MANAGEMENT RIGHTS AGREEMENT
Exhibit 10.18
THIS MANAGEMENT RIGHTS AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) is effective as of ____________ __, 2010
(the “Effective Date”), by and among CRQP III AIV, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (“CRQP
III”), CRP IV-A AIV, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (“CRP IV”), CRQP IV AIV, L.P., a Delaware
limited partnership (“CRQP IV”), Carlyle Realty Qualified Partners II (a), L.P., a Delaware limited
partnership (“CRQP II-A”), Carlyle Realty Qualified Partners II, L.P. (“CRQP II”), the Carlyle
Limited Partners (as defined below), CoreSite Realty Corporation , a Maryland corporation (the
“Corporation”) and CoreSite, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (the “Company”).
RECITALS
Whereas, as of the Effective Date, each of CRQP III, CRP IV, CRQP IV, CRQP II-A and
CRQP II (collectively, the “Partnerships” and each a “Partnership”) indirectly, through one or more
wholly owned entities controlled by the relevant Partnership (each a “Holdco”), owns limited
partnership interests in the Company (the “Interests”);
Whereas, the Corporation is the general partner of the Company;
Whereas, the Corporation and the Company wish to provide the Partnerships with
certain rights with regard to the Interests held by the Partnerships;
Whereas, pursuant to the terms of the Partnership Agreement, the Carlyle Limited
Partners are entitled to nominate one or more directors to serve as members of the Corporation
Board;
Whereas, the Carlyle Limited Partners wish to assign such nomination rights to the
Partnerships and the Partnerships wish to accept such rights; and
Whereas, the Partnership has requested to be granted, and the Corporation and the
Company have agreed to grant to each of the Partnerships, the right to review the books and records
of the Corporation and the Company and the books and records of their subsidiaries and to consult
with and advise management of the Corporation and the Company and their subsidiaries regarding
operations.
AGREEMENT
NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and for other good and valuable
consideration, the sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, the parties hereby agree as
follows:
1. Certain Definitions. As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the
following respective meanings:
a. “Corporation Board” means the board of directors of the Corporation.
b. “Carlyle Limited Partners” shall mean the “Carlyle Limited Partners” as defined in the
Partnership Agreement.
c. “Partnership Agreement” means the Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of
the Company dated of even date herewith by and among the Corporation and the limited partners of
the Company.
d. “Shares” means shares of common stock of the Corporation, $0.01 par value per share.
2. Nomination Rights.
a. For so long as the Carlyle Limited Partners have the right under the Partnership Agreement
to nominate at least two directors to serve on the Corporation Board, the Carlyle Limited Partners
hereby (i) assign to CRQP IV the right to nominate one such director to serve on the Corporation
Board (the “CRQP IV Nominee”) and (ii) assign to CRP IV the right to nominate one such director to
serve on the Corporation Board (“CRP IV Nominee”).
b. For any period during which the Carlyle Limited Partners do not have the right under the
Partnership Agreement to nominate at least two directors to serve on the Corporation Board, but
have the right to nominate one director to serve on the Corporation Board, the Carlyle Limited
Partners hereby assign the right to nominate such director to serve on the Corporation Board to CRP
IV, provided, however, that (i) CRP IV may assign this right in its discretion to CRQP IV and (ii)
if CRP IV has ceased to hold, directly or indirectly though one or more Holdcos, an Interest and
does not, directly or indirectly through one or more Holdcos, hold Shares, then this right shall
automatically be assigned to CRQP IV.
c. The Corporation hereby acknowledges and agrees to the rights granted to the Partnerships as
a result of assignment from the Carlyle Limited Partners.
d. CRQP IV hereby designates to serve as the CRQP IV Nominee, if applicable, and CRP
IV hereby designates to serve as the CRP IV Nominee, if applicable. If either such
nominee shall be unable or unwilling to serve prior to his or her election or appointment to the
Corporation Board, the relevant Partnership shall be entitled to nominate a replacement who shall
then be the respective CRQP IV Nominee or CRP IV Nominee, as applicable, for the purposes of this
Agreement. If, following election or appointment to the Corporation Board, the CRQP IV Nominee or
the CRP IV Nominee shall resign or be removed for cause or be unable to serve by reason of death or
disability, the relevant Partnership shall, within 30 days of such event, notify the respective
Corporation Board in writing of a replacement, and each party hereto shall take such steps within
its authority as may be necessary to elect or appoint such replacement to the Corporation Board to
fill the unexpired term of the respective nominee.
e. With respect to the CRQP IV Nominee and the CRP IV Nominee, the Carlyle Limited Partners
agree to (i) vote (at any regular or special meeting of the Corporation) or cause its direct and
indirect subsidiaries to vote all of their Shares then beneficially owned by it (whether so
beneficially owned as of the date hereof or hereafter acquired) in favor of, or otherwise to
consent to the election or appointment of the CRQP IV
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Nominee and CRP IV Nominee, as applicable; and (ii) take all other actions necessary and
appropriate (whether by vote or consent or otherwise) to cause the election or appointment of the
CRQP IV Nominee and CRP IV Nominee, as applicable to the Corporation Board.
f. Subject to the Corporation’s compliance with the rights of the stockholders of the
Corporation to remove a director in accordance with the Corporation’s Charter and the Maryland
General Corporation Law, each party hereto agrees not to take any action without the written
consent of the relevant Partnership, which consent may be given or withheld in the Partnership’s
sole discretion, to remove, whether or not for cause, the CRQP IV Nominee or CRP IV Nominee, as
applicable, from the Corporation Board following his or her election thereto, including, without
limitation, by decreasing the size of the Corporation Board such that there are an insufficient
number of directors on the Corporation Board to permit the Partnership to exercise its nomination
rights pursuant to this Section 2.
3. Proxy. For so long as this Agreement is in effect, if a Carlyle Limited Partner
fails or refuses to vote or cause its subsidiaries to vote the Shares as provided in Section 2
hereof, without further action by any party, CRP IV shall have an irrevocable proxy to vote such
Shares in accordance with this Agreement, and each of the Carlyle Limited Partners hereby grants to
CRP IV such irrevocable proxy, provided that for any period in which CRP IV does not hold, directly
or indirectly through one or more Holdcos, any Interests and any Shares, such irrevocable proxy is
hereby granted to CRQP IV.
4. Inspection Rights; Consultation Rights.
a. The Company and the Corporation covenant that, subject to termination under Section 5.c.,
so long as the Partnerships continue to beneficially own, directly or indirectly through one or
more Holdcos, any Interests or any Shares, the Company and the Corporation will permit such party,
as the case may be, and their respective representatives to (i) from time-to-time visit and
inspect, at their respective expense, any of the properties of the Company, the Corporation and/or
their subsidiaries to examine the corporate books, contracts, commitments, reports, work papers,
and records relating to such entities or their respective properties, assets, and businesses,
including management’s projections with respect thereto, and to make copies or extracts therefrom,
and (ii) consult with and advise the management of the Company, the Corporation and their
subsidiaries at their respective places of business, upon reasonable notice at reasonable times
from time to time, on all matters relating to the operation, finances and accounts of the Company,
the Corporation and their subsidiaries. Management of the Company, the Corporation and their
subsidiaries shall have an obligation to reasonably consider the advice and recommendations offered
by the Partnerships; however, neither the Corporation nor the Company shall have any obligation to
comply with any advice or recommendations offered by the Partnerships in any consultation referred
to above.
b. The Partnerships agree that they shall maintain in confidence and not disclose to any third
party (other than any of their affiliates or any affiliates of TC Group, L.L.C., and their
officers, employees, consultants and advisors, who shall also be subject to the confidentiality
restrictions herein) any confidential or proprietary information or trade secrets of or relating to
the Company, the Corporation or their subsidiaries that was learned or acquired by the Partnerships
in connection with the exercise of their rights under this Section 4. Nothing in
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this Section 4(b) shall prohibit any person or entity from (i) responding to a lawful and
valid subpoena or other legal process or (ii) disclosing information that has previously been
published in a form generally available to the public.
c. The Partnerships hereby acknowledge that they are aware that the United States securities
laws prohibit any person who has received from an issuer material, non-public information from
purchasing or selling securities of such issuer or from communicating such information to any other
person under circumstances in which it is reasonably foreseeable that such other person is likely
to purchase or sell such securities.
5. Miscellaneous.
a. Each party hereto agrees to execute and deliver such documents and take such further
actions as may be necessary or desirable to effect the purposes and objectives of this Agreement.
b. Subject to subsection (f), this Agreement may not be amended or modified except by a
written instrument signed by each of the parties hereto. The waiver by any party of such party’s
rights under this Agreement in any particular instance or instances, whether intentional or
otherwise, shall not be considered as a continuing waiver which would prevent subsequent
enforcement of such rights or of any other rights.
c. The parties acknowledge that they have entered into this Agreement in connection with the
reorganization of the predecessor entities to the Company and the Corporation and in connection
with the initial public offering of shares of common stock of the Corporation. The parties agree
that this Agreement shall automatically terminate on the date that the Carlyle Limited Partners
(and any of their affiliates and any of their transferees that are affiliates of TC Group, L.L.C.)
cease to hold, in the aggregate, a number of Interests and Shares that is at least 5% of the total
number of outstanding Shares (assuming all Interests are exchanged for Shares). In addition, this
Agreement shall automatically terminate with respect to a Partnership when such Partnership no
longer beneficially owns, directly or indirectly through one or more Holdcos, any Interests and any
Shares. For the avoidance of doubt, except as expressly provided herein, the termination of this
Agreement with respect to one of the Partnerships, as provided in the immediately preceding
sentence, shall not affect the rights hereunder of the other Partnerships.
d. All notices and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed to
have been duly given if sent by recognized overnight delivery service, return receipt requested, to
the following parties at the following addresses or to such other parties and at such other
addresses as shall be specified by like notices:
if to a Partnership, to such Partnership at:
c/o The Carlyle Group
0000 Xxxxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, XX
Xxxxxxxxxx, XX 00000
Attention: X. Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx
0000 Xxxxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, XX
Xxxxxxxxxx, XX 00000
Attention: X. Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx
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with a copy to:
Xxxxxx & Xxxxxxx LLP
000 Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, X.X.
Xxxxx 0000
Xxxxxxxxxx, X.X. 00000
Attn: Xxxxx Xxxxx Xxxxx
000 Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, X.X.
Xxxxx 0000
Xxxxxxxxxx, X.X. 00000
Attn: Xxxxx Xxxxx Xxxxx
if to a Carlyle Limited Partner, to such Carlyle Limited
Partner at:
Partner at:
c/o The Carlyle Group
0000 Xxxxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, XX
Xxxxxxxxxx, XX 00000
Attention: X. Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx
0000 Xxxxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, XX
Xxxxxxxxxx, XX 00000
Attention: X. Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx
with a copy to:
Xxxxxx & Xxxxxxx LLP
000 Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, X.X.
Xxxxx 0000
Xxxxxxxxxx, X.X. 00000
Attn: Xxxxx Xxxxx Xxxxx
000 Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, X.X.
Xxxxx 0000
Xxxxxxxxxx, X.X. 00000
Attn: Xxxxx Xxxxx Xxxxx
if to the Corporation or the Company at their respective
registered office.
registered office.
with
a copy to:
Xxxxxx & Xxxxxxx LLP
000 Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, X.X.
Xxxxx 0000
Xxxxxxxxxx, X.X. 00000
Attn: Xxxxx Xxxxx Xxxxx
Xxxxxx & Xxxxxxx LLP
000 Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, X.X.
Xxxxx 0000
Xxxxxxxxxx, X.X. 00000
Attn: Xxxxx Xxxxx Xxxxx
Notice so given shall be deemed to be given and received on the second business day after sending
by recognized overnight delivery service, return receipt requested.
e. The parties acknowledge and agree that the breach of the provisions of this Agreement by
any party could not be adequately compensated with monetary damages, and the parties hereto agree,
accordingly, that injunctive relief and specific performance shall be appropriate remedies to
enforce the provisions of this Agreement and waive any claim or defense that there is an adequate
remedy at law for such breach; provided, however, that nothing herein shall limit
the remedies herein, legal or equitable, otherwise available and all remedies herein are in
addition to any remedies available at law or otherwise.
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f. The aforementioned rights are intended to satisfy the requirement of management rights for
purposes of qualifying the Partnerships’ investment through the Holdcos in the Company as a
“venture capital investment” for purposes of the Department of Labor “plan assets” regulation, 29
C.F.R. § 2510.3-101 (the “Plan Assets Regulation”). In the event additional interpretations of the
term “management rights” within the meaning of the Plan Assets Regulation are issued by the
Department of Labor or a court of competent jurisdiction which result in the aforementioned rights
not being satisfactory for such purposes, the parties will reasonably cooperate in good faith to
agree upon mutually satisfactory management rights that will satisfy such regulations.
Notwithstanding subsection (c) above, and without limiting the foregoing, the parties agree that
this Agreement shall not terminate with respect to a Partnership if such Partnership reasonably
determines that the continuation of this Agreement is or may reasonably be expected to be necessary
for such Partnership to avoid holding “plan assets” for purposes of the Plan Assets Regulation. In
such circumstance, this Agreement shall remain in effect with respect to such Partnership for so
long as such Partnership reasonably determines to be necessary for such Partnership to avoid
holding “plan assets” for purposes of the Plan Assets Regulation.
g. If any provision of this Agreement shall be held to be illegal, invalid or unenforceable
under any applicable law, then such contravention or invalidity shall not invalidate the entire
Agreement. Such provision shall be deemed to be modified to the extent necessary to render it
legal, valid and enforceable, and if no such modification shall render it legal, valid and
enforceable then this Agreement shall be construed as if not containing the provision held to be
invalid, and the rights and obligations of the parties shall be construed and enforced accordingly.
h. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of, and be binding upon, the parties hereto,
their heirs, administrators, executors, successors and assigns. The Partnerships may assign their
rights and interest in this Agreement to any of its affiliates without need for the consent of any
other party hereto, and each of such other parties agrees that it will acknowledge such an
assignment upon the request by such Partnership.
i. The headings of the sections and paragraphs of this Agreement have been inserted for
convenience of reference only and do not constitute a part of this Agreement.
j. The parties agree that this Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with
the laws of the state of Delaware, excluding any laws thereof which would direct application of law
of another jurisdiction.
k. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts and by the parties hereto in
separate counterparts, with the same effect as if each party had signed the same document. All
such counterparts shall be deemed an original, shall be construed together and shall constitute one
and the same instrument.
l. When the context requires, the gender of all words used herein shall include the masculine,
feminine and neuter and the number of all words shall include the singular and plural.
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[signature pages follow]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this Agreement to be executed as of the date first
above written.
CRP IV-A AIV, L.P. |
||||
By: | CRP IV-A AIV GP, L.P., its general partner | |||
By: | CRP IV-A AIV GP, L.L.C., its general partner | |||
By: | TC Group, L.L.C., its managing member | |||
By: | TCG Holdings, L.L.C., its managing member | |||
By: | ||||
Name: | ||||
Title: | ||||
CRQP IV AIV, L.P. |
||||
By: | CRQP IV AIV GP, L.P., its general partner | |||
By: | CRQP IV AIV GP, L.L.C., its general partner | |||
By: | TC Group, L.L.C., its managing member | |||
By: | TCG Holdings, L.L.C., its managing member | |||
By: | ||||
Name: | ||||
Title: | ||||
CRQP III AIV, L.P. |
||||
By: | CRQP III AIV GP, L.P., its general partner | |||
By: | CRQP III AIV GP, L.L.C., its general partner | |||
By: | TC Group, L.L.C., its managing member | |||
By: | TCG Holdings, L.L.C., its managing member | |||
By: | ||||
Name: | ||||
Title: |
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CARLYLE REALTY QUALIFIED PARTNERS II(A), L.P. | ||||
By: | Carlyle Realty II, L.P., its general partner | |||
By: | ||||
Name: | ||||
Title: | ||||
CARLYLE REALTY QUALIFIED PARTNERS II, L.P. |
||||
By: | Carlyle Realty II, L.P., its general partner | |||
By: | ||||
Name: | ||||
Title: | ||||
[CARLYLE LIMITED PARTNER] |
||||
By: | [ ] | |||
By: | ||||
Name: | ||||
Title: | ||||
CORESITE, L.P. |
||||
By: | CoreSite Realty Corporation, | |||
Its general partner | ||||
By: | ||||
Name: | Xxxxxx Xxx | |||
Title: | President and Chief Executive Officer | |||
CORESITE REALTY CORPORATION |
||||
By: | ||||
Name: | Xxxxxx Xxx | |||
Title: | President and Chief Executive Officer | |||
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