limited by the Commission or the New York Stock
Exchange, or if trading generally on the American Stock Exchange, the New York Stock Exchange or
the Nasdaq Global Market has been suspended or limited, or minimum or maximum prices for trading
have been fixed, or maximum ranges for prices have been required, by any of said exchanges or by
order of the Commission, the FINRA or any other governmental authority, or a material disruption
has occurred in commercial banking or securities settlement or clearance services in the United
States or in Europe, or (iv) if a banking moratorium has been declared by either Federal or New
York authorities.
(b) Termination by the Company. The Company shall have the right, by giving one (1) day
notice as hereinafter specified to terminate this Agreement in its sole discretion at any time
after the date of this Agreement. Upon termination of this Agreement pursuant to this Section
12(b), any outstanding Placement Notices shall also be terminated.
(c) Termination by the Placement Agent. The Placement Agent shall have the right, by giving
one (1) day notice as hereinafter specified to terminate this Agreement in its sole discretion at
any time after the date of this Agreement.
(d) Automatic Termination. Unless earlier terminated pursuant to this Section 12, this
Agreement shall automatically terminate upon the issuance and sale of all of the Placement
Securities through the Placement Agent on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein.
(e) Continued Force and Effect. This Agreement shall remain in full force and effect unless
terminated pursuant to Sections 12(a), (b), (c), or (d) above or otherwise by mutual agreement of
the parties.
(f) Effectiveness of Termination. Any termination of this Agreement shall be effective on the
date specified in such notice of termination; provided, however, that such termination shall not be
effective until the close of business on the date of receipt of such notice by the Placement Agent
or the Company, as the case may be. If such termination shall occur prior to the Settlement Date
for any sale of Placement Securities, such Placement Securities shall settle in accordance with the
provisions of this Agreement.
(g) Liabilities. If this Agreement is terminated pursuant to this Section 12, such
termination shall be without liability of any party to any other party except as provided in
Section 8 hereof, and except that, in the case of any termination of this Agreement, Section 5,
Section 10, Section 11 and Section 19 hereof shall survive such termination and remain in full
force and effect.
SECTION 13. Notices. Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, all notices and
other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given if
mailed or transmitted by any standard form of telecommunication. Notices to the Placement Agent
shall be directed to the Placement Agent at JMP Securities LLC, 000 Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 0000,
Xxx Xxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxx 00000, Facsimile: (000) 000-0000, Attention: Equity Securities and
notices to the Company shall be directed to it at the offices of the Company at 00000 Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxx, Xxxxx 0000, Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 00000, fax no. (000) 000-0000, Attention of General Counsel.
32
SECTION 14. Parties. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon
the Placement Agent, the Company and their respective successors. Nothing expressed or mentioned
in this Agreement is intended or shall be construed to give any person, firm or corporation, other
than the Placement Agent, the Company and their respective successors and the controlling persons
and officers and directors referred to in Section 10 and their heirs and legal representatives, any
legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or in respect of this Agreement or any provision
herein contained. This Agreement and all conditions and provisions hereof are intended to be for
the sole and exclusive benefit of the Placement Agent, the Company and their respective successors,
and said controlling persons and officers and directors and their heirs and legal representatives,
and for the benefit of no other person, firm or corporation. No purchaser of Securities from the
Placement Agent shall be deemed to be a successor by reason merely of such purchase.
SECTION 15. Adjustments for Stock Splits. The parties acknowledge and agree that all
stock-related numbers contained in this Agreement shall be adjusted to take into account any stock
split, stock dividend or similar event effected with respect to the Securities.
SECTION 16. Governing Law and Time. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED
IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK. SPECIFIED TIMES OF DAY REFER TO NEW YORK
CITY TIME.
SECTION 17. Effect of Headings. The Section and Exhibit headings herein are for
convenience only and shall not affect the construction hereof.
SECTION 18. Permitted Free Writing Prospectuses. The Company represents, warrants and
agrees that, unless it obtains the prior consent of the Placement Agent, and the Placement Agent
represents, warrants and agrees that, unless it obtains the prior consent of the Company, it has
not made and will not make any offer relating to the Securities that would constitute an Issuer
Free Writing Prospectus, or that would otherwise constitute a “free writing prospectus,” as defined
in Rule 405 under the Securities Act, required to be filed with the Commission. Any such free
writing prospectus consented to by the Placement Agent or by the Company, as the case may be, is
hereinafter referred to as a “Permitted Free Writing Prospectus.” The Company represents and
warrants that it has treated and agrees that it will treat each Permitted Free Writing Prospectus
as an “issuer free writing prospectus,” as defined in Rule 433 under the Securities Act, and has
complied and will comply with the requirements of Rule 433 under the Securities Act applicable to
any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus, including timely filing with the Commission where required,
legending and record keeping. For the purposes of clarity, the parties hereto agree that all free
writing prospectuses, if any, listed in Exhibit G hereto are Permitted Free Writing
Prospectuses.
SECTION 19. Absence of Fiduciary Relationship. The Company acknowledges and agrees
that:
(a) The Placement Agent is acting solely as agent and/or principal in connection with the
public offering of the Securities and in connection with each transaction contemplated by this
Agreement and the process leading to such transactions, and no fiduciary or advisory relationship
between the Company or any of its respective affiliates, stockholders (or other equity holders),
creditors or employees or any other party, on the one hand, and the Placement Agent, on the other
hand, has been or will be created in respect of any of the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement, irrespective of whether or not the Placement Agent has advised or is advising the
Company on other matters, and the Placement Agent has no obligation to the Company with respect to
the transactions contemplated by this Agreement except the obligations expressly set forth in this
Agreement;
33
(b) the public offering price of the Securities was not established by the Placement Agent; it
is capable of evaluating and understanding, and understands and accepts, the terms, risks and
conditions of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement;
(c) the Placement Agent has not provided any legal, accounting, regulatory or tax advice with
respect to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and it has consulted its own legal,
accounting, regulatory and tax advisors to the extent it has deemed appropriate;
(d) it is aware that the Placement Agent and its respective affiliates are engaged in a broad
range of transactions which may involve interests that differ from those of the Company and the
Placement Agent has no obligation to disclose such interests and transactions to the
Company by virtue of any fiduciary, advisory or agency relationship or otherwise; and
(e) it waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any claims it may have against the
Placement Agent for breach of fiduciary duty or alleged breach of fiduciary duty and agrees that
the Placement Agent shall not have any liability (whether direct or indirect, in contract, tort or
otherwise) to it in respect of such a fiduciary duty claim or to any person asserting a fiduciary
duty claim on its behalf or in right of it or the Company, employees or creditors of Company.
[Signature Page Follows]
34
If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding of our agreement, please sign
and return to the Company a counterpart hereof, whereupon this instrument, along with all
counterparts, will become a binding agreement by and among the Placement Agent, the Company and the
Operating Partnership in accordance with its terms.
Very truly yours, ASHFORD HOSPITALITY TRUST, INC. |
||||
By: | /s/ Xxxxx X. Xxxxxx | |||
Name: | ||||
Title: | ||||
ASHFORD HOSPITALITY LIMITED PARTNERSHIP |
||||
By: | ASHFORD OP GENERAL PARTNER, LLC, its general partner | |||
By: | /s/ Xxxxx X. Xxxxxx | |||
Name: | ||||
Title: | ||||
CONFIRMED AND ACCEPTED, as of the date first above written:
JMP SECURITIES LLC
By | /s/ Xxxxxx Xxxx | |||
Authorized Signatory | ||||
Signature Page to Equity Distribution Agreement
EXHIBIT A
FORM OF PLACEMENT NOTICE
From:
|
[ ] | |
Cc:
|
[ ] | |
To:
|
[ ] |
Subject: Equity Distribution—Placement Notice
Gentlemen:
Pursuant to the terms and subject to the conditions contained in the Equity Distribution
Agreement among Ashford Hospitality Trust, Inc. (the “Company”), Ashford Hospitality
Limited Partnership and JMP Securities LLC (the “Placement Agent”) dated September 3, 2010 (the
“Agreement”), I hereby request on behalf of the Company that the Placement Agent sell up to
[ ] shares of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.01 per share, at a minimum market price
of $[ ] per share. The number of shares sold per trading day shall not exceed 25% of the
Company’s average trading volume of the previous 4 calendar weeks.
[ADDITIONAL SALES PARAMETERS MAY BE ADDED, SUCH AS THE MAXIMUM AGGREGATE OFFERING PRICE, THE
TIME PERIOD IN WHICH SALES ARE REQUESTED TO BE MADE, SPECIFIC DATES THE SHARES MAY NOT BE SOLD ON,
THE MANNER IN WHICH SALES ARE TO BE MADE BY THE PLACEMENT AGENT, AND/OR THE CAPACITY IN WHICH THE
PLACEMENT AGENT MAY ACT IN SELLING SHARES (AS PRINCIPAL, AGENT, OR BOTH). THE COMPANY MAY DIRECT
THE PLACEMENT AGENT TO SELL BLOCKS OF STOCK “IN SIZE.”]
A-1
EXHIBIT B
AUTHORIZED INDIVIDUALS FOR PLACEMENT NOTICES AND ACCEPTANCES
JMP Securities LLC
Xxxx Xxxxxxxxx, Director of Corporate Finance, Managing Director
Xxxxxxx Xxxxx, Director, Corporate Finance
Xxxxx Xxxxx, Director, Corporate Services
Xxxxx Xxxxxxx, Chief Legal Officer
Xxxxxxx Xxxxx, Director, Corporate Finance
Xxxxx Xxxxx, Director, Corporate Services
Xxxxx Xxxxxxx, Chief Legal Officer
Ashford Hospitality Trust, Inc.
Xxxx Xxxxxxx, President
Xxxxx Xxxxxx, COO, General Counsel and Secretary
Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx, CFO
Xxxxx Xxxxxx, COO, General Counsel and Secretary
Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx, CFO
B-1
EXHIBIT C
COMPENSATION
The Placement Agent shall be paid compensation equal to:
0.75% of the gross proceeds from the sales of Securities pursuant to the terms of this Agreement.
0.75% of the gross proceeds from the sales of Securities pursuant to the terms of this Agreement.
C-1
EXHIBIT D
FORM OF OPINION OF XXXXXXX XXXXX LLP
D-1
EXHIBIT E
FORM OF TAX OPINION OF XXXXXXX XXXXX LLP
E-1
EXHIBIT F
FORM OF OPINION OF XXXXX LOVELLS US LLP
F-1
EXHIBIT G
FORM OF OPINION OF GENERAL COUNSEL
G-1
EXHIBIT H
OFFICER CERTIFICATE
H-1
EXHIBIT I
ISSUER FREE WRITING PROSPECTUSES
None.
I-1