AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER Among CARRAMERICA REALTY CORPORATION, CARRAMERICA REALTY OPERATING PARTNERSHIP, L.P., CARRAMERICA REALTY, L.P., CARR REALTY HOLDINGS, L.P., NANTUCKET PARENT LLC, NANTUCKET ACQUISITION INC., NANTUCKET CRH ACQUISITION L.P....
Exhibit 2.1
AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER
Among
CARRAMERICA REALTY CORPORATION,
CARRAMERICA REALTY OPERATING PARTNERSHIP, L.P.,
CARRAMERICA REALTY, L.P.,
XXXX REALTY HOLDINGS, L.P.,
NANTUCKET PARENT LLC,
NANTUCKET ACQUISITION INC.,
NANTUCKET CRH ACQUISITION L.P. and
NANTUCKET CAR ACQUISITION L.P.
Dated as of March 5, 2006
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page | ||||
ARTICLE I DEFINITIONS |
2 | |||
SECTION 1.01 |
Definitions. | 2 | ||
SECTION 1.02 |
Interpretation and Rules of Construction. | 12 | ||
ARTICLE II THE MERGERS |
13 | |||
SECTION 2.01 |
Mergers. | 13 | ||
SECTION 2.02 |
Charter and Bylaws; Partnership Agreements. | 13 | ||
SECTION 2.03 |
Effective Times. | 14 | ||
SECTION 2.04 |
Closing. | 15 | ||
SECTION 2.05 |
Directors and Officers of the Surviving Corporation. | 15 | ||
SECTION 2.06 |
CRH Partnership Matters. | 15 | ||
SECTION 2.07 |
CAR Partnership Matters. | 15 | ||
SECTION 2.08 |
Other Transactions. | 15 | ||
SECTION 2.09 |
Dissolution and Liquidation of the Surviving Corporation | 16 | ||
ARTICLE III EFFECTS OF THE MERGERS |
16 | |||
SECTION 3.01 |
Effects on Shares. | 16 | ||
SECTION 3.02 |
Effect on Partnership Units. | 18 | ||
SECTION 3.03 |
Exchange of Certificates and Uncertificated Units; Paying Agent. | 21 | ||
SECTION 3.04 |
Withholding Rights. | 24 | ||
SECTION 3.05 |
Dissenters’ Rights. | 24 | ||
SECTION 3.06 |
Termination of DRIP. | 24 | ||
SECTION 3.07 |
Debt Offers | 24 | ||
SECTION 3.08 |
Satisfaction and Discharge | 26 | ||
ARTICLE IV REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY AND THE OPERATING PARTNERSHIP |
27 | |||
SECTION 4.01 |
Organization and Qualification; Subsidiaries; Authority. | 27 | ||
SECTION 4.02 |
Organizational Documents. | 28 | ||
SECTION 4.03 |
Capitalization. | 28 | ||
SECTION 4.04 |
Authority Relative to this Agreement, Takeover Laws, Validity and Effect of Agreements. | 31 | ||
SECTION 4.05 |
No Conflict; Required Filings and Consents. | 32 | ||
SECTION 4.06 |
Permits; Compliance with Laws. | 33 | ||
SECTION 4.07 |
SEC Filings; Financial Statements; No Unknown Liabilities. | 34 | ||
SECTION 4.08 |
Absence of Certain Changes or Events. | 35 | ||
SECTION 4.09 |
Absence of Litigation. | 35 | ||
SECTION 4.10 |
Employee Benefit Plans. | 35 | ||
SECTION 4.11 |
Labor Matters. | 37 | ||
SECTION 4.12 |
Information Supplied. | 37 | ||
SECTION 4.13 |
Property and Leases. | 38 | ||
SECTION 4.14 |
Intellectual Property. | 41 | ||
SECTION 4.15 |
Taxes. | 41 |
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SECTION 4.16 |
Environmental Matters | 44 | ||
SECTION 4.17 |
Material Contracts. | 45 | ||
SECTION 4.18 |
Brokers. | 47 | ||
SECTION 4.19 |
Opinion of Financial Advisor. | 47 | ||
SECTION 4.20 |
Insurance. | 48 | ||
SECTION 4.21 |
Interested Party Transactions. | 48 | ||
SECTION 4.22 |
Investment Company Act of 1940. | 48 | ||
ARTICLE V REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF BUYER PARTIES | 49 | |||
SECTION 5.01 |
Corporate Organization. | 49 | ||
SECTION 5.02 |
Ownership of MergerCo and Merger Partnership; No Prior Activities. | 49 | ||
SECTION 5.03 |
Corporate Organization. | 50 | ||
SECTION 5.04 |
No Conflict; Required Filings and Consents. | 50 | ||
SECTION 5.05 |
Information Supplied. | 51 | ||
SECTION 5.06 |
Absence of Litigation. | 51 | ||
SECTION 5.07 |
Required Financing; Guarantee. | 52 | ||
SECTION 5.08 |
No Ownership of Company Capital Stock. | 52 | ||
SECTION 5.09 |
Brokers. | 53 | ||
ARTICLE VI CONDUCT OF BUSINESS PENDING THE MERGERS | 53 | |||
SECTION 6.01 |
Conduct of Business by Company Parties Pending the Mergers. | 53 | ||
SECTION 6.02 |
Other Actions. | 57 | ||
ARTICLE VII ADDITIONAL AGREEMENTS | 57 | |||
SECTION 7.01 |
Proxy Statement; Other Filings. | 57 | ||
SECTION 7.02 |
Company Stockholders’ Meeting. | 58 | ||
SECTION 7.03 |
Access to Information; Confidentiality. | 58 | ||
SECTION 7.04 |
No Solicitation of Transactions. | 59 | ||
SECTION 7.05 |
Employee Benefits Matters. | 61 | ||
SECTION 7.06 |
Directors’ and Officers’ Indemnification and Insurance. | 63 | ||
SECTION 7.07 |
Further Action; Reasonable Efforts. | 65 | ||
SECTION 7.08 |
Transfer Taxes. | 66 | ||
SECTION 7.09 |
Public Announcements. | 66 | ||
SECTION 7.10 |
Cooperation with Financing. | 67 | ||
SECTION 7.11 |
Resignations | 68 | ||
SECTION 7.12 |
Takeover Statutes | 68 | ||
SECTION 7.13 |
Delisting and Deregistering of Securities | 69 | ||
SECTION 7.14 |
Tax Matters | 69 | ||
SECTION 7.15 |
Notices of Certain Events | 69 | ||
ARTICLE VIII CONDITIONS TO THE MERGERS | 70 | |||
SECTION 8.01 |
Conditions to the Obligations of Each Party. | 70 | ||
SECTION 8.02 |
Conditions to the Obligations of the Buyer Parties. | 70 | ||
SECTION 8.03 |
Conditions to the Obligations of the Company Parties. | 72 | ||
ARTICLE IX TERMINATION, AMENDMENT AND WAIVER | 72 | |||
SECTION 9.01 |
Termination. | 72 | ||
SECTION 9.02 |
Effect of Termination. | 74 |
ii
SECTION 9.03 |
Fees and Expenses. | 75 | ||
SECTION 9.04 |
Escrow. | 76 | ||
SECTION 9.05 |
Waiver. | 77 | ||
ARTICLE X GENERAL PROVISIONS | 77 | |||
SECTION 10.01 |
Non-Survival of Representations and Warranties. | 77 | ||
SECTION 10.02 |
Notices. | 77 | ||
SECTION 10.03 |
Severability. | 78 | ||
SECTION 10.04 |
Amendment. | 79 | ||
SECTION 10.05 |
Entire Agreement; Assignment. | 79 | ||
SECTION 10.06 |
Remedies. | 79 | ||
SECTION 10.07 |
Specific Performance. | 79 | ||
SECTION 10.08 |
Parties in Interest. | 80 | ||
SECTION 10.09 |
Governing Law; Forum. | 80 | ||
SECTION 10.10 |
Headings. | 80 | ||
SECTION 10.11 |
Counterparts. | 80 | ||
SECTION 10.12 |
Waiver. | 80 | ||
SECTION 10.13 |
Waiver of Jury Trial. | 81 |
iii
EXHIBITS
Exhibit A | Form of Annex A (Terms of Class A Preferred Units) to Third Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of CarrAmerica Realty, L.P. | |
Exhibit B | Form of Annex A (Terms of Class A Preferred Units) to Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of Xxxx Realty Holdings, L.P. (as amended) | |
Exhibit C | Knowledge of the Company and Company Parties | |
Exhibit D | Knowledge of Parent, MergerCo and the Merger Partnerships | |
Exhibit E | Form of Articles Supplementary for Surviving Corporation Series E Preferred Stock | |
Exhibit F | Form of Xxxxx & Xxxxxxx L.L.P. Tax Opinion (and Company tax representations letter) |
iv
AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER
THIS AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER, dated as of March 5, 2006 (this “Agreement”), is made and entered into by and among CarrAmerica Realty Corporation, a Maryland corporation (the “Company”), CarrAmerica Realty Operating Partnership, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (the “Operating Partnership”), Xxxx Realty Holdings, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (“CRH”), CarrAmerica Realty, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (“CAR” and together with CRH, the “DownREIT Partnerships” and the DownREIT Partnerships together with the Company and the Operating Partnership, the “Company Parties”), Nantucket Parent LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Parent”), Nantucket Acquisition Inc., a Maryland corporation and wholly owned subsidiary of Parent (“MergerCo”), Nantucket CRH Acquisition L.P. , a Delaware limited partnership whose general partner is MergerCo (“CRH Merger Partnership”) and Nantucket CAR Acquisition L.P., a Delaware limited partnership whose general partner is MergerCo (“CAR Merger Partnership” and together with CRH Merger Partnership, the “Merger Partnerships” and the Merger Partnerships together with Parent and MergerCo, the “Buyer Parties”).
WHEREAS, the parties wish to effect a business combination through a merger of the Company with and into MergerCo (the “Company Merger”) on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement and in accordance with the Maryland General Corporation Law (the “MGCL”);
WHEREAS, the parties also wish to effect (a) a merger of CRH Merger Partnership with and into CRH (the “CRH Partnership Merger”), on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement and in accordance with Section 17-211 of the Delaware Revised Uniform Limited Partnership Act, as amended (“DRULPA”), and (b) a merger of CAR Merger Partnership with and into CAR (the “CAR Partnership Merger” and together with the CRH Partnership Merger, the “Partnership Mergers” and the Partnership Mergers together with the Company Merger, the “Mergers”), on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement and in accordance with Section 17-211 of DRULPA;
WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Company Board”) has (i) approved this Agreement, the Company Merger and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement and declared that the Company Merger and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement are advisable and in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein, (ii) directed that this Agreement, the Company Merger and the other transactions contemplated hereby be submitted for consideration at a meeting of the Company’s stockholders and (iii) recommended the approval of this Agreement, the Company Merger and the other transactions contemplated hereby by the Company’s stockholders;
WHEREAS, the Operating Partnership, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, as the sole general partner of CRH, has approved this Agreement and the CRH Partnership Merger and deemed it advisable and in the best interests of CRH and the limited partners of CRH to enter into this Agreement and to consummate the CRH Partnership Merger on the terms and conditions set forth herein;
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WHEREAS, CarrAmerica Realty GP Holdings, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Operating Partnership (the “CAR General Partner”), as the sole general partner of CAR, has approved this Agreement and the CAR Partnership Merger and deemed it advisable and in the best interests of CAR and the limited partners of CAR to enter into this Agreement and to consummate the CAR Partnership Merger on the terms and conditions set forth herein;
WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of MergerCo has approved this Agreement and the Company Merger and declared that this Agreement and the Company Merger are advisable and in the best interests of MergerCo and its stockholder on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein;
WHEREAS, MergerCo, as the sole general partner of the CRH Merger Partnership and the CAR Merger Partnership, has approved this Agreement and the Partnership Mergers and deemed it advisable and in the best interests of the Merger Partnerships and their limited partners to enter into this Agreement and to consummate the Partnership Mergers on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein;
WHEREAS, the parties intend that for federal, and applicable state, income tax purposes the Company Merger will be treated as a taxable sale by the Company of all of the Company’s assets to MergerCo in exchange for the Company Common Share Merger Consideration and the Series E Preferred Share Merger Consideration provided for herein to be provided to the stockholders of the Company and the assumption of all of the Company’s liabilities, followed by a distribution of such Merger Consideration to the stockholders of the Company in liquidation pursuant to Section 331 and Section 562 of the Code, and that this Agreement shall constitute a “plan of liquidation” of the Company for federal income tax purposes; and
WHEREAS, the parties hereto desire to make certain representations, warranties, covenants and agreements in connection with the Mergers, and also to prescribe various conditions to such transactions.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and the mutual covenants and agreements herein contained, and intending to be legally bound hereby, the parties hereto hereby agree as follows:
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS
SECTION 1.01 Definitions. For purposes of this Agreement:
“Acquisition Proposal” means any proposal or offer for, whether in one transaction or a series of related transactions, any (a) merger, consolidation, share exchange, business combination or similar transaction involving the Company, the Operating Partnership or any other Subsidiary that would constitute a “significant subsidiary” (as defined in Rule 1-02 of Regulation S-X, but substituting 20% for references to 10% therein), (b) sale or other disposition, directly or indirectly, by merger, consolidation, share exchange, business combination or any similar transaction, of any assets of the Company or the Subsidiaries representing 20% or more of the consolidated assets of the Company and the Subsidiaries,
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(c) issue, sale or other disposition by the Company or any Subsidiary of (including by way of merger, consolidation, share exchange, business combination or any similar transaction) securities (or options, rights or warrants to purchase, or securities convertible into, such securities) representing 20% or more of the votes associated with the outstanding voting equity securities of the Company or 20% or more of the equity interests or general partner interests in the Operating Partnership, either DownREIT Partnership or the CAR General Partner (provided that the reference to the DownREIT Partnerships and the CAR General Partner in this clause (c) shall not be applicable for purposes of Section 9.03(b)(i)), (d) tender offer or exchange offer in which any Person or “group” (as such term is defined under the Exchange Act) shall acquire beneficial ownership (as such term is defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act), or the right to acquire beneficial ownership, of 20% or more of the votes associated with the outstanding Company Common Shares or outstanding equity interests or general partner interests of the Operating Partnership, either DownREIT Partnership or the CAR General Partner (provided that the reference to the DownREIT Partnerships and the CAR General Partner in this clause (d) shall not be applicable for purposes of Section 9.03(b)(i)), (e) recapitalization, restructuring, liquidation, dissolution or other similar type of transaction with respect to the Company, the Operating Partnership or either DownREIT Partnership, or (f) transaction which is similar in form, substance or purpose to any of the foregoing transactions; provided, however, that the term “Acquisition Proposal” shall not include (i) the Mergers or any of the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement or (ii) any merger, consolidation, business combination, reorganization, recapitalization or similar transaction solely among the Company and one or more Subsidiaries or among Subsidiaries.
“Action” means any claim, action, suit, proceeding, arbitration, mediation or investigation.
“Affiliate” or “affiliate” of a specified person means a person who, directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with, such specified person.
“beneficial owner” has the meaning ascribed to such term under Rule 13d-3(a) of the Exchange Act.
“Business Day” or “business day” means any day on which the principal offices of the SEC in Washington, D.C. are open to accept filings, or, in the case of determining a date when any payment is due, any day (other than a Saturday or Sunday) on which banks are not required or authorized to close in the City of New York.
“CAR Class A Preferred Unit” means a “Class A Preferred Unit” of the CAR Surviving Partnership as defined in the form of Annex A attached as Exhibit A hereto, which shall be annexed to and made part of the CAR Partnership Agreement immediately prior to the CAR Merger Effective Time.
“Certificate” or “Certificates” means any certificate evidencing Company Common Shares or Company Series E Preferred Shares.
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“Company Bylaws” means the Third Amended and Restated By-Laws of CarrAmerica Realty Corporation adopted on July 31, 2003, as amended.
“Company Charter” means the Amendment and Restatement of Articles of Incorporation of CarrAmerica Realty Corporation, as amended.
“Company Common Shares” means shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Company.
“Company Material Adverse Effect” means, with respect to the Company, an effect, event, development or change that, individually or in the aggregate with all other effects, events, developments or changes, is materially adverse to the assets, business, results of operations or financial condition of the Company, the Subsidiaries and the JV Entities, taken as a whole, other than any effect, event, development or change arising out of or resulting from (a) changes in conditions in the U.S. or global economy or capital or financial markets generally, including changes in interest or exchange rates, (b) changes in general legal, tax, regulatory, political or business conditions that, in each case, generally affect the geographic regions or industries in which the Company, the Subsidiaries and the JV Entities conduct their business (unless, and only to the extent, such effect, event, development or change affects the Company, the Subsidiaries and the JV Entities in a disproportionate manner as compared to other persons or participants in the industries in which the Company, the Subsidiaries and the JV Entities conduct their business and that operate in the geographic regions affected by such effect, event, development or change), (c) changes in GAAP, (d) the negotiation, execution, announcement or performance of this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby or the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including the impact thereof on relationships, contractual or otherwise, with tenants, suppliers, lenders, investors, venture partners or employees, (e) acts of war, armed hostilities, sabotage or terrorism, or any escalation or worsening of any such acts of war, armed hostilities, sabotage or terrorism threatened or underway as of the date of this Agreement (unless, and only to the extent, such effect, event, development or change affects the Company, the Subsidiaries and the JV Entities in a disproportionate manner as compared to other persons or participants in the industries in which the Company, the Subsidiaries and the JV Entities conduct their business and that operate in the geographic regions affected by such effect, event, development or change, (f) earthquakes, hurricanes or other natural disasters (unless, and only to the extent, such effect, event, development or change affects the Company, the Subsidiaries and the JV Entities, in a disproportionate manner as compared to other persons or participants in the industries in which the Company, the Subsidiaries and the JV Entities conduct their business and that operate in the geographic regions affected by such effect, event, development or change), or (g) any action taken by the Company or the Subsidiaries at the request or with the consent of any of the Buyer Parties; provided, however, that with respect to references to Company Material Adverse Effect in the representations and warranties set forth in Section 4.05, the exceptions set forth in clauses (d) and (g) will not apply. The parties agree that the mere fact of a decrease in the market price of the Company Common Shares shall not, in and of itself, constitute a Company Material Adverse Effect, but any effect, event, development or change underlying such decrease shall be considered in determining whether there has been a Company Material Adverse Effect.
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“Contracts” means any contracts, agreements, licenses, notes, bonds, mortgages, indentures, commitments or other instruments or obligations, other than Company Leases and Ground Leases.
“control” (including the terms “controlled by” and “under common control with”) means the possession, directly or indirectly of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of a person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, as trustee or executor, by contract or credit arrangement or otherwise.
“Credit Agreement” means the Amended and Restated Revolving Credit Agreement, dated as of June 30, 2004 among the Operating Partnership, as borrower, the Company, as guarantor, CAR, as guarantor, JPMC, as Bank and as Administrative Agent for the Banks, X.X. Xxxxxx Xxxxx Securities Inc., as Lead Arranger and Sole Bookrunner, Bank of America, N.A., as Syndication Agent, PNC Bank, National Association, as Documentation Agent, Wachovia Bank, N.A., as Documentation Agent, Xxxxx Fargo Bank, National Association, as Xxxxxxxxxxxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxxx, XX, Xxx Xxxx Branch, as Co-Agent, National Australia Bank Limited, New York Branch, as Co-Agent, US Bank, as Co-Agent.
“CRH Class A Preferred Unit” means a “Class A Preferred Unit” of the CRH Surviving Partnership as defined in the form of Annex A attached as Exhibit B hereto, which shall be annexed to and made part of the CRH Partnership Agreement immediately prior to the CRH Merger Effective Time.
“Disclosure Schedule” means the disclosure schedule delivered by the Company to Parent concurrently with the execution of this Agreement for which the disclosure of any fact or item in any Section of such disclosure schedule shall, should the existence of such fact or item be relevant to any other section, be deemed to be disclosed with respect to that other Section so long as the relevance of such disclosure to such other Section is reasonably apparent from the nature of such disclosure. Nothing in the Disclosure Schedule is intended to broaden the scope of any representation or warranty of the Company or the Operating Partnership made herein.
“Environmental Laws” means any Law relating to (i) releases or threatened releases of Hazardous Substances; (ii) the manufacture, handling, transport, use, treatment, storage or disposal of Hazardous Substances; or (iii) pollution or protection of the environment, health, safety or natural resources.
“Existing Units” means the CRH LP Units and the CAR LP Units.
“GAAP” means generally accepted accounting principles as applied in the United States.
“Governmental Authority” means any United States national, federal, state, provincial, municipal or local government, governmental, regulatory or administrative authority, agency, instrumentality or commission or any court, tribunal, or judicial or arbitral body or self-regulated entity.
“Hazardous Substances” means (i) those substances defined in or regulated under the following United States federal statutes and their state counterparts, as each has been
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amended from time to time, and all regulations thereunder including the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act, the Clean Water Act, the Safe Drinking Water Act, the Atomic Energy Act, and the Clean Air Act; (ii) petroleum and petroleum products, including crude oil and any fractions thereof; (iii) polychlorinated biphenyls, asbestos, asbestos containing materials, toxic molds, ureaformaldehyde insulation and radon; and (iv) any other contaminant, substance, material or waste regulated pursuant to any Environmental Law.
“Indebtedness” means, without duplication, (i) indebtedness for borrowed money (excluding any interest thereon), secured or unsecured, (ii) reimbursement obligations under any letters of credit or similar instruments, (iii) capitalized lease obligations, (iv) obligations under interest rate cap, swap, collar or similar transactions or currency hedging transactions (valued at the termination value thereof), and (v) guarantees of any Indebtedness of the foregoing of any other person; provided that, for clarification, Indebtedness shall not include “trade debt.”
“Intellectual Property” means all United States, foreign and international intellectual property, including all (i) patents, patent applications and invention registrations of any type, (ii) trademarks, service marks, trade dress, logos, trade names, corporate names and other source identifiers, and registrations and applications for registration thereof, (iii) copyrightable works, copyrights, and registrations and applications for registration thereof, and (iv) confidential and proprietary information, including trade secrets and know-how.
“knowledge of the Company” means the actual knowledge of those individuals listed on Exhibit C.
“knowledge of Parent” means the actual knowledge of those individuals listed on Exhibit D.
“Law” means any United States national, federal, state, provincial, municipal or local statute, law, ordinance, regulation, rule, code, executive order, injunction, judgment, decree or other order.
“Liens” means with respect to any asset (including any security), any mortgage, claim, lien, pledge, charge, option, right of first refusal or offer, security interest or encumbrance of any kind in respect to such asset.
“Operating Partnership Agreement” means that certain Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of the Operating Partnership, dated as of June 30, 2004.
“Parent Material Adverse Effect” means, with respect to Parent, an effect, event, development or change that, individually or in the aggregate with all other effects, events, developments or changes, is materially adverse to the assets, business, results of operations or financial condition of the Parent and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, other than any effect, event, development or change arising out of or resulting from (a) changes in conditions in the U.S. or global economy or capital or financial markets generally, including changes in interest or exchange rates, (b) changes in general legal, tax, regulatory, political or business conditions that, in each case, generally affect the geographic regions or industries in which Parent and its subsidiaries conduct their business (unless, and only to the extent, such effect, event,
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development or change affects Parent and its subsidiaries in a disproportionate manner as compared to other persons or participants in the industries in which Parent and its subsidiaries conduct their business and that operated in the geographic regions affected by such effect, event, development or change), (c) changes in GAAP, (d) the negotiation, execution, announcement or performance of this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby or the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including the impact thereof on relationships, contractual or otherwise, with tenants, suppliers, lenders, investors, venture partners or employees, (e) acts of war, armed hostilities, sabotage or terrorism, or any escalation or worsening of any such acts of war, armed hostilities, sabotage or terrorism threatened or underway as of the date of this Agreement (unless, and only to the extent, such effect, event, development or change affects Parent and its subsidiaries in a disproportionate manner as compared to other persons or participants in the industries in which Parent and its subsidiaries conduct their business and that operate in the geographic regions affected by such effect, event, development or change), (f) earthquakes, hurricanes or other natural disasters (unless, and only to the extent, such effect, event, development or change affects Parent and its subsidiaries, in a disproportionate manner as compared to other persons or participants in the industries in which Parent and its subsidiaries conduct their business and that operate in the geographic regions affected by such effect, event, development or change), or (g) any action taken by Parent and its subsidiaries at the request or with the consent of any of the Buyer Parties; provided, however, that with respect to references to Parent Material Adverse Effect in the representations and warranties set forth in Section 5.04, the exceptions set forth in clauses (d) and (g) will not apply.
“Permitted Liens” means (i) Liens for Taxes not yet delinquent and Liens for Taxes being contested in good faith and for which there are adequate reserves on the financial statements of the Company (if such reserves are required pursuant to GAAP); (ii) inchoate mechanics’ and materialmen’s Liens for construction in progress; (iii) inchoate workmen’s, repairmen’s, warehousemen’s and carriers’ Liens arising in the ordinary course of business of the Company or any Subsidiary; (iv) with respect to real property, zoning restrictions, survey exceptions, utility easements, rights of way and similar Liens that are imposed by any Governmental Authority having jurisdiction thereon or otherwise are typical for the applicable property type and locality and that do not interfere materially with the current use of such property (assuming its continued use in the manner in which it is currently used) or, with respect to unimproved or vacant real property, interfere materially with the intended use of such property; and (v) with respect to real property, any title exception disclosed in any Company Title Insurance Policy provided or made available to Parent (whether material or immaterial), Liens and obligations arising under the Material Contracts (including but not limited to any Lien securing mortgage debt disclosed in the Disclosure Schedule), the Company Leases and any other Lien that does not interfere materially with the current use of such property (assuming its continued use in the manner in which it is currently used) or materially adversely affect the value or marketability of such property and/or (vi) other Liens being contested in the ordinary course of business in good faith; provided an appropriate reserve has been established therefor on the Company’s balance sheet for the year ended December 31, 2005.
“person” or “Person” means an individual, corporation, partnership, limited partnership, limited liability company, syndicate, person (including a “person” as defined in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act), trust, association or entity or government, political subdivision, agency or instrumentality of a government.
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“Representative” of a Person means any officer, trustee, director, Affiliate, employee, investment banker, financial advisor, financing source, attorney, accountant, consultant, broker, finder or other agent or representative of such Person.
“Senior Notes” means the following debt securities for which the Operating Partnership is the primary obligor: (a) the 7.375% notes due in 2007 ($125,000,000 original principal amount); (b) the 5.261% notes due in 2007 ($50,000,000 original principal amount); (c) the 5.25% notes due in 2007 ($175,000,000 original principal amount); (d) the 6.875% notes due in 2008 ($100,000,000 original principal amount); (e) the 3.625% notes due in 2009 ($225,000,000 original principal amount); (f) the 5.5% notes due in 2010 ($250,000,000 original principal amount); (g) the 5.125% notes due in 2011 ($200,000,000 original principal amount); and (h) the 7.125% notes due in 2012 ($400,000,000 original principal amount).
“subsidiary” or “subsidiaries” of the Company, Parent or any other person means a corporation, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture or other organization of which: (a) such party or any other subsidiary of such party is a general partner; (b) voting power to elect a majority of the board of directors or others performing similar functions with respect to such organization is held by such party or by any one or more of such party’s subsidiaries; or (c) at least 50% of the equity interests is controlled by such party.
“Superior Proposal” means a written Acquisition Proposal (on its most recently amended and modified terms, if amended and modified) made by a Third Party (i) that relates to more than 50% of the voting power of the capital stock of the Company or all or substantially all of the assets of the Company and the Subsidiaries taken as a whole, (ii) which the Company Board determines in its good faith judgment (after consultation with its financial advisor and after taking into account all of the terms and conditions of the Acquisition Proposal) to be more favorable from a financial point of view to the Company’s shareholders (in their capacities as shareholders) than the Company Merger (including any alterations to this Agreement agreed to in writing by Parent in response thereto), (iii) the material conditions to the consummation of which are all reasonably capable of being satisfied in the judgment of the Company Board, and (iv) for which financing, to the extent required, is then committed or, in the judgment of the Company Board, is reasonably likely to be available.
“Taxes” means any and all taxes, charges, fees, levies and other assessments, including income, gross receipts, excise, property, sales, withholding (including dividend withholding and withholding required pursuant to Sections 1445 and 1446 of the Code), social security, occupation, use, service, license, payroll, franchise, transfer and recording taxes, windfall or other profits, capital stock, employment, worker’s compensation, unemployment or compensation taxes, fees and charges, including estimated excise, ad valorem, stamp, value added, capital gains, duty or custom taxes, imposed by the United States or any taxing authority (domestic or foreign), whether computed on a separate, consolidated, unitary, combined or any other basis, and similar charges of any kind (together with any and all interest, penalties, additions to tax and additional amounts imposed with respect thereto) imposed by any government or taxing authority.
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(a) the following terms have the meaning set forth in the Sections set forth below:
Defined Term |
Location of Definition | |
2006 Budget |
§ 6.01(j) | |
Agreement |
Preamble | |
Amended CAR Partnership Agreement |
§ 2.02(d) | |
Amended CRH Partnership Agreement |
§ 2.02(c) | |
Articles of Merger |
§ 2.03(d) | |
Blue Sky Laws |
§ 4.05(b) | |
Buyer Parties |
Preamble | |
Bylaws |
§ 2.02(b) | |
CAR |
Preamble | |
CAR Cash Merger Consideration |
§ 3.02(b) | |
CAR Form of Election |
§ 3.02(g)(i) | |
CAR General Partner |
Recitals | |
CAR LP Unit |
§ 3.02(b) | |
CAR Merger Consideration |
§ 3.02(b) | |
CAR Merger Effective Time |
§ 2.03(b) | |
CAR Merger Partnership |
Preamble | |
CAR Partnership Agreement |
§ 4.03(i) | |
CAR Partnership Merger |
Recitals | |
CAR Partnership Merger Certificate |
§ 2.03(b) | |
CAR Surviving Partnership |
§ 2.01(b) | |
CAR Unit Election |
§ 3.02(g) | |
Capital Expenditures |
§ 6.01(j) | |
CERCLA |
§ 4.16(a) | |
Charter |
§ 2.02(a) | |
Change in Recommendation |
§ 7.04(c) | |
Claim |
§ 7.06(a) | |
Closing |
§ 2.04 | |
Closing Date |
§ 2.04 | |
Code |
§ 4.10(b) | |
Company |
Preamble | |
Company Board |
Recitals | |
Company Common Share Merger Consideration |
§ 3.01(c) | |
Company Employees |
§ 7.05(b) | |
Company Expenses |
§ 9.03(e) | |
Company Financial Advisor |
§ 4.18 | |
Company Intellectual Property |
§ 4.14 | |
Company Leases |
§ 4.13(f) | |
Company Merger |
Recitals | |
Company Merger Effective Time |
§ 2.03(d) | |
Company Parties |
Preamble | |
Company Option Plans |
§ 3.01(e) | |
Company Properties |
§ 4.13(a) | |
Company Property |
§ 4.13(a) | |
Company Recommendation |
§ 7.02 | |
Company Restricted Shares |
§ 3.01(f) |
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Defined Term |
Location of Definition | |
Company Restricted Share Units |
§ 3.01(g) | |
Company SEC Reports |
§ 4.07(a) | |
Company Share Options |
§ 3.01(e) | |
Company Series E Preferred Shares |
§ 4.03(a) | |
Company Stockholder Approval |
§ 4.04(a) | |
Company Stockholders’ Meeting |
§ 7.02 | |
Company Termination Fee |
§ 9.03(d) | |
Company Title Insurance Policy |
§ 4.13(d) | |
Confidentiality Agreement |
§ 7.03(b) | |
Continuing Employees |
§ 7.05(b) | |
CRH |
Preamble | |
CRH Form of Election |
§ 3.02(f)(i) | |
CRH Cash Merger Consideration |
§ 3.02(a) | |
CRH LP Unit |
§ 3.02(a) | |
CRH Merger Consideration |
§ 3.02(a) | |
CRH Merger Effective Time |
§ 2.03(a) | |
CRH Merger Partnership |
Preamble | |
CRH Partnership Agreement |
§ 4.03(j) | |
CRH Partnership Merger |
Recitals | |
CRH Partnership Merger Certificate |
§ 2.03(a) | |
CRH Surviving Partnership |
§ 2.01(a) | |
CRH Unit Election |
§ 3.02(f) | |
Damages Amount |
§ 9.04(a) | |
Debt Commitment Letter |
§ 5.07(b) | |
Debt Financing |
§ 5.07(b) | |
Debt Offers |
§ 3.07(a) | |
Delaware Courts |
§ 10.09 | |
DownREIT Partnerships |
Preamble | |
DRIP |
§ 3.06 | |
DRULPA |
Recitals | |
DSOS |
§ 2.03(a) | |
Election Date |
§ 3.02(f)(i) | |
End Date |
§ 9.01(b) | |
Environmental Permits |
§ 4.16(a) | |
Equity Funding Letter |
§ 5.07(b) | |
ERISA |
§ 4.10(a) | |
ERISA Affiliate |
§ 4.10(g) | |
Exchange Act |
§ 4.05(b) | |
Exchange Fund |
§ 3.03(a) | |
Expenses |
§ 9.03(a) | |
Financing |
§ 5.07(b) | |
Financing Commitments |
§ 5.07(b) | |
Former Equityholder |
§ 3.03(c) | |
Governmental Order |
§ 9.01(c) | |
Ground Lease |
§ 4.13(g) |
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Defined Term |
Location of Definition | |
Guarantee |
§ 5.07(c) | |
Guarantor |
§ 5.07(c) | |
HSR Act |
§ 4.05(b) | |
Incentive Plan |
§ 3.01(f) | |
Indemnified Parties |
§ 7.06(a) | |
IPO Company Properties |
§ 4.13(d) | |
IRS |
§ 4.10(a) | |
JPMC |
§ 8.02(f) | |
JV Entities |
§ 4.01(c) | |
Lenders |
§ 5.07(b) | |
Liquidation Payment Date |
§ 2.09 | |
Material Company Leases |
§ 4.13(f) | |
Material Contracts |
§ 4.17 | |
Merger Consideration |
§ 3.02(b) | |
Merger Partnerships |
Preamble | |
MergerCo |
Preamble | |
MergerCo Preferred Shares |
§ 3.01(d) | |
Mergers |
Recitals | |
MGCL |
Recitals | |
Non-Qualified Account Plans |
§ 7.05(d) | |
NYSE |
§ 4.05(b) | |
Offer Documents |
§ 3.07(c) | |
Operating Partnership |
Preamble | |
Option Merger Consideration |
§ 3.01(e) | |
Organizational Documents |
§ 4.02 | |
Other Filings |
§ 4.12 | |
Parent |
Preamble | |
Parent Expenses |
§ 9.03(b) | |
Participation Agreement |
§ 4.13(j) | |
Participation Interest |
§ 4.13(j) | |
Participation Party |
§ 4.13(j) | |
Partnerships Merger Advisor |
§ 4.18 | |
Partnership Mergers |
Recitals | |
Partnership Mergers Effective Time |
§ 2.03(c) | |
Paying Agent |
§ 3.03(a) | |
Permits |
§ 4.06(a) | |
Plans |
§ 4.10(a) | |
Post-IPO Company Properties |
§ 4.13(d) | |
Post-Signing Returns |
§ 7.14(b) | |
Proxy Statement |
§ 4.05(b) | |
Property Restrictions |
§ 4.13(a) | |
Qualifying Income |
§ 9.04(a) | |
REIT |
§ 2.08 | |
SDAT |
§ 2.03(d) | |
SEC |
§ 4.05(b) |
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Defined Term |
Location of Definition | |
Section 16 |
§ 7.05(c) | |
Securities Act |
§ 4.05(b) | |
Series E Preferred Share Merger Consideration |
§ 3.01(d) | |
Subsidiaries |
§ 4.01(b) | |
Surviving Corporation |
§ 2.01(c) | |
SVUs |
§ 3.01(h) | |
SVU Settlement Amount |
§ 3.01(h) | |
Tax Protection Agreements |
§ 4.15 | |
Tax Returns |
§ 4.15(a) | |
Termination Date |
§ 9.01 | |
Third Party |
§ 4.13(h) | |
Transfer Taxes |
§ 7.08 | |
WARN |
§ 4.11(b) |
SECTION 1.02 Interpretation and Rules of Construction.
In this Agreement, except to the extent otherwise provided or that the context otherwise requires:
(a) when a reference is made in this Agreement to an Article, Section, Exhibit or Schedule, such reference is to an Article or Section of, or an Exhibit or Schedule to, this Agreement unless otherwise indicated;
(b) the table of contents and headings for this Agreement are for reference purposes only and do not affect in any way the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement;
(c) whenever the words “include,” “includes” or “including” are used in this Agreement, they are deemed to be followed by the words “without limitation”;
(d) the words “hereof,” “herein” and “hereunder” and words of similar import, when used in this Agreement, refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular provision of this Agreement;
(e) references to any statute, rule or regulation are to the statute, rule or regulation as amended, modified, supplemented or replaced from time to time (and, in the case of statutes, include any rules and regulations promulgated under the statute) and to any section of any statute, rule or regulation include any successor to the section;
(f) all terms defined in this Agreement have the defined meanings when used in any certificate or other document made or delivered pursuant hereto, unless otherwise defined therein;
(g) the definitions contained in this Agreement are applicable to the singular as well as the plural forms of such terms;
(h) references to a person are also to its successors and permitted assigns; and
(i) the use of “or” is not intended to be exclusive unless expressly indicated otherwise.
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ARTICLE II
THE MERGERS
SECTION 2.01 Mergers.
(a) Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, and in accordance with Section 17-211 of the DRULPA, at the CRH Merger Effective Time, CRH Merger Partnership and CRH shall consummate the CRH Partnership Merger pursuant to which (i) CRH Merger Partnership shall be merged with and into CRH and the separate existence of CRH Merger Partnership shall thereupon cease and (ii) CRH shall be the surviving limited partnership in the CRH Partnership Merger (the “CRH Surviving Partnership”). The CRH Partnership Merger shall have the effects specified in Section 17-211 of the DRULPA.
(b) Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, and in accordance with Section 17-211 of the DRULPA, at the CAR Merger Effective Time, CAR Merger Partnership and CAR shall consummate the CAR Partnership Merger pursuant to which (i) CAR Merger Partnership shall be merged with and into CAR and the separate existence of CAR Merger Partnership shall thereupon cease and (ii) CAR shall be the surviving limited partnership in the CAR Partnership Merger (the “CAR Surviving Partnership”). The CAR Partnership Merger shall have the effects specified in Section 17-211 of the DRULPA.
(c) Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, and in accordance with the MGCL, at the Company Merger Effective Time, MergerCo and the Company shall consummate the Company Merger pursuant to which (i) the Company shall be merged with and into MergerCo and the separate existence of the Company shall thereupon cease and (ii) MergerCo shall be the surviving corporation in the Company Merger (the “Surviving Corporation”). The Company Merger shall have the effects specified in the MGCL, including Section 3-114 thereof.
SECTION 2.02 Charter and Bylaws; Partnership Agreements.
(a) The Charter of MergerCo as in effect immediately prior to the Company Merger Effective Time, shall be the Charter of the Surviving Corporation until thereafter amended as provided therein or by law (including the Articles Supplementary classifying the MergerCo Preferred Shares, the “Charter”).
(b) The bylaws of MergerCo, as in effect immediately prior to the Company Merger Effective Time, shall be the bylaws of the Surviving Corporation until thereafter amended as provided by law, by such Charter or by such bylaws (the “Bylaws”).
(c) Prior to the CRH Merger Effective Time, the Operating Partnership, as the general partner of CRH, shall cause the CRH Partnership Agreement to be amended to annex to such agreement Annex A in the form of Exhibit B hereto (as so amended, the “Amended CRH Partnership Agreement”). From and after the CRH Merger Effective Time, the certificate of limited partnership of CRH, as in effect immediately prior to the CRH Merger Effective Time,
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shall be the certificate of limited partnership of the CRH Surviving Partnership until thereafter amended as provided by law. From and after the CRH Merger Effective Time, the Amended CRH Partnership Agreement shall be the partnership agreement of the CRH Surviving Partnership until thereafter amended as provided therein or by law.
(d) Prior to the CAR Merger Effective Time, the Operating Partnership shall cause the CAR General Partner, as the general partner of CAR, to cause the CAR Partnership Agreement to be amended to annex to such agreement Annex A in the form of Exhibit A hereto (as so amended, the “Amended CAR Partnership Agreement”). From and after the CAR Merger Effective Time, the certificate of limited partnership of CAR, as in effect immediately prior to the CAR Merger Effective Time, shall be the certificate of limited partnership of the CAR Surviving Partnership until thereafter amended as provided by law. From and after the CAR Merger Effective Time, the Amended CAR Partnership Agreement shall be the partnership agreement of the CAR Surviving Partnership until thereafter amended as provided therein or by law.
SECTION 2.03 Effective Times.
(a) At the Closing, CRH shall file a certificate of merger in a form that complies with the DRULPA (the “CRH Partnership Merger Certificate”) with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware (the “DSOS”), executed in accordance with the applicable provisions of the DRULPA and shall make all other filings or recordings required under the DRULPA to effect the CRH Partnership Merger. The CRH Partnership Merger shall become effective upon such time as the CRH Partnership Merger Certificate has been filed with the DSOS, or such later time which the parties hereto shall have agreed upon and designated in such filing in accordance with the DRULPA as the effective time of the CRH Partnership Merger (the “CRH Merger Effective Time”).
(b) At the Closing, CAR shall file a certificate of merger in a form that complies with the DRULPA (the “CAR Partnership Merger Certificate”) with the DSOS, executed in accordance with the applicable provisions of the DRULPA and shall make all other filings or recordings required under the DRULPA to effect the CAR Partnership Merger. The CAR Partnership Merger shall become effective upon such time as the CAR Partnership Merger Certificate has been filed with the DSOS, or such later time which the parties hereto shall have agreed upon and designated in such filing in accordance with the DRULPA as the effective time of the CAR Partnership Merger (the “CAR Merger Effective Time”).
(c) The CRH Merger Effective Time and the CAR Merger Effective Time shall occur substantially concurrently (the earlier to occur of the CAR Merger Effective Time and the CRH Merger Effective Time, the “Partnership Mergers Effective Time”).
(d) At the Closing, immediately after the later to occur of the CRH Merger Effective Time and the CAR Merger Effective Time, MergerCo and the Company shall duly execute and file articles of merger with respect to the Company Merger in a form that complies with the MGCL (the “Articles of Merger”) with the State Department of Assessments and Taxation of the State of Maryland (the “SDAT”) in accordance with the MGCL. The Company Merger shall become effective upon such time as the Articles of Merger have been accepted for
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record by the SDAT, or such later time which the parties hereto shall have agreed upon and designated in such filing in accordance with the MGCL as the effective time of the Company Merger but not to exceed thirty (30) days after the Articles of Merger are accepted for record by the SDAT (the “Company Merger Effective Time”).
SECTION 2.04 Closing. Unless this Agreement shall have been terminated in accordance with Section 9.01, the closing of the Mergers (the “Closing”) shall occur as promptly as practicable (but in no event later than the third (3rd ) Business Day) after all of the conditions set forth in Article VIII (other than conditions which by their terms are required to be satisfied or waived at the Closing) shall have been satisfied or waived by the party entitled to the benefit of the same, or at such other time and on a date as agreed to by the parties (the “Closing Date”). The Closing shall take place at the offices of Xxxxx & Xxxxxxx L.L.P., 000 00xx Xxxxxx, X.X., Xxxxxxxxxx, X.X., or at such other place as agreed to by the parties hereto.
SECTION 2.05 Directors and Officers of the Surviving Corporation. The directors of MergerCo immediately prior to the Company Merger Effective Time shall be the directors of the Surviving Corporation and the officers of MergerCo immediately prior to the Company Merger Effective Time shall be the initial officers of the Surviving Corporation, each to hold office in accordance with the Charter and Bylaws of the Surviving Corporation.
SECTION 2.06 CRH Partnership Matters. The general partner of the CRH Surviving Partnership immediately after the CRH Merger Effective Time shall be the Operating Partnership.
SECTION 2.07 CAR Partnership Matters. The general partner of the CAR Surviving Partnership immediately after the CAR Merger Effective Time shall be the CAR General Partner.
SECTION 2.08 Other Transactions. Parent shall have the option, in its sole discretion and without requiring the further consent of any of the Company Parties or the board of directors, stockholders or partners of any Company Parties, upon reasonable notice to the Company, to request that the Company, immediately prior to the Closing, (a) convert or cause the conversion of one or more Subsidiaries that are organized as corporations into limited liability companies and one or more Subsidiaries that are organized as limited partnerships into limited liability companies, on the basis of organizational documents as reasonably requested by Parent, (b) sell or cause to be sold all of the stock, partnership interests or limited liability interests owned, directly or indirectly, by the Company in one or more Subsidiaries at a price designated by Parent, and (c) sell or cause to be sold any of the assets of the Company or one or more Subsidiaries at a price designated by Parent; provided, however, that (i) neither the Company nor any Subsidiary shall be required to take any action in contravention of any Organizational Document or other Material Contract relating to any applicable Subsidiary, (ii) any such actions or transactions shall be contingent upon the receipt by the Company of a written notice from Parent confirming that all of the conditions set forth in Sections 8.01 and 8.02 have been satisfied (or, with respect to Section 8.02, waived) and that the Buyer Parties are prepared to proceed immediately with the Closing and any other evidence reasonably requested by the Company that the Closing will occur (it being understood that in any event the transactions described in clauses (a), (b) and (c) will be deemed to have occurred prior to the Closing), (iii) such actions (or the
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inability to complete such actions) shall not affect or modify in any respect the obligations of the Buyer Parties under this Agreement, including payment of the Merger Consideration, (iv) neither the Company nor any Subsidiary shall be required to take any such action that could adversely affect the classification of the Company as a “real estate investment trust” (a “REIT”) within the meaning of Section 856 of the Code and (v) neither the Company nor any Subsidiary shall be required to take any such action that could result in any United States federal, state or local income Tax being imposed on the limited partners of the DownREIT Partnerships. Parent shall upon request by the Company advance to the Company all reasonable out-of-pocket costs to be incurred by the Company or, promptly upon request by the Company, reimburse the Company for all reasonable out-of-pocket costs incurred by the Company in connection with any actions taken by the Company in accordance with this Section 2.08 (including reasonable fees and expenses of its Representatives). The Buyer Parties shall, on a joint and several basis, indemnify and hold harmless the Company, the Subsidiaries and their Representatives from and against any and all liabilities, losses, damages, claims, costs, expenses, interest, awards, judgments and penalties suffered or incurred by them in connection with or as a result of taking such actions. Without limiting the foregoing, none of the representations, warranties or covenants of the Company Parties shall be deemed to apply to, or deemed breached or violated by, any of the transactions contemplated by this Section 2.08 or required by Parent pursuant to this Section 2.08.
SECTION 2.09 Dissolution and Liquidation of the Surviving Corporation. As promptly as practicable following the Company Merger Effective Time, the Surviving Corporation shall deliver written notice of its election to liquidate and terminate its existence to the holders of the MergerCo Preferred Shares, stating the date and place of payment of the amount distributable to such holders of the MergerCo Preferred Shares in accordance with the terms of the Charter relating to the MergerCo Preferred Shares, which notice will be delivered prior to the payment date stated in the notice (the “Liquidation Payment Date”) in accordance with the terms of the Charter relating to the MergerCo Preferred Shares. On the Liquidation Payment Date, the holders of the MergerCo Preferred Shares will receive distributions from the Surviving Corporation equal to the amounts payable to them upon a liquidation of the Surviving Corporation in accordance with the terms of the Charter relating to the MergerCo Preferred Shares. The Surviving Corporation will undertake dissolution in accordance with the provisions of Subtitle 4 of Title 3 of the MGCL and will file articles of dissolution with the SDAT.
ARTICLE III
EFFECTS OF THE MERGERS
SECTION 3.01 Effects on Shares. At the Company Merger Effective Time, by virtue of the Company Merger and without any action on the part of the holder of Company Common Shares or holders of any shares in MergerCo:
(a) Each share of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of MergerCo issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Company Merger Effective Time shall remain as one issued and outstanding share of common stock of the Surviving Corporation.
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(b) Each Company Common Share that is owned by any Subsidiary or by MergerCo immediately prior to the Company Merger Effective Time shall automatically be canceled and retired and shall cease to exist, and no payment shall be made with respect thereto.
(c) Each Company Common Share issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Company Merger Effective Time (other than shares to be canceled in accordance with Section 3.01(b)) shall automatically be converted into, and canceled in exchange for, the right to receive an amount in cash to be paid by Parent equal to $44.75, without interest (the “Company Common Share Merger Consideration”).
(d) Each Company Series E Preferred Share issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Company Merger Effective Time (other than the Company Series E Shares owned by any Subsidiary or by MergerCo, which shall be automatically cancelled and retired and cease to exist) shall automatically be converted into, and shall be cancelled in exchange for, the right to receive one share of 7.50% Series E Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock, par value $.01 per share (the “MergerCo Preferred Shares”), of the Surviving Corporation, (the “Series E Preferred Share Merger Consideration”). Immediately prior to the Company Merger Effective Time, the terms of the MergerCo Preferred Shares shall be set forth in the articles supplementary of MergerCo, substantially in the form set forth in Exhibit E hereto.
(e) Immediately prior to the Company Merger Effective Time, each outstanding qualified or nonqualified option to purchase Company Common Shares (“Company Share Options”) under any employee or director share option or compensation plan or arrangement of the Company (“Company Option Plans”), shall become fully vested and exercisable (whether or not then vested or subject to any performance condition that has not been satisfied, and regardless of the exercise price thereof). At the Company Merger Effective Time, each Company Share Option not theretofore exercised shall be canceled in exchange for the right to receive a single lump sum cash payment, equal to the product of (i) the number of Company Common Shares subject to such Company Share Option immediately prior to the Company Merger Effective Time, whether or not vested or exercisable, and (ii) the excess, if any, of the Company Common Share Merger Consideration over the exercise price per share of such Company Share Option (the “Option Merger Consideration”) less any applicable Taxes required to be withheld in accordance with Section 3.04 with respect to such payment. If the exercise price per share of any such Company Share Option is equal to or greater than the Company Common Share Merger Consideration, such Company Share Option shall be canceled without any cash payment being made in respect thereof.
(f) The Buyer Parties acknowledge that all restricted share awards (“Company Restricted Shares”) granted pursuant to the 1997 Employee Stock Option and Incentive Plan (the “Incentive Plan”) or otherwise that remain unvested automatically shall become fully vested and free of any forfeiture restrictions immediately prior to the Company Merger Effective Time, and each Company Restricted Share shall be considered an outstanding Company Common Share for all purposes of this Agreement, including the right to receive the Company Common Share Merger Consideration.
(g) The Buyer Parties acknowledge that all restricted share unit and deferred share unit awards (“Company Restricted Share Units”) granted pursuant to the Incentive Plan or
- 17 -
otherwise (including any Company Restricted Share Units previously and additionally credited after the grant date on account of dividend equivalents) automatically shall become fully vested and free of any forfeiture restrictions immediately prior to the Company Merger Effective Time, and each Company Restricted Unit shall be considered an outstanding Company Common Share for all purposes of this Agreement, including the right to receive the Company Common Share Merger Consideration. Payment of the Company Common Share Merger Consideration in respect of any deferred Company Restricted Share Unit shall be performed in accordance with Section 7.05(d).
(h) The Buyer Parties acknowledge that the cash bonus payable pursuant to stock value units awarded in connection with certain awards of Company Restricted Shares and Company Restricted Share Units as set forth in Section 4.03(d) the Disclosure Schedule (the “SVUs”) automatically shall, to the extent not previously vested, become fully vested and free of any forfeiture restrictions immediately prior to the Company Merger Effective Time. The Buyer Parties also acknowledge that any cash dividend equivalent payments as set forth in Section 4.03(e) of the Disclosure Schedule accumulated under and payable in connection with vesting of restricted and deferred share unit awards also automatically shall become fully vested. Parent shall cause the Paying Agent to make, and the Paying Agent shall make, the SVU cash bonus and the accumulated dividend equivalent payments becoming vested under this paragraph out of the Exchange Fund (the aggregate amount of such stock value unit cash bonus and accumulated dividend equivalent payments shall be referred to as the “SVU Settlement Amount”) less any applicable Taxes required to be withheld in accordance with Section 3.04 with respect to such payment.
SECTION 3.02 Effect on Partnership Units.
(a) At the CRH Merger Effective Time, by virtue of the CRH Partnership Merger and without any action on the part of the holder of any partnership interest of CRH or CRH Merger Partnership, each unit of limited partner interest in CRH issued and outstanding immediately prior to the CRH Merger Effective Time (“CRH LP Unit”) (other than any CRH LP Units held by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, which CRH LP Units shall remain outstanding and unchanged as units of limited partner interest in the CRH Surviving Partnership), subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, shall be converted, without any action on the part of the holder, into the right to receive cash in an amount equal to the Company Common Share Merger Consideration, without interest (the “CRH Cash Merger Consideration”); provided, however, that in lieu of the CRH Cash Merger Consideration, if but only if (i) the holder of such CRH LP Unit has effectively made and not revoked a valid election pursuant to Section 3.02(f) to receive a CRH Class A Preferred Unit in respect thereof, and (ii) the issuance of such CRH Class A Preferred Units would be exempt from registration under the Securities Act and applicable state securities laws, then each of such holder’s CRH LP Units shall be converted into one fully paid CRH Class A Preferred Unit, without interest (such CRH Class A Preferred Unit and/or CRH Cash Merger Consideration, the “CRH Merger Consideration”).
(b) At the CAR Merger Effective Time, by virtue of the CAR Partnership Merger and without any action on the part of the holder of any partnership interest of CAR or CAR Merger Partnership, each unit of limited partner interest in CAR issued and outstanding immediately prior to the CAR Merger Effective Time (“CAR LP Unit”) (other than any CAR LP
- 18 -
Units held by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, which CAR LP Units shall remain outstanding and unchanged as units of limited partner interest in the CAR Surviving Partnership), subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, shall be converted, without any action on the part of the holder, into the right to receive cash in an amount equal to the Company Common Share Merger Consideration, without interest (the “CAR Cash Merger Consideration”); provided, however, that in lieu of the CAR Cash Merger Consideration, if but only if (i) the holder of such CAR LP Unit has effectively made and not revoked a valid election pursuant to Section 3.02(g) to receive a CAR Class A Preferred Unit in respect thereof, and (ii) the issuance of such CAR Class A Preferred Units would be exempt from registration under the Securities Act and applicable state securities laws, then each of such holder’s CAR LP Units shall be converted into one fully paid CAR Class A Preferred Unit, without interest (such CAR Class A Preferred Unit and/or CAR Cash Merger Consideration, the “CAR Merger Consideration” and together with the Company Common Share Merger Consideration, the Option Merger Consideration, the SVU Settlement Amount, the Series E Preferred Share Merger Consideration and the CRH Merger Consideration, the “Merger Consideration”).
(c) At the CRH Merger Effective Time, the general partner interests of CRH shall remain outstanding and unchanged as general partner interests in the CRH Surviving Partnership, entitling the holder thereof to such rights, duties and obligations as are more fully set forth in the Amended CRH Partnership Agreement.
(d) At the CAR Merger Effective Time, the general partner interests of CAR shall remain outstanding and unchanged as general partner interests in the CAR Surviving Partnership, entitling the holder thereof to such rights, duties and obligations as are more fully set forth in the Amended CAR Partnership Agreement.
(e) At the CRH Merger Effective Time, without any action of any Person, each partnership interest in CRH Merger Partnership shall automatically be cancelled and cease to exist, the holders thereof shall cease to have any rights with respect thereto, and no payment shall be made with respect thereto. At the CAR Merger Effective Time, without any action of any Person, each partnership interest in CAR Merger Partnership shall automatically be cancelled and cease to exist, the holders thereof shall cease to have any rights with respect thereto, and no payment shall be made with respect thereto.
(f) Subject to Section 3.02(f)(iv) and in accordance with Section 3.02(a), each eligible holder of CRH LP Units shall be entitled, with respect to all, but not less than all, of such holder’s CRH LP Units, to make an unconditional election, on or prior to the Election Date, to receive in the CRH Partnership Merger in lieu of the CRH Cash Merger Consideration to which such holder is otherwise entitled, CRH Class A Preferred Units (a “CRH Unit Election”) as follows:
(i) CRH Merger Partnership shall prepare and deliver to CRH, as promptly as practicable following the date of this Agreement, and CRH shall mail to the holders of CRH LP Units, a form of election, which form shall be subject to the reasonable approval of the general partner of CRH (the “CRH Form of Election”). The CRH Form of Election may be used by each holder of CRH LP Units to designate such holder’s election to exchange all, but not less than all, of the CRH LP Units held by such holder into CRH Class A Preferred Units. Any
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such holder’s election to receive CRH Class A Preferred Units shall be deemed to have been properly made only if Parent shall have received at its principal executive office, not later than 5:00 p.m., New York City time on that date that is five Business Days before the scheduled date of the Company Stockholders’ Meeting (the “Election Date”), a CRH Form of Election specifying that such holder elects to receive the CRH Class A Preferred Units and otherwise properly completed and signed. The CRH Form of Election shall state therein the date that constitutes the Election Date.
(ii) A CRH Form of Election may be revoked by any holder of a CRH LP Unit only by written notice received by Parent prior to 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the Election Date. In addition, all CRH Forms of Election shall automatically be revoked if the CRH Partnership Merger has been abandoned.
(iii) The reasonable determination of Parent shall be binding as to whether or not elections to receive CRH Class A Preferred Units have been properly made or revoked. If Parent determines that any election to receive CRH Class A Preferred Units was not properly made, the CRH LP Units with respect to which such election was not properly made shall be converted into CRH Cash Merger Consideration in accordance with Section 3.02(a). Parent may, with the agreement of the general partner of CRH, make such rules as are consistent with this Section 3.02(f) for the implementation of elections provided for herein as shall be necessary or desirable to fully effect such elections.
(iv) Each holder of CRH LP Units, as a condition to making a CRH Unit Election with respect to such holder’s CRH LP Units, shall (i) represent to Parent that such holder is an Accredited Investor (as such term is defined under Rule 501 promulgated under the Securities Act) and (ii) agree to be bound by the terms of the limited partnership agreement of the CRH Surviving Partnership as it will be in effect immediately following the CRH Merger Effective Time (which agreement shall incorporate the terms of the CRH Class A Preferred Units set forth in Annex A attached as Exhibit B hereto and the matters set forth in Section 3.02 of the Disclosure Schedule and any other terms determined by Parent that are not inconsistent with the terms of the CRH Class A Preferred Units and such matters).
(v) The Company Parties agree to reasonably cooperate with Parent in preparing any disclosure statement or other disclosure information to accompany the CRH Form of Election, including information applicable to an offering of securities exempt from registration under the Securities Act pursuant to Rule 506 thereunder.
(g) Subject to Section 3.02(g)(iv) and in accordance with Section 3.02(b), each eligible holder of CAR LP Unit shall be entitled, with respect to all, but not less than all, of such holder’s CAR LP Units, to make an unconditional election, on or prior to the Election Date, to receive in the CAR Partnership Merger, in lieu of the CAR Cash Merger Consideration to which such holder is otherwise entitled, CAR Class A Preferred Units (a “CAR Unit Election”) as follows:
(i) CAR Merger Partnership shall prepare and deliver to CAR, as promptly as practicable following the date of this Agreement, and CAR shall mail to the holders of CAR LP Units a form of election, which form shall be subject to the reasonable approval of
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the general partner of CAR (the “CAR Form of Election”). The CAR Form of Election may be used by each holder of CAR LP Units to designate such holder’s election to exchange all, but not less than all, of the CAR LP Units held by such holder into CAR Class A Preferred Units. Any such holder’s election to receive CAR Class A Preferred Units shall be deemed to have been properly made only if Parent shall have received at its principal executive office, not later than 5:00 p.m., New York City time on the Election Date, a CAR Form of Election specifying whether such holder elects to receive CAR Class A Preferred Units and otherwise properly completed and signed. The CAR Form of Election shall state therein the date that constitutes the Election Date.
(ii) A CAR Form of Election may be revoked by any holder of a CAR LP Unit only by written notice received by Parent prior to 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the Election Date. In addition, all CAR Forms of Election shall automatically be revoked if the CAR Partnership Merger has been abandoned.
(iii) The reasonable determination of Parent shall be binding as to whether or not elections to receive CAR Class A Preferred Units have been properly made or revoked. If Parent determines that any election to receive CAR Class A Preferred Units was not properly made, the CAR LP Units with respect to which such election was not properly made shall be converted into CAR Cash Merger Consideration in accordance with Section 3.02(b). Parent may, with the agreement of the general partner of CAR, make such rules as are consistent with this Section 3.02(g) for the implementation of elections provided for herein as shall be necessary or desirable to fully effect such elections.
(iv) Each holder of CAR LP Units, as a condition to making a CAR Unit Election with respect to such holder’s CAR LP Units, shall (i) represent to Parent that such holder is an Accredited Investor (as such term is defined under Rule 501 promulgated under the Securities Act) and (ii) agree to be bound by the terms of the limited partnership agreement of the CAR Surviving Partnership as it will be in effect immediately following the CAR Merger Effective Time (which agreement shall incorporate the terms of the CAR Class A Preferred Units set forth in Annex A attached as Exhibit A hereto and the matters set forth in Section 3.02 of the Disclosure Schedule and any other terms determined by Parent that are not inconsistent with the terms of the CAR Class A Preferred Units and such matters).
(v) The Company Parties agree to reasonably cooperate with Parent in preparing any disclosure statement or other disclosure information to accompany the CAR Form of Election, including information applicable to an offering of securities exempt from registration under the Securities Act pursuant to Rule 506 thereunder.
SECTION 3.03 Exchange of Certificates and Uncertificated Units; Paying Agent.
(a) Paying Agent. Prior to the Partnership Mergers Effective Time, Parent shall appoint a bank or trust company reasonably satisfactory to the Company to act as Exchange and Paying Agent (the “Paying Agent”) for the payment or exchange, as applicable, in accordance with this Article III of the Merger Consideration (collectively, such cash and securities being referred to as the “Exchange Fund”). On or before the Partnership Mergers Effective Time, Parent shall deposit with the Paying Agent the Merger Consideration, for the
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benefit of the holders of Company Common Shares, the Company Series E Preferred Shares, Company Share Options, SVUs, CRH LP Units and CAR LP Units, as applicable. The Parent shall cause the Paying Agent to make, and the Paying Agent shall make, payments of the Merger Consideration out of the Exchange Fund in accordance with this Agreement. The Exchange Fund shall not be used for any other purpose. Any and all interest earned on cash deposited in the Exchange Fund shall be paid to the Surviving Corporation.
(b) Share Transfer Books. At the Company Merger Effective Time, the CRH Merger Effective Time or the CAR Merger Effective Time, as applicable, the share transfer books of the Company and the DownREIT Partnerships shall be closed and thereafter there shall be no further registration of transfers of the Company Common Shares, Company Restricted Shares, Company Series E Preferred Shares, CRH LP Units or CAR LP Units, as applicable. From and after the Company Merger Effective Time, the CRH Merger Effective Time or the CAR Merger Effective Time, as applicable, persons who held Company Common Shares, Company Restricted Shares, Company Series E Preferred Shares, CRH LP Units or CAR LP Units immediately prior to the Company Merger Effective Time, the CRH Merger Effective Time or the CAR Merger Effective Time, as applicable, shall cease to have rights with respect to such shares or units, except as otherwise provided for herein. On or after the Company Merger Effective Time, any Certificates presented to the Paying Agent, the Surviving Corporation or the transfer agent for any reason shall be exchanged for the applicable Merger Consideration with respect to the Company Common Shares or Company Series E Preferred Shares formerly represented thereby.
(c) Exchange Procedures for Certificates and Uncertificated Units. Promptly after the Company Merger Effective Time (but in any event within five (5) Business Days), Parent shall cause the Paying Agent to mail to each person who immediately prior to the Company Merger Effective Time, the CRH Merger Effective Time or the CAR Merger Effective Time, as applicable, held Company Common Shares, Company Series E Preferred Shares, CRH LP Units or CAR LP Units that were exchanged for the right to receive the applicable Merger Consideration (each, a “Former Equityholder”), pursuant to Section 3.01: (i) a letter of transmittal (which shall specify that, if applicable, delivery of Certificates shall be effected, and risk of loss and title to the Certificates shall pass to the Paying Agent, only upon delivery of the Certificates to the Paying Agent, and which letter shall be in such form and have such other provisions as Parent may reasonably specify) and (ii) if applicable, instructions for use in effecting the surrender of the Former Equityholder’s Certificates in exchange for the applicable Merger Consideration to which the holder thereof is entitled. Upon (i) if applicable, surrender by a Former Equityholder of a Certificate for cancellation to the Paying Agent or to such other agent or agents reasonably satisfactory to the Company as may be appointed by Parent, and (ii) delivery by such Former Equityholder of such letter of transmittal (together with such Certificate, if applicable), duly executed and completed in accordance with the instructions thereto, and such other documents as may reasonably be required by the Paying Agent, such Former Equityholder shall receive in exchange therefor the applicable Merger Consideration payable in respect of the Company Common Shares, Company Series E Preferred Shares, CRH LP Units or CAR LP Units, pursuant to the provisions of this Article III, and the Certificate (if any) so surrendered shall forthwith be canceled. In the event of a transfer of ownership of Company Common Shares, Company Series E Preferred Shares, CRH LP Units or CAR LP Units that is not registered in the transfer records of the Company or the applicable DownREIT
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Partnership, if applicable, payment may be made to a person other than the person in whose name the Certificate so surrendered is registered, if such Certificate shall be properly endorsed or otherwise be in proper form for transfer and the person requesting such payment shall pay any transfer or other Taxes required by reason of the payment to a person other than the registered holder of such Certificate or establish to the satisfaction of Parent that such Tax has been paid or is not applicable. Until surrendered as contemplated by this Section 3.03, each Certificate shall be deemed at any time after the Company Merger Effective Time, CRH Merger Effective Time or CAR Merger Effective Time, as applicable, to represent only the right to receive, upon such surrender, the applicable Merger Consideration as contemplated by this Section 3.03. No interest shall be paid or accrue on any Merger Consideration.
(d) No Further Ownership Rights in Company Common Shares, Company Series E Preferred Shares, CRH LP Units, CAR LP Units or Company Share Options. At the Company Merger Effective Time, CRH Merger Effective Time or CAR Merger Effective Time, as applicable, holders of Company Common Shares, Company Series E Preferred Shares, CRH LP Units (that are converted into the right to receive cash in the CRH Partnership Merger pursuant to Section 3.02(a)) or CAR LP Units (that are converted into the right to receive cash in the CAR Partnership Merger pursuant to Section 3.02(b)) shall cease to be, and shall have no rights as, stockholders of the Company or limited partners of the applicable DownREIT Partnership other than the right to receive the applicable Merger Consideration provided under this Article III. The applicable Merger Consideration paid in accordance with the terms of this Article III shall be deemed to have been paid in full satisfaction of all rights and privileges pertaining to the Company Common Shares, Company Series E Preferred Shares, CRH LP Units and CAR LP Units exchanged therefor and, if applicable, represented by Certificates exchanged therefor. The Option Merger Consideration paid with respect to Company Share Options in accordance with the terms of this Article III shall be deemed to have been paid in full satisfaction of all rights and privileges pertaining to the canceled Company Share Options, and on and after the Company Merger Effective Time the holder of a Company Share Option shall have no further rights with respect to any Company Share Option, other than the right to receive the Option Merger Consideration as provided in Section 3.01(e).
(e) Termination of Exchange Fund. Any portion of the Exchange Fund which remains undistributed to the holders of Company Common Shares, Company Series E Preferred Shares, CRH LP Units, CAR LP Units, Company Share Options or SVUs for twelve (12) months after the Company Merger Effective Time shall be delivered to the Surviving Corporation, and any holders of Company Common Shares, Company Series E Preferred Shares, CRH LP Units, CAR LP Units, Company Share Options or SVUs prior to the applicable Merger who have not theretofore complied with this Article III shall thereafter look only to the Surviving Corporation for payment of the applicable Merger Consideration.
(f) No Liability. None of the Buyer Parties, Company Parties or the Paying Agent, or any employee, officer, director, shareholder, partner, agent or Affiliate thereof, shall be liable to any person in respect of any Merger Consideration, if the Exchange Fund has been delivered to a public official pursuant to any applicable abandoned property, escheat or similar Law.
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(g) Investment of Exchange Fund. The Paying Agent shall invest the cash included in the Exchange Fund, as directed by Parent, on a daily basis. Any net profit resulting from, or interest or income produced by, such investments shall be placed in the Exchange Fund. To the extent that there are losses with respect to such investments, or the Exchange Fund diminishes for other reasons below the level required to make prompt payments of the Merger Consideration as contemplated hereby, Parent shall promptly replace or restore the portion of the Exchange Fund lost through investments or other events so as to ensure that the Exchange Fund is, at all times, maintained at a level sufficient to make all such payments in full.
(h) Lost Certificates. If any Certificate shall have been lost, stolen or destroyed, upon the making of an affidavit of that fact by the person claiming such Certificate to be lost, stolen or destroyed and, if required by Parent or the Paying Agent, the posting by such person of a bond in such amount as Parent or the Paying Agent reasonably may direct, the Paying Agent will issue in exchange for such lost, stolen or destroyed Certificate the applicable Merger Consideration payable in respect thereof pursuant to this Agreement.
SECTION 3.04 Withholding Rights. The Surviving Corporation, Parent or the Paying Agent, as applicable, shall be entitled to deduct and withhold from the consideration otherwise payable pursuant to this Agreement to any holder of Company Common Shares, Company Share Options, Company Series E Preferred Shares, CRH LP Units, CAR LP Units or SVUs such amounts as it is required to deduct and withhold with respect to the making of such payment under the Code, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, or any provision of state, local or foreign Tax law. To the extent that amounts are so withheld by the Surviving Corporation, Parent or the Paying Agent, as applicable, such withheld amounts (i) shall be remitted by the Surviving Corporation or the Paying Agent, as the case may be, to the applicable Governmental Authority, and (ii) shall be treated for all purposes of this Agreement as having been paid to the holder of Company Common Shares, Company Share Options, Company Series E Preferred Shares, CRH LP Units, CAR LP Units, or SVUs in respect of which such deduction and withholding was made by the Surviving Corporation, Parent or the Paying Agent, as applicable.
SECTION 3.05 Dissenters’ Rights. No dissenters’ or appraisal rights shall be available with respect to the Mergers or the other transactions contemplated hereby.
SECTION 3.06 Termination of DRIP. The Company shall take all actions necessary to terminate its Dividend Reinvestment and Share Purchase Plan (the “DRIP”), effective as soon as possible after the date of this Agreement, and ensure that no purchase or other rights under the DRIP enable the holder of such rights to acquire any interest in the Surviving Corporation or any other Company Party or Buyer Party as a result of such purchase or the exercise of such rights at or after such date.
SECTION 3.07 Debt Offers.
(a) The Company and the Operating Partnership shall use their respective commercially reasonable efforts to commence as promptly as practicable following the date of receipt of the Offer Documents from Parent pursuant to subparagraph (ii) below and instructions from Parent to commence the Debt Offers, offers to purchase, and related consent solicitations
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with respect to, all of the outstanding aggregate principal amount of the Senior Notes on the terms and conditions set forth in Section 3.07(a) of the Disclosure Schedule (or as may otherwise be agreed between the Company and Parent) and such other customary terms and conditions as are reasonably acceptable to Parent and the Company (including the related consent solicitations, collectively, the “Debt Offers”); provided that (i) this Agreement shall have not been terminated in accordance with Section 9.01, (ii) the Company shall have received from Parent the completed Offer Documents which shall be in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Company, and (iii) at the time of such commencement, the Buyer Parties shall have otherwise performed or complied with all of their agreements and covenants required by this Agreement to be performed on or prior to the time that the Debt Offers are to be commenced. The Company and the Operating Partnership shall waive any of the conditions to the Debt Offers (other than that the Mergers shall have been consummated and that there shall be no order prohibiting consummation of the Debt Offers) as may be reasonably requested by Parent and shall not, without the written consent of Parent, waive any condition to the Debt Offers or make any changes to the Debt Offers other than as agreed between Parent and the Company. Neither the Company nor the Operating Partnership need make any change to the terms and conditions of the Debt Offers without their prior written consent, which shall not be unreasonably withheld, provided that such consent shall not be required for an increase in any consideration payable in the Debt Offers or for any change that is not material.
(b) The Company and the Operating Partnership agree that, promptly following the consent expiration date, assuming the requisite consents are received, each of the Company, the Operating Partnership and their Subsidiaries as is necessary shall execute supplemental indentures to the indentures governing the Senior Notes, which supplemental indentures shall implement the amendments set forth in the Offer Documents and shall become operative concurrently with the Company Merger Effective Time, subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement (including the conditions to the Debt Offers). Concurrent with the Company Merger Effective Time, Parent shall cause the Company or the Operating Partnership to accept for payment and after the Company Merger Effective Time, Parent shall cause the Surviving Corporation or the Operating Partnership to promptly pay for the Senior Notes that have been properly tendered and not properly withdrawn pursuant to the Debt Offers and in accordance with the Debt Offers.
(c) Promptly after the date of this Agreement, Parent, at its own expense, shall prepare all necessary and appropriate documentation in connection with the Debt Offers, including the offers to purchase, related letters of transmittal and other related documents (collectively, the “Offer Documents”). Parent, the Company and the Operating Partnership shall, and shall cause their respective subsidiaries to, reasonably cooperate with each other in the preparation of the Offer Documents. The Offer Documents (including all amendments or supplements thereto) and all mailings to the holders of the Senior Notes in connection with the Debt Offers shall be subject to the prior review of, and comment by, the Company and Parent and shall be reasonably acceptable in form and substance to each of them. If at any time prior to the completion of the Debt Offers any information in the Offer Documents should be discovered by the Company and the Subsidiaries, on the one hand, or Parent, on the other, which should be set forth in an amendment or supplement to the Offer Documents, so that the Offer Documents shall not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of
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circumstances under which they are made, not misleading, the party that discovers such information shall promptly notify the other party, and an appropriate amendment or supplement describing such information shall be disseminated by or on behalf of the Company and the Operating Partnership to the holders of the applicable Senior Notes. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 3.07, the Company and the Operating Partnership shall comply with the requirements of Rule 14e-1 under the Exchange Act and any other applicable Law to the extent such Laws are applicable in connection with the Debt Offers. To the extent that the provisions of any applicable Law conflict with this Section 3.07, the Company and the Operating Partnership shall comply with the applicable Law and shall not be deemed to have breached their obligations hereunder by such compliance.
(d) In connection with the Debt Offers, Parent may select one or more dealer managers (of which one such dealer manager shall be the Company Financial Advisor and which others will be reasonably acceptable to the Company), information agents, depositaries and other agents to provide assistance in connection therewith and the Company and the Operating Partnership shall, and shall cause the Subsidiaries to, enter into customary agreements (including indemnities) with such parties so selected and on terms and conditions acceptable to Parent. Parent shall pay the fees and expenses of any dealer manager, information agent, depositary or other agent retained in connection with the Debt Offers, and Parent further agrees to reimburse the Company and the Operating Partnership and the Subsidiaries for all of their reasonable out-of-pocket costs (including reasonable fees and expenses of their Representatives) in connection with the Debt Offers promptly following incurrence and delivery of reasonable documentation of such costs. The Buyer Parties shall, on a joint and several basis, indemnify and hold harmless the Company and its Subsidiaries, their Representatives (other than any direct indemnification of any dealer manager, which shall be indemnified under the applicable dealer manager agreement; provided, however, that the Buyer Parties shall indemnify the Company and its Subsidiaries from and against any and all liabilities, losses, damages, claims, costs, expenses, interest, awards, judgments and penalties suffered or incurred by them in connection with any dealer manager agreement) from and against any and all liabilities, losses, damages, claims, costs, expenses, interest, awards, judgments and penalties suffered or incurred by them in connection with the Debt Offers and the Offer Documents; provided, however, that none of the Buyer Parties shall have any obligation to indemnify and hold harmless any such party or person to the extent that such liabilities, losses, damages, claims, costs, expenses, interest, awards, judgments and penalties suffered or incurred arises from disclosure regarding the Company and its Subsidiaries supplied by such party or person or included in any Company SEC Report that is determined to have contained a material misstatement or omission.
SECTION 3.08 Satisfaction and Discharge. To the extent that, as of the Closing Date, the requisite consents specified in Section 3.07(a) of the Disclosure Schedule have not been validly delivered (without having been properly withdrawn) in accordance with the Debt Offers with respect to any series of Senior Notes by the holders thereof, the Company and the Operating Partnership shall, immediately prior to the Partnership Mergers Effective Time, issue an irrevocable notice of optional redemption for all of the then outstanding Senior Notes of such series in accordance with the terms of the applicable indenture governing such series of the Senior Notes and which shall provide for the satisfaction and discharge of such Senior Notes and such indentures in accordance with Section 401 thereof; provided, Parent shall have provided written notice to the Company confirming that all conditions set forth in Sections 8.01 and 8.02
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have been satisfied (or with respect to Section 8.02, waived) and that the Buyer Parties are prepared to proceed immediately with the Closing; and provided further that, the Buyer Parties shall have irrevocably deposited with the applicable trustee under each indenture sufficient funds to effect such satisfaction and discharge.
ARTICLE IV
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
OF THE COMPANY AND THE OPERATING PARTNERSHIP
Except as set forth in the Disclosure Schedule, the Company and the Operating Partnership hereby jointly and severally represent and warrant to the Buyer Parties as follows:
SECTION 4.01 Organization and Qualification; Subsidiaries; Authority.
(a) Each Company Party is a corporation or limited partnership duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Maryland or the State of Delaware, as applicable. Each Company Party is duly qualified or licensed to do business as a foreign corporation or limited partnership and is in good standing under the laws of any other jurisdiction in which the character of the properties owned, leased or operated by it therein or in which the transaction of its business makes such qualification or licensing necessary, except where the failure to be so qualified, licensed or in good standing would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect. Each Company Party has all requisite corporate or partnership power and authority to own, operate, lease and encumber its properties and carry on its business as now conducted.
(b) Each of the Company’s subsidiaries, including the Operating Partnership and the DownREIT Partnerships, but not including any JV Entity (the “Subsidiaries”), together with the jurisdiction of organization of each such Subsidiary, the outstanding equity of each such Subsidiary owned by the Company and each other Subsidiary, is set forth in Section 4.01(b) of the Disclosure Schedule. Except as set forth in Sections 4.01(b) and 4.01(c) of the Disclosure Schedule and except for any buy/sell rights, rights of first offer or refusal or similar contractual rights under any Contracts set forth in Sections 4.13 and 4.17 of the Disclosure Schedule and in the Company Leases, the Company does not own, directly or indirectly, any shares of stock of, or other equity interest in, or any other securities convertible or exchangeable into or exercisable for stock of or other equity interest in, any Person. Except as set forth in Section 4.01(b) and 4.01(c) of the Disclosure Schedule, all issued and outstanding shares or other equity interests of each Subsidiary and JV Entity are owned directly or indirectly by the Company, free and clear of all Liens other than Liens specified in the Organizational Documents or loan documents that are Material Contracts. Each Subsidiary and, to the knowledge of the Company, each JV Entity, is a corporation, partnership or limited liability company duly incorporated or organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation or organization, except where the failure to be so incorporated, organized, validly existing or in good standing would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect. Each of the Subsidiaries and, to the knowledge of the Company, the JV Entities, has the requisite corporate, limited partnership, limited liability
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company or similar power and authority to own, lease and operate its properties and to carry on its business as it is now being conducted, except where the failure to have such power and authority would not, individually or in the aggregate, be reasonably expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect. Each of the Operating Partnership, the other Subsidiaries and, to the knowledge of the Company, each JV Entity, is duly qualified or licensed to do business, and is in good standing (to the extent applicable), in each jurisdiction where the character of the properties owned, leased or operated by it or the conduct or nature of its business makes such qualification or licensing necessary, except for jurisdictions in which the failure to be so qualified, licensed or in good standing would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect.
(c) A correct and complete list of Persons, other than those set forth in Section 4.01(b) of the Disclosure Schedule, in which the Company or any Subsidiary has a direct or indirect interest (the “JV Entities”), together with the jurisdiction of organization of each JV Entity, the names of the other members and partners in each JV Entity and the respective percentage interests of each such member or partner in each JV Entity is set forth in Section 4.01(c) of the Disclosure Schedule.
SECTION 4.02 Organizational Documents. The Company has previously provided or made available complete copies of the Company Charter and the Company Bylaws, the Operating Partnership Agreement, the CRH Partnership Agreement, the CAR Partnership Agreement and the certificate of limited partnership of each of the Operating Partnership, CRH and CAR (and in each case, all amendments thereto) and all organizational documents of the JV Entities as set forth in Section 4.02 of the Disclosure Schedule as in effect on the date of this Agreement (the “Organizational Documents”). All Organizational Documents are in full force and effect and no dissolution, revocation or forfeiture proceedings regarding the Company or any of the Subsidiaries or, to the knowledge of the Company, the JV Entities have been commenced. Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary is, nor, since January 1, 2003, has the Company been in violation of any of the Organizational Documents in any material respect.
SECTION 4.03 Capitalization.
(a) The authorized shares of stock of the Company consist of 180,000,000 Company Common Shares, of which, as of February 28, 2006, 59,017,851 were issued and outstanding, and 35,000,000 shares of the preferred stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Company, of which 8,050,000 shares have been designated as “7.50% Series E Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock,” par value $0.01 per share (the “Company Series E Preferred Shares”) and were issued and outstanding. As of February 28, 2006, 2,228,421 Company Common Shares have been reserved for issuance pursuant to the Company Option Plans, subject to adjustment on the terms set forth in such plans and/or agreements, and as of February 28, 2006 1,524,277 Company Share Options to purchase 1,524,277 Company Common Shares and 50,144 Company Restricted Share Units were outstanding. As of the date of this Agreement, 4,187,467 Company Common Shares have been reserved for issuance upon the redemption of CRH LP Units outstanding on the date hereof and 925,022 Company Common Shares have been reserved for issuance upon the redemption CAR LP Units outstanding on the date hereof. As of the date of this Agreement, the Company had no Company Common Shares reserved for issuance or required to be reserved for issuance other than as described above. Since February 28, 2006 and
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through the date of this Agreement, other than in connection with the issuance of Company Common Shares pursuant to the exercise of Company Share Options or redemption of Existing Units, in each case outstanding as of February 28, 2006 and the issuance of 4,224 Company Restricted Common Shares, there has been no change in the number of shares of outstanding capital stock of the Company, Company Share Options, Company Restricted Share Units or Existing Units. All issued and outstanding shares of the Company and the Subsidiaries are, and all shares subject to issuance as specified above, upon issuance on the terms and conditions specified in the instruments pursuant to which they are issuable will be, when issued, duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid, nonassessable and free of preemptive rights.
(b) Except for the Company Share Options, Company Restricted Share Units, Existing Units or as set forth in Section 4.03(b) of the Disclosure Schedule, there are no options, warrants, calls, subscription rights, exercisable, convertible or exchangeable securities or other rights, agreements or commitments (contingent or otherwise) that obligate the Company to issue, transfer or sell any capital stock or other equity interest, or any investment that is convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for any such shares. Section 4.03(b) of the Disclosure Schedule sets forth a true, complete and correct list of the Company Share Options, including the name of the Person to whom such Company Share Options have been granted, the number of shares subject to each Company Share Option, the per share exercise price or purchase price for each Company Share Option, whether the Company Share Option is qualified.
(c) Section 4.03(c) of the Disclosure Schedule sets forth a true, complete and correct list of the unvested Company Restricted Shares as of the date of this Agreement, including the name of the Person to whom such Company Restricted Share Units have been granted for each such award.
(d) Section 4.03(d) of the Disclosure Schedule sets forth a true, complete and correct list of the unvested and deferred Company Restricted Share Units (including any Company Restricted Share Units previously and additionally credited after the grant date on account of dividend equivalents) awards as of the date of this Agreement, including the name of the Person to whom such Company Restricted Share Units have been granted for each such award.
(e) Section 4.03(e) of the Disclosure Schedule sets forth a true, complete and correct list of the cash payable in connection with the Company’s stock value unit awards outstanding as of the date of this Agreement, including the name of the Person to whom such Company cash payments have been granted for each such award. Except as set forth in Sections 4.03(c), (d) or (e) of the Disclosure Schedule, the Company has not issued any share appreciation rights, dividend equivalent rights, performance awards, restricted stock unit awards or “phantom” shares.
(f) Except as set forth in the Company Charter, the Company Bylaws or Section 4.03(f) of the Disclosure Schedule, there are no agreements or understandings to which the Company is a party with respect to the voting of any Company Common Shares or which restrict the transfer of any such shares, nor does the Company have knowledge of any third party agreements or understandings with respect to the voting of any such shares or which restrict the transfer of such shares. None of the Company or any Subsidiary has any outstanding bonds,
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debentures, notes or other obligations the holders of which have the right to vote (or which are convertible into, exchangeable into or exercisable for securities having the right to vote) on any matter that the stockholders of the Company or partners of the DownREIT Partnerships may vote.
(g) Except as set forth in the Section 4.03(g)(i) of the Disclosure Schedule, the Company is under no obligation, contingent or otherwise, by reason of any agreement to register the offer and sale or resale of any of its securities. Except as set forth in the Section 4.03(g)(ii) of the Disclosure Schedule or the Organizational Documents, there are no outstanding contractual obligations of the Company or any of the Subsidiaries to repurchase, redeem or otherwise acquire any Company Common Shares or capital stock of any Subsidiary.
(h) The Company is the sole general partner of the Operating Partnership and, as of the date hereof, owns, directly or through a wholly-owned subsidiary, all of the outstanding units of partnership interest of the Operating Partnership free and clear of any Liens. There are no options, warrants, calls, subscriptions, convertible securities, or other rights, agreements or commitments that obligate the Company or any Subsidiary to issue, repurchase, redeem, transfer or sell any partnership interests of the Operating Partnership. Except as set forth in Section 4.03(h) of the Disclosure Schedule, the partnership interests in the Operating Partnership are subject only to the restrictions on transfer set forth in the Operating Partnership Agreement, and those imposed by applicable securities laws.
(i) CAR General Partner, a subsidiary of the Operating Partnership, is the sole general partner of CAR. Section 4.03(i) of the Disclosure Schedule sets forth a list of all holders of units of partnership interest of CAR, including the name of the Person holding each such unit, and the number and type (e.g., general, limited, etc.). Except as set forth in the Third Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of CAR, dated as of July 31, 2002 (the “CAR Partnership Agreement”) or Section 4.03(i) of the Disclosure Schedule, there are no options, warrants, calls, subscriptions, convertible securities, or other rights, agreements or commitments that obligate CAR, the Company or any Subsidiary to issue, repurchase, redeem, transfer or sell any partnership interests of CAR. Except as set forth in Section 4.03(i) of the Disclosure Schedule, the partnership interests in CAR that are owned by the Company and its Subsidiaries are owned free and clear of any Liens and are subject only to the restrictions on transfer set forth in the CAR Partnership Agreement and those imposed by applicable securities laws.
(j) The Operating Partnership is the sole general partner of CRH. Section 4.03(j) of the Disclosure Schedule sets forth a list of all holders of units of partnership interest of CRH, including the name of the Person holding each such unit, and the number and type (e.g., general, limited, etc.). Except as set forth in the Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of CRH, dated as of December 31, 2003, as amended by the First Amendment to the Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership, dated as of June 30, 2004 (the “CRH Partnership Agreement”) or Section 4.03(j) of the Disclosure Schedule, there are no options, warrants, calls, subscriptions, convertible securities, or other rights, agreements or commitments that obligate CRH, the Company or any Subsidiary, to issue, repurchase, redeem, transfer or sell any partnership interests of CRH. Except as set forth in Section 4.03(j) of the Disclosure Schedule, the partnership interests in CRH that are owned by
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the Company and its Subsidiaries are owned free and clear of any Liens and are subject only to the restrictions on transfer set forth in the CRH Partnership Agreement and those imposed by applicable securities laws.
(k) As of the date of this Agreement, there is no outstanding Indebtedness for borrowed money of the Company and the Subsidiaries in excess of $500,000 in principal amount, other than the Indebtedness in the amounts identified by instrument in Section 4.03(k) of the Disclosure Schedule and excluding inter-company Indebtedness among the Company and the Subsidiaries.
(l) The Company does not have a “poison pill” or similar stockholder rights plan.
SECTION 4.04 Authority Relative to this Agreement, Takeover Laws, Validity and Effect of Agreements.
(a) The Company has all necessary corporate power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement, to perform its obligations hereunder and to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including the Company Merger. The Company Board has (i) approved this Agreement, the Company Merger and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement and declared that the Company Merger and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement are advisable and in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein, (ii) directed that this Agreement, the Company Merger and the other transactions contemplated hereby be submitted for consideration at a meeting of the Company’s stockholders and (iii) recommended the approval of this Agreement, the Company Merger and the other transactions contemplated hereby by the Company’s stockholders. Except for the approvals described in the following sentence, the execution, delivery and performance by the Company of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including the Company Merger, have been duly and validly authorized by all necessary corporate action on behalf of the Company. No other corporate proceedings on the part of the Company are necessary to authorize this Agreement or to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including the Company Merger, other than (i) the affirmative approval of the Company Merger by at least two-thirds (2/3) of all the votes entitled to be cast on the matter by the holders of all outstanding Company Common Shares (the “Company Stockholder Approval”), and (ii) the filing and recordation of appropriate merger documents as required by the MGCL. This Agreement has been duly and validly executed and delivered by the Company and, assuming the due authorization, execution and delivery by each of the Buyer Parties, constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms, except as enforceability may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, fraudulent transfer and similar Laws of general applicability relating to or affecting creditors’ rights or by general equity principles.
(b) Each of the Operating Partnership, CRH and CAR (through its respective general partner) has all necessary partnership power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement, to perform its obligations hereunder and to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including the Partnership Mergers. The execution, delivery
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and performance by each of the Operating Partnership, CRH and CAR of this Agreement and the consummation by each of the Operating Partnership, CRH and CAR of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including the Partnership Mergers, have been duly and validly authorized by all necessary partnership action on behalf of each of the Operating Partnership, including by all necessary action of the Company as the general partner of the Operating Partnership, the Operating Partnership as the general partner of CRH and the CAR General Partner as the general partner of CAR, and no other partnership proceedings on the part any of them are necessary to authorize this Agreement or to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including the Partnership Mergers, other than the filing of appropriate certificates of merger as required by the DRULPA. Other than the approvals of the general partners of each of the Operating Partnership, CRH and CAR, which approvals have been obtained, and the Company Stockholder Approval, no other vote or approval of the holders of any class or series of the capital stock, partnership interests or other equity interest of the Company or any of the Subsidiaries is necessary to approve the Company Merger, the Partnership Mergers and the transactions contemplated by this Agreement except as set forth in Section 4.04(b) of the Disclosure Schedule. This Agreement has been duly and validly executed and delivered by the Operating Partnership (and by the Company on behalf of the Operating Partnership), CRH (and the Operating Partnership on behalf of CRH), and CAR (and the CAR General Partner on behalf of CAR) and, assuming the due authorization, execution and delivery by each of the Buyer Parties, constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of each of the Operating Partnership, CRH and CAR, enforceable against each of them in accordance with its terms, except as enforceability may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, fraudulent transfer and similar Laws of general applicability relating to or affecting creditors’ rights or by general equity principles.
(c) The Company Parties (and their respective general partners) have taken all action required to be taken by them in order to exempt this Agreement, the Company Merger and the Partnership Mergers, and this Agreement, the Company Merger and the Partnership Mergers are exempt, from the requirements of any “fair price,” “moratorium,” “control share acquisition,” “affiliate transaction,” “business combination” or other takeover Laws of the MGCL or the DRULPA.
SECTION 4.05 No Conflict; Required Filings and Consents.
(a) Except as set forth in Section 4.05(a) of the Disclosure Schedule, subject to the receipt of the Company Stockholder Approval, the execution and delivery of this Agreement by any of the Company Parties do not, and the performance of their respective obligations hereunder will not, (i) conflict with or violate (1) the Company Charter or the Company Bylaws, (2) the Operating Partnership Agreement or the certificate of limited partnership of the Operating Partnership, (3) the CRH Partnership Agreement or the certificate of limited partnership of CRH, (4) the CAR Partnership Agreement or the certificate of limited partnership of CAR or (5) the Organizational Documents or, to the knowledge of the Company, any JV Entity, as amended or supplemented, (ii) assuming that all consents, approvals, authorizations and other actions described in subsection (b) of this Section 4.05 have been obtained and all filings and obligations described in subsection (b) of this Section 4.05 have been made, conflict with or violate any Law applicable to the Company, the Operating Partnership, the DownREIT Partnerships or any Subsidiary or, to the knowledge of the Company, any JV
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Entity, or by which any property or asset of the Company, the Operating Partnership, the DownREIT Partnerships or any Subsidiary or, to the knowledge of the Company, any JV Entity, is bound, or (iii) require any consent or result in any violation or breach of or constitute (with or without notice or lapse of time or both) a default (or give to others any right of termination, amendment, acceleration or cancellation or any right to purchase or sell assets or equity) under, result in the loss of any material right or benefit under, or result in the triggering of any payments or result in the creation of a Lien or other encumbrance on any property or asset of the Company, the Operating Partnership, the DownREIT Partnerships or any Subsidiary or, to the knowledge of the Company, any JV Entity, pursuant to, any of the terms, conditions or provisions of any Permit, Material Company Lease or Contract to which the Company or any Subsidiary is a party or by which it or any of its respective properties or assets may be bound, except, with respect to clauses (ii) and (iii), such triggering of payments, Liens, encumbrances, filings, notices, permits, authorizations, consents, approvals, violations, conflicts, breaches or defaults which would not, individually or in the aggregate, (A) prevent or materially delay consummation of the Mergers and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement or (B) reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect.
(b) The execution and delivery by the Company Parties of this Agreement does not, and the performance of their respective obligations hereunder will not, require any consent, approval, authorization or permit of, or filing with or notification to, any Governmental Authority, except (i) for (A) applicable requirements, if any, of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), state securities or “blue sky” laws (“Blue Sky Laws”), (B) the pre-merger notification requirements of the Xxxx-Xxxxx-Xxxxxx Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended (the “HSR Act”), (C) the filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) of a proxy statement relating to the Company Merger to be sent to the Company’s stockholders (as amended or supplemented from time to time, the “Proxy Statement”) and other written communications that may be deemed “soliciting materials” under Rule 14a-12 promulgated under the Exchange Act, (D) any filings required under the rules and regulations of the New York Stock Exchange (the “NYSE”), (E) the filing of the Articles of Merger with, and the acceptance for record thereof by, the SDAT, and (F) the filing of the CRH Partnership Merger Certificate and the CAR Partnership Merger Certificate with, and the acceptance for record thereof by, the DSOS, and (ii) where the failure to obtain such consents, approvals, authorizations or permits, or to make such filings or notifications would not, individually or in the aggregate, (A) prevent or materially delay consummation of the Mergers and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement or (B) reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect.
SECTION 4.06 Permits; Compliance with Laws.
(a) Except as set forth in Section 4.06(a) of the Disclosure Schedule, each of the Company, the Operating Partnership, the DownREIT Partnerships and the other Subsidiaries and, to the knowledge of the Company, the JV Entities, is in possession of all franchises, grants, authorizations, licenses, permits, consents, certificates, approvals and orders of any Governmental Authority necessary for it to own, lease and operate its properties or to carry on its business as it is now being conducted (collectively, the “Permits”), and all such Permits are valid and in full force and effect, except where the failure to obtain and maintain the Permits, or the
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suspension or cancellation of, any of the Permits would not, individually or in the aggregate, be reasonably expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect. No suspension or cancellation of any Permits is pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened, and no such suspension or cancellation will result from the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect.
(b) Except as set forth in Section 4.06(b) of the Disclosure Schedule, none of the Company, the Operating Partnership, the DownREIT Partnerships, any other Subsidiary nor, to the knowledge of the Company, any JV Entity is in conflict with, or in default, breach or violation of, (i) any Laws applicable to the Company, the Operating Partnership, the DownREIT Partnerships, any other Subsidiary or, to the knowledge of the Company, any JV Entity, or by which any property or asset of the Company, the Operating Partnership, the DownREIT Partnerships any other Subsidiary or, to the knowledge of the Company, any JV Entity is bound or (ii) any Permit, except for any such conflicts, defaults, breaches or violations which would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect.
SECTION 4.07 SEC Filings; Financial Statements; No Unknown Liabilities.
(a) Each of the Company, the Operating Partnership and CAR has filed all forms, reports and documents (including all exhibits) required to be filed by it with the SEC since January 1, 2003 (except that with respect to the Operating Partnership, such forms, reports and documents have been filed since July 30, 2004) (the “Company SEC Reports”). The Company SEC Reports, each as amended prior to the date hereof, (i) have been prepared in all material respects in accordance with the requirements of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, as the case may be, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, and (ii) did not, when filed as amended prior to the date hereof, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements made therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. The Company has made available to Parent copies of all material correspondence between the SEC, on the one hand, and the Company and any of its Subsidiaries on the other hand since January 1, 2003. Except as set forth in Section 4.07(a) of the Disclosure Schedule, no Subsidiary other than the Operating Partnership and CAR is or has been required to file any form, report or other document with the SEC or any securities exchange or quotation service.
(b) Each of the consolidated financial statements (including, in each case, any notes thereto) contained in or incorporated by reference into the Company SEC Reports was prepared in accordance with GAAP applied on a consistent basis throughout the periods indicated (except as may be indicated in the notes thereto), complied in all material respects with applicable accounting requirements and the rules and regulations of the SEC and each fairly presented, in all material respects, the consolidated financial position, results of operations and cash flows of the Company and its consolidated Subsidiaries, the Operating Partnership and its consolidated subsidiaries, or CAR and its consolidated subsidiaries, as the case may be, as of the respective dates thereof and for the respective periods indicated therein except as otherwise noted therein (subject, in the case of unaudited statements, to normal and recurring year end adjustments).
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(c) Except (i) as set forth in Section 4.07(c) of the Disclosure Schedule, (ii) to the extent set forth on the consolidated balance sheet of the Company as of December 31, 2005 (including the notes thereto) included in the Company’s Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2005, (iii) liabilities incurred on behalf of the Company or any Subsidiary in connection with this Agreement, and (iv) liabilities incurred in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice since December 31, 2005, none of the Company or its Subsidiaries had any liabilities or obligations of any nature (whether accrued, absolute, contingent or otherwise) required by GAAP to be set forth in a consolidated balance sheet of the Company or in the notes thereto, except for any such liabilities or obligations which would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Company Material Adverse Effect.
SECTION 4.08 Absence of Certain Changes or Events. Except as disclosed in the Company SEC Reports filed prior to the date hereof, since December 31, 2005 through the date hereof, (a) each of the Company, the Operating Partnership and the other Subsidiaries has conducted its business in the ordinary course consistent with past practice, (b) there has not been an event, occurrence, effect or circumstance that has resulted or would reasonably be expected to result in a Company Material Adverse Effect, (c) there has not been any declaration, setting aside for payment or payment of any dividend or other distribution (whether in cash, stock or property) with respect to any of the Company Series E Preferred Shares, Company Common Shares or the Existing Units other than (i) regular quarterly cash dividends at a rate equal to $0.50 per Company Common Share, (ii) dividends paid to holders of the Company Series E Preferred Shares in accordance with the terms of such security, and (iii) distributions paid to holders of Existing Units in accordance with the terms of the CRH Partnership Agreement and the CAR Partnership Agreement, and (d) there has not been any change in any method of accounting or accounting practice or any material change in any tax method or election by the Company or any Subsidiary.
SECTION 4.09 Absence of Litigation. Except (i) as listed in Section 4.09 of the Disclosure Schedule or (ii) as set forth in the Company SEC Reports filed prior to the date of this Agreement, there is no Action pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened against the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any of its or their respective properties or assets or any director, officer or employee of the Company or any Subsidiaries or other Person, in each case, for whom the Company or any Subsidiaries may be liable, except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, (x) prevent or materially delay consummation of the Mergers and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement or (y) have a Company Material Adverse Effect. None of the Company and its Subsidiaries is subject to any order, judgment, writ, injunction or decree, except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect.
SECTION 4.10 Employee Benefit Plans.
(a) Section 4.10(a) of the Disclosure Schedule lists all employee benefit plans (as defined in Section 3(3) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (“ERISA”)) and material bonus, stock option, stock purchase, restricted stock, incentive, deferred compensation, retiree medical or life insurance, supplemental retirement, severance or other benefit plans, programs or arrangements, and all retention, bonus, employment, termination, severance or other contracts or agreements to which the Company or
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any “ERISA Affiliate” (as defined in Section 4.10(g)) is a party, with respect to which the Company or any ERISA Affiliate has any current or future obligation or which are maintained, contributed to or sponsored by the Company or any Subsidiary for the benefit of any current or former employee, officer, director or independent contractor of the Company or any ERISA Affiliate (all such plans, programs, arrangements, contracts or agreements, whether or not listed in Section 4.10(a) of the Disclosure Schedule, and without qualification for materiality as provided above, collectively, the “Plans”). The Company has made available to Parent copies, which are correct and complete in all material respects, of the following: (i) the Plans, (ii) the annual report (Form 5500) filed with the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) for the last three plan years, (iii) the most recently received IRS determination letter, if any, relating to a Plan, (iv) the most recently prepared actuarial report or financial statement, if any, relating to a Plan, (v) the most recent summary plan description for such Plan (or other descriptions of such Plan provided to employees) and all modifications thereto, and (vi) all material correspondence with the Department of Labor or the IRS.
(b) Each Plan has been established and operated in accordance with its terms and the requirements of all applicable Laws, including ERISA and the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (the “Code”), except for such noncompliance that would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Company Material Adverse Effect. Each Plan that is a “nonqualified deferred compensation plan” (as defined in Section 409A(d)(1) of the Code) has been operated since January 1, 2005 in good faith compliance with Section 409A of the Code, IRS Notice 2005-1 and Proposed Regulation Sections 1.409A-1 through 1.409A-6 inclusive. No Action is pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened, with respect to any Plan (other than claims for benefits in the ordinary course) that would, individually or in the aggregate, have a Company Material Adverse Effect.
(c) Each Plan that is intended to be qualified under Section 401(a) of the Code or Section 401(k) of the Code has received a favorable determination letter from the IRS, or is entitled to rely on a favorable opinion issued by the IRS, and to the knowledge of the Company no fact or event has occurred since the date of such determination letter or letters from the IRS to adversely affect the qualified status of any such Plan or the exempt status of any such trust.
(d) Neither the Company nor any ERISA Affiliate, sponsors, has sponsored or has any obligation with respect to any employee benefit plan that is subject to the provisions of Title IV of ERISA, is an employee stock ownership plan within the meaning of Section 4975(e)(7) of the Code, a voluntary employee beneficiary association or is a multiemployer plan within the meaning of Section 3(37) of ERISA. Neither the Company nor any ERISA Affiliate sponsors, has sponsored or has any obligation with respect to any employee benefit plan that provides for any post-employment or post-retirement health or medical or life insurance benefits for retired, former or current employees of the Company or any ERISA Affiliate, except as required by Section 4980B of the Code.
(e) Full payment has been made, or otherwise properly accrued on the books and records of the Company and any ERISA Affiliate, of all amounts that the Company and any ERISA Affiliate are required under the terms of the Plans to have paid as contributions to such Plans on or prior to the date hereof (excluding any amounts not yet due) and the contribution requirements, on a prorated basis, for the current year have been made or otherwise properly accrued on the books and records of the Company through the Closing Date.
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(f) Except as set forth in Section 4.10(f)(i) of the Disclosure Schedule, neither the execution and delivery of this Agreement nor the consummation of the Mergers and the transactions contemplated hereby will (either alone or in conjunction with any other event) result in, cause the vesting, exercisability or delivery of, or increase in the amount or value of, any payment, right or other benefit to any employee, officer, director or other service provider of the Company or any ERISA Affiliate. Except as set forth in Section 4.10(f)(ii) of the Disclosure Schedule, no Plan, either individually or collectively, provides for any payment by the Company or any ERISA Affiliate that would constitute a “parachute payment” within the meaning of Section 280G of the Code after giving effect to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement (either alone or in conjunction with any other event).
(g) For purposes of this Section 4.10, an entity is an “ERISA Affiliate” of the Company if it would have ever been considered a single employer with the Company under 4001(b) of ERISA or part of the same controlled group as the Company for purposes of Section 302(d)(8)(C) of ERISA.
SECTION 4.11 Labor Matters.
(a) Except as set forth in Section 4.11 of the Disclosure Schedule, neither the Company nor any Subsidiary is a party to any collective bargaining agreement or other labor union contract applicable to persons employed by the Company or any Subsidiary. Except as set forth in Section 4.11 of the Disclosure Schedule or as would not, individually or the aggregate, have a Company Material Adverse Effect, (i) neither the Company nor any Subsidiary has breached or otherwise failed to comply with any provision of any such agreement or contract, and there are no grievances outstanding against the Company or any Subsidiary under such agreement or contract, (ii) none of the employees of the Company or its Subsidiaries is represented by a union, (iii) to the knowledge of the Company no union organizing efforts have been conducted within the last three years or are now being conducted, and (iv) there is no, and, to the knowledge of the Company, there has not been a, strike, slowdown, work stoppage or lockout by or with respect to any employees of the Company or any Subsidiary.
(b) The Company and each of its Subsidiaries is in compliance in all material respects with all applicable Laws relating to the employment of labor, including all applicable Laws relating to wages, hours, collective bargaining, employment discrimination, civil rights, safety and health, workers’ compensation, pay equity and the collection and payment of withholding and/or social security taxes. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has incurred any liability or obligation under the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act (“WARN”) or any similar state or local Law within the last six months which remains unsatisfied.
SECTION 4.12 Information Supplied. The information supplied by the Company Parties for inclusion or incorporation by reference in the Proxy Statement or any other document to be filed with the SEC or provided to holders of CRH LP Units or CAR LP Units in connection with the transaction contemplated by this Agreement (the “Other Filings”) will not, in the case of the
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Proxy Statement, at the date it is first mailed to the Company’s stockholders or at the time of the Company Stockholders’ Meeting or at the time of any amendment or supplement thereof, or, in the case of any Other Filing at the date it is first mailed to the Company’s stockholders or holders of interests in any Subsidiary or at the date it is first filed with the SEC, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they are made, not misleading. No representation is made (or omitted to be made) by the Company Parties with respect to statements made or incorporated by reference therein based on information supplied by Buyer Parties in connection with the preparation of the Proxy Statement or the Other Filings for inclusion or incorporation by reference therein. All documents that the Company is responsible for filing with the SEC in connection with the Mergers, or the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement, will comply as to form and substance in all material respects with the applicable requirements of the Securities Act and the rules and regulations thereunder and the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder.
SECTION 4.13 Property and Leases.
(a) Section 4.13(a) of the Disclosure Schedule sets forth a correct and complete list and address of all real property interests, but excluding space leases, owned or held by (i) the Company and the Subsidiaries or (ii) to the knowledge of the Company, the JV Entities, including fee interests, ground leasehold interests and mortgage loans held as lender (all such real property interests, together with all buildings, structures and other improvements and fixtures located on or under such real property and all easements, rights and other appurtenances to such real property, are individually referred to herein as “Company Property” and collectively referred to herein as the “Company Properties”). As of the date hereof, each of the Company Properties is owned or leased by the Operating Partnership, other Subsidiaries or, to the knowledge of the Company, by JV Entities as indicated in Section 4.13(a) of the Disclosure Schedule. As of the date hereof, the Operating Partnership, other Subsidiaries of the Company or, to the knowledge of the Company, the JV Entities own or, if so indicated in Section 4.13(a) of the Disclosure Schedule, lease each of the Company Properties, in each case, free and clear of any Liens, title defects, covenants or reservations of interests in title (collectively, “Property Restrictions”), except for Permitted Liens and any other limitations of any kind, if any, that would not have or would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Company Material Adverse Effect.
(b) Except as set forth on Section 4.13(b) of the Disclosure Schedule, as of the date hereof, none of the Company and the Subsidiaries has received (i) written notice that any certificate, permit or license from any Governmental Authority having jurisdiction over any of the Company Properties or any agreement, easement or other right of an unlimited duration that is necessary to permit the lawful use and operation of the buildings and improvements on any of the Company Properties or that is necessary to permit the lawful use and operation of all utilities, parking areas, detention ponds, driveways, roads and other means of egress and ingress to and from any of the Company Properties is not in full force and effect, except for such failures to have in full force and effect that would not reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect, or of any pending written threat of modification or cancellation of any of same, that would reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect or (ii) written notice of any uncured violation of any Laws affecting any of the Company Properties or operations which would reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect.
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(c) Section 4.13(c) of the Disclosure Schedule sets forth a correct and complete list, as of the date hereof, of all agreements for the pending acquisition, sale, option to sell, right of first refusal, right of first offer or any other contractual right to sell or dispose of (by merger, purchase or sale of assets or stock or otherwise) any personal property valued at $100,000 or more, except for any such agreement or contractual right contemplated by or provided in any Company Lease. The Company and each of its Subsidiaries have good and sufficient title to all the material personal and non-real properties and assets reflected in their books and records as being owned by them, free and clear of all Liens, except for Permitted Liens and other matters that do not interfere materially with the current use of such property.
(d) Except as provided for in Section 4.13(d) of the Disclosure Schedule, policies of title insurance (each a “Company Title Insurance Policy”) have been issued insuring, as of the effective date of each such Company Title Insurance Policy, the Operating Partnership’s or the other applicable Subsidiary’s (or the applicable predecessor’s or acquiror’s) title to or leasehold interest in the Company Properties, subject to the matters disclosed on the Company Title Insurance Policies and Permitted Liens. A copy of each Company Title Insurance Policy issued, with respect to each Company Property that the Company and its Subsidiaries did not own at the time of the Company’s initial public offering (the “Post-IPO Company Properties” and the Company Properties that the Company and its Subsidiaries owned at the time of the initial public offering are referred to as the “IPO Company Properties”), in connection with the acquisition of such Post-IPO Company Property by the Company or any Subsidiary and, with respect to each IPO Company Property, in connection with the contribution of such IPO Company Property to the Company or any Subsidiary in connection with the Company’s initial public offering, which is correct and complete in all material respects as of the date of such Company Title Insurance Policy, has been previously made available to Parent.
(e) Except as provided for in Section 4.13(e) of the Disclosure Schedule, to the knowledge of the Company, as of the date hereof, none of the Company, any of the Subsidiaries or, to the knowledge of the Company, any of the JV Entities has received any written notice to the effect that any condemnation or rezoning proceedings are pending with respect to any of the Company Properties that would, individually or in the aggregate, have a Company Material Adverse Effect.
(f) Except as provided in Section 4.13(f) of the Disclosure Schedule and except for immaterial discrepancies or omissions, the rent rolls for the Company Properties dated as of December 31, 2005 which have previously been made available to Parent, list each lease that was in effect as of December 31, 2005 and to which the Operating Partnership, other Subsidiaries or, to the knowledge of the Company, the JV Entities, are parties as landlords with respect to each of the applicable Company Properties (such leases, together with all amendments, modifications, supplements, renewals, extensions and guarantees related thereto, the “Company Leases”). Except as set forth on Schedule 4.13(f), Company has made available to Parent copies of all Company Leases that relate to in excess of 25,000 square feet of net rentable area (the “Material Company Leases”), in effect as of the date hereof, which copies are correct and complete in all material respects as of the respective dates of such leases. Except as set forth in
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Section 4.13(f) of the Disclosure Schedule, none of the Operating Partnership, any other Subsidiary or, to the knowledge of the Company, any JV Entity has received written notice that it is in default under any Material Company Lease, except for violations or defaults that have been cured or are disclosed in the rent rolls. Except as provided in Section 4.13(f) of the Disclosure Schedule, no tenant under a Material Company Lease is in monetary or, to the knowledge of the Company, material non-monetary default under such Material Company Lease. Except as would not reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect, (i) neither the Company nor any Subsidiary is and, to the knowledge of the Company, no other party is in breach or violation of, or default under, any Material Company Lease, (ii) no event has occurred which would result in a breach or violation of, or a default under, any Material Company Lease by the Company or any Subsidiary, or to the knowledge of the Company, any other party thereto (in each case, with or without notice or lapse of time or both) and (iii) each Material Company Lease is valid, binding and enforceable in accordance with its terms and is in full force and effect with respect to the Company or the Subsidiaries and, to the knowledge of the Company, with respect to the other parties thereto.
(g) Section 4.13(g) of the Disclosure Schedule sets forth a correct and complete list as of the date of this Agreement of each ground lease pursuant to which the Operating Partnership, any other Subsidiary or, to the knowledge of the Company, any JV Entity is a lessee (individually, a “Ground Lease” and collectively, “Ground Leases”). Each Ground Lease is in full force and effect and none of the Operating Partnership, any other Subsidiary or, to the knowledge of the Company, any JV Entity has received a written notice that it is in default under any Ground Lease which remains uncured. The Company has made available to Parent copies of each Ground Lease and all amendments or other modifications thereto, which copies are correct and complete in all material respects. Except as would not reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect, (i) neither the Company nor any Subsidiary is and, to the knowledge of the Company, no other party is in breach or violation of, or default under, any Ground Lease, (ii) no event has occurred which would result in a breach or violation of, or a default under, any Ground Lease by the Company or any Subsidiary, or to the knowledge of the Company, any other party thereto (in each case, with or without notice or lapse of time or both) and (iii) each Ground Lease is valid, binding and enforceable in accordance with its terms and is in full force and effect with respect to the Company or the Subsidiaries and, to the knowledge of the Company, with respect to the other parties thereto.
(h) Except as set forth in Section 4.13(h) of the Disclosure Schedule or as contemplated by, or provided in, the Company Leases, as of the date hereof, there are no unexpired option agreements or rights of first refusal with respect to the purchase of a Company Property or any portion thereof that is owned by the Operating Partnership or its Subsidiaries or any other unexpired rights in favor of any party other than the Company or any Subsidiary (a “Third Party”) to purchase or otherwise acquire a Company Property or any portion that is owned by the Operating Partnership or its Subsidiaries or any portion thereof or to enter into any contract for sale, ground lease or letter of intent to sell or ground lease any Company Property or any portion thereof that is owned by the Operating Partnership or its Subsidiaries.
(i) The Company has provided or made available to Parent all agreements pursuant to which the Company or any Subsidiary manages, acts as leasing agent for or provides development services for any real property for any Third Party (including any related guarantees)
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and any other contracts which otherwise produce fee income to the Company, any of its Subsidiaries or, to the knowledge of the Company, the JV Entities, in excess of $100,000 per year, which agreements are correct and complete in all material respects. Such agreements for the provision of development services (including any related guarantees) are set forth in Section 4.13(i) of the Disclosure Schedule.
(j) Except for those contracts or agreements set forth in Section 4.13(j) of the Disclosure Schedule or as contemplated by, or provided in, the Company Leases, none of the Company, any of its Subsidiaries or, to the knowledge of the Company, any JV Entity has entered into any contract or agreement (collectively, the “Participation Agreements”) with any Third Party or any employee, consultant, Affiliate or other person (the “Participation Party”) that provides for a right of such Participation Party to participate, invest, join, partner, or have any interest in whatsoever (whether characterized as a contingent fee, profits interest, equity interest or otherwise) or have the right to any of the foregoing in any proposed or anticipated investment opportunity, joint venture, partnership or any other current or future transaction or property in which the Company or any Subsidiary has or will have an interest, including but not limited to those transactions or properties identified, sourced, produced or developed by such Participation Party (a “Participation Interest”).
(k) Except as set forth in Section 4.13(k) of the Disclosure Schedule, the Company and the Subsidiaries have good and marketable title to, or a valid and enforceable leasehold interest in, all personal property owned, used or held for use by them, except as would not have a Company Material Adverse Effect. Except as set forth in Section 4.13(k) of the Disclosure Schedule, neither the Company’s nor any of its Subsidiaries’ ownership of or leasehold interest in any such personal property is subject to any Liens, except for Liens that would not have a Company Material Adverse Effect.
SECTION 4.14 Intellectual Property. Except as individually or in the aggregate would not reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect, (a) to the knowledge of the Company, the conduct of the business of the Company and the Subsidiaries as currently conducted does not infringe or otherwise violate the Intellectual Property rights of any Third Party, (b) with respect to Intellectual Property used by, owned by or licensed to the Company or any Subsidiary (“Company Intellectual Property”), the Company or such Subsidiary owns the entire right, title and interest in the Company Intellectual Property purported to be owned by the Company or any Subsidiary and has the right to use the other Company Intellectual Property in the continued operation of its business as currently conducted, (c) to the knowledge of the Company, no Third Party is infringing or otherwise violating the Company Intellectual Property rights, and (d) the Company and the Subsidiaries have taken reasonable actions to protect and maintain the Company Intellectual Property (including Company Intellectual Property that is confidential in nature).
SECTION 4.15 Taxes. Except as set forth in Section 4.15 of the Disclosure Schedule:
(a) Each of the Company and the Subsidiaries (i) has timely filed (or had filed on their behalf) all Tax Returns, as defined below, required to be filed by any of them (after giving effect to any filing extension granted by a Governmental Authority) and (ii) has paid (or had paid on their behalf) or will timely pay all material Taxes (whether or not shown on such
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Tax Returns) that are required to be paid by it, and such Tax Returns are true, correct and complete in all material respects. The most recent financial statements contained in the Company SEC Reports filed prior to the date hereof reflect an adequate reserve (excluding any reserve for deferred Taxes established to reflect timing differences between book and Tax income) for all Taxes payable by the Company and the Subsidiaries for all taxable periods and portions thereof through the date of such financial statements and Taxes payable by the Company and Subsidiaries on the Closing Date will not exceed such reserve as adjusted through the Closing Date in accordance with the past custom and practice of the Company and its Subsidiaries in filing their Tax Returns. True, correct and complete copies of all federal Tax Returns for the Company and the Subsidiaries with respect to the taxable years commencing on or after January 2002 have been delivered or made available to representatives of Parent. Neither the Company nor any of the Subsidiaries has executed or filed with the IRS or any other taxing authority any agreement, waiver or other document or arrangement extending the period for assessment or collection of material Taxes (including, but not limited to, any applicable statute of limitation), and no power of attorney with respect to any Tax matter is currently in force with respect to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries. As used here, the term “Tax Returns” means all reports, returns, declarations, statements or other information required to be supplied to a taxing authority in connection with Taxes.
(b) The Company, (i) for all taxable years commencing with the Company’s taxable year ending December 31, 1996 through December 31, 2005, has been subject to taxation as a REIT within the meaning of Section 856 of the Code and has satisfied all requirements to qualify as a REIT for such years, (ii) has operated since December 31, 2005 to the date hereof in a manner that will permit it to qualify as a REIT for the taxable year that includes the date hereof, and (iii) intends to continue to operate in such a manner as to permit it to continue to qualify as a REIT for the taxable year of the Company that will end with the Company Merger (and if the Company Merger is not consummated prior to January 1, 2007, for the taxable year that will end on December 31, 2006). No challenge to the Company’s status as a REIT is pending or has been threatened in writing. No Subsidiary is a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes, other than a corporation that qualifies as a “qualified REIT subsidiary,” within the meaning of Section 856(i)(2) of the Code, or as a “taxable REIT subsidiary,” within the meaning of Section 856(1) of the Code.
(c) Each Subsidiary that is a partnership, joint venture, or limited liability company (i) has been since its formation treated for U.S. federal income tax purposes as a partnership or disregarded entity, as the case may be, and not as a corporation or an association taxable as a corporation and (ii) has not since the later of its formation or the acquisition by the Company of a direct or indirect interest therein owned any assets (including, without limitation, securities) that have caused the Company to violate Section 856(c)(4) of the Code or would cause the Company to violate Section 856(c)(4) of the Code on the last day of any calendar quarter after the date hereof.
(d) Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary holds any asset the disposition of which would be subject to rules similar to Section 1374 of the Code.
(e) Since January 1, 2002, neither the Company nor any Subsidiary has recognized taxable gain or loss from the disposition of any property that was reported as a “like
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kind exchange” under Section 1031 of the Code, except to the extent of any gain that was required to be recognized under Section 1031(b) of the Code and that was timely reported on the Tax Returns of the Company.
(f) Since January 1, 2002, (i) the Company and its Subsidiaries have not incurred any liability for material Taxes under sections 857(b), 857(f), 860(c) or 4981 of the Code which have not been previously paid and (ii) neither the Company nor any Subsidiary has incurred any material Liability for Taxes that have not been previously paid other than in the ordinary course of business. To the knowledge of the Company, neither the Company nor any Subsidiary (other than a “taxable REIT subsidiary” or any subsidiary of a “taxable REIT subsidiary”) has engaged at any time in any “prohibited transactions” within the meaning of Section 857(b)(6) of the Code. To the knowledge of the Company, neither the Company nor any Subsidiary has engaged in any transaction that would give rise to “redetermined rents, redetermined deductions and excess interest” described in section 857(b)(7) of the Code. No event has occurred, and no condition or circumstances exists, which presents a material risk that any material Tax described in the preceding sentences will be imposed on the Company or any Subsidiary.
(g) All deficiencies asserted or assessments made with respect to the Company or any Subsidiary as a result of any examinations by the IRS or any other taxing authority of the Tax Returns of or covering or including the Company or any Subsidiary have been fully paid, and, to the knowledge of the Company, there are no other audits, examinations or other proceedings relating to any Taxes of the Company or any Subsidiary by any taxing authority in progress. Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary has received any written notice from any taxing authority that it intends to conduct such an audit, examination or other proceeding in respect to Taxes or make any assessment for Taxes. Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary is a party to any litigation or pending litigation or administrative proceeding relating to Taxes (other than litigation dealing with appeals of property tax valuations).
(h) The Company and the Subsidiaries have complied, in all materials respects, with all applicable laws, rules and regulations relating to the payment and withholding of Taxes (including withholding of Taxes pursuant to Sections 1441, 1442, 1445, 1446, and 3402 of the Code or similar provisions under any foreign laws) and have duly and timely withheld and have paid over to the appropriate taxing authorities all material amounts required to be so withheld and paid over on or prior to the due date thereof under all applicable Laws.
(i) To the knowledge of the Company, no claim has been made in writing by a taxing authority in a jurisdiction where the Company or any Subsidiary does not file Tax Returns that the Company or any such Subsidiary is or may be subject to taxation by that jurisdiction.
(j) Neither the Company nor any other Person on behalf of the Company or any Subsidiary has requested any extension of time within which to file any material Tax Return, which material Tax Return has not yet been filed.
(k) Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary is a party to any Tax sharing or similar agreement or arrangement other than any agreement or arrangement solely between the Company and any Subsidiary, pursuant to which it will have any obligation to make any payments after the Closing.
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(l) Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary has requested a private letter ruling from the IRS or comparable rulings from other taxing authorities.
(m) Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary (A) is or has ever been a member of an affiliated group (other than a group the common parent of which is the Company or a directly or indirectly wholly-owned Subsidiary of the Company) filing a consolidated federal income tax return and (B) has any liability for the Taxes of another person other than the Company and the Subsidiaries under Treasury regulation 1.1502-6 (or any similar provision of state, local or foreign law), as a transferee or successor or by contract.
(n) There are no Liens for Taxes (other than Taxes not yet due and payable for which adequate reserves have been made in accordance with GAAP) upon any of the assets of the Company or any Subsidiary.
(o) To the knowledge of the Company, as of the date hereof, the Company is a “domestically-controlled REIT” within the meaning of Section 897(h)(4)(B) of the Code.
(p) There are no Tax Protection Agreements currently in force and no person has raised in writing, or to the knowledge of the Company threatened to raise, a material claim against the Company or any Subsidiary for any breach of any Tax Protection Agreement.
(q) Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is a party to any understanding or arrangement described in Section 6662(d)(2)(C)(ii) or Treasury Regulations Section 1.6011-4(b) or is a material advisor as defined in Section 6111(b) of the Code.
(r) Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has entered into any “closing agreement” as described in Section 7121 of the Code (or any corresponding or similar provision of state, local or foreign income Tax law).
As used herein, “Tax Protection Agreements” shall mean any written or oral agreement to which the Company or any Subsidiary is a party pursuant to which: (a) any liability to holders of Existing Units relating to Taxes may arise, whether or not as a result of the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement; (b) in connection with the deferral of income Taxes of a holder of Existing Units, the Company or the Subsidiaries have agreed to (i) maintain a minimum level of debt or continue a particular debt, (ii) retain or not dispose of assets for a period of time that has not since expired, (iii) make or refrain from making Tax elections, and/or (iv) only dispose of assets in a particular manner; and/or (c) limited partners of CAR or CRH have guaranteed debt of CAR or CRH, respectively.
SECTION 4.16 Environmental Matters. (a) Section 4.16 of the Disclosure Schedule sets forth a list of all the reports related to the environmental condition of the Company Property that have been provided to Parent. Except as set forth in the executive summary sections of such reports or as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect:
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(i) each of the Company, the Subsidiaries and, to the knowledge of the Company, the JV Entities (X) is in compliance with all, and has not violated any, Environmental Laws, (Y) holds all Permits, approvals, identification numbers, licenses and other authorizations required under any Environmental Law to own or operate its assets as currently owned and operated and to carry on its business as it is now being conducted (“Environmental Permits”) and (Z) is in compliance with all of, and has not violated any of, its respective Environmental Permits;
(ii) neither the Company nor any Subsidiary has released, and to the knowledge of the Company, no other person has released, Hazardous Substances on any real property currently owned, leased or operated by the Company or the Subsidiaries, and, to the knowledge of the Company, no Hazardous Substances or other conditions are present at any other location that could reasonably be expected to result in liability of or adversely affecting the Company, any Subsidiary or any JV Entity under or related to any Environmental Law;
(iii) neither the Company nor any Subsidiary nor, to the knowledge of the Company, any JV Entity, has received any written notice or claim alleging that the Company or any Subsidiary is or may be in violation of, or liable under, or a potentially responsible party pursuant to, the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 (“CERCLA”) or any other Environmental Law and, to the knowledge of the Company, there is no basis for any such notice or claim; and
(iv) neither the Company nor any Subsidiary nor, to the knowledge of the Company, any JV Entity (Y) has entered into or agreed to any consent decree or order or is a party to any judgment, decree or judicial order relating to compliance with Environmental Laws, Environmental Permits or the investigation, sampling, monitoring, treatment, remediation, removal or cleanup of Hazardous Substances, and to the knowledge of the Company, no investigation, litigation or other proceeding is pending or, threatened with respect to any of the above or (Z) has assumed, by contract or operation of law, any liability under any Environmental Law or relating to any Hazardous Substances, or is an indemnitor in connection with any threatened or asserted claim by any third-party indemnitee for any liability under any Environmental Law or relating to any Hazardous Substances.
(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, this Section 4.16 sets forth the Company’s sole and exclusive representations and warranties with respect to Hazardous Substances, Environmental Laws or other environmental matters.
SECTION 4.17 Material Contracts. Section 4.17 of the Disclosure Schedule lists each of the following Contracts (and all amendments, modifications and supplements thereto and all side letters to which the Company or any Subsidiary or, to the knowledge of the Company, any JV Entity, is a party affecting the obligations of any party thereunder) to which the Company or any Subsidiary or, to the knowledge of the Company, any JV Entity, is a party or by which any of their respective properties or assets are bound (each such contract and agreement, being a “Material Contract”) (notwithstanding anything below, “Material Contract” shall not include any contract that (1) is terminable upon 90 days’ notice without a penalty or premium, (2) will be fully performed and satisfied as of or prior to Closing, (3) is a Company Lease or (4) is a Ground Lease):
(a) all agreements that call for aggregate payments by, or other consideration from, the Company or any Subsidiaries under such contract of more than $5,000,000 over the remaining term of such contract;
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(b) all agreements that call for annual aggregate payments by, or other consideration from, the Company or any Subsidiaries under such contract of more than $1,000,000 over the remaining term of such contract;
(c) any agreement that contains any non-compete or exclusivity provisions with respect to any line of business in which the Company or any Subsidiary is currently engaged or geographic area with respect to the Company or any Subsidiary, or that purports to restrict in any material respect the right of the Company or any Subsidiary to conduct any line of business in which the Company or any Subsidiary is currently engaged or to compete with any Person or operate in any geographic area or location in which the Company or any Subsidiary may conduct business;
(d) any partnership, limited liability company agreement, joint venture or other similar agreement entered into by the Company or any Subsidiary with any Third Party;
(e) any agreements for the pending purchase or sale, option to purchase or sell, right of first refusal, right of first offer or any other contractual right to purchase, sell, dispose of, or master lease, by merger, purchase or sale of assets or stock or otherwise, any real property including any Company Property or any asset that if purchased by the Company or any Subsidiary would be a Company Property;
(f) any contract or agreement pursuant to which the Company or any Subsidiary agrees to indemnify or hold harmless any director or executive officer of the Company or any Subsidiary (other than the organizational documents for the Company or the Subsidiaries);
(g) (i) any loan agreement, letter of credit, indenture, note, bond, debenture, mortgage or any other document, agreement or instrument evidencing a capitalized leased obligation or other Indebtedness of, for the benefit of, or payable to the Company or any Subsidiary (other than among the Company and the Subsidiaries) in excess of $5,000,000, or (ii) any Contract (other than any Organizational Document) to provide any funds to or make any investment in (whether in the form of a loan, capital contribution or otherwise) any Subsidiary, JV Entity or other Person;
(h) any employment agreements, severance, change in control or termination agreements with officers of the Company or any Subsidiary;
(i) any Contract pursuant to which the Company or any Subsidiary has potential liability in respect of any purchase price adjustment, earn-out or contingent purchase price that, in each case, could reasonably be expected to result in future payments of more than $1,000,000; or any Contract relating to the settlement or proposed settlement of any Action, which involves the issuance of equity securities or the payment of an amount in excess of $1,000,000;
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(j) any license, royalty or other Contract concerning Intellectual Property which is material to the Company Parties or any Subsidiary;
(k) any “material contract” (as such term is defined in Item 601(b)(10) of Regulation S-K under the Securities Act).
Except as would not reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect, (i) neither the Company nor any Subsidiary is and, to the knowledge of the Company, no other party is in breach or violation of, or default under, any Material Contract, (ii) none of the Company or Subsidiary has received any claim of default under any such agreement, and (iii) no event has occurred which would result in a breach or violation of, or a default under, any Material Contract (in each case, with or without notice or lapse of time or both). Except as would not reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect, each Material Contract is valid, binding and enforceable in accordance with its terms and is in full force and effect with respect to the Company or its Subsidiaries and, to the knowledge of the Company, with respect to the other parties thereto. The Company has made available to Parent copies of all Material Contracts (including any amendments or other modifications thereto), which copies are correct and complete in all material respects.
SECTION 4.18 Brokers. No broker, finder or investment banker or other Person (other than Xxxxxxx, Xxxxx & Co., the “Company Financial Advisor” and Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx & Company Incorporated, the “Partnerships Merger Advisor”) is entitled to any brokerage, finder’s or other fee or commission in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement based upon arrangements made by or on behalf of the Company or any Subsidiary. The Company has made available to Parent a correct and complete copy of all agreements between the Company, on the one hand, and the Company Financial Advisor or the Partnerships Merger Advisor, on the other hand, under which the Company Financial Advisor and the Partnerships Merger Advisor would be entitled to any payment in connection with the Mergers or the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
SECTION 4.19 Opinion of Financial Advisor.
(a) The Company Financial Advisor has delivered to the Company the written opinion of the Company Financial Advisor (or oral opinion to be confirmed in writing) to the effect that, as of the date hereof, the Company Common Share Merger Consideration to be received by holders of Company Common Shares is fair from a financial point of view to such holders. The Company has made available to Parent a complete and correct copy of such opinion (or, if not delivered in writing to the Company prior to the date hereof, the Company will promptly make such opinion available to Parent upon receipt).
(b) The Partnerships Merger Advisor has delivered to the general partner of each DownREIT Partnership the written opinion of the Partnerships Merger Advisor (or oral opinion to be confirmed in writing) to the effect that, as of the date hereof: (i) the CAR Merger Consideration to be received by holders of CAR LP Units excluding the general partner of CAR and any officers and directors, in their individual capacity, of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries and (ii) the CRH Merger Consideration to be received by holders of CRH LP Units excluding the general partner of CRH and any officers and directors, in their individual capacity,
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of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, is fair from a financial point of view to the holders of such CAR LP Units and CRH LP Units, respectively. The general partner of each DownREIT Partnership has made available to Parent a complete and correct copy of such opinion (or, if not delivered in writing to the general partner of each DownREIT Partnership prior to the date hereof, the general partner of each DownREIT Partnership will promptly make such opinion available to Parent upon receipt).
SECTION 4.20 Insurance. Section 4.20(a) of the Disclosure Schedule sets forth a list that is correct and complete in all material respects of the insurance policies, other than the Company Title Insurance Policies, held by, or for the benefit of, the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, including the underwriter of such policies and the amount of coverage thereunder. Except as set forth in Section 4.20(b) of the Disclosure Schedule, there is no claim by the Company or any Subsidiary pending under any such policies which (a) has been denied or disputed by the insurer other than denials and disputes in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice or (b) if not paid, would have a Company Material Adverse Effect. With respect to each such insurance policy, except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Company Material Adverse Effect, (a) the Company and each of its Subsidiaries have paid, or caused to be paid, all premiums due under the policy and have not received written notice that they are in default with respect to any obligations under the policy, and (b) to the knowledge of the Company, as of the date hereof no insurer on the policy has been declared insolvent or placed in receivership, conservatorship or liquidation. Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary has received any written notice of cancellation or termination with respect to any existing insurance policy set forth in Section 4.20(a) of the Disclosure Schedule that is held by, or for the benefit of, any of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, other than as would not have, individually or in the aggregate, a Company Material Adverse Effect.
SECTION 4.21 Interested Party Transactions. Except as set forth in Section 4.21 of the Disclosure Schedule or in the Company SEC Reports filed with the SEC prior to the date of this Agreement, there are no events that would be required to be reported by the Company, CAR or the Operating Partnership pursuant to Item 404 of Regulation S-K promulgated by the SEC, and no material Contracts, agreements or loans between the Company or any Subsidiary, on the one hand, and (a) any officer or director of the Company, (b) any record or beneficial owner of five percent (5%) or more of the voting securities or partnership interests of the Company or either of the DownREIT Partnerships or (c) any associate (as defined in Rule 12b-2 under the Exchange Act) or affiliate of any such officer, director or record or beneficial owner, on the other hand. Since the enactment of the Xxxxxxxx-Xxxxx Act of 2002, neither the Company nor any of the Subsidiaries has made any loans to any such executive officers or directors.
SECTION 4.22 Investment Company Act of 1940. None of the Company or any Subsidiary is, or at the Partnership Mergers Effective Time will be, required to be registered as an investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.
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ARTICLE V
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF BUYER PARTIES
The Buyer Parties hereby jointly and severally represent and warrant to the Company Parties as follows:
SECTION 5.01 Corporate Organization.
(a) Parent is a limited liability company duly formed, validly existing and in good standing under the Laws of the State of Delaware. The certificate of formation of Parent is in effect and no dissolution, revocation or forfeiture proceedings regarding Parent as applicable, have been commenced. Parent is in good standing under the Laws of any other jurisdiction in which the character of the properties owned, leased or operated by it therein or in which the transaction of its business makes such qualification or licensing necessary except where the failure to be so qualified, licensed or in good standing would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Parent Material Adverse Effect. Parent has all requisite limited liability company power and authority to own, lease and operate its properties and to carry on its businesses as now conducted and proposed by it to be conducted.
(b) MergerCo is a corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the Laws of the State of Maryland. The charter and bylaws of MergerCo are in effect and no dissolution, revocation or forfeiture proceedings regarding MergerCo have been commenced. MergerCo is in good standing under the Laws of any other jurisdiction in which the character of the properties owned, leased or operated by it therein or in which the transaction of its business makes such qualification or licensing necessary, except where the failure to be so qualified, licensed or in good standing would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Parent Material Adverse Effect. MergerCo has all requisite corporate power and authority to own, lease and operate its properties and to carry on its businesses as now conducted and proposed by it to be conducted. All the issued and outstanding shares of capital stock of MergerCo are owned of record and beneficially by Parent.
(c) Each Merger Partnership is a limited partnership duly formed, validly existing and in good standing under the Laws of the State of Delaware. The partnership agreement of each Merger Partnership is in effect and no dissolution, revocation or forfeiture proceedings regarding either Merger Partnership have been commenced. Each Merger Partnership is in good standing under the Laws of any other jurisdiction in which the character of the properties owned, leased or operated by it therein or in which the transaction of its business makes such qualification or licensing necessary, except where the failure to be so qualified, licensed or in good standing would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Parent Material Adverse Effect. Each Merger Partnership has all requisite limited partnership power and authority to own, lease and operate its properties and to carry on its businesses as now conducted.
SECTION 5.02 Ownership of MergerCo and Merger Partnership; No Prior Activities. MergerCo is a wholly owned subsidiary of Parent. MergerCo is the general partner of each Merger Partnership. Each of MergerCo and each Merger Partnership was formed solely for the purpose of engaging in the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and neither MergerCo nor either Merger Partnership has conducted any activities other than in connection with its organization, the negotiation and execution of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby.
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SECTION 5.03 Corporate Organization.
(a) Each of Parent, MergerCo and each Merger Partnership has all necessary corporate, limited liability company or limited partnership power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement, to perform its obligations hereunder and to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. No other proceedings on the part of Parent, MergerCo, each Merger Partnership, or any of their respective subsidiaries, are necessary to authorize this Agreement or to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby, except as contemplated by the immediately succeeding sentence. Immediately following execution of this Agreement by the parties hereto, Parent shall execute and deliver to MergerCo a written consent approving this Agreement and the Company Merger in its capacity as sole stockholder of MergerCo. This Agreement has been duly and validly executed and delivered by each of Parent, MergerCo and the Merger Partnerships and, assuming the due authorization, execution and delivery by each of the Company Parties constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of each of Parent, MergerCo and the Merger Partnerships, enforceable against each of them in accordance with its terms, except as enforceability may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, fraudulent transfer and similar Laws of general applicability relating to or affecting creditors’ rights or by general equity principles.
(b) Parent has duly and validly authorized the execution and delivery of this Agreement and approved the consummation of the Company Merger (to the extent that it is a party thereto), and taken all limited liability company actions required to be taken by Parent for the consummation of the Company Merger (to the extent that it is a party thereto).
(c) MergerCo has duly and validly authorized the execution and delivery of this Agreement and approved the consummation of the Company Merger, and MergerCo taken all corporate actions required to be taken for the consummation of the Company Merger (to the extent that it is a party thereto) except for execution of the Articles of Merger and filing thereof with the SDAT, subject to the third sentence of Section 5.03(a), and filing with the SDAT of articles supplementary as contemplated by the last sentence of Section 3.01(d).
(d) MergerCo, as the sole general partner of each of the Merger Partnerships, has duly and validly authorized the execution and delivery of this Agreement and approved the consummation of the Partnership Mergers (to the extent that it is a party thereto), and taken all corporate or similar actions required to be taken by the sole general partner of Merger Partnerships for the consummation of the Partnership Mergers (to the extent that it is a party thereto).
SECTION 5.04 No Conflict; Required Filings and Consents.
(a) The execution and delivery of this Agreement by Parent, MergerCo and the Merger Partnerships do not, and the performance of Parent, MergerCo and each Merger Partnership’s obligations hereunder will not, (i) conflict with or violate the certificate of formation of Parent, the charter or bylaws of MergerCo, or the partnership agreements or the certificates of limited partnership of the Merger Partnerships, (ii) assuming that all consents, approvals, authorizations and other actions described in subsection (b) have been obtained and all filings and obligations described in subsection (b) have been made, conflict with or violate
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any Law applicable to Parent, MergerCo or the Merger Partnerships, or by which any of its properties or assets is bound, or (iii) result in any breach of, or constitute a default (or an event which, with notice or lapse of time or both, would become a default) under, or give to others any rights of termination, amendment, acceleration or cancellation of, or result in the creation of a Lien or other encumbrance on any of its properties or assets pursuant to, any note, bond, mortgage, indenture, contract, agreement, lease, license, permit, franchise or other instrument or obligation to which it is a party or by which it or any of its properties or assets is bound, except, with respect to clauses (ii) and (iii), for any such conflicts, violations, breaches, defaults or other occurrences that would not (A) prevent or materially delay consummation of the Mergers and the other transactions contemplated hereby or (B) reasonably be expected to have a Parent Material Adverse Effect.
(b) The execution and delivery of this Agreement by Parent, the Merger Partnerships or MergerCo do not, and the performance of Parent, MergerCo or the Merger Partnerships obligations hereunder and thereunder will not, require any consent, approval, authorization or permit of, or filing with, or notification to, any Governmental Authority, except (i) for (A) applicable requirements, if any, of the Securities Act, the Exchange Act, Blue Sky Laws and state takeover Laws, (B) the pre-merger notification requirements of the HSR Act, (C) the filing with the SEC of the Proxy Statement, and (D) the filing of the Articles of Merger with, and the acceptance for record thereof by, the SDAT, and (E) the filing of the CRH Partnership Merger Certificate and the CAR Partnership Merger Certificate with, and the acceptance for record thereof by, the DSOS, (ii) where the failure to obtain such consents, approvals, authorizations or permits, or to make such filings or notifications, would not (A) prevent or materially delay consummation of the Mergers and the other transactions contemplated hereby or (B) reasonably be expected to have a Parent Material Adverse Effect.
SECTION 5.05 Information Supplied. None of the information supplied by Parent, MergerCo or the Merger Partnerships or any affiliate of Parent for inclusion or incorporation by reference in the Proxy Statement or the Other Filings will, in the case of the Proxy Statement, at the date it is first mailed to the Company’s stockholders or at the time of the Company Stockholders’ Meeting or at the time of any amendment or supplement thereof, or, in the case of any Other Filing, at the date it is first mailed to the Company’s stockholders or holders of interests in any Subsidiary or, at the date it is first filed with the SEC, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they are made, not misleading. No representation is made by Parent with respect to statements made or incorporated by reference therein based on information supplied by the Company Parties in connection with the preparation of the Proxy Statement or the Other Filings for inclusion or incorporation by reference therein. All Other Filings that are filed by the Buyer Parties will comply as to form in all material respects with the requirements of the Exchange Act.
SECTION 5.06 Absence of Litigation. As of the date hereof, there is no Action pending or, to the knowledge of Parent, threatened in writing against Parent or any of its subsidiaries or any of its or their respective properties or assets except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, (A) prevent or materially delay consummation of the Mergers and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement or (B) have a Parent Material Adverse Effect. None of Parent and its subsidiaries is subject to any order, judgment, writ, injunction or decree, except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Parent Material Adverse Effect.
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SECTION 5.07 Required Financing; Guarantee.
(a) Parent will have sufficient funds at the Closing to (i) pay the aggregate Merger Consideration payable hereunder and (ii) pay any and all fees and expenses in connection with the Mergers or the financing thereof.
(b) Parent has provided to the Company a true, complete and correct copy of (i) an executed commitment letter from Blackstone Real Estate Partners V L.P. to provide Parent with equity financing in an aggregate amount of up to $900,000,000 plus the amount equal to the CRH Cash Merger Consideration and CAR Cash Merger Consideration payable in connection with the Partnership Mergers, after taking into account elections by holders of CRH LP Units and CAR LP Units pursuant to Section 3.02 to receive CRH Class A Preferred Units or CAR Class A Preferred Units in lieu of CRH Cash Merger Consideration or CAR Cash Merger Consideration (the “Equity Funding Letter”), and (ii) an executed commitment letter (the “Debt Commitment Letter” and together with the Equity Funding Letter, the “Financing Commitments”) from German American Capital Corporation (an affiliate of Deutsche Bank Securities Inc.), Bank of America, N.A. and Citibank Global Markets, Inc. (the “Lenders”) pursuant to which, and subject to the terms and conditions thereof, the Lenders have committed to provide Parent with financing in an aggregate amount of $4,245,461,000 (the “Debt Financing” and together with the financing referred to in clause (i) being collectively referred to as the “Financing”). The Financing Commitments are legal, valid and binding obligations of the Parent and, to the knowledge of the Parent, each of the other parties thereto. None of the Financing Commitments has been amended or modified prior to the date of this Agreement, and as of the date hereof the respective commitments contained in the Financing Commitments have not been withdrawn or rescinded in any respect. As of the date hereof, the Financing Commitments are in full force and effect. Except for the payment of customary fees, there are no conditions precedent or other contingencies related to the funding of the full amount of the Financing, other than as set forth in or contemplated by the Financing Commitments. As of the date hereof, no event has occurred which, with or without notice, lapse of time or both, would constitute a default or breach on the part of the Parent, and to the knowledge of the Parent, any other parties thereto, under the Financing Commitments. As of the date hereof, the Parent has no reason to believe that any of the conditions to the Financing contemplated by the Financing Commitments will not be satisfied or that the Financing will not be made available to Parent on the Closing Date. Parent will provide to the Company any amendments to the Equity Funding Letter and the Debt Commitment Letter, or any notices given in connection therewith, as promptly as possible (but in any event within twenty-four (24) hours).
(c) Concurrently with the execution of this Agreement, Parent has delivered to the Company a guarantee (the “Guarantee”) executed by Blackstone Real Estate Partners V L.P. (“Guarantor”).
SECTION 5.08 No Ownership of Company Capital Stock. Neither Parent nor any of its subsidiaries, including MergerCo and the Merger Partnerships, own any Company Common Shares or other securities of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.
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SECTION 5.09 Brokers. The Company Parties will not be responsible for any brokerage, finder’s or other fee or commission in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement based upon arrangements made by or on behalf of Parent, MergerCo, either Merger Partnership or any of their subsidiaries.
ARTICLE VI
CONDUCT OF BUSINESS PENDING THE MERGERS
SECTION 6.01 Conduct of Business by Company Parties Pending the Mergers. The Company Parties agree that, between the date of this Agreement and the Company Merger Effective Time, except as required, permitted or otherwise contemplated by this Agreement or as set forth in Section 6.01 of the Disclosure Schedule and except with the prior written consent of Parent, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed, the businesses of the Company and the Subsidiaries shall be conducted in, and the Company and the Subsidiaries shall not take any action, except in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice; and the Company Parties shall and shall cause the Subsidiaries to use commercially reasonable efforts to conduct their operations in compliance with applicable Laws and to maintain and preserve substantially intact the business organization of the Company and the Subsidiaries, to retain the services of their current officers and key employees, to preserve their assets and properties in good repair and condition and to preserve the goodwill and current relationships of the Company and the Subsidiaries with lessees and other persons with which the Company or any Subsidiary has significant business relations. Except as otherwise contemplated by this Agreement or as set forth in Section 6.01 of the Disclosure Schedule, neither the Company nor any Subsidiary shall, between the date of this Agreement and the Company Merger Effective Time, do any of the following without the prior written consent of Parent, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed; provided, however, that consent of Parent shall be deemed to have been given if Parent does not object within five (5) business days from the date on which request for such consent is provided by the Company to Parent (unless such consent may be withheld in Parent’s sole discretion as and to the extent expressly noted below):
(a) except as set forth in Section 6.01(a) of the Disclosure Schedule, amend or otherwise change any provision of the Company Charter, Company Bylaws, Operating Partnership Agreement, certificate of limited partnership of the Operating Partnership, the CAR Partnership Agreement, certificate of limited partnership of CAR, the CRH Partnership Agreement, certificate of limited partnership of CRH or any other Subsidiary’s Organizational Documents.
(b) (i) authorize for issuance, issue or sell, pledge, dispose of or subject to any Lien or agree or commit to any of the foregoing in respect of, any shares of any class of capital stock or other equity interest of the Company or any Subsidiary or any options, warrants, convertible securities or other rights of any kind to acquire any shares of such capital stock, or any other equity interest, of the Company or any Subsidiary, other than the (A) issuance of Company Common Shares upon exercise of Company Share Options or vesting of Company Restricted Share Units outstanding on the date of this Agreement, and (B) issuance of Company Common Shares in exchange for Existing Units pursuant to the limited partnership agreements of CAR and CRH; (ii) repurchase, redeem or otherwise acquire any securities or equity equivalents except in the ordinary course of business in connection with (X) the cashless exercise
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of Company Share Options, (Y) the vesting of Company Restricted Share Units or the lapse of restrictions on Restricted Shares, in each case, in order to satisfy withholding or exercise price obligations, or (Z) the redemption of Existing Units pursuant to the limited partnership agreements of CAR and CRH as in effect on the date hereof; (iii) reclassify, combine, split, or subdivide any capital stock or other equity interest of the Company or any Subsidiary; or (iv) declare, set aside, make or pay any dividend or other distribution, payable in cash, stock, property or otherwise, with respect to any of the capital stock or other equity interests of the Company or any Subsidiary, except for (A) dividends by any direct or indirect wholly owned Subsidiary only to the Company or any other Subsidiary, (B) the quarterly dividend on Company Common Shares for the quarter ending March 31, 2006 to be declared and paid in cash on or before the Company Merger Effective Time (but not to exceed $0.50 per share per quarter), (C) the corresponding quarterly distribution on Existing Units declared and paid to holders of Existing Units, and (D) cash dividends on the Company Series E Preferred Shares declared and paid in accordance with the terms thereof;
(c) (i) acquire (by merger, consolidation, acquisition of equity interests or assets, or any other business combination) any corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture or other business organization (or division thereof) or any property (other than real property) or asset for consideration in excess of $200,000 or (ii) subject to Parent’s consent in its sole discretion, acquire, or enter into any option, commitment or agreement to acquire, any real property or commence any development activity on any Company Property;
(d) incur any Indebtedness or issue any debt securities or assume, guarantee or endorse, or otherwise as an accommodation become responsible for, the obligations of any person (other than a Subsidiary) for Indebtedness, except for: (i) Indebtedness for borrowed money incurred under the Company’s and the Operating Partnership’s revolving credit facilities or other existing similar lines of credit in the ordinary course of business; (ii) refinancings of mortgage Indebtedness secured by one or more Company Properties as such loans become due and payable in accordance with their terms on terms and in such amounts reasonably acceptable to Parent); (iii) Indebtedness for borrowed money with a maturity of not more than one year in a principal amount not in excess of $10,000,000 in the aggregate for the Company and the Subsidiaries taken as a whole; (iv) Indebtedness for borrowed money incurred in order for the Company to pay the quarterly dividend on Company Common Shares permitted by Section 6.01(b)(iv)(B), and for the DownREIT Partnerships to make the corresponding quarterly distributions payable to holders of Existing Units permitted by Section 6.01(b)(iv)(C) and to pay dividends on the Company Series E Preferred Shares declared and paid in accordance with the terms thereof; (v) Indebtedness in the principal amount outstanding on the date hereof encumbering those properties to be acquired as contemplated by Section 6.01(c) of the Disclosure Schedules; and (vi) inter-company Indebtedness among the Company and the Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice;
(e) (i) modify, amend or terminate any Material Contract or enter into any new Contract that, if entered into prior to the date of this Agreement, would have been required to be listed in Section 4.17 of the Disclosure Schedule as a Material Contract; or (ii) enter into any Contract that would limit or otherwise restrict the Company or any of the Subsidiaries or any of their successors, or that would, after the Company Merger Effective Time, limit or otherwise restrict Parent or any of its subsidiaries or any of their successors, from engaging or competing in any line of business or in any geographic area in any material respect;
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(f) except as required by Law or any Plans, (i) increase the compensation or benefits payable to its directors, officers or non-executive employees, except for increases in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice in salaries, wages, bonuses, incentives or benefits of employees of the Company or any Subsidiary or (ii) grant to any director, officer, employee or independent contractor of the Company or of any Subsidiary any new employment, retention, bonus, severance, change of control or termination pay equity-based cash awards (including cash bonuses or dividend equivalent rights), grant any increase in, or otherwise alter or amend, any right to receive any severance, change of control, retention or termination pay or benefits or establish, adopt, enter into or amend any collective bargaining, bonus, profit-sharing, thrift, compensation, stock option, restricted stock, stock unit, dividend equivalent, pension, retirement, deferred compensation, employment, loan, retention, consulting, indemnification, termination, severance or other similar plan, agreement, trust, fund, policy or arrangement with any director, officer, employee or independent contractor;
(g) repurchase, repay or pre-pay any Indebtedness, except repayments of revolving credit facilities or other similar lines of credit in the ordinary course of business, payments made in respect of any termination or settlement of any interest rate swap or other similar hedging instrument relating thereto, or prepayments of mortgage indebtedness secured by one or more Company Properties in accordance with their terms, as such loans become due and payable); or pay, discharge or satisfy any material claims, liabilities or obligations (absolute, accrued, contingent or otherwise), except in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice and in accordance with their terms;
(h) except as required by the SEC or changes in GAAP which become effective after the date of this Agreement, in which case the Company shall notify the Parent, change any of its financial accounting principles or policies;
(i) (i) except in connection with a right being exercised by a tenant under an existing Company Lease, enter into any new lease (including renewals) for in excess of 25,000 square feet of net rentable area at a Company Property, (ii) except in connection with a right being exercised by a tenant under an existing Company Lease, terminate or materially modify or amend any Company Lease that relates to in excess of 25,000 square feet of net rentable area, or (iii) subject to Parent’s consent in its sole discretion, enter into, terminate or materially modify or amend any Ground Lease;
(j) (A) make any loans, advances or capital contributions to, or investments in, any other Persons (other than to (1) Subsidiaries or (2) any JV Entity or (3) as required by any Material Contract in effect on the date hereof); or (B) authorize, or enter into any commitment for, any new material capital expenditure (such authorized or committed new material capital expenditures being referred to hereinafter as the “Capital Expenditures”) other than (i) Capital Expenditures required to be made pursuant to Company Leases that the Company is permitted to enter into pursuant to Section 6.01(i), (ii) Capital Expenditures identified in the Company’s 2006 Capital Expenditures Budget included in Section 6.01(j) of the Disclosure Schedule (the “2006 Budget”), (iii) any other individual Capital Expenditure not exceeding $100,000, and (iv) Capital
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Expenditures in the ordinary course of business and consistent with past practice necessary to maintain the physical and structural integrity of the Company Properties and as reasonably determined by the Company to be necessary to keep the Company Properties in working order, to comply with Laws, and to repair and/or prevent damage to any of the Company Properties as is necessary in the event of an emergency situation;
(k) waive, release, assign, settle or compromise any material Action or material liability other than in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice or (ii) any Action that is brought by any current, former or purported holder of any securities of the Company in its capacity as such and that (A) requires any payment to such security holders by the Company or any Subsidiary or (B) adversely affects in any material respect the ability of the Company and the Subsidiaries to conduct their business in a manner consistent with past practice;
(l) make, change or rescind any material Tax election or change a material method of Tax accounting, amend any material Tax Return, or settle or compromise any material federal, state, local or foreign income Tax liability, audit, claim or assessment, or enter into any material closing agreement related to Taxes, or knowingly surrender any right to claim any material Tax refund unless in each case such action is required by law or necessary (i) to preserve the status of the Company as a REIT under the Code, or (ii) to qualify or preserve the status of any Subsidiary as a partnership for federal income tax purposes or as a qualified REIT subsidiary or a taxable REIT subsidiary the applicable provisions of Section 856 of the Code, as the case may be (provided that in such events the Company shall notify Parent of such election and shall not fail to make such election in a timely manner);
(m) enter into, amend or modify any Tax Protection Agreement, or take any action that would, or could reasonably be expected to, violate any Tax Protection Agreement or otherwise give rise to any liability of the Company or any Subsidiary with respect thereto;
(n) amend any term of any outstanding security or equity interest of the Company or any Subsidiary;
(o) sell or otherwise dispose of, or subject to any Encumbrance, any of Company Properties or other material assets other than pending sales of Company Properties pursuant to definitive agreements executed prior to the date hereof and identified in Section 6.01(o) of the Disclosure Schedule;
(p) adopt a plan of complete or partial liquidation or dissolution or adopt resolutions providing for or authorizing such liquidation or dissolution;
(q) fail to maintain in full force and effect the existing insurance policies or to replace such insurance policies with comparable insurance policies covering the Company, Company Properties, Subsidiaries and their respective properties, assets and businesses;
(r) initiate or consent to any material zoning reclassification of any owned or material leased Company Properties or any material change to any approved site plan, special use permit, planned unit development approval or other land use entitlement affecting any owned or material leased Company Properties;
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(s) effectuate a “plant closing” or “mass layoff,” as those terms are defined in WARN or similar state or local law;
(t) take any action that would cause any of the representation or warranties of the Company contained herein to become inaccurate in any material respect or any of the covenants of the Company to be breached in any material respect or result in the failure to be satisfied of any of the conditions set forth in Section 8.02; or
(u) announce an intention, enter into any agreement or otherwise make a commitment, to do any of the foregoing.
In connection with the continued operation of the Company and the Subsidiaries, the Company will confer in good faith on a regular and frequent basis with one or more representatives of Parent designated to the Company regarding operational matters and the general status of ongoing operations and will notify Parent promptly of any event or occurrence that has had or may reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect. The Company acknowledges that Parent does not and will not waive any rights it may have under this Agreement as a result of such consultation.
SECTION 6.02 Other Actions. Each party agrees that, between the date of this Agreement and the Company Merger Effective Time, except as contemplated by this Agreement, such party shall not, directly or indirectly, without the prior written consent of the other parties hereto, take or cause to be taken any action that would reasonably be expected to materially delay consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, or enter into any agreement or otherwise make a commitment, to take any such action.
ARTICLE VII
ADDITIONAL AGREEMENTS
SECTION 7.01 Proxy Statement; Other Filings. As promptly as practicable following the date of this Agreement, the Company shall prepare and, once reasonably acceptable to Parent and the Company, file with the SEC the preliminary Proxy Statement and each of the Company and Parent shall, or shall cause their respective affiliates to, prepare and, after consultation with each other, file with the SEC all Other Filings that are required to be filed by such party in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby. Each of the Company and Parent shall furnish all information concerning itself and its affiliates that is required to be included in the Proxy Statement or, to the extent applicable, the Other Filings, or that is customarily included in proxy statements prepared in connection with transactions of the type contemplated by this Agreement. Each of the Company and Parent shall use its reasonable efforts, after consultation with the other, to respond as promptly as practicable to any comments of the SEC with respect to the Proxy Statement or the Other Filings, and the Company shall use its reasonable efforts to cause the definitive Proxy Statement to be cleared by the SEC and mailed to the Company’s stockholders as promptly as reasonably practicable following clearance from the SEC. The Company shall promptly notify Parent upon the receipt of any comments from the SEC or its staff or any request from the SEC or its staff for amendments or supplements to the Proxy Statement or the Other Filings and shall promptly provide Parent with copies of all correspondence between the Company and its Representatives, on the one hand, and the SEC and
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its staff, on the other hand, relating to the Proxy Statement or the Other Filings. If at any time prior to the Company Stockholders’ Meeting, any information relating to the Company Parties or the Buyer Parties or any of their respective affiliates, officers or directors, should be discovered by the Company or Parent which should be set forth in an amendment or supplement to the Proxy Statement or the Other Filings, so that the Proxy Statement or the Other Filings shall not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they are made, not misleading, the party which discovers such information shall promptly notify the other parties, and an appropriate amendment or supplement describing such information shall be filed with the SEC and, to the extent required by applicable Law, disseminated to the stockholders of the Company. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary stated above, prior to filing or mailing the Proxy Statement or filing the Other Filings (or any amendment or supplement thereto) or responding to any comments of the SEC with respect thereto, the Company shall provide Parent a reasonable opportunity to review and comment on such document or response and will include in such documents or responses all comments reasonably proposed by Parent, and to the extent practicable, the Company will provide Parent with the opportunity to participate in any substantive calls between the Company, or any of its Representatives, and the SEC concerning the Proxy Statement.
SECTION 7.02 Company Stockholders’ Meeting. The Company shall, in accordance with applicable Law and the Company Charter and Company Bylaws, duly call, give notice of, convene and hold a meeting of its stockholders (including any adjournments or postponements thereof, the “Company Stockholders’ Meeting”) as promptly as practicable after the date that the Proxy Statement is cleared by the SEC, for the purpose of obtaining the Company Stockholder Approval. Except to the extent that the Company Board shall have withdrawn, qualified or modified its approval or recommendation of this Agreement or the Company Merger in compliance with Section 7.04(c), the Company Board shall recommend to holders of the Company Common Shares that they approve this Agreement and the Company Merger and shall include such recommendations in the Proxy Statement (the “Company Recommendation”). Unless this Agreement shall have been terminated in accordance with Section 9.01, the Company shall hold the Company Stockholders’ Meeting regardless of whether the Company Board has withdrawn, qualified or modified its approval or recommendation of this Agreement or the Company Merger. Subject to Section 7.04(c), the Company will use reasonable best efforts to solicit or cause to be solicited from its stockholders proxies in favor of the approval of this Agreement and the Company Merger and will take all other action necessary or advisable to secure the vote or consent of its stockholders required by the rules of the NYSE or applicable Law to obtain such approvals.
SECTION 7.03 Access to Information; Confidentiality.
(a) Subject to applicable Law, from the date hereof until the Company Merger Effective Time, the Company shall, and shall cause the Subsidiaries and the Representatives of the Company and the Subsidiaries to, afford Parent and its Representatives, following notice from Parent to the Company in accordance with this Section 7.03, reasonable access during normal business hours to the officers, employees, agents, properties, offices, plants and other facilities, books and records of the Company and each Subsidiary, and all other financial, operating and other data and information as Parent may reasonably request. Notwithstanding the
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foregoing, neither Parent nor any of its Representatives shall (i) contact or have any discussions with any of the Company’s employees, agents, or representatives, unless in each case Parent obtains the prior written consent of the Company, which shall not be unreasonably withheld, (ii) contact or have any discussions with any of the landlords/sublandlords, tenants/subtenants, or licensees or franchisees of the Company or its Subsidiaries, unless in each case Parent obtains the prior written consent of the Company, which shall not be unreasonably withheld, provided, that clauses (i) and (ii) shall not be applicable to contacts or discussions not related to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and shall not be applicable to contacts and discussions with the Company’s executive officers or its financial advisors, or (iii) damage any property or any portion thereof. Without limiting the provisions of this Section 7.03(a) and subject to any rights of tenants under Company Leases, Parent and its Representatives shall have the right to conduct appraisal and environmental and engineering inspections of each of the Company Properties; provided, however, that neither the Buyer Parties nor their Representatives shall have the right to take and analyze any samples of any environmental media (including soil, groundwater, surface water, air or sediment) or any building material or to perform any invasive testing procedure on any building. Parent shall schedule and coordinate all inspections with the Company and shall give the Company at least three (3) Business Days prior written notice thereof, setting forth the inspection or materials that Parent or its representatives intend to conduct. The Company shall be entitled to have representatives present at all times during any such inspection. Notwithstanding the foregoing, neither the Company nor any of the Subsidiaries shall be required to provide access to or to disclose information where such access or disclosure would jeopardize the attorney-client privilege of the Company or the Subsidiaries or contravene any Law or binding agreement entered into prior to the date of this Agreement (provided that the Company and the Subsidiaries shall use commercially reasonable efforts to obtain consent from the applicable Third Party or enter into a customary joint defense agreement to enable the disclosure of such information). No investigation conducted under this Section 7.03, however, shall affect or be deemed to modify any representation or warranty made in this Agreement.
(b) Prior to the Company Merger Effective Time, all information obtained by Parent pursuant to this Section 7.03 shall be kept confidential in accordance with the confidentiality agreement dated February 10, 2006 between Blackstone Real Estate Acquisitions V L.L.C., the Operating Partnership and the Company (the “Confidentiality Agreement”).
SECTION 7.04 No Solicitation of Transactions.
(a) Subject to Section 7.04(c), none of the Company, the Operating Partnership, or any other Subsidiary shall, nor shall it authorize or permit, directly or indirectly, any Representative of the Company, the Operating Partnership or any other Subsidiary to, directly or indirectly, (i) initiate, solicit, knowingly encourage or knowingly facilitate (including by way of furnishing nonpublic information or assistance) any inquiries or the making of any proposal or other action that constitutes, or may reasonably be expected to lead to, any Acquisition Proposal, (ii) enter into discussions or negotiate with any Person in furtherance of such inquiries or to obtain an Acquisition Proposal or release any Person from any standstill agreement or similar obligation to the Company or any Subsidiary other than the automatic termination of standstill obligations pursuant to the terms of agreements as in effect as of the date hereof, by virtue of the execution and announcement of this Agreement or otherwise,
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(iii) withdraw, modify or amend the Company Recommendation in any manner adverse to any Buyer Party, (iv) approve, endorse or recommend any Acquisition Proposal, or (v) enter into any agreement in principle, arrangement, understanding, contract or agreement relating to an Acquisition Proposal. The Company shall take, and shall cause the Subsidiaries to take, all actions reasonably necessary to cause their respective Representatives to immediately cease any discussions, negotiations or communications with any party or parties with respect to any Acquisition Proposal; provided, however, that nothing in this Section 7.04 shall preclude the Company, the Operating Partnership or their respective Representatives from contacting any such party or parties solely for the purpose of complying with the provisions of the last sentence of this Section 7.04(a). The Company and the Subsidiaries shall be responsible for any failure on the part of their respective Representatives to comply with this Section 7.04(a). The Company and the Operating Partnership shall promptly request each Person that has heretofore executed a confidentiality agreement in connection with its consideration of an Acquisition Proposal, if any, to return or destroy all confidential information heretofore furnished to such person by or on behalf of the Company or any Subsidiary.
(b) The Company and the Operating Partnership shall promptly notify Parent (but in no event less than twenty-four hours following the Company’s or any Subsidiary’s initial receipt) of an Acquisition Proposal or indication by any Person considering making an Acquisition Proposal, any request for information relating to the Company or any Subsidiaries (other than requests for information in the ordinary course of business and unrelated to an Acquisition Proposal) or any inquiry or request for discussions or negotiations regarding any Acquisition Proposal which any of the Company or any Subsidiary or any of their Representatives may receive after the date hereof. Such notification shall include relevant details relating to any of the foregoing, including the identity of the parties and a copy of such Acquisition Proposal, indication, inquiry or request and any related communications to or by the Company, any Subsidiary or their Representatives (or, if not in writing, a written description thereof). The Company and the Operating Partnership shall keep Parent reasonably informed on a prompt basis as to the status of and any material developments regarding any such proposal, indication, inquiry or request. None of the Company or any Subsidiary shall, after the date of this Agreement, enter into any confidentiality agreement that would prohibit them from providing such information to Parent. The Company shall not, and shall not permit any Subsidiary to, terminate, waive, amend or modify any provision of any existing standstill or confidentiality agreement to which the Company or any Subsidiary is a party and the Company shall, and shall cause each Subsidiary to, enforce the provisions of any such agreement.
(c) Subject to the Company Parties’ compliance with the provisions of this Section 7.04, and only prior to the Company Stockholder Approval, following the receipt by the Company or any Subsidiary of a written Acquisition Proposal, the Company Board may (directly or through Representatives) (I) contact such Person and its advisors solely for the purpose of clarifying the proposal and any material terms thereof and the conditions to consummation, so as to determine whether the proposal for an Acquisition Proposal is reasonably likely to result in a Superior Proposal and (II) if the Company Board determines in good faith following consultation with its legal and financial advisors that such Acquisition Proposal is reasonably likely to result in a Superior Proposal, the Company Board thereafter may (i) furnish non-public information with respect to the Company and the Subsidiaries to the Person who made such proposal (provided that the Company (A) has previously or concurrently furnished such information to
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Parent and (B) shall furnish such information pursuant to a confidentiality agreement which is at least as favorable to the Company as the Confidentiality Agreement), (ii) participate in negotiations regarding such proposal, (iii) following receipt of a written Acquisition Proposal that constitutes a Superior Proposal, recommend that the Company’s stockholders approve such Superior Proposal and, in connection therewith, withdraw or modify in a manner adverse to Parent, or fail to make, the Company Recommendation, or (iv) other than in connection with an Acquisition Proposal, withdraw or modify in a manner adverse to Parent, or fail to make, the Company Recommendation (any event described in this clause (iv) or clause (iii) above, a “Change in Recommendation”) but in each case referred to in clauses (i) through (iv) only if, after complying with this Section 7.04(c), the Company Board determines in good faith, after consultation with its outside legal counsel, that failure to take such action would be inconsistent with its duties to the Company’s stockholders under applicable Law. Nothing in this Section 7.04 or elsewhere in this Agreement shall prevent the Company Board from taking and disclosing to the Company stockholders a position contemplated by Rule 14d-9 or Rule 14e-2(a) promulgated under the Exchange Act with respect to an Acquisition Proposal or from making any required disclosure to the Company’s stockholders under applicable Law, including Rule 14d-9 promulgated under the Exchange Act or Item 1012(a) of Regulation M-A; provided, however, that neither the Company nor the Company Board shall be permitted to recommend that the Company stockholders tender any securities in connection with any tender or exchange offer (or otherwise approve, endorse or recommend any Acquisition Proposal) or withdraw or modify the Company Recommendation, unless in each case the requirements of the prior sentence of this Section 7.04(c) have been satisfied.
(d) The Company shall not take any action to exempt any Person from the restrictions contained in Article V of the Company Charter or otherwise cause any of such restrictions not to apply unless such actions are taken in connection with a termination of this Agreement in accordance with Section 9.01(h).
SECTION 7.05 Employee Benefits Matters.
(a) The Company has provided Parent with all of the severance, change-in-control and similar obligations that are payable by their terms upon consummation of the Mergers at the Company Merger Effective Time or on the Closing Date, which are set forth in Section 7.05 of the Disclosure Schedule. From and after the Company Merger Effective Time, Parent shall or shall cause the Surviving Corporation to honor in accordance with their terms all severance, change-of-control and similar obligations of the Company and the Subsidiaries, and Parent shall pay on the Closing Date to any applicable officer or employee of the Company or any Subsidiary any amounts with respect to such agreements. From and after the Company Merger Effective Time, Parent shall or shall cause the Surviving Corporation to honor in accordance with their terms any other employment related contracts, agreements arrangements and commitments of the Company and the Subsidiaries in effect immediately prior to the Company Merger Effective Time that are applicable to any current or former employees or directors of the Company or any Subsidiary or any of their predecessors.
(b) For a period of not less than twelve months after the Closing Date, with respect to each employee of the Company or any Subsidiary (collectively, the “Company Employees”) who remains an employee of the Surviving Corporation or its successors or assigns
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or any of their subsidiaries (collectively, the “Continuing Employees”), Parent shall or shall cause the Surviving Corporation to provide the Continuing Employees with (i) (A) base salary and (B) cash incentive compensation (excluding any cash bonuses or dividend equivalent payments related to equity or equity-based awards) and in each case in an amount at least equal to the same level that was provided to each such Continuing Employee or to which such Continuing Employee was entitled immediately prior to the Company Merger Effective Time, and (ii) employee benefits (excluding any equity-based benefits), that are no less favorable in the aggregate than those provided to such Continuing Employees immediately prior to the Company Merger Effective Time. Each Continuing Employee will be credited with his or her years of service with the Company and its Subsidiaries (and any predecessor entities thereof) before the Closing Date under any new parallel employee benefit plan of Parent or its Subsidiaries in which the Continuing Employee become entitled to participate to the same extent as such employee was entitled, before the Closing Date, to credit for such service under the respective Plan (except to the extent such credit would result in the duplication of benefits and except with respect to benefit accrual under a defined benefit plan). In addition, with respect to any such health benefit plan in which the Continuing Employee become entitled to participate during the calendar year that includes the Closing Date, each Continuing Employee shall be given credit for amounts paid by the employee under the respective Plan for purposes of applying deductibles, co-payments and out-of-pocket maximums as though such amounts had been paid in accordance with the terms and conditions of the parallel plan, program or arrangement of Parent or the Surviving Corporation.
(c) Prior to the Company Merger Effective Time, the Company Board, or an appropriate committee of non-employee directors thereof, shall adopt a resolution consistent with the interpretive guidance of the SEC so that the disposition by any officer or director of the Company who is a covered person of the Company for purposes of Section 16 of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder (“Section 16”) of Company Common Shares or options to acquire Company Common Shares pursuant to this Agreement and the Company Merger shall be an exempt transaction for purposes of Section 16.
(d) Prior to the Company Merger Effective Time, the Board of Directors of the Company shall take such actions as are necessary to terminate the Company’s Director Deferred Compensation Plan, Executive Deferred Compensation Plan, deferred restricted share unit arrangements and all other share or investment-based non-qualified deferred compensation account-based arrangements (collectively, the “Non-Qualified Account Plans”), in a manner that is compliant with Section 409A of the Code. Such action shall be contingent upon, and effective as of, the Company Merger Effective Time. Payment of the Non-Qualified Account Plans shall be in cash to the participants in the Non-Qualified Account Plans in a single lump-sum payment by the Surviving Corporation immediately following the Company Merger Effective Time; provided, however, that payment shall be delayed to the date six months following a participant’s separation from service in the event, and to the extent, prior to the Company Merger Effective Time the Board of Directors of the Company determines that such delay is necessary to comply with the requirements of Section 409A of the Code.
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SECTION 7.06 Directors’ and Officers’ Indemnification and Insurance.
(a) Without limiting any additional rights that any director, officer, trustee, employee, agent, or fiduciary may have under any employment or indemnification agreement or under the Company Charter, the Company Bylaws, the Operating Partnership Agreement or this Agreement or, if applicable, similar organizational documents or agreements of any of the Subsidiaries, from and after the Company Merger Effective Time, Parent and the Surviving Corporation shall: (i) indemnify and hold harmless each person who is at the date hereof or during the period from the date hereof through the Company Merger Effective Time serving as a director or officer of the Company or the Subsidiaries (collectively, the “Indemnified Parties”) to the fullest extent authorized or permitted by applicable law, as now or hereafter in effect, in connection with any Claim and any judgments, fines, penalties and amounts paid in settlement (including all interest, assessments and other charges paid or payable in connection with or in respect of such judgments, fines, penalties or amounts paid in settlement) resulting therefrom; and (ii) promptly pay on behalf of each of the Indemnified Parties, to the fullest extent authorized or permitted by applicable law, as now or hereafter in effect, any Expenses incurred in defending, serving as a witness with respect to or otherwise participating in any Claim in advance of the final disposition of such Claim, including payment on behalf of or advancement to the Indemnified Party of any Expenses incurred by such Indemnified Party in connection with enforcing any rights with respect to such indemnification and/or advancement, in each case without the requirement of any bond or other security, but subject to Parent’s or the Surviving Corporation’s, as applicable, receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of such Indemnified Party, if required by applicable Law, to repay such Expenses if it is ultimately determined under applicable Laws that such Indemnified Party is not entitled to be indemnified); provided, however, that neither Parent nor the Surviving Corporation shall be liable for any settlement effected without Parent’s or the Surviving Company’s written consent (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed) and shall not be obligated to pay the fees and expenses of more than one counsel (selected by a plurality of the applicable Indemnified Parties) for all Indemnified Parties in any jurisdiction with respect to any single Claim except to the extent that two or more of such Indemnified Parties shall have conflicting interests in the outcome of such action. The indemnification and advancement obligations of Parent and the Surviving Corporation pursuant to this Section 7.06(a) shall extend to acts or omissions occurring at or before the Company Merger Effective Time and any Claim relating thereto (including with respect to any acts or omissions occurring in connection with the approval of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, including the consideration and approval thereof and the process undertaken in connection therewith and any Claim relating thereto). All rights to indemnification and advancement conferred hereunder shall continue as to a person who has ceased to be a director or officer of the Company or the Subsidiaries after the date hereof and shall inure to the benefit of such person’s heirs, executors and personal and legal representatives. For purposes of this Section 7.06(a): (x) the term “Claim” means any threatened, asserted, pending or completed Action, whether instituted by any party hereto, any Governmental Authority or any other party, that any Indemnified Party in good faith believes might lead to the institution of any such Action, whether civil, criminal, administrative, investigative or other, including any arbitration or other alternative dispute resolution mechanism, arising out of or pertaining to matters that relate to such Indemnified Party’s duties or service as a director or officer of the Company or any of the Subsidiaries, at or prior to the Company Merger Effective Time at the request of the Company or any of the Subsidiaries; and (y) term “Expenses” means reasonable attorneys’ fees and all other reasonable costs, expenses
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and obligations (including, without limitation, experts’ fees, travel expenses, court costs, retainers, transcript fees, duplicating, printing and binding costs, as well as telecommunications, postage and courier charges) paid or incurred in connection with investigating, defending, being a witness in or participating in (including on appeal), or preparing to investigate, defend, be a witness in or participate in, any Claim for which indemnification is authorized pursuant to this Section 7.06(a), including any Action relating to a claim for indemnification or advancement brought by an Indemnified Party. Neither Parent nor the Surviving Corporation shall settle, compromise or consent to the entry of any judgment in any Claim in respect of which indemnification has been or could be sought by such Indemnified Party hereunder unless (i) such settlement, compromise or judgment includes an unconditional release of such Indemnified Party from all liability arising out of such Claim, (ii) such Indemnified Party otherwise consents thereto, or (iii) Parent or the Surviving Corporation acknowledges that such Claim is subject to this Section 7.06.
(b) For a period of six years from the Company Merger Effective Time, the charter and bylaws or other organizational documents of the Surviving Corporation and the Subsidiaries shall contain provisions no less favorable with respect to indemnification than are set forth in the Company Charter, Company Bylaws or the applicable organizational documents of the Subsidiaries, which provisions shall not be amended, repealed or otherwise modified for a period of six years from the Company Merger Effective Time in any manner that would affect adversely the rights thereunder of individuals who, at or prior to the Company Merger Effective Time, were directors, officers, trustees, employees, agents, or fiduciaries (including fiduciaries under or with respect to any employee benefit plan (within the meaning of Section 3(3) of ERISA)) of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, unless such modification shall be required by Law and then only to the minimum extent required by Law.
(c) Parent or the Surviving Corporation shall maintain for a period of at least six (6) years the current policies of directors’ and officers’ liability insurance and employed lawyer liability insurance maintained by the Company and the Subsidiaries with respect to claims arising from facts or events that occurred on or before the Company Merger Effective Time, including, without limitation, in respect of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement; provided, that (i) that the Surviving Corporation may substitute therefor policies (including run-off or “tail” policies) of at least the same amounts and containing other terms and conditions which are, in the aggregate, not materially less advantageous to the insured persons, provided that such substitution shall not result in gaps or lapses of coverage with respect to matters occurring before the Company Merger Effective Time; (ii) in no event shall the Surviving Corporation be required to expend pursuant to this Section 7.06(c) more than an amount per year of coverage equal to three hundred percent (300%) of the current annual premiums paid by the Company for such insurance. The Company represents that such annual premium amount is set forth in Section 7.06(c) of the Disclosure Schedule. In the event that, but for the proviso to the immediately preceding sentence, the Surviving Corporation would be required to expend more than three hundred percent (300%) of the current annual premiums paid by the Company, the Surviving Corporation shall obtain the maximum amount of such insurance obtainable by payment of annual premiums equal to three hundred percent (300%) of the current annual premiums paid by the Company. Parent shall, and shall cause the Surviving Corporation or its successors or assigns to, maintain such policies in full force and effect, and continue to honor all obligations thereunder.
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(d) If the Surviving Corporation or any of its respective successors or assigns (i) consolidates with or merges with or into any other person and shall not be the continuing or surviving corporation, partnership or other entity of such consolidation or merger or (ii) liquidates, dissolves or winds-up, or transfers or conveys all or substantially all of its properties and assets to any person, then, and in each such case, proper provision shall be made so that the successors and assigns of the Surviving Corporation assumes the obligations set forth in this Section 7.06.
(e) Parent shall cause the Surviving Corporation to perform all of the obligations of the Surviving Corporation under this Section 7.06 and the parties acknowledge and agree that Parent guarantees the payment and performance of the Surviving Corporation’s obligations pursuant to this Section 7.06.
SECTION 7.07 Further Action; Reasonable Efforts.
(a) Except to the extent otherwise provided in Section 7.01, upon the terms and subject to the conditions of this Agreement, each of the parties hereto shall (i) make promptly its respective filings and thereafter make any other required submissions, under the HSR Act and any other Law with respect to this Agreement and the Mergers, if required, and (ii) use its reasonable efforts to take, or cause to be taken, all appropriate action, and to do, or cause to be done, all things necessary, proper or advisable under applicable Laws to consummate and make effective the Mergers, and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including using its reasonable efforts to obtain all Permits, consents, approvals, authorizations, qualifications and orders of Governmental Authorities with the Company and the Subsidiaries as are necessary for the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and to fulfill the conditions to the Mergers and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
(b) The parties hereto agree to cooperate and assist one another in connection with all actions to be taken pursuant to this Section 7.07, including the preparation and making of the filings referred to therein and, if requested, amending or furnishing additional information thereunder, including, subject to applicable Law and the Confidentiality Agreement, providing copies of all related documents to the non-filing party and their advisors prior to filing, and, to the extent practicable, none of the parties will file any such document or have any communication with any Governmental Authority without prior consultation with the other party. Each party shall keep the other apprised of the content and status of any communications with, and communications from, any Governmental Authority with respect to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. To the extent practicable and permitted by a Governmental Authority, each party hereto shall permit representatives of the other party to participate in meetings and calls with such Governmental Authority. None of the parties shall consent to any voluntary extension of any statutory deadline or waiting period or to any voluntary delay of the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement at the behest of any Governmental Authority without the consent of the other party, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed.
(c) Each of the parties hereto agrees to cooperate and use its reasonable best efforts to defend through litigation on the merits any Action, including administrative or judicial Action, asserted by any party in order to avoid the entry of, or to have vacated, lifted, reversed,
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terminated or overturned any decree, judgment, injunction or other order (whether temporary, preliminary or permanent) that in whole or in part restricts, delays, prevents or prohibits consummation of the Mergers, including, without limitation, by vigorously pursuing all available avenues of administrative and judicial appeal.
(d) Each of the Buyer Parties, on the one hand, and the Company Parties, on the other hand, shall use their respective commercially reasonable efforts to obtain any third party consents (i) necessary, proper or advisable to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, (ii) disclosed in the Disclosure Schedule or (iii) required to prevent a Company Material Adverse Effect from occurring prior to the Company Merger Effective Time. In the event that any Company Party shall fail to obtain any third party consent described above, the Company Parties shall use their commercially reasonable efforts, and shall take such actions as are reasonably requested by Parent, to minimize any adverse effect upon the Company Parties and the Buyer Parties and their respective businesses resulting, or which could reasonably be expected to result, after the Company Merger Effective Time, from the failure to obtain such consent. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, in connection with obtaining any approval or consent from any Person (other than a Governmental Authority) with respect to any transaction contemplated by this Agreement, (i) unless required by the applicable agreement, without the prior written consent of Parent which shall not be unreasonably withheld, none of the Company or any of the Subsidiaries shall pay or commit to pay to such Person whose approval or consent is being solicited any cash or other consideration, make any commitment or incur any liability or other obligation due to such Person and (ii) none of the Buyer Parties or their respective affiliates shall be required to pay or commit to pay to such Person whose approval or consent is being solicited any cash or other consideration, make any commitment or incur any liability or other obligation.
SECTION 7.08 Transfer Taxes. Parent and the Company shall cooperate in the preparation, execution and filing of all returns, questionnaires, applications or other documents regarding any real property transfer or gains, sales, use, transfer, value added, stock transfer or stamp taxes, any transfer, recording, registration and other fees and any similar taxes that become payable in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement (together with any related interests, penalties or additions to Tax, “Transfer Taxes”), and shall cooperate in attempting to minimize the amount of Transfer Taxes. From and after the Company Merger Effective Time, the Surviving Corporation shall pay or cause to be paid, without deduction or withholding from any consideration or amounts payable to holders of the Company Common Shares, Company Share Options, Company Restricted Shares, Company Restricted Share Units and/or SVUs, all Transfer Taxes.
SECTION 7.09 Public Announcements. The parties hereto agree that no public release or announcement concerning the transactions contemplated by this Agreement (including the Mergers) shall be issued by a party without the prior consent of the other parties (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld), except as such release or announcement may be required by Law or the rules or regulations of any securities exchange, in which case the party required to make the release or announcement shall use its reasonable best efforts to allow the other parties reasonable time to comment on such release or announcement in advance of such issuance. The parties have agreed upon the form of a joint press release announcing the Mergers and the execution of this Agreement.
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SECTION 7.10 Cooperation with Financing.
(a) Parent shall use its reasonable best efforts to arrange the Debt Financing on the terms and conditions described in the Debt Commitment Letter, including using reasonable best efforts to (i) negotiate definitive agreements with respect thereto on terms and conditions contained therein and (ii) to satisfy all conditions applicable to the Buyer Parties in such definitive agreements that are within their control. In the event any portion of the Debt Financing becomes unavailable on the terms and conditions contemplated in the Debt Commitment Letter, Parent shall use its reasonable best efforts to arrange to obtain any such portion from alternative sources on comparable or more favorable terms to Parent (as determined in the reasonable judgment of Parent) as promptly as practicable following the occurrence of such event. Parent shall give the Company prompt notice of any material breach by any party of the Debt Commitment Letter or any termination of the Debt Commitment Letter. Parent shall keep the Company informed on a reasonably current basis in reasonable detail of the status of its efforts to arrange the Debt Financing and shall not permit any material amendment or modification to be made to, or any waiver of any material provision or remedy under, the Debt Commitment Letter without first consulting with the Company or, if such amendment would or would be reasonably expected to materially and adversely affect or delay in any material respect Parent’s ability to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, without first obtaining the Company’s prior written consent (not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed). For the avoidance of doubt, if the Debt Financing (or any alternative financing) has not been obtained, the Buyer Parties shall continue to be obligated to consummate the Mergers on the terms contemplated by this Agreement and subject only to the satisfaction or waiver of the conditions set forth in Sections 8.01 and 8.02 of this Agreement and to Parent’s rights under Section 9.01, regardless of whether the Buyer Parties have complied with all of their other obligations under this Agreement (including their obligations under this Section 7.10).
(b) The Company agrees to provide, and shall cause the Subsidiaries and its and their Representatives to provide, all reasonable cooperation in connection with the arrangement of the Debt Financing as may be reasonably requested by Parent (provided that such requested cooperation does not unreasonably interfere with the ongoing operations of the Company and its Subsidiaries), including (i) participation in meetings, drafting sessions and due diligence sessions, (ii) furnishing Parent and its financing sources with financial and other pertinent information regarding the Company and the Subsidiaries as may be reasonably requested by Parent, (iii) assisting Parent and its financing sources in the preparation of (A) an offering document for any debt raised to complete the Mergers and (B) materials for rating agency presentations, (iv) reasonably cooperating with the marketing efforts of Parent and its financing sources for any debt raised by Parent to complete the Mergers, (v) forming new direct or indirect Subsidiaries, (vi) providing and executing documents as may be reasonably requested by Parent and (vii) without limiting the obligations of the Company and the Subsidiaries under Sections 3.07 and 3.08, cooperating in connection with the repayment or defeasance of any Indebtedness of the Company or any of the Subsidiaries as of the Partnership Mergers Effective
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Time, including delivering such payoff, defeasance or similar notices under any existing mortgage or mezzanine loans of the Company or any Subsidiary as requested by Parent; provided that none of the Company or any Subsidiary shall be required to pay any commitment or other similar fee or make any other payment other than reasonable out-of-pocket costs or incur any other liability in connection with the Debt Financing or any of the foregoing prior to the Partnership Mergers Effective Time. Parent shall, promptly upon request by the Company, reimburse the Company for all reasonable out-of-pocket costs incurred by the Company, its Subsidiaries and their Representatives in connection with such cooperation. The Buyer Parties shall, on a joint and several basis, indemnify and hold harmless the Company, the Subsidiaries and their respective Representatives from and against any and all liabilities, losses, damages, claims, costs, expenses, interest, awards, judgments and penalties suffered or incurred by them in connection with the arrangement of the Debt Financing and any information utilized in connection therewith (other than historical information relating to the Company or the Subsidiaries). Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, the condition set forth in Section 8.02(b), as it applies to the Company’s obligations under this Section 7.10(b), shall be deemed satisfied unless the Debt Financing (or any alternative financing) has not been obtained primarily as a result of the Company’s or the Subsidiaries’ willful and material breach of its obligations under this Section 7.10(b).
(c) All non-public or otherwise confidential information regarding the Company obtained by Parent or its Representatives pursuant to paragraph (b) above shall be kept confidential in accordance with the Confidentiality Agreement.
SECTION 7.11 Resignations. The Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to obtain and deliver to Parent at the Closing evidence reasonably satisfactory to Parent of the resignation effective as of the Partnership Mergers Effective Time, of those directors of the Company or any Subsidiary designated by Parent to the Company in writing at least five calendar days prior to the Closing.
SECTION 7.12 Takeover Statutes. If any takeover statute is or becomes applicable to this Agreement, the Mergers or the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement, each of the parties and their respective boards of directors (or managing members or general partners, as applicable) shall (a) take all necessary action to ensure that such transactions contemplated hereby may be consummated as promptly as practicable upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement and (b) otherwise act to eliminate or minimize the effects of such takeover statute.
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SECTION 7.13 Delisting and Deregistering of Securities. Parent and the Company shall use their commercially reasonable efforts to cause the Company Common Shares to be de-listed from the NYSE and de-registered under the Exchange Act promptly following the Company Merger Effective Time.
SECTION 7.14 Tax Matters. During the period from the date of this Agreement to the Company Merger Effective Time, the Company and its Subsidiaries shall:
(a) continue to operate in such a manner as to permit the Company to continue to qualify as a REIT throughout the period from the date hereof to the Company Merger Effective Time;
(b) prepare and timely file all Tax Returns required to be filed by them on or before the Closing Date (“Post-Signing Returns”) in a manner consistent with past practice, except as otherwise required by applicable Laws;
(c) fully and timely pay all Taxes due and payable in respect of such Post-Signing Returns that are so filed;
(d) properly reserve (and reflect such reserve in their books and records and financial statements), for all Taxes payable by them for which no Post-Signing Return is due prior to the Company Merger Effective Time in a manner consistent with past practice; and
(e) terminate all Tax sharing agreements to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a party such that there are no further liabilities thereunder (provided that the foregoing does not apply to existing Tax Protection Agreements).
SECTION 7.15 Notices of Certain Events.
(a) The Company Parties shall notify Parent promptly of (i) any written communication and, to the knowledge of the Company, any other communication from any Person alleging that the consent of such Person (or another Person) is or may be required in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement (and the response thereto from the Company, any of the Subsidiaries or their Representatives), (ii) any communication from any Governmental Authority in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement (and the response thereto from the Company, any of the Subsidiaries or their Representatives), (iii) any material Actions threatened or commenced against or otherwise affecting the Company or any of the Subsidiaries that are related to the transactions contemplated by the Agreement or (iv) any effect, event, development or change between the date of this Agreement and the Company Merger Effective Time which causes or is reasonably likely to cause the conditions set forth in Section 8.02(a) or 8.02(b) not to be satisfied.
(b) The Buyer Parties shall notify the Company promptly of (i) any written communication and, to the knowledge of Parent, any other communication from any Person alleging that the consent of such Person (or another Person) is or may be required in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement (and the response thereto from Parent, any of its subsidiaries or their Representatives), (ii) any communication from any Governmental Authority in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement (and the response
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thereto from Parent, any of its subsidiaries or their Representatives), (iii) any material Actions threatened or commenced against or otherwise affecting Parent or any of its subsidiaries that are related to the transactions contemplated by the Agreement or (iv) any effect, event, development or change between the date of this Agreement and the Company Merger Effective Time which causes or is reasonably likely to cause the conditions set forth in Section 8.03(a) or 8.03(b) not to be satisfied.
(c) The delivery of any notice pursuant to this Section 7.15 shall not limit or otherwise affect the remedies available hereunder to the party receiving such notice.
ARTICLE VIII
CONDITIONS TO THE MERGERS
SECTION 8.01 Conditions to the Obligations of Each Party. The obligations of the Company Parties and Buyer Parties to consummate the Mergers are subject to the satisfaction or waiver in writing (where permissible) of the following conditions:
(a) The Company shall have obtained the Company Stockholder Approval.
(b) Any waiting period (and any extension thereof) applicable to the consummation of the Mergers under the HSR Act, shall have expired or been terminated, and any approval required thereunder shall have been obtained.
(c) No Governmental Authority shall have enacted, issued, promulgated, enforced or entered any injunction, order, decree or ruling (whether temporary, preliminary or permanent) which is then in effect and has the effect of making consummation of any Merger illegal or prohibiting consummation of any Merger.
SECTION 8.02 Conditions to the Obligations of the Buyer Parties. The obligations of the Buyer Parties to consummate the Mergers are subject to the satisfaction or waiver in writing of the following additional conditions:
(a) The representations and warranties of the Company Parties contained in this Agreement that (i) are not made as of a specific date shall be true and correct as of the date of this Agreement and as of the Closing, as though made on and as of the Closing, and (ii) are made as of a specific date shall be true and correct as of such date, in each case except where the failure of such representations or warranties to be true and correct (without giving effect to any limitation as to “materiality” or “Company Material Adverse Effect” set forth in such representations and warranties (other than the representation in clause (b) of Section 4.08)) does not have and would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Company Material Adverse Effect. In addition, the representations and warranties set forth in Sections 4.03(a), (b), (h), (i) and (j) shall be true and correct in all material respects and the representations and warranties set forth in clause (b) of Section 4.08 shall be true and correct in all respects as of the Closing, as though made on and as of the Closing (except to the extent expressly made as of a specific date, in which case as of such specific date).
(b) The Company Parties shall have performed, in all material respects, all obligations and complied with, in all material respects, their agreements and covenants to be performed or complied with them under this Agreement on or prior to the Partnership Mergers Effective Time.
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(c) The Company shall have delivered to Parent a certificate, dated the date of the Partnership Mergers Effective Time, signed by an officer of the Company and certifying as to the satisfaction of the conditions specified in Sections 8.02(a) and 8.02(b).
(d) Since the date of this Agreement, there shall not have been an event, occurrence, effect or circumstance that, individually or in the aggregate, has resulted or would reasonably be expected to result in a Company Material Adverse Effect.
(e) Parent and the Company shall have received a tax opinion of Xxxxx & Xxxxxxx L.L.P., or other counsel to the Company satisfactory to the Parent, dated as of the date of the Closing Date, prior to the Partnership Mergers Effective Time, in the form attached hereto as Exhibit F (such opinion shall be based upon customary assumptions and customary representations made by the Company and its Subsidiaries in the form attached hereto as Exhibit F, and such opinion and representations shall be subject to such changes or modifications from the language set forth on such exhibits as may be deemed necessary or appropriate by Xxxxx & Xxxxxxx L.L.P. (or such counsel rendering the opinion) and as shall be reasonably satisfactory to Parent) opining that the Company has been organized and has operated in conformity with the requirements for qualification as a REIT under the Code for all taxable periods commencing with the Company’s taxable year ended December 31, 1996 through and including the taxable year of the Company ending on the Closing Date (determined without taking into account, or giving effect to, the Company Merger, and assuming for such purposes that the Company shall satisfy the applicable distribution requirements under the Code for the taxable year including the Closing Date).
(f) At or prior to the Partnership Mergers Effective Time, JPMorgan Chase Bank, as administrative agent under the Credit Agreement (“JPMC”), shall have provided the Company Parties with a “payoff” letter acknowledging that, subject to repayment of the aggregate principal amount outstanding under the Credit Agreement, together with all interest accrued thereon and any other fees or expenses payable thereunder, (i) the Credit Agreement shall be terminated, (ii) any and all Liens held by JPMC or any other collateral agent under the Credit Agreement related thereto shall be released and (iii) the Company and the Subsidiaries shall be released from any and all liabilities and obligations under the Credit Agreement and any related guaranties (other than any obligations under any indemnification or similar provision that survive such termination).
(g) Prior to the Partnership Mergers Effective Time, with respect to each series of Senior Notes either (i) the requisite consents specified in Section 3.07(a) of the Disclosure Schedule shall have been received under the Debt Offers with respect to the Senior Notes, and the Company, the Operating Partnership and certain of the other Subsidiaries and the respective trustees shall have executed the supplemental indentures described in Section 3.07 of this Agreement to the respective indentures governing the Senior Notes, such supplemental indentures to be delivered and become effective promptly following the receipt of the required consents with the amendments provided for therein to become operative upon the acceptance of Senior Notes for payment pursuant to the Debt Offers and concurrently with the closing of the Mergers or (ii) the Company and the Operating Partnership shall have complied with Section 3.08.
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SECTION 8.03 Conditions to the Obligations of the Company Parties.
The obligations of the Company Parties to consummate the Mergers are subject to the satisfaction or waiver in writing (where permissible) of the following additional conditions:
(a) The representations and warranties of the Buyer Parties in this Agreement that (i) are not made as of a specific date shall be true and correct as of the date of this Agreement and as of the Closing, as though made on and as of the Closing, and (ii) are made as of a specific date shall be true and correct as of such date, in each case except where the failure of such representations or warranties to be true and correct (without giving effect to any limitation as to “materiality” or “Parent Material Adverse Effect” set forth in such representations and warranties) does not have and would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Parent Material Adverse Effect.
(b) The Buyer Parties shall have performed, in all material respects, all obligations and complied with, in all material respects, their agreements and covenants to be performed or complied with by them under this Agreement on or prior to the Partnership Mergers Effective Time.
(c) Parent shall have delivered to the Company a certificate, dated the date of the Partnership Mergers Effective Time, signed by an officer of the Company and certifying as to the satisfaction of the conditions specified in Sections 8.03(a) and 8.03(b).
ARTICLE IX
TERMINATION, AMENDMENT AND WAIVER
SECTION 9.01 Termination. This Agreement may be terminated and the Mergers may be abandoned at any time prior to the Partnership Mergers Effective Time by action taken or authorized by the Board of Directors or members of the terminating party or parties, notwithstanding any requisite approval of the Company Merger by the stockholders of the Company, and whether before or after the stockholders of the Company have approved the Company Merger at the Company Stockholders’ Meeting, as follows (the date of any such termination, the “Termination Date”):
(a) by mutual written consent of Parent and the Company;
(b) by either Parent or the Company if the Partnership Mergers Effective Time shall not have occurred on or before the six-month anniversary of the date of this Agreement (the “End Date”); provided, however, that the right to terminate this Agreement under this Section 9.01(b) shall not be available to a party whose failure to fulfill any obligation under this Agreement materially contributed to the failure of the Partnership Mergers Effective Time to occur on or before such date;
(c) by either Parent or the Company if any Governmental Authority shall have enacted, issued, promulgated, enforced or entered any injunction, order, decree or ruling or taken
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any other action (including the failure to have taken an action) which, in either such case, has become final and non-appealable and has the effect of making consummation of any Merger illegal or otherwise preventing or prohibiting consummation of any Merger (“Governmental Order”); provided, however, that the terms of this Section 9.01(c) shall not be available to any party unless such party shall have used its reasonable best efforts to oppose any such Governmental Order or to have such Governmental Order vacated or made inapplicable to such Merger;
(d) by Parent if each of it, MergerCo and the Merger Partnerships is not in material breach of its obligations under this Agreement, and if (i) any of the representations and warranties of the Company Parties herein are or become untrue or incorrect such that the condition set forth in Section 8.02(a) would be incapable of being satisfied by the End Date, or (ii) there has been a breach on the part of any of the Company Parties of any of its covenants or agreements herein such that the condition set forth in Section 8.02(b) would be incapable of being satisfied by the End Date;
(e) by the Company if each of the Company Parties is not in material breach of its obligations under this Agreement, and if (i) any of the representations and warranties of Parent, MergerCo or the Merger Partnerships herein are or become untrue or inaccurate such that the condition set forth in Section 8.03(a) would be incapable of being satisfied by the End Date; or (ii) there has been a breach on the part of Parent, MergerCo or the Merger Partnerships or any of their respective covenants or agreements herein such that the conditions set forth in Section 8.03(b) would be incapable of being satisfied by the End Date.
(f) by the Company or Parent if the Company Stockholder Approval is not obtained at the Company Stockholders’ Meeting upon a vote taken thereon;
(g) by Parent:
(A) if the Company Board withdraws, modifies or amends the Company Recommendation in any manner adverse to the Buyer Parties;
(B) if (i) the Company Board approves, endorses or recommends an Acquisition Proposal, (ii) the Company enters into a contract or agreement relating to an Acquisition Proposal (other than a confidentiality agreement entered into in compliance with Section 7.04(c)), (iii) a tender offer or exchange offer for any outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company that constitutes an Acquisition Proposal (other than by any of the Buyer Parties) is commenced prior to obtaining the Company Stockholder Approval and the Company Board fails to recommend against acceptance of such tender offer or exchange offer by its stockholders (including, for these purposes, by taking no position with respect to the acceptance of such tender offer or exchange offer by its stockholders, which shall constitute a failure to recommend against acceptance of such tender offer or exchange offer) within ten Business Days after commencement, or (iv) the Company or the Company Board publicly announces its intention to do any of the foregoing; or
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(C) if the Company Board exempts any Person other than the Parent or any of its Affiliates from the provisions of Article V of the Company Charter; or
(h) by the Company if the Company Board approves, and authorizes the Company to enter into, a definitive agreement providing for the implementation of a Superior Proposal, but only so long as:
(A) the Company Stockholder Approval has not yet been obtained;
(B) the Company is not then and has not been in breach of any of its obligations under Section 7.04 in any material respect;
(C) the Company Board has determined in good faith, after consultation with its financial advisor, that such agreement constitutes a Superior Proposal and has determined in good faith, after consultation with its outside legal counsel, that failure to take such actions would be inconsistent with its duties to the stockholders of the Company under applicable Laws;
(D) the Company has notified Parent in writing that it intends to enter into such agreement, attaching the most current version of such agreement (including any amendments, supplements or modifications) to such notice;
(E) during the three Business Day period following Parent’s receipt of such notice, (i) the Company shall have offered to negotiate with (and, if accepted, negotiated in good faith with), and shall have caused its respective financial and legal advisors to offer to negotiate with (and, if accepted, negotiate in good faith with), Parent in making adjustments to the terms and conditions of this Agreement as would enable the Company to proceed with the Mergers and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement, and (ii) the Company Board shall have determined in good faith, after the end of such three Business Day period, after considering the results of such negotiations and the revised proposals made by Parent, if any, that the Superior Proposal giving rise to such notice continues to be a Superior Proposal; and
(F) the Company pays to Parent the Company Termination Fee and Parent Expenses in accordance with Section 9.03(b)(ii) simultaneously with such termination (any purported termination pursuant to this Section 9.01(h) shall be void and of no force or effect unless the Company shall have made such payment).
SECTION 9.02 Effect of Termination. In the event of the termination of this Agreement pursuant to Section 9.01, this Agreement shall forthwith become void, and there shall be no liability under this Agreement on the part of any party hereto (or any Representatives thereof) except that the indemnification and reimbursement obligations of the Buyer Parties contained in Sections 2.08, 3.07 and 7.10(b), the Guarantee referred to in Section 5.07(c) and the provisions of Section 7.03(b), Section 7.10(c), this Section 9.02, Section 9.03 and Article X shall survive any such termination; provided, however, that nothing herein shall relieve any party hereto from liability for any breach of any of its representations, warranties, covenants or agreements set forth in this Agreement prior to such termination.
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SECTION 9.03 Fees and Expenses.
(a) Except as otherwise set forth in this Section 9.03, all expenses (including fees and expenses payable to Representatives and hedging counterparties) incurred by any party to this Agreement or its Affiliates on its behalf in connection with this Agreement or the transactions contemplated by this Agreement (“Expenses”) shall be paid by the party incurring such expenses, whether or not the Mergers are consummated.
(b) The Company agrees that if this Agreement shall be terminated:
(i) by Parent or the Company pursuant to Section 9.01(b) or Section 9.01(f) or by Parent pursuant to Section 9.01(d) (however, only in the event of a termination pursuant to Section 9.01(d) that relates to a breach by the Company Parties of their obligations under Section 7.02 or Section 7.04) and (A) an Acquisition Proposal shall have been made to the Company Parties or publicly announced prior to such Termination Date (and with respect to termination pursuant to Section 9.01(b), such Acquisition Proposal was not withdrawn prior to the Termination Date), and (B) concurrently with such termination or within twelve (12) months following the Termination Date, the Company enters into a Contract with respect to an Acquisition Proposal, or an Acquisition Proposal is consummated (in each case whether or not such Acquisition Proposal was the same Acquisition Proposal referred to in the foregoing clause (A)), then the Company shall pay to Parent, if and when such Contract is entered into or consummation of such Acquisition Proposal occurs, as applicable, the Company Termination Fee and the reasonable Expenses of the Buyer Parties not to exceed $7,500,000 (“Parent Expenses”) (and for purposes of this Section 9.03(b)(i), “50%” shall be substituted for “20%” in the definition of Acquisition Proposal); or
(ii) by Parent pursuant to Section 9.01(g), or the Company pursuant to Section 9.01(h), then the Company shall pay to Parent the Company Termination Fee and Parent Expenses on the Termination Date, and with respect to a termination pursuant to Section 9.01(h), such payment shall be made before or concurrently with such termination and shall be a condition to the effectiveness of such termination.
(c) Except as set forth in Section 9.03(b)(ii) for termination by the Company pursuant to Section 9.01(h), the Company Termination Fee and Parent Expenses shall be paid by the Company as directed by Parent in writing in immediately available funds within three (3) Business Days after the date of the event giving rise to the obligation to make such payment.
(d) For purposes of this Agreement, “Company Termination Fee” means an amount equal to $85 million.
(e) Subject to Section 10.06, if this Agreement is terminated by the Company pursuant to Section 9.01(e), Parent shall pay to the Company within three (3) Business Days after the date of termination, the reasonable Expenses of the Company Parties not to exceed $7,500,000 (the “Company Expenses”). If this Agreement is terminated by Parent pursuant to
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Section 9.01(d), the Company shall pay to Parent, within three (3) Business Days after the date of termination, the Parent Expenses. Subject to Section 10.06, the payment of Company Expenses or Parent Expenses set forth in this Section 9.03 is not an exclusive remedy, but is in addition to any other rights or remedies available to the parties hereto (whether at law or in equity), and in no respect is intended by the parties hereto to constitute liquidated damages, or be viewed as an indicator of the damages payable, or in any other respect limit or restrict damages available in case of any breach of this Agreement.
(f) Each of the parties hereto acknowledges that the agreements contained in this Section 9.03 are an integral part of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. In the event that the Company shall fail to pay the Company Termination Fee or Parent Expenses when due or Parent shall fail to pay the Company Expenses when due, the Company or Parent, as the case may be, shall reimburse the other party for all reasonable costs and expenses actually incurred or accrued by such other party (including reasonable fees and expenses of counsel) in connection with the collection under and enforcement of this Section 9.03.
SECTION 9.04 Escrow.
(a) To the extent that the Company Parties recover money damages pursuant to and subject to Section 10.06 and the Guarantee (the “Damages Amount”), Parent shall instruct the escrow agent to pay to the Operating Partnership from the Damages Amount deposited into escrow in accordance with the next sentence, an amount equal to the lesser of (i) the Damages Amount and (ii) the sum of (1) the maximum amount that can be paid to the Operating Partnership without causing the Company to fail to meet the requirements of Sections 856(c)(2) and 856(c)(3) of the Code determined as if the payment of such amount did not constitute income described in Sections 856(c)(2)(A)-(H) or 856(c)(3)(A)-(I) of the Code (“Qualifying Income”), as determined by the Company’s independent certified public accountants, plus (2) in the event the Company receives either (A) a letter from the Company’s counsel indicating that the Company has received a ruling from the IRS described in Section 9.04(b) or (B) an opinion from the Company’s outside counsel as described in Section 9.04(b), an amount equal to the Damages Amount less the amount payable under clause (1) above. To secure Parent’s obligation to pay these amounts, Parent shall deposit into escrow an amount in cash equal to the Damages Amount with an escrow agent selected by Parent and on such terms (subject to Section 9.04(b)) as shall be mutually agreed upon by the Operating Partnership, Parent and the escrow agent. Subject to the terms of Section 10.06 and the Guarantee, the payment or deposit into escrow of the Damages Amount pursuant to this Section 9.04 shall be made at the time Parent is obligated to pay the Operating Partnership such amount pursuant to Section 10.06 and the Guarantee by wire transfer or bank check.
(b) The escrow agreement shall provide that the Damages Amount in escrow or any portion thereof shall not be released to the Operating Partnership unless the escrow agent receives any one or combination of the following: (i) a letter from the Company’s independent certified public accountants indicating the maximum amount that can be paid by the escrow agent to the Operating Partnership without causing the Company to fail to meet the requirements of Sections 856(c)(2) and (3) of the Code determined as if the payment of such amount did not constitute Qualifying Income or a subsequent letter from the Company’s accountants revising that amount, in which case the escrow agent shall release such amount to the Company, or (ii) a
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letter from the Company’s counsel indicating that the Company received a ruling from the IRS holding that the Damages Amount would either constitute Qualifying Income or would be excluded from gross income within the meaning of Sections 856(c)(2) and (3) of the Code (or alternatively, the Company’s outside counsel has rendered a legal opinion to the effect that the receipt by the Operating Partnership of the Damages Amount would constitute Qualifying Income, would be excluded from gross income within the meaning of Sections 856(c)(2) and (3) of the Code or would not otherwise disqualify Company as a REIT), in which case the escrow agent shall release the remainder of the Damages Amount to the Operating Partnership. Parent agrees to amend this Section 9.04 at the reasonable request of the Company in order to (x) maximize the portion of the Damages Amount that may be distributed to the Operating Partnership hereunder without causing the Company to fail to meet the requirements of Sections 856(c)(2) and (3) of the Code, (y) improve the Company’s chances of securing a favorable ruling described in this Section 9.04(b) or (z) assist Parent in obtaining a favorable legal opinion from its outside counsel as described in this Section 9.04(b). The escrow agreement shall also provide that any portion of the Damages Amount held in escrow for five years shall be released by the escrow agent to Parent. Any costs and expenses of the escrow agent shall be borne solely by the Company.
SECTION 9.05 Waiver.
At any time prior to the Partnership Mergers Effective Time, the Company, on the one hand, and Parent, on the other hand, may (a) extend the time for the performance of any obligation or other act of the other party, (b) waive any inaccuracy in the representations and warranties of the other party contained herein or in any document delivered pursuant hereto and (c) waive compliance with any agreement of the other party or any condition to its own obligations contained herein. Any such extension or waiver shall be valid if set forth in an instrument in writing signed by the Company (on behalf of the Company Parties) or Parent (on behalf of the Buyer Parties), as applicable. The failure of any party to assert any of its rights under this Agreement or otherwise shall not constitute a waiver of those rights.
ARTICLE X
GENERAL PROVISIONS
SECTION 10.01 Non-Survival of Representations and Warranties. The representations and warranties in this Agreement and in any certificate delivered pursuant hereto shall terminate at the Company Merger Effective Time.
SECTION 10.02 Notices. All notices, requests, claims, demands and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be given (and shall be deemed to have been duly given upon receipt) by delivery in person, by prepaid overnight courier (providing proof of delivery), by facsimile or by registered or certified mail (postage prepaid, return receipt requested) to the respective parties at the following addresses or facsimile numbers (or at such other address for a party as shall be specified in a notice given in accordance with this Section 10.02):
if to any Buyer Party:
c/o Blackstone Real Estate Partners V L.P.
000 Xxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000
Facsimile: (000) 000-0000
Attention: Xxxxxxxx X. Xxxx
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with a copy to:
Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxx & Xxxxxxxx LLP
000 Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000
Telecopier No: (000) 000-0000
Attention: Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxx, Esq.
Xxxxxx X. Xxxxx, Esq.
if to any Company Party:
CarrAmerica Realty Corporation
International Square
0000 X Xxxxxx, X.X.
Xxxxx 000
Xxxxxxxxxx, XX 00000
Attention: Xxxxxx X. Xxxx
with copies to:
Xxxxx & Xxxxxxx L.L.P.
000 Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx XX
Xxxxxxxxxx, XX 00000-0000
Telecopier No: (000) 000-0000
Attention: J. Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx, Xx., Esq.
Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxx, Esq.
SECTION 10.03 Severability. If any term or other provision of this Agreement is invalid, illegal or incapable of being enforced by any rule of law or public policy or the application of this Agreement to any person or circumstance is invalid or incapable of being enforced by any rule of law or public policy, all other conditions and provisions of this Agreement shall nevertheless remain in full force and effect so long as the economic or legal substance of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement is not affected in any manner materially adverse to any party. To such end, the provisions of this Agreement are agreed to be severable. Upon such determination that any term or other provision is invalid, illegal or incapable of being enforced, the parties hereto shall negotiate in good faith to modify this Agreement so as to effect the original intent of the parties as closely as possible in a mutually acceptable manner in order that the transactions contemplated by this Agreement be consummated as originally contemplated to the fullest extent possible.
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SECTION 10.04 Amendment.
This Agreement may be amended by the parties hereto by action taken by their respective board of directors (or similar governing body or entity) at any time prior to the Partnership Mergers Effective Time; provided, however, that, after approval of the Company Merger by the stockholders of the Company, no amendment may be made without further stockholder approval which, by Law or in accordance with the rules of the NYSE, requires further approval by such stockholders. This Agreement may not be amended except by an instrument in writing signed by the parties hereto.
SECTION 10.05 Entire Agreement; Assignment.
This Agreement, together with the Confidentiality Agreement and the Disclosure Schedule, constitute the entire agreement among the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersede all prior agreements and undertakings, both written and oral, among the parties, or any of them, with respect to the subject matter hereof. This Agreement shall not be assigned (whether pursuant to a merger, by operation of law or otherwise), except any of the Buyer Parties may assign this Agreement to any direct or indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of Parent, provided, however, that no such assignment shall relieve the assigning party of its obligations hereunder if the assignee does not perform its obligations.
SECTION 10.06 Remedies. Except as otherwise provided in Section 10.07 or elsewhere in this Agreement, any and all remedies expressly conferred upon a party to this Agreement shall be cumulative with, and not exclusive of, any other remedy contained in this Agreement, at law or in equity and the exercise by a party to this Agreement of any one remedy shall not preclude the exercise by it of any other remedy. Without limiting the right to receive any payment it may be entitled to receive under Sections 2.08 and 7.10(b), each of the Company Parties agrees that to the extent it has incurred losses or damages (including any amounts paid by Parent pursuant to Section 9.03(e)) in connection with this Agreement the maximum aggregate liability of the Buyer Parties and Guarantor for such losses or damages shall be limited to an amount equal to the amount of the Guarantee, and in no event shall the Company Parties seek to recover any money damages in excess of such amount from the Buyer Parties or Guarantor or their respective Representatives and affiliates in connection therewith.
SECTION 10.07 Specific Performance. The parties hereto agree that irreparable damage would occur in the event any provision of this Agreement were not performed by any Company Party in accordance with the terms hereof and that, prior to the termination of this Agreement pursuant to Section 9.01, the Buyer Parties shall be entitled to an injunction or injunctions to prevent breaches of this Agreement by the Company Parties and to enforce specifically the terms and provisions of this Agreement in any court of the United States or any state having jurisdiction, this being in addition to any other remedy to which they are entitled at law or in equity. The parties acknowledge that none of the Company Parties shall be entitled to an injunction or injunctions to prevent breaches of this Agreement or to enforce specifically the terms and provisions of this Agreement and that the Company Parties’ sole and exclusive remedy with respect to any such breach shall be the remedy set forth in Section 10.06 and the Guarantee; provided, however, the Company Parties shall be entitled to seek specific performance to prevent any breach by the Buyer Parties of Sections 7.03(b) and 7.10(c).
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SECTION 10.08 Parties in Interest. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure solely to the benefit of each party hereto, and nothing in this Agreement, express or implied, is intended to or shall confer upon any other person any right, benefit or remedy of any nature whatsoever under or by reason of this Agreement, other than the provisions of Section 7.06 (which are intended to be for the benefit of the persons covered thereby or the persons entitled to payment thereunder and may be enforced by such persons).
SECTION 10.09 Governing Law; Forum. The Company Merger shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of Maryland applicable to contracts executed in and to be performed in that State without regard to its rules of conflict of laws. Except as provided in the immediately proceeding sentence, this Agreement and all disputes, claims or controversies arising out of or relating to this Agreement, or the negotiation, validity or performance of this Agreement, or the transactions contemplated hereby shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware without regard to its rules of conflict of laws.
Each of the parties hereto hereby irrevocably and unconditionally consents to submit to the sole and exclusive jurisdiction of the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware (the “Delaware Courts”) for any litigation arising out of or relating to this Agreement, or the negotiation, validity or performance of this Agreement, or the transactions contemplated hereby (and agrees not to commence any litigation relating thereto except in such courts), waives any objection to the laying of venue of any such litigation in the Delaware Courts and agrees not to plead or claim in any Delaware Court that such litigation brought therein has been brought in any inconvenient forum. Each of the parties hereto agrees, (a) to the extent such party is not otherwise subject to service of process in the State of Delaware, to appoint and maintain an agent in the State of Delaware as such party’s agent for acceptance of legal process, and (b) that service of process may also be made on such party by prepaid certified mail to the address for notice in Section 10.02 with a proof of mailing receipt validated by the United States Postal Service constituting evidence of valid service. Service made pursuant to (a) or (b) above shall have the same legal force and effect as if served upon such party personally within the State of Delaware.
SECTION 10.10 Headings. The descriptive headings contained in this Agreement are included for convenience of reference only and shall not affect in any way the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement.
SECTION 10.11 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed and delivered (including by facsimile transmission) in two or more counterparts, and by the different parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which when executed shall be deemed to be an original but all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same agreement.
SECTION 10.12 Waiver. Except as provided in this Agreement, no action taken pursuant to this Agreement, including, without limitation, any investigation by or on behalf of any party, shall be deemed to constitute a waiver by the party taking such action of compliance with any representations, warranties, covenants or agreements contained in this Agreement. The waiver by any party hereto of a breach of any provision hereunder shall not operate or be construed as a waiver of any prior or subsequent breach of the same or any other provision hereunder.
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SECTION 10.13 Waiver of Jury Trial. Each of the parties hereto hereby waives to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Law any right it may have to a trial by jury with respect to any litigation directly or indirectly arising out of, under or in connection with this Agreement or the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. Each of the parties hereto (a) certifies that no representative, agent or attorney of any other party has represented, expressly or otherwise, that such other party would not, in the event of litigation, seek to enforce that foregoing waiver and (b) acknowledges that it and the other hereto have been induced to enter into this Agreement and the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, as applicable, by, among other things, the mutual waivers and certifications in this Section 10.13.
[Signature Pages Follow.]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Buyer Parties and Company Parties have caused this Agreement to be executed as of the date first written above by their respective officers thereunto duly authorized.
NANTUCKET PARENT LLC | ||
By | /s/ Xxxxxxxx X. Xxxx | |
Name: | Xxxxxxxx X. Xxxx | |
Title: |
Chief Executive Officer | |
NANTUCKET ACQUISITION INC. | ||
By | /s/ Xxxxxxxx X. Xxxx | |
Name: | Xxxxxxxx X. Xxxx | |
Title: | Chief Executive Officer | |
NANTUCKET CRH ACQUISITION L.P. | ||
By NANTUCKET ACQUISITION INC., its sole general partner | ||
By | /s/ Xxxxxxxx X. Xxxx | |
Name: | Xxxxxxxx X. Xxxx | |
Title: | Chief Executive Officer | |
NANTUCKET CAR ACQUISITION L.P. | ||
By NANTUCKET ACQUISITION INC., its sole general partner | ||
By | /s/ Xxxxxxxx X. Xxxx | |
Name: | Xxxxxxxx X. Xxxx | |
Title: | Chief Executive Officer |
SIGNATURE PAGE TO THE AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER
CARRAMERICA REALTY CORPORATION | ||
By |
/s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxx | |
Name: |
Xxxxxx X. Xxxx | |
Title: |
Chief Executive Officer | |
CARRAMERICA REALTY OPERATING PARTNERSHIP, L.P. | ||
By: |
CarrAmerica Realty Corporation, | |
its general partner | ||
By |
/s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxx | |
Name: |
Xxxxxx X. Xxxx | |
Title: |
Chief Executive Officer | |
CARRAMERICA REALTY, L.P. | ||
By: |
CarrAmerica Realty GP Holdings, LLC, | |
its general partner | ||
By: |
CarrAmerica Realty Operating Partnership, L.P., its sole member | |
By: |
CarrAmerica Realty Corporation, | |
its general partner | ||
By |
/s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxx | |
Name: Xxxxxx X. Xxxx | ||
Title: Chief Executive Officer |
SIGNATURE PAGE TO THE AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER
XXXX REALTY HOLDINGS, L.P. | ||
By: |
CarrAmerica Realty Operating Partnership, L.P., its general partner | |
By: |
CarrAmerica Realty Corporation, | |
its general partner | ||
By |
/s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxx | |
Name: |
Xxxxxx X. Xxxx | |
Title: |
Chief Executive Officer |
SIGNATURE PAGE TO THE AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER